7 comments/ 26695 views/ 6 favorites Second First Kiss By: Declan Cravens This is my entry for the Valentine's Contest! Thank you for voting! * Present Pain Heat from hundreds of cars increased the already unbearable morning temperature. Fumes made the air feel thick and noxious. People packed the sidewalks like sardines, faces glistening with sweat, eyes unseeing as they rushed to reach their destinations. Brenna O'Shea wondered if her own face would mirror what she was feeling. Empty, alone, desolate - if they bothered to look, would they see? Reaching her office building, Brenna pushed open the glass door, hit full face by stale, air-conditioned air. The sweat on her slim neck immediately chilled, sending a shiver down her spine. Hitting the up arrow on the elevator, she looked at her reflection in the smooth metal doors. Her wavy red hair was desperately trying to free itself of the severe twist she'd forced it into this morning, small curls lying damply against her nape. The paleness of her face made her wide dark green eyes appear larger, almost too large. There was no color to her normally full lips, currently drawn into a tight line of stress. She looked much older than her thirty years, tired, used up. The body under the fitted black suit was too slim, almost bony. She'd had no appetite for the past few months and has steadily lost weight. Life held no joy any longer. Brenna had become a prisoner to a life she'd thought she wanted. A life that was slowly draining away her will to live. The metal doors opened with a musical ding and Brenna stepped in, pressed the large five and waited for the mechanical clang to begin. It took mere seconds to reach her floor, unlock her office and begin her day. Twelve long hours later, Brenna repeated the routine, only in reverse. Halfway through her walk home it began to rain, fat, hot raindrops that rapidly soaked through to the skin. By the time Brenna walked up the steps to her apartment building she was dripping wet and shivering. Once inside she just stood there, clothes clinging to her skin, tears streaking down her cheeks. Brenna's heart ached with such loneliness and pain, sobs wracking her frail body. How much longer could she go on this way? Looking around her apartment, Brenna took note of the luxuries her career afforded her. A pure cashmere throw in the deepest blue lay over the arm of her designer cream colored couch. Hanging on the wall, a state of the art plasma screen television and two expensive prints by a well known painter. Her kitchen had every new convenience a woman could want or need. Everything she owned was the best. From her Jimmy Choo shoes to her six hundred thread count Egyptian cotton sheets. It was what she didn't see that made her sobs so painful. There were no toys strewn across her Persian carpets. No happy family portraits sitting on her mahogany mantle. No joyous voices calling out for her, happy to have her return home. All she had were things. Cold, hard, unyielding items that didn't love her, comfort her, couldn't hold her close. Was this what she'd really wanted when she'd come to America? What she'd fought so hard to achieve? Things? Her sobs began to lessen and Brenna sat her purse and briefcase on the floor, kicking off the now ruined three hundred dollar pair of Italian leather pumps. She looked at them for a minute then leaned down to pick them up. In a fit of pure defiance, Brenna stepped over to the trash can in her kitchen and tossed them inside rather violently. A hysterical laugh bubbled up from deep in her gut. Setting it free, Brenna stripped out of her elegantly fitted suit and tossed that in the trash with the shoes. Standing there in her kitchen wearing nothing but her expensive silk lingerie, Brenna took back her life. She didn't know where she was going or what she'd be doing - but, it would be what ever made her happy again! The apartment was silent and dark, its resident sleeping soundly, safely in her bed. Even the grandfather clock in the hall seemed to hush its usual noise, so reverent was the silence. The sheets tangled around Brenna's legs, rustled briefly, caressing milky white skin before settling again. A soft sigh broke from between her rosy, full lips. In her dream, she stands on a high green hill, looking out over the land her family had lived on for generations. The wind blew gently, swirling her long skirt around her legs, teasing her long auburn locks. The scent of fragrant peat and the sea made the air seem alive. A wide smile on her lips, she turned her head up to the sun, threw out her arms and drank it all in. Eyes closed she could hear the sea to her left, the waves beating relentlessly against the cliffs, so violent yet rhythmic, peaceful. Her body felt its draw, felt it calling to her heart and soul. The sea, when calm, was a woman softly calling her lover to her arms. When stormy it is a man, demanding and strong, defiantly making his mark. She suddenly screamed into the wind, a howl of loneliness and heartache, her dark green eyes flashing its hurt for all to see. The sea continued its song of seduction, whispering for her to come home. Here was life, happiness. Here was peace and people who loved her, cared for her, cherished her. Here was the innocence of childhood, so sweet. She would be safe, free. The breeze came again, caressing her flesh, beckoning to her. As she woke slowly, dawn barely tinting her windows, she could still hear its call. Come home Brenna, it said. Just come home. She lay there for several long moments, reveling in the feeling of contentment that still rode her, wondering when she'd lost it. Eventually she did rise, shower, even made some tea. While she sipped the strong brew, she made plans and phone calls. Brenna called in every favor due her and made sure her clients found new representation. Her secretary would take care of closing her office, storage of important documents and files, etc. A realtor was contacted to sell her apartment, completely furnished. Brenna's final task was to call the airlines. She booked a flight out of St. Louis to Dublin, Ireland. It had taken six long months to get everything in order but Brenna would be back on her home soil before Valentines' Day. Humming an old Celtic tune, Brenna danced around her kitchen in happiness. New Beginnings and Old Friends Brenna stood outside her childhood home, amazed at how much it looked the same. She'd been paying a man for years to take care of it and he'd done a good job. Even the shutters were painted the same color they'd been when she'd left so long ago. She pulled the key from her pocket and unlocked the door. Immediately the scents of mint and honey reached her senses. Her mother had loved mint, kept sprigs of it drying all around the tiny cottage. Hours would pass while Anna O'Shea made her honey and mint soaps, humming softly as her hands shaped the richly scented bars. It had broken her mother's heart when Brenna decided to move to the States to go to school. There had been fighting and tears, but in the end she'd let Brenna go because it's what she would have done herself so long ago. No daughter of hers was going to settle for being a wife and mother when she could be something great. Some greatness I achieved Mum, Brenna thought. Defending the worst of the worst, making sure they spent little if any time in jail for their crimes against others. Some of her clients had been guilty, she'd known it, but it was her job to make sure she got them off. The stress of dealing with the underbelly of life had taken its toll on Brenna. But, now she was home. Now she could start again. Make things right. Her mother had died three years before on Valentines' Day, but Brenna had been in the middle of a huge murder trial and hadn't come home for the burial. She'd sent a cheque for the upkeep of the house every month to Daniel Killian, their closest neighbor. He'd chided her in the beginning for not coming to see her mother laid to rest, but eventually gave up as she never apologized. Brenna's father had died when she was only two, an accident on the bogs where he worked harvesting peat. She didn't remember much about him, but her mother had told her she had her father's eyes. She set her bags down and moved across the parlor to pick up an old photograph of her and her mother, happy, smiling into each other's faces. Brenna couldn't remember exactly how old she was, but she looked to be around ten or eleven. Her heart suddenly ached fiercely, missing her mother's face and voice like never before. Tears fell unheeded down her cheeks. The pain was great, amazing in its power. The portrait fell to the floor as a scream of pure anguish tore from her throat. Oh, how she wanted to sit and talk with her mother. Tell her all the horrors she'd seen, all the horrible things she'd done. How she longed to have her mother pull her into her soft arms, stroke her hair and murmur to her, tell her everything would be okay. But it wasn't okay. Her mother was gone and she'd never even said goodbye. Hadn't taken that one last look at her beautiful face and kissed her cheek. There would never be another chance. Brenna turned, ran out the door and headed blindly down the path to the family plots. There had to be time to tell her, to make her hear how much she loved her. Tell her how sorry she was that she hadn't come in time. The sobs tearing from her made running hard on her chest, breathing ragged and ugly. Oh God, she thought, I don't even know where my own mother is buried. Searching frantically, Brenna ran from headstone to headstone, falling down several times in her rush to find the marker with her mother's name. When she did find it the shock was so abrupt that she immediately fell to her knees, hands covering her face as the sobs came faster, her chest heaving hard. "Oh Momma, what have I done?" she cried out, reaching a hand out to trace the deep lines in the cold, cold stone. Anna Maeve O'Shea. "I should have been here. Should have come home to take care of you. Oh, please forgive me Momma!" Brenna laid her head against that cold, cold stone and a feeling of peace began to seep into her soul, soothing her fevered mind and body. The air had been frigidly cold when she'd begun this journey, but here, laying her body against this stone, Brenna felt warm. Her mind rejected what her heart already knew. Her mother might have been dead and buried but her soul, her love, her forgiveness was still here, had been waiting for her to only return and come to her. For a moment she caught the scent of mint and honey before it moved away, this time for good. Brenna looked up at the gray clouded sky and whispered into the breeze, "Goodbye Momma, I love you forever." A last warm touch skimmed Brenna's cheek before being replaced by the icy air. Brenna wasn't ready to move away, so she sat on that cold ground and talked to that stone, caressing the deeply carved lines of her mother's name. She knew not the passing of time, was not aware of the air continuing to drop its temperature. Her voice was soft, her smile sad, but loving as she spoke of her life in America, told her mother all that had been done and all she hoped for. The meager light disappeared and night fell quietly all around Brenna. She talked until she could talk no more, lay down on that frozen ground, body warm again, and slept. This night Brenna dreamed of whiteness, bright and blinding, covering everything as far as she could see. It was still and quiet there in the beginning. Then a voice seemed to be calling her name but she didn't care, only wanted to be alone. Wanted to sleep in the whiteness until all the pain and agony in her heart broke away forever. There was no conscious feeling of death, just the need to sleep. Her breathing slowed. Arms, warm and strong, wrapped around her body and lifted her easily from the frozen ground. Lost in her world of white, Brenna slept on, never feeling the jarring of her body as the arms carried her over the rough path as quickly as the long legs would allow. Brenna's body ached in places she didn't know existed. Everything tingled and twitched uncomfortably. She tried to find that peaceful white dream world again but the pain was too much and she lost her way. Struggling up from a deep sleep, Brenna cracked an eye open and was assaulted by a different kind of light coming from the uncovered window in front of her. It made her eyes water and burn. She tried to raise her arm to cover them with her hand but it wouldn't move, wouldn't follow the commands from her sluggish brain. Suddenly scared, Brenna whimpered, wondering what was wrong with her. "Brenna?" a soft voice spoke from the light, familiar to her somehow. "Brenna, are you awake?" A strange noise grated past her lips, so dry they cracked painfully. She heard movement and very soon cool water was held up to her mouth, trickled over her tongue and she sighed gratefully. She took a few more small sips and a rough finger rubbed a little of the liquid onto her parched lips. "What happened?" she finally managed to ask, voice rough. "I found you near frozen to death in the cemetery. What on earth were you doing there Brenna?" The voice was stronger now, and a little irritated. And still familiar, why couldn't she place that voice? Her brain wasn't so dulled that she didn't realize it must be someone she knew. He knew her name. "Momma. Oh God, she's gone. I felt her leave. I just wanted to talk to her one more time. Then she was gone again. I miss her!" Brenna could feel the tears rolling out of her eyes, across her nose and wetting the pillow beneath her head. The man leaned closer to hear her whispered words, his face twisted with sympathy. "Rest now Brenna. You need to sleep more. I'll be right here when you wake again." His words were already fading as Brenna's mind shut down once more, shifting back into the deep, dreamless sleep that would help heal her wounds, mental and physical. A quilt came up to cover her completely, tucked in under her chin tightly. The next time she woke it was dark out, the wind howling against the glass of the window. A soft light burned from across the room and Brenna braved opening both eyes to look around. She was in her old room, her tiny tiffany style lamp giving the room a soft glow. Taking a mental inventory of aches and pains, she tried to sit up, only to find she didn't have the strength or the energy to pull her upright. She did manage to turn over, slowly, gasping when she noticed a man sleeping in a very uncomfortable straight backed chair by the other side of her bed. Her eyes focused in the dim light and her heart kicked up a little healthier beat. He hadn't changed all that much. The years had been very kind. His jet black hair was longer than she remembered but it suited him, curling over his collar. The straight patrician nose, the strong, squared jaw hadn't changed, though there seemed to be a few lines at the corners of his eyes that weren't there before. It suited him. She knew those eyes would be a stormy grey when they opened, like steel. Long, black lashes lay against his lightly tanned cheeks. Brenna noticed the width of his shoulders and chest. He'd been muscular but wirier as a young man. He'd filled out and it looked good on him. She sighed, looking back up at that beautiful face. Once upon a time, long ago, she'd loved him so fiercely that she'd scared herself. Run away from such intense longing and need to a place he wouldn't follow. But, Brenna had never forgotten. Had never found another to replace him in her heart. Or her body. He must've sensed her stares, his eyes opening slowly and seeing right into hers. A corner of his mouth lifted slightly and her heart beat even faster, blood rushing to her cheeks as she was caught staring. "Hello Aidan." "Hello again Brenna." Aidan spoke softly, a wealth of emotion in those words. Pain, need, loss they all raced across his features. He sat up, stretching lightly as his back protested the movement. Brenna didn't breathe as he moved, having seen all those emotions he'd quickly hidden. "How long have I been asleep?" she asked, her voice sounding a little creaky. Aidan looked over at the clock on her bedside table. "Almost four days now. We were beginning to think you wouldn't ever wake." Brenna gasped, completely shocked. "I don't remember what happened. One minute I was talking to Mum, the next I woke up looking at you." Aidan nodded gravely, and then rubbed his hands over his stubbly cheeks. "We all heard you scream. We didn't know you were home until we ran next door and saw your suitcase spilled in the floor, the door wide open. Da and I searched for you everywhere. It was almost midnight before I thought to check the cemetery. You were passed out, your lips blue," he paused, took a deep breath, fear plainly showing in his grey eyes. "You scared me to my very bones Brenna. I thought you were dead. When I touched your skin it was frozen almost stiff. I felt your heart beating so slow and almost screamed in relief." "I went to say goodbye. It's so strange Aidan. I remember feeling so warm." Brenna closed her eyes, trying to recapture that moment, but it was lost to her now. "Did you come back to kill yourself Brenna? Is that why you finally returned after all these years?" Her gasp was loud in the silence. "No, I didn't intend on any such thing. I remember picking up the picture of me and Mum and thinking how stupid I was to not come home when she needed me. How I'd never gotten to say goodbye. Then I was running for the plots. I don't remember much after that other than feeling her leave me and knowing she forgave me." "You know Brenna," Aidan began, looking out the window as he stood, "I survived you leaving for America because I knew you were okay. You just didn't love me. I wouldn't have survived your death." That said, he turned on his heel and stalked from the room, leaving Brenna with her mouth hanging open. Home Fires Burn Forever Brenna didn't see Aidan the next time she woke. His mother, Celia Killian, came bustling in shortly after dawn, bringing with her a hearty meal and a warm smile. Tears burned her eyes again at the sight of the older woman, someone she'd always loved and cherished. The plump petite fireball immediately sat herself on the edge of Brenna's bed and gathered her into her loving arms tightly. "Shush now love," she cooed, running her hands up and down Brenna's back soothingly. It was exactly what she'd needed from her own mother but was unable to receive. Celia Killian made a damn good substitute at the moment. Laughter mixed with her tears as Celia pulled her away from her ample bosom to look at her sternly. "I'll have you know you gave us all a very big fright!" The scolding didn't last as her features softened, pulling Brenna back into a tight hug. "You look horrid but we'll have some meat on those bones and a sparkle in them eyes in no time! You just wait and see!" Brenna smiled, letting the woman fuss over her for a little bit, feeling fragile. The tray was piled high with braised eggs, rashers, toast and good strong coffee. Brenna giggled and threw up her hands. "There's no way I can eat all this Mrs. Killian!" Celia tsked her, waving a hand to show she was unconcerned for her protests. "You'll eat as much as you can handle or I'll spoon feed you little one. And you just cut that Mrs. Killian stuff. We're both too old for that. You're a full grown woman now and there's no reason you can't use my given name!" Brenna laughed again, the sound still a little rusty to her own ears, and gave the woman a smart salute. "Yes Ma'am!" Celia laughed, her large body shaking with the sound. "You always were too quick tongued for your own good!" That said, Celia blew her a kiss and left her alone with her breakfast. For a long time Brenna just stared at the food, lost in her thoughts. Aidan was foremost in them, his words and the pain in his eyes breaking her heart into even tinier pieces. Questions swirled in her head about him. Was he married? Did he have children? Had he really meant what he'd said? Did he realize she still loved him so much that the very sight of him made her entire body quake? Second First Kiss She decided to table her confusion for now and try to eat some of the food that Celia had worked so hard to fix for her. It had been so long since she'd had a real Irish breakfast. Hell, it had been too long since she'd even eaten any kind of breakfast! The smell made her belly growl loudly. "Well, if that isn't a most unladylike sound!" Brenna chuckled, looking at the long lean man who'd parked himself against the doorjamb. The years had been kind to Daniel Killian as well, the steel grey hair giving him a very distinguished look. "Come to check on me, have you?" "Just making sure you didn't take off again." Daniel moved away from the doorway and sat himself a little stiffly into the chair Aidan had been sleeping in the night before. "You gave us a real fright girl." Brenna looked away, shame coloring her cheeks. "I know, and I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me." "Love, that's what came over you. All that pain you've been avoiding finally broke lose in ya." Daniel crossed his ankles and made himself more comfortable. "I was so stupid. I ran from here like the hounds of hell were chomping on my ankles. I have so many regrets. I just wanted to talk to her one last time." The tears that seemed so close to the surface all the time fell once more. "She never stopped loving you muirnin. She accepted that you had to find your own path. And look where it's led you. Right back where you always belonged. Where people love you and care for you. Nothing else matters. She forgave you long before you thought to ask." Hearing the native Gaelic for sweetheart roll off his tongue almost started a whole new round of tears. How she'd missed the language of her home. "Thank you, athair. How I have missed you all!" Daniel felt tears burning the back of his throat as Brenna addressed him as father. He'd always been close to the cailin (girl), taking on being some kind of father figure for her since hers had passed when she was so young. He loved her like a daughter and it warmed his heart that she felt the same for him. "Aidan's angry with me?" she asked, her cheeks burning, shocked that she'd asked about him to his father. "Aye, that he is cailin. But, he'll be over it soon enough. He just needs time. Seeing you again was shock enough, but to find you near death, well, that was almost too much for the boy." Daniel watched her closely for a minute, considering what he was seeing in Brenna's eyes. "You still love him," he stated firmly, smiling. Brenna looked at him with total shock written on her features. He just kept smiling, kept looking deeper into her soul than she was comfortable with. Finally, she gave up and shrugged. "I never stopped loving him athair. I ran because I loved him too much." "Scared ya, didn't it?" he asked, reaching out to take her too slim hand in his own rough one. "To death. I kept thinking, what if I'm wrong and two years from now he leaves me for another? How would I survive? So I left first." The words came out as a whisper, dragged from the deepest part of Brenna's heart. How silly it all sounded now. "He's never loved another since you Brenna. It's never too late to set things right." Daniel squeezed her hand firmly, love in his eyes. "Think about it." He turned and walked out of the room, leaving Brenna more emotionally drained than she thought was possible. She definitely needed time to think. All her priorities had been wrapped up in moving beyond Aidan, making something of herself, being someone on her own. But, had that been her real dream or had it just been the panicked reasoning of a frightened little girl? She didn't know. And she wasn't going to figure it out this morning that was certain. Looking down, Brenna stared at her plate. Her now empty plate. Laughing, she fell back against the pillow, stomach pleasantly full. It seemed she would be putting on some weight after all! Hopes, Dreams and Faerietales Aidan avoided her over the next couple of weeks as she recovered. The few times she did see him, he nodded politely then moved on quickly. She didn't call him on it, remembering what his father had said about him needing time. Brenna would give him a little more, then she intended on having a long, probably painful talk with him about the past - and the future. She felt strong enough that day to take on doing some cleaning. She started in her old room, going through drawers and packing up clothes from her teen years, laughing at her bad style. She found pictures of school friends, little mementos she'd saved from each of them. Once she was finished she'd made quite a new mess. Moving the boxes outside, she came back in to tackle her closet. Brenna worked from the bottom to the top, reaching back into her hidden corner to pull out a box she'd been avoiding for too long. An old shoe box, covered in dust, yellowed with age presented itself and she sat down in the floor, almost afraid to open it. Eventually, she had no choice. The lid came off in a cloud of dust and she sighed at the contents. On top were a dozen dried red roses. Aidan had saved his money from almost a month to be able to afford to buy them for her, giving them to her on their first 'official' date. Tied to them with a pink ribbon were the cinema stubs from the movie they'd pretended to watch. Carefully she lifted the bouquet, afraid the fragile dried petals would fall off from age. They made it intact to the floor next to her and she sighed in relief. Under those roses, a pile of folded letters tied in some of the same pink ribbon, all love letters from Aidan when he'd been away at University those first couple of years. Oh, how she'd missed him. She knew if she removed them from their envelopes the pages would be wrinkled from her dried tears. But, she didn't open them. She knew every word on every page by heart, even now. She set them aside with the roses. Her journal had yellowed with age and she set that aside as well, desperate to find the one thing more precious to her than anything else in the box. Finally, under a pile of petals from an old corsage, she found it. The little twisted pieces of metal were scarred with age and improper storage but she was sure she could make it look new again. The four pieces of metal were light and airy but much stronger than they appeared. They represented her, Aidan, her mother and his parents. Two families brought together by love and friendship. It had been the promise ring Aidan had given her when he'd left for University. Tears of remembered love fell from her eyes and she dared to try and put the ring on her finger again. It still fit! The cold metal seemed to warm as it wrapped around her skin, almost tingling with life. All these years and her heart still knew where it belonged. Placing everything but the ring on her finger back into the box very carefully, Brenna returned it to its special hiding place and turned away, leaving her childhood behind in that room where it belonged. It was time to confront Aidan as a woman and not a confused teenager that didn't know what she wanted. And she knew just how to make him realize her continued love for him. Quickly, she ran to the kitchen and the pantry where her mother had always made her store her art supplies. She pulled out her pastels and chalks, growling when the sketchbook practically fell apart in her hands from age. She would head straight into town for a new one then come back to begin her special Valentine present for the man she loved as only a grown up Brenna could. Brenna spent the next seven days working non-stop. Her sketches had been rough at first, too many years not working her artistic eye. Soon though, they became fluid and magical, so realistic that even she was amazed. When they were done, it took her another full day to write the story that went with the pictures. She had to make sure everything was just right. When it was complete, she drove into Dublin and spent a great deal of money to have her story turned into a real, hardcover bound book. It had taken several long days but when she drove back to pick it up she realized it had been worth it. The man at the counter even suggested she send it to a publisher, the story and pictures so beautiful. She thanked him, told him she'd think about it and rushed back to her home on the cliffs. It was February the thirteenth, also Friday the thirteenth, and as everyone knows the Irish are a superstitious lot. Scared something would go wrong before Aidan got his Valentine, Brenna placed it in one of those large waterproof bags then wrapped it up tight. She slept fitfully that night, tossing and turning with anxiety and nerves. She was up with the dawn and eager to deliver her special Valentine. Praying no one at the Killian house was awake yet, Brenna tiptoed up to the door and lay the wrapped book on the doorstep where it couldn't be missed. Almost squealing with excitement and nervousness, Brenna ran as quick as she could back to her house and shut the door tight behind her. Aidan rose not long after Brenna's frightened flight back to her childhood home. He opened the door to go check on their animals as he always did, tripping over a hard object on the step. He picked it up, curious, surprised to see his name printed across the package in bold block letters. He took the package inside and sat at the kitchen table, ripping off the plain brown paper to find the handsome brown leather bound book inside a plastic bag. Somehow, without even opening the cover he knew it was from Brenna. Finally getting up the courage to open the book, he saw there was a message written on the first page. 'Aidan, Happy Valentines' Day. Always, Brenna'. Taking a deep breath, he turned the page and fell into the magical world she'd created for him. His parents rose and he'd already read the tome twice, devouring every word. He explained about the present from Brenna then read them the story aloud, showing them the beautiful pictures she'd done to match the text. It read: 'Once upon a time, in a land of green and gold, there lived a young maiden. Her mother had often told her how she'd been born under the iomlan gealai (full moon) and how that made her more special than any other maid in their village. The maid, knowing she had draiocht (magic) behind her, often risked going to the faerie mounds and rings that hid in the woods behind her home. She loved to hide and watch as the faeries' danced and sang, such beautiful music they made! One night the maid knew of a special ceremony the faeries would be having and snuck from her bed, dressed only in her night shift, and crept through the woods to the faerie ring. She could see lights twinkling long before she made it to her special hiding spot. What a glorious sight it was! The faeries with their gorgeous multicolored wings seemed to be in a very excited state, talking, dancing and drinking with gusto! The maid felt her own heart start to beat faster watching the spectacle in front of her. Suddenly a hush fell over the troupe and a feeling of anticipation filled the air. A faerie, more beautiful than any other, moved into view, the other faeries bowing their heads in respect. This must be the Queen of the Faeries, thought the maid! The celebration started again, the Queen seated on a throne made of small diamonds and rubies. She looked quite lovely and smiled as the revelry went on around her. A male faerie with light blue wings brought her a golden cup and she patted him on the head, bringing a glorious smile to his face. The maid didn't know how long she'd been sitting there, watching the celebration when she felt the atmosphere change. Anger suddenly filled the air, and fear filled the maid. She'd been caught! The Queen, her face scary and hard with anger, pointed a slim bejeweled finger at the maid and hissed, her beautiful voice now very snakelike, "You, interloper! How dare you defile a gathering of my people! For your dishonor I will take your true love from you and keep him with me for ten long years, returning him to you an old, broken man that you will no longer be able to love!" The maid shuddered in fear, her words so violently delivered that she turned and fled, not stopping until she was back in her own bed, safe and sound. After calming down she couldn't help but give a tiny smile. The Queen had cursed her but the maid was sure the faerie hadn't known that the maid had no true love and never would. The maid had dreams and none of them involved falling in love! Many years later, the maid, now a ripe eight and ten years, fell in love with the most handsome man in her village. To her great joy, he loved her in return and they spent many wonderful days planning their wedding. The maid had completely forgotten the curse placed upon her by the Queen of the Faeries. The maid and her handsome young man attended a Valentine's dance in the village square. They danced and sang, her young man twirling her around until she was breathless and dizzy with excitement. The night got darker and darker, clouds hiding the full moon from sight. A loud clap of thunder and bright lights in the sky made the entire crowd go silent with fear and awe. Descending from the sky were an army of faerie, followed from the woods by their Queen on a scary black steed. The crowd parted quickly, praying her wrath wasn't directed towards them or their families. They had nothing to fear, but the maid knew her time had come. At first sight of the Queen she had remembered her curse and knew her handsome young man, the love of her life was about to be taken from her and forced to live with the Queen for ten long years of suffering. The army of faeries gathered around the handsome young man and bound his hands and feet so he could not escape. Pulling as one, they lifted him from the ground and began to fly away, her young man screaming for someone to help him. The maid began to silently weep, trying to think of a way to rescue her truest love from his fate. She turned to the Queen and offered herself in exchange for the young man but the Queen only laughed harshly and spat on the ground in front of the maid. "He is mine and no one shall dare rescue him or risk death. And you, stupid maid, I cast a spell on you, forget what you have seen, what you have felt, forget my words. Live your life knowing you have lost something very important but be unable to discover what it is you have lost. That is the fate of intruding maids with very little sense!" The Queen turned her giant steed around in a cloud of dust and rushed into the woods. The minute she was gone from sight, the maid forgot everything, but felt sad and unable to remember why. She turned and made for her home, her heart aching more and more with each step. Years passed and the maid turned away every suitor who came to her door. Her heart could not be persuaded to take a husband and she had no idea why it could not love. Every year that passed her heart shriveled a little more until by the time she was twenty and nine, her heart was as small and hard as a pebble. Soon after her thirtieth birthday the maid felt drawn into the wood, the pull so strong that she could not resist. Her feet followed a path now overgrown and thick with brush. She struggled to get through, amazed when she came across a faerie ring in the middle of a beautiful green clearing. Light from the sun shown down on the ring and lit it brightly. A strange pop sounded and she was amazed to see a troupe of faeries appear before her eyes. What magic was this?! One, more beautiful than the others, sat on a throne of diamonds and rubies. Her face, while beautiful, was hard and cold, scaring the maid. "May the veil I cast over your mind be lifted!" With her words still hanging in the air, the maid felt her eyes clear and her heart begin to pound. Lying on the ground by her feet was her handsome young man, now thirty and two, his hair tipped with grey and lines crinkling the corners of his eyes. How happy her heart felt! It leaped and pounded as she leaned down to stroke the skin of his heavily bearded cheek, love still flooding her being. "Take your old man, maid. He is yours again if you will have him. Look upon him and see what he has become!" The Queen laughed evilly and with another pop they all disappeared as suddenly as they had appeared. The maid did as the Queen said and looked upon the man she had loved. No, still loved. The years between them had not taken away the depth of her feelings for her handsome man. Sitting on the ground, she pulled his head into her lap and stroked his face, reveling in the feel of his skin until he awoke, his beautiful steel grey eyes focusing on her face. She tried to turn away, fearful of what he would think of her now, after so long. The years had changed her as well, would he still love her as she did him? Tears began to fall from her eyes, landing on the handsome man's eyes. A magic all their own came from her tears. The handsome man sat up and turned the maid to face him, smiling. No words were needed as he took her face in his large strong hands and pulled her to him for a kiss like no other. Love filled them and spilled over, filling the wood with its strength and passion. From far away, the sound of an angry scream could be heard. Their love had survived ten years apart from each other. Her spell had failed! True love could not be destroyed even by one as strong as the Queen of Faeries. One year later, on Valentines' Day, the maid and her handsome man were married and lived a long life together, full of joy, light, love and children. And on the day of their deaths they were found together, holding hands tightly, smiles upon the aged faces.' Aidan looked up at his parents and noticed his mother wiping tears from her face, both of them smiling widely. His father closed the book for his son and rose, taking his wife's hand in his own and leading her from the room so the boy had time to realize what a gift he'd just been given. Morning turned into afternoon, afternoon into evening and as the moon rose, Brenna felt her heart starting to shrivel again like the maid's in the story. Full of hurt and loss, Brenna ran to the cliffs and sat there on that frozen ground, feeling the wind trying to turn her to ice. It was too late, she thought, I waited too long. The wind blew harder and Brenna knew that this time Aidan wouldn't come looking for her. Nor did she want him too. If she couldn't have his love then she wanted to go to her death as quickly as possible. She would just lie on the frozen earth and wait for the white place to return to her. Aidan went to Brenna's house, the diamond ring in his pocket turning to lead when he found the door open once again, no sign of Brenna within. He took off at a run, this time knowing just where Brenna would go with her thoughts. Some things never changed, even after ten years. He found her right there on those cliffs, arms wrapped around her knees, rocking herself gently back and forth, the sound of her sobs carrying to him on the wind. It broke his heart to hear her suffering so. He rushed forward, stopping right behind her, realizing she hadn't heard his approach over the sound of the wind and sea below. Aidan lowered himself carefully to the hard, cold ground behind Brenna and leaned forward, as close to her ear as possible without alerting her to his presence. "Have I really changed so much in ten years? Am I too old for you now?" Brenna gasped loudly, turning her body to see him sitting there calmly, eyes warm on her tear stained face. He used the pads of his thumbs to wipe the tears away before kissing her softly on her full lips, tasting the salt of her tears there. He kept her face in his large, strong hands as he waited for her answer. "You didn't come to the house and I thought I was too late. That you couldn't love me anymore the way I love you." Brenna's words trembled with more unshed tears, making her voice quiet and husky. Second First Kiss "No love, I couldn't love you more than I do right now. I took so long because I had go wake the banker and get access to my box so I could get this." He reached into his pocket and pulled out the ring box. He opened it and removed the diamond ring with four intertwining bands of gold. Brenna gasped, her hand reaching out to touch the ring so like the metal one now cradled on her left ring finger. It was exactly the same only a diamond had been added to the middle of the entwined bands. "It's so beautiful Aidan." She looked into his eyes and held up her left hand, showing him the old metal band he'd made so long ago. "I kept this because some part of me knew that I belonged with you. I broke the spell I cast on myself, hoping you would still feel the same as I did." Aidan felt his eyes filling with tears as he looked at her lovely slim hand wearing his first ring. She hadn't forgotten, just like him. "Say you'll marry me Brenna Katherine O'Shea. I can't wait another second to know if you'll finally be mine." "Aye, I'll marry you Aidan Daniel Killian." She threw herself into his arms and pressed her lips to his, holding him tightly in her loving arms. Their second first kiss was even more special and beautiful, filling the air around them with love strong and true. They married a year later, on Valentines' Day in a clearing in the woods behind Brenna's childhood home, now their home. The sun was shining down on them as the priest made them man and wife and magic filled the air. Red paper hearts rained down from the trees as they kissed, making their families and friends gasp with joyful surprise. They had two beautiful children, a boy and a girl, and every night Brenna would read them the story of the maid and her handsome man. At the end, she would kiss each beautiful child on the head and remind them that sometimes, faerie tales do come true.