"Confused? About what?" asked Alissa.

Randy fidgeted. "My experience with girls your age is limited. What exactly was the gesture meant to express?"

Alissa blushed and whispered in his ear, "It means I love you....you know the way a woman loves a man..."

Randy bit his lip. "Do you... still feel that way?"

"I think I feel that way more now than when I left," she confessed reaching up shyly to touch his face.

Randy could feel his cheeks growing warm and attempted to will himself not to blush, lest she notice him turning green. What was he to say to her? No one had ever been in love with him, including the woman who'd borne his child--a child who was already older than Alissa. Likewise, he had never held such feelings toward anyone, himself. The concept was strange to him, only witnessed in his parents and a small few others he had known, but mostly heard of from what seemed a very great distance. Still, he didn't pull away from her. "I have never had those words spoken to me," he admitted. "I am not sure of what to do."

Alissa gave him a gentle kiss, "Well, I won't force you, I understand if you don't feel the same way,"

"Know that I do love you," Randy reminded her with a soft smile.

Alissa smiled, "Why don't we take our evening dinner in your room like we used to?" she suggested.

"That would be very nice," Randy agreed. "I've missed it."

Alissa beamed and went to unpack her things, that night she went to Randy's room to sit with him as usual...

He smiled as he scooted over to leave her plenty of room to sit beside him. "It's as if we haven't missed a day," he commented, though her new curves were testament to the fact that they'd missed quite a few.

Alissa chuckled and leaned against him, "I don't think I could have stood to miss anymore," she said, leaning her head onto his shoulder.

"Then it is fortunate that you've returned," Randy replied with a playful grin. He picked up a roll and put the entire thing into his mouth, a subconscious means of showing off for her.

Alissa giggled, "Slow down or you'll choke!" she picked a small morsel of bread from his lip and ate it, sending out her own gesture.

His ears twitched. "Nonsense," he replied; "it would take much more than a single bread roll to do that."

Alissa smiled and gave him a kiss, testing to see how long he'd allow her to be so intimate.

For a moment he froze, mildly surprised and concerned over the nature of the situation. He returned the kiss as briefly and chastely as possible before drawing away, not at all shy or uncomfortable around her but plenty worried that it was not the right time for either of them to engage in such fantasy.

Alissa tried not to look too disappointed as she pulled back, she knew him well enough not to be surprised by the action.

Randy sighed softly, knowing that at least some part of her had been hoping for something more. But what good could possibly have come of it? He looked over at her, contemplating just what it was that he saw now. She couldn't be that little girl forever...

Alissa was indeed, no longer a little girl, she was at an age that was considered marriageable and while still youthful, her face and body where those of an adult, not a child.

He frowned at the thought of her being married off to Winston. What a terrible waste it seemed!

She pressed close to him, not quite ready to content herself with keeping a distance but contentious enough to keep from trying to kiss him again, "mother wants me to marry Winston....doesn't she?"

Randy nodded slowly; he couldn't bring himself to lie to her, and why keep from her what she had already guessed? It wasn't exactly unexpected news.

Alissa's face fell, "I thought that's what all these lady lessons were about," she said quietly.

"She believes it to be a good match," Randy stated blandly.

Alissa buried her face in his lap, "It's the worst!"

"I know it is," said Randy. He cautiously ran his fingers over her hair in an attempt to be soothing.

"Oh god...on our wedding night he's going to....I'll have too..." she shuddered, unable to say it out loud.

Randy grimaced. "At least you aren't likely to notice," he muttered under his breath.

"I don't want him to touch me! I hate him!" she said vehemently.

He petted her hair a bit more confidently. "As do I, but there is little to be done for it. ...Short of praying for an unfortunate accident..."

"I can't do that....I don't want anyone dead...not even Winston, horrible as he is," she sighed and snuggled against his thigh.

Randy smiled a bit. "Your kindness is admirable."

Alissa nodded and sat up, opting to put her head on Randy's shoulder an wrap her arms around him.

"I do hate to think of you being married to Winston," Randy murmured with a shake of his head.

"I hope it's not to soon! And there's no way I'd allow him to be my first!" she said emphatically.

"That truly would be a waste," Randy thought aloud.

"And I want to be with someone I care about," said Alissa.

Randy glanced at her, realizing the situation's potential. "I suppose that... could make a difference."