"A perfect day for boating, eh?" Neville grabbed two sack lunches and shoved them into his knapsack as he and Lily were headed for Willows lake. "Looks that way." Neville then offered, "The boats are down at the dock. We keep 'em tied up on shore during the winter. Yesterday, I went ahead and came down here to 'prep' the boat, so to speak." Lily took his hand as they walked in the direction of the lake, "Nev, you didn't have to do that by yourself. Why didn't you let me help?" He smiled, "Well, for one...your ankle. And for another, I had ta get the boat all cleaned up an' stuff. Sometimes ya just never know what kind of critters curl up under the boat covers in the winter." Despite Lily's displeasure at the thought of 'critters' in their boat, she giggled. "But now she's all clean an' pretty. But of course, not as pretty as you." He took her hand with both of his as he looked into her eyes. Lily smiled and blushed, averting her gaze down to their hands. Neville stopped walking briefly and stepped up closer to Lily. He took her face in his hands, looked into her eyes for a second, and then kissed her. At first he'd only meant it to be a simple and friendly kiss, but it seemed so loving to Lily, that she accepted it quite heartily. Neville was delighted in her response and proceeded to deepen the kiss. As he pulled her closer, Lily almost felt as if he were about to attempt to lower her to the ground, and she gently pulled back, "We want to get there before dark, right?" she winked. He smiled and nodded as he picked up his knapsack that had fallen to the ground amidst their embrace. As they approached the clearing that was the boat dock area, there was the sail boat tied to the dock, just as Neville had said. It was clean and prepped, ready to go with the sails all ready to be expanded out. There were two other boats still on the bank, but Neville had chosen the largest of the three. "Bartolome says he named these three ladies the 'Nina', the 'Pinta' and the 'Santa Maria'. We didn't have to ask why, eh?" He gently elbowed Lily and chuckled. As he noticed her half-smile of confusion, it then struck him that she would have no clue as to what those names even mean, "Never mind. You ready?" Lily smiled, "Yes. So of the three, which one is this one called?" Neville assisted her into the boat, "This one being the largest is the 'Santa Maria'." Lily sat at the back while Neville cast out the sails, "It's not as easy to do like the ones back where I come from. I'm used to the mechanical kind. These here really take same muscle, ya know?" Lily nodded, agreeing whole-heartedly as she watched his muscular frame through his thin T-shirt pushing and pulling at the large sails. She finally willed herself to look elsewhere while he worked, and instead watched two ducks playing happily in the water over in the lake's cove.

When he opened his eyes, his vision was blurry, but he could make out small furry looking blobs moving around in front of him. He blinked a few times and then realized that they were actually small feathery blobs moving around in front of him. He was sitting in the chicken coop. "What the...?" His question was interrupted by the surge of pain that shot through his head, aided by the bright morning sun in his eyes. Thomas lowered his head into his hands as he rubbed his eyes and tried to massage his aching head. "How are you feeling?...Like shit, I'd imagine." Tom lifted his head at the familiar voice to see Raif standing there with folded arms smirking at him...only, he was outside the chicken coop. "You had quite a night there, Tom." "What the hell happened? I don't remember much past..." "Past the second jug of ale I'd imagine," Raif finished. "I think I should forewarn you now to stay away from Natalie at all costs." Thomas began to stand up very slowly, "Why?" "Because of what you said to her. You two really got into it...and not to my favor I might add, thank you very much." Tom held onto his aching head with one hand as he brushed off his pants with the other, "You're welcome...For what?" Raif thrust his hands on his hips and scowled, "For getting Natalie all pissed off! I couldn't get her in the mood after that production last night to save my life. But of course, you probably don't remember," he added sarcastically. "Would you mind just clueing me in as to why I'm in this blasted chicken coop instead of just standing there bellyaching, for heaven's sake! Ouch!" Tom grabbed his head in regret, as his own yelling ached through his brain horribly. Raif looked to him in sympathy, "Been there, done that. I know how you feel. But you brought this on yourself. You know you're not a big drinker. I don't know what possessed you to think you could polish off nearly three jugs of ale with no consequences." As Thomas tried to get his wobbly leg over the chicken fence, Raif peered over at the seat of his pants, "Good God! Whatever you do, don't sit anywhere...especially in our cabin. You've got chicken shit all up and down you, man!" "Are you just going to stand there and bade me Partridge, or are you planning to help me at any point in time?" as Tom clumsily stumbled out of the coop. "What do you want me to do...carry you home? I think not. Maybe you could get 'Beth' to show up again and help you out." Thomas whirled around at his statement disregarding his headache at that point, "What?" Raif chuckled wickedly, "Yep...the whole village knows about your 'ghost sighting' now. That's another thing about you and drinking...you just can't keep your mouth shut!" Thomas shut his eyes and then sighed loudly, "You wanna just tell me what all I did last night?" He looked to Raif for an answer who simply peered back at him through an evil-looking smirk. When that didn't work, Tom added a half-felt, "Please?" "Alright," he sighed. "In the meantime, let's get you cleaned up."

After a quick bath and a change into some clean clothes, rather than sipping at a mug of ale, Thomas found himself sipping at a mug of Mike's 'hot tea hangover remedy' at the table in the hut. It was just he and Raif and Mike as they looked on him with empathy. "OK, so what did I say that got Natalie so upset?" Raif leaned back in his chair, "Well, after you'd gone on and on about your 'ghost sighting'...thankfully there were only a handful of folks in the hut at the time...Natalie said something you didn't like and you went off on her." Thomas interjected, "Well, what was it she said?" Raif shrugged and shifted uncomfortably in his chair, "She just made a comment you weren't happy about and you laid into her about it." Mike cleared his throat as he threw a glare towards Raif, "Well, once she was through laughing at your story, she said something like 'So you're on a date with Lily and you think you see Beth. Lily must not be much of a woman for you to then be hallucinating about your dead wife.' That's when you got angry." Thomas stiffened up and turned toward Raif, "She said that!?" as if it were Raif's fault. Raif slinked back in his chair as he fumbled with the handle on his mug, "I guess it was something like that," then leaning back up to the table, "But you didn't have to practically pull her arm out of the socket when you came over and dragged her off my lap!...She was quite comfortable," he added under his breath. Thomas looked back over to Mike, "Sounds to me like she deserved it," then he turned back to Raif to continue, "So what did I say to her?" Mike interrupted quickly and with a smirk, "You said 'Don't you dare talk about Lily that way you two-bit whore! It's a wonder you can satisfy any man after bedding down the entire European continent! Perhaps you should go and lie with the horses!' I remember it vividly." Thomas couldn't help but snicker as he was joined by Mike. They looked over at Raif who merely let out an exasperated sigh and stared over out the window. "So what was her response?" Thomas asked Mike through a wicked smirk. "Nothing. She tried to slap you, you blocked her, and she just stamped her foot, turned and stormed out." Thomas turned back to Raif whist still snickering, "Sorry man." Raif gave him no response. Gaining back a more serious tone, he directed his question to both men, "Alright, but that still doesn't explain how I got into the blasted chicken coop!" This time, Raif grinned and turned to him, "Oh that! Well, once you had it in your head that everyone was making fun of you, you declared that you'd find yourself some companions that wouldn't make fun, and lo and behold that's where I found you this morning...the chicken coop." Thomas rolled his eyes as Raif leaned into him, "So tell me, did they indeed listen to your story without making fun?" In an act of surrender, Thomas raised his hands and quickly stood, followed by also quickly grabbing the table again for support in his dizziness, "That's it. I've heard enough." As Tom opened the door to the hut to leave, Mike became a little apprehensive as he saw the evil grin return to Raif's face, "Oh Tom...while you're there, remember that the white eggs make the best omelets!" Raif chuckled into his mug as Thomas furiously slammed the door.

Neville put the remnants of their sack lunches away, as they both leaned back in the boat resting to its gentle swaying. The breeze on the lake was heavenly, and the air had a crisp, clean smell. As Lily was leaned back watching the clouds roll slowly by, Neville was watching Lily...studying the smoothness of her skin, the waves in her hair, the curves of her body. As Lily glanced over and caught his stare, Neville smiled shyly and looked away. Lily grinned at him and then snuggled over closer to him, "What are you thinking?" Neville had to think for a second, certainly not wanting to reveal what his true thoughts were at the moment, "Well, I was just wishing that I had me sailboat back home. See, it's also a motorboat, or ski boat. They have motors on the back of 'em, kinda like the generator at the mill, and they travel really fast across the water. It's a lot of fun!" Lily smirked, "Oh, I see. So this ol' thing is just too slow for such a fast-paced guy as yourself, huh?" "Well, no. I ..." But Lily began tickling him before he could finish his answer. He squirmed under her hands and finally grabbing them, he interlaced his fingers with hers. Looking into her eyes, he brought their hands down so he could put his arms around her waist. Then he kissed her. His intention was a kiss much like they enjoyed in the woods. Ever since that day in the loft when he made love to Lily, he'd thought of little but her...to be with her all the time. He wanted her again...now. The boat, the lake...the setting was so romantic. He'd not set out to bring Lily here just for that purpose, but he did want her now so desperately. She seemed receptive to his kisses, his affections. Lily thought to herself that she wanted him, too. Why not? Thomas was hung up on Beth. Then it hit her. No. No, it just wouldn't be right. It wouldn't be fair to Neville or to herself. It would almost be an act of spite or rebellion towards Thomas, and that's not what Lily wanted...not at all. Lily pulled back slowly, finishing the kiss by still giving him little kisses on the side of his face. She smiled and asked, "So, you'd mentioned before about using Travis' solar power to run the boats, maybe?" Neville nodded, pulling his attention and thoughts away from his desire for Lily, "Yes, but Travis said creating a solar panel large enough to power something that big may take some time...unless the 'Willows fairy' wants to drop a really big solar panel down on us like she did those few little ones!" They both chuckled, and Neville looked down as he squeezed her hand. Then, as if a revelation hit him, he snapped his head back up to look at her, "Wait! I have an idea! I know how we can get that wild boat ride after all!" "Wild boat ride, eh?" Lily smirked at him. "Yeah! We can take the canoe down the stream! I used to go canoeing with me mates back home all the time, especially in the spring, when the beaches weren't yet hoppin', you know? C'mon, les try it now!" Lily looked at him a little apprehensively, "Um...well, OK." Neville steered their sailboat back to the dock. They gathered their things and walked a short distance to the main bank of the stream where one of their village's canoes sat waiting. He pushed the canoe out into the stream and helped Lily inside, "Here we go!" With the paddle, he pushed off from the bank, and their slender canoe began its course down the babbling stream. Starting slow, the ride was a gentle rocking back and forth, but as they hit the more turbulent parts of the stream, their canoe was tossed to and fro, splashing cool water up into the boat and onto them. "Whoa!" Lily laughed and squealed, as Neville kept a careful eye on her at all times so that she wasn't in any danger of being knocked from the boat. As the stream began to calm again, both of them caught their breaths, "That was great, Neville! What a fantastic ride! But how do you get the canoe back up to the bank." He chuckled, "The ol' fashioned way. Tomorrow, I'll carry it back up there." Lily gasped with guilt, "Neville, I'm not going to let you carry this big thing back up there all by yourself. After all, I rode in it with you. Let me help you." "Nah! You still got that sore ankle. Besides, Travis owes me for helpin' him with that contraption of his all the bloomin' time. I'll just get him to help me. Actually, knowin' him, he'll probably hook the thing up to that cart and get the horses to pull it. Don't you even worry 'bout it, sweetheart." 'Thunk!' Suddenly, their canoe stopped, sending Lily hurling forwards and sliding off of her canoe seat. The boat had bumped up against something that blocked its way. The course had now become more narrow, and as Lily looked around, the surroundings seemed familiar to her. Neville set his oar down and began to climb out of the canoe, "Hmmm...probably just a big rock. I'll see if I can move it, then we can get the canoe up onto the bank on the other side of this bridge. I can jus' pick it up here tomorrow." Lily thought, 'other side of the bridge'? As she looked up, she gasped silently...it was the carved bridge. No wonder the surroundings seemed so familiar. The memories flooded her mind of she and Thomas under that bridge hiding from Phillipe and Margurite. And of course...their first kiss. "Well, this isn't a rock at all!" Her thoughts were interrupted by Neville's dragging an object out of the stream. Of course, how could she forget...the cart. She'd pulled Thomas to safety from the mine in it. She felt a twinge at her heart as she watched the cart surface from the water. Neville moved it off to one side along a bed of rocks, "Isn't that the strangest thing? Must have come from the mine. Oh well, that oughta do it." He climbed back into the canoe and led the boat up a ways just past the bridge. Lily couldn't help but to scan the area for Phillipe or Margurite as they pulled the canoe up onto the bank. Neville took Lily's hand as they walked back to the village. He told her funny stories of how he and his mates would constantly tip their canoes over in the rougher waters, and at times even try and tip one another over for sport. Lily only partially heard his stories, really. Her thoughts were now too entrenched with memories of Thomas and his obsession for Beth. She wished she could just get over him quickly. Why couldn't she? How much time would it take? Neville was kind and caring and generous...and handsome. But she couldn't do it. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't get Thomas out of her head...or her heart.

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"Snow, did ya say that we're goin' ta solve a mystery?" Stevie eagerly led his horse behind Snow's as they headed along the woods' trail, "That's right Stevie. You and I are going to get to the bottom of this. We're going to investigate the locations of possible 'ghost sightings'. I remember hearing Jenn and Karen talk about seeing such shows on the telly...I just wish I knew what a 'telly' was." "Ya said Eddy's been seein' his ol' mate Gaveston. Does Ed know we're goin' out there ta investigate?" "Yep. He didn't seem to mind. He's just glad someone believes him. In fact, I think you and I are among the few who know about it, so let's just keep it to ourselves for a while, OK?" Stevie nodded with enthusiasm, "Sure thing...I won't tell n'body else. Where we goin', Snow?" "To the stream...the spot that Edward likes to fish for the most part. That's where he first saw Gaveston. Then I'd like to check out the lake." Stevie kicked his mare a bit to catch up to Snow's horse, Sal, "The lake is where Thomas saw Beth, right?" Snow glanced over at him, "You were in the hut last night, weren't you...when Thomas told everyone about that? I heard about what happened from Mike. I'm kind of glad I missed it, frankly." Stevie shook his head and giggled, "Not me! I'm glad I was there! You should a 'eard ol' Tom givin' it to Nat! He really showed 'er!" Snow simply smiled and shook her head. As they approached the stream, Snow pointed to a rock formation that jutted out over the water, "See there? That's where Edward usually likes to fish. Good spot too. I remember he and I used to catch lots of fish there a while back." Stevie hesitated a little before asking, "How do ya think Eddy felt when ya married Mike instead a him?" "What do you mean?" Snow looked at him innocently. "Well, do ya think he was sad?" "I don't know. I don't think so. We didn't much talk it about, honestly. That was after the whole Margurite thing where she'd possessed the poor man. I think Edward was quite relieved to just be rid of her. I doubt he gave a second thought to Mike and I." As Snow pulled Sal back away from the bank, they heard a frightening hissing sound...it was a rattlesnake! Seeing the snake, Sal was spooked and riled up on her back haunches, tossing Snow off her back. "Snow!" Stevie watched in horror as Snow hurled down the stream's rocky embankment and into the shallow waters. Quickly in a panic, Stevie blew his whistle as loudly as he could. He kept blowing it even as he got down from his horse and climbed down the rocky embankment after Snow. She was unconscious and scraped in various places. Neville and Lily were walking home from their canoeing trek nearby and heard Stevie's whistle. Quickly, they came rushing over. "What happened?" Neville peered down at Stevie in the shallow water as he sat crouched over his friend. Lily was paralyzed in horror as she saw her sister lying unconscious in the stream. Stevie looked up at Neville as tears were streaming down his face, "We was out lookin' for clues, an' Snow's horse was spooked by a snake." "A snake?!" Neville shuddered and quickly scanned the area for it as Stevie continued, "It threw 'er off, an' she fell down 'ere!" Lily finally took a breath, gasping as she remembered, "The baby! We have to get her back to the village quickly!" Neville and Stevie carried Snow up the embankment and hoisted her up onto Sal. Neville rode on the horse with Snow to the village. Stevie and Lily took Stevie's horse back. As they approached the village, they ran into Duncan, Ribold and Bart on horses, "We heard the whistles in this direction. What happened?" "Snow was thrown from her horse. We need to get her back quickly." Upon entering the village, the first to reach the band was Mike in a panic followed by Thomas, "God, Snow! Princess! What was it...wolves?" As Neville dismounted the horse, he and Mike and Thomas lifted Snow gently down, "A snake spooked Sal. Snow was thrown into the stream." Lily joined them with urgency, "C'mon. We need to get her to the surgery now." They quickly got Snow to the surgery. Neville filled in Karen and a quickly approaching Jennifer on what had happened. "Mike?" Snow was coming back to consciousness, as Mike took her hand in his, "I'm here, Princess. It's alright." Lily quickly turned to Jennifer, "Can you get me a herbal mixture to put her out for a while? I need her asleep for now." Jennifer nodded and headed quickly over to her cabin. In the meantime, Snow was beginning to ask questions, "What happened?" Mike tried to smile without showing any fear, "You just had a little fall is all, dear." He glanced over to Lily. But Snow's questioning quickly brought his concerned face back to his wife, "But the baby? Is our baby alright?" Again he looked to Lily, who was just finishing washing up. He squeezed her hand tighter, "Just rest, darling. You need to rest." Snow suddenly cried out in pain as her hand instinctively flew across her abdomen. Mike's face grew pale white. Jennifer rushed in out of breath with a sleeping mixture for tea. She prepared the hot tea and handed it to Mike to give Snow, "You need to drink this darling. It will help you." Jennifer hadn't made the tea very hot to allow Snow to drink the entire cup in just a few swallows. It didn't take her but a few minutes to fall asleep. Thomas watched on as Lily would do the same things he remembered Beth doing at home. As Lily continued her examination, she tried to persuade Mike to leave with the help of Thomas, but he wouldn't budge. After almost an hour, Karen could read the fear in Lily's eyes...it was over. Lily refused to believe it, continuing her inspecting massages to Snow's stomach. Karen knew that this was just giving Mike false hope. "Lily..." She knew what Karen was going to say and tears filled her eyes, "No! I won't lose this one! I won't! I can save him...I have to save him!" Karen approached Lily and gently pulled at her shoulders, "You know he's gone, Lily." Mike was crying now and shaking his head in disbelief. Lily suddenly became hysterical, "No! I'm going to save this baby! I couldn't save Kahlua's!" Thomas was now helping Karen drag Lily from the room, "I'm going to save this one! I couldn't save mine! God, I couldn't save mine!" In a heap, Lily collapsed to the floor at Karen and Thomas' feet. Tom looked to Karen in surprise at Lily's confession. Karen merely shrugged. As she sobbed uncontrollably, Thomas picked Lily up in his arms and carried her from the surgery. Mike couldn't take any more and flew out of the room. Witnessing Mike with a hand on his gun holster, Jennifer followed him. When he'd initially heard the whistles, he went straight to his cabin to get his pistol. It was that pistol that he now drew to avenge his lost child. Jennifer's pace toward Mike quickened, as she saw him draw his gun and head for the barn, "Mike stop! What're ya doin'?" "That monster killed our baby! I'm destroying it!" Jennifer whirled herself between Mike and the barn, "Ya mean Snow's horse, Sal? Mike, ya can't shoot Sal! Snow loves that horse...ya know that! It's not gonna bring your baby back. Ya can't do this!" Mike wiped at his tears in an annoyed fashion, "Why not? Someone has to get the blame!" "Then blame that damn snake! He's the one who's really at fault here, not Sal. Mike, ya know how much Snow loves that horse. She just lost her baby...don't make her lose Sal too, especially by her husband's own hand. Think 'bout what you're doin' Mike...jus' fo' a second. Think 'bout Snow. She needs you right now. She needs you ta be strong, an' not angry an' takin' revenge out on anythin' an' ev'rythin'. Think about her. When she wakes up, ya know that she's gonna need you ta be there fo' her. So jus' snap outta this...an' get back there! Ya hear!" Mike hung his head in shame and put his gun back in the holster. When he got back to the surgery, he took the holster off and laid it next to the door. Wiping the tears from his eyes, he took a deep breath and walked back in to be with his sleeping wife.

Gently, Thomas set Lily down upon the soft grass behind the surgery. Waving off all bystanders, he cradled Lily in his arms as she cried to her heart's content. It felt so good to have her in his arms again, Thomas thought. In just a few days, he'd missed her terribly. He just wished the circumstances had been better. She'd just lost her niece or nephew. And what were her mumblings earlier about not saving her own baby? Had Lily ever been pregnant? Thomas continued to rock her gently in his arms. As Lily's sobbing became small whimpers, Thomas heard her faint trembling voice, "It was after the attack," she sniffed. "I discovered that I was with child. I didn't want the reminder there with me forever and ever, but most of all, I...I didn't know what I was going to tell that child later about...about why...how they were even there. What sort of story is that to hear about your mum? I just couldn't deal with it. I hardly even remember it. I climbed a tall tree to get away from everything, and the next thing I remembered, Anna was smiling at me over a bed in the wagon. I really don't know if I fell or jumped...it really doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is that...I killed my own baby!" Thomas' heart went out to her as Lily again cried against his chest, "Shhhh. Lily, you didn't. It wasn't your fault. Please don't blame yourself. Oh Lily." He held her even closer to him and kissed the top of her head. Lily was consciously aware that Thomas was holding her in his arms. A while ago she'd have resisted, remembering the whole mess about 'Beth'. But right now, Lily didn't care about all that. She wanted to be held, and she wanted to be held by Thomas. Perhaps she would worry about all that other stuff later. And if it truly was 'Beth' that Thomas wanted, then right at that moment, that's who Lily wanted to be...'Beth Killion'.

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 Chapter Ninety Three - "The Cradle Will Fall"

Mike didn't see Snow open her eyes, but Snow saw that distant, sad look in his...and she knew. "Our baby..." Startled, Mike quickly snapped his head over to look at her. "It's gone...isn't it?" He wanted to be strong for her, but he knew his voice would break if he tried to speak, so he simply nodded. Trying to keep his face straight, he couldn't do it, and as Snow observed the pain in his expression, she broke, "Oh Mike!" Quickly, he grabbed her up into his arms and cried with her, cradling her. Snow's uninhibited convulsing sobs rocked her shoulders, grieving Mike all the more. He held her tighter, and then tighter even so. He heard her let out a little 'yelp' and she pulled back, holding her stomach. "Snow, are you in pain?" She nodded thinking of how her pain was now two-fold, emotional and physical. With the terrible tragedy Snow had been through, Mike was afraid her ulcer may now be acting up. The last thing she needed was to be upset, "Darling, we have to think about you now. You don't want that ulcer to start up again." Snow shook her head and said mournfully, "I don't care anymore." Mike couldn't stand to see Snow in so much pain, emotional and otherwise. He knew that seeing him here probably magnified the painful reality of the loss of their baby all the more. "You need to rest." He kissed her on the forehead and went to fetch Karen regarding Snow's ulcer possibly acting up again. He then left the surgery. It was a difficult thing for him to do, but he knew that he must. Snow needed to be upset as little as possible, and all Mike could do when he there was grieve. This wasn't helping his wife at all. What kind of husband cannot even be strong for his own wife at the time she needs him the most? Angry with himself, he set out to the stream to think about things alone. He met up with Eddy on his way back from fishing. "How is Snow, Mike?" Mike looked at Edward and paused, "Ed, can you do something for me?" "Sure, mate." "Could you please spend some time with Snow over the next few days or so? I'm afraid that ulcer of hers will start acting up, and she doesn't need to be upset." "Me?" "Yes, Just talk about royalty or customs or archery or anything...just not about the baby. OK?" Eddy nodded and smiled sympathetically as he then watched Mike sadly make his way down the path.

Without conversation, Thomas helped Lily back to her cabin. He wanted to talk to her, but so much had been happening, he didn't feel it was the right time. Plus he was still unsure of what was happening in his life regarding Beth. "Thomas wait...please don't go." Tom stopped and looked back to see the pain in Lily's eyes. He could see a range of emotions there...hurt, guilt, loneliness. Lily was not in the mindset for small talk. She did not know how to breech the subject in her state of mind, so she just blurted it out, "Let me be her." "What?" Thomas wore a puzzled look as he came to kneel beside her rocking chair. "Let me be her...Beth." As he watched a tear fall from her eye, he knew her meaning now, and sadly lowered his head. Lily read his actions, "Please...let me be your comfort, like she was." She touched his face. He grasped her hand, but still did not look at her. "Let me be her. Let me love you the way she did. I don't care if I am a substitute anymore. I just care about you, Thomas." He shook his head and looked to her now, "No Lily. You deserve so much better than that. You deserve someone's complete love and desire for you and only you. I just need to work this out, Lily. I do want you...but I need to find out what is really going on...in my head about Beth. I know this is so frustrating for you, and I'm sorry." He touched her face, fighting within himself to hold back his desire for her. He wanted to hold her and kiss her...he wanted her. It hurt him deeply that she probably needed him now more than ever, and yet he didn't feel like he could be there for her...be what she needed at the moment. "I should go. This is just too hard for both of us." As he stood to leave, a flash of panic shone in Lily's eyes, "No..." As Lily grabbed his arm, Tom lost his balance pulling them both to the floor. Quickly, Lily took his face in her hands and kissed him passionately. He responded to her kiss hungrily as he grasped her tightly in his arms, "Lily." In a sigh, he breathed her name as he eagerly brought his kisses down her neck. Her arms around his shoulders, she pulled him in closer as she smiled in hearing him sigh her own name. Composing himself, Thomas stopped his kisses and simply held her for a second before jumping up, "I should go." Without looking back at her, he dashed to the door. "Thomas!" At the sound of the door slamming, Lily fell back to the floor. It was a bittersweet feeling, she thought, as a tear brushed a path down her cheek. 'He does love me...he does. But why must he fight it? And what is this strange episode with Beth all of a sudden? What is going on, anyway?'

Edward was baffled. 'Me? Mike wants me to spend time with Snow? Why me instead of him? And what on earth could I possibly talk to Snow about that would make her feel better? How could any subject possibly take the place of her lost child in Snow's thoughts?' He felt a terrible guilt after all about the whole incident. Stevie had broke down and told him why he and Snow were at the stream in the first place...to look for clues regarding his seeing Gaveston. This placed quite a heavy burden on Edward...one that he'd not been prepared to bear. Surely, Mike didn't know the entire story, or he'd have never asked him to spend time with Snow. As Ed entered the surgery, he peeked around the corner of Snow's room, "Edward! How good it is to see you. Karen said it would be alright for me to go home. Have you seen Mike?" Not quite sure on how to answer her, he simply shook his head. Snow hid the disappointment and grieving in her voice and instead asked sweetly, "Oh, well would you be able to help me home? I know poor little Maxwell is probably starving!" He gathered Snow's things and helped the princess back to hers and Mike's cabin. However, there was no sign of Mike. After feeding her puppy, Eddy insisted that she lie down and helped tuck her into bed. Snow took a deep breath, trying to gain a more logical mindset in spite of it all, "Karen says that I was lucky to have not lost a lot of blood like Kahlua did. We still have to wait before trying again, but perhaps not as long." The baby, Edward thought. He knew he needed to get her mind off of the baby. "You just need to get better quickly Snow. We have an archery challenge to face, remember?" "Ah yes. And I was so looking forward to showing you up, Your Majesty!" Eddy chuckled at her and caught the gaze of her blue eyes. He wondered just how sad she was, and was she only hiding it from him? When Mike came home, would she break down and collapse into his arms weeping? He'd never known the pain of losing a child and sensed that it must be one of the most difficult experiences in life. He loved his son and thought to himself about what his child may be doing at that moment. And what about Isabel? Was she still with that tyrant, Mortamer? Even in their happier times together in the beginning, Edward had not been truly happy. He'd always felt as if Isabel wanted to marry him simply as a 'trophy' to show the world...'Look, I did it! I married a future King!' She was affectionate with him, but in a cold sort of way...a self-pleasing way. "Edward, are you alright? You look so distant." Eddy smiled and took her hand, thinking to himself that this marriage was completely opposite of that with he and Isabel. The warmth between Mike and Snow was enough to give those around them a warm feeling in return. And even in Snow's innocence, Ed knew of the passion between the happy couple. The looks between them when they thought no one was watching, the stolen kisses in the kitchen or in the barn. It was enough to make Edward feel a twinge of jealousy as he'd catch them unawares, thinking to himself that Snow was only a few moments away from being his own wife months ago. There were so many times that Edward wished that he could be so happy. Mike and Snow were virtually inseparable...until now. It was like part of a bond had been broken, and the time that it would take to mend was undetermined. These were things Eddy couldn't talk about now, though. He was here to try and cheer up Snow, to take her mind off of the terrible loss. He cheerfully brought up subjects of royalty, and they shared with one another customs that their kingdom followed. They spoke of Snow's history and compared it to that of Edward's kingdom. The similarities were at times just as surprising as the differences. Although she was enjoying the conversation with her friend, Snow couldn't help but glance past Edward every now and then to the front door, anticipating her husband's return. 'Where is he?' she thought.

Even the loud babbling of the stream could not drown out Mike's thoughts as he sat motionless upon the rocks. He wanted to hold his wife and tell her everything was going to be alright...but it wasn't. He wanted to be there for her, be strong for her...but he couldn't. He wanted to hold his baby in his arms and listen to the sweet baby talk in his ear...but he wouldn't be able to do that either. He missed Snow so much already that he ached inside. He wanted to hold her and never let her go. But he didn't want to cause her more pain than she was already going through. He didn't dare take the risk of breaking down in front of her. He was supposed to be strong for her...his wife shouldn't have to worry about comforting her own husband. So instead, Mike stayed there at the stream. He would go home when Snow was sleeping peacefully. Then, perhaps he would stay up all night and watch her beautiful sleeping face, and stroke her soft hair. The thought brought a tear to Mike's eye, as he realized that in this tragedy, he missed his beloved more than ever before. So lost in thought, Mike didn't even hear the sound. It must have lasted for many seconds before he even turned to see it. Suddenly, Mike was enraged. He was so angry, the tears returned to his eyes. He glared at the source of the noise in fearless fury, as Stevie's description of it came back to his mind. This was the one. In one swift motion of his hand, the sound stopped. Gaining no satisfaction, Mike wore an angry scowl, as he dropped the lifeless rattlesnake to the ground.

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Chapter Ninety Four - "Archery in Fishing"

When she opened her eyes, it was morning...but a feeling of hopelessness washed over Snow as she remembered that it was yet another day without the life of her child growing inside her. However, she smiled as she felt a softness pressed against her back. She'd missed having her husband there with her to hold her, to comfort her. She knew it had been difficult for Mike as well, dealing with the loss of their child. She'd sensed a distance growing in his eyes and in his demeanor since their loss just a few days ago. She'd not had the opportunity to spend time with him or be held by him like she'd wanted. Why? Was he ashamed to show his grief openly to her? Mike had always been very emotional for a man, and the two of them had always been able to share their emotions together. She sighed as she turned, to then have her heart plummet. A pillow! Mike was gone, and what she'd felt pressed against her was a silly pillow. Disappointed, she picked it up and hurled it across it the room. She then dropped back down upon her own pillow, sobbing. Was he angry with her, perhaps? Does he blame her for the accident? That was it...it had to be! Why else would he be avoiding her...his own wife in their time of tragedy? Her pillow was becoming more and more wet with tears, when she felt a gentle hand on her back. She gasped, 'Mike!' she thought. In turning, her smile quickly faded to instead see Eddy smiling down at her. "Edward, what are you doing here?" In sensing her disappointment, he stuttered, "Mike...asked me come and check on you. He...he's cooking breakfast. I'm sure he wouldn't want the biscuits to burn." Sadly, Snow rested her head back upon her pillow, "No, he surely wouldn't want that." Rushing to try and cheer her up, he placed a tray of food on her bedside table, "Here...he also asked me to bring this to you. What do you think of this, eh? Breakfast in bed fit for a princess!" Snow focused on the tray of food that she did not want. She appreciated Ed's efforts to cheer her up, but the truth was that she preferred that Mike bring her the breakfast, or even just show up at her side at all. Plus, she'd much rather hear the word 'princess' come from her husband's lips. "Thank you, Edward. But I'm afraid I'm not all that hungry." "Snow, you have to eat something." Snow sharply turned to him, "Why? It's not like I'm eating for two anymore." Eddy sighed as he watched her turn away from him to face the window, as the sun's morning rays washed across her face. He brushed through her hair trying to think of something...anything to say, "What about our tournament? You and I...we were going to have a few rounds of archery. We have to determine the "champion archer" of the Willows!" he puffed his chest and finished in a ceremonious tone. Snow breathed a heavy sigh still turned away from him. She limply raised her hand and offered most unenthusiastically, "Hooray for Edward the champion archer!" She then dropped her waving hand, "We'll just say you win by default, Edward." He frowned, "Oh Snow, no! You can't just quit like that! Come on...I know you! We're talking about Snow here! All that spirit and vigor...I know it's still there somewhere!" Snow whined like a child who'd been grounded, "Ohhhh! You aren't going to leave me alone until I get up, are you?" Eddy grinned as he could see his victory on the horizon in finally getting Snow out of the bed, "No!" She sighed loudly and turned to him, tutting at his large grin. "Come on!" He grabbed her by the arm and literally dragged her from the bed as she moaned in disapproval.

"Ack! These arrows are no good! They're bent! I've got some better ones at my cabin. I'll be right back." Snow dropped her bow to the ground as she watched Edward run back to get more arrows. She wasn't really in the mood to do much of anything as she plopped onto the ground. Lily spotted her and smiled as she skipped happily up to her sister. Snow smiled back, but who she really wanted to see was her husband. "We missed you at breakfast. I saw that Mike sent Edward over with a tray. I was worried. Are you OK?" She promptly plopped down next to Snow. Snow took a deep breath, fully prepared to cheerfully smile and say that everything was fine. But it wasn't. And looking at Lily's concerned yet warm expression was really all that Snow needed to spill everything to her sister. Her lip started to curl and quiver and her eyes began to water. Lily's smile faded, but before she could offer any question, Snow broke down, "No...no I'm not OK. I'm just awful! Mike and I have just been through the most horrible thing ever, and I haven't even seen him in almost two days...since it happened really. He won't talk to me or be with me. He comes home after I'm asleep and he's gone before I wake. And God knows where he goes during the day. I can't ever find him! I just want him to hold me Lily...be with me. We've both suffered a loss, but we're not even together to grieve over it. Why? He must be mad at me Lily! He must blame me for what happened! That has to be it! He blames me!" Lily grabbed her sister and held her close, "No, Lily. I'm sure Mike doesn't blame you. He's probably having a hard time with this like you are and is just needing the time to think to himself. But you're right...he does need to be with you, comfort you. This is just inexcusable! Come on!" Lily began to stand as Snow sniffed and looked at her, "What are you doing?" She helped Snow to her feet, "We're going to find Mike right now. You should be together every minute of the day during a time like this!" Lily took her sister's hand and without protest, Snow followed Lily's lead to the hut.

"Where's Mike?" Lily's sudden demanding entrance took Raif and Nigel by surprise in their game of cards, "What?! Uh...Mike?" Lily threw her hands upon her hips, "Yeah, you know red hair, white apron, looks like the rest of ya!" Raif shrugged as he took a card from the deck, "I don't know. I saw him leave the hut right after breakfast. Haven't seen him since then." Snow dropped her head in her usual disappointment, "See Lily. He just wanders away all the time. No one ever knows where he is...not even his wife." Sadly, Snow turned and left the hut. Concerned for her well-being since the accident, Karen approached Lily, "What's going on, Lily? What's wrong with Snow?" Lily gave a heavy sigh, "It's Mike. I guess he's just taking this pretty hard, but at the same time he hasn't been the support that Snow needs. She hasn't really seen him or spent time with him since it happened. She says Mike comes home when she's asleep and leaves before she wakes. You saw it...he sent Eddy to bring her breakfast this morning. I'm sure he's having a hard time, but Snow needs him right now so desperately. She doesn't understand why he's ignoring her. Karen, she thinks he's mad at her and blames her for the accident!" Karen gasped slightly then shook her head, "I thought he'd been pretty odd the past few days, and I haven't seen him with Snow at all...that's for sure. I think I need to have a talk with him. He'll listen to me. Thanks for telling me, Lily." Lily gave a weak smile and nodded before leaving the hut.

After a while of shooting her arrows at a meager bail of hay, Snow grew tired of the activity...not that she was wanting to do it in the first place. Eddy sensed her boredom, "Not a very challenging target, eh Snow? Too bad we don't have something more interesting to shoot at...not that I'm suggesting hunting for animals or anything, " he added quickly as he knew how much Snow detested hunting animals, "But it would perhaps be more challenging to shoot at a moving target of some kind." Snow added casually, "Like fish?" Eddy chuckled, "Oh, I doubt you could shoot a fish with a bow and arrow, Snow!" Snow's sad expression suddenly changed to that of annoyed insult, "Are you saying I'm not good enough to shoot a fish?" Eddy's smile faded as he realized she was quite serious, "No, it's just that...well that's a quite difficult task, Snow...shooting into a stream of moving fish." Snow's eyes went from depression to heightened challenge, "Maybe too difficult for you...but not for me!" Snow swooped up her bow and arrow carrier, "Edward, I challenge you to a new task. The first to spear ten fish in the stream wins the championship...and brings home supper for everyone, I might add!" Surprised at her new rebellious tone, Ed was delighted to see Snow's spirits return as he grabbed up his bow.

Per Stevie's request, Mike returned to the hut early to prepare some fresh fruit pies for dessert that evening. Stevie also told him that Snow and Eddy would be bringing home fish for dinner. He smiled sadly as he prepared the pie fillings. He was happy that Snow was doing something she enjoyed and hoped that Ed was able to take her mind off of her sorrows. As a tear came to his eye, he knew he had to occupy his mind with something besides Snow and the baby, lest he start crying again. He preferred no one see his continued grieving...especially Snow. Surely, seeing him grieving their loss so openly would only cause Snow more pain, and that's not what Mike wanted. So he took himself out of the picture the last few days to a secluded spot that no one else knew about...a spot where he could grieve in private. "Good! You're finally here!" Mike's thoughts were abruptly interrupted by Karen's stern tone of voice. Masking his surprise, he continued to mash up blueberries for the pies, "Oh, hello, Karen." "I need to talk to you, Mike." Glancing at her for a second, he ignored her piercing gaze as she stood glaring at him with hands on hips, "Where have you been?" "Out." "Out where?" Annoyed, he stopped his mashing and looked directly at Karen, "Who wants to know....my mother?" Pausing for a second, Karen folded her arms never removing her stare from him, "No, your wife. She was looking for you earlier...along with Lily." Mike resumed his work as he willed himself not to dwell on the thought of his beloved, whom he missed seeing desperately, "What was the problem?" Karen's eyes widened with disbelief, "Problem?! I'll tell you what the problem is! You're not spending any time with your wife...that's the problem! Here you've both just suffered this terrible loss and rather than grieve with your wife, you go off and leave her!" Slamming the masher into the bowl, Mike spouted, "I did not leave Snow! And I don't see that it's any of your business!" "Yes you did...and yes, I do think it's my business. Both of you are my friends. And I think I have a right to interject when I feel that something isn't right, Mike. You leave before she wakes and you come home after she's asleep. When was the last time you actually spoke to Snow at all?" Mike tutted, "Who's been telling you this...Snow?" "No. Snow confided in Lily. I asked Lily about it and she told me." Mike kept his eyes fixed on his work, "Well, I don't see how it's any of Lily's business either." "She's Snow's sister for God's sake, Mike! And Snow doesn't have anyone else to talk to seeing as how you've abandoned her!" Mike stopped and turned to her abruptly, "I did not abandon..." he stopped and sighed, as he turned away in order to not completely explode at the expense of his friend. Karen took a deep breath and calmed her tone. "Look Mike, I understand that things are really hard to deal with right now. But Snow needs you to be with her, to support her. She's grieving too and..." Mike interrupted her, "Exactly...which is why I thought it best for her to have something or someone to get her mind off of everything." Karen nodded, "Is that why you keep sending Eddy? To try and cheer her up?" Mike nodded sadly. "Well Mike, maybe 'cheering up' isn't what Snow needs right now. Maybe she needs time to grieve first...to grieve with her husband. She needs YOU to support her...not Eddy." In one angry swoop, Mike shoved the bowl of blueberries to the floor with his arm and began sobbing, "God Karen! That's just it! I can't support her! My own wife and I can't do what I should for her! It's like I'm falling apart, Karen! And I didn't want her to see me like this! How can I give her any comfort if I'm going to completely fall apart in front of her!" Mike leaned against the counter for a moment in thought, then in a revelation he dropped to his knees on the floor, "You're right, Karen! I've abandoned her! It's like I've abandoned my own wife at the time she needs me the most! God, what I have done? I've just pushed her off onto Eddy as though I didn't want the responsibility. That's what she must think!" Karen's heart went out to him and she joined him on the floor, "Mike, no! She doesn't think that, and neither do I." Amidst his sobbing, Karen cradled Mike's head against her as she remembered Lily's words, "But Mike, you must talk to Snow. Believe me, it would be more of a comfort to her to see you cry than to not see you at all. She needs to know that you are grieving...that you're not just putting this out of your mind as something insignificant." Mike mumbled something incoherent, but Karen could read what he'd said, "I know you'd never think that, but you must tell that to Snow. She told Lily that she's positive that you're angry with her...that you blame her for the accident. She thinks that's why you've been avoiding her." Mike quickly raised his head to look at her, "What? No! Of course I'm not mad at her! I don't blame her for anything! This wasn't her fault! Not at all!" Karen took his hand, "Then you must find her and tell her." Mike dropped his gaze in shame, "But I know that when I see her I'll just..." Karen squeezed his hand, "Then cry! Just grab her and hold her and cry! But go to her! I think most of your grieving is for Snow, Mike. I really do." Mike gave her a questioning look, "I think you miss your wife so much in grieving alone, you've started grieving for her as well. That makes it two-fold! Mike, find her and hold her! She needs that! It doesn't matter what else you do...but do that!" He nodded as he wiped another tear away. As they both stood, they almost slipped on the blueberry 'mush' Mike was preparing for the pies. Karen chuckled, "Just look at this mess you've made that I'm going to have to clean up now!" Mike grabbed a kitchen towel and began wiping them both free of the purplish sludge, "No, Karen. It's my mess...I'll clean it up." Karen grabbed the towel away from him, "No way! I want you to march right out of here and go and find Snow!" "But Karen..." "Now, Mike! Go!" Mike smiled and kissed Karen on the cheek, then rushed out of the kitchen still covered in blueberries.

"Alright Snow...show me whatcha got!" Grinning, Snow lifted her bow and aimed at the fast moving fish. "Bullseye!" Snow nabbed a large fish with her arrow as Eddy stood stunned. "First try, too! OK, Edward! Let's see you top that!" Edward shot his arrow and did indeed hit something...a rock. The arrow bounced back and landed over on the embankment. Snow couldn't help but giggle, "Edward, I must tell you something. I used to do this at home, you know. At the castle, we used to shoot at the fish in the mote for practice. I got pretty good...so much so that they had to bring in more fish! The population had gone down dramatically!" As Snow continued to giggle, Eddy tried again and again. Finally he did manage to start hitting a few. But near the end as they looked at their catch, Snow's pile far exceeded his, "Hmmm...looks like I got that 'ten' we discussed, and then some, eh?" Eddy started to wrap up the catch as Snow began to bundle up their arrows. As both prepared to leave, Eddy was about to help Snow down from their rocky fishing spot, when she lost her balance and started to slip. Quickly, Ed dropped the bundle of fish and grabbed Snow, pulling her towards him. Suddenly, Edward found himself lost in her blue eyes. On impulse, he pulled Snow closer to him and kissed her.

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Chapter Ninety Five - "Blueberry Sludge"

Stunned, Snow didn't know what to do. As Eddy pulled back from the kiss, he found Snow's surprised doe-eyed expression waiting for him. "Snow, I'm sorry. I...I don't know what came over me." Snow slowly pulled from Eddy's embrace and cleared her throat, "You really took me by surprise, Edward. I wish you hadn't done that." "I know...I shouldn't have. I'm sorry, really." Quickly, she interjected, "Could you please take the things back to the village? I'd like to be alone for a while, if you don't mind." "But Snow, are you sure that's a very good idea? I mean..." Snow interrupted him sharply, "Edward, please just go!" Without another word, he nodded sadly and gathered the bows and arrows and bundle of fish and left. As he was just barely out of sight, Snow collapsed onto the rock sobbing. She missed Mike so much. What in the world had gotten into Edward, she thought? She wanted to be held and kissed by her husband, not by Edward. Where was he, anyway? Perhaps she should just comb the woods until she found him...start searching everywhere. If she had the strength, she would. She'd cried non-stop it seemed for days...it was like she had no strength left. As she thought of Mike's smiling face, she ached inside. She wanted desperately to feel his warm arms around her. She closed her eyes to perhaps envision his embrace, and as she did, her tears fell upon her dress. Gently, she felt a hand press onto her shoulder. Exasperated she turned, expecting to have to once again send Edward away from her, but what she instead saw in front of her took her breath from her lips. Her Prince, Mike, was crouched there next to her wearing a most longing look in his eyes. With a gasp and a whimper she broke and lunged for him. Mike grabbed Snow with urgency and held her as tight as he could. Snow could hardly catch her breath through her sobs on Mike's shoulder, as she clasped her hands around him like she'd never let him go. For moments they wept in each other's arms, with no words needed. Finally, Mike offered through his broken voice, "I never meant for you to think I blamed you for anything. It wasn't your fault, my precious. It wasn't your fault." Snow had to make a conscious effort to speak as she choked out her words, her tears still falling upon Mike's shoulder, "But why...were you gone?" Mike brushed his hand through her hair and pressed her head against him, Snow's hair absorbing his own tears. He was ashamed of the real reason, "Because of this...like right now. I wanted to be a strong husband for you Snow...through this tragedy. And instead, all I did was fall apart. I didn't want to cause you any more pain, Princess." 'Princess'...the word always made her heart flutter coming from her beloved's lips. Inhibited by nothing now, Snow climbed up on Mike's lap and wrapped her legs around his waist holding him tighter still. "But I don't care about that... I just want you. We can fall apart together if we must! Our baby is in heaven now...he woke up in Jesus' arms...we know that he is happy. And we'll give him a sister or brother...or both, someday. But it's you that I need now so desperately, Mike! I can't lose you, too! I need my husband! I need YOU!" Mike pressed her in tighter, "I'm here. I'm sorry, Princess! I'm so sorry!" He rubbed Snow's neck and back and shoulders. He whispered soothing and comforting things to her. 'Karen was right,' Mike thought. Just being here with Snow, holding her, caressing her was therapeutic for him. It felt so good to be able to grieve with Snow as opposed to away from her. It turns out that his wife had the right idea all the time...to be able to grieve together was really what they needed. Mike's touch was like medicine for Snow. She wanted to be held by him, be close to him. Snow brought her face to Mike's neck and sighed, as he caressed her back and her legs wrapped about his waist. "I miss her already, Mike...or him." "Me too, Princess." Snow paused to glance at the purplish smudge on his neck, then pulled back to notice he had the stuff all over his apron, all over him, "What's all this?" Embarrassed, Mike tried to pass it off, "Oh, I just got clumsy. It was blueberry pie filling, actually." Snow licked her finger and rubbed at the smudge on his neck, "Hmmm...it's going to be stubborn about this!" Then Snow proceeded to kiss Mike's neck in the area of the smudge. In response, Mike pulled her in tighter and kissed her neck in return. She pulled back slightly to inspect her work, "Hmmm....looks like this will take some more work, but we're making progress." "We certainly are, " he added as she began kissing his neck again. As her kissing progressed, Mike moved his own kisses up her neck and over to her mouth where they engulfed each other eagerly. He caressed her back moving his hands down to her backside as he slowly pulled away from the kiss, "Can I show you something?" Snow giggled, "Show me? I can feel it, " as she wiggled on his lap. He smiled, "No, really. I want to show you something. Come on." He gently lifted her off of his lap and helped her to her feet. He then led her by the hand to a secluded area behind Willows Lake a ways with a small pond. In the center of the pond was what appeared to be a fountain spouting water seemingly out of nowhere. "It's a spring...with fresh water. What you're seeing is a naturally occurring spring. This is where I've been the past few days. I wanted you to see it." Snow peered around at the beautiful pond. A layer of fine mist hovered over the water creating many tiny little rainbows in the air. Mike knelt down and cupped a handful of water up for Snow, "Here. Try it." Snow tasted the water in Mike's hand, "It tastes wonderful! What a marvelous discovery you've made here, darling!" Mike began to try and rub the blueberry stains from his arms and hands in the water. Snow knelt down next to him and shook her head as she watched, "I don't think that will do much good." When Mike looked at her she was smirking at him. "I think a stain such as that will need time to soak." She reached up and removed his apron up over his head, "I'll bet this spring water will be an excellent cleanser. You should stay here for a while and soak in it, darling." Smiling at her lovingly, Mike watched as she unbuttoned his shirt, "I don't suppose you'd have a reason to join me?" Snow answered flirtatiously, "On the contrary, I'm all 'fishy'. It would be wise for me to wash all of this off as well." Mike winked, "By all means," as he began to untie the laces on her dress.

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Chapter Ninety Six - "Book Oil"

"No, no...ya got it all wrong! Look Duncan..." Dinger held one of his prized military guns in his hand as the two of them argued over the art of gun cleaning in Duncan's basement, "This is a more modern and delicate piece 'a machinery than you're used to. You're used ta jus' cleanin' a plain ol' ordinary musket." "Plain old ordinary musket?" Duncan repeated with a scowl. "Right. See, in a reg'lar circumstance, I'd jus' use some plain gun soap and water an' then lube the thing down with some WD40. But seein' as how we ain't got no WD40, we'll jus' have ta find an equiv'lent." Duncan tutted, becoming more and more annoyed, "WD40?" "Right...it's like a lube oil, ya know?" Duncan folded his arms, "Dinger, I haven't a clue as to what you're talking about. What we really need to suffice as a suitable gun lubricant is some whale oil." Dinger gasped a chuckle, "Don't let the women be hearin' ya say that! They got laws an' liberals protectin' the whales, now mate." Duncan gave an annoyed sigh, "Well, in any case, we don't have any. We'll just have to rely on olive oil." Dinger thrust his gun down on the table, "Olive oil?! That shit'll oxidize an' leave a brown crusty residue on the gun before ya know it! Ya don't wanna use that stuff! We're just gonna have ta stick to good ol' fashioned corn oil...that's all." Duncan went to a shelf and pulled down a jar of olive oil, "Nonsense. I've never had a single problem using olive oil in the past. It will do just fine." He put the jar on the table, unscrewed the lid and picked up Dinger's gun. "You ain't usin' that stuff on my gun!" He quickly grabbed the gun away from Duncan knocking over the jar of olive oil and spilling it all over Jennifer's spell book from Margurite. "No! Argh! Look what you've done, you clumsy ox! I was safekeeping this for Yvonne until Jennifer was able to lock it back up at her cabin!" Duncan quickly grabbed the book and began to vigorously shake it and rub at it. Dinger was enraged, "Clumsy ox! Watch who you're callin' a clumsy ox you pompous ass! It's your bloody olive oil, not mine!" Duncan started for the stairs, "Fine! Then go clean your own gun in your own basement and get the hell out of mine!" "Fine!" "Fine!" Duncan started up the stairs as Dinger also approached the stairs. They both stopped annoyed, in order to let the other leave. Then they both tried again. "Just bloody go!" Dinger finally spouted.

Lily was in a melancholy mood. Kahlua had taken a turn for the worst and Ritchie had set out to get her the medical attention she needed along with Stevie. It could be a long time before she saw her three friends again. Lily hoped it wouldn't be too long. It would get quite lonely with Stevie gone and Snow spending most of her time with Mike. She was glad for her sister, though. Since Snow and Mike had returned from the stream, they'd been locked up in their cabin for quite a while now, utilizing the "do not disturb" sign given to them at their wedding reception. But still, Lily felt sad. Thomas had kept to himself the last few days, no doubt trying to sort out his feelings and hallucinations regarding Beth. What could she do? This was something she would have to let him sort out on his own. "Lily?" Her thoughts were shaken by the soft voice of Yvonne. She wore a worried look and held an apprehension in her voice. As Lily looked to the oil stained book in Yvonne's hands, she could now see why. "I have to apologize, Lily. It seems there was an accident in Duncan's basement. He claims Dinger accidentally spilled olive oil all over Jennifer's book...some kind of argument or something. You know men...they're always trying to pin the blame somewhere, you know?" She smiled nervously and shuffled her feet, "But if you like, I'll take the book to Jennifer and explain what happened. I don't want her to blame you or anything." Lily had to laugh as she shook her head. Somehow, she could just see Duncan and Dinger fighting and then scrambling to try and save Jennifer's book as their ego trips managed to cause a disaster! "That's OK Yvonne. I'll just explain." "Are you sure? Because it would be no trouble. Lily?...Lily?" But Lily was now lost in a new discovery. In flipping through the oily pages, she could see writings within the original written pages that were not there before, but only where the oil had seeped onto the paper. "Yvonne, look at this. There are other spells written in this book...like with some kind of special ink! The oil is making them visible. Come on. Let's get to the kitchen. I'm sure Mike has some more olive oil stored somewhere." Yvonne gasped, "You're going to add MORE oil?" "Of course! We have to see what these spells are!"

Yvonne and Lily flew past the others in the hut to the kitchen. Among those were Jennifer and also Duncan and Dinger hiding out after their 'folly'. In seeing the ladies with her book, Jennifer finally decided to follow them into the kitchen. Her eyes flew wide at what she saw. To Jennifer's horror, Lily was smearing oil from a jar onto her book. "Ah! What are ya doin'?" As she lunged for the book, it was too late. At hearing Jennifer's yell, Ribold followed by Eddy, Duncan and Dinger came rushing into the kitchen. Lily continued with her work, "Jennifer, I'm glad you're here. Check this out. There are secret spells hidden in this book. The ink must only be readable with oil...see." Jennifer took the book and carefully inspected the new oily print, "Wow! Would ya look at that! This stuff surely wadn't here b'fore! Look...here's that 'sleeping death' spell...and here's anothuh one called 'eternal rest'. Ooooo and look, here's somethin' on morphin'!" Lily gave her a perplexed look. "Morphing?" "Yeah, ya know. It's like shape-shiftin' inta somethin' else." Lily swallowed, "Let me see that please." Lily gently grabbed the book from Jenn, "Yes, it says here that the wearer of a ring of 'pike crystal' can use the spell. They can change into any person that they have a mental picture of in their mind. And look at this...they can even morph into people they have never seen, as long as they first use the 'in-dwelleth' spell." Lily frantically flipped through the book, "Here...the 'in-dwelleth' spell. The bearer can look into a person's mind and see images of their past, including people. All they have to do is touch them!" A tear began to form in Lily's eye, "That's it! Thomas hasn't been seeing Beth at all! He's been seeing Margurite posing as Beth!" Edward suddenly pushed past Dinger who gave him an annoyed scowl, "Of course! Then it must have been her I saw as well, and not Gaveston!" Dinger scoffed at him, "You saw Gaveston? Eghad! I hope it was only that witch, because we sure don't need another..." He was quickly silenced by Duncan's cold glare. Ribold shook his head, "Well, it's possible that Margurite touched Eddy back when she possessed him, but she hasn't ever actually touched Thomas. So how would she know what Beth looks like?" Lily blinked several times, as she willed herself to think of a time that Margurite may have somehow touched him...in his sleep, maybe? It just had to be true, Lily thought. "Betty!" Duncan suddenly spouted. "Ed, remember when both you and Thomas were grabbed by Betty? That was only shortly before the visions started, right? Margurite must have been inside the tree...possessing it perhaps!" Edward nodded, "I'll bet you're right." Dinger shuddered slightly at the thought of that witch in their 'Betty' tree, and was indeed thankful he had Karen. Lily sniffed, "Jennifer, can I borrow this book for just a little while longer? I want to show Thomas." Jenn smiled and nodded.

No one had seen Thomas in quite a while it turned out. Lily looked everywhere...the shop, the barn, the lake, and of course the mill. He was nowhere to be found. As she was about to knock on his cabin door, she stopped as she heard certain 'moaning' noises coming from the cabin. One particularly annoying giggle was unmistakably Natalie's. The other was no doubt Tom's roommate, Raif. Turning to leave quietly, she spotted Yvonne rushing up to her. As Yvonne was apparently about to spout something urgent, Lily put a finger to her lips and shushed her softly. She then pointed to the cabin door. Yvonne then caught a rather loud squeal from Nat followed by a deep grunt from Raif, at which point Yvonne's face started to turn a rather nice shade of pink. Upon seeing Yvonne's embarrassed reaction, Lily stifled a giggle with her hand and quietly led her down the porch stairs and away from the cabin. With a whisper, Yvonne offered softly, "I just wanted to let you know. Duncan said you were looking for Tom." Lily's face brightened as she took a step closer, "Yes...have you seen him?" Yvonne nodded. "I saw him go into the jail earlier. I don't know if he's still there or not." Lily breathed a deep sigh then whispered back to her, "Thank you."

He saw her again this morning. Thomas had risen early to get some work done in the woodshop when he felt two gentle hands wrap around his waist from behind him. He had been thinking of Lily all night. Thrilled at her touch, he'd whirled around and grabbed her close to kiss her only to find it wasn't Lily...it was Beth. What frightened Tom was not the sight of Beth, but the thought that again he must be going mad. Quickly, he'd retreated from her and came to hide out here in the jailhouse. It had worked for Lily to escape from the reality of the world for a short time...why not for him? He felt silly hiding from a "ghost", but what else could he do? He wanted to see Lily that morning, only to find himself face to face with the haunting image of his past once again. 'What is going on here? What is happening to me?' These questions raced through Thomas' mind over and over like a squawking bird that wouldn't be quiet. He had no idea how long he'd been sitting there on that hard cot, as the shadows of the trees through the window moved slightly across the room. Suddenly, one large shadow hovered before him. As he looked up from his haunting thoughts, he saw what he would have considered an angel standing there before him. It was Lily. She was smiling softly and clutching a book to her chest. He smiled and then stammered his words, "Lily, I didn't hear you come in." She kept her smile and whispered, "I hope I'm not disturbing you." "No, not at all." His reply came out in the form of a cough. How could Lily ever disturb him? He'd rather see her right now than anyone. "I have something to show you." Still smiling as if she could not help herself, Lily sat down beside Tom on the cot, setting the book in her lap. "There was a little 'accident' with Jennifer's book and some oil spilled on it. I myself consider the accident the best thing that could ever happen." Lily turned in the book where the sketch of the ring was pictured along with the description of the spell. Thomas expression turned to unexpected surprise as he took the book in his hands for a closer look, "This ring! I saw Beth wearing one that looked just like it this morning." Lily's heart leapt into her throat at his words. Tom then looked sadly back to Lily as if to explain, "That's when I came here...to get away." Lily kept her warm smile, "But keep reading, Thomas." Tom read the remainder of the spell out loud detailing the 'morphing' capabilities it gives the ring-holder. He choked on his words as he spoke what was written on the page. He turned to read the glimmer of hope in Lily's eyes, then stopped to think, "But Margurite couldn't know what Beth looks like. How could she..." Before Tom could finish his thought, Lily had turned to the page with the 'in-dwelleth' spell and pointed for Thomas to read. Her smile at him had become even brighter than before. Thomas read the words, but then shook his head wearing a look of sincere confusion, "Margurite has never touched me, Lily." Lily whispered one word, "Betty." Thomas quickly snapped back to look at her as Lily finished her explanation, "Duncan figured it out. It was you and Edward. The tree grabbed both of you. And now both of you are seeing ghosts from your past. Margurite was possessing the tree at the time. It seems she's had a history of doing that, now hasn't she?" Thomas remembered back to his and Eddy's encounter with Betty, and back even further when Ed was possessed with Margurite herself. Could it be? It seemed too good to be true! Lily read the doubt in his eyes and brought his face to look at her, "Believe it, Thomas. You're not seeing Beth, you're seeing Margurite posing as Beth. You're not going mad!" He breathed a sigh of relief and clutched Lily's hand in his, when suddenly Lily dropped her head in shame and started crying, "I'm so sorry, Thomas. I feel so guilty! I accused you of using me as a substitute for Beth. I didn't believe you that you really saw her! How could I do that? I should have believed you! I wouldn't blame you if were angry with me. I would be too! I'm so ashamed!" Quickly, Thomas pulled her into him and held her close, "Shhh. Lily, please don't be upset. None of this is your fault. I myself thought I was going mad! What else could you have thought? You didn't know. I didn't even know! Please don't cry...sweet Lily." Lily wrapped her arms around him as he caressed her hair and kissed her neck. Gradually, she sniffed up her crying as Thomas' touch soothed and delighted her. Thomas breathed a sigh of relief in again thinking that this whole mess was nothing but a trick of that silly witch. He truly was in love with Lily...something he knew all along, but had to be sure. Their torment was over. This thought soared through Tom's mind like a breeze of relief, as the feel of Lily in his arms overwhelmed him with joy. He held her closer, as he brought his kisses up her neck to her cheek. Then as his desire for Lily bubbled up inside him, his lips found hers and he kissed her passionately. Lost in his awareness of her softness and splendor, he hadn't even noticed that he'd lowered Lily down onto the jail cot until he heard her whisper, "Not here." As he looked up, he was a little embarrassed by his own desire, seeming almost out of control. But Lily smiled and kissed him sweetly on the cheek, "Not in the village...too many curious eyes. Let's go to our place...the mill." He smiled and nodded, gently caressing her cheek with his hand. Lily picked up the book that had fallen to the floor, "Let me meet you there. I want to return this to Jennifer. She's been without it for too long. It really needs to be locked up." Thomas again nodded and sighed at the mere sight of her as she left the jail.

Her ankle was feeling much better over time, as Lily skipped along the path to the mill. The clouds rolled dreamily by, as she thought to herself, 'No more obstacles. No more Margurite or Beth.' She did, however, have enough wits about her to think to stop by her cabin for a spritz of cologne and some of the peppermint candy Stevie had given her. So what now, she thought? This was it. This was what they had waited for...had mulled over for some time. But was it truly the right time or place? Was it something they should wait longer for after all? She trusted Thomas, and would let him make that decision. In any case, they didn't have anything else to worry about...except one. Lily shuddered as she remembered the barn. She had to tell Thomas about she and Neville...she had to. She didn't want that secret creeping up and haunting her later. They needed to be truthful to one another about everything if they were to have any kind of future together, right? She took a deep breath and sighed as she approached the mill. Yes, she would tell him now about everything...about Neville. He will understand, won't he? He may be angry at first, but surely he couldn't stay mad at her forever, right? It didn't matter...she had to tell him. But as Lily approached the door, it was open slightly. Slowly she pushed it wider and gasped at what she saw. "Thomas!" Hovering over a very terrified Thomas was a tall, dark figure prepared to slice through her beloved with a large sword. As the dark figure turned upon hearing her scream, Lily's breath escaped her as the towering image stood before her...headless.

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Chapter Ninety Seven - "Appearances are Deceiving"

"C'mon girl!" Neville had taken Mum, as Stevie had so named the mother wolf, out for a walk in the woods on such a beautiful day as this. He and the female wolf had become quite close after Neville saved her pups from the mountain lion a few weeks back. Here and there some small woods creature would capture her attention, and Neville found himself coaxing her back onto the path. Neville's thoughts drifted endlessly to Lily. Her smile, her hair...Neville could still see her relaxing in the sailboat and laughing in the canoe on their outing a few days ago. After his never-ending attempts at wooing her, why does she still seem so distant, almost reluctant to accept his affections? Occasionally, he could manage to steal a kiss, but for the most part Lily was holding back. Why? Neville couldn't figure it out. Amidst his thoughts, Neville observed Mum suddenly stop and smell the air. After a quick bark, the wolf took off into the woods. "Mum!" Neville began chasing her. She was very fast. When Neville finally caught up with her, he found Mum scratching at the door of a small primitive cabin. The men had told him about various cabins they'd built in certain portions of the woods in case of emergencies. This one was fairly close to the mine. Mum was frantically scratching and whimpering at the door, "What is it, girl? Whatcha smell?" Neville approached the door and paused. He was afraid of what he might find when he opened it. Would there be a rotting dead animal waiting to nauseate him with its stench? What if it were a deadly snake, like the one that caused Snow's miscarriage when it spooked her horse? "Neville, don't be a wanker and jus' open the door!" He took a deep breath and turned the doorknob. As he opened the door, he gasped at what he saw. "Ben!" Their little dwarf friend was bound and gagged over in the corner. Mum immediately went to Max who was muzzled and tied up next to Ben. The mother wolf began tenderly licking at the father of her pups. Neville rushed over and began to try and untie the ropes. "Ben!" As he took the gag from his mouth, Ben began spitting in disgust, "Psst, blah! That thing tasted awful! Man, thank God you found me when you did! They've been threatening to kill me for weeks! Obviously, I must be of some use to them, or they would have already." Neville was still furiously trying to get the knot out of Ben's ropes, "Who? Margurite and Phillipe?" "Yeah! You won't believe some of the stuff I heard! Those two are dastardly! Their schemes are unbelievable!" Neville finally pulled out his pocketknife, "I keep forgetting about this. The men are still a little nervous about giving me a gun, so Dinger gave me this. At this point, I'm glad. Whoever did this, they tie a wicked knot....Got it!" Neville cut the rope free and Ben immediately began rubbing at the marks on his wrists. Neville then went to free Max of his ropes while Ben took off the muzzle, "There ya go, boy! I know ya wanna shred 'em for this, but we gotta get back." He turned to Neville, "Like I said, there's some stuff ya need need ta hear...all of ya!"

"Thomas!" Upon hearing her scream, the tall headless figure turned to look at Lily. At the sight of her, the figure suddenly changed form before their eyes. To Tom's relief but Lily's horror, it was Phillipe. Stunned, Lily collapsed onto the large rug covering the mill floor. He smirked his usual evil smile at her, "I told you Lily...you will always belong to me!" Before she could breathe a word or a whimper, he turned and again prepared to strike at an unarmed Thomas with his large sword. ' I have to do something', Lily thought. From underneath, Lily felt something long and slender under the rug, and out of the corner of her eye, something shiny caught her attention. Barely peeking out from under the rug was the tip of some shiny object. It was her machete! Of course! She must have sleepwalked with it here and left it weeks ago. That's why she didn't remember where it was. Quickly, she grabbed the machete and, in the fashion taught to her by her Asian friend Nika, flung it at Thomas' assailant. Immediately following Thomas' yell of protest to the captain, was the sound of the captain's head thumping to the mill floor. Thomas' eyes grew wide, as flashes of déjà vu went through his mind. He breathed a sigh of relief. They didn't have the luxury of the horseman's blade to cauterize the wound, Thomas thought, as the captain's blood flowed freely across the mill floor and into the wooden slats. He saw on Phillipe's finger a ring similar to the one Margurite wore when she'd masqueraded as Beth. But this ring had a more masculine appearance. Lily stood to her feet, unable to tear her eyes from the body of the one whom had tormented her for so long. Thomas rushed past the captain to Lily's side. She was surprisingly calm, "Thomas, are you alright?" Thomas nodded and rubbed her hand. He sighed as he thought how it was now all over...how Lily would never have to worry about Phillipe ever hurting her again. He looked to her face. Her nearly peaceful look suddenly changed to that of a terrifying discovery. Tom turned to see the source of her horror. The body had again changed. Apparently, the spell has no effect once the wearer of the ring is no longer living. The figure on the floor was not Phillipe...it appeared to be a dwarf. But it wasn't Ben. Lily's breathing became erratic and her knees buckled beneath her. "Oh God, no! It can't be! It can't!" She slid to the floor choking and sobbing. "Lily, what is it?" Thomas knelt down beside her and stroked her hair. Who was this dwarf that suddenly caused her such anguish to see? Quickly rushing through the mill's front door were Neville and Ben upon hearing the screams as they passed outside. Neville observed Lily crying hysterically, "Lily? What happened, Tom?" Ben stopped suddenly upon seeing the dwarf, "Rumple!" Thomas glanced at him quickly upon hearing the name, "Rumple? This is Rumple? But he's dead!" Ben looked at Lily whose attention was now focused on him, "No, that's just it...he wasn't. There's a lot you should know. I discovered some things recently that you should hear. Let's get back to the village. Everyone will want to hear this." Through her sobs, Lily managed to quiver her words to Ben, "What do you mean he wasn't dead? You're saying this is Rumple? He's been posing as Phillipe?" Ben nodded sadly. "How long?" Ben lowered his gaze to the floor. Lily's questioning became urgent as she stood to her feet, "How long, Ben? Before I came here to the Willows?" Ben nodded. Lily swallowed hard, "But not...not before the attack, five years ago." Ben sighed and answered softly, "Yes, Lily. Before that, too." Acting quickly, Thomas was able to catch Lily as she fainted into his arms.

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 Chapter Ninety Eight - "A Broken Trust"

As the group of villagers gathered in the hut to hear Ben's explanation, Thomas continued to cradle Lily in his arms until she awoke. Dinger paced the floor as he muddled through Ben's story, "Lemme get this straight. Margurite and Phillipe have been shacked up in the mine except when they come to question you 'bout certain things." "Or bring Max and I food," Ben added. "So, how do ya know all this stuff? They jus' tell ya?" Ben chuckled somewhat, "No, see that ol' witch an' that captain...well dwarf...they fight all the time. It didn't seem to bother them to fight in front of me, see. I s'pose they was plannin' ta nix me anyway, so what the heck." Snow gently placed her hand on Ben's as she joined him on the floor at the foot of her husband's chair, "So what all do you know about them from what you heard?" Ben smiled at her tenderly, "By the way Snow, I'm sorry about your baby." She smiled back, "Thank you, Ben." Mike softly laid his hand on Snow's shoulder as Ben continued, "Well, I still don't know everything. There's still some secrets they were keeping...I could tell that by the looks they'd give each other...plus she would shush him a lot. But I know that he was really Rumple. He actually helped Margurite get into the castle...that was one of the stipulations. He had some connections in the kingdom to where he could get Margurite on the 'elite' list of ladies whom the king would court and eventually marry. Then the two of them could rule together once they got rid of the king. Did you know, that it was one of Rumple's students of sorcery and magic who was responsible for the entire kingdom to fall asleep in the story of 'Sleeping Beauty'? They were trying to keep the king from marrying the Princess Aurora." Snow gasped and thankfully didn't hear Dinger chuckle as he contemplated the absurdness of it all. Ben looked to Snow, "Something else...and this isn't going to be easy for you to hear, Snow. It was Rumple and Margurite who were responsible for your mother's death." Snow tried to say 'what', but the word got caught within her throat and she merely mouthed the word silently. "Yes, with the contacts Rumple had as a sorcerer, he was able to get into the castle to poison your mother. I'm so sorry Snow." "My...my mother was...murdered?" He nodded as Mike rubbed Snow's shoulders tenderly, and then slid down on the floor with her to comfort her. Ben sadly watched Snow's tears begin to fall about her face, "Strange thing about that, though...the one time it was brought up, Rumple shushed Margurite quickly, as though there was something else...something we still don't know perhaps." Thomas shook his head, "But that still doesn't explain how Phillipe could be Rumple. Lily saw him slain before her very eyes." Ben nodded, "Yes...that's just what he wanted everyone to think. Remember, he was a sorcerer and master of illusion. He could make it look like anything he wanted...then with the ring, he could take the form of Phillipe and be appointed captain of the guards by Margurite. This would of course assure him unlimited access to the kingdom." Mike held Snow a little tighter to him in thinking that the captain would have had full access to Snow as well. Ben rolled the ring around on his small finger that he'd taken from Rumple's body at the mill, "I would assume he'd killed the real Phillipe a short while before the attack on the gypsies. Then it would be easy for him to assume Phillipe's identity. You never know...the 'real' Phillipe might have been an OK guy." "He was! MY Phillipe was a perfect gentleman!" The villagers were surprised, as Natalie jumped up in defense of the stranger. "And this explains everything!" She pointed accusingly at Lily, "...especially why he'd go after THAT brat!" She turned and stormed out of the hut. The room fell silent, as everyone no doubt pondered how Natalie could have possibly known Phillipe in Snow's kingdom. There was still so much about Natalie that they didn't know as it was. If Thomas hadn't been cradling Lily in his arms, he'd have gone after the wench for speaking so derogatory of Lily as usual. He was just thankful that Lily was still sleeping. But it turned out that Lily was not sleeping. She'd been awake to hear most everything, but no one knew...until now as she was unable to hold back any longer, "I trusted him! He was like a father to me...the only father I ever knew! How could he do it! How could he?" Thomas quickly pulled Lily up closer to him, causing Neville to raise an eyebrow as Lily clutched at Tom's collar and sincerely looked into his eyes, "Now I know! I know what he meant all that time when he was Phillipe...he said I belong to him. He took me at birth and raised me...he thought I was his for the taking!" Thomas pressed Lily close to his chest, "No, Lily, no! You were never his! You mustn't ever believe that! You hear me? It's not true! He's gone now...and he can't hurt you ever again. What he did was wrong from the start to take you from your parents and then to...it was just unspeakable! You're safe now, Lily. You're here with friends and family...your REAL family." Eddy shuddered in thinking that Margurite would make an alliance with a silly dwarf just to be ruler over a kingdom? What a high price to pay! He wouldn't even give up Gaveston in order to rule his own kingdom, much less align with some strange dwarf for it. This brought another haunting thought to his mind that he decided to voice to the group, "So, was it Margurite that posed as Beth and Gaveston, or was it that dwarf, Rumple?" Thomas now quickly looked to Edward and shuddered himself in thinking that it was bad enough that he kissed a witch...but a dwarf! Then he added, "No, I know I saw Beth with the more feminine ring in that book. Not that one Rumple was wearing." Ben handed him the ring, "I'm pretty sure that it was Margurite you both saw. Rumple had other plans." He looked to Lily, whom Thomas held even closer, as the possible 'plans' Rumple might have had repulsed Tom to think about. Duncan shifted his weight as he mulled the situation over, "So there are now two of these rings?" Ben looked up to Duncan and shrugged, "Who can say? They might have made dozens. I know that the 'pike crystal' needed to make the ring is found in the mine. That's probably the main reason they were down there. When Rumple lived with the other dwarves in the mine before they banished him, he probably made the original ring at that point." He pointed to the ring he'd just handed Thomas. "I'm sure Margurite however, wanted her own." Jennifer was curious and couldn't help herself, "What is 'pike crystal'?" Ben smiled, "It's a substance that is similar to a diamond, but not as strong. I'm not even sure it has to be a ring for the spell to work. As long as it's worn all the time, you never know...it might work as a necklace or bracelet." Ben became distant in his thoughts, "I'm sure Rumple was plain ecstatic to be of a normal size posing as Phillipe. Must be nice to be normal." Snow touched Ben's hand and offered him a sympathetic smile. Ben gave a heavy sigh, "But no matter. You hang on to that ring, Thomas. Don't let it fall into the wrong hands. I'd better be going." Snow stood with him quickly, "But where will you go? Margurite is still at the mine, isn't she?" Ben stopped suddenly, "Oh yeah, I forgot. Hmmm...that makes things difficult, doesn't it?" Duncan looked over at Dinger then back at Ben, "We need to put an end to this and get rid of her once and for all. Perhaps we should get a plan together to storm the mine." Dinger shook his head, "I dunno. She's a witch, that one. Ya don't know what she's capable of." Duncan tutted, "Then what do you suggest?" Dinger directed a question to Ben, "Well that ol' witch still doesn't know we're on to her, right? So maybe we could set a trap." Dinger then glanced over at Eddy. As Edward caught his meaning, he wholeheartedly backed away, "Oh no! You're not using me as bait!" "C'mon Ed! Ya don't want that witch hauntin' this village forever, do ya? It's no secret that she's got the hots for ya." Raif gave Ed a quick jab to the arm, "Yeah, and look on the bright side...while you're saving the village, maybe you can get you a piece!" Eddy scowled at him, as the thought of Edward with Gaveston made both Nigel and Bartolome quite queasy. Breaking the visual, Snow then asked quietly, "But what about Ben until then?" Dinger looked at Ben and shrugged, "Well, I guess in the meantime, the little bugger can stay here in the village. The barn loft is vacant of any blokes right now...if ya can survive the wonderful aroma of the horses, that is." Ben gave him a look, "Gee, thanks so much."

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Chapter Ninety Nine- "Take the Hurt Away"

Mike gently pushed Snow on the tire swing he'd tied up in the tree that once housed her old tree house. "This was such a lovely idea, Mike. Did you ask Jennifer about using the tire first, though?" "Of course." The breeze fell lightly upon Snow's face, but still her mood was melancholy as her thoughts drifted to the child she no longer carried with her, "Mike...did you want a girl or a boy?" Mike stopped the swing gently, and walked to the front to face her. He took a strand of her hair between his fingers, "What I did want is what I still do want...a healthy child and its mother with me always beside me." Mike watched on as Snow's lips curled into their usual sad pout, "Snow, we will have a baby very soon." Snow sighed and peered down at her now empty stomach, "I just wish something could take the hurt away." Mike paused in thought, as his wife's sad expression tugged mercilessly at this heart, "You know, perhaps this has given us the chance to spend even more time together. It's awfully soon after our marriage to have a baby. And as much as I want one, I want to send time with my wife for a while as well...alone, just the two of us. There will be plenty of time for children later. Lily says we'll have to wait a while anyway." Thankfully to Mike, Snow's pout turned to a slight smile as she climbed off of the swing, "Wait? You haven't 'waited' for the last two days!" Mike dropped his gaze with a smirk as Snow then playfully pushed him onto the swing himself, "You know I'll not stop trying, Snow...I'll never tire of that! Besides, I'd call that more like...'practicing'." Snow giggled, "Of course, 'practicing'." Mike's face then became serious, "I was afraid you'd be tired of ME." Snow gasped flirtatiously, "Tired of you?" With a grin, Snow then climbed up on top of Mike on the tire swing, wrapping her legs about his waist, "Why would I be tired of you?" Mike sighed as he gently put his arms around her, "I'd just missed you terribly over the last few days, Snow...I didn't want to be without you." "Nor I without you," Snow whispered then gently kissed him. Mike would have eagerly continued the kiss had Snow not cautiously pulled back. "Mike, there's something I should probably tell you. But I want you to promise me that you won't be angry." He massaged her back with a few gentle rubs, "What is it, love?" Snow averted her gaze to her fidgeting fingers, "At the stream that day when Edward and I were 'archery fishing', so to speak, he...well..." Mike took her restless hands in his, "What is it Princess?" "He...he kissed me." Stunned, Mike's face dropped, "What?" Quickly Snow began sputtering, "It was just an impulse, I'm sure. You know his emotions are all crazy right now with him seeing Gaveston and everything...I'm sure it meant nothing." Mike swallowed his irritation, "What did you do, Snow?" "Well, I asked him to leave, of course." She snapped her head up to look at him in an almost fearful way, "You don't think that I reciprocated..." Mike squeezed her hands, "No, no of course I don't, Princess. I'm just a little surprised is all." "As was I," Snow sputtered emphatically. Mike's voice contained a hint of uneasiness, "You think it meant nothing?" Snow nodded, "I'm sure it didn't." He hesitated as he remembered back to Snow's previous engagement to Eddy, "To either of you?" Snow paused as she looked into her husband's eyes, "It did mean something, Mike...it told me something. It told me a lot. Suddenly at that moment, I felt so empty...because you weren't there...you weren't the one kissing me, holding me." She brushed a tear off her cheek, "I wanted to search the woods until I found you, to just hold you...to feel your arms around me." Mike choked on his words, "God Snow, I'm so sorry that I abandoned you like that...I don't know what I was thinking." Snow clutched her hands behind his head and rested her forehead against his, "Mike, I'm not trying to make you feel guilty, really I'm not. I just want you to know that you're my soul mate. You're the only one for me. There could never be anyone else. Always remember that." He nodded, fearing his voice would crack if he tried to speak. She pulled him in close and hugged him. As Mike caressed her back, Snow felt warm inside and her usual loving tingling started its way down from the top of her head to the bottom of her feet. She began adorning his neck with soft and slow little kisses. Mike had to wonder to himself if Snow could possibly know what that does to him. He brushed her hair away from her neck so he could return her kisses to her. With a purpose, he brought his kisses up her neck to meet her lips, and then hoisted her up closer to him on his lap. "Pardon me?" The intrusion shocked Snow such that she pulled back with a start and began to tumble backwards off of Mike's lap. Quickly, he grabbed her and pulled her back up. "Sorry to startle ya." Jenn's smiling face brought with it an apology in her eyes, "But I jus' wanted ta let ya know we're fixin' ta eat. Yvonne's pullin' it out a th' oven now." Mike cleared his throat as he looked back at his wife's crimson face, "Thank you Jennifer. We'll be right there." Quickly, Jennifer made her exit back over to the hut. Snow gave an embarrassed giggle as she rested her forehead against Mike's chest. He sighed as he rubbed her hair, "Too bad we can't fit this tire swing inside the cabin..."

Thomas and Lily had hardly spoken a word since yesterday. It seems as though the jail was Lily's new 'hangout' of choice seeing as the mill was 'indisposed' at the moment covered with Rumple's blood. Lily had asked Thomas to sit with her in the jail...even though she hardly spoke a word. It was heartbreaking for Tom to see Lily this way. She was acting similar to when she first arrived in the Willows and was having those horrible nightmares. She seemed distant, yet not so closed off from the others as she had been before. It was just that her thoughts seemed to distress her terribly. Thomas wanted to share her pain and help her through it, but did he dare ask? He already knew most of what she must be feeling. She felt horribly betrayed. Someone she'd trusted since childhood, a father figure, had broken that trust in the most unspeakable way possible. It could almost be considered 'incest'...and to Lily it probably was. Thomas couldn't imagine how she must have felt. He wanted to cradle her in his arms and tell her everything was alright...but he dare not touch her. Her body language was that of someone who'd just suffered a terrible betrayal, as he observed her childlike retreat there in the cell, her knees to her chest. As if Lily could sense Thomas wishes she spoke softly, keeping her gaze on the bars in front of her, "I suppose he thought it was love...in some sort of 'twisted' way. But then again, I can't see that someone like that would even be capable of love. Someone who could murder mine and Snow's mother and take one of her infants at birth away from her...and for what? To have as a possession...to then do with as he pleased like some sort of object?" "Oh Lily." Thomas' heart went out to her as he watched her tears fall. He wanted to hold her close and rock her in his arms, but instead simply stroked her hair. "It was easier to think that it was a stranger, you know? Someone you know wouldn't care. But I thought Rumple cared. I thought he loved me. I thought he was like a father. But instead, he just wanted something to 'own' and to 'use'...then obviously to 'throw away' when he was finished." Thomas couldn't stand it...he couldn't stand the coldness in her voice. The way she was feeling was used and dirty, and all Thomas wanted was for her to feel loved and special...she deserved as much and more. He couldn't stand for her to wallow in such anguish when she deserved only love. As much as he wanted to scoop her into his arms, and will her anguish away, he knew it wasn't that easy. Still, he couldn't bear for her to keep feeling like this. He had to risk it, and if she was angry at him for it...then so be it. With a tear finally escaping his eye, he gently grabbed Lily's shoulders causing her to look at him, "Lily, stop please! I can't stand to see you do this to yourself...beat yourself up like this. Oh, sweetheart...you deserve so much better! You deserve so much love...all the world has to offer. What Rumple did was a crime...it was unspeakable, inhuman even! But it wasn't your fault..." Lily gasped in her retort to interrupt him, "It WAS my fault! It had to be!" Lily found trouble forming her words through her sobbing, "I must have...done something for him to...I mean...I'd lived with him and the others for fourteen years. I must have done something...to change the way he looked at me maybe...something I said or did...or even the way I looked at him maybe..." Thomas squeezed her shoulders a little tighter, "Lily, no! This was in NO way your fault! That man was sick...what he did was not something that you brought on! You could have danced naked in front of him and he'd still have no right to do what he did!" Thomas quickly brushed the thought of Lily naked from his mind. Lily closed her eyes and buried her face in her knees. "Lily, it breaks my heart to see you like this. I know it's hard for you...but it's not healthy for you to dwell on this and what's worse, blame yourself for it. Sweet, sweet Lily...if I could take the pain away, God I would in a heartbeat!" Lily sniffed and lifted her head to look at him, "You would?" Thomas softly caressed her face with both hands, "Most definitely." Lily could read his love for her in his eyes, a look that deeply touched her heart. She touched his hands resting on her face with her own and closed her eyes. With a whisper she sighed, "I just want..." But she stopped as she stumbled on her words. Thomas was eager to hear her thoughts, "What do you want, sweet Lily?" She opened her eyes and looked deeply into his, "I want to be loved with a love that's true and good." As she blinked, another tear fell upon her cheek, "I want...you, Thomas. I want you...to take the hurt away. Can...can you...take the hurt away?" Her words were like rain ending a drought for Tom. Could any other sound from her lips been as sweet to his ears as those words she just uttered? Thomas thought not. He smiled and wiped her tear with his thumb as he caressed her face, "I'll do whatever you wish, precious lady. Whatever you need, I'll be there." Lily lowered her knees and turned to him, "Can you just stay and hold me for a while?" Thomas pressed her in close to him, "It would be my pleasure."

Edward's aim with his bow and arrow that day was pitiful. He hadn't shot a single fish. It's a good thing they were having venison that evening, he thought. He just couldn't get it out of his mind. 'Why? Why would I kiss Snow like that? She's a married woman...and married to a friend of mine, no less. What's gotten into me?' "Hey, Ed!" Bartolome's cheerful greeting pulled Eddy from his thoughts, "Hey, 'roomie'! How goes it?" "Not much here. Catch anything?" "Nah. Me heart's not really into it today...just relaxing, really." "I hear ya." Bart paused for a moment as he watched Ed gather his equipment, "I wanted...to talk to you. Do you have a minute to spare?" Eddy chuckled, "Well, you're in luck. I haven't got any pressing appointments today. What's on your mind." Bart cleared his throat apprehensively, "Well actually, it's what's on YOUR mind that I'm wondering, Ed." Casually he offered, "Fish I suppose. What's this about Bart?" Bartolome looks down at the stream of busy fish scrambling to get by one another, "You been having any strange dreams lately, Eddy?" "You mean like since I've been seeing Gaveston?" Bart shook his head, "No. Actually, I'm talking about having dreams about the villagers...you know, around here?" Ed chuckled, "You been talking to Dinger again or something? Sounds like he's got you all worked up about my so-called 'preferences'." Bart sighed and added quickly, "I'm referring to Snow, Ed." Ed threw Bart a surprised glance, "Snow?" "Aye, Snow." Eddy gave a semi-false laugh, "Why in the world would I dream about Snow?" Bartolome folded his arms to his chest, "Because you were calling her name in your sleep last night, Ed." "Snow?" "Yes, Snow." "Bart, you must be mistaken. I'm sure I must have said 'no', and in your sleepiness you heard 'Snow'." Bart was adamant, "No, Eddy. I heard you say 'Snow'...I'm quite positive. What were you dreaming about? You should have heard yourself! My God, if Snow had heard you, she would have blushed! Not to mention Mike giving you a black eye just for dreaming it! What the hell were you dreaming about last night, man?" Eddy averted his gaze back to the stream. In part, he was slowly remembering the dream he'd had while at the same time trying to think of something to say to appease his curious roommate. "I don't know Bartolome. It was just a stupid dream! I don't even remember what you're talking about! I'm going back. It's getting late." Edward thought back to his dream the night before as he walked back to the village. Bart was right. He did dream about Snow last night. In thinking further, he wished he could remember more of the dream. He remembered the vision of seeing Snow wrapped in her black cloak riding atop of her horse Sal. As she rode closer, she smiled at Edward and he suddenly noticed that her black cloak was the only thing adorning her figure atop that horse. Shaking the thought, he knew that it would prove better if he didn't try to remember it after all.

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Chapter One Hundred - "Pigs"

Edward avoided Bartolome's questioning gaze as he entered the hut before supper. It had happened again...he knew it this time. He'd had another dream about Snow. In fact, he almost had to pay a visit to 'Betty' over this one. What was wrong with him? He poured himself a cup of coffee and sat in a chair in the corner away from Bart's prying stare. Instead, Bart focused his attention on Dinger as he gave a half smirk, "So what 's the plan for ol' Ed here to catch that queen?" This time Eddy purposefully caught his gaze to glare at him. "I waz jus' talkin' ta Duncan 'bout that earlier. Thought we'd go over it after dinner if you're up to it, Ed." Bart again smirked into his cup before taking a sip, "Oh, I think he's up to it alright." Travis chuckled, "But then, who's not up to a good roll in the hay. Eh, Ed?" Eddy leaned back in his chair and shut his eyes, "Travis, if you'd like to catch that ol' queen...please be my guest!" "Because frankly, I don't think Ed's interests lie with the queen or with Gaveston," Bart mumbled quietly, to where the few that did hear him, wondered about his meaning. Thomas suddenly entered the hut and slammed the door, frustrated. "I couldn't get that bastard's blood off the mill floor! Lily can't see the mill like that...with all that blood there." Raif added in jest, "Bloody floor!" "Exactly," Tom continued, "It would be terribly upsetting for her if she were to go to the mill and see it like that." Knowingly, Nigel offered, "So tell her not to go to the mill. Why would you want to take Lily there anyway, Thomas?" Tom scowled at Nigel's knowing smirk, as he quickly glanced to Neville who appeared to be casually waiting for his answer to Nigel's question. Instead Tom offered, "Personally, I don't want blood on the floor either. Maybe we can paint it." "It's a possibility," as Duncan stretched his legs out in front of him in his chair. "I believe there is still some paint left from where Ritchie was painting the chapel." "Good. That sounds fine." Tom continued to glare at Nigel as he went for coffee. But for the most part, the mood was a jovial one that day as the village celebrated the announcement of Dinger and Karen's soon-to-be new arrival. As Mike and the women prepared a celebration for the two proud parents-to-be, the men lounged in the hut dining area and spoke casually of parenthood and about life in the Willows in general. However, it never fails...the subject at hand with the Willows men can never stay in one place...that is for certain. Ceremoniously, Travis lifted his cup and offered in thought, "Did you know that if you yelled for 8 years, 7 months and 6 days you would have produced enough sound energy to heat one cup of coffee." Neville looked at Travis with curiosity then shook his head, "Hardly seems worth it." Dinger tutted at Travis' attempt to capitalize on his education, thinking that it was merely an attempt to make the rest of the men appear ignorant, perhaps. Travis cooed, "Just one of many worthless trivia facts that we mulled over at the university." "Worthless is right." With an amused glance at Dinger for his comment, Travis continued, "OK...here's one for you. If you farted consistently for 6 years and 9 months, enough gas is produced to create the energy of an atomic bomb." Neville grinned, "Now that's more like it!" Duncan looked over with a questioning but curious interest, "An atomic bomb?" "And, for another example, the human heart creates enough pressure when it pumps out to the body to squirt blood 30 feet." Bart spouted, "Bloody hell!" Immediately followed by Travis' approval, "Exactly!" Dinger plopped down into a chair, "Humph! I'm sure Karen knew that one!" Neville looked to Travis, as if he were waiting for more. Thinking, Travis grew a large smile, "You know, a pig's orgasm lasts 30 minutes!" Raif spit into his coffee, "Thirty minutes! A fucking pig?" Travis chuckled, "Exactly!" Raif shook his head in astonishment, "In my next life, I want to be a pig!!" Dinger sharply tossed the butt of his cigarette into the hearth, "And 'ere we'd thought ol' Brutus had it s' bad with all that mud and slop when he was still around! Shit! What fools we are!" Laughter roared through the hut as Raif suddenly wondered where Natalie had gotten off to. Travis set down his cup as he reveled in his present opportunity to impress his mates, "Banging your head against a wall uses 150 calories an hour." Dinger nodded towards Duncan, "There's one for the ladies!" Bart shook his head, "What are calories?" Dinger looked at Bart and laughed at his ignorance, "What a wanker!" Travis spouted again, "A cockroach will live nine days without its head before it starves to death." Neville shuddered and looked over at Raif , "Creepy, eh?" Raif seemed unfazed as he looked up at Neville seemingly unaware, "What? I'm still not over the pig!" "And speaking of heads, the male praying mantis cannot copulate while its head is attached to its body." Bart gave Travis a curious look, "Copulate?" "Yeah, you know... to 'mate'." Dinger elbowed him, "Fuck, stupid!" Bart threw Dinger an annoyed glance, "Alright...I got it." "So you see, the female mantis initiates sex by ripping the male's head off." Dinger then grabbed his crotch area, "Honey, I'm home. What the...." followed by a painful scream. Travis shakes his head, "Not that head!" "Oh." Dinger then corrected himself by miming his own head being torn off causing Thomas to wince uncomfortably at the thought. After the laughing ceased, Dinger's grin turned to a look of slight disappointment, "Shit! I wish Stevie were 'ere to hear all of this...even as juvenile as it is. He'd get a real kick out of it!" "We'll just have to do this again when he gets back then." Neville then turned back to Travis, "Got any more?" "Well, the flea can jump 350 times its body length. Kind of like a human jumping the length of a football field." Again Bart gave Travis a curious look, "What is a football? Is it like a basketball, like Jenn plays sometimes?" Tired of Bart's lame attempt at hiding his futile feelings for Jennifer, Dinger lit his cigarette and blew the smoke at Bart, "Shut up!" Raif, still distracted, turned to Nigel, "Thirty minutes...can you imagine?" Duncan snickered, "And I foresee in the future we'll have daily conversations revolving around Raif's newfound obsession with the reproductive practices of the pig. I expect we'll hear your latest review in the morning, Raif?" "I'll give you a review all right!" Smiling, Raif held out his fist to Duncan in jest, as the others chuckled. "You know..." the men looked back to Travis as he continued with his useless trivia, "Some lions mate over 50 times a day." With raised eyebrows, Nigel looked to Raif, who simply shook his head, "I'd still want to be a pig...quality over quantity." Travis grinned, "The strongest muscle in the body is the tongue." Not looking up, Dinger pondered the thought as he nodded his head, "Hmmmmmm........" "Here is a weird one...the catfish has over 27,000 taste buds." Still refusing to look in Bart's direction, Edward tutted as he poured himself another cup of coffee, "What in the world could be so tasty on the bottom of a pond?" "Well, butterflies taste with their feet." Dinger rolled his eyes, "Now there's somethin' I always wanted ta know." As Neville then poured himself another cup, Travis observed that he was using his left hand. Noting this, Travis remembered yet another bit, "Right-handed people live, on average, nine years longer than left-handed people do." Realizing, Neville quickly switched the pot to his right hand and offered, "So if you're ambidextrous, do you split the difference? Like say you'd live four and a half years longer maybe?" Nigel shook his head, "Wanker." "Polar bears are left-handed." "Who knew? Who cares?" Dinger sneered, as he rose out of his chair in the assumption that Travis was perhaps finished with his school lesson. Lasher came up and rubbed up against Neville's leg, "You know..." Promptly, Dinger then fell back into his chair upon hearing Travis continue his game of useless trivia as he peered down at the black cat, "A cat's urine glows under a blacklight." Neville reached down to pet Lasher, "I wonder who was paid to figure that out? There's some real brainpower, there!" Duncan scowled at the contradiction, "A 'black' light?" "Speaking of brains, an ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain." Dinger nodded as he casually looked around the room, "I know some people like that." Travis then added, "And starfish have no brains." Bart scowled as Dinger looked at him and gave a big grin, "I know some people like that too." Upon looking back over to Raif, Travis knowingly gave a large smirk, "Humans and dolphins are the only species that have sex for pleasure." Travis awaited a reaction and wasn't disappointed as Raif turned to him and tutted with annoyance, "What about the bloody pig?!"

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