Broad beginnings build beautiful people.

Music soothes the savage beast

Chapter 1: The Princess and The Dog


Danny's eyes scanned the room, clearing not paying attention to the notes his teacher was writing on the board. He had an odd feeling in his stomach, as though he was worried. Although, he didn't know what he would be worried about. The bell rang, signalling his freedom. He immediately packed his things up and darted out of the room. After practice for band was cancelled, but he needed to grab his trumpet from the room so he could practice over the weekend. The sound of a piano grew louder as he came closer and opened the door. The first thing in view was a familiar face with a concentrated expression.

A smile grew across Danny's cheeks as he walked forward and sat beside his friend. Her eyes opened and looked to him, beginning to play more softly.

"I thought you went home already," Danny muttered through a grin, "Didn't you have a free period?"

"Band may be cancelled, but I still need to practice." His smile dropped, eyes burrowing a hole in her skull as she turned back the the sheet of music. She never did stop practicing, not that he saw anyways. Sometimes, he wondered if her music sheets were more of a friend in her mind than he was.

"Taylor," he put his hands onto hers, pulling them from the ivory keys, "You've got it already and you know it." She shrugged lightly and bit her lip. "Besides, you've got to take Vincent to the vet in an hour... Let me take you home. " He gave her a smile and got up from the bench, motioning for her to follow. She let out a soft laugh and stood up as she grabbed her book bag and music.

. × .

"Mom, I'm home," Taylor called out and walked into the living room to find her mother asleep on the couch, Vincent balled up at her feet. He shot up at the sound of her voice, hopping off the couch to greet her. Her mother stirred awake from the movement while Taylor chuckled, lightly petting his head.

"That dog is going to be the end of me," Taylor's mother huffed and began to stretch. "He's been whining all day." She sat up and stared very seriously at her daughter, who was knelt down and quiet, hands rhythmically stroking her friends head. He was as tall as she was when she sat like that. "Honey, he's ten years old... I'm not sure-"

"I know," Taylor spoke softly, looking up only for a moment before wrapping her dog in her arms and petting his side. He instantly stopped moving around and lowered his head. Her face pressed against his nuzzle and her eyes shut to take in the moment. She always had a way of calming him down, causing him to go from hyper to tired in moments. With one last squeeze, she stood up to latch his leash onto his collar. "I better get going. I'll see you later, okay mom?" Her mom nodded and watched Taylor walk out of the house before letting out a soft sigh.

Vincent happily trotted down the sidewalk, Taylor walking along side. "Don't worry Vinny, you're always going to be my best friend." He seemed to look at her for a moment before continuing onward.

. × .

Taylor looked at Vincent one last time before pushing open the vet's door. The office was completely empty, but she heard voices somewhere in the backroom where Dr. Deaton always took Vincent. Scanning the room, Taylor slid her fingers onto the counter as her lips pressed together. A few more words were said in the back, though they were unclear to Taylor, before Dr. Deaton paced out of the backroom. "Taylor, good to see you." She nodded, biting at the inside of her lip.

"We're a little early, I hope that's okay," she muttered the last part as she peered down at her dog again.

"You look more nervous than he does," Deaton commented with a smile, hoping she's loosen up a little. "I'll just have my assistant take him to the back and we'll check him out." She forced a smile and nodded. Dr. Deaton turned and called out, "Scott?"

It wasn't unusual to see Scott here, Taylor's seen him here plenty, although he had never handled her dog. She knew him from school and sometimes saw him play lacrosse with Danny. Sometimes Danny would mention him, usually about his strange behavior and extreme mood swings. Other than that, she knew practically nothing about him. As he walked out from the back, she noticed the way his face was twisted. He was worried about something, obviously. She was, too, though she had a feeling he wasn't concerned about her dog's old age. He gave her a small smile as Taylor handed him the leash. She took a step back, "I trust you, doctor, so I'm going to stop by the store for a minute. I'll be back soon." She licked her lips and nodded at Scott, "Please... Take care of him, okay?"

Scott watched Taylor as she nervously stepped back. He gave her a reassuring nod. Scott's never seen her this worried about anything, usually she was the one who was calm. But watching her hide her dark green eyes under her bangs, cut straight over her eyebrows (The haircut she's had since she moved here, though her hair was grown out to her lower back by now). She was always consistent, always quiet, except for now. He shook his head and moved Vincent to the back for examinations.

. × .

Taylor stepped into the grocery store, hurrying around to find ingredients for the stew she wanted to prepare when she got home. Her brothers demanded beef and vegetable stew for tonight and she already had some steak made to cut up. While getting the fresh vegetables from the cooler, an arm shot out in front of her and grabbed the carrots that were level her face. She froze, peeking to her side to see a familiar face. Isaac Lahey. He was known for his attitude, though there was a rumor going around that he was a bit of a sociopath.

As Isaac looked down at her, his big, bored eyes stared her down and his eye brows flicked while he shifted his jaw around. Taylor stared back for what seemed like a lifetime, calm expression pushing his attitude right back. After a second, a voice called out to him, though he held the gaze for a moment before taking the first step away from her. Her eyes continued to follow him as he went back the the older woman. She looked like Scott, with long, thick hair and an annoyed expression, and she seemed to have a certain amount of control on him. When they left the isle, Taylor let out the breath that she didn't know she was holding and shook her head. If he's not a sociopath, he's definitely something.

. × .

The bags of groceries began weighing down her arms as she paced back to the vet, worry consuming her again. She used her hip to push open the door and hurried to put the groceries down on the closest chair. She approached the counter again, trying her best to control her breathing as she attempted to call out, "Dr. Deaton?" Her hands shook for a moment, she squeezed them to calm it. Dr. Deaton emerged from the back with a grin, Vincent walking beside him. He opened the gate to pass her the leash.

"Vincent's going to be just fine," He gave Vincent one last stroke before closing the gate and speaking to her over the counter, "I think he's a got a few more years on him. Now, he did have a few ticks. You're going to have to give him this," he handed her a bottle of large pills, "right after every meal he has. He should also get this medicine just to keep any more ticks off. It's just a dropper, you put it between his shoulder blades once every morning." He handed a palm-sized applicator to Taylor and gave her a soft smile as she grinned at Vincent.

"Thank you so much," she chimed, bending down to hold Vincent again.

"He's also one of the most beautiful border collies I've seen in a while," Deaton noted, just as a conversation piece. He's known Taylor since she moved her. She was seven years old, with a new puppy in her arms as her mother and step-father lead her into the office. Same hairstyle as she's always had, same soft-spoken personality as well.

"That's because he's full of wonder," she muttered, hands on either sides of Vinny's head, fingers stroking behind his ears. She looked up to Deaton and smiled, "I should go, I have to make dinner. Thank you!" She grabbed her dog's leash and picked up her load of groceries, bright smile across her face.

On the way home, Vinny made a point to sniff everything he didn't recognize and Taylor would just stop and wait patiently. He loved to know new things and new people. It's what she loved most about him. Once home, she opened the gate to let him roam about the yard while she made dinner. As she walked inside, she called out to her brothers, "Nathan! Julian!" They came running downstairs, excited and pushing each other around in a race. Nathan towered over his nine year old brother, though he was only twelve. He was almost taller than Taylor, though she was pretty short to begin with.

"Who wants to help make dinner?"


A/N This story begins at the very end of season 3A and will progress though aligned with season 3B in time. The first few chapters will be somewhere between 3 A and 3 B. Also, the canon ships may be altered to fit the story. May. It depends on how 3 B ends up. Thats why the story will be a few episodes behind to make time for plotting.

I did use this as an opener because I thought it was important for everyone to know Taylor before she begins to hang out with the show's 'clique'. :) I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! Please tell me what you thought and what you'd like to see happen! Criticism welcome! Thank you!

Updates will occur weekly, though if there are enough reviews it may be released sooner. :)