AN: To my reviewers, you guys both keep the writing coming as well as make my day a good bit brighter. For both, I thank you. This chapter is a bit longer than usual...hope no one minds.

Take care and enjoy.


CHAPTER 5

"It is a cruel fate to have seen the beauty of a house before it burned to the ground. I pray instead you have a lifetime of observing only the ashes of origins unknown."


CATHERINE POV

Turns out, what my sister and Sara had planned for me was a stay in a beautiful resort in the mountains of southern Utah. From the first moment I laid eyes on the place, I was in awe.

The resort's main lodge is a stunning wooden lodge with chandeliers and candles lighting the stately old cherry wood. The best part about the resort, however, is that the guests do not all stay together in the main lodge.

Instead, each group is escorted to a private cabin, completely out of sight of the rest of the guests and visitors, but close enough to reach the lodge for meals or other activities as desired.

Stepping out onto our private balcony, I breathe deep the clean, pine scented air around me.

You simply don't get fresh air like this in Vegas.

Feeling arms snake around my waist, I hold them tightly in my hands without opening my eyes.

"Are you happy?" Sara asks me quietly, her voice near my shoulder.

"Sara," I tell her sincerely, "I couldn't be any happier than I am in this moment."

"Good," Sara responds softly, and we both grow quiet, simply enjoying the secluded world around us.


"Godfrey Churn?" I question, my eyes wide.

Nancy shrugs, "I don't give a damn what his name is, it's only his hands that I care about."

"Alright," I relent somewhat dubiously, "Good luck with that."

Smiling, Nancy sends us a wave and heads out the door for her massage with a man named Godfrey Churn. Knowing my sister, she cares much less about the massage than the opportunity it allows Sara and I to have some time together alone.

"You sure you didn't want to go with her?" Sara questions, stepping into the kitchen area of the cabin.

"Sara," I chastise, "I haven't had any time alone with you in what feels like weeks. So, no, I would much rather enjoy every possible minute we have than be stabbed by some stranger."

Sara smiles, rinsing out her coffee mug. "Wasn't aware that 'stabbing' was part of a massage."

Coming around into the sitting area, Sara perches herself against the armrest of the couch.

"So what would you like to do?" she asks me.

Stepping up to the picture window, I gesture out towards the mountains. "What goes on out there?"

Sara shrugs, "There are some trails for hiking, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, things like that."

I smile, "I want to snowshoe."

Raising a brow, Sara looks at me dubiously. "You? You want to snowshoe?"

I nod emphatically, "Yes, Sara. I want to snowshoe."

She narrows her eyes. "You told me you hated the snow."

"I hated living in it for months on end when I lived in Montana," I tell her. "But I actually miss it from time to time and would love to spend a couple hours out there. It's beautiful out today."

Sara shrugs, straightening to a stand. "You don't have to convince me."

Smiling, she takes my hand, grabbing our coats and hats and heading out towards the great outdoors.


"So," Sara questions, plopping herself down beside me. "Is snowshoeing everything you dreamed it to be?"

Laughing, I rest my head against her shoulder, feeling her catch her breath.

"Better," I tell her honestly.

Despite my lack of coordination in most sporting activities, snowshoeing for some reason came more naturally to me. Perhaps because, if you have the art of walking mastered, you really have the most pivotal skill already handled.

Sara and I made great time, reaching the overlook we now find ourselves at in little more than an hour.

"God," I breathe out. "Look at this."

"I know," Sara says from beside me, her own eyes plastered on the sight before us.

As far as the eye can see are the peaks and drops of regal mountains, each one covered in blankets of snow and evergreens.

Having picked a more or less unlisted trail, there is not another person for what I suspect to be miles.

It's gorgeous.

"Thank you," I breathe out, tightening my hold on Sara's arm.

Shaking her head, Sara's eyes remain fixed on the frozen world around her.

"Stop thanking me," she says with a grin. "I'm enjoying this as much as you are."

Unable to resist any longer, I reach over and gently turn her face to mine. Leaning in, I kiss her softly against her lips.

Pulling back, Sara watches me silently, falling snow gently coming to land in her long lashes.

Without a word, she leans over and continues the kiss, our gloved hands resting against pinkened faces.

When we pull back, I cast my eyes out over the snow-dusted pines spread below us.

"Sara?" I question, my voice drifting easily along the frozen air. "Can I ask you something?"

"Of course," she responds, her breath leaving her mouth in wisps of white before disappearing.

"Do you ever think about getting married?" I question.

Instantly, Sara's head jerks to mine, her gaze planted firmly on my own. Searching my expression, she assesses me carefully.

It's clear that she is desperate to determine if I am serious.

"Us?" she questions.

"Yes, Sara," I shake my head, unable to help the smile that comes to my lips at her absurd question. "Us."

Growing serious again, I watch as a myriad of emotions play across Sara's eyes, their colors literally deepening with the emotions swirling underneath.

"All the time," she finally responds, her voice quiet.

"Really?" I question in surprise.

"Yes," she says seriously.

I nod silently, taking in this new information. Lately, I have been finding myself thinking more and more about my relationship with Sara.

I hate referring to her as my girlfriend or my partner to people, it feels so inadequate for what Sara is to me. What Sara means to me.

She is the only person in this world for me, and I want the world to recognize her as such.

I was worried, however, that perhaps Sara didn't feel the same. That maybe I was ready to commit to something that she wasn't, or won't ever, be ready to commit to.

Sara is a hard person to read sometimes, but one thing I know about her is that she hates to feel trapped or forced into a situation. I was worried that the idea of marriage would be like one giant nightmare for someone like her.

Feeling a hand on my cheek, my attention is directed back to the brunette beside me.

"Catherine?" Sara questions me softly.

"Sorry," I tell her. "It's just a lot to think about."

Sara nods, reaching over to pull me close.

"Would it freak you out to know that I was looking at rings about a month ago?" she asks quietly.

"What?" I question, genuinely surprised. But, at the same time elated. "You were?"

Sara smiles, her eyes still out on the mountainsides.

"I didn't mean to. But I was walking back to my car after a scene, and I passed this jewelry store. I don't know what came over me, but I went inside."

She turns her head so she can meet my eyes.

"I didn't buy anything, but I haven't been able to stop thinking about it." A rueful smile crosses her face. "Haven't been able to stop thinking about making an honest woman out of you."

Slapping her arm playfully, I shake my head at her.

"Sara, I had no idea," I admit in surprise.

She nods, leaning in to place a kiss into my hair. "I had no idea you thought about it, either."

I can't help but laugh. "We should really find more time to talk to each other."

Sara laughs as well, holding me close.

Taking a deep breath, I watch the snow falling all around us, the air so still and silent that I swear I can almost hear the flakes as they land amongst the trees.

"We'll revisit this," she promises me. "We'll do this properly."

I nod at the promise she is offering me with her words and confirming with her eyes, not caring in the least how long I have to wait. All that matters right now is that Sara is at my side and we are both ready to take this next step in our lives together.

Running my hand down her cheek before laying my head against her shoulder, I cling to Sara tightly.

I never want to let her, or this moment, go.


NANCY POV

Seeing Sara standing out on the balcony, I toss my cabin key on the counter and step out to join her.

"Hey," I call hesitantly, wondering why the hell she is standing out in the cold with only a tank top and running shorts.

Sara doesn't respond, and judging from the sweatshirt held in her hands, it's clear to me that she is lost in thought.

Reaching out, I place my hand on her arm, watching as she jumps at the contact.

Turning, she sees me, taking in a breath.

"Hey, Nancy, sorry."

Raising a brow, I watch the snow falling around us.

"You alright? You and Catherine seemed in your own little world tonight at dinner," I tell her with a smile.

Dinner was fantastic, and I really enjoyed spending the evening together, but I have to admit I was a bit creeped out by the grins that seemed permanently affixed to my dinner companions' faces.

Let's just say they were eerily happy, and I'm positive it had nothing to do with the food, delicious as it was.

"Catherine's taking a shower so I was going to head out for a quick run," Sara responds, as if that answers my question.

"Okaaay," I state, drawing out the word to let Sara know she isn't fooling anyone.

To let her know that I am aware that something is up, even if I am willing to back down about it.

"You want to come?" she offers.

Raising a brow, I shake my head. "I would just slow you down."

"The snow will slow me down," she responds. "It's likely going to be more of a walk than a run."

I am genuinely tempted for a moment before shaking my head. "No, that's alright."

"You sure?" she asks, turning to face me fully.

As soon as she does, I feel my heart slam to a stop in my chest.

I can't move.

I can't breathe.

"Nancy?" Sara questions, her voice sounding concerned, but also sounding very far away.

Reaching out, Sara takes hold of my arm, probably worried that I am about to pass out as I can feel the blood draining from my face.

"Nancy?" she prompts again, this time more insistent. "Are you alright?"

Forcing my eyes back to hers, I nod my head, physically trying to shake my thoughts back on track.

Watching me, Sara's eyes travel from mine to what I was previously staring at. Looking down at herself in confusion, I see the moment recognition hits her.

Without a moment's hesitation, Sara immediately puts on her sweatshirt.

"Nancy, I'm sorry," she apologizes. "I didn't realize…"

She trails off, and by this time my spell has been broken enough for me to feel more embarrassed than anything about what just happened.

My reaction caught me completely off guard, to say the least.

"No, Sara," I respond. "It's not your fault. I don't know what happened."

Sara looks uncomfortable, not sure what to say or do right now. "Nancy…"

I shake my head, sending her a knowing smile.

"It's alright, Sara. Really. I was going to see it sometime."

Sara lets out a breath, her concerned eyes fixed on me.

"It's just a scar, Nancy," she says quietly. "Nothing more."

She waits until my eyes meet hers.

"Nothing more," she repeats. "Not to me."

I nod at her words, taking them in. I know she is being honest with me, that she holds no ill will towards me for the two deep scars marring her shoulder as a result of my actions.

That knowledge helps, but it can't quite silence the thundering in my chest that resulted from seeing them for the first time.

I saw the incisions from the surgery when she was still healing, but I haven't seen the area since.

I haven't seen the scars that now mar her skin, and will for the rest of her life.

"Nancy," Sara calls, drawing my attention back to her once again.

It's clear to Sara, that while I am looking at her, my thoughts are still elsewhere.

My mind is elsewhere.

Shaking her head, Sara suddenly steps away from me to pull her sweatshirt up and over her head. Then, without a word, she does the same with her tank top.

Now, stepping slightly closer to me in nothing more than a sports bra and running shorts, she turns around.

Pointing to a spot below her left shoulder blade, she draws in a breath.

"From a beer bottle, when I folded the shirts in the laundry wrong."

My eyes take in the long scar, trying to process everything she is saying as her fingers move to a spot at the base of her neck.

"From a cigarette lighter, when I placed second in the state science fair."

Shifting, she points to a spot at her hip.

"From a plate glass window, when I borrowed a book from the library without asking my parents' permission."

Turning back around to face me, Sara's eyes fix themselves on my own.

"I could go on, Nancy," she says, and evidence of that horrible truth is on clear display in front of me.

"Those scars," she says sternly, "I'm not okay with. Will never be okay with."

She takes a breath before pointing to her shoulder.

"But this one?" she says. "This scar that was caused by my best friend when she simply did what was necessary to protect herself and the woman I love more than anything on this planet?"

Her eyes smolder into mine.

"This one I'm more than okay with, Nancy."

Silently staring at one another, I eventually break the moment by looking away so that I can wipe the moisture from my eyes.

Nodding, I return my gaze to hers.

"Thank you," I tell her in a whisper.

Moving away, Sara grabs her sweatshirt and pulls it back over her head.

Stepping forward, she takes me into her arms, silently holding me until I have myself pulled back together.

"Come on," she tells me with a warm smile. "You're coming on that walk with me."

Shaking my head, I can't help but roll my eyes as she fixes me with a look before disappearing inside to head out the back door down below.

Sometimes I want to kill Sara, but most times I want to simply kiss the girl senseless for her ability to read me so well. To know exactly what to say to me, to know exactly what I need to hear.

She's the type of friend that everyone should be so blessed to have in their life.

Before I have time to react, I suddenly find something cold and wet colliding with the side of my face.

Turning in shock, I look down at my shirt to find confirmation of what I suspected.

"Flynn!" I hear yelled below me. "I meant it!"

I duck just in time to avoid a second snowball from hitting me in the face, hearing it smack against the sliding door behind me instead.

Smiling despite myself, I grab an armful of snow and take off into the cabin.

Sara has no idea what she just started.

She may have better aim than me, but I have something much more valuable in the cold during a snowball fight.

I actually have on pants.


CATHERINE POV

Opening my eyes, I blink slowly at the sunlight coming in through the window. Getting my bearings, I turn slightly to the side, taking in the long legs next to me.

"Morning," Sara greets as I pull myself up to sit along the headboard next to her.

Leaning over, Sara places a soft kiss to my lips before pulling away with a smile on her face.

"Happy birthday, Catherine."

Smiling as well, I pull her in for another kiss, moaning into her lips.

"Happy birthday, indeed," I agree.

Moving her head back, Sara extracts herself from the bed.

"Don't move," she instructs me.

Raising a brow, I stay put as she leaves the room.

Entering again no more than a moment later, Sara steps through the door with a tray in her hands.

Making her way to the bed, she places the tray on my lap.

"Oh my God," I breathe out, taking in what's before me.

Looking over the food, the flowers, the coffee, I shake my head at how incredibly thoughtful the woman I fell in love with is.

Then, my eyes fall on what she made for me.

"Sara," I gasp. "I can't believe you remembered…"

Sitting softly beside me on the bed, Sara shrugs without comment.

Reaching over, I trace my fingers across her temple and down her cheekbone.

"Thank you," I tell her sincerely, my eyes watering.

Smiling at me, Sara takes my hand in hers and places a kiss along my knuckles.

I had once told Sara that my favorite birthday memories were when my grandfather was living with us in Montana when we were younger. He would wake us up at the crack of dawn, and he would make the most incredible black raspberry pancakes.

Looking down at the same pancakes on my plate, I close my eyes.

The smell of them alone takes me back to those cherished childhood days.

"I can't promise they taste anything like your grandfather's," Sara warns.

Opening my eyes, I place my hand across her chest. "They don't have to."

Sara nods, taking in my meaning, watching me as I start to dig in.

Swallowing, I groan.

"Sara, these are amazing," I tell her sincerely. "You have nothing to worry about."

Smiling, she settles back against the headboard, silently watching me as I eat.

"Aren't you going to have something?" I question her, feeling awkward gorging myself while she's silently watching without anything of her own.

"I'm good," she tells me, reaching out to run her fingers softly through my hair as I continue to eat the copious amount of food before me.

Just as I am finishing, there is a hesitant knock on the door.

Poking her head inside, Nancy has her eyes covered with her hands.

"Can I come in?" she asks. "Are you guys decent?"

Laughing, I toss a spare pillow off the bed at her. "Yes, smartass."

Opening her eyes, Nancy grins.

"Happy birthday, sis!" she greets excitedly, moving to the side of the bed to place a kiss on my cheek.

"Thank you," I tell her warmly, watching as her eyes travel over the empty plates.

Seeing the ones that held the raspberry pancakes, she sends a questioning look my way before fixing her eyes on Sara.

Face breaking out into a beaming smile, Nancy only nods, her attention turning back to me.

"Well, as soon as you're ready, Sara and I have a couple things planned for you today," my sister informs me.

"Oh really?" I inquire curiously, glancing over at Sara who is remaining silent on the matter.

"Really," Nancy responds. "In fact, I need to borrow Sara for a moment while you get dressed."

Leaning over, Sara places a kiss into my hair before grabbing the tray from my lap, turning to follow Nancy out of the room.

"See you in a few," she promises me with a wink.


The 'couple things' Nancy and Sara had planned was more like an entire day full of things.

There wasn't a single moment were we all weren't smiling or laughing as we did one sort of activity together or another.

I have never been so pleasantly exhausted in all my life.

Turning around in the darkened Tahoe as we make our way back home, I can't help but smile at my sister fast asleep in the back seat, the crooked birthday party hat she insisted on wearing the entire day still atop her head.

Reaching over, I take Sara's hand in mine as she keeps us moving through the silent and deserted freeway towards Vegas.

Squeezing her hand, I smile back at her when she turns to smile at me, and I allow my eyes to close in surrender to the pull of sleep.

Who knew it was possible to be this happy?

"Cath…"

Sara gently prompts me awake and helps me out of the car to head into the house.

"Did Nancy already leave?" I ask blearily, noting that her car is no longer in the drive.

"Yeah," Sara tells me softly. "She left a few minutes ago, said she would call you in the morning."

I nod, making my way with Sara into the bedroom.

Quietly, we both get ready for bed, exhausted after our busy day and our late arrival back home.

Exiting the bathroom, I find Sara sitting on the edge of our bed waiting for me.

"Thank you so much for everything, Sara," I tell her, knowing I will never be able to thank her or my sister enough for this trip.

It was exactly what I needed, exactly when I needed it.

Sara smiles, shaking her head before she grows serious again.

Taking in her expression, I sit next to her.

"You okay, babe?" I ask.

Pulling herself from her thoughts, she nods.

"Yeah," she says. "I actually have one more thing I wanted to give you."

My eyes grow wide, wondering what in the world could there possibly be left on this earth for her to give me.

Before I can speak, she reaches beside her and pulls out a long black box.

Handing it to me wordlessly, I search her eyes for a moment before accepting it.

"I wanted to give this to you in private," she explains quietly.

Opening the box in my hands slowly, I gasp at what I find inside.

"That day I went into the jewelry shop, I didn't buy the rings. But I didn't leave empty handed, either," she whispers.

Running my fingers over the necklace, I take in the brilliant blue sapphires and the glimmering aquamarines that are blended together in perfect harmony along the silver strand.

"Our birthstones," I breathe out, recognizing my own topaz and seeing the sapphire of Sara's September birth month.

Reaching for the silver pendent in the center, I turn it over in my hand, admiring its beauty.

Looking closer, I'm surprised when I see Roman numerals subtly inscribed along the back.

"It's the date I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you," Sara explains softly from my side.

Seeing what the date is, I cannot help but smile. "It's the day we met."

Sara smiles softly as well.

Pulling her in for a kiss, I close my eyes as I rest my forehead against hers.

"Sara, I don't know what to say," I tell her honestly.

No thanks could ever be enough.

Kissing her softly, Sara is smiling at me when we break apart.

"You just said it."


AN: Hmm...seems we have reached the peak of happiness for these two...guess there is really only one place to go from here... ;) Hope you enjoyed the 'pleasant' part of this journey, I think we all know I have an inability to simply let people be happy in my stories. Not really sure what that says about me. Thanks for reading, would love to hear your thoughts.