A/N Thank you so much for the reviews! I appreciate you taking the time to share your opinions!

The rain continued to pelt the house, it seemed as though the rain was falling sideways.

Sandor and Sansa were still sitting on the couch; it was getting darker, as it does in late the late afternoon, especially in the autumn season. Sandor stood, stretched his massive back and arms. He walked over to put another few logs on the fire and light some more candles. The irony of the very romantic setting made him question his willpower, who was Sandor Clegane becoming? There was a beautiful woman, whose panties were on a drying rack, wanted him and he had turned her down. His cock twitched, internal groan. Sandor put water in a kettle on the wood stove "Tea?" he asked Sansa? She nodded, still in a cocoon on the couch. "Do you like beef stew?" He asked

"You made beef stew?" Sansa was surprised

Sandor chuckled "No, the church ladies and Gilly feed me very well. They keep my fridge and freezer stocked. I just have to heat up whatever they bring me."

"I like beef stew" Sansa smiled

Sandor put 2 portions of stew in a cast iron pan on the stove to warm up and a tin of homemade rolls to warm up as well. "Not bad for no power" Sansa was impressed with the feast.

"Wait until after dinner and I'll pop you some popcorn"

"Really? How do you do that?" Sansa was curious

"Just like jiffy pop, but I use disposable pie tins, it works great." Sandor was proud to show off his indoor camping skills.

"Sandor, do you think my clothes are dry yet?"

"Aye, I'll bet they are, you're going to dress for dinner?" He winked.

Sansa went into the bathroom and got herself pulled back together. She reflected on the afternoon. She hadn't realized the depth of her feelings for Sandor. The more she thought about the turn of events, the more pleased she was the way things DID NOT transpire. She realized Sandor not only respected her, but he was committed and loyal to the idea of engagements and matrimony. That was a rare quality in men these days. He respected her almost more than she respected herself. Sansa sighed, she didn't think her behavior was so much promiscuous or wanton, but more a reflection of her loneliness and her desire not to lose a good thing when she saw it. Sandor's compromise of friendship while she sorted out her complicated personal situation was not a rebuke, but more the acknowledgement that Sandor would wait for her and he would not accept anything less than all of her. With that realization, Sansa was no longer ashamed of her behavior, but reassured and confidant that she could do her part to make things work and to get out of her own way and remover herself from the stagnant path she was currently in.

Sandor watched Sansa come out of the bathroom noticeably refreshed. She sat at his kitchen table and fingered through the text books he had there. "Look at all these architecture books." She excitedly began to thumb through them in earnest. "Did you know I was an art history major?"

"I did not." Sandor said very interested while he was busy stirring dinner, making tea and moving things around to set the table. "I'm taking classes at the community college; some history, some architecture, and some math."

"What is your major?" Sansa asked

"I'm still undecided. I learned carpentry in jail, but I'd like to be more than a handyman. I could be a general contractor; I really prefer to work for myself. That is why I am happy here, I tell Fr. Sam what I think the priorities are for things to be repaired and he gives me a budget and I fix things and make them better than before. For example, when something needs to be rebuilt or repainted Fr. Sam and I talk about a theme, I then read up on the style and try to duplicate it, so it fits the theme. I really enjoy that. We've done a few renovations in the rectory and have picked a different theme for each room. The same with the different gardens around the parish. Next summer I think I am going to put in a Japanese garden, make it Zen and peaceful for meditation." Sandor realized he was gushing. Good lord, he had spilled his soul to this woman. She was grinning at him, almost as excited with the idea as he was.

Sandor served the meal. They didn't realize how hungry they were until half of the meal was consumed and they realized they had not continued their conversation.

"Have you considered putting in Cherry Blossom trees in the Zen Garden?" Sansa asked, giving his garden project a name.

"I did not, that is a great idea. I have a book on Japanese landscaping, somewhere in this pile." he shuffled through books; finding it and leaving it near the top.

They talked animatedly about different ideas and how to improve the gardens that were already in existence. Sansa cleared the plates, leaving them in the sink.

Sandor had made another pot of tea and was putting a pile of books near the couch, he moved the candles back over to the coffee table, and they were illuminated well enough to see the colorful pictures. They sat shoulder to shoulder next to each other and discussed a "Monet theme" near the duck pond, which already had lillypads. Sansa thought there was enough room in the sunny side lot to make a Van Gogh Sunflower patch.

Sandor looked at the beautiful animated woman sitting next to him "I'm sorry I thought it would be a poor idea to be friends. I was wrong." He couldn't help but wrap his arm around Sansa and give her a hug. It was almost too good a thought that things would work out in his favor for once. He couldn't resist burying his face in her hair, he was the happiest, and contented he had been in as long as he could remember. He felt cared for and secure. There was an especially ferocious gust of wind that shook the house. Sansa involuntarily shivered. Sandor ran his gigantic hands up and down her shoulders to warm her up. Her hand patted his hand, thankful for the reassurance of safety and security. He noticed that she no longer was wearing her engagement ring. He sighed, not sure what to make, but thinking it was a first step, if nothing else.

He cupped her chin in his huge hand and kissed her chastely on the forehead and went to start the popcorn, smiling to himself.