Stefan followed the path that led to the cove. It was a fairly long walk, which was one of its more pleasant aspects. As far as he knew, no member of his family would waste the time or energy by going there. He smiled dryly. It would be too taxing for them.

As he neared the place where he usually sat to contemplate, he saw that he was going to have company.

It had been two days since he'd last seen her, that time in the garden. Stavros had become more attentive. He was happy for her. Helena had informed them at every meal that Stavros had taken her out. Except breakfast, when she kept perfectly quiet, practically seething in her seat.

He avoided that train of thought as a stirring of jealousy bit at him. He was happy for her, he repeated to himself.

He walked the last few meters, standing at one side of the bench."Hello, Laura."

"I've always been tempted to throw myself off one of those cliffs, and feel the wind against my face. To fly for just a few moments, you know?"

He couldn't help but stare as she tried to explain her feelings, her voiced filled with such passion.

She finally turned to look at him. "You must think I'm a complete weirdo," she laughed, trying to ignore the effect his gaze had on her.

"Not at all," he smiled, as he sat down, keeping a respectable distance between them.

They fell into silence for a few minutes, enjoying the soft whistling in the air, the distant echo of the waves crashing upon the shore.

"Can I ask you something?" Laura asked.

"Yes," he answered.

Laura shifted her position on the bench so that she was facing Stefan. "Why didn't you come to my wedding?"

"Honestly?" he asked.

Laura nodded, her curiosity piqued even more.

Stefan thought on how to best phrase it. "I assumed that whatever wife my brother had managed to find was... not someone I would care to meet," he finished.

"Oh, I see. You ARE a snob," she smiled.

"You had made this assessment before?" Stefan asked, finding her smile contagious.

"Yep. When you came in and talked to Mikkos during breakfast, the first day you got here. You didn't even look at me. I decided you were a snob," Laura stated matter-of-factly.

Stefan felt an unfamiliar feeling well up in his stomach. A slight tickling that increased until a full-throated laugh escaped his mouth, taking them both by surprise.

Laura joined him in laughing, her eyes sparkling, enjoying her first full view of his dimples. "You can laugh, I was beginning to wonder." It had been a while since she'd laughed like that herself. It felt good.

"So was I," he admitted. The air grew serious again, though each was left with a pleasant feeling of complicity with the other. As if they had somehow broken an unnamed rule in this humorless place.

"Maybe I'll show you the wedding pictures sometime," Laura said.

"I'd like that," he replied. The image of her in a wedding gown came to his mind. And just as quickly, his brother's image appeared next to her, bringing him back to reality and a feeling of guilt.

Laura noticed his change in mood, and wondered what he was thinking.

Before she had the chance to ask, he stood up. "But now I must take my leave."

She rose to her feet, but was forced to sit again as a wave of dizziness hit her.

"Are you all right?" Stefan asked, concern lacing every word.

Laura nodded, taking a deep breath to regain her equilibrium. "I must've stood up too quickly, I'm fine now." At his unconvinced look, she smiled. "Really."

"I can escort you to the main house," he offered.

"No," Laura said quickly. "But thank you. We can walk together until we have to take different turns?"

"Excellent idea," he smiled.

They walked in silence, each lost in their own thoughts, and both thinking about each other.