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It Started in a Cabin

By: Chiara23



As always this story is exclusively my property and may not be republished or redistributed without my permission. Any resemblance to people or places living, dead or non-existent is merely a coincidence. 

---

Chris was sitting on his duffel bag under a tree, just off to the side of the hustle and bustle of the other campers getting on the buses or getting picked up to go home. He waved to a few of the female counsellors who waved back and blew kisses to him. Chris grinned and chuckled to himself, the summer had been pretty great for him. Graduating with honours from high school, getting a full scholarship and having a blowout eighteenth birthday had started it. By the end of it he'd managed to lay a couple of the cute female counsellors that were his age. Not a bad summer at all in his books.

He was waiting for his step-sister 'Scar' to come pick him up. He shuddered at the thought of finally meeting her. What kind of girl would call herself 'Scar' anyway? He would have met her at their parents' wedding in May, but apparently she couldn't leave Quebec because she was under house arrest or something for stealing a car.

His step-dad Steve hadn't really told Chris a whole lot about his daughter, just that she was his age and a bit of a rebel, and that she was lead singer in an all girl punk band called 'The Shrieking Harpies'. It seemed to Chris that Steve was probably a bit embarrassed about Scar. Chris had seen pictures of her when she was younger and she'd looked a bit scary back then, with jet black hair and a serious Goth look going on. So he had visions of this metal-studded and tattooed bitch-dog dressed in way too tight Lycra screaming into a mike. Chris shuddered again and waited anxiously to see what kind of 'thing' was going to pick him up.

Scar pulled her car onto the long gravel driveway and followed it up to the camp's main parking lot. There were a half dozen school buses parked on one side of the lot and a bunch of cars on the other. She slowly dodged around kids with backpacks, parents and counsellors then pulled into a spot and got out, looking for her step-brother. Her Dad had at least been kind enough to give her a recent picture of Chris. She'd been surprised that he was actually kind of cute. He looked kind of dorky and skinny in the picture but he had been goofing off and had a nice smile.

She pulled Chris' picture out of her vest pocket and unfolded it, then started wandering around looking for him. Scar was concentrating so hard on finding him that she didn't notice that wherever she walked people stopped to stare.

She looked around again and saw that she was being stared at, "What? You all got a problem? Any of you know a Chris Thornton?" She said rather too loudly and frowning.

One of the counsellors pointed in Chris' direction and she headed toward him. People continued to stare as she passed them but she ignored them like she always did. Shit like this always pissed her off.

Chris saw that the crowds of people were moving to make room for someone. 'Oh great!' he thought to himself, 'The ditch-pig must be here.' He stood up and grabbed his pack then looked up into the most amazing hazel eyes he'd ever seen.

Scar stopped in front of Chris and put her hands on her hips as she popped her chewing gum, "You Chris?" She said with a sneer.

Chris gaped for just a second longer before responding, "Uh yeah, you're Scar?"

With another pop of her gum Scar held out her hand to him, "Sup? You ready to go?"

"Yeah sure, lead on." Chris said as he shook her hand. He followed along behind her in a daze, his eyes riveted on her swaying ass and hips. Scar was definitely in no way a ditch-pig, he thought to himself. She was drop-dead fucking gorgeous! She was wearing skin-tight black jeans, a white tee, biker boots and a leather vest. He figured she was about five-five, and she had long platinum blond hair in a braid that went down almost to that perfect ass. Her legs were long and slim under those skin-tight jeans and she had a narrow waist.

Scar was glad that Chris was walking behind her, she was having a hard time calming her breathing. She cursed her dad for giving her what was obviously an older picture of him. Chris looked like he should be standing in a loincloth in the jungle somewhere, not babysitting a bunch of snot noses at 'Camp Hooda-phak-cares'. He was definitely not the kind of guy she would even look at twice normally, 'boy scout' came to mind but wow was he a hunk. Dressed in board shorts and a Beatles t-shirt his tanned arms and legs showed their hard muscles when he moved.

They got to the car and Scar popped the trunk so Chris could dump his pack in. Once they were ready she turned on the GPS and pulled out of her spot and drove back out to the main road. Chris and Scar drove along in uncomfortable silence, Scar following the directions that the GPS was giving her to head back home.

Chris looked out his side window and whistled, directing Scar's attention to the huge thunder heads coming their way.

"Oh fuck that's gonna be nasty," Scar muttered as she returned her attention to her driving.

Chris laughed at her understatement, "No shit! We'd better stop at the diner at Mitchell's Corner and wait it out."

"Mitchell's what?" Scar asked him.

"Mitchell's Corner," Chris replied as he shook his head. "It should be coming up any minute now when we come to highway 24."

The car pounded into a rut then bounced back out and into a pothole. It was then that Chris realized that there was something wrong. The roads to get home were all smoothly paved and this road felt more like an old hunting road than a country track.

"Hey Scar? This doesn't look like the road that leads to the camp. Are you sure you've got the GPS set up right?"

Scar gave Chris a withering look, "It bloody well better be. I bought it just so I could find this armpit of the universe. I'll pull off to the side here and check the settings."

With that she pulled the car to the edge of the road and started tapping the screen to see what was wrong. In the time she took to check the manual and settings for the GPS the storm had caught them, slashing down in great sheets of water and thundering cracks of lightning.

Chris started to get really worried, knowing that the dirt roads in this area were easily washed out during bad storms. "Scar we gotta move or we'll get stuck here, these dirt roads turn into mud bogs pretty fast when it rains like this."

"Shit, yeah let's get outta here." Scar said as she put the car into gear. She gave it some gas and the wheels just spun in the already slick mud of the road. Dropping the car down into first she tried again with the same result. Frustrated, Scar gunned the engine and the front end of the car started to slide toward the edge of the road.

Feeling the slide, Chris yelled "Scar no! Stop it!" But it was already too late, the car followed the slope down from the road, and tumbled onto it's roof in the culvert thirty feet below the roadbed.

Once the car hit bottom Scar checked herself out. Her right knee was aching from where it had jammed against the dash but she was okay otherwise. She looked over at Chris and swore mentally, the roof on his side had crushed in and the impact had knocked him senseless. She unfastened her seat belt and gently eased her step-brother down once she unhooked his belt.

"Chris! Boy-scout! Come on wake up." She said as she slapped his cheeks.

Chris's eyes fluttered open and he gave Scar a dazed look for a moment before he was able to focus. "Are you okay? We need to get out before we get flooded here," he slurred.

"Yeah. My right knee's hurting like a bitch but I'm okay. How about you?" Scar asked, concern in her voice.

"I got a wicked-ass headache because you dropped a car on my head, but other than that I think I'm fine too." Chris replied sarcastically.

Scar gave Chris another evil look and turned to kick her door open then helped him out of the car. The water was already rising in the ditch and getting deeper by the minute. They grabbed Chris's duffel bag from the trunk and looked at each other for a moment in the downpour. Chris notice that Scar's tee was almost see through now that it was soaked, Not that he was in any better shape clothes-wise.

"I think I saw a little side-track about a hundred yards back boy-scout. Any idea where it would go?" Scar asked as she rubbed her aching and definitely swelling knee.

"Probably a hunting camp. People usually leave them unlocked in case someone has an emergency and needs shelter. That's probably our best bet right now. You sure about your knee? It might be a long walk down to the cabin," he replied.

Scar pulled out her 'tough chick' attitude and grunted as she took a few more steps. "Yeah I'm fine let's get going."

They started slogging through the already calf deep water in the creek bed, trying to find an easier way out of it. Scar's limp didn't get any better as they waded along. Chris was still kind of dazed, and was having a hard time trying to walk in a straight line when they got to the side road and were able to climb up out of the culvert.

When they got to the top of the slope Scar cried out and grabbed her knee, cursing a blue streak and hobbling even more than she had before.

"What's the matter? You okay Scar?" Chris asked as he moved toward his step-sister.

"Something just fucking popped in my knee. Jesus fucking Christ that fucking hurt!" Scar said, glad that the rain was hiding her tears of pain. She'd injured that same knee years ago when she took gymnastics as a kid, and again that previous winter and it had never been the same since then, but this time she was sure it was completely buggered.

"Here let me help you," Chris said as he stepped beside her and wrapped his arm around her slender waist, and pulled her arm over his shoulder.

"How far do you think the cabin is from here?" She asked as she gingerly put some weight on her throbbing leg.

"Maybe a click? A half click? Who knows. All I know is that we need to find some place warm and dry so I can have a look at your leg Scar."

Scar smirked at Chris as they trudged down the muddy track, "So how many times you use that on a girl at camp?"

"Uhm, maybe three or four times?" Chris replied with a grin of his own. "But this is the first legit reason Scar, I don't like the way you're favouring that leg. It may be more than a simple sprain."

They continued down the slippery road with Chris taking most of Scar's weight from her right leg. Scar let out a slow monologue of curses every time she put weight on her it, hitching her arm tighter over Chris's shoulder with each step.

"So...fuck...boy-scout...shit...you got...damn it...first aid?"

Chris chuckled, "Yeah, CPR too if you decide to have a heart attack on me."

it took them about a half hour of slogging through ankle deep muck and Scar relying more and more on Chris to support her when they finally came upon a little cabin. Chris helped Scar up to the door and tried the knob. The door swung inward easily and they both sighed with relief. Chris guided his step-sister toward a sofa that had seen better days but was at least still usable.

"Okay sis, we have two choices so I can check your knee out. I can cut the leg of your pants open or we can try to get your jeans off."

"You've got to be kidding me boy-scout," Scar replied. "I just got these jeans, there's no bloody way you're gonna cut them up!"

Chris gave her an evil grin, "Well then pop the top and let's try to slide them off so I can check you out...I mean check your knee."

With that said, Chris gently pulled Scar's boots off her feet and waited for her to undo the button and unzip her jeans so he could tug them off.

"Are you sure those are my only options boy-scout?" Scar asked as she blushed deeply.

Chris knelt in front of her and gave her a reassuring smile. "Scar I need to make sure your knee is okay and do what I can to fix it up. It'll only be a temporary thing until we get out of here but it has to be done. Plus we have to get out of these wet clothes before we both get sick. I'll start a fire in the stove as soon as I tend to your knee okay?"

Scar resigned herself to the fact that she was going to have to strip down in front of her step-brother and opened her fly so he could get her jeans off. "If your hands or eyes wander you're dead boy-scout."

Chris laughed and pulled her jeans down as carefully as he could. It took him a bit of work to get the soaked denim past her swollen knee but he finally managed to drop her pants onto the floor at her feet.

"There, was that so hard? By the way cute pink panties, I never would have guessed sis." Chris said with a chuckle.

Scar punched his shoulder, "Keep your eyes where they belong boy-scout."

Chris gave her a sad puppy-dog look then looked over her purpling knee. He gently bent it and squeezed it, making Scar hiss with the pain. "Give me a sec to look for a first aid kit. Hopefully there's a tensor bandage in it."

He looked around the room and saw a metal first aid box hanging on the wall behind the kitchenette and went to check it out. Chris found it to be well stocked with pretty much anything you'd need in an emergency. He grabbed the largest tensor bandage in the kit then went and started wrapping his step-sister's knee.

"Hopefully it's just a sprain, but I think it may be more than that Scar."

"Yeah me too boy-scout. This isn't the first time I fucked up that knee," Scar replied between more curses and groans of pain.

"Why do you act like that?" Chris asked her.

"Like what?" Scar responded with another curse as he finished with her knee.

"Well like a mega-bitch tough chick," Chris said.

"I dunno, just always have I guess. Dad always wanted me to be his 'girly' girl. Dresses and pretty jewelry aren't really my thing though. I think he's disappointed that it wouldn't stick."

"So why 'Scar'?"

Scar scowled before she answered, "Because the name my parents gave me was a sick joke okay?"

"Lemme guess, they called you 'Beulah'?" Chris chuckled as he worked on getting a fire going in the stove.

"I wish," she snorted. "Try Scarlett O'Hara McCormick."

Chris tried to hide his smile behind his hand, "Yeah I can understand your problem. I think I'd go with Scar too. I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess you're not a natural blond?"

"No, and don't even think about trying to figure out how you can find out," Scar said.

Chris lit the fire, then blew on the smouldering embers and the kindling in the stove caught, transferring their flames to the larger pieces he put in to get it going.

"There we go, now we just have to get out of these wet things and dry off," he said.

Scar slipped off her vest then paused, "Uh what are we going to change into? The stuff in your bag is probably soaked too."

"Nope it's totally water proof. One of my friends' dad works in the coroner's office. It's a kid sized body bag." Chris said as he rummaged inside it and pulled two sets of sweats and a couple of towels out of it, handing some to Scar.

Scar motioned for Chris to turn his back then quickly removed her tee and pulled the warm sweat shirt over her head. "Huh, kinda creepy but I'm glad you have it. I'm gonna need help with the pants boy-scout." She said as she pulled out her braid and dried her hair.

Chris turned around and slowly slipped the sweat pants up Scar's legs, being careful not to hurt her knee. "Okay sis you have to stand up so I can finish pulling your pants up. Think you can manage it?"

"Yeah, I think it'll be cool if we take it slow," she replied as she put her hands on his shoulders.

He put his hands on Scar's waist and slowly helped her up then eased her sweats the rest of the way up, stopping at her slender waist again. "Y'know you really weren't what I was expecting when my mom told me you were picking me up."

"So what were you expecting boy-scout?" Scar asked with a frown.

"Well, uh definitely not you. I was kinda thinking you were gonna be a ditch-pig," Chris said as he blushed.

"After our little hike you got the ditch part right," she replied. "You weren't exactly what I was looking to pick up either. I was figuring you'd be a skinny dork like your picture."

"Here, we need to rest your knee. Sit back down and I'll prop up your leg Scar," he responded as he blushed again.

With Scar back on the couch and a few more pieces of wood on the fire Chris started rummaging through the cupboards looking for food. He found a few cans of Spaghetti-O's, some baked beans and fruit cocktail. The propane stove fired up right away so Chris dumped the Spaghetti-O's in a pot to warm up.

While the food was heating he checked a steel trunk at the foot of the bed and found some warm blankets. He took one of them and tucked it around Scar.

"Thanks Chris, I'm sorry for acting like a bitch. Hey you better get into your sweats too, I don't want your mom giving me hell if you die from hypothermia."

"Ha! Yeah I guess I should, that's all you need is my mom bitching at you for that." Chris said as he pulled off his shirt.

Scar surreptitiously checked Chris out, admiring his well toned upper body. 'Shit what a waste,' she thought to herself. 'Too bad he's my step-brother, I'd be tempted to give him a go even though he's not exactly my type.'

Chris caught her staring and flexed for her. "So sis, like what you see?"

"Uhm...uh," Scar stammered as she blushed and looked away. "Sorry, I just...well sorry."

"Ahh don't worry about it Scarlett, I was checking you out earlier and fair's fair right? I hope you don't mind me calling you that? I really think it's a lot prettier and suits you better than Scar." Chris said with a grin and wink as he slipped on his sweat top.

"Quite the charmer aren't you boy-scout?" she grinned, "I guess it'll be okay, but just between us though okay?"

"Okay Scarlett, deal." Chris said. "I'd tell you to turn around so I can drop my shorts but I doubt you could. Try not to stare." With that Chris quickly half-turned and dropped his shorts then grabbed the sweats and pulled them up his strong legs.

Scarlett blinked her eyes in surprise. In the few seconds that Chris took between dropping his shorts and pulling on the sweats she had had a great view of his boxer clad crotch. It took some seconds for her brain to register that he'd had a hard-on. She turned crimson and looked away briefly to clear her head. Scarlett wasn't a prude or inexperienced when it came to sex, but for all intents and purposes Chris was her brother now, and siblings didn't usually flash their crotches at each other.

"Oh shit, the food!" Chris exclaimed as he sniffed the air and remembered about it and headed to the stove. He quickly pulled the pot off and dumped its contents into two bowls.

He walked a bowl over to her and sat on a chair. "It's not filet mignon but it'll warm our bellies."

Scarlett took a spoonful and smiled with her eyes closed. "Mmmm eighth grade school lunches. It's been ages since I had these! Thanks Chris."

"Don't thank me, it was Chef Boy-ar-dee's idea, but yeah I know what you mean. I think I lived on Spaghetti-O's and Beef-a-roni for two years."

"Ha ha! With bread and butter?" Scarlett asked as she warmed up to her step-brother even more. She was beginning to think that having Chris as a brother might not be as bad as she had initially thought, even though there was that bit of an underlying attraction that she hadn't expected.

"Damn straight!" he replied. Chris could see that Scarlett was slowly lowering her tough chick mask and really liked her real personality. She was definitely fun and cool to hang out with, and they probably had more in common than either realized.

"Too bad you couldn't make it to the wedding. Your Aunt Marie made me dance with her all night. Steve said you were under house arrest or something?"


It Started in a Cabin Ch. 02



As always this story is exclusively my property and may not be republished or redistributed without my permission. Any resemblance to people or places living, dead or non-existent is merely a coincidence.

*** Sorry for the wait in continuing this tale. I've had a number of things going on in my personal life that have taken precedence over my writing time until recently. I hope you enjoy what I've done with the storyline. This part sees a little more intimacy between Scarlett and Chris and a bit more drama for both of them as well. As always, I only know how good or bad I'm doing if you comment and rate my stories so please let me know what you think!

*** Special thanks go out to my great friend David for his help in getting me kick started again with such wonderful brainstorming ideas and suggestions and being a wonderful editor! 

*** I'd also like to thank Metronome37 from Lit Chat who came on in this project as a proofreader. His help was invaluable during the final crunch and I greatly appreciate the time he took to help me. 

--- Chapter Seven

A few weeks after their fight, Chris proudly introduced Scarlett to his cousins at the family Thanksgiving dinner. The kids all went down to the family room to get away from the adults where they could relax and hang out. Chris and Scarlett sat close together on the couch while everyone else was spread out on the other furniture or on the floor.

Scarlett noticed that one of Chris' female cousins kept watching them and grinning. She thought the girl's name was Chrissy or something like that. She asked her if they could have a minute to talk in private so they went out to the back yard.

"What's so funny Chrissy?" Scarlett asked.

"Actually it's Christy, Scarlett. You guys are funny, you're both trying to act so cool like there's nothing going on but you're glued together at the hip. What gives? Are you two playing doctor?" She grinned.

Scarlett felt her cheeks grow hot and she stammered, "Uh, well...nothings going on. We're just...close?"

"Close eh?" Christy chuckled. "You guys just met a few months ago and you're already 'close'." 

"Well we did spend a night alone together in a cabin when we first met. We had a lot of time to talk." Scarlett explained.

"And nothing happened?"

"No! Well Chris did give me a goodnight kiss, I asked him to though, and it was just on the cheek."

"Oh he got his hooks into you early didn't he?" Christy said as she laughed and gave Scarlett a conspiratorial grin, "I don't know if you know this about Chris but he's the family whore, he's had so many girlfriends it's not even funny."

"That sneaky bum!" Scarlett laughed. "I had no idea at all that he was like that. I think I'm going to have to have a little chat with my darling brother later!"

"Don't beat him up too much Scarlett, Chris doesn't even know he does it. It's like he has a lust fog around him or something. He's always been dorky but for some reason girls just keep throwing themselves at him. Hell I even had a crush on him when we were twelve."

Both girls laughed and Christy gave Scarlett a hug. 

"So you guys are the same age?"

"Yeah, he's a month older than me. My parents thought it would be cute if we had similar names, Christian and Christianne, like we're twins or something." Christy said with a grin.

"God! What is it with parents? I hated my name growing up, I started dying my hair when I was eight just so people would stop making fun of me," Scarlett laughed.

She gave Christy a sly look, "So did you two ever play house?"

Christy blushed, "Ha ha! Yeah a few times when we were little. We've always been super close, when we were four we told our parents we were going to get married."

Scarlett laughed again, she felt really comfortable with Christy and felt like she could trust her. She decided to take a chance and confided what had happened between Chris and her. 

Christy listened, nodded and even laughed a few times as Scarlett told her story. When Scarlett finished Christy gave her another hug and smiled at her. "Thanks for sharing that Scarlett, it took a lot of guts to trust me like that. Don't worry I won't say a word to anyone. That's your story to share when you guys are ready to."

"Thanks Christy I appreciate that. So do you think I have anything to worry about with my man-ho?" Scarlett asked with a grin.

"I don't think so Scarlett, as far as I know he's never said that he loved any of his girlfriends before. Anyway you're different, they all kind of fawned over him. You don't, you're very independent and in control."

"Well I've had some time to train him."

"Looks like you've done a good job," Christy giggled.

---

During Scarlett's rehab Chris kept her motivated, getting her jogging, working out and swimming at the local sports center as soon as she was able to. Scarlett worked hard to get her knee back into shape, she had every intention of making sure that Chris took her dancing before Christmas. A month after her surgery she was running four kilometers every other day. Chris was pleased with her progress and was always encouraging her to push a little harder. 

After one of their runs they got home and collapsed on the couch. Scarlett had pushed the run out to five kilometers that morning and had done a hard sprint right at the end, passing Chris and leaving him in her dust.

"How's the knee feeling after that run sis?" Chris asked.

Scarlett grinned, "Not bad, especially considering I smoked your ass."

"Ha! I let you win, I could've taken you any time I wanted to." He chuckled.

"Yeah right! In your dreams boy-scout," Scarlett teased.

Chris stood up and stripped off his tee, flexing his upper body and laughing. "You've got nothing on me Red! Get a load of these pecs."

Scarlett laughed as well and got up, pulling her sweat top over her head, leaving her in just her running shorts and sports bra. She struck a pose and grinned, "Like I'm not buffed?"

Although she had been in good shape before getting hurt, all the extra training she and Chris had done on top of her rehab had trimmed her down and given her a more firm and toned body now. This wasn't lost on Chris as his eyes roamed over her frame in admiration. Nor was it lost on his growing erection. Chris tried to hide both his lust and embarrassment but Scarlett caught on and moved toward him, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Liked what you saw didja?" She asked playfully.

"Oh yeah, you're even hotter than the day we met Scarlett, and I didn't think that was possible."

"So how come you've only ever kissed me Chris?"

"Well I didn't want to push you." Chris replied as his hands slid down her back then cupped her bottom, giving it a gentle squeeze.

"Afraid of my dad?" Scarlett giggled.

"No, I'm afraid of you. You are a redhead, and you know what they say about redheads." Chris joked.

"Oh? What do they say about us?" She asked.

"That you're freaky wildcats in bed."

Scarlett laughed. Chris had been frustrating her for weeks, sneaking up on her whenever he got the chance and kissing her on the neck or ear which sent shivers all over her body. She had to admit that she had been teasing him as well, hugging him from behind and pressing her breasts into his back, and rubbing up against him if the opportunity presented itself.

"You know I liked what I just saw too Chris. All this working out hasn't hurt you either. If you wanted to do more than just kiss me I wouldn't mind, I'd really like you to."

"So I can squeeze your ass again?"

Scarlett giggled, "Did I complain just now? God Chris what are you waiting for? If you don't stop teasing and start pleasing I'm going to have to find myself a new step-brother."

Chris laughed and pulled her tight to him, "Yeah but you might hate the new one. Besides, I never said I'd never please, I just don't want to rush things."

"You're probably right bro," Scarlett replied. "But could you at least feel me up a bit?"

"I think I can do at least that much sis," Chris smiled as his hands moved to her sides, resting on her bare skin between her shorts and her sports bra, his thumbs gently stroking her and making Scarlett gasp softly.

"Mmm, that's a good start Christian." Scarlett said as she pulled him in for a deep kiss.

They kissed for long minutes, their tongues dancing within their mouths, their breathing getting faster and more ragged. Scarlett's fingers tangled into Chris' hair as she moaned softly, pushing herself into him with more urgency. Chris moved a hand up to lightly cup one of her breasts and kneaded it softly, causing her nipple to become erect under his palm. He could feel his erection mashed between their bodies throb with excitement. When they separated they were both flushed and panting.

"Now that's more like it man-ho," Scarlett giggled. She could feel herself tingling all over at her step-brother's light touch and shivered again when his thumb touched her nipple.

Chris grinned at her, "Man-ho? So I'm a man-ho now sis?"

Scarlett smiled and stroked her hand over his strong chest, "Yeah. Christy told me about all of your girlfriends. Something you forgot to mention before you made me fall in love with you."

"I MADE you fall in love with me?" Chris asked as he lightly kissed her lips. "Like you changing your hair back to red wasn't to make me fall more in love with you at all?"

"That's not the point boy-scout, you were a male slut before we met. You better not get any ideas of acting like that now." Scarlett said with a serious look.

"Scarlett you're the only girl I want in my life. Those other girls never meant anything to me. Sure it was fun making out and everything but I never loved them. Hell sometimes I hated them always falling all over me. I just wanted a girl who loved me for who I really am, not because of what I look like or what crowd I hang around with." he stated.

"Well it's a good thing I don't care about any of that crap then isn't it?"

Chris palmed her breast again and grinned when she shivered and moaned. "Yeah, it is. I was thinking that maybe we could go out for a movie this weekend. Maybe if you're feeling brave enough we could invite Jason and his girlfriend along too. I think you'll like her."

"I don't know which is more distracting boy-scout, you yapping at me while you're groping me, or you groping me while you're asking me out on a date. Just shut up and kiss me some more okay?"

"So I'll pick you up Friday at seven then?" Chris joked as he pushed Scarlett back to the couch and eased her down onto it before joining her.

Scarlett pulled Chris into another deep kiss before responding, "Yeah seven's fine, now get this bra off of me and shut up."

Chris slipped his fingers under the elastic of her bra and slowly eased it up over her breasts and off, taking in a sharp breath when he saw her milky globes with their light dusting of freckles. Their light pink nipples were puffed up and looked like they were just begging to be licked. He leaned forward and started flicking his tongue across her nipples, making Scarlett arch her back and moan deep in her chest. When Chris did that she felt a bolt of electricity zap right to her hard little clit. Scarlett could already feel that she was getting wet and they hadn't even really done anything yet. She could also feel his rock hard member against her thigh as it pulsed. 

Chris ran his fingers through her tresses and pulled a few stray hairs from her eyes as he gazed into their hazel depths, "God their perfect sis, I just want to play connect the dots with my tongue with every cute freckle on them."

Scarlett ran her fingernails lightly up his back, causing him to shiver with excitement. "So you like my boobies bro?" she asked playfully.

"I love your boobies Scarlett," Chris said as his lips touched her nipple again.

"Ummm, yeah. I can feel that you do Christian." she gasped as she slipped her hand between them, giving him a gentle squeeze through his shorts.

"Oh god don't do that sis, you're gonna make me cum in my shorts!" Chris groaned.

"What this?" She asked as she squeezed him again, giving him a little stroke just for good measure.

"Scar seriously, I'm so close it's not even funny." Chris mumbled into her breasts.

Scarlett gave Chris a mischievous grin. "So I'd better not do this again," she said as she squeezed and stroked him some more. Suddenly she felt his cock twitch in her hand and swell as he shot his load. Chris gasped and thrust his hips into her hand as his cum jetted into his boxers in a sticky mess. His breath rattled in his throat as he jerked from release and he forgot all about her heaving breasts just mere inches from his face.

When he recovered from his orgasm he frowned at his sister, "Why'd you do that?"

Scarlett giggled, "What you didn't like that? Consider it payback for every kiss that you gave me on my neck and ears. You have no idea how hot and bothered I've been because of you doing that, you jerk!"

"Payback? I'll give you payback sis!" Chris said with a grin as he slipped his hand between her legs. He was surprised to find that the crotch of her running shorts was soaked with her juices. His fingers slipped over the damp material and pushed gently into her slit making Scarlett whimper as he pushed against her folds.

"Ohh shit Chris, that feels so good!" she whispered softly as her hips met his hand.

Chris' fingers slid across her mound and flickered over her Lycra covered lips, spreading her juices even further over her clothes. There was no way he was going to let her off easily. If she made him cum in his shorts he was damned sure going to make sure she did the same thing he thought to himself. He moved up and kissed her again as his fingers pushed in deeper, stretching the fabric of her shorts into her hot little hole.

"God boy-scout you're gonna make me cum too. Please, don't stop!" Scarlett moaned into his mouth.

His fingers slid along her slit and he found her clit pushing hard against her shorts. Chris was surprised at how large it felt and flicked it with his finger tip which made Scarlett shudder under him. He grinned evilly at her and strummed it again, making her gasp and moan with pleasure. Scarlett's hips bucked into his hand and she begged for more so he continued to rub and flick her sensitive little nubbin. She began to squirm and make little mewling sounds in her throat as he brought her closer to the edge, her arms wrapped around his strong shoulders as she buried her face in his chest.

"Close...so close... just...a...bit...OH SHIT! Ahh! Ahh! Hmmmm oh yeah God! Oh Chris, Chris YES!" She cried out as her body was wracked with her blazing orgasm. Scarlett's honey flooded out of her pussy, totally soaking the crotch of her shorts, his hand and running down the insides of her thighs. She jerked and spasmed under Chris, making guttural noises and thrashing her head back and forth, sending her sweat plastered hair into further disarray. 

When she finally stopped cumming she lay gasping for air, her face, neck and chest flushed with desire. "Holy shit!" she moaned. "I never came like that before in my life!"

Chris grinned down at his sister and gave her a quick kiss on the lips. "That's for rubbing all over me like a cat in heat you little minx! Now get up, we need to take a shower and get ready to go to physio." He said as he pushed himself up and away from her.

"What? You're not going to leave me like this are you?" Scarlett asked in disbelief, her chest still heaving slightly.

"You don't want to smell like sex when we get there do you? We're both a mess, now get your ass in gear Red." Chris said over his shoulder as he walked up the stairs.

"You're a bastard Christian Thornton!" She called after him with a grin.

"And you're a bitch Scarlett McCormick!" He replied with a laugh.

"I still love you though." Scarlett said softly to herself as she got up to follow Chris.

--- Chapter Eight

That Friday Chris and Scarlett were going to meet his friend Jason and his girlfriend Dani at the theater to catch a movie. Scarlett hadn't been one hundred percent sure of the idea but decided that they had to get out and at least try to make things work out in public. She was a bit worried about meeting Dani and didn't know how she should act in front of her. They waited outside for their friends to arrive.

"Hey Chris! Hi Scarlett." Jason said as he and Dani walked up to them.

"Jase! Hi Dani!" Chris said as they walked up. "This is my step-sister Scarlett, Dani."

"Hi Dani," Scarlett said somewhat shyly.

"Nice to meet you Scarlett." she replied with a confused look on her face. "Uh I thought you were bringing a date Chris?"

Chris laughed, "I did, Scarlett's my date."

"Wait a minute," Dani said as sudden realization hit her. "I've seen you before, you're the girl we saw Chris kissing a couple of weeks ago at the mall!"

"Yeah that was me," Scarlett said with a nervous laugh. "I guess we weren't as careful as we should've been and you guys busted us."

Dani went off into peals of laughter, "Are you freaking serious? Oh my god that's hilarious!"

Scarlett wanted to be angry but when she thought about it she had to admit that Dani not seeming to be upset made her feel more at ease. "Yeah it kinda just happened. I think my Dad's more freaked out about it than Chris' Mom, but they're okay with it."

"Too, too funny." Dani said as she giggled. "Holy shit Chris, I always knew you were a tramp but your own step-sister?"

"Hell Dani I only met her in August, and the only picture I saw her in she was like uber-emo. How was I supposed to know she was going to be a total hottie?" Chris joked.

"Hey! That's not fair Chris the only picture I had of you, you looked like a total dork!" Scarlett laughed as she poked him in the ribs. "I didn't know you were gonna be a jungle god when I went to pick you up at camp."

Dani giggled again, "Chris may not look like one anymore but deep down he's still a dork."

"Dani's got you there buddy, you really are a dork," Jason laughed.

"Screw you Jase," Chris chuckled.

They went in and got their tickets then Dani grabbed Scarlett and dragged her to the washroom with a giggle. Jason and Chris waited for them and wondered what was going on.

"So you guys are 'out' now?" Jason asked his friend.

"Yeah," Chris said. "It's not like we grew up together or anything, and our folks said we could decide how we wanted things to be away from home."

"Cool, it'll probably be easier that way. Dani seems to like her."

"Looks like it. Scar doesn't really have many friends around here so if they get along it'll be cool. My cousin Christy and her are besties now, they talk and hang out." Chris replied.

"So how is 'Hot Christy' doing dude?" Jason asked with a grin.

Chris laughed, "God man you still got the hots for her?"

"Hey you're the one who dragged me to that barbecue two years ago. She's fucking hot, what can I say?"

"Do you ever think with your top head bro?" Chris said.

"I try not to," Jason grinned.

"You're a shithead." Chris said as he returned his friend's grin.

In the washroom Dani smiled at Scarlett and gave her a questioning look, "So, you guys are really like a couple?"

"Yes, you're not freaked out or anything?"

"No! If I had a step-brother as hot as Chris I'd be totally stupid for him!" Dani giggled.

Scarlett laughed, "God I thought I was gonna pass out when I met him. My Dad must have slipped me an old picture of him when they sent me to get him. He was NOT what I was expecting at all!"

"Yeah Chris really bulked up and got a lot taller last year. He started working out like crazy and went on a major health kick. Everyone important noticed," Dani laughed.

"Like all the girls 'important' eh?"

"Pretty much," Dani said with a grin. "So is he as good a kisser as I've heard he is?"




It Started in a Cabin Ch. 02



"Incredible!" Scarlett replied as she blushed. "He makes me tingle to my toes."

"Ha ha! Lucky bitch! I almost hate you. I think we've made the guys wait long enough, let's go." Dani said as she pulled Scarlett back out to the lobby.

The couples had a good time at the movie, the girls snuggling into their guys and smooching every now and then. After the movie they went to a local coffee shop and chatted for a bit. Scarlett and Chris filling Dani in on what had happened with them. Dani giggled a lot and teased them both mercilessly. 

Scarlett really enjoyed going out with Chris and his friends, well her friends too now she guessed. She liked Dani and thought that they would probably get to be good friends in time. Chris was glad that Scarlett was having such a good time and was getting along with his friends. He suspected it had been a bit hard for her when she first moved in with their folks and didn't know anyone. The evening finally wore down and they made their good nights. Dani and Scarlett exchanged cell numbers and promised to keep in touch, planning a shopping day together very soon.

"So did you have a good time tonight Red?" Chris asked with a grin.

"Yeah, Dani and Jason are fun. You just called me 'Red' again. You did that the other day, what's up with that?"

He blushed, "Well I need a nickname for you. You call me 'boy-scout', I could still call you Scar, but Scar's the miserable brat I first met. You're not that girl anymore. What do you want me to call you?"

"Hmm, well I admit I was a bit of a brat when we met." She laughed. "I guess Red's okay if it's just you and me. If you were anybody else I'd probably punch your lights out for calling me that. I still like it when you call me Scar though, it kinda reminds me of the silly look you had on your face when you first checked me out."

"A BIT of a brat? You just oozed bitch stink when we first met sis," Chris chuckled.

"Okay, okay. Fine I was a bitch. You know, I really liked what you...well...what you did the other day."

"I uh, I liked it too. I wasn't really mad when you made me cum in my shorts. I was really just surprised more than anything. You looked beautiful when you came." Chris said with a blush.

"I did?"

"Yeah, the way your face looked. It looked like you were in heaven, you had the most beautiful smile after."

Scarlett blushed, "It felt like I was. I had such a glow on I had to Jill off twice when I went to bed!"

"Ha ha, yeah I think I've got a sock with your name on it now."

"EWW! Gross boy-scout! Really gross." Scarlett laughed as she playfully slapped him.

"Just being honest." Chris said as he thought about how desperately he had wanted to fuck his sister that morning. It had taken all of his willpower not to turn back and just take her there on the sofa she looked that hot.

"So what do we do now Christian?" She asked, thinking about her brother's smoldering eyes when he'd looked back at her. Seeing him look at her like that had made her insides turn to jelly.

"I dunno. I mean I know where I want things to go, but are we ready to go there yet?" he asked.

"Chris I want to go there too, but maybe you're right. I know I've put out a lot quicker with some guys in the past, but I was stupid then, I thought they loved me." She explained. "I know you love me, I just want our first time together to be perfect you know?"

"Yeah, me too. I think maybe for now we shouldn't force things, let them happen when they happen." he replied as they pulled into their driveway.

"You'll still feel me up though right?" she asked with a sly grin.

"You bet sis, I'd do it every day just so I could see that smile if you asked me to." he replied

"Mmm, careful what you wish for boy-scout," Scarlett said with a soft smile.

The lights were still on when they got home so they stopped at the front door and kissed for a few minutes before going into the house. Both of them were still flushed with excitement when they entered the living room. Their folks looked up and had knowing smiles on their faces when they saw the state their kids were in.

"Have fun guys?" Lisa asked.

"Yeah," Scarlett replied with a slight blush, thinking Lisa may have noticed how hot she felt right then.

"The movie was okay, we went for coffee after and told Dani about us and she is cool with it," Chris said. "She seemed to like Scarlett."

"That's good, it's great to see you making friends now kiddo." Her dad said with a smile.

"Dani wants to come over and hear my demo discs from the band. She likes punk too."

"Have her over any time honey," Lisa said with a stretch and yawn. "Well I think I'm going to go to bed now. Not too late okay kids?"

"Yeah it's that time for me too. Try to behave you two." Steve teased.

Once their parents had gone upstairs Chris grabbed Scarlett into a tight hug. She put her head on his shoulder and sighed softly. Scarlett felt so safe and warm in his arms, she'd never felt that way with any of the other guys she had been with. She could feel his heart beating against hers. It made her feel like they were one person, their hearts beating in unison. She never wanted that feeling to end and wanted Chris to always hold her like he was now. 

She looked up at Chris and he gave her his puppy dog eyes which made her giggle. "What now boy-scout?" she asked.

He grinned and kissed the tip of her nose, "I just don't want this to end sis. I love how you feel when I hold you like this. Did you maybe want to cuddle for a bit?"

"Sure, I'd like that bro." she said as she pulled him to the sofa. They piled some pillows up against one end of it then sat snuggled together against them, with Scarlett's head and arm on Chris' chest and his arm draped across her shoulders.

Chris stroked her arm and shoulder absently and toyed with her crimson locks, twirling and sliding them between his fingers. He couldn't believe that in just a few short months he had become totally, madly in love with this girl in his arms. Once she had let go of her bitchy attitude and let him see the real her he had fallen fast and hard for her. She was smart, funny and had a playful streak a mile wide. Chris never knew what she was going to do. He knew what he was going to do though, he was going to make sure that there was never going to be a reason for her to ever want to leave him. Their first fight had crushed him. It wasn't the fight so much as the cold and empty silence between them afterward, not being able to take her in his arms and make her happy once again. He knew that they would have their share of fights, but he hoped that none of them would ever leave him empty again.

He slipped his hand from her shoulder and let it slide down to her firm breast, giving it a gentle squeeze.

Scarlett looked up at him and giggled before taking his hand from her chest, "Bad boy! What if my Dad saw that?"

Chris chuckled, "I'd probably have a broken hand, but it would be worth it."

"Yeah I'm sure it would be for you," she quipped.

He leaned in for a kiss which Scarlett welcomed eagerly, her arms wrapping around him and pulling him tight to her. Their tongues danced for a few moments and Scarlett could feel her heat rising again, her cheeks growing hot and moisture pooling in her panties. Her hand stroked his face and slid down to his muscled chest, teasing one of his nipples through his shirt. Chris moaned and kissed her harder, his tongue becoming more insistent in her mouth. Scarlett sucked his tongue hungrily and teased him more, sliding her hand lower to his stomach and playing with the button of his jeans.

Chris took her hand away and kissed her fingertips with a grin, "No, no. We're waiting remember?"

"You're an asshole."

"And you're still a bitch." He replied.

"Of course I am, but I'm your bitch boy-scout." Scarlett husked.

"Mmm, I like that Scar. My bitch...sounds kinda sexy." he laughed.

"You haven't even seen me being sexy yet Christian."

"I dunno, you looked pretty damned sexy in that green dress."

"Speaking of green dresses I think I'm almost ready for that night of dancing you promised me. I guess when we see the doctor next week we'll know for sure eh?"

"Yeah I guess so. Any particular place you'd like to go? I know a club that has some decent music that we can go to. And I know for a fact that you'd be the hottest girl there if we went to it."

"Anywhere where we can have fun and I can tease the hell out of you is fine by me boy-scout. As long as you only keep your eyes on me and the other girls off of you I'll be happy." Scarlett said with a seductive smile.

"If you're wearing that dress that will definitely not be a problem." He said as he kissed her.

"Good. I'd hate to have to kill my favourite step-brother for being a slut."

"I'm not a slut!" Chris said with a grin. "It's not my fault girls like me. Hell I'm still not sure why they do."

"Maybe because you're sweet, caring, gentle, and hot as hell?" she teased.

Chris blushed, "I don't think so, I'm just a guy. Nothing special really."

"No Chris, you're very special." Scarlett mumbled somewhat sleepily.

"So are you Scar," he replied, sleepy as well.

Both of their heads were nodding now but neither one wanted to get out of their comfortable cuddle. Scarlett rested her head back on Chris' chest, listening to his heart beating slowly under her ear. It had an hypnotic effect on her and soon she was breathing heavy and slow, deeply asleep. Chris followed her very shortly, his nose buried in her hair, inhaling the apple scent of her shampoo.

---

Chris and Scarlett were still fast asleep on the couch when their parents got up in the morning. Steve saw them first and cautioned Lisa to be quiet as they moved up on the two of them. Seeing their kids in such a loving embrace made them both realize that they had made the right decision in letting them have their relationship. Steve could see just by the way Chris had his arms wrapped protectively around his daughter that the young man would always hold her like that and never allow anyone or anything to harm her. The innocent, sweet looks on their faces brought a tear to Lisa's eye. She just wanted to bundle them up in her arms she was so happy for them. They were wrapped up around each other, arms and legs tangled and snuggled right up. Scarlett was lying half on Chris, head still on his chest and he still had his nose in her hair.

Steve broke the spell the parents were in, "Kinda sweet isn't it?" he murmured softly.

"God they're so cute I'm just melting inside Steve," Lisa whispered.

"Let's leave them alone. They're comfortable where they are honey."

"Yeah, let's go out to get coffee, we'll bring something back for them too." Lisa said.

"Okay, just be very quiet." Steve added.

They slipped their shoes on and grabbed a set of car keys then snuck out the door to the car, driving to the nearest Tim Horton's coffee shop. They returned shortly with coffees and fresh donuts, placing them on the counter. Steve and Lisa took their drinks and moved to the love seat so they could sit and watch their kids sleep while they drank their coffee and ate their donuts quietly. They sat for a few minutes and had almost finished their coffees before Scarlett finally stirred, blinking sleepily and raising her head. She looked around blearily for a second before she focused on Steve and Lisa. They were smiling at her so she gave them a lopsided grin back. She extricated herself from her brother's arms and sat up, stretching and yawning. 

"Wow, I guess we were more tired than we thought." she mumbled.

"There's a French Vanilla on the counter for you sweetie," Lisa said softly.

"Thanks Lisa," Scarlett said as she got up and padded to the kitchen to get it. She grabbed a dutchie to go with it then rejoined her parents as they watched Chris.

It was only a few more minutes before he sat up with a start and looked around. "Whu..What?" he said groggily.

"Good morning boy-scout," Scarlett said as she gave him a quick kiss on the lips.

"Hey beautiful!" Chris said as he pulled her into a hug. "Hi guys, what's for breakfast?"

Steve chuckled, "Morning, coffee and donuts in the kitchen. You'll probably want to nuke yours, it might be cold by now."

"Hmm, okay." Chris said as he got up and headed for the kitchen to grab his coffee and a donut for himself.

Once Chris was back in the living room they all sat and chatted for a bit. Chris and Scarlett apologized for falling asleep on the couch but their parents just shrugged it off, saying they thought it was cute how they were all cuddled up together when they had come down that morning. Both kids were inwardly pleased that neither parent seemed upset by finding them sprawled across each other.

--- Chapter Nine

The following week Chris took Scarlett to see her doctor so they could see how her knee was healing. They both figured that with all the extra training that she had done her leg was almost better than it had been before her injury, but wanted the doctor's confirmation of their guess. They waited patiently until they were called into the examination room, where the doctor did some mobility and strength tests. She seemed quite pleased with what she saw and smiled when they sat at her desk to go over what she'd found.

"Well, I'm very pleased with what I'm seeing here Scarlett," Doctor Haines said. "Without knowing the condition of your leg prior to your injury it's hard to gauge, but you've got pretty close seventy-five percent strength and mobility in comparison to your left leg."

"Yes!" She cheered as she pumped her fist in the air.

Chris hugged his step-sister around the shoulders with an arm and grinned, "See? I told you we could do it!"

"Thanks so much boy-scout!" Scarlett said as she returned his hug and kissed his cheek.

"What exactly could you do?" Doctor Haines asked.

"Chris set up an extra training program for me," The young redhead replied. "Weight training, running, swimming, stretches, you name it. He thought if we supplemented the physio I could maybe get my knee in better shape faster."

"And you thought this was a good idea? Just going ahead and doing extra over and above what the physiotherapist recommended?" her doctor asked with a frown.

"We checked with him first Dr. Haines. We didn't do anything that he hadn't cleared," Chris said.

"So how did you come up with this plan then Chris? Do you have any training?"

Chris blushed and gave her a shy smile, "Well, I'm going to be studying kinesiology when I go to school next term, I've done a few pre-entry courses already."

"Well I'm impressed, it looks like whatever program you enacted with Scarlett certainly did quite a lot to her great recovery. You should be proud of yourself Chris." Dr. Haines said with a smile.

"Thanks Dr. Haines," Chris replied happily.

"Scarlett I would suggest you continue with your training regimen to maintain your strength and flexibility. The last thing you want to do is re-injure your leg and have to start all over again. I'd like to see you again in six months just to see how things are going okay?"

"Sure Doc! That's great and thanks for everything." Scarlett replied.

"Thank Chris, he's the one who came up with your recovery plan." Dr. Haines replied with a smile of her own.

"Oh I definitely plan on doing that," She said with a sly grin at Chris as they got up and let themselves out, stopping to book an appointment with the receptionist for six months.

When they got out to their car Scarlett grabbed Chris and pushed him up against the side of it, kissing him hard and diving her tongue into his mouth. He was surprised at first but quickly began responding to her steaming kiss, his hands grabbing her hips and pulling her tighter to him, one hand snaking up and tangling in her long hair. They stood there for several minutes, the kiss becoming more urgent and frenzied by the moment, mouths fighting for dominance and their hands stroking and petting heatedly. Scarlett finally broke the kiss and stepped back, panting, with flushed cheeks and a hungry gleam in her eyes. 

She reached up and poked Chris on the tip of his nose with a finger, "That Christian Thornton, is just the beginning of my thank you. You WILL be taking me dancing next Friday night, as well as dinner at a nice restaurant. After that we'll see where the thanks will go from there."

"Jesus," Chris replied with a grin as he caught his breath. "If that's just the beginning I'm almost afraid to ask what the rest is going to be like!"

"I'm sure you might be able to think of some possible scenarios boy-scout," Scar said with a smirk as she opened her door and got in the car.

Chris stood there for a second then shook his head and chuckled to himself. "I'm so freaking dead," he muttered as he got into the driver's side seat.

On the drive home the young couple chatted happily about the news from Dr. Haines. Scarlett was very pleased and excited that she'd managed to reduce her recovery time and even improve her strength with Chris' help.

"God Chris you're amazing!" She gushed as she kissed his cheek.

"Hey! Come on, don't distract the driver," Chris laughed. "You're the one who's amazing Scar, you did all the work to get your leg better."

"Uh uh, it was your plan bro, you deserve the credit for that."

"Yeah but..."

"Don't 'yeah but' me Chris, you planned everything out for me and kept me focused so shut up." Scarlett interrupted as she punched Chris in the shoulder.

Chris rubbed his shoulder and grinned at her, "OK, OK! You don't have to beat me up Red, it was my idea but we both worked to keep you going."

Scarlett felt her phone buzz in her pocket and pulled it out. Glancing at the screen she went pale when she recognized the number and quickly hit the end button so that she didn't have to take the call.

"Why didn't you answer that?" Chris asked with a quizzical look.

"Uh I didn't recognize the number, it was probably someone wanting to sell a time-share bro." Scar hedged as she looked out her side window.

Chris nodded and turned back to driving, "Ahh, yeah probably."

Looking out her window She shuddered. Scarlett knew exactly who had called. The last time they had spoken was before she had moved in with her dad and Lisa at the beginning of the summer, and it had not been a good scene at all. Her phone suddenly beeped that there was a new voice mail and she jumped in surprise.

"Man they must be desperate to sell the condo or whatever if they left a message!" Chris said with a chuckle when he heard Scar's phone bleep.

"Yeah, ha ha. Maybe they've got a bogo sale on!" Scarlett replied, trying to hide her nervousness.

---

Scarlett went straight to her room when they got home, closing and locking her door before flopping on her bed and checking her voice mail. She had a very bad feeling about the waiting message and groaned when she heard the voice.

'Scar, babe! It's Adrian. Listen I'm in town for a bit and thought maybe we could get together and have some fun. Y'know, like old times. Give me a shout okay? See ya you little sex kitten!'

"Shit! Shit, shit, SHIT!!" Scarlett cursed as she punched her pillow. She sat there for a few moments and tried to get her thoughts together. 'If Adrian's in town he probably knows where I live', Scar thought to herself. 'It's only a matter of time before he winds up here. Fuck, I have to keep him away from here. God this is just a total mess!'

Sitting with her head in her hands she tried to think of a way to keep her ex away, and Chris from finding out he was in town. She knew she was in huge trouble. Adrian was eight years older than her and was one of those guys who just skated by on charm, able to get people to do what he wanted with almost no effort. He had been like kryptonite to her and had used her weakness for him against her at every opportunity. It seemed to her that just about every time they got together they'd ended up having sex, and Adrian was just so smooth that whatever he suggested they do she pretty much did. The things he'd gotten her to do made her shudder unconsciously. Although she had enjoyed some of the things they'd done, others had been strange at times. 




It Started in a Cabin Ch. 02



Scarlett knew she had to put a stop to the whole Adrian thing as quickly as possible. She picked up her phone and dialed Adrian's number, listening to it ring then the line opening as he took the call.

"Scar! Babe, I'm glad you called!" Adrian said.

"Hey Ade, long time." Scarlett said as calmly as she could manage even though her heart was beating like a trip hammer in her chest.

"Babe we need to hook up and make some magic like we used to."

"Adrian what do you want?" She asked him.

"You know what I want babe, I want that sweet little ass of yours. It's been way too long and you know how much you like it with me!" Adrian replied smoothly.

"Stop calling me that, you know I hate it!" Scarlett snapped at him. "Listen I'm seeing someone now, it's not a good time..."

Adrian chuckled over the phone, "Well I can make it a good time for you and you know it. Remember the last time we were together? How can you possibly say no to something that good Scar?"

Scarlett cringed, remembering the incident with trepidation. "Look if we get together nothing happens okay? We just talk. That's it. Nothing else got it?"

"Okay babe, whatever you say. Just keep your options open. We may just light up the night like we used to if you ask real nice."

"Adrian stop it! We're not going to fuck okay?" She said as she tried to control her voice, which was quaking with anger, fear and that strange desire she always got around him. The one that made her do things she didn't always want to.

"Fine whatever, when do you wanna meet?" He asked slyly.

She took a deep breath to calm herself again before speaking, "Square One Mall at the food court. One hour."

"Ha ha! You sound like a cheesy spy movie babe. It's just me, no tricks okay?" Adrian laughed.

"One hour Adrian, see you then." She said as she hung up her phone.

Slumping back onto her bed Scarlett wrapped her arms around her body and shivered as if she was chilled to the bone. She knew she was in deep shit for sure now. If Adrian could affect her like that just talking on the phone she was almost terrified to find out what he could do in person. Lifting her hand in front of her eyes she saw that it was shaking like a leaf.

"I'm totally screwed," she muttered as she got up and went into the bathroom to run some cold water on her face before heading out.

Scarlett almost ran to the front door, hardly breaking stride to grab her car keys and open the door. Chris saw her rushing out and wondered what was going on.

"Where ya going Red?" he asked as she rushed past him.

"Out," she said as the door slammed behind her.

Chris shook his head in confusion. He was pretty sure both his cousin Christy, and Dani were busy as it was a weekday and they were either in classes or at work, so she probably wasn't meeting either of them. By the look on his step-sister's face he was pretty sure she was upset by something, but was also sure it didn't involve either of their parents as she would have told him before rushing out. He shook his head and went to get a drink from the fridge before returning to his game.

---

As Scarlett drove she thought back on her relationship with Adrian. She had met him through Monique, the drummer in their band. Mo's brother and his buddies usually ended up showing up at their gigs and were their cheering squad at most of their shows. One particular night Adrian had shown up with the regular gang of friends. After their last set the girls had gone and sat with Mo's brother and his friends like they normally did. Adrian had insinuated himself into the center of the group, telling tall tales, joking and making everyone laugh. Witty and charming, he'd gotten Scar under his spell pretty quickly, complimenting her on her looks and singing repeatedly. To an eighteen year old, having a good looking, charming twenty-six year old paying such close attention to her was like gold. By the end of that night she'd found herself in a back corner of the bar with him, his tongue down her throat and one of his hands up her top. Things had progressed rapidly for the two of them after that with Adrian taking a dominant role in their relationship.

The first time they'd had sex was a mere two days after they first met. Adrian had asked Scarlett out and had wined and dined her, taking her to a swank restaurant and plying her with top notch food and wine as he regaled her with tales of his many escapades. That night they'd ended up back at Adrian's where he turned up the charm even more and let his words and hands loosen her up to the point where she was sitting in his lap on his bed, topless and begging for him to have sex with her. He'd played Scarlett well that night, much like her friend Mo played her drums, hard, fast and loud. Scar hadn't had much experience before meeting Adrian, but after that night of passion and lust she was hooked completely by him.

It wasn't long after when Adrian started introducing some strange little games into their sex play. He frequently expected her to call him 'Daddy' when they made love, and on several occasions when they'd gone to the movies he insisted they sit in the back row of the theater, where he'd masturbate her to an orgasm while people sat around them. During one particularly mortifying incident for her, Adrian had had her strip then handcuffed her to the railing of his apartment balcony, he then proceeded to finger and fuck her to multiple orgasms for the whole neighborhood to see and hear.

She remembered that night vividly, like it was a waking nightmare. When Adrian had told her what he had wanted to do she had balked at first, knowing that what he had planned was way beyond her comfort level. But then he began talking and touching her, caressing her physically and verbally, repeatedly calling her his 'babe' and reassuring her that once they started she would love it. Eventually she caved and began to undress. Once she was naked Scar had let him lead her to the railing of his balcony and let him cuff her there, submitting to him once again. The cool night air had made her shiver and her nipples had hardened immediately. Adrian had then begun caressing her, touching her and making her squirm as his warm hands left trails like fire across her cooling skin. His lips had followed his hands in their travels, causing her to moan in reaction to his ministrations. Scarlett had gasped, moaned and wailed through numerous orgasms that night until she was exhausted. When Adrian was done with her and released her she had slumped into his arms, quivering and thanking him over and over.

---

Scarlett shook her head to clear it of the memories that were running through it, and decided that there was no way that she could let Adrian manipulate her like he had in the past. She realized that she had far more at stake than her pride and morals being compromised with this situation, if she screwed up she could totally blow things with Chris.

She arrived with fifteen minutes to spare and got herself a latte at Starbucks before finding a seat. She was pretty sure Adrian wouldn't recognize her since she'd only ever been blond while they dated. After a few minutes she saw him wandering around the court and got up, walking over to him. Every nerve in her body was jangling and her stomach was rolling as she approached him.

"Hey Adrian," she said with a hitch in her voice as she got closer to him.

Adrian turned and gave her a wide grin, his eyes traveling up and down her body hungrily. "Babe! I wouldn't have recognized you at all! You look HOT Scar, love the hair it really suits, and knowing what you're like it fits perfectly."

"Cut it out Ade we're here to talk, nothing else." She replied.

"Fine babe, let's grab a seat and talk." Adrian said as he put his arm around her waist and guided her to a table off to the side where there weren't many people.

Scarlett shivered and felt her skin crawl where Adrian had touched her back. She sat down at the table and Adrian slipped in across from her. She stared at him for a moment and realized that even though she was still drawn to Adrian, his pull wasn't as great as it had been back in Montreal. He hadn't changed his look much, longish wavy brown hair, barely there mustache and goatee, what looked to be a silk shirt, and black skinny jeans with dress boots. A total fashion dichotomy.

"So babe, you look totally hot, have you been working out?" Adrian said with a grin.

Blushing, Scar looked away and cursed herself for actually being pleased that he'd noticed her physical changes since the last time they'd been together. "Don't call me that Adrian, you know I hate it for Christ's sake!"

"Okay Scar," he said as he took her hand in his, slowly stroking his thumb along the back of it.

"Look, Adrian I have a boyfriend now. We broke up before I moved here...this is just...just...STOP THAT!" Scar said as she pulled her hand from his.

"Scar we have history, and chemistry. You can't deny that babe. Besides you never did give me my going away present before you left..."

She felt an angry heat rise in her chest and snapped at Adrian, "Your going away present? There was no way in hell I was going to do that and you know it!"

"Babe..baby you know you would've loved it. You were always a little freak in bed, the things you'd do..." Adrian murmured softly.

"N-no Ade, I wouldn't have. And everything I did was what you wanted, not me." Scarlett said as she looked at the table, spinning her cooling coffee in her hands. She knew she couldn't look at him anymore, she was afraid Adrian would talk her into something she'd regret later.

"You still did it Scar, and you liked it, you can't deny that either," he chuckled as he took one of Scar's hands in his again, sliding his thumb back and forth.

"Adrian please, this is hard enough as it is. We're over, done. We can't see each other again okay?" Scarlett said, her voice shaking with emotions she was having a hard time controlling.

"Scar we're good together, you know it babe. Why do you have to fight that so hard?"

"Because we're not Ade, you're good for you but you're not good for me." She replied as she pulled her hand from his once more.

"But babe you know deep down that that's not true. You want me, I can tell." Adrian soothed as he leaned forward and kissed her, making her moan softly as his tongue slowly reacquainted itself with the inside of her mouth.

"I gotta go. Don't call me or come near me again," Scar said thickly as she dragged herself up from the table, her whole body trembling after the brief contact their mouths had made. "I mean it Ade, we're done."

Adrian gave her a smile, "Sure babe, whatever you say."

Scarlett turned and walked away, she could feel Adrian's eyes on her as she left. Her skin itched where she imagined his eyes were looking. Her breathing was ragged and her palms were wet, but she'd done it, she'd told Adrian they were done. Now hopefully he'd take the hint and bugger off. She strode stiffly down the concourse, trying to get away from him without running like the scared little girl she felt she was right then.

---

Scarlett was numb when she returned home, she got out of the car and walked up to the door, stopping momentarily to lean her forehead on it as her mind caught up with everything that had happened that afternoon. Adrian had tried to get her to give in but she'd been able to resist him, even when he'd kissed her and made her drip into her panties with desire. She knew she'd be doomed if they ever met up again. Every time he touched her Scarlett felt her resolve crumble that much more. It had taken every ounce of her strength to get up and leave but she'd managed it.

She opened the door and stepped in, flipping off her shoes and walking into the living room. Chris was busy vacuuming when she got in, and from the look he gave her she suspected she looked the same way she felt because he walked over to her, taking her into a close hug and stroking her back gently.

"Sweetie are you okay? What happened?" He asked with concern in his voice as he looked into her eyes.

"N-nothing, it's okay Chris...I just don't wanna talk about it right now okay?" Scarlett replied with a shaky voice as she felt tears well.

"You know you can tell me anything, maybe I can help?" Chris said.

"Just, something bad happened while I was out. But I dealt with it and it's done," she said shakily. "Maybe another time I can tell you but not right now okay boy-scout?"

"Okay babe.." Chris started to say, but he was suddenly interrupted when Scarlett shoved him away, glaring daggers at him.

"What did you just call me?" She asked in a cold hiss.

"Uh...babe?" he replied, totally confused by his step-sister's sudden change in mood, not sure where her anger had come from or why she was directing it at him.

Poking Chris hard in the chest Scarlett snarled at him, "Don't you ever, EVER call me that again! GOT IT?"

"Yeah! God, what the fuck sis!?" Chris groused as he backed away from her, rubbing his chest where she'd jabbed him.

"I'm serious Chris, you ever call me 'babe' again I swear I'll break your arm." she snapped.

"Okay, I won't call you that again! What's your problem?"

"Nothing," Scarlett muttered as she turned away from him, upset that she'd lost it on Chris for something so trivial. "I just...I'm sorry, I'm still on edge from earlier. I shouldn't have taken it out on you."

Chris took her back into his arms for a long hug as he tried to figure out what had just happened between them. They'd had a few minor spats since their major blow-up but nothing compared to her outburst just now. He'd never seen Scarlett display such rage before and if he was honest with himself it had scared the hell out of him. He wondered what had gotten her so worked up but knew pushing her for details right now was a very bad idea.

---

Scarlett stewed and worried for a few days, wondering if Adrian would really let it go and leave her alone. She hasn't heard from him since they had met at the mall but she still fretted. Finally giving up, she called her friend Christy for some advice.

"Christy?"

"Hey Scarlett what's up?" 

"God I'm in trouble. Adrian's in town and we met up the other day," Scarlett said worriedly.

"Your ex? Does Chris know you got together with him?" Christy asked with concern in her voice.

"Yeah, and no I didn't tell him I met up with him. Please don't tell Chris!"

"I won't honey, but you can't keep it from him forever Scarlett." Christy said.

"I know!" She replied with a sigh. "He's only here for a few days so I'm hoping things just blow over."

"Adrian's the one who got you to 'do' things isn't he?"

"Um yeah," Scarlett said as she blushed.

"Nothing happened did it?" her friend asked.

"NO! Nothing happened, honest. I mean he kissed me, and I just about gave in but I stopped it and told him we were through." Scarlett explained.

Christy was silent for a moment, thinking about what Scarlett had told her about her ex. She was genuinely worried for her friend. Adrian was a manipulative shit from what she understood and probably wouldn't take no as an answer.

"I'm glad you were able to stop things but you can't see him again," she said.

"I know I can't Christy, but I told you what he was like. I'm just afraid he'll turn up here!" The redhead groaned into her phone.

"Yeah I was thinking that too. Does Chris even know you dated him?"

"No I never told him about Adrian. I just kind of want to forget the whole thing with him."

"Maybe you should tell him. It's going to come up eventually, he may as well find out on your terms." Christy coaxed.

"Yeah then he'll know just how sick of a freak I am and dump me!" Scarlett said despondently.

"Scarlett stop it! You're not a sick freak okay? You told me you didn't want to do that stuff and that Adrian had conned you into doing it. Chris loves you, he won't judge you because you were made to do things you didn't want to. Just tell him okay?"

Scarlett wiped her eyes and nodded to herself before answering, "You're right Christy, he needs to know. At least then he can decide whether or not he hates me."

"Jeez seriously? We've all done stupid stuff we regret, your shit just happens to be kinky as hell that's all!" Christy chuckled. "Tell him what happened with Adrian, I'm sure things will work out."

"Yeah, I'll do it. Thanks Christy." Scarlett said.

"Don't worry about it girlfriend. But don't be surprised if Chris gets all turned on!" Christy giggled.

"Oh God that's all I need!" Scarlett said as she giggled too. "Thanks again Christy, I'll let you know how things go."

"Okay we'll talk soon, bye."

Scarlett hit end and sat thinking. She knew Christy was right that she should tell Chris about Adrian, but she was very hesitant about telling him that he was in town. She decided to tell him about her past with Adrian, but leave out the fact that he was in town and she had met with him.

She got up and went down to the living room where Chris and her dad were watching hockey together. "Hey, uh, Chris can we talk?"

Chris looked up and gave her a smile, "Sure what's up sis?"

"Ahh this is kinda private bro. Can we maybe go for a walk or something?" Scarlett said as she looked at her dad. He didn't know anything about Adrian either and she preferred to keep it that way.

"Yeah OK. The Leafs are losing anyway, let's go."

The pair grabbed their coats and went out into the cold November night.

"So-o, what's up Red?" Chris asked once they started walking down the street.

Scarlett blushed and looked down at her feet for a moment as they walked along. "I need to tell you a few things about me boy-scout. I'm not going to be able to do this unless I get it all out in one shot though okay?"

"Okay b...sweetie, I won't say anything until you're done."

"Thanks Chris," Scarlett said as she took his hand in hers. "Last year I met this guy named Adrian..."

Over the course of the next hour they wandered through the neighborhood while she poured her heart out to him about her relationship with Adrian. Sometimes she'd start to cry and they'd stop while Chris held her and comforted her until she could continue, but he kept to his word and remained silent while she spoke. Through that whole time neither of them noticed the car that slowly followed them.

They were about a hundred yards from home as Scarlett finished her tale, "...and that's pretty much it, I broke it off with him then moved here a couple of weeks later."

She wiped her eyes and nose then waited expectantly for Chris's reaction to her sordid past. The silence was killing her as Chris gathered his thoughts and digested what she had told him.

"G-god you hate me don't you?" she asked as tears began to form in her eyes again.

"What? NO! No I don't hate you." Chris said as he bundled her into his arms, holding her close and stroking her hair. "I could never hate you! Jesus, that Adrian guy took advantage of you and used you honey, what happened wasn't your fault."

"But I acted like such a whore and slut!" Scarlett protested.

"Scarlett don't! I don't ever want to hear you call yourself a whore again!" Chris replied forcefully. "You are NOT a whore, understand? Adrian's a douche bag and I swear I'll kick his ass if I ever see him."

Scarlett reached up and wrapped her arms around Chris's neck and smiled at him, "Okay Chris. Promise me something though?"

"Sure sweetie anything," Chris replied.

"Promise you'll never make me do anything I don't want to?" she asked with a serious voice.

"Of course I won't! I never would've done that anyway, but after finding out what Adrian did to you I could never betray you like that." Chris said just as seriously. Then he got a gleam in his eyes and chuckled. "But if you ever did want to try a few of those things again..."




It Started in a Cabin Ch. 02



"You're such a jerk!" Scarlett laughed as she smacked Chris in the back of the head with her hand. "Christy said you'd probably get all horny if I told you what I did!"

"Wait, Christy knows about this?" Chris asked in surprise.

"Uh yeah," she said.

"What did she say when you told her?" he asked.

"Same thing as you did, it wasn't my fault and Adrian was scum."

Chris nodded and smiled, "Good, that's what I figured she'd say."

"So I guess I'm not a whore then."

"Nope, definitely not a whore." Chris chuckled.

"What about a slut? You never said anything about me being a slut." Scarlett asked with a smirk.

Chris pulled her in for a long kiss then smiled down at her, "Oh being a slut is fine. Be a mega-slut for all I care. Just remember that I'm your boyfriend now. That means I'm the only one you're allowed to be slutty with."

"Well I guess that'll have to do," she replied with an overly dramatic sigh.

"It better Miss Scarlett McCormick, I plan on being around for a very long time." Chris said as he gave her a tender kiss.

"Well that's good to know Mister Christian Thornton. I've kinda gotten used to you being around all the time." Scarlett giggled.

"Are we done now? I'm freezing my ass off here sis," Chris stated.

"Yeah we're done boy-scout, let's get inside and cuddle." she replied with another quick peck to his lips.

--- Chapter Ten

Chris knew Scarlett's birthday was coming up and had decided to get her a special present that he hoped she'd really like. He'd found a pretty silver heart and chain that could have stones mounted and had the jeweller set their birthstones in it. Scarlett was out when he got home so he showed his mom her gift.

"Oh wow, Chris this is very pretty!" Lisa said as she held the delicate chain and heart in her hands.

Chris beamed, "You think she'll like it?"

Lisa smiled at him and nodded, "She'll love it sweetie. Just don't be surprised if she cries. Scarlett may act tough but deep down she's a very sweet, sensitive girl."

"Yeah, I know. I was going to give it to her on her birthday, but I'm thinking of maybe giving it to her when we go out on Friday."

"Ooh she'd love that honey," Lisa cooed thinking about how Chris had planned a romantic dinner for them before they were to go dancing. "I know you two will have a good time on Friday, and don't worry about the bill at the restaurant I've already arranged for them to use my credit card."

"Aww Mom you didn't have to do that!" Chris exclaimed.

Lisa held her hand up to stop any further protests, "Chris you and Scarlett have been working hard for this night, the least I can do is help a little bit to make it special for you both."

"Okay Mom, thanks," Chris really did appreciate the gesture even though he could afford it himself.

"Steve and I are very proud of you guys," Lisa said. "You've both done so well in getting Scarlett's knee healed, and have handled yourselves very well in your relationship and in respecting our wishes."

"Thanks Mom," Chris said with a slight blush.

"We've talked things over and realize that it's pointless to expect you to act like brother and sister. That's just not going to happen is it?" she smiled.

"I don't think so," he chuckled.

"Well as long as you guys try to behave we're okay with you acting more like boyfriend and girlfriend around here."

"Really? So we don't have to sneak around if we want to kiss anymore?" Chris asked.

"No you don't have to sneak around," his mom laughed. "We haven't freaked out the few times you've done it in front of us have we?"

"Well no."

"We'd just appreciate it if you guys didn't get too hot and heavy in front of us. You are still living with your parents you know." Lisa said as she tried to give her son a stern look but she couldn't help a little smirk. "You've both got rooms with locks on the doors if you want to get busy."

"Mom!" Chris cried out indignantly.

"Oh Chris relax! We know it's going to happen one day if it hasn't already. Steve even said he's okay with it now. He knows you two really are in love and it's not a passing thing between you."

"Oh Christ, like that isn't a whole other level of pressure to deal with." Chris muttered.

"Christian Thornton there's no need to swear! Steve likes you an awful lot and thinks very highly of you. He trusts you with his daughter honey, he knows you'd never intentionally hurt her."

Chris thought back to what his step-sister had told him about Adrian and shook his head vehemently, "Not in a million years Mom, I could never hurt her."

"Good," she said with a nod. "Love that girl with all your heart and she'll be yours forever Chris. She wouldn't have done everything she has if she wasn't madly in love with you sonny-boy."

Chris gave his mom a big hug, "I know Mom, and I'd do anything for her too."

---

The night of their date Chris tried to make it feel as much like a real date as he could. He'd arranged with his friend Jason to go and get ready over at his place so he could pick up Scarlett at home and give her a chance to primp and preen, with his mom helping her get ready. Steve thought it was funny, but his mom thought it was very romantic of him to treat this as a very real date for them. Chris arrived promptly at seven and rang the bell, actually feeling nervous about the evening as he waited for someone to answer the door. Lisa answered the door and beamed at her son, proud of how he was carrying himself and doing things right with Scarlett.

"Chris! How nice to see you," she said with a soft chuckle. "Scarlett's almost ready, please sit down while we wait."

"Hi Mrs. McCormick. It's nice to see you too." Chris replied with a smirk, but glad that his mom was making the effort to play along with him.

Just then Steve came into the living room with a beer in his hand, sitting down to watch the tube. He figured the whole thing was kind of silly but he'd go with the flow as well so the kids could have their fun, and decided to play the over-protective dad card. "Evening Chris, how're you tonight?"

Chris nodded at his step-dad and smiled, "Hi Mr. McCormick I'm good thanks."

"So what are your plans for the night young man?"

"Well, uh, we're going to Giuseppe's for dinner then I was going to take Scarlett dancing after sir."

Steve nodded and gave Chris a hard look, trying to look as intimidating as possible while trying not to laugh. "I expect my daughter to be home at a decent hour, not later than one a.m. understood?"

"Yes sir, understood." Chris replied.

"If you harm a hair on my baby's head you'd better consign your soul to God because your ass will be mine," Steve added with a wink of his eye that almost made Chris crack up.

Chris gulped and managed to look nervous as he nodded at his step-dad. His mom covered her mouth to suppress her giggles as her two men played out their little montage. Scarlett was coming down the stairs into the living room and had heard her dad's little speech which made her snicker.

"Oh Daddy! Don't worry Chris would never do anything inappropriate!"

Chris looked up at that and gaped when he saw her. His mind wandered back to when he'd first seen his step-sister in her green dress and realized that she had somehow become even hotter than she'd been then. It hugged her like a second skin and just accentuated what he'd already thought was a perfect figure to angelic proportions. She'd clipped her hair up and back and it cascaded down her back and shoulders in coppery waves that glowed whenever the light hit it just right. Her make up wasn't overdone, it simply highlighted her features, giving her eyes a golden shine and her cheeks a rosy glow. Her full lips looked plump and most definitely kissable to Chris. He swallowed hard and stood up, walking over to her and handing her a small bouquet of flowers.

"These are for you," he said almost shyly.

Scarlett smiled up at him, her eyes glittering with barely restrained tears. Her heart felt like it was going to burst in her chest. Chris had gone all out to make this day so special and she truly appreciated the trouble he'd gone to for her. 

"Oh thank you!" she whispered with a quiver in her voice. She took them and held them to her nose, inhaling their sweet fragrance until her nose tickled.

Lisa smiled at her husband and he gave her a wink. She stepped forward and held her hand out to Scarlett. "Here sweetie I'll take those and put them in a vase and put it in your room for you."

Scarlett held the flowers out to her step-mom and stared into Chris's eyes, "Thanks Mom." She said without even thinking.

With just the slightest pause Lisa took the flowers from her step-daughter's hand. Her dad also noticed what Scarlett had said and smiled slightly to himself.

Chris smiled down at Scarlett and held his hand out to her, "Ready? Our reservation's for seven-thirty."

"Sure am boy-scout!" Scarlett said with a twinkle in her eyes.

Their parents walked them to the door and Chris held Scarlett's hand all the way to the car, then held the door for her and closed it gently after she got in. Lisa felt tears running down her cheeks and swiped at them with her hand as she grinned like an idiot.

"Have fun you two!" She called out to the kids before they drove off.

"Not too much though!" Steve hollered as he wrapped his arm around his wife's waist and pulled her back into the house.

Once they closed the door Lisa wrapped her arms around Steve and smiled up at him. "Thanks for doing that honey."

"No problem," Steve said with a chuckle. "You know Chris cleans up really well hon."

"That he does, and Scarlett was absolutely stunning wasn't she?" Lisa responded with a soft smile.

"That's the most beautiful I've ever seen her. She really went all out for him didn't she?"

"Yes and he did for her too. Did you catch what she said when I took her flowers from her?

Steve nodded with a grin, "Yup, kinda caught me off guard but I'm glad she feels close enough to you already to call you that sweetie."

"God I almost cried right there Steve!" Lisa said with a broad smile.

"Well I can't have my wife crying on my shoulder all night! I know the Maple Leafs are playing again tonight but they'll probably lose anyway. Maybe I should take you upstairs and console you?" He said with a wicked chuckle.

Lisa looked at the clock and grinned, "Heaven forbid I should weep! You should comfort me until at least twelve thirty love."

"Race ya!" Steve said as he smacked her rump and headed toward the stairs. He got roughly shoved off his feet and onto the sofa as Lisa thundered past him and up the stairs, giggling the whole way.

---

Chris drove down the block a bit then pulled over to the side. He and Scarlett turned and looked at each other for a moment then burst out laughing, hugging and smiling together.

"Oh my God I can't believe you actually talked them into that Chris!" Scarlett giggled as she gazed at him lovingly.

"Mom went for it right away but your dad was a bit of a hard sell. For a second there I actually thought he meant it when he said he'd kill me if I hurt you, but then he winked at me and I almost died laughing!"

Scarlett raised her hand and touched Chris's cheek softly, smiling at him with sparkling eyes. "Thank you Chris, this is already turning out to be an amazing evening. Thank you for making it so special for me."

"I'd do anything for you sweetheart," Chris said as he choked up a bit.

"I know," she replied as she leaned forward and softly brushed her lips against his. She pulled back and looked at Chris for a second before continuing, "I love you so much boy-scout."

"I love you too Red, but we'd better hurry if we don't want to miss our reservation." Chris murmured as he turned back to driving with a broad grin.

A bit further back down the road another car pulled out and drove off behind them, following just far enough back so as to be inconspicuous.

---

At dinner the lovebirds laughed and chatted happily, playfully feeding each other from their plates and playing footsie under the table cloth. The people at the surrounding tables kept glancing over and smiling at them throughout the meal, seeing that the young couple was truly in love and enjoying every moment of being together. An elderly couple at the next table was greatly enjoying watching Chris and Scarlett together. The gentleman leaned over and tapped Chris on the shoulder to get his attention.

"Young man, you should consider yourself lucky that I'm not sixty years younger. If I were I'd have to challenge you to a fight to get the attentions of such a beautiful young lady as you've got with you."

The pretty redhead blushed and giggled and Chris chuckled, "Thank you sir, I know I'm lucky."

"George behave yourself!" the woman said as she playfully slapped the man's hand.

"Oh Rose don't get all worked up! This young lady is the second most beautiful woman I've ever met in my life."

Rose chuckled and slapped her husband's hand again. "I better have been the most beautiful one you've ever met!"

The older man winked at the kids and looked at his wife lovingly, "Oh absolutely dear! Even when I met Marilyn Monroe she couldn't hold a candle to you!"

"You're and old scamp and you never met Marilyn Monroe, it's a good thing I love you so much." She replied.

"If you don't mind me asking," Scarlett said somewhat shyly, "How long have you been married?"

Rose smiled at Scarlett and gripped her husband's hand in hers, "Fifty-five years dear, and they've been the best years of our lives."

"Wow!" Chris exclaimed. "What's your secret?"

"Never give up on each other," George said as he raised his wife's hand to his lips and kissed it.

"No matter what life throws at you, as long as you hold your love for each other close, you'll make it through." Rose added.

At that moment the waiter returned with the elder couple's bill and they signed for it then stood up to leave. "Goodbye children," Rose said.

"Yes, it was a pleasure meeting you kids, I think you'll have a long and happy life together! And sweetheart, if you ever get bored of your young buck come find me." George said with a sly wink at Scarlett, which made her blush and giggle again.

"George!" Rose admonished him with a stern look.

The old man rolled his eyes and followed his wife out of the restaurant, chuckling the whole way.

Chris and Scarlett watched the older couple leave then turned to each other and grinned, both thinking to themselves that it would be great if they could be that happy after such a long time. They sat smiling for a few more minutes then Chris reached into the inside pocket of his jacket and pulled a long, slim box out of it. Scarlett watched him and smiled, tears pricking at the corners of her eyes.

"I was going to wait for your birthday, but I thought tonight would be a good night to give this to you." Chris said almost shyly.

Scarlett picked up the slender box and grinned at him before she opened it. When she saw what was inside she squealed and jumped up and into his arms, kissing him over and over and crying happily as she hugged him tightly. "Oh Chris thank you! I love it, it's beautiful!" she gushed. "Put it on, put it on!" She added as she held her long hair away from her slender neck and turned away from him.

Chris took the necklace out of the box and placed it around her neck, fumbling the clasp slightly before he secured it. She turned to face him and smiled warmly at him as she ran her fingers over the small heart that was hanging just above her breasts.

"How does it look?" she asked.

His look missed by several inches and rested on her firm breasts, which were barely being held in check by the upper reaches of her dress. Scarlett giggled and touched his chin with her fingers, lifting it slightly.

"A little higher boy-scout, a little higher," she said with a smirk.

He blushed and got his eyes where they were supposed to be, "Sorry, um, they...ah...it looks perfect."

Scarlett hugged Chris again and gave him a soft kiss before resting her forehead against his. "Thank you Chris, I'll cherish this forever."

"You're welcome sweetie, I'm glad you like it. So did you want to have dessert, or just head over to the club?"

"God, I know you'll probably make me run an extra kilometer tomorrow if we have dessert but let's go for it!" Scarlett giggled.

Chris agreed so they ordered some Tiramisu and fed it to each other, giggling and smiling the whole time.

When they got to the club there was already a bit of a line so they waited patiently to get in. A few minutes after they arrived their friends Jason and Dani showed up and joined them in line and the four of them talked while the got closer to the door. Eventually they made their way in and found an empty table to one side of the dance floor. They lost their outerwear and the girls shrieked with glee as a thumping song pounded out over the sound system.

"I LOVE this song!" Dani cheered.

Scarlett laughed, "So do I, let's go!"

The guys begged off dancing and the girls went out to the floor and began spinning and gyrating around, wriggling and putting on a show that wasn't lost on their men. Jason looked at Chris with a big grin and shook his head.

"What?" Chris asked.

"HO-LEE FUCK dude!" Jason said with a laugh.

"What?" Chris said again, still not getting the point his friend was trying to make.

"Look at her man! Could Scarlett be any hotter if she tried? I mean, Dani's hot but JESUS!"

Chris looked back out to the dance floor where Scarlett and Dani were bumping and grinding to the beat. They were laughing and glancing over at the boys then whispering into each others' ears and laughing more. He watched her for another minute then noticed that some of the other girls who were dancing were shooting her evil looks, especially if the guys they were dancing with were watching her instead of them. There were lots of pretty girls up dancing, but most of them were dressed pretty sluttily. Then there was his Scarlett, her hair cascading around her, that bright smile lighting up her face, and her body in that phenomenal dress! She was definitely the prettiest girl on the floor. Chris felt himself getting hard as he watched her dance to the beat.

"Why the hell are you not fucking her man?" Jason hollered into his ear, bringing him out of his reverie.

"Jase! For fuck's sakes man!" Chris said angrily.

Jason held his hands up, "Sorry man, but really, why are you guys holding back?"

Chris grabbed a chair and Jason sat next to him, "We want it to be just right, not just fucking for the sake of fucking."

"That's cool man, no hassles from me okay?"

Chris looked back to where Scarlett was dancing and just then she turned to face him and saw him watching her. She gave him a coy smile and turned away, wiggling her butt in his direction while she looked over her shoulder at him with a smoky look in her eyes. His heart just about stopped at that then he grinned, she was certainly making sure his attention was on her that night. In fact a lot of guys' attention was on her, every one of them thinking about how they'd like to get her alone for even five minutes. Every move, every shimmy and wriggle drew more and more attention her way. One particular pair of eyes watched very intently, and darkened every time they saw her look at the young man across the room.

The girls stayed out on the floor and danced for almost a half hour before they finally rejoined Chris and Jason at the table. They flopped down and grabbed the drinks that the guys had gotten for them while they were up on the floor. Scarlett's face was flushed and she was grinning from ear to ear as she chattered with Dani. She kept giving Chris sly grins which made him chuckle and blush. While the girls cooled off and rested they chatted and laughed together, Dani and Jason teasing the couple about how Scarlett seemed to be the center of attention while she'd been dancing.




It Started in a Cabin Ch. 02



"You were out there a long time Scarlett, how's the knee feeling?" Chris asked.

She thought for a moment then grinned happily, "Great! A little achy but good bro."

"You were shaking that ass!" Dani giggled. "I think you gave every guy in the place a hard on with your moves Scarlett!"

"No I didn't!" Scarlett laughed as she coloured.

"You have no idea Scarlett, from here it looked like every guy was watching you." Jason commented. "Some of the girls too!"

"No!" Scarlett cried as she blushed even more deeply.

"Yeah!" Chris laughed. "But most of them were giving you dirty looks while their guys watched you."

The foursome sat and chatted for a bit more until the girls caught their breath then they dragged the guys up for a while. The girls teased and flirted with the boys constantly. Dani bumped and wiggled to the beat, garnering a fair bit of attention herself, but once again Scarlett stole the show. She'd shake and writhe like she was being seduced by a snake, then whip around and press herself against Chris while teasing his lips with her tongue. Every move she made was solely for Chris's pleasure but everyone noticed. The one person who noticed the most just got angrier and angrier with every passing moment.

---

Adrian stood at the bar nursing another drink, his eyes smoldering with hatred as he watched Scarlett pretty much have sex with the little punk she was dancing with. It was the same little shit he'd watched her walk with for an hour and make out with a few nights previously. Just seeing her with that guy drove him nuts, and the way she was so shamelessly flirting with him made him sick. Scarlett was HIS girl! He'd spent months getting her to where she'd pretty much do anything he told her to. Then the little bitch had to go and get a spine once she decided to come to Ontario to go to college. SHE had broken up with HIM! The bile rose to his throat again as he thought of that day. No girl had ever broken up with Adrian before so Scarlett dumping him had been a blow to his fragile ego. 

There had only ever been one other girl who had touched him as deeply as Scarlett had. Her name had been Rachelle and she'd been a grade ahead of him in high school. She was stunningly beautiful and the first time he saw her he had been smitten and had worshipped her through three years until she graduated. Adrian had eventually worked his way into her circle as something of a gofer, handing, fetching and basically doing whatever she had asked him to do. Although she had treated him as less than dirt he had fawned over her. Her friends had openly mocked him and most of the school watched almost aghast as he demeaned himself constantly for her attention. Finally, a week before the end of her last school year she let the hammer fall. In the middle of the cafeteria she let loose with the most horrible, vile and hurtful outburst against him, absolutely humiliating him in front of just about the whole student body of the school as her clique of friends laughed at his embarrassment. The following year he had transferred to another school just to get away from the place where he had been so thoroughly destroyed by Rachelle. 

After what had happened to him he had never let another girl get to him like that again. He'd use them for what he wanted then toss them aside like a used tissue. That had worked well for him for years, he never dated a girl for very long and really only used them as his sex toys, leaving them once he got bored with them. Then he met Scar and somehow things changed. She was young, and beautiful, and oh so eager to please him. With almost no convincing at all he'd gotten her trained to be his little lap kitten, doing whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted. That had gone on for the better part of seven months, then she'd told him she was going to be moving to Toronto to go to college. He knew he had to find some way to get her to stay, so he thought if he could get her into a gang bang with him and a few of his friends and secretly video it he could blackmail her into not going by threatening to post it on the net. Then she'd be his for good. Unfortunately for him his logic had been so skewed that it had never occurred to him that she would say no, so when she had gone ballistic and stormed out of his apartment telling him she never wanted to see him again he had been floored. He hadn't heard from her after she left his apartment and in the intervening months every girl he tried to date quickly realized he was a low-life and followed Scar's lead and dumped him. 

In his twisted psyche Scarlett was elevated to the almost goddess like status that Rachelle had held during his high school years. He knew that the only way he would be happy was if he could get her back, and he knew he'd do anything to get that to happen. He had convinced her mother that they were good friends and gotten Scarlett's current address and cell number and headed to Ontario to get her back. He watched her for several days before calling her and meeting up with her, and was stupefied when she told him she had a new boyfriend and again told him that they were through and he should leave her alone. Adrian had held up a good front to her rejection but inside he had squirmed like a pinned worm on a board. After that he had held an almost constant vigil outside her house, watching when she came and went and who she was with. He saw that she spent a lot of time with whomever the guy was that lived in the house with her. It turned his stomach to see them kissing out in front of the house when it dawned on him that the little shit was her step-brother! He had her, he had the leverage he needed to get her back! All Adrian had to do was confront Scar about what she was doing with her step-brother and threaten to go to her parents about it and she'd cave in and be his again.

So he followed them that night, sitting outside in his cold car while they were in the restaurant, then to the club and waiting to line up far enough back so Scar wouldn't see him. Now he stood in the dance club and watched HIS girl dance with another guy and it infuriated him. So he waited and watched for his chance to get to Scar and get her back with HIM where she belonged.

---

Scarlett and Dani had been out dancing for some time when they decided they needed a quick washroom break and headed in that direction. They freshened up and headed back out to go sit off for a bit with Chris and Jason. Scarlett had been having a great time, she'd always loved dancing and had been very upset when she'd injured her knee back in January and hadn't been able to dance since, so she was dancing as much as she could despite the dull ache she felt in her knee. She knew she was probably over-doing it but she was having too much fun with their friends to stop. When they came out of the short hallway that led to the washrooms Scarlett stopped dead when she heard someone call out to her.

"Looking fucking HOT babe!"

She looked over her shoulder and her face went ashen as her heart dropped into her stomach. Adrian was leaning against the wall by the hall entrance with his typical sly grin plastered on his face. He pushed himself off the wall and walked slowly toward her. 

Dani looked from her friend to the guy who had spoken to her and saw the look of fear on her friend's face. She knew just by how Scarlett started shaking that whomever this guy was he had just scared the shit out of her. The only guy she could think of who would be able to do that would be her ex, Adrian. Dani tried to pull her friend along with her but she was rooted to the ground. She knew her friend was in trouble but since she couldn't get her to move she would do the next best thing she could think of, she'd go get Chris and Jason. She took off as fast as she could through the press of the crowd toward the guys.

"What...what are you doing here?" Scarlett asked almost like she'd been knocked senseless.

"Oh, I just thought I'd come say hi babe, you know. Maybe spend some time with my best girl." Adrian said.

"I told you to leave me alone Ade, we're done so...so fuck off!" Scarlett replied as some of her shock wore off.

Adrian's head fell back and he laughed loudly, drawing the attention of some of the people nearby despite the loud music. "Really babe? We're done?" he asked as he gave her a look that genuinely frightened her.

"Like you said the other day Scar, it was never about you. It was about me. Just because you 'say' we're done that doesn't mean shit. You don't dump ME!" he snarled as he grabber her upper arm roughly.

"A-Adrian you're scaring me! We're through, get over it. I don't want to see you anymore. J-just leave me alone okay?" Scarlett pleaded as she felt his fingers dig into the tender flesh of her arm.

"You don't get it do you bitch? We're NOT done, you're coming with me Scar so shut the fuck up and get moving!" he raged as he started pulling her along with him.

Several of the people nearby saw what was going on, but only caught a bit of what was said between the wild eyed guy and the red haired girl. One of them quietly moved off to alert club security of a possible problem while the others watched cautiously unsure of what else they could do.

Meanwhile Dani had made it across the floor and to the guys. She breathlessly explained that Scarlett was in serious trouble and they needed to move NOW to help her before it was too late.

"What's going on Dani?" Chris asked while she gasped and tried to tell him and Jason what was going on.

"A-Adrian!" Dani cried out as she fought to control her nerves. "He's here and he's got Scarlett!"

"What!" Chris shouted as he bolted up from his chair. "Where?"

"By the washrooms, hurry!"

Chris took off in the direction Dani pointed and rammed his way through the milling people, knocking drinks out of hands and bowling over a few who got in his way and didn't move quick enough. Jason and Dani followed as quickly as they could but Chris was moving like a man possessed. Scarlett was in danger and he needed to be there to protect her. Chris caught sight of his step-sister and charged forward as she looked toward him, her eyes wide with fear. He lowered his shoulder and slammed into Adrian's back with all of his strength, sending the other man flying forward and onto his face on the floor. Scarlett backed away from where Chris was standing over Adrian and eventually got caught up by Dani and Jason as they arrived on the scene. 

Adrian rolled onto his side and slowly stood up, glaring at Chris as he tried to get air back into his lungs. "You little fucking shit! She's mine, she's coming with me!"

Chris crouched slightly and his arms tucked in, his eyes hooding and giving him the look of a cobra ready to strike at the smaller man in front of him. "No. She's not Adrian. Get the fuck out of here before you really piss me off." he said almost calmly, in a tone that frightened the few people who had heard what he'd said.

"You don't get it! You can't have her, she belongs to me!" Adrian yelled as he charged Chris with a wild punch aimed at his head.

Chris ducked the swing and had already been swinging his own fist when it connected with Adrian's ribs, giving him a satisfying crunch under his opponent's shirt as he felt bones crack against his knuckles.

Adrian yelped and moved back quickly, holding a hand to his side as he watched the younger man move forward. "You broke my ribs you puke!"

"Be glad that's all that's broken," Chris chuckled as he made another step toward Adrian.

"Fuck you!" the injured man screamed as he launched another punch at Chris. 

Dodging the second punch Chris waded in and landed a solid shot to Adrian's jaw, dislodging and cracking teeth and sending blood flying as he dropped to the floor. Club security showed up just then and grabbed both men, dragging them toward the exit. Adrian fought and screamed the whole way but Chris went calmly and didn't make any fuss at all. Jason, Dani and Scarlett followed them to the door and outside. The security team merely let Chris go but held a still struggling Adrian between two massive walls of flesh. They could hear sirens approaching and Chris looked at Jason sheepishly.

"Guess I'm not gonna get my princess home before she turns into a pumpkin bro." he said as Scarlett crushed him in a tight hug.

Jason looked at his girlfriend, "Run back and get the coats Dani, I think we'll be out here for a few."

Dani ran back in to grab their coats as fast as she could while Chris held a shaking Scarlett and Adrian raged in the grip of the bouncers. The sounds of the sirens grew closer by the second.

"You fucker! You're not going to keep her! When I tell her dad your fucking his little girl he's going to kick your ass!" Adrian screamed at Chris as he sprayed blood from his frothing lips.

"Shut up Adrian," Chris responded quietly.

"You're a sick bitch Scar! Fucking your step-brother! What we did was nothing compared to what you and that little fuck are doing!" Adrian raged as he struggled in the bouncers' grip.

"Fuck off!" Scarlett screamed back as tears began streaking her cheeks.

Chris held his step-sister close, stroking her back and trying to keep her calm. A police car rolled up with lights flashing and two officers got out, walking over to where they were standing. Suddenly Adrian managed to pull his arm free from one of the strong-men's grasp and jammed his hand into his pocket, pulling out a small pistol and pointing it at Chris and Scarlett.

"You can't have her!" he screamed as he pulled the trigger.

Time slowed almost to a standstill as Chris saw Adrian's hand swing up at them. His first response was to shove Scarlett away from him as hard as he could, sending her flying to the ground as he saw the muzzle flash and heard the pop of the gun a fraction of a second before a sharp pain lanced through his chest. The last memory Chris had was the feel of the cold ground hitting his back.

People screamed and ducked at the sound of the gunshot, running away in all directions in a panic. The one bouncer and the police tackled Adrian and wrestled the gun from his hand as he continued to scream and fight them. It took two shots from the taser before they could cuff him.

Scarlett screamed when she saw Chris lying on the ground near her, a bloom of blood growing on his shirt. She crawled to him and held him as she cried into his chest, not caring that his blood was covering her. "CHRIS!! NO! No, oh God no don't die Chris!"

She saw the bouncer and one of the officers lift Adrian up to his feet and launched herself at him, punching and screaming as she wailed her grief. The other cop grabbed her with one arm as he radioed for an ambulance. 

"You fucking bastard! I'll kill you! I'LL KILL YOU!"

Meanwhile Jason ran forward as soon as he saw Chris fall and the cops and security guys take out Adrian. He checked Chris for a pulse and breathed a sigh of relief when he found it. It was thready but there. Quickly stripping off his own shirt he pressed it under his hand over the oozing wound in his friend's chest, thankful that he'd had first aid training and knew what to do, although it wasn't as much as he wished he could do. The officer holding Scarlett handed her off to Dani when she arrived back, shocked at the scene that she came back to. Both girls stood crying as they watched the police officer and Jason work to keep Chris alive on the cold ground.

The few people who hadn't run stood quietly watching as the scene unfolded before them, the sounds of more sirens blaring as an ambulance and another cruiser rolled up at almost the same time. The paramedics grabbed their gear and raced to Chris, replacing Jason and the cop in their efforts. A second ambulance pulled in and the second team of EMT's grabbed a blood soaked Scarlett and took her to their vehicle, checking her over to make sure she wasn't hurt. Dani and Jason stayed close to her, trying to comfort the crying girl as she was looked after. One of the initial policemen on scene gently pulled the pair off to the side to get their statements as to what had happened. Dani and Jason told him what they knew and what they had witnessed that night and he handed them a card with his name and badge number on it, telling them that he would be in touch with them in the next day or so for a more detailed report, and that they should go to the station as soon as possible to file their full statements.

The paramedics working on Chris got him onto a stretcher and wheeled him toward the ambulance. Jason walked over to them to see what was going on. "I'm his friend, is he going to be okay?"

"Should be, we have to get him to the hospital, he's lost a lot of blood." The EMT said curtly.

"Okay, which hospital?" Jason replied quietly as his friend got loaded in and one of the paramedics hopped in with him, the other running to jump in the driver's seat.

"Mississauga General!" called the paramedic as he slammed the rear door shut.

"Oh God, Jason!" Dani said as she cried into his chest, shaking with reaction as the second ambulance took off with Scarlett strapped in to the bench.

"It's okay Dani, we'll get to the hospital as quick as we can." he murmured into her her hair as he lead her to their car. He wiped his blood soaked hands on his pants and threw his jacket on before they got to the car, shivering with the cold and reaction to what had just happened.

They arrived minutes after Chris and Scarlett did and raced to the emergency room check in. The duty nurse told them that Chris was already being prepped for surgery and Scarlett was in an examination room and had been given a mild sedative as she was hysterical. They entered Scarlett's room and saw her lying on the gurney, her eyes half shut and sobbing quietly while she moaned Chris's name over and over. Dani ran to her and took her in her arms, gently comforting her friend and trying to calm her down and reassure her that everything would be fine. Jason stood back quietly watching the two girls crying in each other's arms, not sure what else he could do.

"Fuck!" he yelled as he reached into his jacket to fish out his phone.

Dani jumped in her seat and glared at him, "What?" she hissed.

"Their folks! We have to let their mom and dad know what happened! I'll be back," Jason said as he hurried outside to call Chris and Scarlett's parents, looking at the time on the phone and hoping that they would still be up.

---

"Hello?" Lisa said into the house phone, not sure who would be calling this late at night since she didn't recognize the number.

"Mrs. McCormick? It's Jason."

"Jason? What are you doing calling at this hour? Chris and Scarlett are out right now." she replied.

"I know, we're all at the hospital, you guys need to get here right away." he tried to say as calmly as he could although he could hear the quiver in his own voice.

"WHAT? Why are you at the hospital?" Lisa cried out, wide awake now and sitting up in bed as she shook her husband awake too.

"Chris, oh God. Chris has been hurt real bad. He got shot!" Jason wailed as the full impact of what had happened that night finally had time to sink in. He sank to the ground by the Emergency Room doors and cried as he tried to explain what had happened.

Lisa jumped up and grabbed her clothes as Jason sobbed over the phone to her. She nudged Steve again and got him moving quickly as she relayed as much of what Jason was able to tell her to him. Within minutes they were dressed and heading toward the front door as Lisa hung up the phone and threw it somewhere into the living room before they ran out.

Chris's mom clamped down on her tears but was absolutely frantic, urging Steve to drive faster. Fifteen minutes later they slammed to a stop in front of Emergency and Lisa leaped out, finding Jason still sitting on the ground crying quietly. She waved to her husband and told him to park the car and meet her inside as she bundled Jason into her arms and helped him up from the cold ground, leading him back into the warm hospital.




It Started in a Cabin



"Kinda like that," Scarlett said as she blushed. "I 'borrowed' my mom's boyfriend's car to go skiing at Mont Tremblant. He didn't think it was as funny as I did. He dropped the charges on the condition that I wouldn't travel out of province until after I graduated."

"Ouch. It does sound pretty funny though," Chris grinned.

Scarlett giggled, which Chris thought sounded really cute. "At least me and my friends got a full day of skiing in before we got caught by the police."

"Ooooh! My bad ass ski bunny step-sister gets busted!"

"I'm not much of a ski bunny, I wracked up my knee on our last run. Trees can be a bitch, I tore my ACL and was in physio for three months. I probably just did the same thing again today."

"Ahh yeah I bet. I don't ski but did do a face plant water-skiing at camp this year. I got two black eyes and some burst blood vessels in my left eye. Everyone thought it was funny but a few of the girl counsellors that were my age felt that they needed to comfort me," Chris said with a sly grin.

"You really are quite the ladies man Chris! Sounds like they were all lined up waiting for the camp stud to grace them with his presence." Scarlett teased.

Chris blushed and shook his head, "Trust me I wasn't the camp stud. Besides, they were willing and who was I to argue?"

Scarlett gave a low chuckle and thought about her poor wounded step-brother with his big brown eyes looking all sad. She had to admit that she'd probably have had a hard time saying no herself. Chris was definitely starting to get to her, his easy charm and quiet demeanour were just the kind of thing most girls would be attracted to.

"We should try our phones and let our folks know we're okay." Chris said as he checked his watch, blushing under the scrutiny of his step-sister's gaze. He grabbed his cell out of his kit bag and turned it on, after a minute it was powered up and ready to go. "Fuck, it keeps bobbing between one bar and nothing. How about yours Scarlett?"

His sister pulled her phone out of her vest pocket. A few drops of water fell from it onto the floor. "Uh I think mine's toast Chris, but we can try them both."

"Sure sis, you try your dad and I'll try mom." Chris said as he hit speed dial. The first few calls failed due to poor signal then he managed to get a connection.

Scarlett was having the same issues with signal even though she was on a different network. After a few minutes she got through too.

"Mom? Yeah we're okay..What? Sorry we're almost out of cell service...Okay, yeah we're on an old hunting road."

"Hi dad! No don't worry everything's cool...Chris found a cabin and we're warm and dry. I wrecked the car and I buggered my knee again too...Yeah I know, I'm really sorry...I'll turn on my Latitude and maybe you'll see where we are."

"Don't worry everything's under control...Scar's talking to Steve too...yeah we'll leave it on all night...You what? I'm losing you mom..."

Chris hung up and looked at Scarlett as she too hit the end button on her phone. "Well at least they know we're okay," he said. "Man I gotta take a wizz, I'll be back in in a minute."

He stepped out of the cabin and went around to the back and found the outhouse. The storm had passed and now the only sounds in the forest were the drips of water from the trees and a few bird calls as the day slowly turned to night. On his way back to the cabin he checked around for a honey bucket and found a white pail near the propane tank, bringing it in with him. When he got back inside he took another look around and found that there was a small alcove in the corner behind some shelves, sure enough there was a fold up toilet seat there that was the right height for the bucket.

"Hey sis, I bet you need to pee too. You ever use a honey bucket before?"

"A honey what?" Scarlett asked.

"Call it an indoor outhouse. A bucket and toilet seat so you don't have to go out to the outhouse. Definitely easier for you with your knee right now." Chris said as he set the seat and pail up for his sister.

Chris helped Scarlett over to the honey bucket but she refused his help in getting her sweats and panties down. He went back to check the fire and put on another billet of wood. It wasn't long before he heard the steady stream of Scarlett's pee hitting the bottom of the bucket and her sigh in relief as the pressure on her bladder eased. Shortly there were only the small drips and drops of her finishing off.

"All done sis?" Chris asked with his back still turned.

"Yeah but I, um, have a problem Chris." she replied.

Chris grinned to himself, almost enjoying the sound of embarrassment in Scarlett's voice. "What's the problem?"

"I can't stand up to pull my clothes back up. Mind giving me a hand?"

"Sure, I guess I could be a good brother and help you out." Chris chuckled.

"Same rules as before bro, wandering eyes gets you punched." She replied with no real conviction to her words.

Chris moved to where she was and put his hands on her waist as she supported herself on his shoulders. As Scarlett stood he couldn't keep his eyes from wandering down her body and stopping at her crotch. At the top of her slit was a well trimmed little triangle of fiery red hair. Chris inhaled at the revelation and Scarlett realized where his eyes had gone.

She took a hand off of his shoulder and gently punched him in the ribs. "Hey asshole above the waist remember?"

"Just pull up your clothes Scarlett. I'll keep my hands where they belong and protect your secret from the world okay?" He croaked with a dry mouth.

Once Scarlett was back on the couch Chris moved around the room and lit the small propane lamps on the walls. They added a cheery glow to the warm light already coming from the glass front of the wood stove. He tried to keep himself busy for a few minutes with the lights and cleaning the dishes as he tried to control his latest erection. 

Although he'd never really acknowledged it, Chris had always had a bit of a thing for girls with red hair, and knowing that his totally hot step-sister was a natural was both arousing and disconcerting. Here he was with this amazingly hot girl who was, unfortunately his step-sister, and he was starting to feel tongue-tied like he did every time he met a girl with red hair. How was he supposed to act with her now that he knew she was what she was? He could bluster through but he knew that that would only last so long now that the truth was out. Chris shook his head as he finished drying the plates and pot before putting them away.

Scarlett watched Chris busy himself with the lights and dishes. It was almost like he was avoiding her. She was afraid that she had embarrassed or upset him somehow when they had been getting along so well up until then. Scarlett saw that at every opportunity Chris would face away from her like he didn't want to look at her. That kind of pissed her off, she liked him, he was a great guy and she was glad to have him as a brother now. He'd done so much for her since they'd gone off the road and was a genuinely nice guy. Not like the guys who acted nice just long enough to get her panties off.

"Hey Chris?"

"Yeah?"

"Is everything okay?"

Chris tried not to blush or look at her, "Mhmm, yeah it's all cool Scarlett."

"No I don't think so bro. You're acting strange now, have I pissed you off or something?" she asked.

"No, can we just let this go? I'll grab a deck of cards if you want..."

Scarlett thought about how Chris was avoiding the situation and refusing to look her in the eye. Suddenly a light bulb went off in her head and she started giggling hysterically.

Chris frowned at her, trying to figure out what she was laughing at. "What's so funny Scar?"

"Murf! HEE! My bush! You only started acting weird when you saw my pubes! You have a thing for redheads don't you?" she squealed.

Chris blushed about six shades of red and turned away from his step-sister, ashamed of himself and that she had sussed out his secret so quickly. He almost felt like he was going to cry he was so ashamed. "So what if I do?!"

Scarlett took a few deep breaths to calm her giggles, "I-I'm sorry Chris. I shouldn't tease you like that, I just thought it was kinda cute and funny that's all. Like seriously, what were the odds of you ending up with a red haired step-sister? Well bleached blond, but red where it counts. I'm the red headed step-child for Christ's sake! Is that so cliche or what?"

Chris couldn't help himself and gave a low laugh. His new sister's twisted logic and sense of humour were infectious and he found that he couldn't maintain his anger with her. He looked over at her and realized that the glow from the lamps and fire were giving her blond hair a reddish tinge and his heart melted. "Yeah, I guess you're right Scarlett. One of the counsellors last year was a redhead, I couldn't even look at her. I guess I don't have that option here."

Scarlett gently eased her injured leg off of the couch and motioned Chris to come sit beside her. He moved to sit and she looked him in the eye, trying not to drown in his chocolate gaze. "I have a confession to make too Chris. I kind of I like the fact that you think I'm hot. You're not the sort of guy I'm normally attracted to Chris. I kind of always fell for the bad boys. I always got hurt too. I never really knew why I did it other than it always drove my dad nuts."

"Um, yeah okay. Was that supposed to be some sort of compliment sis?" Chris said with a shy smile.

"Just shut up and listen okay Chris?" Scarlett said as she popped him one in the shoulder. "When we met I got the shakes really bad. I couldn't look at you at all, that's why I walked in front of you. Then everything happened, the car, you helping me here, taking care of me. Fuck Chris, you've treated me better in the last few hours than all of my boyfriends ever did combined. If you weren't my step-brother well I, well...Just be glad you're my step-brother okay?"

Chris turned to face Scarlett, "So you're saying you have the hots for me? Scarlett we're brother and sister, yeah only because our parents married each other, but your dad would kill me if he thought I was boinking you."

"Chris I'm not saying anything about boinking, I'm saying that there's no reason why we can't like each other and not treat each other like shit like some steps do. When we get picked up I don't want us to lose what we have right here and now. I really like you Chris, you're nothing like my real, ratty, turd of an older brother back in Quebec. You're the brother I always wished I had. Someone who I could be 'me' with, not someone I had to pretend to like so I wouldn't catch hell or get pounded. And yeah, I do have the hots for you. Just don't expect me to be jumping your bones any time soon boy-scout," Scarlett grinned.

"With that knee?" Chris laughed. "I doubt you'll be doing any bone jumping for a couple of months at least Scarlett. Be forewarned though that if you let your hair grow out all bets are off on the whole boinking thing."

Scarlett grinned with a mischievous gleam in her hazel eyes, "We'll just have to see about that now won't we bro?"

Chris grinned as well, "Yes we will."

"Hey, before we got all sappy you mentioned cards. Still up for it bro?"

"Sure let me find a deck," he replied.

Once they had a full deck, the two of them sat on the couch playing cards and talking quietly. After several hours they were both nodding off over their hands.

Chris looked across at his sister, "Did you want me to help you into the bed? You'll probably be more comfortable there than on the couch."

Scarlett stretched and yawned, "No go ahead and take it bro, I should be okay here."

"Okay let me put this a different way sis, I'm going to help you to the bed now. You need it more than me."

"Fine be that way," Scarlett said with a dramatic sigh and smile. "Do we have any more Advil or Tylenol? My leg's killing me again."

Chris got up and grabbed one of each pill, giving them to her with a fresh water bottle from under the counter. Once she'd washed down her pills he helped her up and over to the bed, propping up her leg and tucking her in like she was a small child with a cold.

He then went out onto the covered porch and brought in a few more pieces of wood to keep the fire going overnight, then turned off all of the lamps but one and crawled under the blanket on the couch.

"Chris?" Scarlett said in a small voice from the bed.

"Yeah sis?" he replied.

"You're gonna think I'm a total baby, but can I have a goodnight kiss?"

"Sure just a sec," he said as he got off the couch and moved over to her. He leaned down and gave Scarlett a gentle kiss on the cheek which she returned. "Good night sis, sweet dreams."

"Sweet dreams too Chris," Scarlett said sleepily.

--- Chapter 2

The next morning they were back on the couch playing cards again after breakfast when they heard engine noises coming down the road.

"Hey you hear that Chris?" Scarlett asked.

"Yeah, sounds like some quads heading this way sis." He replied as he got up and went to the door.

Shortly, four quads came around the bend in the lane and pulled up in front of the cabin. One of them was pulling a trailer with a cage stretcher on it. The riders got off and the lead one walked up to the porch then smiled at Chris.

"Hi I'm Susan, I take it you're Chris?" She said as she shook his hand.

"Yeah, my sister is inside on the couch. She's got a pretty badly banged up knee and can't really walk. She's going to need to be checked out before we move her."

"Okay, we'll check on her and get her on the trailer. You guys were pretty smart with running your Latitude overnight. You were on the extreme edge of a cell tower's range, we got just enough info from it to narrow the search down to about a three kilometre range. This was the only place that matched, no one's been up here since last spring."

While Chris was talking to the woman, two of the other people went inside and looked Scarlett over.

"Scarlett? Hi I'm Rob and this is Maggie, we're paramedics and we're going to get you fixed up and out of here as gently as possible. Are you able to pull your sweats down so we can check your knee?"

Scarlett blushed slightly before answering. "Yes but I'm going to need a bit of help guys, I'm kind of stuck here. I can't really put any weight on my right leg."

Rob and Maggie helped Scarlett up so she could shimmy her pants down then got her back on the couch. Maggie gently unwrapped her knee and gave Scarlett a small smile as she gently probed the joint. It was still swollen and had purpled up nicely overnight. Scarlett put on a brave face and only winced a few times as her knee was explored by her.

Maggie looked at Rob briefly, "I don't think we'll need to stretcher her right away, but we definitely need the full leg splint from the trailer Rob. You go get that while I help Scarlett with her clothes here."

"Yes ma'am!" Rob said with a grin and small salute at his partner.

"Okay here we go honey," Maggie said as she helped Scarlett up from the sofa again. "Your brother did a good job on your knee, it's not in the best shape but it could have been much worse if he hadn't bandaged it."

Scarlett pulled her sweats back up and sat back down, "Yeah, he said he had first aid. Hurt like hell when he was wrapping me up though."

---

"I guess the road's a mess since you guys brought in quads huh?" Chris asked Susan.

"Yeah, we went as far as the road in with the vehicles then rode the quads in as far as your car, and backtracked a bit to find this track in."

Susan's radio squawked and she motioned Chris to hold on for a moment. "Yes we found them down at Jim Hunt's camp. They're okay and we'll be bringing them out as soon as the girl's leg has been stabilized. Yes, tell their folks to meet us at the hospital in Brantford."

Rob and Maggie the paramedics were just coming out of the cabin with Scarlett supported between them, her right leg in a full length splint. She grimaced as they navigated the stairs but never made one complaint.

Chris helped get her into the stretcher and on the trailer then ran back into the cabin to get their things. He hastily ran the honey bucket back to the outhouse and gave it a quick rinse with water from the rain barrel before placing it back where he'd found it. He made one more quick stop into the cabin to put a twenty into a sealable jar for the owner to cover the cost of their food.

Susan looked over her charges, "You guys ready? Let's take it gentle okay?" She then turned her quad back up the lane, followed by the others. Chris was sitting in the trailer with Scarlett at his own insistence so he could watch over her.

They could have made better time coming back out to the highway but took it slowly so as not to jar Scarlett's knee and possibly injure it further. After about forty minutes they reached the highway where the ambulance and several other vehicles were waiting for them.

Scarlett was quickly moved into the ambulance and Chris followed her in, sitting on the bench and holding her hand.

"You know you could've gone in one of the other trucks Chris," Scarlett said quietly.

Chris nodded, "Yeah I could've, but last night you said I was the brother you wished you'd had. Well this brother is very protective of his sister, and is always going to make sure she's okay."

Scarlett tried to fight back tears and held his hand to her cheek, "Thanks bro, I guess I'm just not used to having a great brother yet."

"Yeah well you're the best sister I've got, even though you are a redhead."

Scarlett grinned playfully and whispered, "Probably more because I am one Chris."

"Yeah okay, because you are one Scarlett," he murmured in response.

---

Once they got to the hospital their parents met them in the emergency department, both of them concerned about their kids. Chris' mom hugged him and looked him over while his step-dad spoke to Scarlett, making certain that she was okay. 

"Christian Thornton you had me worried sick! What were you two doing out in the middle of nowhere?" his mom asked.

Chris blushed and looked at Scarlett who was grinning broadly at his mom's comment. "God mom! Scarl..uh Scar's the one who got hurt, I just got a bump on the head. I'm fine really. It wasn't anyone's fault, the GPS screwed up and took us the wrong way."

"It was probably my fault Lisa, if I wasn't such a techno-feeb I would have known the GPS was set wrong and none of this would've happened." Scarlett said in Chris' defense.

Scarlett's dad kissed her forehead and gave her a gentle hug, "Well the important thing is that you're both okay kiddo. Well, mostly okay. How bad do you think your knee is Scar?"

"Pretty bad dad. Thank god Chris knew what to do once we were safe. If it weren't for him it would probably be a lot worse."

The nurses came up and started to move Scarlett to an examination room and her dad began to follow when Chris piped up, "Uh is it okay if I go in with her Steve? I kind of promised Scar that I'd make sure she was okay."

Their parents gave each other a funny look but Steve nodded and let Chris go into the room with his daughter. 

Once they were in the room Scarlett let out a giggle. "Christian? God and I thought I got a rotten name!"

"Only between us okay Scarlett?" Chris said as his cheeks got hot.

"Okay bro, our little secret. What were our parents thinking though?"

Chris grinned at his sister, "I've been thinking that every day for years. I got beat up a lot when I was a kid because of that."

---

Lisa and Steve both had thoughtful looks on their faces as they sat out in the waiting area for news on Scarlett's condition.

"Somehow I think this little adventure wasn't such a bad thing Steve," Chris' mom said.

"I think you're probably right honey. Getting them stuck and alone probably did more to help them to get to know each other than us forcing the issue ever would have. Thank God they were together, Scar's a total city kid and wouldn't have been able to manage by herself." Steve replied.




It Started in a Cabin



"I'm just glad Chris was there to help Scar," Lisa said. "He's pretty level headed in an emergency. He gets that from his dad, I'm a total basket-case in one."

---

After the nurse took the brace off of Scarlett's knee she and Chris were left alone until the doctor was available.

"So what do ya think sis? Your ACL again?" Chris asked.

"Yeah. They'll probably leave me braced up until the swelling goes down. They did that back in January, then I was in physio for a while. I really don't want to go the surgery route but you never know."

"Well I'm here for you. Whatever you need count on me."

"Sure thing Christian, I appreciate it." Scarlett replied with another grin at her step-brother.

"You're liking this aren't you?" Chris asked as he returned her grin.

"Damned straight bro, just another thing we can bitch about together when our folks aren't around."

The doctor came in shortly and asked Scarlett some more questions and carefully looked over her swollen knee before he had the nurse replace the brace with a smaller one.

"I would guess since you've just recently injured your ACL, and an injury prior to that one, that this is another ACL related injury. I suggest you see your family doctor once the swelling goes down so we can verify that that is what it is. Stay off your feet and keep your leg elevated until then."

Once Scarlett's leg was re-braced and her crutches were adjusted Chris helped his sister out to the waiting area to see their parents. Lisa and Steve got up to meet the kids as they came out and waited for the bad news.

"The doctor thinks it's her ACL again," Chris said.

"Yeah, I have to see a doctor once the swelling's down so they can be sure," Scarlett added. "Feet up and resting, but Chris offered to be my man-servant until then."

Chris laughed and took a deep bow, "What is your bidding milady?"

Lisa rolled her eyes at Steve, "Have I ever mentioned that Chris is a first class ham?"

They all laughed at Chris' mom's comment then Steve went out to pull the car around to get Scarlett home.

--- Chapter 3 ---

True to his word, once they got home Chris made sure that Scarlett wanted for nothing while she was laid up. He even dug out his old baby monitor so she could call for him wherever he was in the house.

Their parents were very pleased with how well the two of them were getting along. There was never a sharp word or dirty look between them and they spent a lot of time together watching TV, playing Xbox or just talking as Scarlett convalesced.

"Lisa? Have you noticed anything different about Scar?" Steve asked.

Chris' mom gave him a confused look, "What do you mean by different Steve?"

Steve shook his head, "Well she hasn't been her normal pain-in-the-ass, bratty self. She's being nice, and not just to Chris. She thanked me this morning when I brought her a tea."

"Now that you mention it she asked me to call her Scarlett earlier. I didn't think she liked being called that." Lisa said with a bemused look.

"Ha ha! The last kid who called her that to her face got a black eye and bloody nose. I think she was eight when that happened. Something is definitely up with that girl."

"Maybe she realized that being a brat didn't win her any popularity contests?"

"I think it's time for her and her dear old dad to have a little chat so I can figure out what's going on here." Steve said with a smile as he grabbed a couple of Cokes from the fridge and headed to the livingroom.

Scarlett and Chris were sitting on the couch playing Xbox when he entered, he handed one to Chris and asked him to give him and Scar a few minutes. Chris smiled and headed to the kitchen to get a sandwich.

Steve handed Scarlett her Coke and sat beside her, "Okay kiddo what's up?"

"What do you mean dad?" Scarlett asked, not sure what exactly he meant by his question.

"You've been on your best behaviour the last few days, and you even told Lisa to call you Scarlett. This isn't the Scar that I know."

"Dad I'm sorry. I know I've been a little bitch for the longest time, and I haven't really been fair to you, Mom and Jeff. Especially since the divorce and everything ." Scarlett said. "I guess I just needed a reality check with Chris to realize that it's easier to be nice than a bitch. Chris saved my ass the other day, I know that I was stupid for not checking the GPS before we left the camp. When we were first stuck I tried being a bitch with him and he called me on it. He's been so great with helping me out that I just couldn't act like I used to."

"Okay, so is this a permanent change or just until you're back on your feet?"

"Just 'til I get back on my feet," Scarlett said with a grin. "Just kidding dad, I think this is permanent. Just don't tell Lisa that I like her though okay?"

"I'll save that for you to do." Steve said with a grin of his own.

"Yeah I'd hate to totally blow my rep in two days. Oh, and I'm cool with it if you want to call me Scarlett again. I really just hated it when I was younger because everyone teased me about my red hair."

Steve gave his daughter a tight hug and smiled, "Okay Scarlett sounds good. I'll let you and Chris get back to playing nice now."

---

Once the swelling in Scarlett's knee had gone down her dad and Chris took her to the doctor to get it checked out again. After examining it thoroughly the doctor gave her the bad news.

"Well it looks like another ACL injury, we'll book an MRI and ultrasound to make sure, but after two previous injuries to your knee I suspect that we'll have to go with surgery to fix you up this time." he said.

Scarlett looked absolutely thrilled at the thought of it even though it was only arthroscopic surgery. She'd never liked going to the doctors or getting needles. The few time's she had needed stitches she'd cried through the whole procedure.

"In the meantime you need to get moving so you don't stiffen up. Try walking a bit every day to increase mobility but don't overdo it. We'll keep the brace on for now until we get the test results which should only be a few weeks. My secretary will call once the tests are booked."

---

Over the next few days Chris helped his sister start walking around the house more, then down to the end of their driveway and back, then up the street a bit. He was always there to catch her or support her if she made a misstep.

"We've got a problem sis," Chris said after one of their brief walks. 

"Yeah? I haven't pissed you off yet have I?"

"Shit no!" Chris laughed. "I was just thinking with your tests, and probably surgery and physio our folks can't really take time to get you around."

"You're right that is a problem Chris. Got any ideas?" Scarlett asked. 

"Well I was thinking, you're not going to be in any shape to start college right away, so why don't we just move our starts back a semester? That way I could be around to help you."

Scarlett sat and thought for a minute. She appreciated Chris' gesture but didn't think it would be fair to him to expect that from him. "You don't have to do that Chris, I'm sure our folks will figure something out."

"Listen Scarlett, I know I don't have to, but I want to. You said I was the brother you always wanted. Just let me be him okay?"

"You're sure this isn't just a way for you to have your hot step-sister all to yourself for an extra few months?" She teased.

Chris blushed and grinned, "Well I guess I'll just have to suffer through it until you're better sis."

That evening they explained their plan to their parents. Neither one of them was thrilled but they knew that it made a lot of sense so they agreed to it.

--- Chapter Four

After a few more weeks Scarlett was able to get around much better, using only a light brace and a cane when they went out. She was feeling a bit antsy one Saturday and asked her step-mom if they could go out shopping for a bit. Lisa was surprised but thought that it would be a good way to bond a bit with her new daughter so off they went.

They took their time walking the mall and talking. Stopping occasionally so Scarlett could rest her leg. At one store she saw a pretty dress that she actually found that she liked.

"Hey Lisa? Do you think I'd look good in this?" She asked her step-mom as she held the dress up to herself.

"Yes I think you would, I didn't think you did dresses and that kind of thing." Lisa said.

Scarlett shrugged and gave her a sheepish grin, "I dunno, new attitude, new look?"

Lisa laughed, "Well let's get that and see if there's something else here you'd like. You know I'm really enjoying this Scarlett, I never got to do a mom and daughter shopping day before."

"Yeah me too, I never really did this with my mom either. Look, I'm sorry for being such a bitch before, I've probaby been driving you nuts all summer."

"It's okay, Scarlett. I'm sure getting a new step-mom hasn't been easy for you sweetie."

Now Scarlett laughed, "It hasn't been that bad. I mean anyone who can put up with my shit for two months without wanting to strangle me has to be pretty cool right?"

"Well for all that Chris is a sweet kid he wasn't always the easiest kid to deal with after my divorce. I did have a bit of practice before you came along."

"Chris? He gave you a hard time?"

"Oh yeah. There were days he was this close to getting killed." She said as she held her finger and thumb up until they were almost touching.

The girls laughed and continued shopping, finding a few more nice outfits for Scarlett to wear. Lisa had a sneaking suspicion about Scarlett's new look idea but didn't say anything, figuring that it was up to her step-daughter to illuminate her further if she wanted to.

"If it's okay with you could we maybe hit the salon while we're here Lisa? I need a bit off the bottom and need to do something about my roots, they're starting to show now." Scarlett said.

Lisa agreed as she chuckled to herself. She'd notice Scar's roots too and had her own suspicions about that as well. 

Lisa waited patiently while Scar was getting her hair done. When she finally came out Lisa was amazed at her transformation. She knew that Scarlett was a pretty girl, but with her hair bleached she'd had a stark look about her. Now she looked absolutely stunning, Scarlett's hair fell to the middle of her back in long, wavy, burnished copper locks. The harshness in her face had been changed to a striking beauty now.

"Wow! Scarlett you look incredible! Is that your natural colour?"

Scarlett blushed, "Yeah, do you think it looks good?"

"It looks fantastic, why did you ever hide it? Is the wave real too?"

"Seriously?" Scarlett asked with a giggle. "My name's Scarlett and my head looks like it's on fire. I hated it when I was a kid, everyone teased me about it. Yeah the wave's real too."

"So this is all part of the new attitude, new look thing. Or are you trying to impress someone?"

Scarlett's cheeks burned hotly, "Maybe a bit of both?"

Lisa laughed, "I'm going to guess that the new look thing is for Chris?"

"Yeah, is it that obvious Lisa?"

"Hmm, you've been able to get around the house on your own for a bit and you still need him to help you out. Not very subtle sweetie."

"You're not mad or anything?" Scarlett asked nervously.

"No I'm not mad," Lisa reassured her. "You realize that Chris is probably going to pass out when he sees the new you?"

Scarlett giggled and blushed, "Yeah that's kind of the effect I was hoping for."

"So you know about his redhead thing then."

"It kind of came up before, while we were waiting for help." Scarlett said.

"Does he know you're a redhead? I'm almost afraid to ask how he found out if he does know." Lisa laughed.

"Well his eyes kinda wandered when he was helping me up from the honey bucket." Scarlett said as she turned crimson again. "I told him not to look, but you know guys..."

Lisa gave her a hug and chuckled, "Men! They never listen do they?"

"I dunno, I've got Chris trained pretty well to listen to me now!" Scarlett grinned.

"That you have sweetie! Just go easy on him, he is my only son you know."

When they got home Chris took one look at Scarlett and bolted to his room, slamming the door behind himself. The girls looked at each other in surprise and Lisa said that maybe she should go talk to him.

"No Lisa, this is my fault. I'll go talk to him." Scarlett said as she put her bags down and made her way to the stairs. When she got to his door she knocked softly and asked if she could come in before poking her head in the door. She saw him laying face down on his bed, face buried in his pillow. His shoulders were shaking and it almost sounded like he was crying.

"Chris? Hey is everything okay?" She asked hesitantly.

"You're a fucking bitch Scar," he said, not looking at her.

Scarlett sat on the edge of his bed, bewildered by his reaction to what she'd done. "But...but I thought you'd like it Christian."

"You know, just knowing you were a redhead was bad enough. I could almost forget it when you were blond. Then you go and do this?"

"Chris I'm sorry. If I had known it was going to upset you I never would've done it." She said apologetically.

Chris rolled onto his side and grinned, "Upset me? You're killing me sis! Now I'm going to have to look at that beautiful hair all day every day for the next four months!"

"You mean you weren't crying just now?" She asked.

"Fuck no, I was laughing my ass off." Chris said as he sat up, took Scarlett into his arms and kissed her.

"Oh you fucker!" Scarlett said with a laugh.

Chris ran his fingers through his step-sister's flaming tresses, "I told you in the cabin that all bets were off if you ever let your hair grow out sis. What you did today was dirty pool."

---

"They're in love you know," Lisa told Steve with a smile as they cleaned up after dinner.

Steve gave her a wry grin. "I kind of figured as much. Scarlett hasn't had red hair since the day she beat that other kid up when she was eight. Seeing her come home with her hair red again I knew there was something up."

"So what should we do? These are our kids we're talking about. It's not like they're just two kids off the street."

"Lisa up until three weeks ago they were two kids off the street. They didn't know each other until Scarlett picked Chris up at camp."

"I know Steve, I'm not mad or anything like that, I'm just worried that this will blow up in their faces if they're not careful."

"Look we'll have a talk with them and set some ground rules okay? They're both smart kids honey, and you have to admit they do make a cute couple." Steve chuckled.

Lisa grinned and gave Steve a hug and quick kiss, "You're right, they are smart, and they really are cute together."

Once they were done they went out to the living room. Scarlett and Chris were on the couch playing Xbox, sitting close and bumping shoulders while they laughed and joked around as they played.

"Kids could you stop the game for a minute?" Lisa asked as she and Steve sat together on the loveseat. "We know what's happening here guys. We're not mad but it is a bit of a surprise to say the least."

Both kids blushed and looked nervously at their parents. 

"Mom, Steve I'm sorry it just kinda happened." Chris said as he looked at Scarlett.

"Chris it's not like anyone really plans to fall in love." Steve said, "The problem is that you're brother and sister now so that makes it a bit...well...awkward."

Lisa looked at Chris and Scarlett, they were sitting snuggled right up against each other, "Kids we know it's pointless to stop this. Trying to do that would only make you resentful and angry, and make it unbearable for all of us. We just ask you to behave in a certain way around us."

Scarlett grinned and leaned closer to Chris, "I think what your Mom's trying to say is that my Dad would flip out if he caught us making out and groping each other."

"Well that's one way of putting it honey," Steve laughed. "I think we'll probably be okay if you guys want to cuddle and little stuff like that until we feel a bit more comfortable with this."

"Okay Dad, we'll keep it cool."

"One other thing," Lisa said. "If we're with family or all out together you're to behave like a brother and sister. I don't care if you want to call yourselves boyfriend and girlfriend or whatever, but we have to at least appear to be a normal family in public."

"Sure, we can do that," Chris said.

"Well as long as we're all on the same page here I guess we're done for now kids," Steve said as he and Lisa stood up and left the room.

---

The kids just sat and looked at each other for a minute then burst out laughing. Scarlett gave Chris a hug and grinned at him.

"I know I didn't say anything, did you?" Chris asked.

"Well your Mom asked me about it after I bought three dresses and had my hair done," Scarlett said. "She suspected before that though."

"You bought dresses? I thought you hated them." Chris said in surprise.

"Yeah, I just thought you might like them?" Scarlett said shyly.

Chris sat in silence for a moment, his thoughts drifting back to when he'd first met his step-sister and how hot he thought she had looked. The image of her in a sexy dress with her coppery hair flowing down her back just about blew his mind. Knowing that she had bought dresses because of him was very flattering considering how she felt about them.

Scarlett grew concerned when Chris didn't say anything right away. She had hoped that he would be pleased like he had been with her hair. Lisa had told her that she looked very pretty in the dresses she had picked out. Now she was wondering if buying them was a mistake. Then she saw a slow grin spread across his face and a twinkle in his eyes. Scarlett couldn't help herself and grabbed Chris around the neck, planting a solid kiss right on his mouth.

"Ahem!" Steve said from the kitchen door, "Get a room you two, I'm not ready to see my step-son kissing my daughter yet."

They laughed in embarrassment and apologized then headed upstairs to Scarlett's room. Once they were in her room Chris wrapped his arms around Scarlett and gave her as good as she'd given him in the living room.

"You are trying to kill me aren't you?" He said softly as they broke their kiss.

Scarlett grinned up at him, "Nope, I'm just making sure you know I'd do anything for you boy-scout. You've treated me like a princess since we met, shouldn't I at least look like one for you?"

"I think that's a great idea. So do I get to see them?"

"Face the wall and don't look until I say so," she replied.

Chris did as he was told and heard Scarlett rustling around behind him. After a few minutes she told him to turn around. Chris whistled when he saw Scarlett in her first dress, it was a slate gray knit dress with a flared skirt that fell just above her knees. Her second dress was a midnight blue number which had a dusting of rhinestones across the top half of it. Both of them looked amazing on her.

"Turn around again Christian, be patient because this one's a bit of a bitch to put on because of my knee," Scarlett smiled at him.

Chris turned and waited, listening to his sister grunt and wriggle behind him. He finally heard the zip go up her back and Scarlett said she was ready. When he turned to face her Chris was stunned speechless. While her other dresses were very nice and she looked quite pretty in them this one was over the top. It was a deep iridescent green with a skirt that reached her mid thigh, and a bodice that hugged every one of her dangerous curves. It contrasted perfectly with her hair and highlighted her milky smooth skin.

Scarlett smiled shyly at him, "So? Do you like it?"

Chris shook his head. "I'm dead. I'm so fucking dead," he replied as he took her in his arms and kissed her again.

"I'll take that as a yes then," she said with a giggle.




It Started in a Cabin



--- Chapter Five

Once the kids went upstairs Steve went back into the living room and sat down, putting his beer on the coffee table as he flicked the TV to Discovery Channel. He had been surprised to catch Scarlett and Chris kissing already. Somehow Steve felt like he and Lisa may have just gotten themselves into something that they had no idea how to control.

He knew Chris was a good kid, and he could see that he had already smoothed out some of his daughter's rough edges. For all that he'd told Lisa that they should just roll with it, it still kind of freaked him out that Chris and Scarlett had somehow fallen in love. The whole situation was just so surreal. He knew Lisa was right too, putting a stop to their relationship now would only push the kids together that much harder and cause no end of hell and mayhem in the household. Steve shook his head and sighed, he had hoped that Scar and Chris would get along, he just hadn't expected this to happen.

"Hey," Lisa said as she sat down beside him, pulling his arm around her.

"Hey yourself."

"Where are the kids?" She asked.

"They're up in Scar's room," Steve said. "She mentioned something about her new dresses she bought today."

Lisa chuckled, "Ah, yes I think Chris will like what she picked out. She cleans up pretty nicely."

"Yeah, the few times I managed to get her into a dress when she was growing up she always looked great. You know I've already caught them kissing."

"Give them a couple of days Steve, this is all new to them too. How are you feeling about it?" she asked.

"A bit weird, but I like Chris, he's a good kid and I don't think he'd do anything to hurt Scarlett. I think I'll be okay with it after a bit. How about you?"

"A bit weird too, but I only have to worry about Chris, you're the one with the daughter." she replied with a grin.

"Hey she's your daughter too lady. Married, remember?"

Lisa had a sudden thought and began to giggle.

"What's so funny?" Steve asked with a smile.

"I was just thinking that if they get married and have kids we'll be double-grandparents!" she laughed.

"Oh God, that's all that I need to be thinking about now! Should I maybe learn how to play duelling banjos sweetie?" Steve said as he joined in her laughter.

"It might not be a bad idea just in case."

---

That week Scarlett was scheduled for her surgery. She cried the whole way to the hospital despite Chris' attempts to calm her fears. He knew she hated anything to do with needles and doctors in general, but whatever he said just seemed to upset her even more.

"Scar we checked everything we could about your surgery on the net before today. You don't have to worry sis, they'll either knock you out or give you a spinal right? Either way you won't feel a thing."

"I know Chris," she sniffled. "I-it just freaks me out. They're going to cut up my knee and jab things into it and who knows what could go wrong? What if it comes out worse than it is now?"

"Sis the doctor does this all the time, I'm sure she knows what she's doing. I'll be waiting right outside when you come out okay?"

"But I don't want them sticking things into my knee!" she wailed.

Chris was getting frustrated, he knew his sister was scared but he also knew she was a lot tougher than she was acting right then. "Scarlett stop it! Doctor Haines said that we needed to do this or your knee would just keep getting worse. You toughed it out when we had to walk from the car to the cabin and I'm pretty sure that hurt like hell, but you weren't blubbering like a baby like you are now. You were tough and strong through the whole thing. I know you can do this, then when it's done we just have to do the rehab and you'll be okay."

Chris' tirade shocked Scarlett out of her self pity, she wiped her eyes and nose with a tissue and took a deep breath. "O-okay Chris, I'm sorry for being a baby. I promise to be brave, but you owe me."

"I owe you?" Chris asked as he glanced at her.

Scarlett smiled as she wiped her eyes again, "Yeah, you owe me. I'll stop crying and acting like a suck, but you have to take me out to dinner and dancing when I'm better. I haven't really been able to dance since the last time I wracked up my knee, plus it'll give me an excuse to wear my green dress for you again."

Chris laughed as they pulled into the parking garage, "Okay I'll take you dancing, but don't blame me if I stomp your toes!"

After Scarlett was processed Chris sat with her until they were ready to take her to the operating room. He walked with her when they took her down, holding her hand the whole way. Chris could see she was still scared but she was trying her best not to show it. Just before they wheeled her in he leaned over and gave her a soft kiss.

"I'll be right here when you come out okay? I love you."

"I love you too boy-scout," Scarlett grinned through her tears.

After she got wheeled in Chris went and waited outside the recovery room until they brought her back up. Scarlett was out like a light when she got brought to recovery so he asked how everything had gone, and if he could wait with her until she woke up. The nurse said he could so he followed them in and sat beside her, holding her hand and stroking her hair.

Scarlett slowly drifted back into consciousness, she opened her eyes and when she could get them to focus she was looking into Chris' chocolate brown eyes. 

"Hi," she said groggily.

"Hey beautiful," Chris said with a smile. "How ya feeling?"

"Stoned. Now I know why I never tried drugs. How did it go?"

Chris gently rubbed his thumb across the back of her hand, "The nurse said that it went really well and with luck I can take you dancing in time for Christmas."

"Cool," Scarlett said with a smile. "I'm going to make you keep that promise you know."

Chris smiled too, "I know."

Once she was cleared to go Scarlett got wheeled to the exit while Chris ran to pull up the car. He helped her in then they went to get her prescription for painkillers and headed home. Chris got her settled on the couch with her leg propped up and the baby monitor at her side. He clipped the remote to his belt and bowed to her.

"I am at your disposal milady." He said with a grin.

"Keep that shit up and I'll make sure you're the one who gets up with the kids in the middle of the night mister." Scarlett laughed.

"If it kept you happy I'd do it gorgeous."

Now Scarlett grinned, "You're just full of compliments today aren't you boy-scout? Beautiful earlier, now I'm gorgeous. If I didn't know any better I'd say you were nosing around for something."

"I'm not looking for a darn thing, except for maybe a kiss."

"That can be arranged, why don't you come here?"

Chris moved to where his sister was sitting and she wrapped her arms around him, pulling him in for a long, slow kiss. 

"Wow!"

"Yeah, wow." Chris said.

"It's a good thing my Dad wasn't around to see that one. I think I'd be short one step-brother if he had." Scarlett quipped.

"No kidding!" He laughed.

--- Chapter Six

Their budding romance progressed slowly, neither of them wanting a repeat of their first misstep with Steve. They would cuddle, hug or give each other kisses on the cheek in front of their folks but never anything more. Even when they were alone they took things slow, not wanting to push one another into an uncomfortable situation.

Unfortunately for Chris and Scarlett an uncomfortable situation reared its ugly head in the form of his best friend Jason showing up one Saturday.

"Hey Jase! How's it going bud?" Chris said when he answered the door.

"Good man, where the hell have you been? If I didn't see you on COD I'd think you were avoiding me."

"I've been kinda busy taking care of my step-sister, she fucked up her knee when we got into a car accident a few weeks ago."

"Yeah my mom told me that, you went off the road or something eh?" Jason replied.

Chris laughed as he let his friend in, "If you can call rolling down an embankment four or five times 'or something' then yeah I guess we did."

"You're okay though right?" Jason asked.

"Yeah I'm fine, I just had my head knocked around a bit. Scarlett just had surgery last week to fix up her knee."

"Scarlett? Like ScarlettShriek the chick you've been teaming with on COD lately? She's fucking epic man!"

"Tell me about it!" Chris chuckled.

"Hey I saw you at the mall the other day with a smoking redhead. I was going to come over and say hi, but you two were kinda busy. Where've you been hiding her Chris?" Jason said with a grin.

Chris cringed inside. He knew his sister was upstairs taking a shower and he hoped to god that she wouldn't come down until after he could get rid of his friend. "We just met a bit ago it's nothing serious yet."

Jason laughed at what Chris said, "Nothing serious? It sure didn't look like nothing serious to me dude!"

"Okay maybe it's a bit serious bud. We're just trying to be low key right now."

Just then Scarlett came down the stairs, still drying her hair. "Hey bro who was at the door?" She asked.

"Shit!" Chris muttered to himself as Jason turned to see who had spoken.

Jason's jaw dropped then he burst out laughing, "You've got to be fucking kidding me Chris! You were making out at the mall with your step-sister? That's fucking unbelievable dude!"

Scarlett turned to Chris with a deer-in-the-headlights look, "Chris?"

"It's okay sis, Jason's cool," Chris said as he gave his friend a hard look. "You're cool right?"

"Yeah, yeah I'm cool." Jason said as he continued to snicker.

"Jason I'm serious man, you can't tell anyone about us."

"Don't worry Chris, I won't say a word. I gotta ask though, do your parents know?"

Chris could see that Scarlett had somewhat regained her composure from her initial surprise. She walked over to him and took his hand in hers and looked Jason in the eye. "Yes they do. They're kinda weirded out by it but they're accepting it."

Jason smiled at Scarlett, even though she was dressed in scrubbies he still thought she looked hot. "So you're the infamous ScarlettShriek. You've handed me my ass so many times on COD I should almost hate you."

Scarlett grinned back at him, "Chris told me your handle was Waarrlokk92, right?"

"Yeah that's me," Jason said.

"Your problem is you're predictable Jason, you have your favourite spots and you stick to them. Quit being such a camper," Scarlett said with a disarming smile.

"Fuck! No wonder you smoke me all the time," he chuckled.

The three of them sat and talked for a bit, with Scarlett and Chris giving Jason a brief history of what had happened between them. Jason thought it was bloody strange, but figured it was their business not his. He promised them again that he wouldn't tell anyone about them, then said that he had to leave to get his girlfriend because she was dragging him out shopping.

"It was nice meeting you Scarlett, now I finally know who keeps kicking my ass." Jason said.

"Nice meeting you too Jason. Maybe you should join our side from now on, you might last longer." Scarlett joked.

"Just one more question before I split guys, you don't have to answer if you don't want to Scarlett, but is that your real hair colour?"

Scarlett blushed and grinned up at Chris before answering, "Yup, one hundred percent real."

Jason looked at Chris and gave an evil chuckle, "You are so fucked dude."

"I know Jase," Chris laughed.

Once Jason was gone Scarlett turned to Chris and he could see she was worried just by the look in her eyes. "Can you really trust him Chris?"

"Scar we can trust Jason. He said he won't tell anyone and he won't okay?"

"Yeah well this sure seems to be going to fucking hell right now boy-scout."

"I'm sorry Scarlett. I didn't know Jason was going to come over or that he saw us the other day. I'm sure we weren't quite as bad as he was saying, but maybe we just need to be more careful when we're out." Chris said soothingly.

"Fine, we'll be more careful! We have to be careful here because we don't want to freak out our Mom and Dad, I get that I really do. But even when they're not around we tiptoe around like we're in a mine field just in case they come home. When can we just be us Chris? This is fucking bullshit!" Scarlett fumed.

"You think I'm happy with this Scar? I get the whole home rules thing too you know. Every time we go out I'm always worried that I'm going to do or say something stupid. Something that will ruin it for us! What I really want is for people to see us together and think I must be the luckiest guy in the world to have a girl like you with me." Chris replied.

"I wish I'd checked the fucking GPS before we left your stupid camp! At least then I could have hated you like I wanted to and none of this would've ever happened."

"Yeah well you didn't, and now we're in this fucked up relationship that isn't one because people will think we're freaks," Chris snapped.

"Well if you're so worried about people thinking you're a freak stop worrying because I'm done!" Scarlett yelled at him as she stormed off to her room.

"Scar, I didn't mean it like that!" Chris called after her.

"Fuck you Chris!" She screamed as she slammed her door.

Scarlett threw herself onto her bed as she started to cry. She punched her pillow several times then hugged it to her chest. What Chris said had hurt her, he made her feel like it was her fault everything had gone wrong. It was just as much his fault as hers as far as she was concerned. If he hadn't been so goddamned nice to her, and taken care of her when she was hurt she wouldn't have fallen in love with him. It wasn't fair! Why did everything in her life get so fucked up?

Chris followed her upstairs and could hear Scarlett crying through her door. His heart was aching, he hadn't meant to say things the way he did. It broke Chris' heart hearing her cry and knowing it was his fault that she was. He knocked on her door and he heard her stop crying for a second.

"Scar...Scarlett I'm sorry. Can we talk? Please?" he said softly.

"Fuck off!" She yelled back through the door.

Chris turned and went into his room, slumping into his computer chair as he held his head in his hands. He swiped at his eyes as his own tears began to flow. Chris had no idea how to fix what he had done, what he had said to Scarlett was so far from what he had been trying to say. Over the past few weeks Scarlett had become the center of his life. Everything he did, everything he wanted to do was to make her happy. Then his brain shut down and his mouth shot off with the first stupid thing that came out, and now he had hurt the girl that he loved. Chris got up and flopped down onto his bed, wiping his eyes again.

---

When Lisa and Steve got home the house was silent. They looked at each other, surprised because Chris and Scarlett were usually hanging out in the living room playing Xbox or watching TV together. Lisa checked upstairs and saw that both of the kids' doors were closed and went back down to Steve.

"Uh oh." She said quietly to him.

"Oh shit. Their first fight?" he asked.

"Yeah I think so. They were fine this morning when we left, I wonder what happened?"

"I doubt we'll find out today. Let's just give them their space for now, they'll cool down and let us know what happened when they're ready." Steve said.

"Steve I can't even imagine the amount of pressure this relationship is putting on them. Having to sneak around and hide how they really feel? God knows I know I couldn't handle it."

"Maybe we made a mistake. Maybe we should have put our foot down as soon as we knew what was happening. But I know that I'm wrong when I say that because those kids really do love each other. It's not their fault we got married Lisa." Steve said as he hugged her.

"I know honey, in the whole scheme of things does the fact that we're married really matter? They should be allowed to be happy together." Lisa replied.

That evening Steve and Lisa ate alone, Scarlett and Chris came down separately and got their food and returned to their rooms. Their parents could feel the tension in the house like a palpable, living beast. Things would have been so much easier if it had just been a sibling quarrel, but this was a lovers fight between their children which made it that much worse.

The next day wasn't much better. Chris and Scarlett stayed in their rooms and only came out for food or drinks, avoiding being in the same room with each other. Both Steve and Lisa were on edge because of what was going on between the kids. Their moods were getting worse through the day and they even started being snappish with each other. By four in the afternoon Steve had had enough after Lisa had snapped at him again for something minor. He went to the bottom of the stairs and bellowed up to the kids that they needed to get downstairs immediately. 

When they came down Steve and Lisa were sitting on the couch, he pointed to the love seat and said "Sit."

Scarlett and Chris sat together but their body language made it quite evident that they didn't want to be there. They sat as far apart as possible and were leaning away from each other, neither one looking at the other.

Lisa looked at the kids and her heart just broke. She could see that they were unhappy and hurting, and she just wanted to hug them both to her. "Okay guys, what happened?"

Neither of them said anything for a minute then Chris sighed, "Jason came over yesterday. Scarlett was upstairs taking a shower. He said he saw me at the mall making out with a hot redhead the other day. I knew we'd been busted and I was hoping Scar would take her time upstairs and I could get rid of him quick. Unfortunately she came down and he saw her. He started laughing and she freaked out."

"I didn't freak out!" Scarlett snapped at him.

"Okay you didn't freak out, but you were scared."

"Fine I was scared. I didn't know what was going on, all I knew was that there was this strange guy talking with Chris about what I thought was our private life!"

"Anyhow I convinced him not to tell anyone about us. We all talked for a bit and I thought everything was fine after Jason left. Then Scarlett started bitching about us never really being able to have real time together, how we always had to sneak around and hide like criminals."

"You were bitching too Chris! Whining about how you wished everyone would think you were the luckiest guy in the world!" She said angrily.

"Well at least I never said I hated you!" Chris said as he glared at Scarlett.

"No you just said I was a freak, asshole!" Scarlett shot back with tears in her eyes.

"Alright enough you two!" Steve said sharply.

Both kids shut up and stared daggers at each other. Lisa squeezed Steve's knee, letting him know that she wanted to take the lead.

"Scarlett? Did you say you hated Chris sweetie?"

"No. I didn't. I said I wished I could hate him. I wanted to hate him the whole drive to that stupid camp, but everything got fucked up."

Lisa nodded, "Yes everything did get fucked up didn't it? You realized that Chris wasn't the person you hoped he would be didn't you?"

"No he wasn't," Scarlet said as she wiped her nose. "He was too damned nice, too caring, too everything."

"Okay now your turn Chris." Lisa said to her son. "Please tell me you didn't call this beautiful girl beside you a freak."

"I didn't call her a freak Mom!" Chris said defensively. "We were arguing, and I got confused, and it came out all wrong. I just hate that people will judge us just because you and Steve are married."

Lisa nodded then looked at her step-daughter, "So you don't hate Chris then?"

Scarlett started to cry again, "No! I can't hate him, I love him!"

"How do you feel about Scarlett, Chris?"

"I love Scar too Mom," Chris said as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders.




It Started in a Cabin



"Okay," Steve said as he stood up and walked around the living room. "Obviously we need to change a few things here. Your Mom and I are putting too much pressure on you and it's hurting you both, and we don't want that believe me. The house rule still needs to be in effect for now but you two do need private time away from us. If you go to one of your rooms and keep the door closed we'll respect your privacy."

Both kids visibly relaxed when they heard that. Chris pulled Scarlett closer and she rested her head on his shoulder. 

"When we're at family functions you still need to behave, at least for the time being. What you do out in public or what you tell people about your relationship is your business okay?" Lisa said. "Now I think you two need to kiss and make up."

Scarlett wrapped an arm across Chris' chest and looked at him. "I'm sorry boy-scout. I was scared yesterday, and yeah I did end up freaking out. I said a lot of stupid things. I really am sorry."

"I'm sorry too Scarlett, I admit I was freaked out as well and my damn brain shut down. I said my fair share of stupid shit too. Can you forgive me?"

"Yeah. Just remember, it doesn't matter if anyone else thinks you're the luckiest guy in the world. As long as you keep thinking that that's all that matters to me. I know I'm the luckiest girl in the world."

Steve gave a sigh of relief, "So we're all okay now? Personally I think I've had enough drama for the weekend."

"We're not done Steve," Lisa said with a grin.

"Oh god what now?"

Lisa smiled at the kids and nodded, "They haven't kissed yet."

"Lisa..."

"I told them to kiss and make up, they still need to kiss."

Scarlett grinned at her Dad's discomfort, "You're not going to punch my boyfriend if he kisses me are you Dad?"

Steve shook his head and smiled, "No but I may have to rough up your step-brother if he gets grabby."

They all laughed then Chris and Scarlett shared a gentle kiss.

~~~