A/N: Ah yes, another chapter is here. Sorry if I can't update sooner than I would like. My homework is crazy and I'm stupid (even though I have straight A's, but who cares?). So thank you to my loyal readers and reviewers. Enjoy.

Jane sat sleepily in a well cushioned arm chair, head bobbing half to stay awake and half to the music.

It was after dinner late Wednesday night when she had gotten an unexpected knock on her door.

And an even more unexpected guest.

She had rolled over towards the clock to find it was almost midnight and dragged herself from bed. Stumbling across the room she managed to open the door without seriously injuring herself. Stretch floating in the doorway was what met her bleary gaze, his face stoic and emotionless. She tried to stare back but her energy was zapped and all she could really do was fight to keep her eyelids open.

"Come on," he said simply with a jerk of his head. When she showed no signs of moving, annoyance flickered through his expression. "You said ya wanted ta listen da next time I play. So, ya come'n?"

When Jane finally processed his words she woke up just enough to follow him. And now she was sitting (or cuddling for a better word) into the squishy material, having not registered all the twists and stairs she had taken to get there. But even in her sleepy state she could hear how beautiful his music was. It was gentle this time, flowing into her ears and swirling deliciously through her mind. However, she knew that anytime now her eye lids would get too heavy to stay open. And as if on cue, a chord rang out, triggering something in her brain that caused her whole body to slump. Her only thought before leaving the conscious world was hoping that Stretch wouldn't get angry.

XxXxXxXxX

Contrary to what Jane thought, Stretch was happy to have her barely conscious while he played. That way, he wouldn't have to deal with someone listening so intently to his music. He had never liked to play in front of other people in life except for his step mother and sometimes his brothers. But something about this woman nagged at the back of his mind. He felt that he didn't mind playing in front of her. It was natural, almost instinctive.

…familiar.

In the beginning he had not really paid attention to her, but now that she was so close he could feel a vibe contemporary. It was as if he had known her in life, but not completely.

After thinking that he sneered to himself. What a stupid thing to think. If she had been alive while he was too, she would most likely be dead. And if not, she would have turned into an old crow by now. And she certainly wasn't an old crow, not even close.

Pushing away the confusing thoughts he glanced sideways at Jane, smirking as he watched her fight to stay awake. He had purposely chosen to play a lullaby. The reason? Hell if he knew. Hitting the major chord that always put his little brothers to sleep, Stretch half laughed as Jane relaxed completely in her chair. He still didn't know why it did that, but it seemed she and his kin had more in common than one would think. Nostalgia taking over for a moment, he smiled at the thought that she and J.T would have gotten along great. Not as a couple, but as good friends. Same thing with himself.

She would have probably liked Fatso a lot in life as well. He had always been a people person. Even where he worked, the people who should have resented him reluctantly took a liking to him. And Stinkie…well, he just couldn't really see his brother in the equation. As much as he hated to admit it, Stinkie seemed to have not been a part of their family in life. Some people even forgot he was a McFadden when they were children. He had always been terribly shy, but finally broke out of it when their aunt had visited and said, "Oh, are you a friend of my little nephews?"

He was seven at the time when he finally snapped. Not in anger like most children would, but had a complete mental breakdown when he realized people only saw him as a shadow. Stretch had found him inching slowly towards the cliff by their mansion. He knew Stinkie wasn't going to jump, but somebody had to chase after him. When he had reached him, Stinkie had turned into his arms and clung for dear life. Sobs and hiccups wracked through his entire body, and through a sniveling mess, Stinkie let out an ear piercing shriek of rants. He screamed at his family, the people around him, the world. But mostly he screamed at himself. When he had finally calmed down enough to speak, it was whispered and hoarse. He begged Stretch to teach him to be someone, and the older brother honestly didn't know how to do that. So he told him the only thing he could think of.

"Jus watch me den."

That was when Stinkie had finally become one of his followers. Naturally he had been the leader in childhood, but Stinkie had never really wanted to join in their little group. But after that day he stuck the closest to Stretch, and they had all become dependent on their wise brother's company. That had lasted into a good portion of their teen years even after their parents died. But it was Fatso who had broken away first, following the path of justice. Then, it was J.T, running off with the love of his life. It almost crushed Stretch when Stinkie finally began to drift from their bond, following his dreams like the others. He soon found himself becoming dependent on their company. His brothers were the only thing that kept his sanity intact when all that surrounded him then was money and sex.

Stretch swallowed hard as he felt the tingling of thick, nonexistent bile in the back of his transparent throat. They had been truly the worst times of his life when he wasn't around at least one of them. The thrill of all the woman practically ripping off their clothes for him had wore off quicker than any man would imagine. He had begun looking on in jealousy as J.T and Fatso walked around with their wives as if they were the luckiest men on earth. Which they probably were, but he was too stubborn to admit it. After they had gotten married, the only true bond remaining was with Stinkie. The poor boy had never even held a girl's hand before he died. Stretch pitied him, but the more sadistic side was slightly happy Stinkie was lonelier than him. It was times like that when Stretch truly realized what an asshole he was.

Blinking, he realized he had finished the song on autopilot and was now just staring at the keys. Jane shifted slightly and he turned to watch her. She was cold, if her curling was anything to go by. Hesitating, he warred with just leaving her their or taking her back to the room. Deciding on the former he grabbed a blanket (shaking out the dust) and laid it over her. Her nose wrinkled, probably from the old smell, but otherwise laid still. Giving one last glance, Stretch headed back to his room.

XxXxXxXxX

A warm breeze flitted softly across Jane's face, cooling her pink cheeks slightly. She laughed as the grass tickled the back of her neck. Her attempt at shifting away from the tingle was foiled when her body met with another. The mass of warmth next to her chuckled as she wriggled against it.

"Move, I'm try'n to roll," she pouted in mock annoyance.

The mass chuckled again, and instead of complying rolled onto her.

"Not funny!" she grunted as the weight made it harder to breath.

"Do you really mean that?" said it's voice, indicating that the mass was indeed very male.

She tugged a bit roughly on the black curls that adorned his head with a smile.

"Maybe," she sighed as the man lifted to rest above her on his forearms.

She looked up into his eyes, noticing the immediate change in the dark irises. Her heart sped up a bit as he leaned down, slightly chapped lips capturing her own soft ones in a slow kiss. It built slightly more passionate as one hand came to rest on her hip, kneading. Stopping it's massage he began moving up her side lightly, sending chills through her spine and making her arch. He then lowered it to her leg, bringing it up to wrap around his waist as he gently moved against her. The fabric of their jeans created a delicious friction and they soon began to get more frantic. She whined a little when he left but began smiling in excitement when he reached for her button and zipper…

Jane awoke groggily, her neck pained from being bent in a strange position. Sitting up slowly she immediately noticed the anxious state of her nether regions.

Great, now I'm all hot and bothered…

Still sleepy and having no idea what time it was Jane left her makeshift bed and wandered out of the room. Funny, if she had been fully conscious she doubted she would've been able to make it back to the winding stair case. Her body had moved on auto pilot, and she worried slightly if she would only be able to hear Stretch play when she was half unconscious.

More awake now Jane trudged down the stairs with a mighty thirst. A passing clock told her it was 4:00 am, so after a quick glass of water she could catch a few more hours of sleep.

In the kitchen now it took a few gulps of cold H2O before she smelt it.

And DAMN did it smell good!

She turned in mid gulp, almost doing a spit take but choked it down. After a violent coughing fit Jane went slack jawed at the master piece before her.

It was a cake!

It looked to be at least three layers tall and forest themed. The entire surface of it was iced in green with many wildflowers in all colors decorating the sides. On top was the actual forest, with tree trunks (probably made from cake as well) iced brown with green iced leaves. Looking closer she gasped at the detail, each icing leaf been carved with real leaf features. Even the tree trunks had darker brown swirls and knots. Her shocked face dissolved into giggles when she discovered a squirrel in the largest tree.

Jane stared for awhile longer, wondering who could have done it. Casper of course, she thought with a fond smile. Who else would cook this?

Her curiosity satisfied Jane drank the rest of her water and headed to her room. She couldn't wait to talk to Casper about it later.