Dende couldn't concentrate. Well, he could concentrate, just not on what he was supposed to. The troubles of the Earth were being pushed aside for the troubles of one woman that he couldn't get out of his head. Something was nagging at him about her, but he couldn't put a finger on it. Maybe it was because she was the first person outside their little group that he'd ever been introduced to, maybe because of the similarities in their work. He didn't like it to see her so troubled over her case when he had stopped by to cook dinner for her.

After getting her to talk about her worries, she had cheered up and then the talk had been charming, the food had been good, and the game of chess had been compelling. How long had it been since that night? A few days? He shook his head and with a sigh, sat down on the white tiles at the edge, letting his feet dangle over. He looked down at the world below, focusing on the reason for his thoughts.

She was working. Another day off, but she was working. He couldn't blame her; it had to feel like a full time job. The parents did not stop being neglectful on the weekends, why stop the work knowing someone out there was suffering and you could prevent it? He felt the same way with his work. It was hard to take a day off, wondering about what he could have done to change the world or ease her troubles.

He stood up, making up his mind. If he didn't go and see her, he'd be just as useless up here still thinking about going down to her.

Rose was pouring over the case as she sat at her kitchen bar like she always did. She had the kitchen window thrown open to let the warm breeze flow in. She ran her fingers through her strawberry blonde waves and sighed. This was driving her nuts.

A sudden knock at the door drew her attention away from the papers before her and she cautiously moved to answer. Her eyes went wide as she saw the Namek standing there. "Dende!" she cried in happy surprise. "What are you doing here?"

Dende smiled, feeling his heart flutter at the sight of her smile and he returned the warm smile with one of his own, "Rose." He almost lost his nerve. How did he answer that question when he didn't even know the answer himself? I couldn't get you out of my mind, so here I am? "Something told me you were here working on your day off." He looked past her to the table covered in papers, "Have you ever thought about taking a step back when you are stumped? Perspective brings about a clarity, perhaps time away from this case will do some good? Just a little while, if you are interested?"

Rose chewed her lip. A break did sound nice. She was on the verge of tearing her hair out. Something in her heart had warmed at the sight of Dende. He was so easy to talk to and he seemed to understand her better than anyone else ever had before. Even if they didn't talk about work, perhaps just being in like-minded company would ease her brain enough so that she could come back and get a new perspective and maybe finally make some headway on the case. "Uh, sure," she answered, nervously adjusting her glasses on her nose. "What exactly did you have in mind?"

He smiled at her and thumbed over his shoulder, "I believe I flew over a lovely little park with a pond on my way here. Would you like to go for a walk? I could even be persuaded to buy some koi food. Maybe even an ice cream for ourselves?" He could have kicked himself. Koi food? Did women like looking at slimy fish? He swallowed and offered over his arm to her.

Rose grabbed her keys from the hook next to the door and locked it, then curled her fingers around Dende's bicep. She didn't understand it. The second her hand touched him, it was if all the worry over the cases she was working on seemed to melt away. She was just flooded with a warm calm and she suspected that he was working some kind of alien magick on her, trying to help calm her thoughts. Well, whatever he was doing, it was nice to not feel that stressed, nervous, worried feeling that she carried around day after day. This was more than welcomed and she gave a little sigh, a smile pulling at her lips.

Dende had to catch his breath from gasping out loud when she touched him. Something shifted, her touch felt pleasant. He led her outside and they walked along the sidewalk, drinking in the warmth of the early afternoon sun. His antenna twitched in the breeze, perking up at the warmth. He didn't even mind the stares of the locals at his green skin.

"So," he started as they neared the entrance to the park and walked through the wrought iron gates ornately twisted into a beautiful design welcoming its visitors. "Do you have any hobbies aside from your work that you enjoy? Music, art, reading?"

"I used to play the piano," she answered. "But I haven't done that in a really long time. I listen to music a lot. And, well, you've seen my movie collection," she finished with a slight laugh. She paused for a moment, her hand going to her forehead, "Oh my gosh, I'm so boring."

Dende laughed out loud, "Better than my hobbies of watching the world and baby sitting on occasion. Though, you do know I have that fondness for chess and I do enjoy good music. Do you think you would play for me sometime? That is, if you still remember, of course. And as long as it's not too loud or sharp." He gave her a fanged smile, "Big ears are such a pain at times."

Rose nodded. "I know what you mean, about the sharp music, that is. I never really got into that. I like classical music. Soothing music." She thought for a moment as they walked the path through the beautiful park with it flowering trees and brightly colored flower beds that overhung the walkway. There was a fragrant scent that permeated the warm air. "I suppose I could try to play for you sometime," she said uncertainly. "I haven't tried in a long time. I might be a bit rusty! I have no idea where to find a piano, though. I didn't have enough room in my apartment when I moved in."

Her eyes flickered to his face again, his high cheekbones and prominent brow, his strong chin. She felt a flutter in her stomach and quickly looked back at the ground. She'd never dated anyone before, but she wondered wildly if this was what it felt like. This calm comfort of being with someone, the bubbling flutters in your stomach, the way you suddenly became conscious of your breathing and the beating of your racing heart. She squeezed her eyes shut and tried to will the sensations away. She and Dende were far too different to be anything more than friends and she could only be feeling this way because she'd never been around men a whole lot. This was just a new experience, not some wild, fairytale love story.

Dende smiled at her brightly, "We will have to see what we can do about that." He reached up and plucked a daisy from one of the hanging pots and offered it to her, "Bulma might have one we can borrow for a little while." The flowers were beautiful and nearby there was a small sparkling spring surrounded by a flowering willow and cherry trees. A cool breeze drifted over the water. It was bliss.

Rose blushed as she accepted the flower from Dende. She smiled as she raised it to her face, inhaling the sweet scent. Her blue eyes met his dark ones for a brief moment, "Aw, it's beautiful." She turned to look out over the spring, drinking in the cool breeze, her hand still wrapped around Dende's arm. "Well if we ever do find one, you have to promise not to laugh at me if I mess up."

Dende's breath caught in his throat, the sun caught in her hair turned it into the most amazing shade of gold, it warmed her skin and brought out the faint pink blush on her cheeks. Who was she? He had barely been with her a few times and now he was hopelessly, falling for her. It couldn't be. Perhaps it was just that she was the first woman he'd met that wasn't married.

Rose looked out over the water, gripping Dende's arm, so tempted to lean her cheek against his shoulder. A little family of ducks swam by peacefully. "Awww, look, Dende! Aren't they cute?" she cooed, leaning closer to the water, holding onto him for balance. She smiled at them, "I love the way animals care for their young. Seems like they do a better job than most humans do."

Dende smiled and held onto her carefully as she got a closer look, "Go ahead, I won't let you fall." They laughed as they watched the little birds following their parents, the adorable way they waddled onto the land and stumbled into the grass, heading towards a shady place to eat grass and bugs and whatever else ducks ate, "On Namek, we have something similar called the kolyja. Except, more like a giant bugs leading around smaller giant bugs. They are cute if you can get past all the legs."

Rose giggled and stood up straight. "I don't know about that. I'm not a big fan of bugs. To tell the truth, I haven't been around animals a whole lot. The goat at Mr. Son's house tried to eat my suit," she muttered. "Maybe they'd be cute from a distance?" she laughed.

He chuckled as the last of the ducklings disappeared out of sight, "I like them, too. It's a sign this side of the world is in harmony at the moment, nature doing as it is intended. You know?"

There was a commotion on the opposite bank. The ducks were quacking loudly and flapping their wings, the babies peeping and waddling for the safety of the water. Three young teenage boys were laughing maliciously and one lashed out with his boot, kicking one of the ducks back into the water.

"HEY!" Rose shouted at them and took off at a dead sprint around the edge of the water towards the boys. "Hey! Stop it!" The boys turned and ran well before Rose reached them and she stopped near the point where the boys had attacked the ducks. She was breathing hard, clutching a stitch in her side. She really needed to make it to the gym more often. "Yeah... you better... run..." she panted.

Dende felt his heart run cold, the balance had been tilted. There was pain, suffering. He broke into a jog over to where Rose was across the way, looking around until he heard it, a small, sad, pathetic sound. Where there had been a happy chirping before, there was pain now. He looked to the water and saw the little duckling struggling to stay afloat feebly swimming in a circle, trying to make it back to shore, "Rose. The duckling. Get the duckling." He looked back after where the boys had run. How pathetic, attacking a defenseless animal for the sheer sadistic pleasure of it. The duckling was trying to flee; the mother duck had already ushered her little flock to the other side of the pond. Dende had to take a breath, the pain coming from Rose at the sight of the little animal hurt almost as much as the pain from the duckling, it was almost too much for him to bear.

Rose crouched at the edge of the water, reaching far out and managed to cup the little bird in her hands. She pulled it to her chest, ignoring the water that dripped onto her shirt. "Oh no," she whimpered, "I think its leg is broken." Tears were swimming in her eyes as she glared in the direction the boys had run. "Heartless," she hissed. "Dende, we have to take it to a vet or something." The little yellow ball of fluff in her hands was squeaking in pain and fear. "Shh, shh, shh," Rose soothed. "We'll help you. You're safe now." It was an automatic response to a little one hurting; she couldn't count the number of times those words had passed her lips.

Dende smiled at her, "He's scared, poor dear." He knelt next to her and reached out to place his hands over hers, closing them over the little one. "No need for the vet," he said softly. He tilted his head to the side, his eyes glowing softly and a warm golden light appeared around his hands. It was peaceful and soothing. Ah, he could see the poor thing's leg now. When the boy had kicked him, the leg had broken nearly beyond repair of normal medicines, so tiny, so fragile. "Easy there little one. We've got you. You're going to be all right." He focused, carefully sending his healing magic into the frightened baby, the bones mending together like it had never happened, the pain washing away. He smiled and let the light fade completely before he removed his hands. He looked up into Rose's eyes, at the simple tears shed for such a tiny creature, "There, you see? Your little friend has made a full recovery."

Rose's mouth fell open in a gasp. The little duckling was peeping peacefully now, clearly unhurt and somehow unafraid. She didn't know what to think. How had he done that? She turned and carefully set the little bird back in the water and watched as it paddled across the water to join its mother again. "Dende," she said, her voice breathless as she met his eyes again. "How did you do that?" She didn't know whether to be afraid or excited or happy. This was even weirder than knowing that there were people who could fly. Yet she felt this strange thrill of excitement shoot up her spine.

"The green alien with pointed ears, fangs, things growing out of my forehead and the thing that gets you, is the glowing light I can make?" Dende chuckled and held up his hand again, showing her his power again, soft and glowing, "I'm a healer by trade, Rose. It was a gift, a power I was born with. On Namek, I was trained to help others in need, knowing one day I would become Guru over an entire village and now here I am, Guardian of Earth." He shook his head, chuckling at the way Rose's eyes were studying his hand, "Go on. It will not harm you. It's like magick almost. Every living thing has it within them. I can see it, the way it is supposed to be. I can make it better."

Rose stared in wonder at the glowing light in Dende's hand. She nervously extended her hand and touched the light with the tip of her middle finger. It was warm and seemed to soothe her to her very core. Her finger sank slightly into the light - there was the slightest solidity to it, like the air had gone thick inside the light. "A healer?" she asked. "Can you heal anything?"

He shook his head, "Not everything. Any injury you obtain over the course of your lifetime, most of the time, those can be healed. Magickal wounds and dragonfire I cannot. They have a life force of their own that interferes with my energies. Also, any imperfections one may be born with, that the Fates have given you." He moved his hand and passed it over her eyes, closing his for a moment, "You were born with a unique set of eyes that allows you to require the aid of these glasses. I cannot heal that, there is nothing to heal. One cannot heal perfection as intended." He looked down at the rest of her, passing his hand over her, hovering but never touching. He paused at her back and smiled, "This, on the other hand, you are working yourself to a back injury if you keep hunching over your table with case work." He let some of the magick seep into her back, taking away the minor pains he felt there.

Rose closed her eyes and had to stifle a moan in her throat. She'd grown so accustomed to that slight pain that she barely noticed it anymore. But now that Dende was relieving that pain. Oh wow. She felt like a million bucks. She opened her eyes again and smiled. "Wow, thanks," she said. "Forget going to a massage therapist, I'm coming to you from now on!" She blushed suddenly. "Well, I mean, I wouldn't come to you... JUST for that... I like you... I-I mean, I like hanging out with you! I... oh..." She was mentally screaming at herself to shut up and she could feel her face going hot. What in the world was wrong with her? She just couldn't seem to hold a decent conversation if it didn't involve work. Oh, she could kick herself.

Dende tilted his head back and laughed, full and warm, "Oh you thank me now, just wait until you get my bill." He winked at her and offered his arm to her again, the glow fading from him. "So now that we've had our excitement for our outing, why don't you tell me some more about that 'boring' childhood/hobby life of yours? What kinds of classical music? What are normal friends supposed to know about each other?" He smiled over at her.

"Normal friends?" she asked, smiling as she took his arm again. "Explain this phrase 'normal friends' to me." She giggled at her own joke. "I don't know what friends are supposed to know about each other. I only have one friend and we really don't see each other much anymore." She looked down at the ground as they walked. "This friends thing is sort of new to me, really. And as far as music, I don't have a favorite composer or anything, if that's what you mean. But I do like Celtic sounding music. I play a lot of that. Well, used to play a lot of it." A sad smile touched her lips. It had been a very long time since she had played a piano. She had loved it so much at one point in her life. It calmed her, soothed her, let her spill her emotions across the keys as she leaned and swayed with the music. But college and her career had all but squashed out her time for music. She suddenly ached for it again. "I do miss it," she admitted quietly.

Dende smiled at her, "Want to go raid Capsule Corp? I know Bulma has one somewhere in that house of hers." He smiled, perking up. He would love to listen to some music. Piccolo didn't much care for instruments, so Dende refrained from listening to it too often. "I think I would love to hear something that didn't involve the wheels on the bus." He shuddered at it, "I swear, those little girls are trying to brainwash me. They are lucky they are so adorable."

"That's so awesome that you care about them like that," she said. It warmed her heart to hear others speak so fondly of the children in their lives. It was refreshing, considering what she dealt with every day. "Capsule Corp? As in, THE Capsule Corp? You know the owners?" Rose had to admit, she was rather impressed. Not everyone could consider themselves friends with the most wealthy family in the world. And while things like that usually didn't mean much to Rose, she couldn't deny that she felt just a bit intimidated by the prospect. "I... I guess that would be okay. They won't think it's rude if we just drop in?"

Dende chuckled, he'd never really thought about it as being THE Capsule Corp. "Not at all. Ah," he paused, "It won't be a problem that they all know Goku, will it?" He started walking them down the street, heading towards the large energies he could feel in the air, "Feels like Jenny is there already. Most likely training with Vegeta." He smiled, feeling a little giddy and not entirely sure why. His spirit seemed lifted and it had been a long time since he had felt that way. Really long. Like he didn't even know he was missing it until she had come into his life. Whatever this was, be it a brief respite for the both of them, a friendship to help them through hard times. 'Just enjoy it,' he thought to himself. He was rather lonely up there on the Lookout. Piccolo wasn't really the talkative type, Jenny was either with her girls or at Capsule Corp. And the girls, well, they couldn't hold a conversation at length yet.

"OH! No, that won't be a problem," Rose said, her mind immediately going back to her work. She wondered if she could learn more about the Son case while she was there. How well did these people know Mr. Son and his ex-wife? She decided they must know them pretty well as she remembered the call came from Capsule Corp. She should've put two and two together that Dende would know them as well. She frowned. A piece of the puzzle had slipped through her fingers, completely unnoticed, no matter how small of a piece it may be. She was going to have to go over the case again, starting from the beginning, seeing if there was anything she had missed. She gave a soft sigh through her nose. She looked up at Dende, hoping he wasn't reading her mind again and asked, "You really want me to play for you? I'd really like to. I haven't played in forever. Just don't laugh at me. I get really into the moment sometimes. My brother always laughed at me."

Dende couldn't hide the small smiled that bloomed over his face. "First, yes I was reading your mind, but in my defense, you think a little loudly. Secondly, Yes I would like to hear you play. You have my solemn vow as Guardian of Earth that I will not laugh at you. It will be fun, won't it?" He chuckled as they neared the large domed building. He paused for a moment. He knew how to get to the backyard, which was where he could feel Catie and Trunks. They would know where a piano would be. "Come on." He waved at the security guard who let them through the front gate and he lead her around the big yard, going for the back. A spacious area for sparring, a swimming pool and a little patio for parties. He spotted Catie and Trunks and waved at them, "Trunks! Catie!"

Trunks paused his sparring match with Catie and waved. "Hey, Dende!" His head snapped back as Catie's fist collided with his nose and Rose gasped, clapping her hands over her mouth. "Dammit, Cat," Trunks grumbled. She beamed and put her hands on her hips.

Rose slowly lowered her hands, "Are you okay?"

Trunks blinked at her. "Yeah, sure I am! She doesn't hit that hard." Catie aimed a kick at Trunks' shin, but he dodged it and walked forward. "Good to see you, Dende," he grinned. "Who's your friend? Any special reason why you stopped by?"

Dende shook his head, they were wearing bathing suits and sparring. "Interesting sparring attire. Ah. This is Rose Delacour. She's a new friend of mine and. Well, this is going to sound silly. We're looking for a piano to play around with for a little bit. Does Bulma have one by any chance? I could have sworn I saw one at the last get together, but my memory is going." He laughed while reaching over to rub at Rose's back. "Sorry. I should have warned you. Trunk's father is something of a martial arts trainer. They spar frequently, but not in the house. Usually. Bulma would flip her lid."

"Yeah, Mom's got one in the family room," Trunks answered. He looked down at his swimming shorts, "I wanted to swim, but you know Catie. She's always gotta pick a fight."

"I don't hear you complaining when we go into battle and save the earth!" she snapped.

Trunks waved a dismissive hand at her. "Come on, I'll show you in," Trunks offered and led them around the edge of the pool. He paused at the door and hollered back at Catie, "And we're going swimming when I get back!"

"Fine, you bum!" she answered.

He shook his head and flipped his waist-length hair over his shoulder, leading them inside. "I don't know why mom has this thing," Trunks went on to explain, "None of us play the piano. I think she keeps hoping little Trunks or one of Jenny's kids will take an interest, but no luck so far."

They finally reached a large room with big windows overlooking the grounds of Capsule Corporation, with expensive-looking furniture and large pieces of artwork on the walls. Sitting off to one side was the grand piano.

"Oh my gosh," Rose gasped and walked to it, lightly running her fingertips over the keys without pressing them down. She smiled at how smooth and cool they were beneath her fingers. "Are you sure you don't mind?"

Trunks shook his head. "Have at it." He turned to Dende and winked. "Nice job, man. She's pretty," he said in a hushed tone and headed out of the room.

Dende turned six shades of purple as he opened his mouth to protest, but then realized he wasn't going to be believed anyway. He sighed and walked over to Rose who was admiring the piano. He admired it, too. Bulma never settled for anything less than the best there was. That included her husband, her son, and her friends. Goku alone spoke volumes. He smiled at Rose, "Think you can play a little something? Maybe relaxing… soothing. Or whatever you like."

Rose swallowed and moved to sit on the piano bench. She flexed her fingers, thinking for a moment. "You might like this one," she said and placed her long fingers over the keys. Oh, she was nervous. It had been a very long time since she had played. Purely from memory, she began to play. The piano had a big, rich sound that reverberated throughout the huge room. A smile pulled at her full lips and she lost herself in the music. It came back to her easily and she closed her eyes, leaning over the keys, playing to her heart's content. It was as if everything was suddenly right in her world again. She tossed her hair to one side of her neck, tipping her head slightly towards the piano, her fingers flowing over the keys, never striking a wrong note.

Dende felt himself relaxing as the notes filled the air. He let himself sink to the floor, leaning against the piano leg and listened, just listened, letting his eyes fall closed. His delicate ears picked up every sweet smooth note, not shrill or hurting at all. He could almost see the music in the air, the way the sounds of the struck strings danced and mixed into the air. It was so peaceful. Paradise must sound like this, he speculated. Only a sound so pure like that could exist there. He sighed, smiling happily. This moment was amazing. He opened his eyes, watching Rose losing herself. Gone where her thoughts on the case. They were truly gone at the moment. It was only her and that piano, her fingers, hands knowing exactly what to do. She moved with the music, it became a part of her, she rose and fell with the sounds, the notes. Her eyes were closed, her brow was no longer furrowed in that worry she carried with her. 'Gods,' he thought, 'please tell me who she is.'

Rose smiled as she played the last few notes, the song ending far too soon for her liking. She slowly lowered her hands from the keys, the last notes hanging in the air for a moment. She hadn't realized how much she missed her piano. She slowly opened her eyes, looking down to see Dende looking up at her from his position on the floor, his smile warming her heart. "Sorry, I lost myself there for a minute," she said softly. She swallowed. "What'd you think?"

Dende spoke, his voice quiet, as if he didn't want to disturb the atmosphere the music had created, "I think I lost myself too." He smiled at her, "I think it is a great loss that you cannot fit a piano into your apartment. Though I might be over every day just to listen if that were the case. Are you sure its been a while since you've played? It sounds as if you've been playing for decades."

Decades. That word struck her for some reason, making something within her jump to attention. She stared curiously down at him. She suddenly felt as if she had been playing for decades and she couldn't remember a time in her life when she didn't know how to play. Her mouth suddenly went dry. "Come sit by me," she said, her voice a little higher than it should've been. She cleared her throat, "Ah... I mean... if you want to... You don't have to... The floor looks uncomfortable..." God, more word vomit. Why couldn't she just shut up? What was it about being around him that made her just blurt out things? It was like she had no control over her own mouth. She pressed her lips so tightly together that she bit down on them.

Dende nodded at her and pushed himself up off the floor, brushing his hands off on his robes before sitting down next to her. He looked over at her and after a moment he bumped her shoulder, "Can you teach me? I've never played before." He lifted his hands letting his fingers brush the ivory keys. They were as smooth as silk and contrasted beautifully against his emerald skin. He pressed one key, listening to the sound a moment before he pressed another and then sheepishly looked over at her, "It seems I lack your talent to slip into music."

Rose's breath caught in her chest as Dende sat next to her and she let out a nervous giggle when he bumped her shoulder. "You can do it," she said. She took his hand in hers and placed it properly over the keys, her heart hammering at the touch of his skin again. She placed her hand on the next set of keys. "I've never taught anyone to play before," she said quietly. She played a few notes slowly, smiling as she saw Dende's eyes studying the movements of her fingers. It was a simple, pretty tune, only a handful of notes long. "Now you try," she smiled.

Dende pressed the keys in the order she showed him, he fumbled once, but after a few more tries, the melody was starting to come together. The weirdest sense of deja vu overcame him and he just smiled. Whatever was happening, he didn't know. For once, he really didn't know. It both excited and frightened him at the same time. He pressed the keys again, this time faster, more confident, "Like this?" He asked, before turning his head to look at her for confirmation and stopped short. She had been leaning in to see his hands and now they were face to face.

Rose hadn't expected him to turn his head so suddenly. She'd been peering over his shoulder, conscious of not touching him. But now his lips were tantalizingly close, the side of her nose barely brushed against his. With very little movement she could capture his lips with hers. An ache sprung up in her as she had the overwhelming urge to do it. His green skin looked so smooth and warm, his lips full and enticing. What would it be like? Her heart thundered against her ribs and she wondered wildly if he could hear it. Her mouth fell slightly open, breathing heavy... She was frozen, unable to go through with it, yet unable to pull away.

Jenny came into the family room, toweling at her face, "I thought I heard the piano. Dende! What are you doing here?" She recognized the woman sitting next to him, "Rose, right? Are you here about Goten?"

Dende never turned so fast in all his life. He felt interrupted, annoyed and partially like a school boy caught doing something he shouldn't. He laughed it off.

Rose felt terribly nervous, her hands shaking as she scooted away from Dende on the bench a bit. "Uh, well, no, actually," she answered. "It's my day off and I, well, Dende and I went for a walk and ended up here." She felt Jenny's gaze on her and shifted uncomfortably. She still was unsure of what Jenny thought of her, especially after the little incident at the cabin. She suddenly wondered if she might not approve of Dende's friendship with her.

Dende could pick up almost immediately that Jenny was wary about the woman, worried more for Goten's well being than anything, "Yes, just a little walk on her day off. She mentioned she could play the piano and I thought, it might be a nice distraction."

Jenny wasn't sure what to think, her brother-in-law heading off her thoughts told her he was reading her mind, 'Riiiiight, I wasn't born yesterday.' "Well, that's nice. Glad to see this piano getting some use."

Rose stood up, feeling a bit guilty and not quite sure why. She fixed her face in a polite smile, "Thank you, Dende, for getting me out of the house for the moment." She glanced at Jenny. "It was nice to see you again," she said as she headed for the door.

Dende was at a loss, his heart aching as the words left her lips, "Wait, Rose!" He shut his mouth the next instant, wondering what he was going to say, "I...uh, I mean, at least let me walk you back to your apartment."

She paused at the door and looked back at him, something in her heart shouting at her to accept his offer. Let him walk her home, take him back into her apartment. Oh, but what then? She was afraid of the temptation, she'd nearly kissed him before Jenny walked in. "That's okay," she said softly and gave him a smile. "It's not that far. I guess I'll see you around." And with that, she slipped out the door, hurrying back towards her little apartment, her face on fire and her mind spinning as she thought about the wonderful afternoon she'd spent with him.

Author's Note: In case anyone is wondering, the title of this chapter refers to the song that Rose plays for Dende here. If you go to youtube, you can find the song by searching "Wild Flowers - Piano Poem 746." It's a beautiful song. Thanks to everyone who's been reviewing our story! And stick around for the next chapter - I think ya'll are gonna like it. ;)