Authors note:

Hello everyone, I know some of you are wondering why I've spelled the name " Brandan " and not " Brandon ". There's a reason guys, I picked my cousins name for the main male character of this story and my dear cousin's name is spelled just like this. So I hope this thing wouldn't confuse you anymore huh.

And anybody who want's to suggest me reading a good story you are reading or you are writing, please do so without any hesitation. I like reading good books and all your suggestions are welcome with open arms.

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Sammy patted Ross's head smiling while Sarah hugged it's neck giggling happily. Savanah gave both the kids a serious look.

"Now, Ross's responsibility is in your hands for three hours while I go to hospital for check-ups, take care of him, ok?" The old woman said fixing the scarf around her neck.

Ross was Savanah's dog, an oversized hound. It was a foot larger than Sarah and Sammy. Both the kids loved Ross. Savanah named Ross after her late husband, trust her to name a dog after the love of her life. No wonder, all the neighbours called her crazy. But she was defiant, calling the action only fair as she dug up this creative way and make it seem like his husband was always around.

Sammy tried to restrain the grin from spreading across his lips, he was not too fond of showing emotions, at least he tried not to as much as he could.

Sarah enthusiastically replied, "Otay, Savanah dada."

Why she called mrs. Savanah "dada" was an unknown mystery but mrs. Savanah really liked being called that, not that she would ever confess that.

While Savanah was locking her house door, Sammy held the dogs leash. Immediately that made Sarah scrunch her brows. She pulled away from hugging Ross's neck and tried to snatch the leash from Sammy's clutch.

Sarah whined, "I get to hold the leash."

Now, how could Sammy let that happen, holding Ross's leash was a big responsibility that Sammy couldnt let away from his hand. So he held his chin up and clutched the leash tighter.

"No sarah. I am already holding it, I got to it first." Sammy said annoyed.

Sarah again tried to rip it away from Sammy's hand making Sammy to fall down on his back but still he didnt let go. Sarah was now over Sammy fighting tooth and nail, Ross made a desperate yelp pulling his tongue out and lolling while they rolled over on the grass.

In a dash Savanah was beside them yelling, at the same time fiddling with her unlit cigerrate. "Ohh you kids! what are you doing, do you want your mommy to kill me for this, not that I am scared of her but still. Stand up now."

Sarah and Sammy with embarrassed faces stood up. Savanh tapped her chin with her forefinger thinking hard about what to do that would satisfy both the kids. The problem was both of them wanted to hold the leash but unfortunately there was only one. And an idea immediately clicked into her weird, wicked brain.

So after a few minutes, Sarah and Sammy were both very happy, smiling and satisfied. Ross had two leashes hooked to its herness, Sammy was holding one leash and Sarah was holding the other.

Savanah wiped her hands on the sides of her maxi dress with a proud grin.

"I am a genious.", she exclaimed.

Walking down her front porch steps she told in a strict tone, "Dont leave the front yard, ok?"

Sarah and Sammy were holding Ross's leashes from both sides and trying to tow ross to two opposite directions while Ross looked quite puzzled, they were too busy to answer. So they went on by just nodding their heads.

After Savanah left Sarah and Sammy were playing in the front yard for a long time with Ross but soon they were bored, it seemed like ross was bored too. They looked at Elli sitting at their front porch steps, a book in her hands, her head resting on a pillar as she slept over there oblivious to the world around.

It seemed that trouble was soon going to follow by the mischievous grin played on the terrible twin's lips.

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It was weekend but as usual and being the perfect workaholic, Brandan went to office bright and early. Oliver was at home trying to clean up the house as much as he could, they had to search for a maid soon. Brandan decided to call the maid service agency after he return today.

He was driving the car while thinking about how to convert the losses of the companies here into profit. There were too many ideas but easy to say difficult to do. He had called for a meeting on monday, hopefully they will start sorting out all of the problems soon. But to do that he had to first point out the problems.

Brandan thanked the Gods that he decided to join Oliver in this tour because things in the office was quite messy here and Oliver by the way seemed oblivious to all this tension. Since the moment they arrived to the new house oliver was behaving like a typical housewife. It was awkward. Brandan recalled how Oliver was wearing a pink apron making pancakes this morning while singing a love song. Brandan almost ran away to office.

Brandan was close to the driveway of his new house. Thinking various things Brandan took the last sharp turn to his house and his breath got stuck in his throat.

There in the middle of the street, merely a few feets away from his car stood two kids and a dog in the middle of them blocking the whole road. The two kids were holding that oversized dog's - two leashes !! From both sides they were desparately trying to drag the dog away from the street towards two oppsite directions. The dog was pathetically stuck in the middle.

Brandan kicked on the break and the car stopped making a loud protesting screeching noise right before the nose of the dog. The two kids, a boy and a girl shouted their lungs out opening their mouths as wide as they could... more than it was humanly possible.

All three of them had their eyes closed in fear the dog was whimpering covering its lowered head with one front leg, it's tail was firmly tucked between it's legs.

Brandan breathed heavily, that was close. Why the hell this kids were wandering along the road like this and who taught them to tow a dog with two leashes? Brandan felt furious but not upon those kids, they looked like the two most adorable angels now hugging the dog by its neck.

He quickly rushed towards their side and knelt down before them.

"Hey.. you guys alright?" Brandan asked worriedly.

Sammy and Sarah both were hell scared, they slowly turned their heads to look at Brandan. While sammy just snorted Sarah answered in a shrill voice. "Yes."

Sammy whispered but Brandan could hear him. "Sarah dont talk to him, remember mommy told us not to talk to a stranger. She is going to whoop you when she finds out."

Sarah looked away guiltily listening to that, the dog was trying to squirm away from their hold now.

A smile crossed Brandan's lips hearing sammy. He quickly looked at them from top to bottom to find out if they were hurt somewhere. He could see no signs of injury instead of their clothes covered with dirt and mud, for playing outdoor. Brandan assumed the obvious.

He held out his right hand with a friendly smile. "Hi... my name's Brandan."

The kids looked hesitant for a moment, it was Sarah who first faintly smiled and gave her little hand in his and shook fiercely.

"My name is Sarah."

A chill of something unknown ran up to his spine... right at the moment Sarah's hand touched his, he felt an urge to embrace her and protect her from the world. A hazy feeling crept up his guts when he stared at her beaming eyes, those eyes.. they looked so familiar but he couldnt point out where he had actually seen them.

His haze was broken when Sarah removed her hand from his. He cleared his throat. "That's one lovely name."

Sarah's smile turned into a grin. Brandan glanced at Sammy to see him still looking a bit hesitant, maybe processing in his mind about what to do. A tough kid, Brandan thought.

He now forwarded his hand to Sammy with the same friendly smile. He watched Sarah whispering something into his ear, Brandan couldn't hear it. "It's bad manners if you no talk to him Sammy, forgot what mommy told us that other day?"

Sammy scrunched up his brows and placed his hand in Brandan's. It was just one shake but a firm one after which.. Sammy quickly took his hand back and held Sarah's hand instead. The same kind of feeling again swelled inside Brandan, the same feeling when he held Sarah's hand.

Brandan looked at the boy who looked a lot like... him ? It was quite creepy how the boy was behaving. It matched so much of his own arrogant side.

Sarah bumped Sammy's shoulder with her feeble shoulder placing her free hand on her tiny hip. "Why you not tell him your name Sammy ?"

Brandan wanted to laugh but held it back, it could prove to be a spell breaker when the kids are finally opening up.

"Sammy." Sammy had a scowl on his face when he said his name.

Brandan patted the dog's head and Sarah said quickly, "And his name Ross mr. stranger, he Savanah dada's doggy, she told us to take care him when she go to hospital, right Sammy ?"

Sammy quickly nodded his head.

Brandan smiled at the name Sarah gave him "Mr. Stranger" !! Well.. yeah.. he appeared to be the spooky stranger with that car almost running over them. With that thought the urge of protectiveness in him returned in full swing, he couldn't let the kids wander around like this.

So getting back serious he asked the kids, "Okay now, can you show me where do you live, so that I can get you home."

Sarah nodded and lifted her hand up pointing at their house. Brandan looked at the direction, their house was right at the opposite of his one. Like a lightening he recalled the scene from last night when he saw two kids and a woman kneeling down on the ground and what seemed like was praying.

So these cute kids were his neighbors, Brandan smiled. He stood up and looked at the kids to see them now ready as ever to go home while holding the two leashes of the helpless Ross.. again ?

Brandan sighed, he had to settle that issue now.

So after a long minute Brandan was seen to be ushering the kids to their house, he was holding Sarah's hand while Sarah was holding Sammy's and Sammy was happily towing Ross with it's leash, now only one.

Brandan felt a tug and everyone stopped behind him, right at the moment when they reached the frontyard.

Sammy pointed at Savanah's house. "That's Savanah dada's house and she told us to stay in the front yard with Ross."

Brandan looked at the house they were pointing at was right beside their house, he bent a little downwards to match their level and said softly yet firmly. "Then frontyard means frontyard only, not the streets okay ?"

"Okay." Sammy looked unwilling but he himself knew that Brandan was right.

Brandan pointed at his own house across the street.

"And that's my house and you guys are always welcome to meet me, now I will leave you two here. No wandering around. And who is looking after you now huh.. or are you on your own ?"

Sarah pointed now at their front porch step where Elli was sleeping resting her head on the wooden pillar an opened book was resting on her lap, it's pages were flipping with the light wind. "That's Elli aunt over there. Mommy gone to.. to.. ermm.."

Sammy completed, "pay the bills."

"So first you go and wake that sleeping lady up over there." Brandan said with a smile.

Right at that moment Brandan's eyes fell on the hose pipe kept beside the rose bushes a few feets away, he looked back at the children to see their eyes twinkling in mischief looking at what he was looking at a moment ago. He raised his thumb up and Sammy for the first time smiled at him... and what an evil smile that was, it reminded Brandan of his own childhood. Again that creepy shiver ran up to his guts... what was going on ?

As he walked towards his car to get it in the garage, he heard a fierce - ear shattering cry from behind him. He couldn't help but to laugh out loud. Served that woman right, who the hell sleeps like that while five years old kids left to look after by her are wandering in the streets with a dog bigger than their size. What if he couldn't stop the car at time, fear gripped him like never before at the thought. And a pull so strong made him want to turn around and run back to those kids, instead he dropped closed the shutter of his garage and made his way into his own house.

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When Elli was complaining to Emma - how Sarah and Sammy had drenched her with that hell of a hose pipe, the children obviously stood up for self defense. One thing led to another, the whole story was spilled out in no time and resulted into Emma freaking out... checking out her kids for any wound on their bodies. When the immediate shock was worn out it was transferred into an inevitable wrath of her motherly side.

She mentally thanked a thousands times to that Mr. Stranger who was apparently their new neighbor... and made a mental note to have a visit to his house to thank him properly.

Emma had her hands on her hips as she stood with a firm face before the three, she looked quite similar to a drill sergeant. She used her angry mom tone to announce their punishment, she hated to punish her kids and see their sullen faces but it was needed.

"You are grounded for two days." Emma said coldly.

Sammy and Sarah's faces fell as they made their best attempts to look innocent and helpless as much as they could. Elli stood up and patted both the kids shoulders with compassion and was about to walk away.. when Emma continued.

"All three of you."

Elli stopped dead in her track. "What ? I am not a kid Emma. I am a grown up woman."

Emma crossed her arms keeping intact the firm expression. "You are equally guilty Elli, just think of what would have happened if that man wouldnt have stopped the car at the right time and brought them back home !!"

Elli guiltily glanced at the kids who were now a little relieved as the whole fault was not thrown up solely upon them, their mommy was the best mommy in the world. But they dare not say anything.

Emma added, "And... what example would I set to Sarah and Sammy if I let go of what was your part in this, it was your responsibility to look after them but instead you were sleeping. If they are going to be grounded you are going to be too - after your office hours of course."

Seeing Elli open her mouth to start protesting again, Emma interrupted her, "Save your words for later. My house my rules. Got it?"

Elli huffed and muttered under breath, "Just great!"

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Brandan sat at the edge of his bed, he stared intently at her round face.. that little nose... her twinkling bright eyes. His hair was still dripping wet from the shower, a droplet of water fell on her photo right upon her reddish cheek. Brandan wiped it away with his thumb softly. Or was it a lone drop of tear ??

Tucking the photo safely under his pillow, Brandan walked out to the balcony turning off the fluorescent light after picking up his guitar. The atmosphere outside was incredibly serene, euphoric was the best word to describe it as the moonlight fell upon all the contents of nature making them dazzle gloriously.

He leaned sideways resting his one hip against the railing. His eyes involuntarily travelled towards the house across the street to the room where he saw those kids - Sarah and Sammy praying last night. He recalled the encounter he had with them this morning. The sides of his lips curved up into a smile remembering their cuteness and how adorable they were even when they were mischievous.

Their room was dark tonight, they might have gone early to bed, he thought. Then his eyes fell on the room just beside their's, that room was also dark but under the moonlight he could figure out someone sitting on the window sill... a silhouette of a woman. Silky hair was dancing around her face in the slight chilly but comfortable summer wind. He stared at the silhouette for a long time, then with a sigh relaxed his body as his fingers raked over the strings of his guitar creating a tune so passionate.. so deeply mixed with both pain and pleasure.. imagining that one face encraved in his heart.

As he played the tune he could feel something change in the air. Something so anticipating that he had never felt before, a creepy feeling of being close to something so desired.

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Emma changed into her comfortable pyjama's as she made her way over to the window, her favourite place to sit down and stare at nothing outside when sleep would deprive her at nights.

Emma thanked herself for choosing this suburb and buying this house, this area was a lot peaceful and it almost seemed like they weren't actually in a city but it was as if a cozy, quite, typical town area just like her hometown... the place which she wanted to both remember and to forget. She felt the serene moonlight kissing her skin, as she looked up at the sky where there were millions of stars gazing down at her.

Pulling her legs up on the wooden windowsill Emma hugged her knees close to her chest, her favorite position to sit here in her favorite time when she could think about anything, sometimes taking a ride back to her past without risking her inner turmoil to get caught by anyone.

As she sat there under the moonlight, light breeze making the satin soft curtains to blow and her equally soft hair to float around her face, her mind too floated around with various thoughts. Always it had been Sarah and Sammy when she thought about the coming days and years. Appointment with the doctor about their vaccinations, getting them new dresses because all their dresses were getting short, buying new shoes because they had ruined the old ones while trying to climb the big tree in the backyard. Now they would be going to school soon and she had to also start making a fund for their higher studies.

Emma huffed but smiled, so much to do.

She thought back of Jonathon, was he right for her ? Was he right for Sarah and Sammy ?