Disclaimer: I don't own anything except for Annie.

Chapter 1

Ever since she was little Annie could rely on two things: The James family and the Younger Family. Whenever tragedy struck they were there holding her up. When her mother died both Ma James and Ma Younger taught Annie's Pa how to raise a little girl. A few years later when her Pa was murdered the James family took her in. Of course like a good friend should be Annie was also there for them. After both Younger parents died Ma James and Annie taught the Younger girls how to take care of a home and family. But when Pa James died all she could do was hold Jesse's and Frank's hands letting them know she was there.

The years passed leaving Annie and Frank the eldest of the group at the age of 17. Annie was inside helping Ma James prepare for dinner while all the boys were outside either roughhousing or fixing the fence. Once Annie finished peeling the potatoes she went to join the boys, thats when little Jimmy Younger came up to her.

"Annie do you have a minute?'

"I have all the time in the world for you Jim"

"I was wonderin if I could take you to the party at the Miller's"

"Jimmy your ten your not old enough to go. Besides I'm already going with Frank"

"Finally" Annie raised her eyebrow

"What is that supposed to mean Jimmy?"

"I...Uh...I...Nothing" Annie stepped in front of Jimmy blocking his way to the field

"Jimmy. No you wouldn't be keepin any secrets from me would ya?"

"You know I wouldn't but Frank told me not to"

"We just won't tell Frank"

"OK. It's just Frank's had a thing for ya for a couple years now. All the boys have been teasing him about it."

"A couple years huh. Alright let's go see what everyone is doin"

They walked out into the back yard. Frank and Cole were fixing the fence while Jesse and Bob were playing around. Annie walked up to Frank and Cole. Jimmy following close behind.Cole stood up

"Now Ms. Annie how is it possible you keep gettin prettier each time I see you"

"Sush Cole Younger you go in and wash your hands dinner is almost ready. Take the other boys with you."

She looked down at Frank.

"Need any help with that fence?"

"Naw I'm finished for today." He looked up to see her smirking down at him "What?"

"a few years? Now I know I'm not that scary"

"Damn them which one told you" she laughed

"If i told you you'd just go beat the piss outta him. Besides I think its cute. You being all shy"

Frank groaned. Annie put her arms around his neck.

"Come on I happen to like cute." she gave him a light kiss and pulled him into the house.

Everyone was sitting at the dinner table eating a big meal Ma James had cooked.

Cole and Jesse looked over at Frank smiling

"Frank I heard you finally asked to court Annie. What did it take just 3 years?" Jesse asked laughing

"Hey Jesse don't make me tell everyone about how you look at little Zee Mims" Everyone was laughing at the brothers.

"Boys behave." Ma scolded

"Cole, Bob are boys going to the party?" Annie asked

"Why yes we are. You think that gentlemen such as ourselves would let all those lonely pretty girls stand there all alone"

This cause everyone to break out in laughter.

A year later

It was a hot day in Liberty Missouri. Annie was washing the clothes with the help of little Zee Mims. Well it was more Annie washing while Zee watched and talked.

"Pass me that shirt Zee"

"Annie you and Frank have been courting for a year now. Why aren't you engaged?" Zee asked passing the shirt

"What are you talking about?"

"Well most girls your age get courted by a boy and then the boy asks her to marry him not soon after. Look at Mary Donnelly she was been courted by Loni Packwood then not after two months they were engaged."

"Zee your just a youngin you don't understand. Besides it took Frank 3 years just to ask me to the Miller's shin dig He'll ask when he's ready"

"Well I hope it doesn't take Jesse that long to ask me"

"What makes you think he'll ask you" she smiled teasing Zee was fun to her. Zee sat silent

"Oh Zee I'm just teasin ya. He'll ask"

"Hey Zee Mims you comin to play with us?!" Jesse called from the field. Zee looked at Annie pleadingly. Annie sighed

"Oh Alright go quick before I change my mind.

Ma James came bustling out.

"Annie why don't I take that and you go get cleaned up. You've been working all day. Frank wants you two to take a ride"

Annie walked into the house not seeing the bright smile Ma James was wearing on her face. After getting dressed in a nice skirt and a light blue blouse Annie went downstairs to find Frank standing in the sitting room. He was pacing.

"What's on your mind Frank?" Annie asked leaning on the door frame. She noticed how clean and proper he looked.

"Nothing. You ready to go for that ride?"

"Yeah"

They saddled up their horses and went charging off. After an hour or so Frank led Annie down to a meadow. At that time of day the meadow seemed to sparkle beautifully. Frank and Annie tied their horses to a tree and walked over to sit on two very large rocks.

"Frank it's beautiful down here how'd you find it?"

"I was just riding one day and found it. It made me think of you so I thought to bring you down to see it." Frank looked nervous

"Frank every alright?"

" Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate:
Rough winds do ..."

"You don't have to use Shakespeare to impress me. Just speak from your heart tell me what you fell in your words"

"Oh well I...Annie... I love you. I always have.My wish is to wake up to your smile every morning and to watch our beautiful children running around the yard. Annie will you make my wishes come true. Will you be y wife?"

"Wow Now that was impressive Mr. James. Of course I'll marry you."

They kissed each other tenderly. Frank deepened the kiss but they broke apart when Bob fell down the hill toward him.

"Cole I told you not to push him" They heard Jimmy whisper. Annie smiled and /frank looked annoyed

"Boys you can come out know" Frank called out as Annie was helping Bob up.

"Why Frank that was very romantic didn't know you had it in you brother. Welcome to the family Annie" Jesse said smiling

"Yeah I'd even marry ya after that cousin" Cole said leaning on Jesse

"Let's go tell Ma before she worries we ran off and it's late you Younger boys should get home to your sisters" Frank ushered everyone out.

When they got home. They found Ma James crying at the dinner table.

"Ma were just getting married we aren't leaving for Flordia" Frank said walking into the door.

Annie walked over to her.

"Ma what's wrong. You aren't crying that hard cuz we got engaged."

All Ma James could do was hold up a letter. Annie took the letter. She turned pale as she read it.

'This couldn't be happening she only just got engaged an hour ago.' she thought

"Dear Mr.s Frank and Jesse James your being called to report to duty. You will be in stationed in Lexington Missouri. Starting the morning after you receive this letter." Annie barely choked out. (AN. I don't know where they would have been stationed so I just put that)

Neither Jesse nor Frank said anything but instead went to comfort both crying women.

The next day Jimmy and Annie rode with the boys to the boarder of Liberty. Cole and Bob also got a letter along with Webb Mims Zee's brother. They were standing in a line saying goodbye to Annie and Jimmy. Annie walked up to Webb.

"Take care of yourself and don't get shot." she hugged him and kissed his cheek. Next she walked up to Bob

"Bob Younger you had better bring your shameless ass back home you hear"

"I hear ya" she kissed his cheek and Walked up to Cole

"Cole watch your temper and watch for bullets flying at your big ole head." while Annie hugged him Cole whispered

"Take care of Jim and the girls for me?"

"Of course" then she kissed his cheek and walked up to Jesse.

"Jesse James. Don't go smiling and do something stupid. Remember what we taught you, not to tight a grip and shoot with both eyes open on the target." she kissed his cheek and slowly turned to Frank. Annie sighed

"Frank." she hugged him tight "Don't go and get shot. I want you in one piece, alive and kickin. God I love you. Come back home and watch out for the others. And Don't go finding yourself a lady while your out fighting or I'll have to hunt you down and shoot you myself."

"I love you to Annie" she kissed him slowly trying to savoir it for the lonely years coming up.

She stepped back and waved as the boys got on their horses and rode away. Just as they were about 5 yards away Frank turned his horse around and came riding back toward her. Before the horse stopped he jumped off taking Annie in his arms and kissing her passionately. Annie wrapped her arms around Frank's neck melting into his warm embrace. When they came back up for air. Frank smiled and jumped back onto his horse and caught up with the others.