I looked in the mirror at my dress. "I guess it will have to do." I do not know why I want to impress him. "Hey, Matthew can you come here a minute?" I called.

"Yeah hun?" He said as he walked into my room.

"Should I wear my hair up or down?" I asked self-consciously.

"I like them both." he said with a shrug.

"But which one should I wear to impress somebody? Oh! Wait, I mean to not impress somebody." I said. I knew Mathew was confused but I was not sure if I wanted to impress Jonathan or not.

"The way you have it now is fine for both." he said with a chuckle as he walked out of the room.

I smoothed my dress out once more "You look fine," I told the person in the mirror. Her forehead wrinkled in a frown.

"But I don't want to look fine, you do. I would rather wear our sword fighting outfit than this dress, because Jonathan is not the one that I want to impress." She said with a hint in her voice.

"Oh? And who is it that you want to impress exactly?" I said getting angry with myself; I really had no clue about whom I was talking.

"Isn't it obvious? It-" I cut her short, "It's time to go, and I'm too old to be talking to you still, so ha." I said that last part a little childishly. I walked out of the room, annoyed. Who was she about to say?

I walked into The Inn and looked around for Jonathan. I finally saw him; he was sitting at a table in a dark corner. "Aww, It's gonna be so romantic." I whispered sarcastically to myself. He had probably planned it all out that way. A number of possible ways to make this night unpleasant for him passed though my head, but I quickly dismissed them. That would not be very nice and so far he had been nothing but kind to me.

"Hello, Rachel. Wow, you look… stunning." He said as he studied me with an open gaze, somehow I had gotten so used to it that I did not blush this time. However, my stomach did something weird, it was like butterflies but instead of it being a bad feeling, it felt rather good. It made me smile.

"Thank you. You look handsome yourself." He really did.

He smiled back. "Let's sit down." I sat on one side and he sat opposite me.

"So Rachel, what do you want to eat? I'd like to get the food out of the way so we can talk and get to know each other." He said with what I thought was a rather nice smile.

We ordered and the food came out quickly. Once we were done, we started to ask each other questions.

"So," he said, "do you like living in this town?"

"Yes, I have lived here all my life."

"Do you ever wish to leave? I mean there is a whole world out there." he said

"No, I think not. My parents died here and the ones that I love are here, why would I ever want to leave?"

"Do you ever wish to marry?" He said as he raised one of his eyebrows.

"Yes, and have kids." I said remembering earlier today with the baby Caleb; I sighed and looked down at my hands in my lap.

"Who are the most important people in your life, Rachel?" He asked kindly.

"Well there is Mathew he is like a father to me; also there is my adopted mother Mrs. Jackson, and my best friend Nick." I said with a smile.

His face turned up in a smirk. "You mean Nicholas Jackson?" he asked skeptically.

"Yes, do you know him?" I asked.

"Yes, He visited my sister and me about a year ago. He and Beatrice had a romantic spark back then." he chuckled "He followed her around like a lost puppy dog." Then he looked at me and smiled "but I'm sure you know about all of this."

I felt like I was going to barf up my stomach and everything in it. "Umm, yeah could you take me home? I'm not feeling too good." I asked him, remembering the last time I had tried to walk home when I felt sick.

"Of course, right away." He said with a worried look.

"Thank you."

We started to make our way out of the restaurant; Jonathan had a hand on my elbow worried that I would fall on my face. When he froze pulling me to a stop too, I looked at his face and then followed his eyes.

He was looking at a table across the room, at it sat his sister and someone else but I could not see his face because he was sitting with his back to us, she was laughing at something he had said, she looked pretty with a smile on her face.

Then she saw us and waved us over to her. I was hesitant to go to her; I really just wanted to get home.

However, Jonathan was already walking over, and he was still holding my arm so I had no choice but to go with him.

When we got to the table, I saw who was with her and my heart dropped from its place in my chest to my stomach. It was Nick. Nick was at a table with Beatrice Redmond.

"Rachel darling, it's so nice to see you again! Have you met Nicholas?" She said her voice was sickly sweet.

"Yes, I have." I said, trying to keep my voice level.

I looked at Nick; he was staring at me, why was he staring at me?

He frowned. "Actually, we have known each other for our whole lives." He said then he looked from my face to Jonathan's hand on my arm, up to Jonathan's face then back to my face, with a question in his eyes.

In response to his unspoken question, I looked to Beatrice, then to the table then back to him and raised my eyebrows. His eyes darted to Beatrice then to Jonathan, but I didn't understand what he meant.

"I didn't see you come in Jonathan, where were you sitting?" Beatrice asked her brother.

"We were sitting over there in the corner." He jerked his thumb towards the other side of the room.

"Oh! How romantic." She said as she looked from Jonathan to me.

A wave of nausea caused me to miss what Nick said but apparently, it was funny because everyone but me laughed. In addition, Beatrice put her hand on top of Nick's which was lying on the table as she said, "Oh Nick you are so funny!" She said this in a voice thick with flirting, accompanied by a flirtatious smile. That caused a feeling that I did not like, I was pretty sure it was jealousy. Why am I jealous? I am not allowed to be jealous, because Nick is not mine.

Then I turned to Jonathan "Can we please go now?" I looked up at him with pleading eyes, as I said this.

"Umm yeah sure, it's nice to see you again Nicholas. See you at home Bea." I would not look at Nick again, I could not, or I would start crying. Jonathan slid his arm around my waist, and I was glad because I needed the extra support.

"Are you okay?" He asked when we were out of earshot.

"Yeah I'm fine, I just need some air." I said trying not to lie completely.

We finally got outside and I took a deep breath of air, still trying not to cry. I don't know why I am so emotional tonight. I thought.

We walked in silence, his arm still around me because I still needed it, and he seemed to know that.

We reached my house, he still had not said anything to me, until now, "You're in love with him aren't you?" He asked in a whisper.

I thought about this, I had never considered Nick as more than a brother, but now I'm not so sure. "I don't know I used to know but… I'm just not sure of anything anymore." I said. "I'm sorry-" My voice cracked, and a tear escaped from my eye.

He caught it with his thumb, but did not remove his hand from my face; instead, he laid his other hand on the other side of my face. He tipped my head and kissed my hair.

"Good luck with him, I'll try to keep my sister away from him, and oh, Rachel?" He said as if he had just remembered something.

"Yes?"

"I lied to you earlier, about Bea and Nick, I said that Nick followed Bea like a puppy, but it was the other way around and Nick wasn't even interested, at all." He lowered his head humbly. "I guess I'm turning into one of my family."

"It's ok, really. Moreover, you are not that bad, I actually liked you tonight. Hey, how about we get together again soon! But as friends this time?" I said, feeling sorry for him but also really wanting to see him again.

"Thank you. You really do look stunning. I had fun tonight." He said with a genuine smile.

"Thank you too, for everything. I meant what I said about getting together again. Hey, do you like swordsmanship?" I asked excitedly.

"Umm, Yeah I guess." He said, confused by the turn of the conversation.

I laughed at his expression. "How 'bout we meet here, tomorrow afternoon, at three O' clock?" I asked hopefully.

It was his turn to laugh at my expression. "Sure, why not?"

"Okay, wear your fighting clothes and bring your sword." I said as I reached up on the tips of my toes and kissed him on the cheek. I bounced towards the house, but before I went in I called back "Thank you again! "And remember tomorrow at three!"

"I'll remember!" he called back, and I could hear the smile in his voice, he was laughing at me!

I stuck my tongue out in his direction, I knew he could see me because I was standing in the door and the light was shining on me. I heard a laugh coming from the darkness. I smiled.

I went to my room, got changed, and got in bed then I started thinking about all that had happened today, It had turned out to be a good day, I finally fell asleep with Nick on my mind, a smile on my lips, and I didn't have a bad dream that night, but I did have good dreams.

Nick's POV:

I couldn't believe my eyes when Rachel walked up to our table, because she looked well, perfect, along with all of this; engrossing, inviting, entrancing, riveting, exhilarating, spine-tingling, pretty, stunning, gorgeous, striking, elegant, graceful, flowing, extraordinary, astonishing, prominent, attractive, charismatic, picturesque, vivid, charming, exquisite, magnificent, lovely, superb, beautiful, cute, appealing, endearing, fascinating, beguiling, sweet, engaging, adorable, fresh, salubrious, tempting, likable, refreshing, interesting, alluring, marvelous, fabulous, wonderful, outstanding, bravura, superlative, intense, delicate, captivating, amiable, fascinating, enchanting, magnetic, alluring, enticing, enthralling, spellbinding, mesmeric, enlivening, invigorating, and breathtaking.

I could not take my eyes away from her. Beatrice asked, "Rachel darling, have you met Nicholas?"

Rachel replied with, "Yes, I have."

Ouch, that smarts. "Actually, we have known each other for our whole lives." That is when I noticed someone was holding onto Rachel's arm, I looked up to the man's face and realized who it was, is Rachel okay with this? Does she like this guy?

I looked back to her, questioning in my eyes.

Then she accused me with her eyes. I tried to make her understand, but you can only do so much with your eyes you know.

I did not catch what Beatrice said because I was daydreaming about you know who.

However, I did see the obtuse idiot, jerk his thumb in the direction of the dark corner on the other side of the room, and then I heard Beatrice say, "Oh, how romantic!"

"You know dark corners like that were originally made so that when a boy takes a girl out, she won't see him blushing." He mumbled but apparently it was funny and everyone laughed but Rachel.

Then Beatrice put her hand on mine and said "Oh, Nick you are so funny!"

I looked up at Rachel; she looked like she was going to loose her supper. Then she turned towards Jonathan, and looked up at him with puppy dog eyes, whispering. "Can we please go now?"

"Umm yeah sure, it's nice to see you again Nicholas, see you at home Bea." Then he slipped his arm around her waist, as they walked away, and it took all my strength not to punch that guy.

What I did not understand was why she was letting him do it, but then she laid her head on his shoulder. Crack! That was my heart breaking in two.

I turned to Beatrice, "I'm going to head out too, see you around."

When I got home and in my bed, I started to cry, I cried because I wanted to talk to my mom, I wanted to ask her what to do, but she was gone and would not be back until morning. In addition, I wanted to talk to Rachel, I wanted to tell her how much and how long I have loved her. I wanted to talk to Jonathan, because he was in love with Rachel, I wanted to talk to him, even though I probably would only have time to say things to him between the punches I throw.

I finally fell asleep with Rachel on my mind, and tears on my cheeks.

I did not have any good dreams, but I did have bad ones.

Noon the next day.

Rachel's POV

"Mathew, do you know where my boots are?" I asked as I came out of my room and into the kitchen.

"Which ones? The nice ones are in your closet, the muddy work ones should be under your bed, and the fighting ones are sitting behind you." He said with a deep chuckle.

"Oh! If it were a snake, it would have bit me! Thank you." I picked up my boots then I bounced back into my room. I had not worn this outfit in a while, I used to wear it almost every day, but- Umm, well I don't really know what happened.

I pulled my hair up into its bun, another thing that I do not know what changed to make me stop. We finished our lunch, and I went out to the back yard, to practice and get warmed up before Jonathan got here.

I was in mid swing when Matthew came out "Is Nick coming? Or do you want me to stay and fight you?"

"Umm neither, actually Jonathan Redmond is coming over. -Is that okay?" I asked while I swung at my invisible opponent.

"Of course, I'm glad that you two are getting along well. But I don't want you to leave Nick out just because you have a new friend. Why don't you have Nick over too?"

I don't know if that such a good idea. "Okay, I'll go right now and ask him." I said. This is going to be interesting.

I walked slowly down the street; I wasn't in any hurry to get there.

I knocked on the door, I don't know why, I had never knocked before, and I had always walked right in.

Nick opened the door; it seemed he was in the middle of getting ready, because he was wearing pants but no shirt. I had seen him without a shirt before, but today he seemed more… muscular, and handsome. Where did that come from? I blushed at my thoughts.

He cleared his throat, jerking me out of my daydreaming. "Oh, y-yeah. Umm, w-would you like to come over and fight me today?" I asked, not sure why I was so embarrassed, I mean he was still my best friend. I still hadn't looked at his face yet, and I was looking at the ground when I asked this.

"Sure." His voice was a bit husky like he had just woken up.

I wasn't expecting this answer, after how I treated him last night. I looked up at his face then, he was wearing a smile that made my heart explode with happiness.

"Would you still want to come if Jonathan was there too?" I asked with my eyes closed because I knew what he was going to say but I hoped that he wouldn't say it.

"Sure." he said again.

My eyes snapped open and my head jerked up. "Really?" I asked happily.

"Yeah, but can I get a shirt on first, or do you want me to stay this way?" He said teasing me.

I gave him a hug. "Thank you."

"What for?" he asked.

"Just being you." I said.

"Well then I guess I need to be me more often if I get rewarded like this." He said as he hugged me back.

Nick's POV

I opened the door, and there stood Rachel, her hair in its bun and, curls that had gotten loose framing her face. She was wearing the shirt that I wore when I was thirteen; I had given it to her when I grew out of it.

And she was also wearing her sword fighting pants and boots.

She looked at me, I wasn't wearing a shirt, and then she turned a charming shade of pink. I cleared my throat, I hadn't used it yet today so it was a little dry, that seemed to break her concentration on my shirtlessness.

She looked at the ground, embarrassed. "Oh yeah. Umm, would you like to come over and fight me today?"

She asked, tripping over her sentences. She's so cute when she's embarrassed.

I had nothing better to do than to be with her. "Sure." I said, with a delighted smile that she still wanted to be anywhere near me after what I did last night.

She finally looked at my face, questioningly. Then a smile spread across her face. But it was washed away as she thought of something else; she closed her eyes and asked "Would you still want to come if Jonathan was there too?"

Of course, nothing, even Jonathan was going to keep me from being with her today. "Sure."

I said again.

She opened her eyes, "Really?" She asked, with a beautiful smile.

I couldn't help teasing her a bit. "Yeah, but can I get a shirt on first, or do you want me to stay this way?" I wasn't expecting the reaction I got. She hugged me and said, "Thank you."

"What for?"

"Just being you." She said sweetly.

"Well then I guess I need to be me more often if I get rewarded like this." I said as I hugged her back.

I went in and got a shirt and my sword and then we walked in companionable silence back to her house.

When we got there we found Jonathan on her front porch. Rachel gave him a little side hug when he stood, and that didn't help my dislike for this man.

"I like your outfit." He was saying to Rachel. I realized that he hadn't ever seen Rachel fight. Oh this is going to be fun.

End of Nick's POV

Rachel's POV

When we got to the backyard I got my sword and got in position to fight, this seemed to shock Jonathan because he said, "I thought me and Nick were going to fight. I uh, no offense but I don't want to hurt you."

Me and Nick burst out laughing. Jonathan looked from me to Nick and then back to me again.

"Just try it." Nick said, with a mischievous smile.

Jonathan started to say, "I really don't think it's a good-" I cut him off with a blow to his sword.

When he realized that I knew how to hold a sword, the look on his face was comical. Then it started, He would swing at me and I would parry the blow, I danced around him poking at him here and there but never really trying. Because this is how I test my opponents, so I can get used to there style of fighting before I make my move.

I could tell that he wasn't trying either, until Nick muttered something about being beat by a girl, I'm pretty sure he was talking about himself, but Jonathan took it the wrong way. He brought down a hard blow, towards my head and I put my sword up to stop it. The impact made my knees buckle underneath me, and I went down. Jonathan paused to see if I was okay, and I used the distraction to gain the upper hand.

I swung my leg hitting him squarely behind the knees, making him fall down, and then I bounced up and put my sword to his throat. I smiled, that was too easy.

"So Jonathan, how about you and me have a go?" Nick said.

"Okay." He said as he pulled his shirt that was drenched in sweat off and tossed it beside me on the ground.

They got in position and then Nick said in a low menacing tone, "Bring it." I had never seen his face so aggressive, or determined. I had a very bad feeling about this.

Jonathan swung his sword with a cry that sounded fit for war, the sound of clashing metal pierced my ears. They were almost blurs as they fought, it went on for quite awhile, and very few times I heard grunts of pain as a blade found its purchase.

It seemed they would never stop, when finally Jonathan collapsed on the ground followed closely by Nick.

They looked at each other tensely, and then a loud rumble of laughter erupted from both of their chests, causing me to jump.

"That was… interesting." said Jonathan.

"Interesting indeed." replied Nick with a grin.

Nick got up slowly, favoring where Jonathan had hit him. Then he reached a hand out to Jonathan to help him up.

"Okay, how about we go inside and I fix us some food?" I said as an invitation for them to stay for supper.

"What do you think Jonathan?" Nick said with a suspicious smile.

"Hmm, is she a good cook?" He asked with a grin that looked a lot like Nick's.

"One of the best. You just don't want to be on her bad side when she is cooking for you. Oh and don't eat the pudding she makes." He said this like something bad happens when I'm mad.

"Come on ladies lets skip the chatter and get inside. I think it's going to rain soon." I said as I looked up at the clouds.

We went inside and I left them in the living room talking while I went into the kitchen to make supper. After awhile they wandered in looking for something to snack on, I was just slicing potatoes and was waiting on the oven to warm so I could cook the meat.

Nick sat down in front of me on the other side of the counter; he propped his elbows up and then laid his head in his hands. He just sat there watching me.

Jonathan was trying to get some icing without me noticing. I slapped his hand away like five times before he finally gave up and sat down beside Nick.

"Can one of you open the oven please? And then the other can start cutting tomatoes." I said with a smile.

Nick came around the counter opening the door to the oven so I could put the heavy tray in. And I heard cutting coming from the other side of the counter.

We finished cooking, and we sat down to a hot mouth watering supper.

I looked at Nick and raised my brows in silent questioning. We took the hands on ether side of us, bowed our heads, and Nick started to pray. "Father, we thank you for the food that we are about to eat and please help it go to the nourishment of our bodies, thank you for the wonderful day that we had with friends, and help us to have a nice night in Jesus' name, amen." He gently squeezed my hand before letting it go.

"So when do you and your family leave town Jonathan?" I asked.

"In about three or four days." He said.

"We will miss having you around, and you will be welcomed back if you ever choose to return." As I was saying this the rain started pouring down and I had to talk louder.

"Wow." Nick said as he pointed out the window.

I jumped up and went to the window, I loved the rain, and it was the most beautiful weather in my opinion. And Mrs. Jackson has taken care of me many times when I had gotten sick from going out in the rain.

You couldn't see anything further than the window. It was amazing. "It's so beautiful!" I said aloud.

"Don't even think about going out there Rachel." Nick whispered in my ear. I hadn't even heard him come over.

"I wasn't." I hated it when he knew exactly what I was thinking.

"Lies." He said this and then I felt a small pressure on the top of my head. Whoa, did he just kiss me?

We went back and finished supper, and then we all moved into the living room.

We talked for awhile, waiting on the rain to stop so they could go home.

The rain finally slowed down enough and Jonathan went home, leaving Nick and me together in the living room. He moved to sit beside me on the couch. I leaned up against him, and he put his arm around me. The feeling of closeness made me happier than usual and I started thinking about the question Jonathan had asked me the other night.

Could I be in love with Nick? Maybe, if love is your heart exploding every time you see him, and you needing him to help you piece it back together then yeah, I am in love with him. I smiled up at him, he was asleep. I sat there and watched his throat every time he swallowed, I watched his lips move like he was trying to say something. Then he actually said something, "Rachel" he whispered in a panicky voice as his arm tightened around me.

He is dreaming about me! I put my arms around him trying to calm him down, because he was having a nightmare. After a little while I fell asleep, wrapped in each others arms.

That is how Matthew found us. He smiled happily down at us. He had watched us grow together and he had seen exactly when both of us had fallen in love with the other. He only prayed that we would both realize it, because he was getting old and tired, he could not take care of us very much longer.

Matthew had been the father figure for Nick too and Nick loved him like a father, and hoped that maybe someday he would have Matthew as a father in law.