BJD Story: Part I: And So It Happened

Katerina found herself walking towards her destination, her hand which held her instructions was shaking. It felt as if she had to force herself to take each and every step and the closer she came to the tree, the harder it was to press on. Would this actually be what she had been waiting for? It had been three weeks since all this started and it still felt as if none of it was real. At first perhaps it felt real but now...now it simply felt as if she were in a dream that she couldn't bring herself to wake from. The oak tree with his long branches, many leaves, and large trunk came into view.

It was the oldest tree on the campus, there since the place had been built and most likely quite sometime before. It offered shade and comfort for the students as well as a peaceful retreat to de-stress when classes became too much. It was centered in the middle of a garden, a few other trees sounded it but mostly flowers and grass. It was the prettiest part of the campus and never empty. As it she drew closer to it, Kat realized it was very empty today.

"Strange..." She whispered to herself. Someone was usually always here. Reguardless of the time. Her sapphire blue eyes scanned the area laid out in front of her just to be sure...but there was no one in sight, not even the sender of the note she held. A sigh escaped her lips as she moved closer to the tree. Quite unclear if her sigh had been of relief or disappointment, she moved closer to the Oak tree. She kneeled down in front of it and leaned back against it. Her eyes moved to the watch she wore on her left wrist. "It is still rather early." She whispered to herself. So there she decided to wait.

James had been watching her from the window of the cafeteria. He had been at the tree but found himself rather bored by the silence of it. So he went where it was louder...something about the rumbling of the other students gave him a bit of comfort and eased the anxiety he felt in his chest about seeing her again. It had been a long trip away for him, back home to New York where he felt he belonged, and a long trip back when he realized he was wrong.

His heart told him he needed to confront her and let her know that he was here and that he still cared for her...but he wondered if she'd reject him for doing what he did to her. A sigh escaped his lips as he watched the way she sat under that tree, completely unaware she was being watched. He tilted his head curiously and saw that after a slight yawn she began to fall asleep. It made his decision easier about when to go visit her.

Katerina had said there for twenty minutes, waiting for someone to arrive but no one did. It was a few minutes past the meeting time on the note. She shrugged her shoulders and figured she should probably get up and leave. She knew no one would be coming and she was angry with herself for believing in something she knew couldn't be real. After all he was half way across the world...most likely still in Russia...or near it. "He wouldn't remember me..." She whispered to herself and the continued on, "I bet he found someone beautiful and perfect....I bet she gave him a couple gorgeous children and they are all very happy together. Why am I wasting my time thinking about him?" It was true, after all there was a ten year difference between them...how in the world would he be here on her campus, and have been in her class?! It was rather impossible. She laughed at herself. Her head leaned back against the tree as her pink silk locks blew gently around her face from the fall breeze. It was not long before she found herself asleep.

Her eyes slowly opened and she gasped realizing that she had fallen asleep. She immediately checked her watch...two hours after the time on the note. She had been asleep over an hour! She knew, for sure, no one was coming now and felt her heart break. Her head fell into her hands and tears rolled down her cheeks.

James had remained in the cafeteria the entire time, watching over her, making sure nothing was going to happen to her. When he saw her wake, a smile crossed his lips. Now, he knew he had to see her. She had been so beautiful sleeping under the tree, so innocent just the way she had been in the orphanage. He knew he loved her, he had always loved her but...other things had been in the way. He stood from the table and glanced down to pick his things up. His eyes narrowed out of curiousity. His sketch pad which had remained empty for months upon months now had a drawing in it...not a bad one either...it was a finished piece of art...her sleeping under the tree. He shook his head and laughed at himself. He gathered it up and then began making his way to garden...the tree...and to her.

When he arrived, Katerina was still crying. He found it rather interesting that she would be crying so much and wondered what her tears were for. Who was he kidding, he knew what they were for. He slowly reached his hand to her should and touched her gently. "My little Katerina...please do not cry. Tears do not belong on such a pretty face. It has been so very long since I saw you last....your beauty overwhelmed me and I found myself to nervous to approach you. Do forgive me for being late and making you cry."

Katerina heard the voice and froze in place. She couldn't move but the tears stopped. She found herself unable to bring herself to look at him...what if it was all cruel joke and this wasn't him...she didn't want to find out.

James sighed slightly when she refused to look at him and he moved closer to her, kneeling behind her now. "Please look at me Katerina."

Katerina shook her head slowly and felt the beginning a few more tears. "Is....is it really you?" Her voice trembled with fear but held a touch of hope to it.

James laughed amusingly. "There is only one way to find out, isn't there? Here..." He took her hand in his, gently pulling it from her face. "Look at me and you will know..."

Katerina still could not bring herself to turn to him. " I-I can't...I....I don't want to!" She whispered regretfully.

James remained gentle and patient with her, the way he had always been. "You can...and you do." He tilted his head down towards her slightly so he could see the side of her face, despite her trying to hide it from him. "If I remember correctly...the first day of our class, you could not take your eyes off of me."

"It....was you then....on that first day? But...why....why wouldn't you say anything to me? You...wouldn't even look at me!" Her voice raised slightly and sounded a bit hurt. Her eyes finally came to his...looking at him.

"I truly apologize for being so thoughtless and careless of your feelings, my little Katerina. I...did not know you would be in class...and I was startled. I....I found myself packing to leave this place, convinced you didn't need me in your life again. I thought it would be for the best."

Katerina shook her head slowly. "...Yet...you gave me a note..."

James nodded slowly. "I did....my heart would not allow me to leave you. I had to come back and see you again." He lifted his hand to the side of her face and brushed her tears away. "No more crying..."

Katerina placed her hand on top of his. "You are here now...that is all that matters Jayden."

James felt his entire body tense when she said that name, true it was what she had known him as, what everyone had known him as in Russia...yet...once he came here, he had changed his name in order to keep anyone from finding him and Katerina safe. He took in a deep breath, unwilling to tell her his new name. He'd allow her to call him whatever pleased her. "Still so forgiving and very understanding...you have not changed."

Katerina smiled softly and him. "I've changed...a little bit...but not in that way. "

James found himself laughing again and nodded his head. "Well...ah...yes....you have changed a little bit." He remembered back to when she was just a very scared three year old girl. "11 years exactly...that is how long it has been...."

Kat nodded to him slowly and moved closer to him. "A very long time...but...I never stopped thinking about you. I always wondered where you were and if I'd ever see you again." She leaned her head against his shoulder and took one of his hands in hers.

James wrapped his free arm around her and hugged her close to him, tightly as if he was never going to let go.

Kat's eyes closed as the safe and warm feeling he had always brought to her returned. It was something she had not felt since she was seven. "Jayden..."

"Yes?" His eyes looked down at her, but all he could see where her pink locks of hair.

A light whisper followed. "I've missed you terribly."

James kissed the top of her head and gave her a slight squeeze. "And I have missed you."

They sat that way, together, until the sun began setting. All the time they had lost being apart from one another began to erase itself as if it had never existed. They were both brought back to that orphanage, Forgotten Angels, to his room which was the only place Katerina could ever sleep and despite all the efforts of the Nuns, she always ended up in his room with him....except for that one night...but that memory kept itself hidden for the time being, allowing them their happy memories.

The sun started its decent and together they watched the colors that filled the sky....

*To Be Continued*