A/N: Thanks for the lovely reviews to the first chapters.

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Snowhaven, Dec 2014

When I drove into Snowhaven, I saw at the first glance that the village would not disappoint. It was exactly as I had imagined, exactly as Molly had described. Quaint little houses, beautifully decorated for Christmas, everything covered in a layer of snow and I just loved it. I parked my car and walked the narrow streets until I found the pub, which did not take me long. I assumed there was only one pub in the village so that it must be the one, The Rose and Crown. It was lunch time, and this was a place as good as any to have it, so I entered with heart thumping in my chest and slightly sweaty palms. Of course, no one took special notice of me, just another tourist passing through.

I sat down by the counter and looked around. It was a very nice pub. I mean there are pubs and there are pubs, and this one was definitely on the nicer end of the scale. Especially now when it was decorated for Christmas with garlands of holly, red ribbons and small brass bells. Someone had clearly put an effort into it.

"Can I get you something, stranger?"

A girl had appeared behind the counter while I was looking around.

Was this Molly? I was not sure why, but if it was I was slightly disappointed. Maybe because her smile was not as warm as I had imagined. She looked a bit sharp, like the street-smart kind of girl. My first impression was not like I had imagined her to be reading the letter, but as she was there behind the counter and was too young to becthe mother, it was likely her.

"You work here?"

"What does it look like? Of course, I'm working here, you prannet. That's why I'm asking what I can do for you."

I wanted to know if she possibly had written a Christmas card to an anonymous solider a year ago, but I did not feel I could ask this girl. I could have lunch though.

"Do you have a menu?"

"Over there."

She nodded towards a chalk board where different dishes and offers were written white on black.

"Okay, I'll go for the chicken salad club on rye bread… curly fries, extra crispy if that's possible… and since it's Christmas I'll have a hot chocolate with marshmallows."

"Really?" Her eyebrows were raised in surprise and I guess it was a somewhat strange combination.

"Yes, please."

"Okay", she shrugged her shoulders, now looking disinterested, like it was not her job to question what the guests ordered.

"Is there a toilet I could use?"

"That way." She nodded towards the back of the pub and I went there while waiting for the food to arrive. When I was in there, my thoughts were spinning on. I needed to find out if this was her, or I would be as curious when I left as I had been when I came. At the same time, I knew that if this was Molly, I was disappointed for some undefined reason. Even after a minute in her company I could feel that we did not have the connection I had somehow hoped we would have. A silly hope maybe. She had written that letter in one evening more than a year ago and probably forgotten all about it. I had read it hundreds of times and it had come to mean so much for me and I felt like I knew her. Our starting points now when we finally met were very different. I took a deep breath and went back to the bar.

When I returned, my food was already ready at the counter where I had been sitting, but my seat was occupied by another girl who just was splashing ketchup over my fries. When girl #1 reappeared, the new one said;

"Bella, I thought I said 'to go' when I called you. I have to back to the shop."

"You did say that, that's not yours."

"Ooops, I'm so sorry! What are the odds? Who's is it then?"

"His."

The girl behind the bar, who I now knew was not Molly but Bella, nodded my direction and the girl in my seat turned around. I met a pair of large green eyes who looked apologetic and below them a mouth shaped in a large grin that did not look so apologetic, rather like she found this hilarious.

"You ordered chicken salad club, on rye bread, curly fries, extra crispy and hot chocolate with marshmallows?"

"Yes."

"But I'm the only one who orders that."

"Not anymore it appears."

"I'm not sure if that means you have excellent taste or bad taste", she smiled. "Do you mind that I put ketchup on?"

Normally I would have used half the amount of ketchup that she had, but I shook my head.

"Because I'm really in a hurry and should take my food to go so I'll just give this back to you, but if you do mind I can give you some of mine or I'm sure Bella will serve you new fries."

"No, it's fine, really."

"Here's yours."

Bella put down a paper bag in front of the green-eyed girl.

"Enjoy your meal and Merry Christmas", the girl said and headed for the door.

"Wait." She turned around. "Since we share the same taste in food and drink, will you at least tell me your name?"

I had to know. She fired another of her intoxicating smiles at me.

"Of course, I'm Molly."

And she was out the door. Of course, she was Molly. I had known she had to be Molly the moment she turned around. I had known when I met those eyes and when she smiled at me. I also knew I would not be able to leave Snowhaven until I had met her again.

Molly

Meeting that stranger in the pub was unsettling. First, I nearly got a Julius seizure when I turned around and saw him because he was so freakin' good-looking. Taller than everyone I know, and I got the impression he was seriously fit under that shirt of his. He had thick, curly dark hair, the kind you just want to reach out your hand to rake through (or possibly grab and pull the person closer to you) and the most perfect face. High cheekbones, a straight nose, chiselled chin, a full lower lip (made for kissing... no, no, no! Snap out of it Molly! What are you thinking!?) and the most beautiful brown eyes. Secondly, he had ordered my order. I mean, I have worked in that pub many years, taken thousands of orders and I do not think I have come across anyone else who orders exactly that. My Christmas special. Lastly, and most disturbingly, those brown eyes looked at me like he already knew me and knew me well, as if I had told him my secrets. His gaze made me feel stripped not only of my clothes, but of my skin, of my defence to the outer world. It was so unsettling that I thought it best to leave as soon as possible and hurry back to the shop even though there was no immediate urgency because Mr. Adams had said I could take a break after all. As I ate my take-away meal, I kept thinking about that he was having the same and who was he and what was he doing here and why was he looking at me like he knew me better than anyone. I hoped he would leave soon. I also hoped he would stay around. I'm not sure which wish that was strongest.

Charles

She left so quickly, but in those few minutes she was there she seemed very much like the girl I had imagined.

"Do you want new fries, or?" Bella asked.

"No, I'm fine, seriously."

Bella left me to my meal, not knowing that my mind was fully occupied with thoughts of her sister. Finally, I had met her. My guess was that she was twenty-three but always hard to tell exactly. When she had jumped down from the bar stool and stood before me, she had been so petite, her eyes level with my chest, yet she somehow seemed to radiate strength rather than fragility. She had this long, dark hair which looked silky smooth. I wanted to run my hands through it, I wanted to put my lips to it. I had hoped for something, but I had not expected this. One minute in her company and I craved more. One minute in her company and I had an undeniable crush. What would then an hour do to me if I had the chance? I was not sure if I ought to stay or if the best thing to do was leaving, but it did not matter. I knew I would not be able to make myself leave.

"I see you have a B&B. Are there any rooms free?" I asked Bella.

"Tonight, there is, but then we are fully booked through Christmas. Are you visiting someone?"

"No, just passing through."

"So, do you want one? Room, I mean."

"Yes, I'll take it."

One night in Snowhaven, it sounded like the title of a romantic movie.

"Tomorrow there's a Christmas market by the church. I can recommend it, it's very popular both among locals and tourists. I can walk you there if you like."

I thought that it probably would not be that difficult to find the church if one went outside and looked for a church tower but accepted her offer as I thought it might be an opportunity to get to talk to Molly again if she was there too. Once I had finished my meal, Bella handed me the keys and showed be the direction of the stairs. I went upstairs, curious. Even if Molly was not here right now, and even if this was only her family's business, not the home they lived in, this pub and the rooms were very much part of her life and places where she had spent a lot of time. The room was very neat and cosy, more feminine than masculine with its chintz curtains and flower-patterned bed cover. It smelled of some kind of potpourri, but not overwhelming, only a pleasant scent. I stroke with my hand over the bed cover, wondered who had made the bed. If it was Molly, Bella or their mother. I found it unlikely that it was Dave.

After inspecting the room, I put my coat on again and went for a walk through the village. It was a quite large village, with a decent number of shops, the square with the Christmas tree Molly had written about and a fairly big church. That was where she had written me the letter, I remembered with a smile.

In the evening I had a meal and a beer down in the pub but sat in a corner keeping to myself. She was not there this evening and I was happy observing the other guests, guessing if any of them were the ones mentioned in Molly's letter. I got to see Dave and Belinda, of course. I was glad to see that his glass remined filled with water, not beer during the evening. He still seemed to stay sober and him and Belinda looked like a happy couple, putting their arms around each other affectionately every now and then even when it was busy hours in the pub. So far, I had found things exactly as Molly had described them. I wondered if it would continue like that tomorrow, or if I at some point would find myself disappointed.

I slept like a baby in that room, better than I had slept for ages and woke up fresh and feeling happy. After breakfast, Bella found me, and we walked together to the church. Molly was nowhere to be seen and it made me a bit nervous. Today was my only chance of seeing her again. I had to leave this afternoon as I did not have a room for the following night.

It seemed like the entire village plus a whole lot of tourists were there for the market, judging by the crowd. There were stands both inside and outside the church, selling decorations, trinkets and edible things.

"Let me introduce you to some people, then I need to head back to prepare the check-out rooms for this afternoon", Bella said. "Mum, dad, this is Charles James. He has been staying in one of our rooms. Mr. James, this is Dave and Belinda, proud owners of the pub."

"Nice to meet you, but please call me Charles."

"Welcome to Snowhaven, Charles. I hope you've enjoyed your stay so far?" Belinda asked.

"Very much. The village is lovely, and I slept like a baby in your room. I would gladly have stayed another night if anything had been available."

"Well, thank you. Unfortunately, Snowhaven is so popular around Christmas, that we're always fully booked for the holiday already in summer. How come you're visiting the village?"

"I was in the neighbourhood visiting a friend and had heard nice things about the village, so I made a spontaneous visit." It was not untrue, even if it was not the entire truth.

"And what do you do for a living?" Dave asked.

"Now you're being a bit nosy, love." Belinda elbowed his side.

"I don't mind. I'm in the army. I'm a captain, but I'm on leave right now."

I saw a light turn on in Dave's eyes and remembered Molly's words that any soldier passing by would get to hear about his glorious days in basic training. I think Belinda knew what was coming too, because she excused herself and left the two of us before he had the chance to open his mouth.

"Is that so? I used to be in the army too. Not as an officer, but as a private…"

He went on talking but I did not mind, unlike his family, I had not heard his story before and found it enjoyable. I also thought there was no harm letting a man tell a story that meant much to him. Suddenly he interrupted himself, though.

"Molly, come here, there's someone I'd like you to meet. One of our guests."

I turned around, and there she was. She had a red coat, a knitted white hat and a matching long scarf wrapped around her neck, her cheeks were rosy from the cold and she looked really, really pretty. I had to bite my lip to prevent myself from giving her a ridiculously big smile, one which would not be motivated considering we did not know each other. She gave me a smile that simultaneously was a bit shy and mischievous.

"We've already met, even if I didn't catch your name."

She held out her mitten-clad hand and I took it.

"I'm Charles, Charles James."

"When did you meet?" Dave asked from the side. I did not let go of Molly's eyes and she did not let go of mine.

"When I tried to nick his food", she smirked.

"Molly, that's hardly a way to welcome a new guest."

"I know, but he had ordered what I always order, complete with hot chocolate and marshmallows. That never happens, so I thought it was mine. I gave it back though, didn't I?"

I nodded.

"With extra ketchup on. Very generous of you."

It was a trivial little conversation, but I never wanted it to end. I realised I was still holding her hand and in the same moment as I saw that she did too, and quickly but reluctantly let it go.

"Do you have family in town?"

"No, I'm just passing through."

"Then we should make you feel so welcome you never want to leave."

I knew she was just being polite, but it still stirred some butterflies in my stomach.

"Charles is in the army. I was just telling him about…"

Molly interrupted him smiling but firmly and I smiled inside because I knew it was because she had heard Dave's army stories more than enough times.

"Then I'll leave you to it boys. It was nice meeting you again, Charles. Have a safe trip home."

She left, and I immediately missed her company.

Once Dave had finished his story, I said it had been great meeting him and now I would take a tour around the market. I looked for Molly's red coat as I walked between the stands but did not see her. I was considering if I should pay a visit to Mr. Adams' book slash antiquities shop before I left for a last chance to talk to her. Things did not feel finished, on the contrary it felt like something wonderful had barely gotten started and I was not up for leaving Snowhaven at all. Just as I started walking away from the market, I heard someone calling for me. It was Dave, who seemed to want something and now hurried across the street. Simultaneously a car came around the corner, in far too high speed for the narrow village streets. I realised it would not be able to break before it hit Dave and my spinal reflexes kicked in. I ran and hurled myself on him to push him out of the car's way. We both hit the icy ground hard and I was not sure how bad the fall had been for Dave even if it surely was better than being hit by the car.

"Dad?!"

Molly was suddenly there, kneeling beside us.

"Dad, are you all right?"

Dave just mumbled something.

"Please, help me take him to my uncle. He's a doctor and his practice is just around the corner. He can judge if we need to take him to the hospital."

I did not think Dave had hit his head or hurt his neck, so I thought it was safe to move him and helped Molly get him up and half carried him the few steps to Dr. Chapman's practice. I sat down in the waiting room meanwhile Dave was being examined and I saw Belinda arrive too and hurry inside. It took another fifteen minutes but then they all came out, Dave on crutches with his left foot in tight bandages.

"My hero!" he exclaimed, and I felt myself blush.

"Not really, I was just in the right place at the right time. I'm glad to see you up and on your feet. One of them anyway."

"No, thanks", he said with emphasis. "I'm sure those soldier reflexes of yours saved my life. Now I got away with a sprained ankle and bruised shoulder instead of something much worse, even if I'm not sure how I shall manage high-season in the pub with this." He nodded towards the bandaged foot.

"We're so grateful you were there", Belinda said.

"We all are", Molly added and gave me a smile that could melt ice.

"You need to come home to us for dinner tonight, so we can thank you properly."

"I'd love to, but I need to leave for home this afternoon. There are no rooms available, so I can't stay another night."

"None for rent maybe, but we have a spare bedroom in our house. It's yours if you want it."

I did not want to intrude in their home and looked hesitantly at Molly.

"I don't know... I don't want to impose on your hospitality."

"You're not", she said. "We all want you to come. Inviting you to dinner and give you a bed is the least we can do after this."

"I would appreciate talking some more to a fellow soldier", Dave pleaded.

"And I won't take no for answer", Belinda finished off their persuasion campaign.

I let my gaze jump between them and they all genuinely seemed to want me to join them. There was no valid reason to say no to something I also very much wanted.

"Okay then, if you're sure you want me."

"I am. I mean, we are", Molly said.

"Then, it's settled, welcome to the Dawes family", Dave said, and we headed for their house, me feeling all giddy at the prospect of seeing Molly's home and spend the night under their roof.