MMkay. Some of you may recognize this scene from before, but it is different, trusteth me.

PROLOGUE

She wasn’t at all surprised by the fact that he’d been ‘spying’, as she’d figured he’d be doing some of that, just like he had last time they were apart. Nevertheless, she'd been caught off guard, and seeing him again was like welcoming the sun after a long, restless night.

He held her hand firmly in his large one, pleading with his eyes, his breath puffing slightly into the cold air. “To hell with the distance,” he insisted; and as wonderful as that sounded, as awesome as it was to see Mr. Fields, her stubborn ex-teacher, begging for her to come back to him… her stomach felt tenser than ever. Even after the billions of times over the past few weeks that she’d felt like flying back to his house to end their misery, she knew the misery wouldn’t end. The whole thing reminded her of how she’d beg her parents every Christmas Eve to let her open a gift, but once they finally permitted her to open one, then two, then maybe three presents, she felt cheated and unhappy that she hadn’t saved the stupid surprises for the next morning. Disappointed in her will power and in the partial loss of mystery.

But if she didn’t give in to Dan, what would that do to him? Would he assume she was another Denise and completely give up hope, when her eighteenth birthday was only a few months away? Would he, could he safely trust her again?

Could she trust herself? She was young, after all, and had fallen for him so quickly that it made her head spin; and while there were no other guys who could hold her attention longer than five seconds, she needed to step off of this flipping, emotional roller coaster and really TRY for the first time since she’d known Dan Fields to consider the whole situation objectively. That might take longer than either of them cared to admit. Seeing clearly, that is. It could take another year for her emotions to die down enough that she wouldn’t behave like a swooning idiot in Dan Fields’ presence.

She had to be sure beyond a shadow of a doubt that she wanted him and that they were right for each other; because if she wasn’t sure… she could wind up hurting him deeply and proving her instability in the process.

On the other hand...

Glazed with moisture, his chocolate orbs glowed under the parking lot lights, while the wind fiddled with his short, dark waves- something he seemed oblivious to as he stood there stiffly, his jaws bulging. How many times had they gazed at each other like this? How much more tension could they handle before they wound up in the nuthouse for good?

With a sharp intake of breath, she flung her arms around his neck and rested her head against his shoulder, and the tears burst from their locked chambers, raining all over his black trench coat while he cradled her close and whispered, “Rose… It’s OK. We’ll be OK.” His kiss landed near her ear, his heartbeat and breath a lullaby that mingled with the wind’s song.

Thanks to Dan, she’d learned to let go and trust God; couldn’t she just forget all of her doubts and let herself be drawn wherever the relationship might lead?

She’d been spending her days with an acidic stomach, missing his warm arms, clichéd sayings and sincere lectures, and the stretch of time ahead of her seemed like eternity. It was only a little less than three months until her eighteenth birthday, only a few months before she could date him without getting into trouble; but was it only a few months before all of this craziness in her head subsided?

Hadn’t she had enough craziness since Kristen’s death? Why couldn’t she just love the man she loved without this circus in her mind?

"Talk to me, Rebekah.”

“I love you, Dan.”

His arms tightened around her. “I’m damn glad to hear it. I love you too.”

“There is no fear in love... Perfect love casts out fear.” Does that mean I don’t really love him?

His arms and shoulders were firm, his head down so that his lips nearly touched her cheek, and he smelled great. Just a faint scent of aftershave, but that was enough to excite her system, because he smelled like… well, he smelled like Dan, and she loved how he smelled. The scent reminded him of those afternoons spent in his classroom while he either counseled her or simply held loose conversations.

She swallowed. “I know I should probably separate now… spend more time apart...” No… no more agony.

His hand rested against the back of her head, and he spoke softly. “No, Rose, we’ll work through this together… Do you really think that telling me goodbye for three or four or five months, or however long this thing drags out, will solve the problem?”

“I don’t know,” she sniffled.

“Bekah, get in the Jeep.” He pulled her with him, but she froze in her steps, frowning at him when their bodies parted.

“My car…”

“I’ll park it. Come on.” He gave her hand a tug and nodded at his Jeep.

Here she was, the weak, little woman whose man had come to her aid, and surprisingly she somewhat liked the feeling. But that wasn’t right… and it wasn’t right of him to keep treating her like a child.

Icy rain began to fall- a little jab here, a little jab there, the wind picking up speed and sending her shoulder-length hair flying all around her head.

“Dan…” A tear rolled down her cheek.

He replied in a whimper, “Please,” and then cleared his throat. “Rose. Please.”

She shook her head, her heart twisting and contorting and tears rolling, rolling, rolling. Her lower lip chastised her teeth, and then came a long, shaky breath. “I can’t, Dan,” she whispered. “I can’t.”

And he just stood there… staring at her as though she’d destroyed everything he loved, though that was an impossible feat for a poor girl like her.

“You can,” he nearly barked.

“God…” she sobbed, peering at him through wisps of hair the wind had wrapped around her face. “I am so sorry… ”

Squaring his shoulders, Dan Fields stepped forward so that the tips of his shoes touched hers, his eyes boring into her as though he had x ray vision. “Rose...Come with me... now.”