Prompt = this picture: http://weheartit.com/entry/20287604

A pretty, young girl, her red curls bouncing despite her stealthy steps, walked along the path. She listened carefully. She her only the sounds of the forest. She paused and inhaled deeply, enjoying the scent of pine and the slightly damp . A deep love of nature was ingrained in her, helped along by her father. The outdoors were an essential part of him. A rustle in the brush reminded her she had a goal in mind.

She began quietly walking again and shortly reached to her destination, an old tree. It wasn't too far from 'civilization' but far enough that it felt as though she was deep in the woods. It was one of her favorite spots and she had to sneak away to get to it. With her family, both immediate and extended, it was hard to get time to one's self. They valued each other, greatly. They also valued privacy when they got it. 

After adjusting the pack on her back, she carefully climbed up to a wide branch that was rather straight. It was a perfect spot to sit. She hung her pack on a nearby branch and just sat for a few moments, looking around and down. She tried identifying some of the birds she heard but wasn't quite there yet. The sun dappled through the branches and leaves, warm on her skin. She took a book out of her pack and with a peaceful sigh, leaned back against the trunk to read. 

Prompt = "And what do we have here?"

She was tired of sitting here. She fidgeted a little. Sighed. Sipped from her water bottle. She never stopped watching the house. That's why she was there after all. This was the subject's home. Idly she tapped her fingers on her knee. This has to be the most boring surveillance job I've had yet. Suppressing another sigh she shifted in her seat. My butt is going numb. Wait. Don't focus on that. Focus on the assignment. These investigations might be their bread and butter right now but they sure didn't stimulate the same way the ones in their teens had. 

She stopped herself from reaching for another drink. Investigators usually learned the hard way what happened when you operate surveillance alone and drink too many liquids.  Then the petty little distractions were forgotten as a very familiar vehicle pulled up and even more familiar person got out and walked up to the door. "And what do we have here?" she murmured to herself, reaching for her binoculars.

Prompt = Blush

With her curls tossed by the breeze and the soft, early light erasing many of those pesky lines enjoying life brings to one's face, Helen was  completely unaware that she could almost pass for her daughter. She loved coming out here to this rose garden off the patio in the early mornings. It was quiet. There were no voices raised in frustrated sibling squabbles. No one asking her for anything. Oh she loved her family dearly and treasured them. But this was her time. She treasured it also. 

She sipped her coffee and leaned back, cradling the mug in her hands. The air around her was scented with the sweet fragrance of the Blush Ramblers covering the pergola over her head. She smiled, thinking how Peter managed to surprise her with the help of his parents and Andy. He had noticed how much she enjoyed his mother's arbor and how she would pull over a chair to sit by it and smell the roses. 

Sipping more coffee Helen lost herself in the memory. His mother had coerced her out to White Plains for the day, wanting to do a huge shopping day. She told Helen she could use the company but that she also wanted her input as it was her home too. Touched, she was unable to decline, even if she had wanted to. While they were gone the three men hurried to build the pergola. They set it up so the current arbor worked as an entryway. Just inside they set up a lounging bench. There was even enough room for small al fresco meals. 

When they had returned and Peter asked her to close her eyes, she didn't know what to think. Then she opened her eyes-and was speechless. It was a lovely spot even bare, although she had taken care of that quickly. She had carefully propagated cuttings from the arbor roses and trained them to cover. Soon she had a pretty little hideaway. A few tears welled in her eyes when she thought of how she had come here when they had lost Peter's father and then again when his mother passed. 

This is where she had come too when she first discovered she was pregnant, every time. It was her spot for both comfort and joy. Helen came back to the present with a start, realizing the light was brighter and if she didn't hurry inside breakfast would be late. With one last deep breath to enjoy the scent, Helen slipped inside.