**Yo! I know I haven't written since school was in last May, but I had a summer assgnment due, and I'm lazy. For those of you who have read The Perfect Family and are waiting on updates, keep waiting. I've decided to put this story up at the moment. Now that school is in, I should have time to write, in between early morning practices, extra rehearsals, contests, football games, sectionals, lessons, and school. My plate is full, and they keep piling on the food. So I hope you enjoy this story, and it would be very helpful if you would review so I know whether or not to continue. Anyways this is going to be a romance, but there will be some drama, especially at the end. And I'm going to try to clarify this for you: This first chapter is the present time. The rest of the story is a flashback. Don't get confused =) Anyways this chapter is kinda sad, but it's important I think. Enough babbling; on with the story.**

**P.S.: Visit my site! I'm trying to change the layout right now so it will change sometime soon I hope. The link in in my profile.**

**Dedications: This story is dedicated to a few individuals, who have helped me, and this story wouldn't be here without them.
*Sarah: Thank you so much for all the support, and especially the names you helped with! If I didn't have you, I wouldn't have been able to do anything at all.
*Xella: You have been so influential and supportive that I don't know what I would do without you. Thank you so much!
*Tsuyuno/Moon Jewel 9v/Rune/Rois(I couldn't decide on just one ^_^): I couldn't have started this without you, and I probably won't be able to finish without you, either. Thank you so much for all the help!
*Everyone else: Thank you for being there, reading through my stuff and letting me know how I'm doing.**

**Disclaimer: All characters and scenarios are mine, along with the help from some friends.**

True to the Heart
Chapter One: Memories

A cool, crisp breeze blew gently through the branches of an old oak tree atop a hill of rolling green grass. The leaves were an amazing array of colors; the gold, red, and orange making the tree seem to be ablaze. An old wooden swing could be seen hanging from a lower branch, looking as if it had been used many times. The hill overlooked a large field, golden in color, although usually full of the magical colors that spring would bring. Nearby, a bubbling creek made its way down the hill, through the field, and on to the ocean a few miles away. The only sounds that could usually be heard in this serene paradise were the insects who hung around the flowers, the creek, and the wind whipping through the tree. But today, there were a few new sounds.

Small shrieks of joy could be heard erupting from a pile of leaves a ways down the hill. A small girl with light brown hair jumped into the pile over and over, laughing and trying to show off for her father, who sat at the foot of the tree, with a thoughtful look upon his face, peering at the creek, then the field, to his daughter, and finally to the tree with his deep brown eyes. He sighed heavily, shutting his eyes, seeming lost in his thoughts. As he reminisced, his facial expressions changed with the memory it coincided with. At times, a small smile played at the corners of his mouth; other times, he looked like he could burst into tears. All of a sudden, a large weight fell into his lap, causing him to open his eyes quickly. It was none other than his bright-eyed daughter.

"Daddy, whatcha doin'?"

He smiled, playfully touching her rosy cheeks. "Just thinking, sweetie."

The little girl looked into his large brown eyes with a pair of blue ones. "Thinking about what?"

The man gazed into her eyes, finding familiarity in them. "Your mother. Did you know you have her eyes?" he replied with a smile.

The child looked at her father and smiled. "Daddy, you tell me that all the time! You're so silly," she giggled.

He smiled, his eyes softening just a little. "I know. How about I push you on this swing?" he gestured towards the wooden swing.

The little girl jumped off his lap and ran right for the swing, waiting for her father to come over and push her.

He smiled, and stood up, dusting off leaves and grass from his pants. He walked over to the swing, and gently pushed.

The girl squealed with delight. "Higher, Daddy, higher!" Her eyes sparkled in the late afternoon sun.

"Now not too high, Anna. We wouldn't want you to have too much fun, now would we?" He cunningly grinned.

Anna looked up at her father with a hurt look. This caused him to burst out in laughter. "I was kidding, sweetie," he pushed her higher, causing her to giggle.

After a few minutes of pushing, Anna got tired, and jumped off he swing. She walked over to the tree and gazed at it for a while. Her eyes were drawn to something on the back side of the tree. "Daddy, what's this?" she pointed to a small carving.

His eyes fell upon the carving in the trunk, and a wave of emotion took over him. He slowly walked towards it, never taking his eyes off it. Once he reached the tree, he placed a hand over the trunk, and slowly traced each letter with his finger. A heart was carved with the initials 'B.M.' and 'O.R.' inside. His finger lingered slightly when he reached the second set. "Your mother and I carved this a very long time ago. I didn't even remember this."

Anna reached up and touched it, although it didn't have the same value to her as her father. When she saw the look in his eyes, it made her want to cry. She pulled on the hem of his sweater in a loving gesture. He reached down and picked her up, whee she could reach the carving better. She also ran a hand across it, seeming to feel the emotions transfer from it to her. She leaned over to her father, getting near his face, and placed a kiss on his cheek. This caused him to smile, and he returned it, placing a kiss on her forehead. She looked up at him, her eyes slightly darker. "Daddy, I miss Mommy," she gave her father a hug, and tears began rolling down her face."

He gently wiped a few away, but didn't encourage her to stop. "We all do, sweetie. But she really hasn't left."

The little girl looked up at her father with wet eyes. "But you said she died. How can she still be here?"

He looked to the sky, to the carving, and back to her face. He took her hand in his, and placed it upon his chest. "Right here. She lives within me, and she lives within you," he moved their hands from his chest to hers.