"Johnny!"

Flash turned at the sound of her new name. "Yes Mr. Fitzgerald?"

"I just wanted to commend you on the fine work you are doing, and to invite you to dinner on Sunday."

"That's very nice of you, but I'm afraid that I don't have anything but my work clothes to wear, so I couldn't come to dinner."

"Oh but I insist. We won't mind you wearing your work clothes as long as you come."

"Well, . . ."

"I insist."

"Thank-you Mr. Fitzgerald." She watched as he left, then sighed. This was the fourth straight week that she had been invited to dinner and for once she couldn't back out of it. She was a little wary, because the Fitzgerald's had a daughter her age, and well, you know . . .

Sunday came all too fast for Flash, and the day past by quickly. She had washed her clothes, and taken a bath, hoping that the old clothes wouldn't offend the proper Mrs. Fitzgerald. Then she stopped. "My Hair! What am I going to do with my hair?"

She opened her desk drawer and pulled out a pair of scissors. Then looking in the mirror, she quickly cut it. She watched as her hair fell to the ground, and almost started to cry. Then, looking at her reflection, she hoped that she could pass for a boy. Her hair was short now, almost like Dan's used to be . . . . or Jasper's.

Arriving at the house, she paused for just a second before knocking on the door. "I can do this," she muttered.

"Hello Johnny." The youngest son of the house, Stevie answered the door.

"Hey Stevie."

"Johnny, who's at the . . . oh, hello Johnny." His older sister came to the door.

"Hello Becky."

Then realizing that they were still standing on the porch with no invitation for ‘Johnny' to come in, Becky blushed. "Oh, come on in Johnny."

Flash managed to have a slight smile, then walked into the house. "Hello Mrs. Fitzgerald."

"Hello Johnny, we're glad to finally have you for dinner. Let's eat!" She called up the stairs.

Everyone else came running down the stairs, and Mr. Fitzgerald came out of the office with someone following him. "Set another place at the table Becky, we have a new worker, and I've invited him to dinner."

Becky ran to get another plate, and Mrs. Fitzgerald came carrying the platters of food. "We're always glad to have more workers. What's your name boy?"

"Jasper ma'am."

Flash heard him speak and started to choke on the sip of water she had drank. Everyone looked at her in surprise, and she tried to stop. "Sorry," she managed to croak.

Jasper looked at her warily and she hoped he couldn't see through her disguise. "Pleased to meet you Jasper. I'm Johnny."

"Same to you Johnny." Jasper stuck out his hand, and Flash shook it.

"Lets eat." Mrs. Fitzgerald said again.

Flash finally got to leave the house, and she sighed as she began to walk back to her place in town.

"I heard that you came from Boston." A voice said from behind her and she jumped.

"Ex . . Excuse me?"

"Sorry. It's just me, . . . Jasper."

Flash's eyes became round, but she started walking again, and he started walking beside her. "Yeah, I came from Boston. Why?"

"I used to live there with a couple of my friends."

"What happened to your friends?" Flash almost started to laugh, and was grateful for the darkness of the night. This could be fun!

"Two of them went to a school called Plumfield in Concord, and one, a girl named Flash, came out west. I've been looking for her." Jasper replied.

"Where'd she go?"

"I heard California, but I haven't been able to find her."

"Why do you want to find her?"

"To apologize to her. We didn't part on the best of terms."

"Oh." That got her to thinking. ‘Jasper wants to apologize to me? He's never apologized to anyone.'

"What about you? Did you have any friends in Boston?"

"A couple. But after a while we all went our separate directions. I've seen them a couple of times since then, but I don't really get around much with my job and all."

"Flash wouldn't be able to do that. She's a born explorer and couldn't stop for anyone."

Again Flash almost laughed and she had to cover it with a cough. "She wouldn't be able to keep a job?"

"I doubt it. Anyway, I'm only here to earn some money, then I'm off to look for her again."

"I see. What happens if you never find her? California's a big place." Flash observed.

"I'll never stop looking." Jasper said determinedly.

"Why?"

"I love her."

When he said that Flash stumbled and hit the ground. "Ouch!"

"Are you okay?" Jasper knelt beside ‘the boy' and grabbed ‘his' arm.

"Fine, . . . I stumbled on a rock. I should have brought a light." Flash said, though she was very grateful that she hadn't brought a light because then he could see her blush.

"Where do you live?"

"About another quarter of a mile from here. . . Do you have a place to stay?" Flash asked rubbing her arm where a rock had hit it from her fall.

"Nah, I'll just sleep outside, I've done it before."

"Oh." They continued to walk and neither could think of something more to say. Flash was still hearing his words over again and again in her head. ‘I love her. . . He loves me? He said it didn't he? Oh my, he just said that he loved me. . . He loves me. Should I tell him who I am? What will he say? What have I gotten myself into?"

"Are you okay? You seem a million miles away." Jasper broke the silence.

"Maybe not a million," she mumbled, "just to Boston."

"What do you mean?"

They came to the boarding house where she was staying. She turned to face him with the light silhouetting her. "You mean you really don't recognize me? That hurts Jasper, especially after you just said that you . ."

"Flash?"

She smiled, "How's it going Jasper?"

Jasper stood dazed in front of her. He blushed for a moment, realizing he had just admitted to her that he loved her, but his redness quickly disappeared.

Flash stood expectantly. "Well, ya just gonna stand there or are you gonna say something?" she asked him.

Jasper looked into Flash's eyes and she realized it looked like he was about to cry. Suddenly, and certainly unexpectedly, he reached over and embraced Flash in a huge hug. "Geez, Christa, I'm so glad to see you!" he mumbled happily. "I thought I never would find you!"

Flash pulled back. She wasn't sure if she should trust him or not, especially after all that she had seen him do to her friends back at Plumfield. "Whatever happened to Miss Moon?" she asked him cautiously.

Jasper smiled at her. "Christa, I know why you would be unsure at first, I know you have your reasons," he said, sounding rather truthful, Flash had to admit. "But if you'd just let me have at least half an hour to talk to you, it would really mean a whole lot to me."

Flash hesitated, then turned to go inside. Jasper grabbed her arm. "Please trust me, Christa."

Flash smiled-and even Jasper was relieved to see it again. He wasn't sure if he ever would. "Calm down, Jasper, I'm just gonna go tell the lady that runs this place that I'm going for a walk, that's all."

Jasper beamed with relief. "Thank you, Christa," he told her with sincerity. "I owe you everything."

Flash laughed and turned the doorknob. "You should know it," she told him, and Jasper laughed, too.

"I'm so excited," Nat said to his friends.

"Yeah, I know, I can't believe we're almost done with our schooling. I thought this day would never come," Dan replied, and the others smiled.

As the final day of school was getting closer and closer, the children became more and more restless to leave Plumfield and start living new lives. But, of course, all the children knew very well that they would be very sad in one month when the time came for them to leave, even at the same time they were excited.

"What do you guys think you're going to do?" Nan asked them curiously.

The other children were silent in thought for a while. "All I know is I'm gonna get as far away from Boston as I can," Dan said cheerfully, and the rest of the children laughed.

"Yeah," Emil said with a sigh. "I still don't think any of us will ever forget all the adventures here at Plumfield."

The other children nodded their heads in agreement. They'd surely never forget anything; Plumfield was too exciting for them to forget even the tiniest thing.

Flash leaned against the wooden fence that surrounded the local farm's field, resting on her elbows. She and Jasper decided that they needed a place to talk where there wasn't a good chance of being interrupted.

"So when was the sudden transformation of Jasper the Bad Boy to Jasper the Angel?" Flash asked the boy standing besides her.

Jasper laughed briefly. "Well, if you're cooped up in jail for four years then you get plenty of time to think whether you want it or not," he replied.

Flash's mind was muddled. Here she was, talking to Jasper like the "friend" that he used to be-or supposedly was. She couldn't believe it herself that she was even standing here with the knowledge that Jasper could be still the same lying cheat that he used to be. "Did you want it?" she asked him.

Jasper looked at her profile. "Want what?" he asked, confused.

Flash looked at Jasper square in the face. "The time to think. Did you want it?" she asked again.

Jasper leaned back against the fence, as was Flash. "Sure. Everyday I wished for a second chance, you know? I mean, I absolutely couldn't wait for the day I would be a free man again, and being able to start over," he told her, sounding truthful again. Jasper stood up and stepped in front of Flash, staring at her with wide, brown eyes. "I really want to change, Christa. I don't want be the same guy that I was back in Boston. I have a chance to start over, you know?" he asked her. "I really don't want to throw it away."

Nonetheless, Flash was skeptical still. She thought long and hard before she spoke. "I want to believe you Jasper, I really do, but-it's just so hard. We've had a really rough past, you and I, and even though that's behind us now; we can't deny it that it's still there. I mean, you did try to kill me, remember?"

Jasper put his hands on her shoulders. "I understand, Christa, I really do. But I really wish that you would realize I want to change," he said sternly.

Flash raised her eyebrows. "Will you?"

Jasper laughed again that sounded like a laugh of relief. "Of course! I can! I have! I'm really not the same person that I was in Boston, Christa, really. Jail has changed me, it really has."

Flash smiled, and Jasper tightened the grip ever-so-gently on her shoulders. "In more ways than one," she commented, noticing the paler and thinner Jasper.

Jasper looked at himself, then reached out and held a few strands of Flash's short hair in his fingers. "You don't look the quite the same, either," he told her, and Flash frowned gloomily.

"My boss invited me to dinner, as you would know," she told him. "And I panicked. I didn't know what to do about my hair since I was a "boy." I felt I didn't really have a choice, so I lopped it off."

Jasper leaned closer, and Flash pulled her head back slowly. "Yeah, well I could still recognize you anywhere with that smile of yours," he said, his face only now inches from hers.

Flash's mind was racing. What should I do? Has Jasper really changed, or is he just doing this only to hurt me again? How am I supposed to know if he's telling the truth, or lying?

"Christa? What are you thinking?" Jasper asked, coming closer still.

Flash froze; she had no idea how to handle the situation. "I-I uh-" she mumbled. "I'm just really confused right now Jasper. Everything is just happening so fast."

Jasper smiled easily. "Don't worry Christa," Jasper said, easing closer. Flash stood stiffly. What should I do, she wondered. "You shouldn't rush through things anyway. Life is too short for that. If you hurry, when are you gonna have time for all the details?"

And before she could protest, Jasper kissed her.

Before long Flash found herself attracted to Jasper, as much as she didn't want to. She couldn't believe it herself-who knew you could fall in love with someone who had tried to destroy you? But nonetheless, Flash finally realized that Jasper really had changed, and he wanted a second chance. Flash felt no choice but to give it to him.

On the end of the seventh day, just as the sun was setting, Jasper and Flash were still talking about everything. They managed to find a small alley and decided to talk at the very end of it so as no one could really bother them or hear them, and they weren't getting in anyone’s way.

"Remember when we fought off Joe and his jerks?" Flash asked him. They were sitting at the end of their dark alley, facing one another instead of sitting next to each other.

Jasper laughed. "Yeah, how could I not?" he responded, standing up. He looked to be thinking to himself about something very important, because the expression on his face revealed himself to be full in thought.

Flash looked up at him from the ground. "What's troubling you, Jasper?" she asked with a smile.

Jasper held out a hand to help her up, and Flash took it gratefully. Flash hopped up and Jasper pulled her close to her, and kissed her. He had kissed her only one other time since the first time one week ago, and when Jasper pulled back Flash looked at him with a confused look. "What was that for?" she asked, right before he kissed her yet again. This time Flash laughed. "And that?"

Jasper was the one to laugh this time, and he wrapped his arms around her. "I just want to see if you taste as sweet as you look," he said kindly.

Flash laughed again. "That's pathetic, you know that Jasper?" she asked him, but still with a smile so he would know she didn't mean it cruelly.

Jasper smiled at her. "I can't help it, Christa. I'm in over my head here."

Jasper suddenly got this really concentrated look on his face, and the concentration turned into nervousness. Flash looked at him with sympathetic eyes. "What's wrong?"

Jasper took a deep breath. "I'm about to make the most important decision of my life, Christa. I just want to tell you that before I go ahead and do it."

Flash put her hand to his cheek. "Don't worry, Jasper, I'll be right behind you, whatever it is."

Jasper took another deep breath, and put his hand over Flash's. "And I want you to know that I love you no matter what the outcome, you hear?" he asked her as Flash nodded. "I'll always care about you."

Flash waited patiently, but nothing could prepare for her for what happened next.

As Jasper bent down on his knee, Flash could feel her heart beating a mile a minute and her cheeks flamed. She couldn't believe it was happening, and she wasn't sure if she wanted it to. But even still, before Jasper spoke, Flash saw the look of sincerity and peacefulness in Jasper's eyes, which was much better than pure hate that she had seen plenty of times.

Jasper took a deep breath again before he spoke. He had thought long and hard before he decided to do this, but he knew that today was the day. With each passing day he fell more and more devoted to Christa, and he knew that he could be happy with the girl standing in front of him for the rest of his life. He took yet another deep breath and held Flash's hand tightly in both of his. And finally, just when he thought he never would find he voice, he spoke.

"Will you marry me?"

Flash looked at him in shock. Somehow, she had known that he would ask, but it still startled her to hear it from him.

"Jasper . . . I . . I'm only 16."

"I know that Christa, but I also know that I love you, and that nothing in this world will change how I feel about you."

She started to cry, and he stood up immediately and pulled her into a hug.

"Oh Jasper, . . . I love you."

He stepped back in astonishment. "What?"

"I love you Jasper. Yes, I will marry you." She smiled through her tears.

Then he surprised her again, when he started to cry. "I don't believe it. You'll . . marry me?"

She laughed, "yes. Now are you going to kiss me, or what?"

He smiled, and leaned over to kiss her.

After the kiss, they embraced each other, and stood there, content in each other's arms.

Suddenly Flash groaned.

"What's the matter?" Jasper asked leaning back to look her in the eyes.

"Nat is not going to like this." She muttered.

He nodded, "neither is Dan."

"We've gotta go tell them."

They left the next week, after earning a little more money, Flash telling Mr. Fitzgerald that she was leaving, (and that she was a she), and after buying two tickets to Concord.

As the train pulled into the Californian station, she took a deep breath. "Well, here goes nothin'"

"Nothin'?" Jasper grinned at her.

"Fine. Here goes something."

Jasper smiled and put his arm around her. "It'll be okay."

"I hope so."

"Hey Nat? How long has it been since we've heard from Flash?" Dan asked as they worked together to finish mucking out the barn.

"Too long." Nat muttered, "probably about two months now."

"You don't suppose something happened to her, . . do you?" Dan stopped with his shovel in midair.

Nat looked up at the urgency in Dan's voice. "Nah. The mail probably got held up somewhere, and its on its way."

Dan nodded and started to work again. "Well, . . if we don't hear from her soon, I'll just have to go to California and find her."

Nat smiled. "You just want an excuse to go to California."

Dan smiled back, "who needs an excuse?"

Flash stared out the window at the passing scenery, imagining the reactions she was going to get from Plumfield. ‘Shock, Surprise, Anger, I doubt anyone will be happy for me.'

"Christa?" Jasper sat down next to her, pulling a small box out of his pocket.

"Yeah?"

"It isn't expensive, but, . . ." He handed the box to her.

She took the box and opened it. Inside of it was another box, a blue one. She looked at him in surprise, but took it out. Then she opened it up, and inside was a simple gold ring. "Oh, Jasper! You bought me a ring!"

"Like I said, it isn't much. It's simple really, but . . ."

"It's perfect!" She slid the ring onto her finger and sighed happily. "Thank-you Jasper."

She then leaned over and put her head on his shoulder, still staring at the ring on her finger.

"Christa . . . wake up!"

Flash stirred, and opened her eyes. "Wha . . ."

"We're here." Jasper stood up and held out his hand to help her up.

"Here?"

"We're in Concord, silly."

She was instantly awake. "We're here?"

"That's what I said."

She grabbed his hand and stood up. Taking a deep breath, she grabbed her bag, only to have Jasper take it away from her.

"Hey!"

"What? I can't help my future wife?" He grinned at her.

She took it back. "No. If you take my bag, then I can't hold onto your hand."

He laughed, "forgive me." He then held out his hand so she could grab it.

"You're forgiven." She muttered as they stepped off the train.

"Good. . ." He saw how nervous she was and smiled sympathetically. "It'll be okay Christa."

"You don't know that. You did some pretty bad stuff last time you were here." She thought for a minute, "and the time before that."

He sighed, "I know that. But, this time will be different."

"I'll race you Nat!" Nan yelled as she ran towards the house. Nat had no choice but to run after her. When he caught up to her, she was on the porch staring down at the path leading up to Plumfield.

"What are you looking at?" Nat asked a little out of breath.

"Somebody's coming." She nodded her head towards two people who were walking up the path. She couldn't tell who they were, but she knew that they were carrying bags. "Maybe Mrs. Jo is expecting someone."

"I'll go tell her that they're coming." Nat turned and ran into the house.

Flash looked at the house in the distance and stopped. "I can't do this."

"What?" Jasper turned to her confused.

"Dan and Nat mean everything to me. Besides you, they are the only family that I've had. I can't disappoint them."

"So . . you're not going to marry me?"

"That's not what I'm saying. I just can't tell them, not yet."

"We might as well get it over with. They aren't going to like me being here either, so let's just go and see their reactions."

"I already know their reactions! I - can't - do - this!" Flash started to cry and Jasper pulled her into a hug.

"It'll be okay. Come on. Lets go."

She sighed and tried to brush away the tears. "This isn't going to look good." She murmured.

"What do you mean?"

"Us showing up with me crying, and then you telling them we're engaged. They probably will think that you are forcing me into this."

"Then you're just going to have to convince them that I'm not." Jasper responded with a slight sigh. "And who said that I was going to tell them that we're engaged? They'd take it better from you."

Flash groaned, but started walking again.

Everyone was curiously waiting for the visitor's to come. Jo had said that she wasn't expecting visitor's so that made them even more curious.

Then as the two came closer Nat took in a sharp breath.

Dan turned to him. "What is it Nat?"

"It's Flash and . ."

"Dan turned to look, "Flash?"

"And Jasper!"

"What?!" Mrs. Jo said in surprise. "Nan, go get Nick! Hurry!"

"There goes Nan." Flash murmured.

"Probably to get Nick."

"Probably." She then called out, "hello!"

Everyone stood shock still as they approached and Nan and Nick ran from the barn.

"Flash? Jasper?" Dan looked really confused.

Flash stepped forward and gave him and Nat a hug. "Hi guys."

"Well, since everyone is here, I might as well tell you," Flash stepped back to stand next to Jasper.

"Tell us what?" Nat asked.

Flash grabbed Jasper's hand and tried to smile, though she was really nervous. "Dan, Nat, everyone, . . . . ."

"What?" Jo asked everyone hanging in suspense.

"Jasper and I are getting married."

Silence. There was just complete and utter silence. It even seemed like the birds had stop singing and the wind had stopped blowing. Nothing moved, and nothing made one sound. Until-

"Excuse me?" Dan asked in disbelief and anger. Nat just stood with tears brimming in his eyes, and he turned on his heels and stomped off in disgust and rage just as the first tear fell.

Flash started after him, but Jasper held her back. Flash looked at him in the eyes. "Don't worry, Jasper, I'll be back, okay?" she told him, and Jasper and the others let her run off to catch up with Nat.

Jasper watched her for a while, then turned his attention back to the rest of the people who were gathered in front of him. Nervously, he spoke. "Good afternoon, folks," he said, trying to sound pleasant. He knew it would take a long time to get these people to trust him. "Been a while hasn't it?"

Suddenly Nick raced forward, grabbing Jasper by the arms. It took all that Jasper had in him not to fight back, but he knew if he did that would be a real bad idea. "I don't want you on this property, ya hear?" Nick screamed. "I'm taking you to the sheriff!"

Jasper wriggled out of Nick's grasp. "Sorry, Mr. Riley, but I'm afraid you can't do that. I've served my time, and I ain't done nothing that should make me go back to jail."

Dan charged at Jasper, his fists clenched tightly. "What about forcing an innocent young girl into marrying a jerk like you?" he screamed, but Nick held him back.

Jasper looked around at the other children and mistress that stood angrily and unsure. "I didn't force her, Dan, she wanted to. I don't want Christa to be unhappy, you know I don't."

Dan clenched his jaw. "Funny thing you should say that since you tried to KILL her!"

Jasper eased his hand out and put it gently on Dan's shoulder, but Nick shook it off. He looked around at the other people who were standing around him and suddenly felt like he was going to cry. "Please, folks, I understand why you would feel this way, but I really have changed. If you would just give me a second chance then you'd see-"

Now it was Mrs. Jo's turn to speak up. "Young man," she raged. "You first came here to try to take Dan away from us, Nat after that, and then you almost shot the girl you claim to love! If you think for one instant that I am going to stand by and let you take that young and beautiful child away from her two best friends and everyone else at Plumfield then you are WRONG! I will do everything in my power to keep you away from her, you understand me? EVERYTHING!" she screamed, suddenly choking up.

The children glared at him cruelly, and he noticed that Dan had a few tears dripping down his red and angered face. He looked around and began to speak, but Nick interrupted him. "I want you to leave," he said coldly.

Jasper opened his eyes wide. "No-no, please! You don't understand! At least hear what Christa has to say about this! Then you'll see that I've really changed! Honestly I have!" he begged them.

Mrs. Jo looked at Nick, then back to Jasper. "If you even lay a FINGER on anyone of these children until Christa gets back from talking with Nat then I swear I'll--"

Jasper put his hand out and smiled. "Don't worry Miss, I ain't gonna do nothing to them, I promise," he said, and everyone had to admit to themselves that it did sound sincere.

Mrs. Jo and the others still were skeptical, and very uncomfortable with this whole thing, but eventually everyone ended up in the kitchen while they waited for Flash and Nat.

Flash looked around for a while then found him in the school sitting at one of the desks with his head in his hands. Nat was stunned. How could Flash want to marry someone like him? It was unbelievable! He tried to kill her and now she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him? Impossible, it couldn't be true!

Oh Flash, he thought. Why can't you understand that you're making the biggest mistake of your life? He doesn't love you, he never has! Nat paused for a while, then continued thinking, oblivious to the fact that Flash was behind him. I love you Flash; it's me you should be marrying, not Jasper. Can't you see I want to spend the rest of my life with you?

Cautiously Flash eased her way inside, and put her hand on his shoulder. "Nat?" she asked softly. "Are you all right?"

Suddenly Nat stood up quickly and faced Flash with red, puffy eyes, and tears were still streaming. "Flash, listen to me, please," he ordered, and Flash stood patiently as he talked. "That Jasper over there is a terrible, terrible person, okay? Don't you realize that? He doesn't love you Flash, not the way I do, and not the way Dan does either."

Flash smiled at him, and reached out to wipe a tear off Nat's face. Nat hadn't seen that smile for four years, but for the first time since he met her it suddenly didn't seem so wonderful. "Nat, I understand, I really do, but you have to believe me, Jasper has changed."

"No, Flash!" Nat screamed, grabbing her shoulders and staring at her hard. "That's where you're wrong! He hasn't changed and he never will! Four years in jail can't make a killer suddenly a romantic young man, don't you see?"

Flash was angry now. Why wouldn't anyone listen to her? She wiggled her way out of Nat's grasp and backed away slowly. "No, Nat! I don't see that, okay? I see a completely changed boy, who loves me for who I am, and most of all, trusts me," she spat out, and the words stung Nat’s heart. "And all he wants from anyone is a second chance to a better life!" she screamed at him, and ran out of the room.

Nat chased after her, but she was already headed towards the bridge, so instead, he headed back towards the main building.

Inside everyone was gathered around the table where Jasper sat. Most everyone were silently admitting to themselves that Jasper might have actually changed, except for Nick and Dan, they would never believe it.

Suddenly Nat appeared at the kitchen door, tears still falling. Mrs. Jo walked over to him and put her arm around his shoulders. "Did it go all right, Nat?" she asked him, but Nat didn't say anything.

Dan and Jasper suddenly eyed each other, but Dan quickly turned away. "Where's Flash, Nat?" he asked, and Nat mumbled she was at the bridge.

Immediately Jasper and Dan stood up, but Nick put a hand to Jasper's shoulder. "Now just where do you think you're going?" he asked Jasper.

Jasper looked around but avoided eye contact with Dan and Nat. They were really upset, and he could see how much everyone cared about Christa. "I'm gonna go talk to Christa, that's all," he said back, and then cautiously headed out the door with Dan following close behind.

As the two boys made their way down to the bridge, Dan argued with Jasper. "You have some nerve coming back here, Jasper," he growled, but Jasper stayed silent, and they finally reached the bridge. Flash was leaning against the railing, staring out into the woods.

The boys approached her carefully, and Dan was the first to put a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Flash?" he asked, and Christa whirled around with red eyes, showing that she had been crying, too.

Flash stared at him angrily. "Why don't you just believe me, Dan? Don't you trust me?" she asked him with tears in her eyes. Jasper stayed silent, but the desperate look on her face almost brought him to tears.

Dan ignored Jasper completely, and put his hands on Flash's shoulders, standing between her and the other boy. "Flash, you know I trust you, okay? But you're too young. I don't want you to find yourself in a relationship that you don't want," he said slowly, knowing that anything could set her off. Unfortunately, that did.

Flash squirmed her way out of Dan's grasp, and Dan looked at her pleadingly. If only Dan could see her smile right then, maybe everything would be okay. He hadn't seen it for a while. "You don't care about me being too young, Dan! All you care about is who it is I'm marrying!" she screamed at him, then raced over to Jasper and put her arm around him. Dan stared her sadly as she spoke, and the first tear fell off his cheek. Jasper put his arm around Flash to console her, but she continued speaking. "And if you trust me, Dan, if you're really the kind of best friend that you say you are, then you'll believe me when I say that this is what I want," Flash paused, and Dan opened his mouth to speak, but Flash continued before he could get his words. "And even if it turns out that this isn't right, so be it, all right? That'll just be something I’ll have to figure out on my own, I can't learn that by someone telling me!"

Jasper stroked Christa’s head slowly and looked at Dan. Dan felt terrible, and he expected Jasper to say something mean, but Jasper didn't say anything at all. But even though Dan was feeling as bad as he was, he wouldn't let Flash slip through his fingers, he cared about her too much. He knew what he was about to do was bad, but he was too angry to think of anything else, so he lunged at Jasper. "You're not taking her away from me, ya hear Jasper! You'll never get far enough to get rid of me!" he growled loudly as he pounded Jasper up dangerously up against the railing-the water level in the river was low that day. But surprisingly enough Jasper didn't fight back; he was too scared. Scared of what everyone could do to him, and scared that his one true love would leave him.

"No, Dan! Please don't!" Flash screamed, trying to pry Dan off of Jasper, but added to the fact that Flash was too tired from all the stress, Dan was fighting his heart out he was so upset.

Dan looked at Flash when she started to bawl, then turned back to Jasper. "Don't you ever go near her again, you hear me?" he screamed, then released his grasp on the weary boy. Dan walked over and tried to hug her, but Flash pushed him away.

Jasper leaned against the railing in pain, and tried to stand up straight. He looked at Dan who was standing there angrily and then at Flash who was crying with her head in her hands. "I-I'll leave you two alone," he mumbled sadly, tears falling slowly down his cheeks. Dan was amazed, and secretly admitted to himself that maybe there was a chance this wasn't the same Jasper, but then he quickly pushed the thought away and replaced it with 'It's just an act.'

As Jasper stood up with his hand to his stomach, Flash raced forward to help him, but she didn't reach him in time before the railing broke and Jasper toppled over the side, his head landing right on a rock. Dan jumped in surprise, and Flash screamed, jumping down after him.

She landed on her feet and raced over to the motionless boy. Dan stared down from the bridge, unsure of what to do, but then finally jumped after. He couldn't have felt worse.

Flash reached Jasper and lay his head on her lap. She tried to shaking him to consciousness, but that didn't work, and by the time Dan had kneeled down next to her she was already crying uncontrollably. "O God, Jasper, please wake up! Please Jasper! I need you! Don't leave me Jasper!" she sobbed, but still, Jasper didn't awake.

Dan stared at her sad friend, but didn't speak, he couldn't get Flash's words out of his mind, and it was then that he realized just how much Flash cared about him. Still, her words echoed through his mind endlessly, and it broke his heart to hear it.

"Please, Jasper! Wake up! Wake up!"

Seeing that he wouldn't wake, and that Flash was to upset to get help, Dan ran back to the house. "Nick! NICK!" he screamed as loud as he could.

Everyone came running out of the house. "Dan what is it?" Jo asked.

They saw the tears, and immediately thought that Jasper had done something to Flash. "I'll him!" Nick muttered his promise.

"I think I all ready did." Dan sobbed. "Please, . . you've gotta help him."

Everybody stared at Dan is shock. "What?" Nan asked.

"I was mad, so I . . I hit him, and he fell against the railing, and it broke. . . He . . He hit his head on a rock, and Flash is really upset. Please . . . you've gotta help him."

"Go get Dr. Pierce Nan!" Nick called as he started running for the bridge with Jo, and Nat right behind him. Dan collapsed in a sob, and Bess stepped forward to hold him.

"It'll be okay Dan."

"It's all my fault. You should have heard her Bess, she was . . . . heartbroken."

Bess looked towards the bridge with tears in her eyes. "Please God," she whispered in a prayer "you've gotta help them."

Flash sat begging for Jasper to wake up, but he wouldn't move. "Please. Jasper. Please."

Nick ran up to the edge and jumped off. He landed next to them and bent over Jasper.

Jo reached over and pulled her away from him, and Flash clung to her, sobbing. "He's gotta wake up! I love him!"

"Nat! Come help me carry him back to the house.." Nat rushed over and together they pulled him off the ground.

As they arrived back to the house, the doctor was waiting for them.

"Put him in the guest room at the head of the stairs." Jo called.

Flash still clung to her, and they walked up the stairs, then Jo pushed her into a chair outside the door. "Stay here, and I'll be right back."

Flash sat sobbing, "Please, please help him."

"I will. It'll be okay." Jo then entered the room closing the door behind her. For the next few hours the door remained closed except for when Jo or Asia went out to get towels, or water, or stuff like that.

Flash had finally stopped herself from crying and just sat, staring at nothing, oblivious to the world around her. The door to the room opened, and Dr. Pierce came out.

She immediately stood, "Is he okay?"

He hesitated for a second, "he hasn't woken up yet."

The tears came again, "will he ever?"

"I don't know. It's up to him I guess. When you sit by him, talk to him. I've heard that they can hear you."

She nodded. "Thank-you."

She started to go into the room, but a hand on her arm stopped her. "Doctor?"

"You might want to change first." He smiled, then went down the stairs.

She looked down at her dress to find it covered in . His . The sight of it made her faint and she fell to the ground.

"I don't know. I just . . .can't trust him." Nick replied.

"But its obvious she loves him." Asia declared.

Jo let out a sigh. A loud thump from the hall startled them, and they ran to the door. Flinging it open, Jo was shocked to see Flash lying motionless on the ground.

"Flash!"

Jo knelt next to her, and gathered Flash into her arms. "Flash? Wake up! Wake up! "

Flash stirred and slowly opened her eyes. Groaning, she tried to sit up.

"What happened?" Nick asked.

"Mrs. Jo, do you think I could borrow a . . . a dress?" Flash asked softly.

Jo looked at the one she was wearing, and saw the blood covering it. "I think one of Nan's will fit." She helped her up, and they walked to the girl's room.

After changing, Flash walked to the doorway of Jasper's room. Taking a deep breath, she pushed it open. Seeing him lying there, made her heart break. "Jasper. I'm so sorry. I was the one who was afraid to come here, and look what happened to you." She walked over and sat on a chair by his bed.

Nat and Dan approached the doorway, but didn't go in when they heard her talking, they just stood and listened.

"I know it was hard for you to come here, but you knew how much I care about Nat and Dan, so you made me. I knew that they'd be upset, but I never thought that this would happen. Please wake up! I love you!"

Dan looked at Nat, the tears filling his eyes. "Flash?"

She looked up. "Yes?"

"We're sorry. We should have trusted you, I mean we've been friends forever, and the one time you needed us to trust you, we wouldn't. Jasper hurt us, and we let that hurt blind us. I'm so sorry." Dan ran into the room and Flash embraced him.

"It's okay. . . it's just . . . you've got to trust him."

"I'm not sure that I can." Jo said from the doorway.

"Why? Nick hit somebody, and was thrown in jail for it, yet you gave him a second chance."

"He didn't try to kill someone I love."

Flash looked at her in surprise. "You love me?"

"Like a daughter I never had."

A whimper escaped from her mouth as she ran to Jo. They hugged, then finally Flash stepped back. "Just give him one more chance. That's all I ask."

Jo hesitated, then slowly nodded. "Okay. But only for you."

"I love him." She whispered to no one in particular.

Jasper groaned, and tried to open his eyes. "Christa?" He weakly called out.

She ran to him. "Jasper!"

Flash rushed over to Jasper quickly. "Oh, Jasper! You're awake!" she said, cradling his head in her arms.

Jasper smiled weakly, and the rest of the people gathered around the bed, trying their best to look relieved that he had woken up. It wasn't that they wanted him to die, but they knew it would take a while for them to get used to trying to trust him. "I'm alive?" he asked Flash.

Flash laughed gently, and kissed his forehead. Nat felt a slight ping of jealousy, but he pushed it away. As long as Flash was happy, he knew he never would have a reason to feel sad. "Of course, you are silly. These are some real great people here, Jasper. They helped fixed you all up."

Jasper took Flash's hand in his, and he smiled again. "I thought I was in Heaven when I saw your beautiful face staring down at me," he said kindly, and everyone had to smile. Flash laughed again and started to cry gently. Jasper reached up and wiped one of the tears off her face. "Why you crying all the time, Christa? Isn't there something that can make you happy?" he asked with a smile.

Flash wiped the other tears away with her free hand. "You make me happy, Jasper," she said with a smile, then turned to look at Dan and Nat before she continued speaking. She looked at Jasper with smiling eyes. "And they make me happy," she added, before standing up and turning to everyone. "You all do."

Everyone smiled, and Nick, who was closest to Flash at the time, reached forward and embraced Flash in a nice hug. "You make us happy, too, Christa," he mumbled with a smile, looking at Mrs. Jo as he said it.

As everyone took turns embracing Flash, Jasper watched smiling. She sure is happy, isn't she, Jasper thought to himself. She deserves every bit of it, he though again with a smile.

Nat came over to Jasper and sat down besides his bed. Jasper looked at Nat and smiled gently. "Hey Nat," he said.

Nat looked nervous and fidgeted with his fingers as he spoke. "I'm sorry for not trusting you, Jasper. I should have given you a second chance to begin with," he admitted.

Jasper laughed. "That's all right. I'd have done the same think in your place," and Nat smiled too.

And as everyone spent the next few minutes hugging, apologizing and having a good time, a lot of people learned many things.

Everyone can change, but only if they wanted to. And by the time that the first star winked and everyone was in bed, they knew that Jasper wanted to.

A week or so later a wedding at Plumfield was arranged. The day was perfect - there was hardly a cloud in the sky, and the sun shone brightly like a golden pendent. It was a perfect day for a wedding.

The men had gathered outside all dressed up in their tux and what not. Jasper had borrowed one from Nick, and they all stood nervously.

Bess, Nan, Asia and Mrs. Jo were dressing Flash upstairs. Mrs. Jo beamed with pride as she stared at the beautiful girl in front of her, dressed in Mrs. Jo's own wedding gown that she had worn. "You look lovely, Christa," Bess said smiling, and Christa smiled back at her. She was so glad that she had finally made some friends with girls her own age. Back on the streets of Boston all the girls that were her age were snobs with fancy dresses and lots of money. Now she had two girls to be her maids of honors.

Flash came downstairs with the other girls all dressed up in their dresses, too, and stepped outside into the air. The boys who were gathered in a circle talking silently ("the boys" being Nick, Franz - who had visited from Harvard for the wedding - Dan, Nat, Tommy, Emil, and Jasper) turned around to see the girls walk outside.

At first glance, the only thing everyone saw was Bess, Nan, Mrs. Jo and Asia, who were walking in front, all dressed up in nice dresses. Bess and Nan went up to Dan and Nat, and the two boys complimented the girls' outfits.

Then everyone saw Flash. They couldn't believe it! They had never seen her in such a beautiful dress before, let alone a dress at all.

Everyone was speechless, and the four girls smiled at Flash pleased. The boys' eyes just about popped out of their heads, and Dan and Nat thought that if they weren't comitted to Nan or Bess (and if Flash wasn't going to marry Jasper, of course) they certainly wouldn't mind getting to know this new and improved Flash.

Emil was the first to find his voice. He had always thought Flash was pretty, but he had never seen this - feminine. "Wow, Flash - you look - wow," he mumbled, red in the face.

Nick smiled at her. "Well look at you, Christa. Don't you look pretty," he told her, and Flash grinned. Franz was amazed! Was this really the girl he had seen four years ago? He couldn't believe it, she was so grown up!

The rest of the boys had been staring at her the whole time with wide eyes and open mouths, but Dan and Nat snapped out of it in sync, it seemed. "You look wonderful, Flash," Nat said staring at her in disbelief.

Dan suddenly started to laugh, and Flash walked forward. "Thank you all, and what's so funny Dan?" she asked him grinning.

Dan kept laughing, and everyone else started to smile too, although they didn't know why he was laughing, either. Dan tried to speak in between giggles. "You just - gosh, Flash. All these years with you and I almost forgot you were a girl!" he said, and everyone broke into huge laughs. Flash smiled and playfully punched Dan on the shoulder. Dan was still laughing, and put his hand to his shoulder. "Ow, that hurt!" he cackled with a smile.

Flash shook her head and started laughing too. "That didn't and you know it," she said, and with that, she hugged her two best friends.

Now it was Jasper's turn to speak. He walked up to her and eyed her carefully with a happy gleam in his eye. "Well, well, Christa, guess this proves that I'm the one that wears the pants in the family," he said metiphorically.

Flash laughed and put her arm around him. "Just 'cause I got all fancied up doesn't mean I'm any less of the girl I was in the first place," she said to him, but everyone figured it was intended for them to hear, too.

Jasper kissed her cheek and everyone got ready for the wedding ceremony. "Course not, it just means that you're more."

After the wedding was completed and the sun was setting slowly behind the trees, everyone sadly knew it was time for the newly weds to leave. The wagon was all packed, and the only thing left was the good-byes - the hardest part. Jasper and Flash insisted that they return the wedding clothes that Nick and Mrs. Jo had lent to them, but they wouldn't take them back. "Are you sure you want me to keep this, Mrs. Jo?" Flash had asked the woman.

Mrs. Jo beamed and hugged Flash, who was still in the gown. "Of course, something for you to remember me by," she told her with tears in her eyes.

Flash smiled. "I would never forget you, Mrs. Jo. You know that." Mrs. Jo smiled back and hugged her one more time. "Yes, Christa, I know."

Flash said good-bye to Bess and Nan and everyone else, and before long there was just Dan and Nat left. In the mean time, Jasper was saying goodbye to everyone else. Once he reached Mrs. Jo, she forced a smile. She knew she was doing this for Flash, and it was the right thing. Jasper looked at the ground shyly. "You're a mighty kind woman, Mrs. Bhaer," he said, still staring at his shoes. Mrs. Jo found herself smiling voluntarily all of the sudden. "Thanks for being like a mother to me. I owe ya one," he continued.

Mrs. Jo reached forward and lifted his chin to see that he was crying. She smiled and embraced him in a hug. "My pleasure."

Dan and Nat hugged Flash with tears in their eyes. Flash had asked them why the were crying, and Nat simply said that their best friend was growing up. "We're gonna miss you a lot, Flash," Dan said.

Flash grinned at them. "We'll still come and visit, and I'll still write, I promise."

The time for Jasper and Flash to head out came all too soon. As the newlyweds waved goodbye from their wagon, Flash reached over and took the reins from Jasper's hands. "I wanna do take advantage of my old life before I have to start acting like a wife," she told him with a grin, and set off. Jasper laughed and put his arm around her. He had never been so happy in his life. He was starting a new life with the girl he loved most. He was glad that she would be part of his family.

As the Plumfield residents watch their wagon disappear down the road, everyone was happy for the two. "I can only imagine what kind of adventures those two will run into," Nat said with a laugh, and everyone else laughed, too as they turned to go inside.

And although it wasn't talked about much for the rest of the night, everyone figured that everyone else was thinking about the same thing, that the girl without a family finally had one.

And they all had an image stuck in their minds as the lay down to go to sleep that night, an image that never had shone so brightly, and something they certainly never would forget.

Flash's smile.