Des eyes at Crystal before she turns to stare at what she was looking at and smiling so big before she finds her brother walking out of the stable grabbing some straws.

Des narrows her eyes as Crystal sighs dreamily and with her big smile she sways and starts to sweep the floor while Des keeps eyeing the woman.

"Are you falling for my brother?" Des asks Crystal who pauses on what she was doing and faces Des.

"What?" Crystal asks.

"You are smiling big and every few seconds your eyes are turning towards the door and you have been looking in and out of the windows all day long, so, is there something you are hiding? Like falling for my brother?" she asks and Crystal gulps.

"It's..."

"Tiny, need you to collect the eggs" Connor's voice makes both of them turn towards the door to find him walk in wiping his face with a towel.

"Eggs?" Des asks.

"Yes, it's market day tomorrow and I want you to grabs few hens as well" he adds and Des sighs as she jumps off the chair.

"Can I go to market as well?" she asks her brother.

"No" he replies and Des grins as she steps out of the house without a word.

"Hi" Crystal smiles as she stares at him and Connor nods once before he walks away and Crystal frowns as that was not how she imagined she would be greeted, not after what occurred between them last night.

********

"Are you hungry?" Crystal asks as she follows him around and Connor turns around.

"I am going out" he informs making her tilt her head as she stares at him.

"Later" he mumbles as he makes his way towards his room and shuts the door.

Crystal turns around to finish sweeping the floor dejectedly as Connor has given her cold shoulder all day long from the moment she walked in this morning. Not something she was happy; she wonders what she should do to get his attention or few kisses back.

"Your assistance would help" Des shouts from outside making Crystal groan before she hurries to finish the work and help Des.

"Can we go to the stream tomorrow after Connie goes to market?" Des asks as she carries the eggs to the table.

"Stream?" Crystal asks and Des nods.

"Yeah, Connie rarely lets me go with him, but tomorrow we both can go and have a bath and just relax and enjoy the day...

He won't be back until late evening"

"Should we not go if she does not let you go much there?"

"Oh, don't be like that"

"Like what?" she frowns.

"The one who does everything what other tells"

"What?"

"Sometimes, we need to rebel. If I did everything what Connor tells me I will forever be stuck with hens and their eggs...

I need some fun in life. I am sure you must have broken one or two rules in your life" she points.

"Well"

"Chrissie, don't think. Jumping in cool water when the sun in high is the best feeling" Des assures and Crystal sighs giving in as she cleans the egg shells.

"Okay"

*******

"Are you staying for dinner?" Des asks as she finishes washing the vegetables.

"Uh" Crystal hesitates as she was not in the house for dinner but waiting for Connor to be back in hope, she could talk with him thinking they both have had enough time to think on what had happened.

"Where do you live Crystal?" Des asks as she stares at the woman.

"I?"

"Yeah, strange we never talked about it" Des frowns.

"Well, I...I..."

"Is it out of village? I never saw you around" she points.

"Yeah, it's out of village"

"Must be far away to walk all the way here and them go back"

"Kind of"

"We should ask Connie to drop you are your house from now on. It gets kind of late when you return back. Do you have anyone at your home?" Des asks and Crystal shuffles in her feet.

"I have someone"

"A Lover?" Des teases and Crystal giggles.

"Lover?" Connor asks just as he steps in the house.

"Where were you all day long?" Des demands eyeing her brother as she puts her hands on her hips.

"Was out"

"I figured it out but where?" she asks.

"Had to run few errands around the village, Tiny" he mumbles as he drops his dirty boots on the side of the door.

"Were you again helping around Connor?" Des asks and Connor nod his head.

"Well, I never see anyone helping you around" she points.

"Tiny" he warns but Des turns to look at Crystal.

"See because of this, I cannot leave this house and live my life on my own terms. Villagers asks for help from him all the time, it's either broken fences, run away bulls, cow giving birth or plantation...

And he always goes runs away as if he is some errand boy to them, but I never see any one helping us with broken fences or planting the vegetables or crops. If it was not for me, he would die" Des huffs in anger and Connor smiles as he pulls his sister in his arms and hugs her.

"Ewe, you stink Connie" Des fights in his arms making him grin.

"Love you too, Tiny, love you the most" he whispers in his sister's ear and Crystal stiffens as she stares at the brother-sister duo wrapped in each other's arms.

"Well I hate you" Des grumbles pretending to be angry before she giggles loudly when he starts to tickle her.

********

"I am not washing your clothes" Des points as she dips the bread in the soup and eats.

"I will handle it"

"And your clothes need stiches Connor, the shirt you wore today has torn in three different parts" she points.

"I know"

"Well, I think you need a wife" Des points and Crystal chokes on her food as her head snaps at Connor waiting for his reply.

"Okay" he agrees.

"Knew you were wanting to kick me out of this house" Des glares at her brother.

"And how am I doing it?" he sighs putting the spoon down.

"You marry someone from the village they are bound to tell you, you need to give me up or one day you are in the market and next thing I know your wife has thrown me out of the house" she points and Connor sighs.

"Nothing like that is going to happen, this house is yours as well"

"Not when you have a wife and then children"

"Destiny" he frowns.

"So, you better not ever get married and have kids not until I find someone and have a new home and kids" she states making him groan.

"Can we stop this discussion and finish dinner?" he asks and Des stares at her brother for a while and sighs.

"I just worry about you that's it" she grumbles as she focuses on her food.

"Sure, mother hen" he smiles and Des grins at him.

"Well, Crystal said her home is out of town so you need to drop her off as it's getting late" Des states and Connor frowns as he stares at Crystal.

"Are you having trouble going home?" he asks and Crystal shakes her head no.

"I am good"

"I think if she should not walk all the way here back and forth if it's so far" Des states and Crystal holds her breath wondering what was all that about.

"I..."

"Its your turn to do the dishes Connie, so you better hurry to drop her off and come back to finish it" Des speaks as she grabs her plate and walks towards the sink leaving both her brother and Crystal on the table to stay still.

********

Connor rubs his horse's back before he unbinds the rope around him and pulls him out of the stable, walking to grab the saddle he fastens it on his horse. He walks his horse to where Crystal was standing quietly.

"You don't have to drop me" Crystal whispers.

"Des will not let me live if I did not" he replies before he picks her up and helps her to sit on the horse and he himself gets on the horse sitting behind her.

Both of them ride quietly on the horse, Crystal thoughts are occupied at what Des was pointing at and also on the fact that she was sitting close to her mate yet she felt such a grave distance between them. It was making her wonder, if he even felt anything for her at all and if he did not then what she should do next.

He was human after all and her feelings were obviously stronger for him than his for her which makes her sad and that brings a sad sigh out of her mouth.

"Are you okay?" Connor asks as he hears her sigh and she turns her head to stare at him.

"No" Crystal replies truthfully and Connor stares in her eyes for a moment before Crystal breaks the contact and stares ahead on them.

"Scared you have to wash or stitch my clothes?" he asks and Crystal's head snaps at once to stare at him but his eyes were focused on the road.

"Connor" she whispers.

"I can take care of them but I won't say it won't feel nice if there was someone to help me do it. And I am sure my sister won't feel so insecure about the fact that my wife will kick her out of her own home if my wife is someone who likes her around"

"Connor" she shifts a bit putting her hand on his chest.

"So, it's not me but her, you need to win her trust if you want to be my wife" he puts his words out and Crystal sags on his chest as she buries her face on his neck.

Connor puts one arm around her waists gripping her tightly against his chest and Crystal sighs again but in relief.

"I thought you were ignoring me, all day long" she mutters as she touches his jaw with her nose.

"I was" he admits as he stops his horse and stares in her eyes.

"Why?" she asks blinking at his honesty.

"I thought we both needed space after that kiss last night"

"I never thought that" she smiles cupping his cheek.

"Good" he nods and she closes her eyes as she moves her head close to his but she does not get any kisses from him as she expected.

"First kiss is always the one that happens, sometimes it means nothing and sometimes it's everything but the second kiss, it should always have a deeper meaning, deeper sentiments" Connor words makes her open her eyes and once again stare at him.

"I do have deeper sentiments for you" she expresses.

"But I know nothing about you, Crystal. I would like to court to a bit before we get involved deeper, I am aware of your feelings and I assure you I do feel things for you...

And, I also want to know you and let you know me in deeper level"

"You said you wanted me as your wife"

"I do, I will have to marry eventually and I know you do too. But don't you want to know what sort of man you are going to bear his children of, is?" he asks and if Crystal was not already in love with her mate she was now.

"I do" she nods her head before she continues.

"But you need to promise me one thing, whatever happens between us Connor, good, bad or if it turns out to be worst of our nightmares you will always let me explain, you will at least give me a chance to prove that I have nothing but goodness for you and your sister" she asks making him tilt his head as a frown forms.

"You are worrying me" he states and she buries her face in his neck holding onto his shirt.

"Promise me, Connor" she whispers and he puts his hand on her back.

"We will always hear each other out if any situation occurs, we will build our trust together" he gives her that and Crystal nods her head as she feels a bit relieved.

"Now, will you tell me where exactly your house is?" he asks and she stiffens in his arms as she did not think about it before jerking away from his hold.

"You can leave me at the out of village, I can go from there" she states making him frown.

"Will you be in trouble if I drop you at your house door?" he worries and Crystal nods her head.

"It's late and walking at my door with a man at this hour" she points making him smile.

"Of course, it will not be very nice"

"Yes, not very nice" she smiles before she turns to look ahead.

"When I returned home, you were talking about a Lover with Des" he starts and Crystal grin before she looks at him.

"The only lover I have ever had is the one sitting behind me" she replies making him grin.

"Good" he nods before he signals his horse to move.