Disclaimer: I own Gracie and anyone else not on the series.
Category: M/L, AU
Rating: G
Summary: Manticore is getting closer, even supposedly missing friends can bring Manticore closer to finding Gracie. Sequel to 'Gracie.'
Spoilers: You really should read 'Gracie' before this or you won't understand any of it. Everything up until Pollo loco happened and then my story Gracie comes into the picture, so this is pretty much an AU.
E-Mail: Goosehead was stuffing me around so I'm using my old and trusty address; storm_calm@hotmail.com
Dedication: Anyone who sent feedback for 'Gracie' you lot are the GREATEST!
AN/ this is basically a sequel to my story Gracie. A few people asked for one and I've had a huge case of writer's block but here's my attempt anyway.
Children of fear- prologue
"Are you ready yet?" Logan called from the lounge.
Max looked at Gracie in the mirror "well we better not leave him waiting to long. Are you ready sweetheart?"
Gracie nodded happily. She'd been out of Manticore for six months and as of yet there had been no appearance from Lydecker. Her mother was still at jam pony and her father still ran eyes only but other than that they had mostly opted out of any dangerous missions for Gracie's sake. Tonight they were going to a charity ball run by one of the richest and some people said most corrupted man in Seattle called Simon Crest, a computer software genius that liked to throw extravagant party's supposedly in the name of charity. The Cale's had been invited as they often were and this time Logan had also excepted so he could see what Crest's latest scam was.
Gracie had been looking forward to it all week and decided that even if it was the most boring thing she'd ever have to go to it still would be worth it just for the getting ready alone.
Max had bought Gracie a long sleeved pale blue silk dress that reached a few inches short of white lacy petticoats she wore underneath and had a sash of the same material embroided with fake pearls. Max had done Gracie's long dark hair in a bun secured with pearl pins. All in all Gracie felt like a princess and looked like one.
Max wore a back less dark green dress that had a slit up the side "you Miss Grace are going to stop traffic" she told Gracie.
Gracie giggled and twirled in front of the mirror and practiced curtsying "they'll be looking at you!" she told her.
Max frowned and absently pushed a stray dark curl of hair behind her ear "not likely. Come on let's go before Logan leaves without us!"
Gracie nodded and took her hand.
***
Logan looked at his watch for the third time in five minutes "Come On!" he called.
"Okay, okay we're coming" Max complained pulling Gracie into the lounge.
Logan smiled "well look at you two!" he picked Gracie up and looked her up and down "this will never do, someone's bound to try and steal you from me"
Gracie screwed her nose up "no they won't!"
Logan laughed "not if you keep that face on they won't" he looked up at Max "you're mother is stunning"
Max pursed her lips and blushed "you always know the right thing to say. Ready?" he nodded and set Gracie on her feet.
Max threw him the keys "lead the way."
***
Simon Crest plastered a fake smile on his face and turned to his wife Marian. She was ten years younger than him and was under the impression that if a couple was married; they should spend time with each other. Simon did not feel the same. Marian had also insisted that they should have a child. Simon could barely stand being in the same room with the woman, little own giving her a child so he'd told her that she could adopt an orphan.
The only reason he ever spent time with his beautiful blond wife was at his party's where he acted out the part of the loving husband and doting father to the little girl who had only just come into they're household. He'd spoken to her once. Sarah, as his wife called her, was dark haired and had treacle colored skin. All in all a very pretty child but it was her eyes that got Simon. They were almost black in color and the only word he could describe them as were calculating. It was as if she watched his every move with the laid back cool and preciseness of a cat stalking its prey.
"My wife you are truly stunning" Simon purred. Marian was only twenty but looked even younger, she reminded him of a high school prom queen. She probably had been.
His wife smiled and shook her long tresses of golden hair while smoothing out the wrinkles in her revealing white dress that clung to her every perfect curve.
"Thank you Simon. But look at Sarah, she's going to brake a few hearts tonight" she said beaming at the little girl sitting beside her.
Sarah looked up at the woman and smiled. She really was very nice, if a little dim. Sarah looked down at the frilly pink dress she wore; a dress was hard enough to agree to wear but a PINK dress!
Simon's fake smile slipped but was put back in place almost immediately "she's just as beautiful as her mother."
Marian chuckled and took Sarah's hand, standing up "well we have to go and entertain the guest's. They're all very excited about meeting Sarah. Don't be late Simon dear."
He nodded and kept the smile in place until she and the kid left the room "and Marian Dear, if you feel the need to slip on the stairs and kill your self, do take the child with you" he muttered sarcastically.
He turned back to his mirror "the black tie or the blue . . ."
***
Sarah looked around the large overly decorated room. She sat at the Crest's table and had been putting up with cooing old woman treating her like she was two for the last half-hour. Simon still hadn't come down and she was getting bored just sitting and listening to Marian rabbit on to her little group of followers that had tried to dress exactly like her. Apparently there was a simply gorgeous summerhouse Simon had bought for her and Sarah to stay at in Hawaii.
They were expecting over two hundred people to attend and not even half had arrived yet. Amy hated doing nothing but knew patience could be a person's greatest virtue, or so she'd been told.
The large doors opened again and another group of guest's sauntered in.
Marian looked up and smiled "Oh it's Logan Cale, did you know he can walk again?"
The Marian clones as Amy decided to call them looked shocked and focussed on Logan.
Marian smirked "he just gets more and more handsome every time I see him!"
The clones giggled. One of them frowned "who's that woman with him?"
"Oh that's Max, His girlfriend. And you see the gorgeous little girl holding Logan's hand? Their daughter!"
The clones gasped
"But I've never seen Max before and suddenly he's not only off the market and walking but he's got a kid that has to be at least six?! And what kind of name is max for a girl?" the clone who'd spoken before asked.
Marian nodded "well I don't like to gossip . . ."
Sarah tried to suppress a giggle
"But from what I heard, Max has known him for a year and they've only just started dating. Logan got hold of some special doctor who specializes in healing back problems or something. As for the girl, I have no idea."
Sarah turned to look at the girl they spoke about. The girl had her back to Sarah and was looking up at the woman Sarah presumed was Max. The woman was beautiful and her eyes danced when she looked down at the girl. Sarah's heart constricted for a brief moment why couldn't that be me? She thought sadly, then quickly pushed it out of her mind.
From what the clones had said, the man standing next to them was Logan. He held the girl's hand tightly and had his other hand resting lightly on the woman's hip. Sarah smiled, she could read people well and all her knowledge told her this man was very protective of the two females beside him.
The girl turned around to survey the large picturesque room. Sarah gasped and stared at the very familiar face she had seen almost every single day of her life.
"Sarah sweetheart, what's wrong?" Marian asked resting her hand lightly over Sarah's small one now clenched in a fist.
"Gracie!" Sarah breathed staring at the girl.
Marian followed her gaze and a smile lit up her face "you know her? That would explain how Logan suddenly has a kid. She was with you at the orphanage wasn't she"
Sarah tore her gaze from Gracie and found the whole group of clones staring at her. She forced her hands to relax and nodded, not looking at Marian "you could say that."
Marian turned to her friends "well, now we have a name and some background why don't we invite Max and Gracie to come and join us?!"
Sarah's eyes widened and her heart beat quickened as she watched Marian stand up and weave through the crowd towards Logan, Max and Gracie.
TBC
AN/ as always, feedback is as addictive to me as coffee and it keeps me writing!