Damien and Annie appeared in knee deep snow. The snow was soft and thick, but far too powdery right now for good snowballs. His house was a pale blue color and was large. It had two stories and a basement. There were wolf tracks all over the yard, but they were quickly being covered by the snow that fell softly around them. It was silent here, the trees arched there branches high and were perched to the tip with snow. Damien smiled, "Welcome to my home." He said as he pushed through the snow to his house, Annie still in his arms.

Annie looked around breathlessly. It was beautiful in her mind. "Wow." Was all she could say for a few moments. "It must be peaceful here." She said looking at him. "It's beautiful."

Damien smiled, "Yeah, it is." He said, "I like the silence, it helps me think and the wolves don't like a lot of noise, so it's perfect for them too." He said as he pushed open the door. It was warm and cozy inside his house. HE set Annie down softly on the floor and headed towards the kitchen, "Do you want something warm? It was kinda cold outside." He called from the kitchen as he put water in a kettle and set it on the stove.

"If you have some herb tea, that would be fine." Annie said as she looked around the room. She realized then that she had no winter clothes. Her arms and legs were freezing. "And maybe some warmer clothes." She added blushing.

Damien came out of the kitchen with herb tea, "Sure! I think I can find something...my sister kept her clothes here...you should fit in them..." He said as he handed her the tea, "Might need a belt though...you waist is smaller." HE murmered as he walked up the steps to find some clothes.

Annie was glad she hadn't taken a drink of the tea yet. She blushed at his words. ~I wonder how many times I'm going to tell him thank you?~ She wondered as she sat down in a chair.

Damien came back down, a pile of blue and silver winter clothes. They were made of soft wool anf flece. "Um, I wasn't sure what you wanted so I picked two outfits. Ones a skirt, another pants. SAme material, hope you don't mind." He said as he handed her the clothes.

Annie placed her tea down and took the outfits. "That's fine. Thank you." She said as she stood. "Where can I change?" ~Or would you like a show?~ She thought to herself blushing deeply and lowering her head a little to get the question out of her mind.

Damien blushed bright red and stammered, "T-there's a r-room up-stairs you can use. I-it's my sisters so she w-won't mind." He said, looking away. "I'm...gonna make more tea or something..." He said, walking off to the kitchen.

Annie couldn't help but watch him head back to the kitchen. She headed up the stairs to change. A few minuets later, she came back down in the skirt he had found. She used one of her belts off her pants to keep it on. She had to blush a little though. The skirt was a little short on her. Annie went into the kitchen. "Need any help?" Annie asked.

Damien shook his head, "Nah...I got it." He said, turning to face Annie. He smiled softly,"It looks good, though next time I'll find longer skirt. It looked little small on you." He said, handing her a cup of hot chocolate.

Annie took the cup and smiled. "I'll get use to it. Just have to sit carefuly." She chuckled. She didnt put her boots back on so she was barefoot.

Damien nodded, "Okay, but why didn't you wear the pants? I mean, when you go outside, the skirt isn't going to do much for warmth..." He said, shaking his head. "I mean, it wamer than your other clothes, but...well...I really don't understand girls and skirts..."

Annie raised her cup to take a sip, hiding her smirk a little. "Girls like to show off their skin. Many may not say it but we do. We like being looked at. And our legs seem to attact attention just as much as our chest."

Damien just blinked, then chuckled lightly, "I see..." He said, shaking his head. "That...makes sence actually...." He said, blinking again.

"As for why I didn't wear the pants," Annie said sitting her cup down. "I wanted to feel the air around my legs. I like pants but I need some since of freedom as well."

Damien laughed at that, "You are a weird one." He said, smiling. He jerked a bit when he heard scratching at the door. "be right back.." He said, walking over to the door. He opened it and saw a black wolf with a litter of pups. It looked at him pleadingly and he sighed. "I'll watch over them. Happy hunting Amore." He said. The wolf barked and walked off, the pups were herded in by Damien....who was tackled by all of them to the floor and then licked.

"Yes I'm a weird one but it keeps people on their toes." Annie said laughing. "And they like you it seems." She said watching the pups and Damien. "They are so cute."

"Yes, they are, sadly...." He said pushing the pups off him. They all ran to a soft cushion near a fireplace and curled up, looking cute and fluffy with there red and silver coats. "I look after most of the wolf pups here when a parent needs to go off hunting. There are a handful, but the behave...most of the time..." He said, shaking his head.

Annie chuckled. "Kind of like all kids?" she asked offering him her hand to help him up off the floor.

"Eh, I wouldn't know. Never had any." He said, accepting the help up. "But I would assume so."

" I help watch the kids in town. Especialy those that show promise as thieves." Annie said as she stretched, the skirt raising up a little higher. "I tend to run my ass off after them."

"Ah, well. I just yell at them and they come back." He said looking at the now sleeping wolves.

"better behaived than kids." Annie laughed a little as she went over by Damien. "So what would you like to do?" she asked not sure if Damien had plans or if it was just a day of relaxing."

"Um..." Said Damien blinking, "I..I'm not sure really. What do you want to do? I mean, you haven't been Asa for awhile, so what would you like to do?" He asked

"I really dont know." Annie said quietly. "I would like to see what all has changed but I also dont' know where to start." She said as a yawn escaped her.

Damien tilted his head in thouht, "I don't really know where to begin either." He said with a sigh, then noticed her yawn. "How bout a nap first?" He offered.

Annie blushed with a slight smile. "That does sound nice. I didn't realize how tired I still was." She thought a moment. "Where will I be sleeping?" She asked not sure.

Damien smiled, "You can use my sisters old room or my room. It doesn't really bother me." He said.

Annie thought a moment and decided on his sister's room. she had imposed too much already (at least she thought so). "I'll use your sister's old room." She said quietly. "Thanks for everything, Damien. I mean it." She said after she went over and placed a small kiss on his cheek. She turned to head to the room.

Damien blushed, "It's nothing Annie, nothing at all." He said, shaking his head. When she had gone out of eye sight, he touched the place where she had kissed him. He let out a sigh, "I"m in deep..." he muttered with a soft laugh.

Annie curled up on the bed and was almost instantly asleep. A strange song kept playing in her dreams though. A song she had heard once long ago. Long before the war broke out. Long before her father's true nature showed.

Damien hummed lightly as he set down some meat scraps for the wolves and startled on his knife. The blade was crude, for now, but after a little fine tuneing and sharpining it would od wonders.

The song seemed to filter the air around Annie as she slept. It wasn't one another could hear. It seemed to wake her slightly. "Papa?" She murmmered looking at the image of a dark skinned creature. The drow only glared at her causing her to flinch. "Go away...."

The wolves looked up, there hearing better than humans and the odd demon now and then. Damien also looked up. "I'll look into it..." He said, petting the wolves. He climbed the steps quietly.

The song continued to play as the drow placed his hand on Annie's forhead. "No...not again...." she said trying to squrim way from his touch. Memories flooded her mind. Memories she had over come once before. Flames erupted in her mind. she could hear the screams of innocents and the smell of flesh as it was burning.

"You will regret betraying me." the drow said his voice rough as he continued to make Annie relive the moment her mother and she left the town for the desert.

Damien entered the room and growled low, a feral look on his face. Already his teeth looked to large and sharp for his mouth. "Get the FUCK away from her." He said, adding another low warning growl.

The drow looked at Damien casualy before he vanished. He didn't need to be there. The damage had already been done.

Annie instantly curled up into a ball. Her body was shaking with fears she had as a young girl.

Damien dashed to Annie's bedside and started to gently stroke her hair. "Shh, Annie. It's alright. It's in the past. It's alright." He said, trying to calm her down.

"Is he gone?" Annie said through sobs. She hated her father for reasons other than the war. She was still shaking as she uncurled herself and sat up. She leaned against Damien, seeking comfort. "Gods....I thought he had died..."