Sarah laughed at her reflection, at the perfect life she had found. Twenty-five and stunningly beautiful, Sarah knew she had changed completely. Grown up, responsible, down to earth, none of those could be applied ten years ago. But what did that say about her, she liked to think of it as progress.

She thought no more of fairytales, of the friends she left behind in the Underground. They had no importance in her life anymore, they just simply didn't fit. She didn't even think she'd remember it so clearly, exept that she'd felt duty bound to keep the book, and all of the statues or stuffed animals that reminded her of them. She wondered from time to time, what would they think of her now? Would they be happy that she'd finally found belonging, or would they feel deserted, betrayed?

Her smile faded. She hadn't had a choice but to change. Karen had insisted, the day that she turned sixteen, that she was to go to a proper boarding school in france. And it had worked, she'd grown into a fine, mature, young woman over her three years there.

After all, today she stood in her wedding dress, knowing she was in love. Karen reached up to touch the bare part of her arm. The white gloves that went past the elbows had always been kind of a dream they shared, like the way the skirt flowed, and they both knew it. That only made it more perfect. "You look beautiful, Sarah." She smiled friendly. It was scary, but yes, they'd even begun to bond.

"You think?" Sarah's eyes flicked back to the mirror.

"Gregory's going to be stunned when you walk down that aisle." She agreed animatedly. Once you got to know her, she was a totally different person, cheerful and full of dreams that she knew would get her nowhere. A lesson she was all to pleased to be able to share with Sarah. His name rung in Sarah's ears, making her heart both flutter and sink.

Gregory, the first friend she'd had at her boarding school, was a hopeless romantic. He, too, was from America and there for the one with whom she had most in common. It had been a huge suprise to see him on her doorstep five years after graduation. And it was an even bigger shock when that easy friendship developed into something deeper.

But still it troubled her, the way she couldn't help but think that something didn't fit. She had no right to be suspicious of him, but two years later and it still bothered her slightly. Only now she ignored those instincts that buzzed nonstop. But it didn't help that no matter how she tried to forget, it wasn't short and curly black hair or olive green eyes she saw when she closed her eyes to sleep. No, her thoughts and dreams were full of long, wild blonde hair and magic eyes. It was a face that she'd always remember, a face that haunted her.

"What's wrong, dear?" The seamstress brought her out of her thoughts. She didn't need to be thinking of him a month before her wedding day. It was improper and unpleasant.

"Nothing." She smiled slightly, jumped into a conversation with Karen about Toby's day at school. Now eight, he was beginning to look so much like her father, it was actually kind of creepy.

They were walking out of the dress shop and on thier way to lunch when Karen brought up Gregory again. " So when do you plan to see him again?"

She thought back to the conversation she had with him on the phone the night before. " He'll be back with his parents tomorrow, we'll probably have dinner in or something."

Karen tried to smile and look pleased. " Really? That's so nice."

"Yes, it is." Sarah looked at her reflection in the storefront windows. Had she really changed enough that she could be content with that? With never going out or doing something romantic, because it wasn't necissary any more. Not even Karen was that amiable, and Sarah would know, as she always babysat Toby if she was home when they went out. But then again, it didn't really matter, because she loved Gregory and was happy with him.

The day went by fast and it was already time to meet Gregory at the airport. Casually leaning back in the uncomfortable plastic chairs, she stared out the large window in front of her. It was still, the planes that haven't taken off and the empty landing strip. Finally, after what seemed like hours, she saw his plane land.

It was another twenty minutes before she could find him in the crowds, bags already in tow. Her heart did flips as he approached her with his warm and loving smile, his parents in tow. Quickly kissing her hello, he hurried to introduce them, Margret and Sam.

"It's a pleasure to meet you." She shook the old man's hand with a grin. She'd always assumed he got his looks from his father, but his mouth and nose, those were definately on his mother's side of the scale. She went to shake her hand but the woman just stood there, measuring her every movement.

Unsure of what was expected of her, she let her hand fall. Gregory wrapped an arm around her, laughing at his mother's reaction. "So what do you think?"

"Too skinny," She decided, "Too pale." Sarah flushed with embarassment, Sam just chuckled.

"You always think that." He picked up the suitcase that he'd set down by his feet. "Which way to your car?"

"That way." She pointed out to the right. "Why don't you let me help you with that?"

He just shook his head. "Pretty things like yourself shouldn't be carrying heavy luggage."

"And just why not?" Margret pursed her lips.

"Will you move, woman?" He nudged her teasingly with the suitcase.

Gregory was just staring out the window when she turned to him. "What is it?" She looked with him and stifled a gasp.

It sat on the window sill, was looking right at her. The snowy white feathers with scattered brown spots, she knew that owl anywhere. He'd come above ground, was less than thirty feet away from her and she could do nothing. "Go away." She whispered without realizing it. "Go away, please. I don't want you here."

"Sarah." Gregory had by far lost interest in the owl, "Did you say something?"

"No," She just shook her head and let him lead her away. The owl watched as she disappeared into the sea of people, then flew.