*AN* SO sorry that there is so much confusion with the story! I started it over. I was starting to hate it and I felt that I went off the original plan I had for it, and now I've just deleted all the chapters and started fresh. Sorry to those of you returning and trying to figure out where all the other chapters went, and sorry to those of you who are wondering why I have reviews up to chapter 9. Don't worry though! I think you'll like this version better. I hope.

Chapter 3

That night Alex was plagued with a familiar dream. She was in a dimly lit room with an oversized bed in the center; she lay seductively on its silken sheets, wrapped in a blood red blanket.

A man came into view, he was tall; he'd always been so tall. She held out her arms to him, urging him to come to her. Her eyes pleaded with him to come closer to her. He only stood there, watching her, wanting her but never moving.

She stood up and went to him instead, dragging the blanket with her. She was enveloped with the scent of him, sweat and earth, with always just a hint of cinnamon.

He embraced her lovingly, caressing her back with his strong hands.

"Why won't you move?" She asked him

"You are the one unmoving, you stubborn girl." He whispered.

Alex sat up with a fright, waking instantly from her dream. Her forehead was damp with sweat, and she shivered, but not from the cold. The instant she woke from her dream she knew it was him. It was always him. Alex looked around her darkened bedroom and frowned. That had been the third time that week she had awoken with Fred's face still fresh in her mind. She got out of bed to make herself a pot of tea, wrapping her favorite lime green bath robe around her to keep the night's chill off. As she busied herself in the tiny kitchen she noticed a small tapping noise. By the time her tea was ready, the noise had gotten louder, and Alex was certain she was going mad.

"What in bloody hell is that noise?" The voice came from the couch in a mumbled blur.

Alex dropped her teacup and screamed, backing up against the wall.

David sat up straight and threw up his hands, "Alex! It's ok! It's just me!"

With a hand to her heart, Alex let out an audible sigh of relief. "Bloody hell David, you're going to give me a heart attack. What are you still doing here?"

David stood up and sheepishly put his hands in his pockets. "I wanted to make sure you were alright, I hope you don't mind."

"I wouldn't have, had you told me." She scolded. The tapping noise was still persisting, and Alex realized it was coming from her balcony. She slid open the glass door and jumped back as a large, brown owl swooped in. It looked quite irritated.

"Whoa! Don't panic Alex!" David screamed. "I'll get it! It's alright!" He flapped around trying to herd the bird back toward the door. Jumping around and flailing his arms in the air, David looked ridiculous. Alex crossed her arms and stood there watching, shaking her head. Calmly, she walked over to where her purse sat on the counter, pulled out a few coins and waited for the bird to land on her kitchen table. The owl stuck out its leg, glowering at her.

"Don't give me that look; it's not my fault you're delivering at all hours of the night." She snapped, putting the coins in a little bag tied to the bird's leg. She unraveled the note as the bird took off again out the door.

David stood there, wide eyed and open mouthed. "Wh-what just…did you just? I'm so confused."

Alex peered over the note and stared at him. "Haven't you ever received a letter by owl post?"

"Owl post?" David asked, thoroughly confused.

Alex frowned. It had been so long since she had used regular posts she had forgotten that owls weren't normally seen delivering messages.

"Very intelligent creatures." She stated quietly, going back to her letter.

"How did it even find you?" David asked, still in awe.

Alex shrugged. "No idea."

"And you're not at all bothered by that?" David asked as he sat down on the sofa once again.

Alex was deep into the message, not paying attention. Her eyes widened and she gasped.

"What is it? Who is it from?" David tapped his fingers on the couch impatiently. It was three o' clock in the morning, his girlfriend had just received a message by owl, and he wanted answers. He had known from the very beginning she was a little strange, but this was getting a little out of hand. "Alex. What's going on?" He asked a little louder.

She crumpled up the letter and stared at him. "My brother is getting married." She said distantly.

"Brother? You have a brother?" David asked in an abnormally high voice.

Alex nodded slightly, clutching the paper to her chest.

David stood up and marched over to where Alex was standing, lost in her thoughts. "Alright look, I think I've been patient enough, I want to know what this is about!" He nearly shouted at her.

Alex continued to stand completely still, only her eyes moved as she locked her gaze onto his. He stepped back a little as she narrowed them at him.

"My brother is getting married. What else is there to know?" She asked calmly.

"How about the fact that you've never once mentioned you had a brother?" He said angrily.

"I don't like to talk about my past David, you know that." Alex shrugged past him to return to her bedroom. She had to think, and David was still pestering her.

"Alex I just want to get to know you." He argued as she continued to walk away.

She turned to him and sighed. "David, you know the me that I want you to know. The me you want to know has been gone for quite a while now."

"What does that even mean?" He asked, frustrated.

Alex smiled. "Not sure. Good night David." She shut the door in his face and leaned into the hard wood frame.

What was she going to do?