Chapter 2! Sorry for my lack of updating... I warned you all. I'm slow.

Candace lazily opened her eyes. The bright lights that had broken past the curtains suggested morning, although the clock beside her bed stated otherwise. With a low moan, Candace rolled out of bed, folding the sheets behind her.

She opened the door quietly, tiptoeing back down the hallway that Popuri had dragged her down the other night. She poked her head into the main living room, half relieved to discover it abandoned.

She walked the circumference of the room, admiring each photo that lined it's walls. She paused by one old photo of Luna and Popuri curled up in a quilt together, laughing at something outside of the picture. She trailed her hand down the frame, missing her sister more than ever. But wasn't it she that caused her to leave? Suddenly the loud whack of a door closing startled her, she looked up to see Rick standing in the front door, looking at her curiously.

"I-I was just, ahh, looking," She murmured, pulling her hand back down to her side. Turning red around the ears, "I-I thought I w-was the first up."

Rick didn't comment, "Are you hungry." He didn't ask it as a question as he moved to the kitchen, pulling a carton of eggs from the fridge. "Popuri's outside, Lillia's still in bed." He pulled out the frying pan. Candace nodded her head, sitting down at the table to watch her cousin cook.

"I've got to run down to Gotz's today, a wild dog broke the fence around the coops last night. You can come," Rick continued, finally turning to look to Candace for her opinion in the matter.

She nodded her. "Okay." She didn't meet his eyes.

Rick sighed, rubbing his face, "Okay what? Okay yes you'll come?" Candace nodded again. Rick laughed. "You're worse than when you were little," He sighed, placing a plate of scrambled eggs in front of her.

Candace's lip twisted upwards slightly at that. She laughed lightly, "W-well, I try." She made an attempt at a joke. Rick rose a brow.

"Eat up and change, we've got places to be." He ruffled her hair as he walked by.

Candace scooped the last of the food into her mouth an ran back to her room. She rummaged through her bag, pulling out a fresh skirt and cardigan. Her sister would be mortified in the outfits lack of style, let alone shape. She shrugged, shimmying into her clothes. Maybe she should have brought nicer clothes? Make a good first impression on these people. She shook her head, she had later to make good impressions.

Tucking her coin purse into her pocket, she flew back out of the room, nearly crashing into Rick who was waiting for her. "Oops," She stammered. Rick brushed it off, opening the front door for her.

The two made their way out of the lot, turning right down a path through the forest. They walked in silence most of the way, Rick having one way conversations as he pointed out things Candace might have remembered as a child, such as old trails, and places they used to make forts at.

Candace nodded and murmured approvingly as they made their way, although she kept the corner of her eye concentrated on the forest. She didn't remember it being that dark. She couldn't say she wasn't relieved when Rick pointed out the Carpenter's house, tucked away in between trees.

They pushed the heavy oak door open to reveal the most disgruntled look house. It was fairly empty, floor covered in sawdust, and the biggest man Candace had ever seen sat behind an equally large counter.

"Oh, Rick." Gotz inclined his head to the two as they entered. Rick waved, walking up to the counter to discuss their repair needs. Candace's eyes wandered around the room. Sketches and drafts lay on his table, wood samples were stacked in the corner. There were only two photo frames, each held a picture of a girl. One young, just older than a child. And the other, possibly his wife?

She looked at the floor plan for a house that was on the top of the pile. Two floors by the look of it, cozy, but with ample space.

"Okay, Rick. One repair, that'll be-"

"And a house!" Candace looked up from the sketches, not meeting Rick's shocked gaze. "I-I'd like to p-place an order for a house," She fumbled with her coin bag, pulling out more gold coins than her small purse looked to hold.

"Do you have land?" Gotz asked gruffly, eying Candace incredulously.

She tugged on the end of her sleeve. "N-no, not yet. But What a-about that plot across from the P-poultry farm?" She asked, "I-I have enough money." She assured him, turning red around the ears.

"Candace..." Rick sighed, shaking his head. "Let's go. We can talk about this later." He grabbed her wrist, leading her towards the door.

"No!" Candace cried shrilly, shaking her arm free. She lilted over to the counter, placing her bag of coins down with a metallic rattle. "One house, please. Shop on the bottom, h-home space on top." She instructed nervously, butterflies in her stomach. "L-like your sketches over t-there." She pointed to the table.

Gotz ran a hand through his hair, pulling Candace's bag of coins up and tucking it beneath the counter. "You've got yourself a deal, Miss." He made a noise that she assumed was a laugh. "I'll talk with Thomas about the land for you." Candace blushed red, thanking him profusely. "Don't worry about a thing." He said, ushering the two out of his shop.

"T-Thank you!" Candace called over her shoulder as Rick dragged her away.

They made there way half way back before Rick stopped in his steps, his face was bright red. Steam might as well have been pouring out of his ears. "What do you think you're doing!" He snapped at her, "You can't just go around building houses! You don't live here!" His eyes bulged.

Candace took an uneasy step back.

"Were you not going to ask us about it? Talk with Lillia about it at least?" He stormed, "What about Shelly and Luna?" He looked at her, "Don't you have anything to say?"

"I-I didn't c-come to visit." Candace stuttered out, unsure of herself. "I'm g-going to live here." Her eye's started watering. "L-let's just get back." She ran past him, staring at her feet.

Rick shook his head. What was he going to tell Lillia?