We went back to the lake, and it the warm breeze that filled the nights sky, followed right behind us. It's soft caressing body flowed against our backs as Angela walked by my side. I wrapped my arm around her side and kissed her forehead as we walked and talked. Our conversations ranged from the our sleeping company we left behind, to the future. We both knew that Emily and Nick were only ten months from moving in together in July. I told her how he planned to find a full time job with his uncle, and how he was hoping Emily would find some work to make the transition a little easier.

She told me that Emily planned on going to school, and she did the same. I said I didn't mind. And as we drew closer she looked up at me with her endless beauty, and asked me, "Do you think we'll still be together in ten months?" Her words did put a little doubt in my mind, but not enough for me to be unable to respond.

"Do you love me?" I asked her.

It was the first time that word had escaped my lips. I was so used to keeping it in my mind, until I was sure we were ready for me to throw it on the line.

"Even without the sex, I'd still love you." She replied, after thinking it over.

"Then I love you, and you love me." I said looking ahead as the lake came into sight. "And that's all that matters."

She snickered as she pushed me away and made a run for the water. And after I gained my balance, I chased her.

She jumped in the second she was in range and I wasn't but a second behind. And as I dove in, she came up laughing and splashing me as I fought against the weight of the water to get too her. "That's not fair!" I yelled as water splashed into my mouth. I could taste the dirt and grass that intermingled and floated within the lake.

"And being chased by a wolf is?!" She said not letting up one bit. It wasn't until I was in reach to grab her arms that she sprung forward on me, and we both went under. I couldn't stop laughing and gasped for air when I finally came up.

"You jerk!" I yelled as she came up after me.

She hopped onto me, wrapping her legs around my waist. "I'm only a jerk if you don't win anything." She said smiling at me, her arms resting on my shoulders. She cocked her head to the side as she leaned in for a kiss. Her lips were only an inch from mine when we both heard it.

The strum of a guitar sounded from the shore. And sitting on a broken tree branch, right at the waters edge with his feet in the water, was the strange man with the guitar. He wore a black shirt and black pants, he looked like he'd just gotten back from a funeral. Except for his hat. He wore a large wicker hat, that hid those wild features that I'd remembered from my child hood.

He looked up at my angry face. Angela hid herself behind me, and he stood. "I apologize for my intrusion Michael, Angela." I hated his knowledge.

"Who is that, Michael?" Angela said angrily from behind me.

Putting down his acoustic guitar, he removed his hat, and bowed. "I'm sorry, how rude of myself. I'm the Musician. Derryl A. Treadway, the second." His black hair hung down like a shroud over his face. Last time I'd seen him, he looked to be in his twenties, and as he stood there, I knew he didn't age. The only thing different about him was his hair, and his guitar.

"What are you doing here?" I yelled over at him.

"I'm here, to give you a choice." He said, sitting down at the lakes edge, sinking his legs into the water, ruining his black pants. His face fell as he chose his words. "The beautiful girl in your arms is your salvation, Michael. But there will be pain in remaining with her."

Angela gripped my sides as he spoke. Just the mentioning of her seemed to make her uneasy. And she wasn't the only one. Inside, I knew he was right. He'd been right before.

"What do you mean?!" I yelled, clenching my fists. I had no patience with him.

"Just remember two things. Those who you protect, aren't always your friends. And when the time comes, you have to forgive yourself." Hate boiled across my ears from what he said. Always cryptic, never revealing the truth until it became painfully apparent.

"Derryl! Who wins when you complicate the truth!?" I yelled at him, those browning green eyes glinted sorrow across the lakes rippling water.

He picked himself up and grabbed his guitar, preparing to leave. And before he left, he cocked his head to the side. "The devil."

My skin crawled at his mentioning. 'He didn't mean the real devil... did he?'

Before I could ask, he was gone, disappeared into the forest like he'd never been there. Angela shook in the water.

I wrapped her up in my arms to warm her til we got to the shore. The night was ruined, or so I thought. As we exited the water, I almost tripped on a small box lying on the shore, I hadn't even seen it when the musician was there.

On top of it was a small card, taped to the small, brown cardboard box. It was a knee high, square box, and on it's small card, decorated with little guitars around it's edge, it read:

Sorry for the intrusion, but my news shouldn't be enough to keep your love from blossoming on this beautiful night. So under the moon so blue, and at the waters edge so narrow, take the world as your own. You both deserve the best life has to offer, and if I can help, I will.

I reread the note and then handed it to Angela, who awed at it. "That was so sweet, for such a creepy man." She said trying to figure him out.

"Yeah, I thought the same thing when I first met him!" I said, opening the box. "Okay, we've got a blanket, thick and silk! Nice!" I said going over what was in the box. And pulling the blanket out and handing it too Angela, "We've got two towels. Here, bae. Take these. And... a knife and a phone..."

"Is he always like this?" She asked thinking the exact same thoughts I was.

"I don't know. But since he was so generous..." I said, smiling at her as she dried herself off with the blue towel.

She smiled back.

And as I cleared a spot for the extremely large blanket, in the grass, she checked out the phone. "What time do you need to wake up?" She asked.

"Four. Why?"

"Cause that's what the alarms set for."

"Figures."

******************************************************************************

She washed her feet in the lake as I made a tent with the blanket and a near by tree branch. The ground was firm but comfortable, something I wouldn't mind sleeping on. And once I was done with that, I made a small fire a few feet from the entrance to the tent, which pointed out to the water. I made the fire big enough so that we didn't have to worry about small bugs crawling in the tent, yet small enough so that it didn't keep us up all night. Seeing as how I had work in the morning.

She walked over and into the tent, quickly lying on her stomach next to me as I was on my back. She ran her fingers over my chest softly as she looked into my eyes. "I love you." She said. It was the first time she'd said it out right, and it felt right to tell her I loved her too.

That night, we just lied next to each other, staring into each other's eyes until we both fell asleep. No words, no sex, no distractions. There was only us, and the fire crackling at our feet. And as the night drew to a close, she pulled her body semi-over mine, intertwined her right leg in between mine, and kissed my chest before going to sleep.

"I love you too, bae."