*Edited*

The sun rose brightly over the horizon the very next day, signalling the dawn of a promising new day. The morning passed by quickly as Grace started on her chores of cleaning and the mixing of medicines, and before she knew it the sun had hit high noon. Grace did not see the need for her warm cloak as it was a warm and beautiful day, also believing she would not be too long away.

" Mother," Grace smile as she walked over to her mother. "I will be back soon, I have some business I must attend too." Finishing off and kissing her mother's forehead as she lay in her bed, a old torn blanket stretched over her small thin frame. Her mother smiled a loving smile as she watched her daughter walk towards the door.

" Be safe, my child." She let out a soft whispered to her daughter as she closed the door. Grace had put on her sky blue dress, not to far from the colour of her eyes, made from a silk of lesser quality but fair for this occasion. It was pulled tight in around her waist and up to her bust to form a straight line across her neck with a white lining border. The sleeves hugged tightly to her arms always the way down and hooked her over thumbs.

After her waist the dress hung loosely down with a slight puff out but not further than the width of her shoulders. Her dark brown boots hit the forest ground softly with a light crunch as she held her dress up, so that she would not tread on it. Her red hair was pulled back at either side of her head and linked at the back in two thin plaits merging into one. The rest of her hair hung loosely over her back in gentle waves from her larger plaits the night before.

" This is ludicrous, I should not be doing this. He is John Bellstone!" Grace argued with herself quietly as she walked towards the Cliff of Gully, where she was alright due to meet him.

" But I have to go." Grace said stopping in her tracks for a few moments, as if to second guess her motives before continuing on again. She weaved herself gracefully through the familiar trees and over fallen ones as well. It did not take Grace much longer until the cliff top came into her view. And true to his word, John sat the rock next to the edge; the very rock she had hid behind and used as protection the day before.

Grace felt her heart jump into her throat, she began to second guess meeting him as she hid herself quietly behind a tree and looked out at him. John was dressed in a dark green fishtailed coat with two gold buttons, his long black curly hair hanging down over the back of his neck. John sighed and reached into his pocket, pulling out a golden pocket watch before standing to his feet.

 The time was now 20 past the hour and he decided he would head home. Soothing out his clothes he picked up his cane before turning to walk back toward the forest. He was quickly stopped by Grace walking out from behind the tree she was taking cover from. Her eye where on the floor not daring to look up at the man as she felt shame from her second guessing.

" I ask for your pardon from my lateness. I had to care for my mother and I do not own a timepiece." Grace asked him in a quiet whisper as John chuckled deeply as he continued to walk over to her small frame.

" Do not worry, Grace. You have nothing to apologise for." He smiled softly to her as he stopped just in front of her, his eyes looked at her completely. He then realised just how small she really was compared to him: with at least a head difference in height. John reached out and placed his thumb and index finger on her chin to bring her face and eyes to look up at him.

" Thank you." Grace whispered to him as he slowly released her chin, instantly missing the feeling that her soft pale skin gave him. Grace felt an instant cold rush over her as his touch disconnected from her chin, secretively she longned for his touch again; something she would never admit too. John put up his arm out for Grace to link her own in, and at first she hesitated but delicately and slowly slipped her arm through his. John smiled weakly and lead her back down the cliff and towards the forest. They looped gracefully around the trees gently arm in arm.

" So do tell me. I have been wondering, how is it a woman like you talks from a different class?" John asked as he continued to led Grace throught the forest.

" A woman like me?" Grace asked him with a raised eyebrow to him with a smirk. "My mother always thought that a lady should speak properly no matter of her footing." She explained moving her gaze back to the front before shifting it back to the ground to make sure that she did not accidentally trip up over her dress.

" Your mother sounds wise." John said as they walked towards a small clearing that quickly appeared before them, it covered with knees height grass with white and soft purple flowers dotted around. Grace chuckled letting his arm go and walked through the grass and the sun's golden rays, towards the center. She tucked her dress down at the back and dipped softly, sitting down in a patch that had clearly been used previous. John watched on before he quickly followed and sat down to her left side.

Grace's deep blue eyes looked upwards towards the sky above, while John's brown eyes watched her. A warm feeling began to bubble inside of him, it felt the opposite of how he would feel when rage tried to grasp hold of him. This warmth was not hostile but soothing and welcoming, something he has not felt in a very long time. It was inviting, pulling him in towards it; that's all he seemed to want to do. With a smile, John followed Grace's gaze and looked to the soft white clouds of frozen air that floated through the sky. He unbuttoned his waist coat and shrugged it off, leaving him in his baggy sleeved white shirt and plain gold vest coat.

" So, Mr Bellstone." Grace spoke to him, feeling herself growing in confidence around him.

" Please, call me John. It does not seem right that I should call you Grace while you kept formalities." He insisted her, Grace simply gave him a sharp nod and blushed softly looking to the ground.

" You know a fair amount about me, but my only knowledge of you is of the tales of the man with a cold heart." Grace said to him turning her gaze from the floor to his handsome yet dangerously strong built face. A small side smile adorned his devilishly pink lips while his eyes looked to her with a gentle kindness in a complete contrast to the deadly features.

" I guess what you heard is true in some ways. But once my mother passed January just gone, I realised how lonely life really was and I decided I would try and rid myself of such title. Granted I still have my tamper flares but I do honestly try." John said pulling a blade of grass from the ground and playing with it in between his fingers.

" Two years past I was in the military as a General, until I had received word of my fathers passing. So after four years of service, I left the military and came take care of my mother and sister. As well as to run the town and mills." John told her the simple story of his life. Yet as simple as he made it sound, Grace knew there was so much more to it. Life is never simple, she knew that all too well.

" I am sorry for your mother's passing. I cannot begin to think of a life with my own mother." Grace said not even wanting the thought within her head, but deep down. Grace knew she would be in his shoes, soon.

" It is a lonely and upsetting thing to happen, I would not wish it on my worst enemy." John said with a seldom look on his face. John took in a deep breath as if he was fighting against his own emotions.

" So-so why do you live deep in the forest?" John said changing the subject which Grace was grateful for, as the somber mood began to weight itself on her heart.

" Two reasons. One being that house is where my family lived since this town was built. We are a family of healers and live in the forest where there is easy access to the herb plants we need." Grace told him looking around the small meadow like clearing they sat in.

"And the second?" He asked wanting to understand her more. Grace's facial expressions became more pained as she released a breath of air sharply.

" My hair and eyes. I have been attacked by men on several occasion, it would happen when I was walking home from a job during the night." Grace said heavily while looking down, remembering the attacks. Grace had always managed to get away from them as the men were always drunk beyond their limits. John felt an anger rush through him at the though of any man hurting or touching her, but this anger was one he was inexperienced in. This was not his usual anger of disgust and short temper, this was one with the urge to protected.

" If that ever happens again, Grace. You come to me. I will see to it that you are safe." John said shuffling towards her more and pulling her face to look at his. His eyes were full of trust and pain from the idea of her being hurt.

" Promise me you will." John begged her to promise him she would relay on him, he need that reassurance in way way. He need her to trust him as a protector for her.

" Promises can be broke so easily." Grace whispered to him, John instantly felt his heart sink at her words; this was clear as day to Grace.

" But I shall give you my word." Grace smiled to him as John felt his heart lifted once again, John grabbed her hand into his large one and pulled it to his lips; kissing it gently. Grace felt tingles shook through her,causing her to close her eyes and suppress a sound of pleasure escaping her lips. She had never felt so safe and protected since her father's death. Grace opened her eyes softly again and looked to John.

As her eyes connected with his warm brown eyes, Grace instantly knew that John would be there for her and allow her to fell safe whenever she would need it; and more. John smirked a calm smile and looked down relief flashing over his face quickly. John's eyes floated over the grass and saw a white flowered weed growing in the tall blades not to far from his reach. He stretched over and placed his thick string fingers onto the steam, he pulled it from its bed and examined it with a keen kind eye for its beauty.

" Spring has to be one of my favorite season. Because it's when beautiful things," John spoke gently as he reached over and placed the white flower with her flame red hair. "Begin to blossom." He smiled letting both his hands slid gingerly down to her pale cheeks holding her steady under his large, surprisingly soft hands.

" Your hands, they are so soft." She said with a slightly forming blush at her boldness, causing John to chuckle dangerously deep.

" And your cheeks, are warm and soft." He whispered to her in response as he pulled his hands away slowly from her face. As soon as his hands left she craved his touch again, she wanted the feeling of safety to ravish her again. John as well found himself craving the feeling of her skin under his own, tenderly sending his thoughts into a crazy spiral. Grace sighed, closing her eyes, she fell onto her back softly. She waited a few moments before opening her eyes again and looking to the sky. John laughed deeply and lay on his back, his head next to Grace as they watched the clouds through the small gap in the canopy of leaves above them.

The silence drifted calmly between them as they lay for a while staring to the blue sky, not really thinking about anything. Just enjoying each others silent company. Grace smiled happily as she turned her gaze slyly towards John, who seemed to have fallen asleep. His face was loose and relaxed, giving him a kind, peaceful feel that warmed Grace's heart. It was such a contrast to the dangerous scowl his face always held when he was not smiling.

" Like what you see?" His husky deep voice whispered snapping Grace out from her trance. John's eye that was the closest to Grace opened to look at her as she blushed deeply and looked back to the sky. John smirked with a chuckle and turned his head too look at her.

" Sorry, you just looked so... Peaceful when you sleep." Grace whispered an explanation as to her staring at him. There was another moment of comfortable silence before John shifted and sat up again.

" I must be going. I have thing that must attend to." John spoke as he stood up and looked at Grace who had pushed herself up to sit, her hands placed on the ground either side of her as her blue eyes watched John closely.

" Come on," John spoke with a smile reaching out his hand. "Lets go."

" Okay." Grace whispered taking his hands softly allowing him to pulled her quickly to her feet. Grace stood on her feet gently with her face hovering closely to him, her eyes looking to his chin. Grace released a shaky breath as her eyes moved up to look at John, who had a look on his face that Grace could not read. Grace bit her lower lip cautiously stepping back from him as he cleared his throat.

" Good bye," Grace spoke silently walking away with her back to John. She stopped at the entrance to the forest and turned to face him. "See you tomorrow." She informed him before disappearing behind the trees.

John chuckled with a soft smile as his sight dropped to the ground. He picked up his jacket and cane, before pivoting on his feet and walked in the opposite direction to Grace with a large smile on his face. For the first time in a while, John felt happy and content with his life.