Disclaimer: I do not own these characters. They belong to the author of The Secret Garden.

Author's Note: I'm hoping you're enjoy this story but I must confess that I am terrible at writing Dickon. Most people admit they are bad at it but I do apologize if anyone is really annoyed with my writing of his and Martha's Yorkshire accent. SUCK. *points at self*

Dickon had a lot on his mind that night. He couldn't sleep so he took to walking around the moor. He always enjoyed the cool night breeze brushing past him and there was no telling what might show up at night. The moor seemed to come alive much as the garden did whenever Mary was in it.

Mary.

His train of thought stopped on her. How could she have grown into such a beautiful woman. When he found her in the garden he thought that she looked like a beautiful angel in the garden of Eden. When she hugged him he had melted, wanting only to feel her embrace for the rest of eternity. The feel of her skin at the nape of his neck. He small and dainty body pressed up against his as he held her. He could feel her soft and silky hair as he had stroked it to calm her after the shock of seeing him. If he had only kissed her it would have made everything perfect.

He stopped his thoughts. He couldn't be worthy of her. He remembered what Lord Craven had said when he took him to his office to speak to him. He was floored when he was offered the new job and cottage and accepted with gratitude but then Lord Craven continued.

"I am no fool, Dickon. I see how you look at my niece. I cannot judge you for it, she has turned out very pretty and she is your closest companion."

"Sir-" Dickon went to speak but was silenced.

"I do not forbid the match should Mary return your affections. However, I do want to warn you that there are other gentlemen amongst our company now that also favor Mary above other women. Some of them have already made me offers for her hand but I will tell you what I tell them."

"Sir?"

"It is all in Mary's choice. If Mary chooses you, should you make a bid for her affections, I will be helpless against her will. She is stubborn, as you may know." Dickon smiled. "However, I do wish to give her security in life and so I ask that you give the other men the equal chance at her affections. She may not know exactly who she wants and I feel that the exposure will do her some good. She deserves the best of things in life."

"I can only agree to tha', sir." Dickon nodded.

"But I will not see her unhappy and force her upon someone she cannot love. So should you choose to take it, I grant you my permission. But give some thought to Mary's future before making your decision."

Dickon didn't know what to say. Had he just given him permission to marry Mary? He was unclear and fuzzy about it.

"Thank you, sir." He said as politely as he could and left the office in confusion.

As Dickon walked about the more he came upon a fox who seemed to be asking him what was on his mind. Dickon sat down and the fox adjusted itself to face him.

"What am I doing?" He looked to the fox. "Mary dunna deserve a poor lad like me. She deserves someone like tha' Duke fellow. She cunna have feelins for me, right?" The fox cocked his head to the side. Dickon remembered how she had thrown herself at him, how she had clung to him and smiled at him. She smiled at him more than anyone else she knew. So could she possibly really have feelings for him?

"O' course she does!" Martha exclaimed the next morning when he went to see her at the manor. He knew it had been a mistake to confide in his older sister. "Does tha not see the she looks at thee?"

"But Martha, I canna be sure and I don' even know if I should. I dunna have anything."

"Tha be a real shame to the Sowerby name if tha thinks money and possessions is everything a girl wan' in life." Martha put her hands on her hips in a defensive stance much like their mother does when she is proving a point. Dickon was defenseless against this tactic. "Now, if tha dunna go and confess to Mary today then I'll have your 'ead Dickon Sowerby." She threated and Dickon hurried on his way, away from his sweet sister who could be terrifying at times. Dickon left to tend to the garden to think about things.

Mary sat at the breakfast table with her cousin and Uncle. Mrs. Medlock was sitting with them discussing the visit of a very annoying Duke that Mary did not care to see again.

"I think it would be wise to invite them for a luncheon." Mrs. Medlock advised.

"Yes, that would be splendid, wouldn't it Mary?" Uncle Archie looked at her. Mary had only been half-listening.

"Oh yes, it would be splendid." She added hoping her response was to the correct conversation. Her uncle looked pleased and so she returned to her thoughts. Her thoughts had been on Dickon. She couldn't help but want to go out to the garden and meet with him. Mary had wondered what that look was when he left her last night was. She wanted to ask him. She wanted to ask him many things. Mary had know she loved since she was a child but she never understood what kind of love it was. She thought her feelings for him and Colin were the same but when she heard he had been sent to war and that she might never seem him again she knew that she loved him more than anyone else on the planet. She knew that her affections were pointless. Mrs. Medlock had made it clear that she should be more affectionate towards those of larger titles and fortunes. Mary had even tried at school to like someone else but they were never good enough in comparison to him. Him. The beautiful Dickon who had enchanted her at first glance, no not even at first glance, at first thought. The more Mary thought of him the more she smiled and blushed to herself.

"Mary?" Colin looked at her. "Are you alright? You look flushed."

"Oh, I think I just need some air. Excuse me." Mary hurried out of the dining room and outside as fast as she could. She headed to the one place she wanted to be, the garden.

As she went through the ivy covered door her thoughts had been filled with hope that his smiling sky-blue eyes would be there.

To her dismay, he was not…that she could see.

Dickon had been working in the back corner of the garden, hidden a few bushes and flowers. He heard her come in though and watched as she sat down beside the pond and stroked her fingers through the water. Dickon let a smile creep upon his face as he saw the angelic creature thinking by the pond. How he wanted to tell her. Martha's words rang in his head but they were met by Lord Craven's words as well to let Mary meet other men. The voices seem to ring so loudly in his head it was if they were having an argument and Martha was winning. When Lord Craven's voice had died down and only Martha's remained that settled his mind.

He carefully walked up to her as she seemed deep in thought.

"Mary."

"AH!" Mary let out a shrill scream of surprise and promptly fell into the pond.

"Mary!" He hurried to help pull her out of the water.

"Dickon!" She shouted in shock. Dickon quickly removed the jacket he had been wearing and threw it around her. She couldn't believe what had just happened.

"I'm so sorry to ha' frightened tha. Is tha alright?" He patted her down to keep her warm.

"I'm alright, just wet." She said trying to comprehend the situation.

"Tha mun go inside before tha catches a cold." He led her towards the door mentally cursing himself for ruining what was going to be his moment. Mary obeyed and went inside mentally cursing herself for being an idiot and falling in a pond in front of the man she wanted to speak with.

Author's Note: The suspense is even killing me to try and get them together but it seems my fingers won't allow it yet. Cursed fingers.