Chapter One - Three Hundred Years Later

The newly laid stone path sparkled with the dew of the new morning. Bluebirds chirped several yards away, littering the yard with nature's music. The sky appeared to be the most intense shade of blue Guinevere had seen in all of her seventeen years. She turned her face to the autumn sun, spreading her eyes wide and she made her way down the path.

"Gwen! Don't forget the nails for you father," her mother's voice rang out, shattering the serenity of the morning.

The girl rolled her eyes. "Yes, Ma!" she called back. She waved behind her and ran on.

"Stop running, Guinevere! Young ladies do not run."

Gwen sighed, fighting exasperation. She heeded her mother, but not for long. As soon as she rounded the small wall of stone that marked the edge of their property and disappeared into the woods, she rolled her skirt up, revealing the loose leggings she always wore, and tied it snuggly into the sash at her waist. Letting her hair out of her floppy straw hat, she looked for the nearest fruit tree.

Delighted to find the apple tree, she heaved herself into its branches to eat her breakfast. Savoring the apple's sweet nectar, she picked a few more and settled them in her skirt pocket. After having eaten her fill, she jumped down and raced down the path toward town.

She slowed down at the first view of the village square. She untied her skirt and let the heavy cloth drape around her ankles. Her hat was once again pinned into her hair by the time she stepped from the forest shade. Morning activities were well underway as she made her way through the bustling crowds. Gwen smiled and waved at people she knew, searching for no one in particular.

Someone called her name. "Gwen! Gwen, over here."

She pushed her way over to a lonely stand on the side of the street. "Getting an early start today, Kiersten?" Gwen leaned on the stands long counter.

The small blonde before her returned her grin. "Yeah, Papa wanted by to be the first out today. No matter how much I try, though, I can't get him to believe that no body is out before dawn." Kiersten yawned. Gwen grinned as she heard her jaw crack. "All I want to do is sleep." The older girl tried to look glum but the natural curve of her mouth made it impossible for those watching to take the frown seriously.

Gwen chuckled. "Selling anything new today? Any nails?"

Kiersten stepped back, taking inventory of her small stand. She reached below the counter. "Well, we've got…"

"Hello, ladies."

Gwen and Kiersten both turned to look. A tall brown haired young sauntered down the lane, chomping down on a hunk of steaming bread. Gwen hoped whatever he had in the pouch slung over his shoulder just happened to be as warm and bread like as what he held in his hand.

"What no good mornings for a fellow? Too early in the morning?" His voice had the rich and smooth tone of a boy not long after his youth.

"Good morning, Dom," the girls chorused.

"And how are we this fine morning?" Gwen added, echoing his flowery tone.

Dom winked at her. "Dependable." Reaching into his pouch he produced two steaming rolls. "Fresh from the oven. Ma even gives her 'hello' with theses ones."

Gwen and Kiersten laughed, taking the offered pastries. "You're mother is a lifesaver," Kiersten sighed, taking a large bite. "I haven't had breakfast yet."

"That's what I was counting on," Dom replied, not looking at her. His gaze was on Gwen. He gestured to his mother's shop down the lane. "I've got to head back. Ma's putting me back to work. But, uh, feel free to stop by at any time." He waved good-bye and the girls chorused a good-bye as they watched his back disappear into the growing morning crowds.

Gwen watched him go. "He was a bit odd at the end there, don't you think?"

Kiersten just laughed. "Oh, he's got it bad."

Gwen turned to her friend. "Got what bad?"

Kiersten raised a brow incredulously. "Don't tell me you can't see how sweet he is on you?"

Gwen scoffed at the idea. "Me 'n Dom are best friends. We aren't allowed to sweet on each other."

Kiersten crossed her arms. "Dom obviously doesn't see it that way."

Gwen rolled her eyes. "Dom and I…"

"Would be perfect for each other! Why can't you see that?" Kiersten interjected.

Gwen waved her arms exasperatedly. "I have to pick up some nails for Dad. I'd rather be doing that than listening to you ramble about something that's nonexistent," she told Kiersten with a glare.

Her friend held up her hands in surrender. "All right. We'll talk about something else. But I still maintain that you and…"

Gwen made a move to leave, but Kiersten grabbed her arm. "Okay, okay. I get it. We won't talk about it."
Gwen scowled. "Thank you." She shoved the last of her bread into her mouth.

Kiersten watched her for a moment, searching for another topic. Her gaze lit on the bulge of her friend's pocket. "You got any more apples?"

---

After visiting with Kiersten a while longer, Gwen quickly finished her shopping, picking up much needed nails for her father. Finally, she made her way back down the path in the woods. A bluebird in a tree caught her attention half way from town and she stopped to admire it. The air smelled sweet and pure. She breathed deeply, letting herself relax for the first time since speaking with Kiersten about Dom.

Gwen couldn't believe that words that had come from her friend's mouth. She and Dom had known each other since they had played in their diapers together. Albeit, Dom was two years older than she, but that hadn't stopped their friendship. That's all it is, Gwen thought furiously, a friendship. Plain and simple.

A twig snapped behind her and the blue bird flew off, whistling its song as it went. Gwen whirled.

"Oh, it's only you, Dom," she breathed a sigh of relief. She scowled and pretended to punch him, her thoughts and Kiersten's words echoing in her head. "Why do you always have to sneak up on me like that?"

Dom grinned, punching her pack. "Because it's a lot of fun, and besides, why, if I do it so often, do you still fall for it?" He winked at her.

Gwen laughed, all tension since that morning ebbing away. Same old Dom. "What are you doing here?" She let him lead the way back to her home. "Didn't you say your mom wanted your help in the bakery?"

Dom nodded. "I have been sent on a mission to retrieve your mother's recipe on Apple Dumplings. Mom wants to make some for her friend who's due to have a baby any day now in the next village." He paused, and then glanced her way. "Is you father ready for the festival coming up?

Gwen groaned. "That's all Dad has been talking about, and everyone else, too, including Jacie." Gwen's oldest sister was expecting her second child in a few weeks, but every day she was out with their father and her husband working on a multitude of inventions. "It's so boring around the house theses days. Even Neal is obsessed with it all." She kicked at the leaves and sticks around her feet.

"And how are you brothers and sister?" He held a branch back so she could pass through."

"Thank you. Well, Jacie is doing fine, so is Jason. Delia keeps expecting Prince Charming to show up at her doorstep and whisker her away to a happily ever after." She put a hand to her forehead in a dramatic impersonation of her older sister. "Rose and her husband, Eric, are busy running after their twins. Kelsey keeps climbing trees and scraping up her knees to save lost kittens and such. You know how she is."

Dom laughed. "I do. She's forever playing the family here isn't she?"

Gwen smiled back. "Well, she does have a way with animals." She paused for a moment. "Neal has taken to Dad's inventions quite spectacularly. He's the only one in the family who has actually volunteered to take up the family business. He seems to have real knack for inventing."

"So how are you doing?"

Gwen blinked at the unexpected question. "Well, I'll the youngest of seven. I'm pretty much left to myself most of the time. A blessing to be sure. The only one who really bothers me is Mom. She has a sixth sense where I'm concerned."

They fell into companionable silence and walked quietly beside each other for some times, savoring the quiet before reaching home.

---

"Hey, it's still early, Gwen," Dom quipped, breaking the silence. "What do you say about a little swim in our pond over there?"

Gwen glanced across the path and smiled with longing. The pond lay about twenty yards away from the path. Surrounded by brush, it was invisible to passerby, except by those who knew where it was.

She shook her head, holding her father's package of nails. "No, Dom. I have to be back home soon and Mom will kill me if I come home soaked again." She sighed and began to move away. "Maybe tomorrow."

Gwen missed the mischievous twinkle in Dom's eyes, turning away just before he reached to grab her package.

"Dom!" she cried. "Give it back!"

He jumped out of her way, grinning maniacally.

If he were any other boy I'd slap him! Gen thought as she scowled and grabbed at the package.

"Aw, come on, Genie!" he pleaded, using that awful childhood nickname. "Let's go swimming. Please?" He let his bottom lip protrude in a ridiculous pout.

"Dom! Not the puppy face pout!" She covered her face, trying, and failing, not to laugh.

Hearing her laughter, he shoved her package under a bush and scooped her up. He kept a tight hold on her as she screamed with mock anger and struggled to loose herself from his grip. Dom walked over to the pond. Standing at the edge, he leaned over as much as he dared. This action forced her to stop struggling lest he drop her, clothes and all.

"How much do you love me, Gwen?" he teased.

"Lots and lots! Now put me down!"

Dom clicked his teeth together. "I don't like that answer," he said sadly. "I though you loved me, Genie."

"Stop that awful nickname, Dominic!" He dropped his arms slightly. "NO! Dom, I do! I promise I do. Let me go and I'll love you forever!"
"Really?" He thought about it for a moment and nodded. "Okay." Opening his arms he dumped her into the pond.

Nearly seeing red with anger, Gwen came to the surface chocking and sputtering. Glaring at Dom, she wiped the water from her eyes. Sudden and sweet, a smile grew over her face. "Help me out, Dom. This water's cold."

Dom shook his head. "You don't need help." He eyed her suspiciously. He didn't like that smile. When she shivered, he sighed and went to help her out.

With a sudden grin, she gripped his wrist with both hands and pulled with all her might, hurling him over her head and into the pond.

Together they laughed and splashed and swan until the sun was high overhead.

"Dom!" Gwen cried a while later. "Look at the sun! Mom is going to kill me!" She scrambled for the bank and tried to hurl herself out of the pool. The muddy bank gave way under her weight and she fell back into Dom's arms. Suddenly, she was all too aware of the hard, muscular chest at her back and strong arms supporting her arms and waist. His grip on her was gentle yet she could feel the power of him. Gwen relaxed for just a second.

"Don't be in such a hurry next time," Dom murmured next to her ear. Her conversation with Kiersten earlier than day replayed itself in her mind. She scrambled away, blushing furiously.

"Dom, where'd you put Dad's package?" She searched in the brush for the nails.

"Hmm. I don't recall." He called, laughing, as he hoisted himself out of the pond."

"Dominic, this is not funny! Mom's going to murder me for being late, let alone swimming, when I was supposed to be doing errands." She was harsher than she'd intended, but her mind was whirling in a way she didn't want to think about.

"Alright, alright. It's over here." Dom moved some brush aside and tossed the package to her.

She glared at him.

Laughing at her annoyance, he dove back into the pond for a last swim. Gwen shook her head over the arrogance of young men. She turned swiftly and walked down the path. When Dom didn't follow her, her scowl slowly turned to one of concern. Had Dom come out of the pond? Where was he?

"Dom? You can come out now." No answer. "Dom?" She walked back over to the pond. "Dom? Where are you? This is no time for jokes!" Only the birds answered her call. "Dominic!"

"ROOAARRR!"

Gwen screamed and fell backward toward the pool. Dom caught her arm and pulled her to him. Trembling, she clutched at his dripping shoulders. Remembering, she pulled away and slugged him, trying not to think about how wonderful his skin had felt against hers.

"Ouch! What was that for?"

"For scaring the life out of me! So help me, Dom, I'll hit you again!"

"Alright, please, no more. My poor shoulder can only take so much." He offered a hand. "Truce?"

Gwen was skeptical. "No more pranks? You know, we aren't children anymore, Dom."

Something flickered in Dom's eyes. "No more pranks," he confirmed quietly. He held out a hand. Gwen took it tentatively, removing the scowl from her pretty face. "Now," he continued, "let's get going. We can't have your mother killing you."

Gwen laughed, letting the tension and confusion melt away. She fell into step beside Dom and they resumed their trek home.