IM ! Well, A promise IS a promise after all. After a breif Murder Mystery detour to the Penguins of Madagascar section (though not for the rather intelligent conversation mind you) I have returned victorious with new writing prowess. I have missed this section quite alot and am happy to be back!

And now, for your view pleasure I present to you the sequel to the viewer aclaimed Scarlet Line... *drum roll* SCARLET WIND!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Spring Awakening

Other Disclaimer: IF YOU HAVE NOT READ SCARLET LINE READ THAT FIRST OR YOU WILL BE HOPELESSLY CONFUSED!

Celeste's POV

I looked down my little brown journal once more. I gazed at the dress in the picture and thought back to what it was in real life. A white gown decked in lace, high collar, and a sash of scarlet. I smiled at the thought, but then as I looked down at the book my heart sank again as my mind wandered back to Priapia and the life I had before now. Blond hair and amber eyes, black hair and blue eyes, a child, a princess and a line of scarlet. I shook my head and blew out the oil lamp on the side table.

I looked over to the couch where my little Wendla was sleeping, her arm wrapped tightly around her blanket. Her messy brown hair that resembled her father's lay sprawled on the couch cushions. Her green eyes remained closed as air passed between her small pink lips like a princess locked in an ageless sleep. I smiled at her and placed the book in the drawer. As I went to pick her up Melchior came quietly into the room. I smiled at him as well.

"You look tired," He whispered to me as he picked up Wendla from the couch and began to walk up the stairs. Melchior and I lived in what used to be his parents house; I had been there many times before when I had just moved here, before… everything. He had graduated from the reformation school and vowed to never go back. Upon his final return home, his parents gave us the house and he took up a job at the school as a teacher. It suited him. In the time we had been married, which was nearing eight years, he had taught me so much. After two years of lessons I was able to read Ursule Mirouet by the time our wedding day came. Melchior laid Wendla in her bed, pulled the covers up around her neck and kissed her cheek tenderly. I smiled again. Wendla was three now; and a vision of loveliness. She looked so much like Melchior; brown curly hair and always questioning green eyes. But she was an adventurer. She was always running around, getting her dress dirty, curious about this, that and the other thing. But she was shy around strangers for some reason.

"You should go to bed," Melchior whispered to me. I touched his cheek.

"I still have to say goodnight to Moritz." Melchior nodded and followed me down the hall to what had been his old room. Moritz, our Moritz, was now seven. He looked almost nothing like Melchior. He had deep blue eyes that when they weren't looking at the sky they were fixated in a book. His short cropped brown hair that couldn't be tamed by any brush perpetually stuck up in the front of his forehead as if a cow had taken a big lick of it. He was quite the avid reader and a dreamer. Melchior made sure that Moritz would never fall as his name sake had done. We both walked into his room and saw his light still on. His nose buried in another book. I laughed and he looked up.

"What on earth are you reading at this hour?" I asked amazed, he gave me a goofy smile and proudly held up a copy of The Odyssey.

"It's really good, Mama," He said with another smile. I saw the book and my mind flashed back to the Rilow estate, to a blond boy sitting at a table, his feet up, his nose buried in the same book. I mentally shook the memory from my mind. I walked over to my son and plucked the book out of his hand. He groaned in disappointment. Melchi laughed.

"You can read tomorrow, bed time." I said. Melchi came to kiss Moritz on the head and walked out of the room. I sat down on Moritz's bed and fumbled with the book, "Now, how many books have you read this week?" I asked him before setting the large book on the bedside table and pulled the covers up around his face.

"Just three, Mama."
"Just three? Mon Deu! Three is quite a lot for such a young boy," I said in mock surprise, teasing him.

"I am not that young! I'm going to be eight in September!" He said crossing his arms slumping into his overstuffed pillow. I smiled and attempted to smooth his hair back, which popped back into its former position as soon as my hand left his head, and kissed his forehead.

"You're right, you're growing into the fine young adult, and soon you'll be going off to University!" I said with a sly smile. He looked off to the side with a disgusted face.

"Well… I don't know if I'm that old," he said glancing back at me. I pulled the covers up around his neck as he snuggled back down into them.

"Of course not, sweetheart," I kissed his forehead again, "But you really should be getting to sleep. You have school tomorrow." He once more made that disgusted face.

"Wendla doesn't have to go!" He whined.

"Oh she will in good time, but right now, its bed time."

"Fine," He said with a yawn. I turned off the oil lamp on his bedside table and walked to the door. I glanced back at him once more before closing the door behind me. I walked down the hallway, the floor creaking under every step I took. At the end of the hall was our room, Melchior's and mine. I opened the door and flopped down onto the bed and covered my face with a pillow.

"Tired?" Melchior asked with a laugh as he pulled me close to him. I did not let the pillow go.

"Mfff, nnnnn, sssssslppp" I said into the pillow.

"What was that? I can't hear you."

"I need sleep!" I said again with a tired laugh as I placed the pillow back under my head. Wendla had finally gotten used to sleeping around eight hours a night which was heaven for me, considering I still had to take her to work every day until she was old enough to go to school. Melchior wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me effortlessly closer to him.

"Are you sure about that?" He whispered into my ear kissing my neck. I turned over to face him and kissed him gently.

"I don't know," I said coyly, "What did you have in mind?" With that he kissed me passionately. Getting the gist of his argument a reached over and turned out the lamp light by my bed.

The next morning I was running up the hill to the Rilow estate, Wendla in my arms and for the life of me I could not get her to stop playing with my hair. On one arm I held a basket that was overflowing with bobbins, thread, lace, and other such things. Wendla gave a large tug on my hair once more. I gently nudged her hand away from my head again as I approached the old wooden door of the Rilow estate. My mother answered the door.

"Vous êtes en retard," She said taking Wendla from my arms. I nodded and headed straight back to the library. As I opened the door I saw Frau Rilow, Frau Robel, and Frau Diebvonliebe, Thea's mother, putting pins onto a dress that a young girl was wearing. Frau Diebvonliebe was the finest seamstress in the town and had recently taken me as her apprentice.

"No, no, no!" Frau Robel said frustrated pulling on of the pins out by the waist, "Her waist looks far too big here!" She pulled the fabric tighter and stuck the pin back in.

"OW!" the girl wearing the dress said with a sharp shriek.

"Much better," Frau Robel said. Frau Diebvonliebe and Frau Rilow looked at each other and chuckled a bit at their friend's bossiness. Suddenly Frau Robel looked up and was the first one to spot me, "Oh, Celeste you're finally here." She said in an almost huffy tone. Frau Diebvonliebe turned to face me.

"Oh good, you brought the supplies I asked for," She said taking the basket from my arms. Frau Diebvonliebe was a kind woman. She had brown hair like Thea's and sparkling green eyes. Her hands I

"Thank god," The girl muttered as she turned to face me. She was seventeen with long blond hair that was currently not pinned up into a mess of swirling braids or styled into the tight ringlet curls that she wore as a child. She had bright blue eyes and the calm disposition of her mother, the strong will of her father, and her brother's nose. I smiled at her.

"Hello Amalie," I said smiling. I took the pin that Frau Robel had frantically attached out of Amalie's side. Over the years she had grown into a fine young woman. I took care of her as an older sister, just as I had promised… him… all those years ago. Although she was still fairly young in my eyes, she was engaged to Thea's younger brother Max. But I made sure this time that Amalie agreed to the engagement rather than have her forced into it. I readjusted it to make the waist how Amalie had originally wanted it. Out of the corner of my eye I could see Frau Robel pull out the extra lace that Frau Diebvonliebe had asked me to bring.

"What is this, Erika? You can't possibly want more lace on that thing." Frau Robel said in an annoyed tone.

"Well excuse me, Gisela, I wasn't aware that you knew more about being a seamstress than I did." Frau Diebvonliebe said snatching back the lace.

"She's my daughter," Frau Rilow said calmly, "I think I can tell when enough lace is enough." And with that the three women launched into a full out argument about Amalie's wedding dress. I looked at Amalie and pointed at the three other women.

"Have they been doing this all day?" I asked quietly. Amalie pinched the bridge of her nose.

"You have no idea." She replied, "I'm going to get a glass of water," She said to the three women, but her announcement when unnoticed. She nodded her head to the door. I helped her off of the settee and walked with her out of the room shutting the door quietly behind us. As soon as I shut the doors Amalie let out a sigh of relief.

"That bad?" I asked. She nodded.

"The wedding is three months away and they're still arguing over the dress." She said fumbling with the key that hung around her neck by an old chain.

"And that?" I asked pointing to the key. She looked down at the necklace in surprise. Fiddling with the key had become more a subconscious action rather than an actual act. She laughed a bit.

"Frau Robel doesn't want me to wear it," I laughed, since that night so long ago Frau Robel had become more of an over obsessive aunt rather than a family friend. She treated Amalie like her own child, "My mother doesn't really want me to wear it either. She said on such a happy day we shouldn't be reminded of what happened." I nodded. Although I knew by now that all Frau Rilow wanted was for her children to be happy and that she missed him terribly every day. Frau Robel on the other hand had almost completely forgotten about her son, leaving the room every time his name was mentioned. Her eyes always looked so cold.

"Do you want to wear it?" I asked calmly. She nodded.

"It's all I have left of him. You know my father got rid of all of his stuff after he left. I can hardly remember what he looks like now." She paused for a moment, "Can you tell me again?" She asked sitting on the steps. Although she was now seventeen she still held that childlike wonder that I always remembered. I sat on the steps with her and she rested her head on my knees. I smoothed her hair with my hand and sat thinking for a while.

"He was tall, taller than me and you. He could easily pick you up if you ever asked. He had blond hair like yours and the same nose… He would always make sure you were taken care of. He had amber eyes and a well set jaw. He was brave and kind and would fight for anything he loved."

"And why did he leave?" I took a deep breath making sure I had control of my emotions before I continued.

"He had no other choice; he was going to lose the one he loved. But he misses you every day and if he had been given the choice between leaving his home and you for good and staying here, I know that he would have stayed here." Amalie sighed again as she began playing with her necklace again. Suddenly I heard the doors to the library fly open.

"Amalie?" I hear Frau Rilow call, "Amalie, come here we need to finish fixing your dress." Amalie raised her head and looked at me with those questioning blue eyes of hers.

"Come on," I said, "The sooner you go, the sooner you get it over with." She groaned in annoyance but got up to go to her mother anyway. I followed her back into the lion's cage, although my mind was someplace else, someplace much greener, someplace with white tents.

I came home that night exhausted. Frau Robel and Frau Diebvonliebe were relentless. That one said it wasn't the right color, the other one said it didn't fit right, too much lace, not enough lace, put the sash higher, put the sash lower, it never stopped. I held Wendla's hand as we walked back down the street. The wind was calm that night and the air was warm. I took a deep breath of the fresh August air and remembered what it had felt like all those years ago, the night I came back. I was shocked out of my memories by the sound of footsteps coming down the street. I felt a tug at my skirt as Wendla let go of my hand to hide behind it. I opened my eyes to see two men coming down the street. One of them was tall and had glasses on, the other one was shorter and a bit rounder. They were both dressed in uniforms. I smiled at them, since my return to the town I had gotten to know them quite well.

"Good evening, Celeste," The tall one offered.

"Good evening Georg, Otto," I said with a curt nod. Otto was the first of the two to see Wendla hiding behind my skirt, he knelt down to her level so she could see him better.

"Is that Miss Wendla hiding back there?" Wendla poked her head out from behind my skirt and looked shyly at Otto. After realizing who he was she ran out and gave him a big hug. He picked her up, "My, you're getting big." He said. I smiled. Wendla was actually quite comfortable around Otto and Georg, mainly because they were some of Melchior's good friends.

"How was the trip to Berlin?" I asked politely.

"Fantastic , the army just initiated some new initiatives a few weeks ago so it was very good to finally learn about what they've been doing." Georg answered.

"After they're done we won't have to worry about those faggots anymore." Otto said half to me and half to Wendla.

"Language," Georg warned Otto.

"It's not like she's gonna remember it. Will you?" Wendla shook her head. Suddenly the actual language set into my head.

"Wait, what exactly are these initiatives?" I asked a bit concerned.

"Nothing to worry about, Celeste; the army is just cleaning up some of the social trash around Germany."

"Such as?"

"Gypsies, rouges, homosexuals, you know, the criminal type." Otto said paying more attention to Wendla than the actual conversation.

"Germany will be better for it in the end." Georg said, "We'll be rid of those kind of people."

"You mean people like Ilse?" I said as calmly as I could.

"Ilse chose to leave a perfectly good life here to become a criminal," Otto said finally looking at me. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I smiled.

"Well, I'm sure you boys will do a fine job of cleaning up Germany," I said through a fake smile. Otto put Wendla back down on the ground. I took her hand and after saying goodbye to Otto and Georg I began walking back home. I thought I heard more footsteps behind me but as I turned to look I saw no one.

Wendla and I arrived back home. I could tell she was about to fall asleep as she began dragging her feet. I set down my sewing basket in the front hall and picked her up. She did nothing but slump in my arms and rested her head against my shoulder. I dressed her for bed and put her to sleep before returning back downstairs to join Melchior.

Melchior was sitting at his desk in the study looking over students' papers. I sat down on the couch in the living room and gave out a sigh of relief.

"Long day?" He asked not looking up from his papers.

"The sooner this wedding comes the sooner I don't have to deal with Frau Robel." I said lying down on the couch.

"Frau Robel?" He said putting down one of the papers, "I thought it was Amalie getting married."

"It is, but you know Frau Robel and how…." I searched my brain for the right word.

"Argumentative? Uncompromising? Brusque? Abrasive she can be?" Melchior offered.

"Yes, all of that… Plus some," I heard Melchior chuckle. He walked over to me and kissed me on my forehead.

"It'll be alright," I nodded, "You should get some sleep then." I nodded again and forced myself to get up off of the couch. We made it half way up the stairs before I heard a knock at the door, "Who on earth could be out at this hour?" Melchior said looking at his pocket watch that his father had given him.

"I'm not sure," I paused to think who it could be, "You go on upstairs, I'll check."

"No, I'm staying right here." I rolled my eyes and pushed past him. When I opened the door I saw a small boy standing there. He couldn't have been more than ten years old at the time. He had dark curly hair that looked familiar and his blue eyes stared at me with an intense fire that I had not ever seen in a young child. He was dressed in white homespun cloth, the bottoms of his pants were dusted with a fine coat of dirt but he looked clean enough. On his feet he wore leather flats of some kind and carried a small leather bag across his back.

"Are you Celeste Chanson?" He asked rather abruptly.

"Formerly, yes. Why do you ask?" I said cautiously.

"My name is Adam, my father said that you could help us."

"Us?" I questioned. The boy named Adam motioned down the road. I heard a flurry of footsteps and hushed voices before two men stood in my doorway. One was a bit taller than me. He had black hair and blue eyes. His features were soft but thin. The other one was very tall with bright blond hair that glowed like the sun. They were dressed similarly to the boy. I did not recognize them at first but the second I looked into the blond one's eyes I knew. Only one person had those amber eyes.

"Hello Celeste," Hanschen said.

Well! I do so hope that you enjoyed that first chapter... I've wanted to do this story for so long and I'm so glad that it can finally become a reality. PLEASE OH PLEASE OH PLEASE REVIEW GOOD PEOPLE! PLEASE!