Dear Readers,

FINALLY, CHAPTER 3!!!!!!!! does a little dance I was going to start a completely new fanfic about Stargate: Atlantis, but then I remembered how much I already have to update and that it would be mean to keep people waiting. So I decided on writing chap 3 instead! I was randomly inspired minutes into writing the first paragraph, and voila! The plot for this chappie just came--I orginally didn't know what I was going to do with it. But God works miracles :D So, I hope you guys enjoy this, and review!

Best Regards from a Bookworm,

Miss Pookamonga ;-P

Over the next few days, Jane continued to find rose after rose on her windowsill. Although she was initially shocked and somewhat annoyed at the entire "secret admirer" situation, she suddenly found herself growing to like it. She tried her best to hide the fact that she was hopelessly flattered by receiving a red rose every day, lest someone notice a significant change in her behavior and asked questions. Jane had no desire for gossip to spread about this, although she knew in her heart that the story was bound to get out sometime. Naturally, secrets were never kept for very long within the castle walls.

Jane hadn't ceased her search for the mysterious rose-giver, however. She and Dragon very closely observed every young man in the castle, particularly those whom Jane knew well. But nothing in the boys' behavior seemed to be out of place, so Jane was continually at a loss for more information on her secret admirer.

Since observation hadn't worked, Jane would have to try something else. She spent quite a bit of time in her bedchamber, pondering over a plan, but nothing came to her. Until one day...

Jane was lying flat on her bed, attempting to devise a new plan of action to discover the identity of her secret admirer. As usual, her mind was entirely devoid of ideas. In her hand, she fingered yesterday's rose. She eyed the stubs on the stem where the thorns had once been. Whoever-it-was must've had a gardener cut them off, so she wouldn't prick herself.

A gardener...like Rake!

Jane suddenly had an idea.

She found Rake in the garden, tending to some azalea bushes. He didn't seem to notice her, until she tapped him lightly on the shoulder. He spun around in surprise but let out a sigh of relief when he saw that it was only Jane.

"Oh, hello, Jane! I thought you'd gone up to your room to take a nap," Rake said before he turned back around and continued tending to the bushes.

"Well...I did, but I then I realized that I...h-had a question to ask you." Well, this certainly isn't awkward, Jane thought sarcastically.

"Oh? And what's that?" asked Rake as he crouched down to tend to the soil.

"Well...I...I was wondering if anyone had come to you for roses lately," answered Jane nervously. Honestly, what is wrong with me? It's just a simple question—it's not like he's going to suspect anything.

Rake chuckled in response. "Lots of people come to me for roses all the time, Jane," he said as he turned his head to look at her.

"Well, I wanted to know if anyone has been coming to get roses...periodically, that is."

Rake suddenly stopped what he was doing and stared at the ground. Jane noticed that his face had gone from warm and friendly to seemingly anxious in a split second. "Rake? Are you all right?" she asked, concerned.

"Ummm...uh, yes! Of course," answered Rake quickly, standing up and brushing himself off. A half-hearted grin crossed his face, but Jane could still see a hint of nervousness in his eyes.

"Someone has come to you. Daily, I presume."

"I...uh...well..." Rake trailed off and looked away, absent-mindedly scratching the back of his head.

"Rake. Don't lie to me," said Jane sternly, putting her hands on her hips.

Rake reluctantly lifted his eyes up to meet hers. "Oh...all right!" he sighed as he let his arm flop to his side. "Someone has been coming to get roses from me every day for the past week. But that's all I can say!"

Jane let the information sink in. So...Rake knew who her secret admirer was!

"Who is it, Rake? You know all about it, don't you?"

"I—uh—yes, I do," he muttered, obviously frustrated. "But I can't tell you who it is. I promised I wouldn't say anything!"

Jane scowled. She didn't want to force the information out of Rake, but she felt surprisingly desperate. She hated leaving mysteries unsolved—she was the type to always sort out a problem when there was one. And when she was so close to solving this one...turning away the opportunity would be unbearable.

"Please, can't you just give me a hint?" she pleaded.

"I can't, Jane. I'm sorry. I made a promise." Rake eyed her apologetically.

Jane sighed. "You're right. I'm sorry. I understand. Thanks, though." She turned away to leave, but Rake's voice suddenly stopped her.

"He's bound to reveal himself in due time," Rake called. "All secret admirers do."

Jane smiled slightly. What Rake said did seem to be true. "Thank you, Rake," she said sincerely. Then she began walking back to her bedchamber.

Jane was passing through the archway to Smithy's courtyard when someone suddenly crashed into her, abruptly knocking the wind out of her and toppling her to the ground. For a minute, Jane lay on the dirt, stunned. But she was even more stunned when the person who had run into her lifted his head.

"Gunther?!"

Gunther's mouth dropped open, and he stared at her for a moment, a mixture of fear and bewilderment crossing his face. Jane, confused as to why he was looking at her like that and why he wasn't moving, opened her mouth to say something more. But before she could, Gunther hastily extricated himself from her and stood up. He offered his hand, which Jane gratefully took as she pulled herself back up onto her feet.

"Are you all right?!" cried Gunther worriedly.

"I'm fine, really," answered Jane as she brushed the dirt off her. She looked down, suddenly trying to hide a blush—a blush which was startlingly not coming from embarrassment at having been knocked to the ground. "What were you in such a hurry for?"

"I-I'm so sorry," Gunther stammered breathlessly. "I was...going to see Rake. About...something...urgent."

Jane looked up at him. He looked a complete wreck. His eyes were as wide as walnuts. He was biting his lip. He seemed shaky, and his face was twisted in anxiety—much like Rake's had been a few minutes before, but worse.

"Gunther, are you sure you're okay?" Jane asked, more than a little shocked at his uncharacteristic behavior.

"What? Who, me? Oh—oh no. I'm fine." He forced a sideways smile onto his face to try to appear as normal as he could, but it didn't convince Jane.

"You look...to be honest...a bit unwell. You're sure you're all right?" Jane stepped a little closer to him, her eyes wide with concern.

"Yes!" Gunther cried suddenly, jumping backward. "I mean, yes. Really, I'm all right. But I have to, um, go." He turned to leave. "Sorry about that, again—knocking into I mean," he called over his shoulder.

"Uh, all right—as long as you're sure you're fine!" Jane called as Gunther sprinted away.

That was very strange, Jane thought as she continued walking back to her bedchamber. I do hope he's all right—Gunther's never that nervous about anything. Jane didn't think much on the encounter until a stunning realization hit her. She whirled around and stared back at the archway to the garden. Gunther had said he was going to see Rake about "something urgent". Could it really be...?

"No, it can't," Jane told herself, shaking her head.

But for some reason, she hardly believed herself.