A/N: FLASHBACK OR END OF FLASHBACK (in bold) -

"Father, may I go riding today?" asked Chelsea, while looking out the window in the library of her home in Inverness, Scotland. Chelsea silently wished her father would let her go, because she hadn't seen John in about a week because of the celebrations held for her birthday. She was given a beautiful Arabian mare named Star from her parents, and a beautiful quilt made by her servants, Arrianna and Kaya, who were twin sisters. She had received many other gifts from her family and friends, too.

She wished silently that her father would let her go so that she could see her beloved, John whom she had met four years ago. She had sent Kaya to Elgin yesterday to find John and tell him that she would be there the next day around lunch. When Kaya returned, she told Chelsea that she had given him the message.

Standing among the crowd, that was gathered in the market-place, was fifteen year old Chelsea, listening to the royal messenger. Someone bumped into her from behind, knocking Chelsea to the ground. She let out a small scream of surprise and looked up into the startling blue eyes of a stranger.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to push you." he said, offering his hand to help her up. Chelsea took it and was about to thank him, when her servant, Kaya, showed up and said "Lady Chelsea, I have received news that your father wishes to see you. Arrianna will be here shortly with the horses."

"Thank you, Kaya." Turning back to the stranger, she said, "Thank you for helping me up, Mr. . . ."

"Oh, sorry. My name is John, and I'm guessing that your name is Chelsea." He said, watching as another girl identical to Chelsea's maid, Kaya, approached the small group with three horses.

"My father has called for me, so I must go. I'm sorry we weren't able to talk more." Chelsea continued, while getting on her horse.

"How about tomorrow?" Asked John. "Perhaps at the stables around noon?"

"I'm sure that I can meet you at noon. I'll see you tomorrow." called Chelsea, as she followed Arrianna and Kaya down the street.

"Of course you may go riding, princess. But be sure that you are home in time for supper, because I've invited Jonathan to join us tonight. He's shown an interest in marrying you. Please think about it when you are riding. I will see you tonight, my dear."

"Alright father, I'll think about it." Chelsea said, while thinking, "If Prince Jonathan is like the rest of the 'princes' who wanted to marry me, he just wasting his time." as she walked to her room and instructed her maid, Kaya to get Star, an Arabian mare, ready for an afternoon outside. She could hardly wait to see John again.

It hadn't been easy to get away from the palace, because her parents started to get suspicious of where she had been going nearly everyday for the past three and a half years. Chelsea didn't like the fact that she kept her identity from John, but she couldn't tell him that she was a princess. She was worried how he would react to the news and how he would treat her when he finally found out. Sooner or later, she knew he would find out, but she wished it would be later rather than sooner. She had finished changing into her riding clothes, when Kaya returned with the news that Star was ready, Chelsea walked out to the stables. She spotted her horse at the side of the stables getting fed a treat by Arrianna, she thanked Arrianna, telling her that she and Kaya could have some spare time while she was out riding. Once the drawbridge was opened, she rode in the direction of the ocean using the well-worn path that she'd been using for three and a half years.

On her way to Elgin, where John lived, Chelsea stopped at the house that she bought when she started going to Elgin regularly, where she kept her civilian clothes so her parents wouldn't find them. She went inside to change into her civilian clothes, that were stored in the bedroom closet. She chose a sky-blue halter top and a pair of jeans and then put her hair into a pony-tail. When she was finished, she went outside and mounted Star and rode the rest of the way to Elgin.

As Chelsea neared the mill where John worked, she noticed that Aaron, his best friend, was watching her. She put her finger to her mouth to signal to Aaron to stay quiet. Aaron nodded and went back to work, while keeping an eye on what Chelsea was going to do. Chelsea quietly came up behind John and was about to cover his eyes to surprise him, not realizing that John had seen Aaron look up, nod and pretend to be working and that he had seen her shadow. A second before Chelsea covered his eyes, he turned quickly, picked her up and spun her around.

When he put her feet back on the ground, he said, "I'm almost done. If you go into the barn and look around, if you find anything you can keep it. I'll meet you there when I'm done. Okay?" asked John, wondering how Chelsea would react to the surprise that was waiting for her in his horse's stall.

"Alright John." said Chelsea, giving him a smile. She mounted Star, and rode to his house on the edge of Elgin, unsure of what John wanted her to find. As soon as Chelsea was out of sight, John led his horse, Morgan, out of the stalls that were supplied for the workers. Waving good-bye to Aaron he followed Chelsea.

When Chelsea arrived at the barn she went inside and heard some whining coming from Morgan's stall. She walked over and looked inside. There was an adorable border collie puppy, with one blue eye and one brown eye, laying beside a little stool with a piece of paper on it. Chelsea opened the stall and before she could take one step inside the stall, the puppy was jumping up at her, demanding her attention. When the puppy was calmed down, she picked up the note and read 'Dearest Chelsea, would you mind thinking of a name for this little bundle of energy? Lots of love, John.'

"I see you've been greeted by the surprise. I have something else to give to you, but you will have to wait until we get to the picnic." said John, coming into the stall behind her. Chelsea didn't realize that he was there and jumped with surprise. "John, I didn't hear you come in," pausing for a second, she realized that he wasn't at work, she said, "I didn't know you finished so soon. I would have waited for you."

"I wanted to you to see the surprise first. What do you think of that little rascal?" asked John, putting his arms around her. John held her there for a minute, then took her hand and led her into the house to get the picnic basket that he had prepared that morning. Together, they went outside, with the puppy following behind them, they got on their horses and John led the way to the clearing that he had discovered after Kaya went back to Inverness.

A/N: PLEASE REVIEW; TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK OF IT ;WHAT I SHOULD CHANGE ;ANY SPELLING MISTAKES.