Chapter One: 'Hopeful'

Finishing the second movie Sport watched Knight prance in with her new toy. Taking it to her bed she curled up keeping it close. He couldn't help but enjoy all this he missed Winter's peaceful life. It was so different from how Gem lived and his athletic life, with the martial arts training. Their lives were the life styles of a busy body, very little quiet time did they get unlike Winter's chosen life style. He wondered if he really knew what it would be like to be with someone like Winter. He had been curious about it, wondering if she actually was aware of the difference. Slowly he shut the TV off finishing off their tea, with a quick wash he put everything away remaining quiet to not disturb Winter's rest. Satisfied with the results he walked into the spare room. Sure enough his belongings had been hung up, even washed the fragrance of bounce and snuggle greeted him.

Getting his bed ready he pulled out some of the books he hadn't finished, checking the night stand light. He went back into the living room, he picked Winter up lightly kicking her door open, putting her on her bed.

She was out cold, the dark circles under her eyes revealed how exhausted she truly was. Not even a peep from her, walking out of her room shutting the door quietly. He went to his room he put on his night wear, hanging up the robe up in the restroom. He would need it, to take his early morning shower before going to his training tomorrow. Laying down he leaned back propping himself up with a few fluffy pillows, to begin reading a book he hadn't finished.

In the late night hours Winter woke up, changing her clothes immediately she walked into the kitchen. Than checked the livingroom, everything had been turned off. Walking up to a sleeping Knight she scratched her ears and chin lightly. Than checked the door locking it, with a gentle tug pulled the shades to conceal her home.

She smiled as she seen all the dishes had been washed, and put away neatly. Even the table and countertop had been wiped down. Grabbing her air freshener she sprayed it a few times filling the room with a pleasant smell of clean linen. Opening the kitchen window a crack with a welcome, the breeze spread the fragrance through the house. She sighed satisfied, going to the guest room, the door was only open a crack. A low light glowed gently, a smile touched her lips. Sport was fast asleep with a book on his chest, sleeping peacefully.

With silent steps she grabbed the book placing it on the night stand, than clicked the light off. Sport still had the habit of falling asleep while reading at night.

She remembered their childhood years, she always caught him falling asleep while he read a book. The thought had been humorous on the reaction he gave her, when she would shake him awake. Yeah they hadn't been young child, yet she liked to call it the childhood memories. They all had been teenagers at the time, a sadness crept into her heart. She couldn't believe her two best friends weren't getting married. How she had heard their dreams about a perfect wedding. How Gem had picked out the colors and flowers for that occasion, it sadden her that they wouldn't let that dream come true.

Leaving his room she shut the door softly going to her room. With a light click the door shut, laying on her stomach she looked through the wedding magazines. Seeing all the items that Gem had wanted during such a special event. Unable to get rid of the magazines she remembered everything Gem had picked asking her if she liked it. She had thought Gem's choices had been very stylish and a very pretty blend. Even the choice of flowers were breath-taking, the colors of blues, white, and greens. When they put the scenery together Gem had been shocked at the beauty of everything. Taking another sigh, Winter put the magazines in a small box on the top shelf. Adjusting the bow on it, a memory she hadn't been willing to give up.

Odd she thought to herself, how years could change everything even the people you knew so well.

Rolling over on her back she grabbed her comforter hiding underneath it. The days would be getting colder in a few months she would have to make preparations for the cold temperatures. That included cleaning her fireplace, and the supplies she would need during the winter. She reminded herself to pull the other fireplaces out, hooking them up in her bedroom as well as the guest room. She would need Sport to help with it, like she asked him last year. It wouldn't take long, the shed wasn't far from her back door. They only needed to be placed and plugged in, she had wanted to put them in different locations. Yet the same locations wouldn't be bad, the fireplaces did what they needed to do.

She wasn't worried about the pipes freezing ever since she had done the remodeling. There had been no problems, that made her proud she had done her homework. With satisfied results it had been about three years now. Everything was paid for, she had been saving for the remodel. The company had done a great job with a bonus, on how fast they had finished the job.

Her heart swelled with pride and accomplishment as Alex had complimented her on how handy she truly was.

Frowning at the memory of Alex, she remembered a supper she had prepared for their dating anniversary. Alex had asked her to invite Maddy, at the time she didn't know why. She had been truly disappointed with him about his suggested guest. Yet close to the end of their relationship he tried as much as he could not to be alone with her.

As time passed the memories on how their relationship ended, it all made sense to her now. When she got a grip, it broke her heart. She had ended their relationship immediately, because at the time Maddy was four months pregnant with her boyfriend's baby. Even now it infuriated her on how arrogant he truly had been. He was such a jerk, a real prize of accomplishment to break a woman's heart that he claimed to love. Pfft...the thought infuriated her, why hadn't she caught onto it sooner. Still no answer to that question, except for blind love, or a deceptive attraction. No wonder women and men commit crimes of passion, Alex had been lucky she wasn't a psychopath. The statement everyone knows so well, 'If I can't have you no one will.' Those cases made her cringed at the seriousness of the entire relationship. Weird, creepy and totally psycho people like that didn't deserve the love they killed for. That statement should have been put in some of the horror movies she had seen, including the creepy stalkers. Just down right creepy, that gave her the chills, going further under her covers. She brought her comforter up to her nose watching the shadows dance on her wall.

One looked like a knife coming down, her eyes widened jumping out of bed she pulled her curtains closed locking the window. Jumping under her covers hiding her face, good grief she could still freak herself out. Even now at her age she could still scare herself, talk about over imagination, reprimanding herself she cuddle up to her pillow. Taking a deep breath she calmed down, as sleep started to spread its wings of peace.