Memories of playing in the snow with her parents had always been some of her favorite memories. She could remember with perfect clarity that long drive that seemed to go on and on with no sign of ever ending, but young Beylani had only been six years old when they'd first gone up to those mountains hours to the east of Willowhaven. It was a wonder that her mother and father had been able to maintain such saint-like patience as the little girl in the back seat would ask almost every fifteen minutes if they were there yet. There had been no words the young girl had known then that could have truly explained the excitement that caused those baby blues to sparkle like diamonds as she stares eagerly out that window of the old black SUV that belonged to her father. They would simply chuckle with amusement as the little blue-eyed blonde girl in the back would nearly be bouncing around in her seat like she would hardly last another minute if they didn't reach that destination they'd told her they were going to. And oh, how those eyes lit up when they would climb ever higher, that road flanked with countless evergreens that began to become frosted in that glittering ivory. They would play those usual games on that long drive, things that they would try and use to distract the girl that could surely have driven any other adult mad with those repetitive and rapidly fired questions of "are we there yet", "how much longer?", and "why aren't we there yet?" before the young girl's attention might be snagged by something new. She would see something outside and if she didn't know what it was or why it was what it was, she would then begin to ask those questions with full and innocent expectation that her mother or father would be able to provide her with that answer she sought. She'd ask them what sort of bird it was that she saw flying in the sky, why their feathers always looked black when they were up so high in that crisp and clear winter sky. If Andras thought that she had an endless sea of questions now at the age of twenty-one, she wonders what he might have thought when she was nothing more than a child.

Young Beylani had become so caught up in those questions that she'd bombarded her parents with when first they would give her an answer only to unlock about a dozen more, that the silly little girl hadn't even realized the blanket of snow that draped over either side of that road which soon became dirt and gravel, growing thinner and thinner as they ascended. Only when she feels the car slow to a stop did those wild and imaginative curiosities come to an even more abrupt halt. Even now, as she stood there beside her snowman with back to the lodge and baby blues cast out over those snow-covered hills and trees clustered here and there, she can remember unbuckling that seatbelt and shoving the door open to a winter wonderland. She'd gasped in nothing but pure childish wonder as she looked out over the glittering snow, the trees dressed in that same stark white. She'd thought then that everything looked so much like it were covered by white clouds, like they had climbed so high over the mountain that they'd reached the sky. She'd leapt out of the vehicle then, and that was when she realizes just how much she loved the snow. Sunk up to her calves in those warm boots and fleece lined pants, practically swallowed by the thick and plush of her winter coat, all she could do was stand there and look around in pure wonderment, thinking it all to be part of some dream world they'd arrived in."Well? What do you think, Lamb?", would come through baritones of her father as he squatted down beside her and looked out over the enter landscape with her. Practically wiggling in place, she'd hardly stifled a squeal of glee as she threw her arms around the man, hugging his neck."It's so pretty! I love it!", she'd squeaked before releasing her hold, glancing over and up to her mother that simply stood there with a loving smile and laughter reaching those icy blues that Beylani's own reflected. A hearty chuckle fell from her father's lips as he took her small hand into his own in that moment."Well then, let's go!", he'd encouraged the little girl who was quickly dragging him after her as they ran through the freshly fallen powder with her moter not far behind them. She'd built her first snowman that winter, a small one next to the larger ones that her parents made and she could remember declaring how they were a happy family just like them. She'd had her first snowball fight that day, made her first snow angel... That day was a day like no other, much like how her first day here in this world that Andras had shared with her. She would never forget it.

Looking out over those gentle slopes, she found a new want in her heart. She wanted to build a snowman with him, wander through those trees with him. She wanted to walk and laugh together, like there was nothing else in the world that mattered. It was a foolish thought, thinking that she could steal away all his time that wasn't spent tending to the needs of Somnia. After all, surely he had friends of his own that would be vying from his attention just Elain always seemed to seek her out for companionship. Yet, even when she was side by side with the honey-blonde woman that felt so much like the sister that Beylani never had, those thoughts of hers would find those dark hazel eyes and wicked smile that could make her heart race wildly within her breast. No matter how many times she would tell herself, force herself to believe that there could never be anything between herself and the fae man, she could never escape those foolish thoughts that just maybe there was a future for the two of them. She dares to wonder, as she stands there and daydreams, what sort of father Andras would make... Surely if fae children could be born, if he had been born the way that any human children was, then such a thing was possible? Maybe he doesn't want a family. The blue-eyed blonde hoped that one day she might have a family of her own, a man who loved her more than the stars and the moon, a child or two of her own to watch play and grow. For a fleeting moment, knowing that neither he nor Ida were around to catch that apparently subtle change in her at such things, she allowed for herself to imagine the fae man as that special someone in her life. Just this once, baby blue eyes fixed on that middle distance as the sun came ever closer to sinking behind those jagged peaks in the far distance, she allows from those fantasies and feelings she fought fiercely - and hopelessly - against the engulf her. The image of him straddling her on that bed by firelight, only this time not only does he brush those strong yet gentle hands against her soft skin but he also lowers those lips to hers and they share a kiss of passion. She could almost feel those same hands running slowly over her body that was bare beneath his own. She could almost hear her softly labored breathing, feel the warmth of his breath on the sensitive skin of her neck... The fantasy unfolds and she can feel her heart begin to flutter in her chest as that familiar warmth washes over her. The image fades and she sees them on that couch before through huge fireplace in the lodge, her smaller frame curled affectionately against his own with those arms wrapped around her as they watched a faceless child playing together on the floor with pitched laughter and giggles as it entertained itself with a toy of some sort. She had her head on her chest then, that steady heartbeat thrumming comfortingly as they sat there together to watch what their love had created...

For a moment, she allows for those foolish fantasies that linger and a soft sigh ushers softly through her before finally see forces them back to the hidden places in her heart before she continues her winter adventures. They would never become real, but ever so slowly she was beginning to think that it was okay. It was okay that there was no hope for such a future with him, or a future at all with the handsome fae man that captivated her like no one else ever had and likely ever could. She would tell herself that okay for her to have these thoughts and fantasies, so long as she made herself understand that they would only ever be just that. He'd never choose me. Why would he? I'm nothing special. I have nothing to offer him. He'd be foolish to ever feel anything for someone so small and insignificant. Pushing away those thoughts, she delves even deeper into the winter landscape as she takes in all that she can. She and Andras would be exploring the Winter Solstice Festival tomorrow so she likely wouldn't have a chance to exist like this. She wanted and laughs until the sun begins to set at last, retreating into the warmth of the lodge and sits there drinking that decadent hot chocolate in quiet contentment, her thoughts finally stilled as she stares calmly into those burning flames for a time until that last delicious drop is gone. She remains there for a time, simply enjoying the peacefulness that surrounds her and while she hopes that Ida would come around that corner and muse Beylani with more stories or just her easy companionship and warm smile, the older fae woman does not find her way into the living area when finally the young woman rises from her place on the couch and places her mug in the kitchen before making her way up those stairs. She'd thought for a moment to see if there was something she couldn't help Ida with, but only when she recalls the hotsprings does she change her mind. Finding renewed excitement, she'd run up the stairs and into her bedroom to grab a fresh change clothes and towel before climbing the rest of the way up. There weren't any hotsprings in Sacrosanct - or so she was certain simply because no one had ever said anything about such. thing being nearby so she merely assumed - and if Andras was still occupied with Fae King business then she would just indulge herself with a nice, relaxing dip. Maybe allow for herself to slip away into those thoughts once more, finding it harder from her to leave for long as time progressed and those feelings continued to grow.

As she slowly lowers herself into that heated water, she ushers a soft sigh of relief as she felt herself warm up from head to toe until she is nearly neck deep in the steaming water when she immediately tenses as those midnight tones greet her. That heartbeat that had been slow and steady suddenly begins to race wildly as she submerged herself nearly up to her chin when baby blue eyes turn quickly to the side, finding Andras with that devilish grin moving ever closer, the sound of water moving around his chiseled frame filling the stunned silence."A-Andras", she stammers as thick lashes blink in clear surprise at the unexpected company. Suddenly, she remembers that she is entirely naked and those cheeks are flushed she bright red though maybe he couldn't see, or maybe he'd just think it was from the water. Maybe he wasn't naked... If you thought to come up here naked and you don't even live here, exactly what make should think he hadn't when this site his home, Lani? She was naked... in the hotsprings... with Andras, who likely was naked himself... Unbidden, she remembers how she'd seen all of him as the warm glow of the fireplace kissed his skin, how those dark locks fell over sultry eyes. Lani, get a grip!. She needed to say something, anytime. Stumbling inwardly to resort to that usual curiosity that hardly seemed willing to encourage a distraction for her, she tries to hide her struggle."I ummm, wasn't tired. I just... it was pretty cold outside in the snow so I thought since Ida said I could, I'd just, you know...", she rambles on absently as she fights to calm herself down. Everything was okay... she was just naked with the man that she had feelings for who surely didn't return them. She coughs, trying to make it sound casual but internally knowing she was failing terribly."If I would have known you were here, I wouldn't have intruded", she adds quickly, finding that she couldn't look away from those hazel eyes. Come on, Lani! Think of a question! If ever she were a deer in headlights, it would be now."So I was just building a snowman earlier and I was just wondering how a fae is born... They're not born human and turned into a fae at some point, right?", she asks as she pulls a random question out of nowhere, not even understanding how she would explain that building a snowman would even have prompted such a thought but maybe he wouldn't focus on that, or how they were both so unbearably bare under a sky full of stars, with faint candlelight... Oh my god, how is this even happening right now? Silently telling herself over and over to just keep breathing, trying almost desperately not to think of that moment by firelight, trying to convince herself he wasn't naked beneath that steam, she sits there with him as baby blues remain locked with those dark hazel depths, heart racing a mile a minute in her chest as she fought to calm it. Whatever you do, just don't think...