Requested by: multi-fanDOOM
OC: Jane Youngs

Almost a month had passed. The sunrises seemed longer and more reminding of the past, all the mistakes. Instead of normally focusing on the breaking light, Jane found her mind drifting once again to the man she had kissed on that very dock.

She knew it was foolish to think of him. They hadn't crossed paths, which worried her. He could be anywhere and it made her anxious.

Alexander had probably moved on. Though she disliked admitted it, she hadn't. No one had ever looked at her in that way, held her so delicately, and kissed her so passionately.

You're forgetting yourself, Jane reminded herself several times. It was useless to think of a man she had no chance with. He was gone now, so it was worthless to even spend another second thinking of him.

So life went on for her. Jane worked in the town, mostly spending her time as a seamstress. While she listened to women around her complaining, her own eyes wandered outside on the streets. The city was thriving by the minute, excitement was just at the tip of her fingertips.

But when the sound of spinning threads numbed her mind, she had to force herself to look away.

One particular morning caught her attention however. As she threaded together pieces of material, her eyes laid upon a familiar face. A face she had lost hope on. Her hands almost dropped the piece she held, but she managed to stand up and set it down properly.

She ignored the stares from the other women as she strolled out of the door. Jane was frozen in the doorway and she confirmed what she had seen was true. "Alexander."

Those eyes were unforgettable. Indeed, standing in front of her, was the man she had kissed on the dock. Alexander. He paused from browsing the pieces of cloth that were displayed to look at her.

"Jane?" Chuckling, he reached out and touched her arm gently. Actually standing in front of him, was a woman he thought he'd never see again. The one who stared at the sunrise like she hadn't seen anything more beautiful.

Alexander didn't hesitate to wrap his arms around her, almost knocking her off stance. If anything, Jane felt relieved. She pulled back, keeping her arms wrapped around his neck.

"Where have you been? I thought surely you had left." Playfully, she ran a finger down his cheek. He looked at her hand out of the corner of his eye, before taking it with his own.

"Well, things have gotten different for me, Jane. Much different than when we met."

What could he possibly mean? Trying to shake away the nervous feeling that was building up, she asked, "On what circumstances?" Her answer was right in front of her within seconds.

"Alexander, do you think-" A woman with her hair blowing around in the wind peered around the corner of the shop, only to lay eyes on the two of them. Her eyes widened and she blinked a few times. "And who might this be?"

Leaping away from the woman he had his arms wrapped around, Alexander stuttered, "Oh, this is Jane." There was a change in his tone as he looked between both women. "And this is Eliza." He cleared his throat loudly before murmuring the words, "My fiancé."

Fiancé. Jane held back the urge to make some sort of ridiculous remark. He said things had changed, but she never expected them to change this much. She also wasn't aware that was something people did, run away, get engaged, and then act like it was okay.

Eliza wrapped an arm around her fiancé's waist. Jane pressed her lips together tightly, as she looked upon the couple. No matter how much she longed to do that, it was clear that she certainly wouldn't ever be able to. Her heart was crushed as well as everything she had hoped for.

"It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm a close friend of your fiancé's." She gave Alexander a warning look, but smiled at Eliza. Taking her arm off his waist, Eliza shook the other woman's hand.

Jane tried not to show any sign of disappointment, for she could sense the feeling of lost trust growing in her heart. Have you been so blind to think he actually felt anything for you?

There was a long moment where no one spoke or looked at one another. Eliza finally broke the tense air by whispering, "We should be on our way. Alexander and I were in town to look at some fabric for our wedding."

"Oh, of course, when is the wedding?" Jane bit the inside of her cheek. She was visibly holding back tears. It always seemed she got herself in some sort of situation such as this.

Twirling her hair, Eliza looked at her fiancé and said, "Only a few weeks." The way she looked at him was the same way Jane had. It was the look of lovesick feelings and trust.

Alexander nodded. He hadn't seemed to take note on the shattered expression on Jane's face. Or maybe he had, but was just avoiding it.

"I don't want to keep you two any longer, you seem occupied." She looked at Alexander with a longing, confused gaze. The single word, foolish, echoed in her brain.

Eliza linked arms with him, nodding politely to Jane. She seemed to be right person for him. If she hadn't ever met Alexander, her heart knew that somehow things would have gone simpler.

It was probably for the better that she wasn't the woman in Alexander's life. And plus, the sunrise was just another mistake and moment in Jane's life that meant nothing. Tiny flames had already managed to lick away at the one thing she spent her time caring about.

Alexander reached out and kissed her hand. It took all her strength to say, "Delightful to see you again. And good luck with your upcoming wedding." She forcefully told herself to erase the man in front of her from her mind.

He murmured, "As to you, Jane." His smile seemed to be fading away, almost into a sullen frown she couldn't read. No matter how much Jane felt played, she couldn't deny how handsome he still looked.

The couple walked off down the street together, heads turning their way. Everyone seemed supportive of their engagement, which they should be. But no one could see the pain written on Jane's face as they walked away.

She turned on her heel and faced the harbor, where she spent every morning watching the sunrises. Maybe it was useless to wish for things that one had no chance in. Jane's head felt light as she watched the sun high up in the sky, gleaming and glowing.

And in that moment she promised herself not to ever hope upon things such as a kiss. It seemed that all her wishes had managed to be blinded by the sunrises she had spent all her life watching.

. . . . . . . . . .
A/N: Thank you multi-fanDOOM for the request! I hope you liked it, adding Eliza made for an interesting twist.