Jane and Edward arrived on the platform some time later. The train station was built an oddly small distance away from the town's centre, for it was much older than the actual town. It had all the charm of a very old and small towns train station, with only one box for the ticket seller and two benches outside on the platform. Here, at this time, it was absolutely quiet. Winters blanket of white had fallen over the station, covering the trees and benches in a peacefully silent hush. If animals moved in the trees or birds flew overhead in the sky, it went unnoticed by the pair which stood together on the platform.

After half an hour of waiting, however, the peaceful silence was interrupted by muttered angry remarks.

"Damn it" Edward grumbled, glancing down the track. "It is freezing here, and the train is beyond late"

Jane smiled slightly to herself, she found it almost endearing when he was frustrated, for he could not control it at all.

"Do they not realise that there are people waiting on the platform in the snow as they take their time?"

"Edward, do be reasonable. I am sure no one is wishing for the train to be slower. I am also sure that no one wants to work on Christmas, and thus you should be grateful there are people operating the trains today"

He glanced sideways at her, a small, frustrated look spreading over his face.

"Why must you always be some temperate Jane? Indeed, it makes me look quite bad"

"That is because your temper is a bad habit" Jane replied, turning to him fully and smiling slightly.

"It is a good thing I love you dearly, Jane Rochester. Otherwise I would be quite upset with you"

"It is that temper" she reminded.

At that moment, a train became visible in the distance, and Jane turned to face it excitingly.

"Look, here they come!"

The train pulled up at the station and the door was quickly opened as the conductor stepped out. Soon Diana and Mary emerged amongst a cloud of smoke, beaming at Jane as she came into view.

"Jane!" They called, jumping off the step and running towards her. Jane broke from Edward and ran to greet them, hugging them both tightly.

"Diana and Mary, I had no idea you were coming"

"We did not know that you would be here to meet us! Only Mr Rochester said that he would be coming. I fear we have caused him quite a bit of trouble. We were meant to come in two days time from now, but we unfortunately made a mistake in closing up the house and-"

"Your bags!" the conductor impatiently called from the train, holding both of them out dangerously as if he was about to throw them. Edward was soon at his side, taking the bags into his hands.

"Do not worry about that, he has not been inconvenienced at all. He was happy to hear from you again, and so am I"

Edward walked over to meet them, smiling warmly at them both and setting their luggage down on the ground as the train blew its whistle and began to pull away once again from the station.

"Ms Rivers', it is wonderful to see you both" he said genuinely, "I hope your trip was comfortable"

"As comfortable as possible with a train moving twice as slow on a snowy track. But all is well, thank you again for allowing us to come early-"

"Please, we shall hear none of that. You are family, and you are welcome at any time, with or without warning"

Jane smiled at Edwards words, squeezing his arm so that only he would know her appreciation. She knew that he was not raised to be a family man, and his life had not given him any reason to become so, and yet in marrying Jane he had made the effort to become one, and he had opened his arms to her own family without reservation. She felt a small squeeze in return.

"Come ladies, I shall not be responsible for everyone being sick this Christmas, we have been in the cold far too long. John has parked the carriage on the other side of the station. Its just this way".

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Back at the house, Diana and Mary became well acquainted with Adele, of whom they became extremely fond. Diana and Mary were both quite young in their demenor and even sometimes mind. Like Jane, they had always loved children, but they were better suited to play with children rather than to teach them. They were as good natured as children too in their ability to make level headed decisions with ease and goodness. And so, as Adele flashed them a plate filled with cookies that she and Jane had previously made in the day, they beamed with excitement. It was hard to not feel lifted in spirit around Diana and Mary.

"Diana, Mary, we have put you in separate bedrooms for your stay. I hope you do not mind, I know you have normally shared in the past"

They exchanged a small, almost guilty smile before turning back to Jane.

"Indeed, I think it will be quite exciting. But if it makes extra work for Leah, and John-"

"No, it of course it will not. By the time you leave us again, all the servants will have returned, and one extra set of sheets will not trouble them very much, I am sure of it. Indeed, as you know, we have many servants for a small household of only two".

"Three, right now" Adele corrected, and Jane nodded at her, winking.

"Then it is settled"

"Jane" Diana began, putting her hand on Jane's shoulder. "Would it be possible- I mean, would you consider it very rude if I were to have a lie down for a little while? I fear I am quite tired, and I understand that dinner is to be quite the event. I am scared that I will not last through the night if I cannot rest for a while now"

"Oh my, Diana, but of course. You are not guests here, you are family. You may do as you wish, you do not need to fear if something will appear rude. Especially not asking for some rest"

"Then I will not resist the temptation any longer either, I am off to bed" Mary said, grinning.

Before Jane could offer, Adele sprang up and volunteered to take them to their rooms.

With Diana and Mary having retreated to their rooms, and Adele no where to be found, Jane went back to her bedroom to have a moment alone. Though the day had not been overly eventful, she found herself to be surprisingly tired. So, she sat in her favourite armchair that sat in front of the fire, feeling its warmth over her face. She sighed deeply, leaning back and tucking her feet into the corner of the chair. Jane thought of perhaps picking up her cross stitch that she had been working on, but the far more tempting idea was to close her eyes and simply listen to the sound of the crackling fire.

A feeling of absolute peace came over her as she remembered an idea that she had clung desperately to during harder times in her life. Jane remembered that a person held solitude within them, at every moment. It only needed to be called upon in order to feel calm amidst a complete storm. How freeing that thought was. How many times did Jane sit in a corner of Lowood, looking for a piece of blue sky, or even grey sky, through a small window, hoping that one day she would not have to peer through a barred window to find it. It filled her with happiness to know how resilient her young and fragile heart had been in those times. When she believed she had nothing, she had herself. And that was more than enough.

. . .

Jane's head fell to the side and she was suddenly jolted awake. Looking around the room confusedly she saw that the sun was now near setting and the fire had largely died down, yet she did not feel its loss of heat for she had been wrapped in a blanket. She looked to her side and saw her husband reading beside her, his mind quietly and contentedly preoccupied in his words. For a moment he did not notice that she had woken, but when she stirred he looked up at her, his eyes softening as they fell upon her.

"I thought you would not mind me sitting with you, if I was very quiet"

"No" Jane said sleepily, "Of course not. But what time is it? I did not mean to fall asleep"

"Do not worry, I would have woken you in time for dinner if you had not woken on your own. You have plenty of time"

"You should have done so anyways when you came in, you did not need to sit in silence with your wife as company"

"And miss the sight of you sleeping? Never. Besides.." he said, leaning in closely to her, "I thought it was I who could not handle the early morning love making anymore"

Jane grinned slightly, the corner of her mouth curling.

"You are very unfair, you know. Most women can count on a lessening desire for her husband overtime, and she is free of the want which tugs on me at all times"

He had not moved his face away from hers, and as she tried to kiss him he pulled back, grinning teasingly.

"And what is it that you want?"

"You, in every way, shape, and form"

"Well, Ms Rochester, I can tell you what I want. I want to take you on that bed, or in this chair, or against that wall, where I can slowly remove every piece of clothing from you and then make passionate love to you until you are calling out desperately for me"

Jane shook her head, she knew her cheeks were flushed and that her shyness made her husband glow with a certain pride.

"And" he continued, "If I was not certain we would wake the lightly napping Diana and Mary, I should threaten you with such love this very moment"

Jane looked at him, and the sparkle in her eye made her husband tilt his head questionally.

"I won't make any noise"

Edward swept her into his arms and began moving towards the bed in one swift movement. Jane laughed as he tossed her down and moved over her swiftly.

"We shall see about that"

But as he began to kiss her neck there was hesitant knocking on the door that became very loud knocking.

"Jane? Jane are you in there?"

"Dammit" Edward breathed into her,

"Shh" Jane said to Edward, secretly annoyed herself.

"Yes Mary?" she replied,

"Is now a bad time?"

"Yes." Edward affirmed silently to Jane.

"No Mary, of course not"

Edward pulled himself off Jane and sat back on the bed, pulling a pillow over himself before Jane opened the door.

"I am so sorry" Mary said, "There seems to be a problem in the kitchen that Leah needs help with, and I cannot seem to be of any assistance to her"

"Of course, I shall be right down"

Mary smiled at Edward on the bed before she walked back down the hallway.

"Duty calls" Jane said, walking back to Edward and kissing his cheek.

"Indeed. I thought the point of having servants was so that I could have you to myself of all time"

"Excuse me sir, that sounds almost greedy"

"I would eagerly be called the most greedy man in England if it were you I sought"

Jane shook her head, smiling.

"Do not be out of my sights for too long"

"I don't think I could, even if I wanted to" he confirmed, kissing her hand.