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Chapter Seven

Seeley didn't know what he was expecting when he stepped into the village for the first time in four years but this definitely wasn't it.

As the Palace Gates opened in front of them, Seeley and Jack were assaulted by attacks on almost every one of their senses. Their noses filled with the scent of freshly baked bread and freshly picked flowers at a stand nearby. Their ears were equally, but none too pleasantly, filled with the sounds of people talking, yelling, laughing, crying, you name it and it was coming out of their mouths. Seeley heard some of the sweetest sounds and then some of the most annoying, but he didn't mind. These were real people. This was the way people were supposed to act; yelling and shouting at each other, not just politely asking favors or talking in soft voices to one another like he'd been so accustomed to in the last few months. And the sights! There were stands of all sorts scattered along every street and corner. Men and women selling their wares, while mothers and fathers with difficult children attempted to calm them in order to get their shopping done and get home.

And it was such a beautiful day too! The skies were blue on only a few, fluffy clouds grazed them, floating gently, almost as if not even moving an inch. And the colors of all the different articles of clothing the people wore! Vibrant reds and blues and rich purples and greens, of every shade! Booth was captivated by all this...excitement! He almost didn't notice his feet carrying him in the direction of the flower cart until Jack's voice broke through his thoughts.

"Seeley!" he exclaimed.

Seeley turned toward him, a dazed expression on his face. "Oh, sorry, Hodge. What'd you say?"

"I said don't wander off too far. The people around here are as insane as the day is long. Don't trust any of them. I'm going to run a few errands, check on a few things, and all that wonderful stuff for the Ball. I'll meet you back at the gate in about two hours. Alright?"

Seeley nodded. "Sure. Two hours. Got it." he said, distracted by all the pretty flowers. Jack gave him a skeptical look and he chuckled. "I got it Hodgins! Relax, Man. Lighten up! Go talk to a woman or something! I'll be fine on my own. I'm a grown man, remember?"

Jack sighed and shook his head. "Whatever, man. I'll see you here in about two hours." he said, before walking away.

Seeley smiled and turned back to the flowers, looking through them to take his pick, a small picking of daisies catching his eye. He smiled to himself and pointed to the flowers. "I'll take half a dozen of those." he said, handing over a gold piece.

The flower girl nodded and picked six daisies, handing them to him, and smiling as he denied the change she offered to him. "Keep it." he said. The girl thanked him with a curtsy as he waved and walked off.

As he walked through the village, Seeley was startled to see a small girl being picked on by two larger girls, all because she had glasses, was reading a book, and simply because she was not as big as them.

"Nobody could ever love you!" One of them shouted.

"Yeah, you're way too ugly, Four Eyes!" the other one snarled, grabbing the book out of her hand, making the little girl tear up.

"Give it back!" she cried.

"Make us!" they sneered back.

Without missing a beat, Seeley walked over to the girls and kneeled at the smallest girl's feet. "My love! There you are!" he cried, grabbing her hand. "I've been searching everywhere for you!"

The little girl's eyes widened in surprise and confusion. Seeley played along with it.

"You don't remember me?" the little girl shook her head. "Well, it has been quite a while! But, woe is me! You've probably found somebody else! All I ask is that you forgive me and take this flower as a token of my love for you. For with it's delicate petals and it's soft, elegant stem, it is almost as lively and gorgeous as you!" Seeley handed her the daisy, and she took it, smiling through her tears.

"Thank you." she said in a small voice.

Seeley winked at her and then turned to the other girls. "Were you two messing with my love?"

The girls shook their heads, hiding the book behind their backs. Seeley lifted an eye brow at them. "Oh, really? Then what's that?" he motioned towards the book they were hiding.

"Noooothing." one of the girls said, looking away.

Seeley scowled and held out his hand for the book. The girls looked at each other before handing it over. "Very good." Seeley said, giving the book back to the little girl. "Now, say sorry."

"Sorry, Genny." the girls mumbled in unison.

"It's alright." the little girl, Genny, replied, shyly.

Seeley smiled proudly at her and pat her head. "Now," he said to the other two, "I don't want to ever hear that you are mistreating my girl right here. Understood? Because I will come back and you won't like it when I do."

The girls nodded in unison and Seeley grinned. "Good. See ya later, Genny." he said before walking away.

Genny, not really knowing Seeley, just waved good bye with a smile, sniffing the flower before putting it in her hair.

Seeley smiled as he walked through the village handing out almost all of the flowers. One to a stressed out mother with three small children. Another to a bitter old widow. A third to a young, bored shopkeeper. And a fourth to a young man to give to his love.

Every one of these gifts was met with a smile and a 'thank you' from the recipient. Seeley just smiled back and bowed at each one.

As Seeley got to his last flower, he was trying to think of who he could possibly give it to. His grandmother? No, she had all the flowers she could stand right at home. But then who? There seemed to be nobody else in need of cheering up that day.

Then he saw her. A young peasant girl, her gorgeous auburn hair down in messy curls around her slightly sooty face, and her eyes...Those eyes were like crystal pools of blue. Such a deep electrifying blue. A familiar blue that Seeley could've swore he saw before. But that was impossible. He hadn't been to the village in years. Not since he was a teenager. He was twenty now and he knew he'd never seen that girl before.

But there was no denying that she was absolutely gorgeous, even in the ratty old dress she wore and the forlorn look on her face.

Seeley smiled as soon as he saw he and found himself gravitating towards her until he was only a couple feet away, holding the flower out towards her. She wasn't look at him so he decided to speak up.

"Flower?" he asked, as he tapped her on the shoulder.

The woman jumped slightly and turned to him, confusion written all over her face.

Then she smiled and it was like Seeley just saw the sun for the first time, That smile was brilliant, blinding even, and it was the most gorgeous smile he had ever seen. But then she declined his gift. "Sorry." she said. "I have no money."

Seeley smiled back and chuckled. "That's all right." He said. "I'm not selling it. It's a gift. For a beautiful woman such as yourself."

The young woman blushed, but smiled that brilliant smiled nonetheless as she accepted the flower. "Thank you." she said, smiling. "Daisies are my second favorite flower."

Seeley smiled. "Oh, really? What's your favorite. Just so I know for next time." he asked. What was he saying? More importantly, what was propelling him to say all this?

The girl blushed deeper. "Next time?" she asked. "Will there be a next time? I don't even know you?"

Seeley smiled. "My name is..." he paused. He couldn't give her his real name. "Tony." he improvised. "Tony Scallion." he smiled charmingly as he kissed her hand in greeting. "What's yours?"

The girl paused before answering. "Roxanne. Roxy, actually." she answered.

Seeley smiled. "Roxy, huh?" he could tell she was lying, just like him. "Nice to meet you. Is there a last name?" he asked.

Roxy's eyes seemed to search for something for a second before she answered. "Hart. My name is Roxy Hart." she answered.

Seeley grinned. He recognized the name of the grocery shop behind him. "Nice to meet you, Miss Hart." he said, playing along. "How are you this fine day?"

Roxy shrugged. "Fine, I guess. I've been better." she said, somewhat sadly.

Tony grinned at her. "Oh really? Why do you say that?"

Roxy opened her mouth to answer but was interrupted by a shrill shout. "Cinderbones! What do you think you're doing? And where is Angela?"

Roxy stood up, startled, clutching the flower nervously and grasping at the packages that were all seated next to her. "Sorry, Stepmother. Um, Angela is talking to...an old friend of hers. In fact, here she comes now." She motioned towards a tall, dark-haired woman coming towards them, looking very stressed and yet very happy at the same time. She took some packages away from Roxy and turned towards the blonde woman who'd just been shouting at Roxy.

"Sorry, Rebecca," she said, as two more blondes came out and placed the packages in her arms. "I was talking to...a friend." She smiled slightly at this and looked at Roxy, who smiled back.

Roxy then turned to Seeley. "It was nice to meet you, Mr. Scallion." she said.

Seeley smiled back. "Nice to meet you too, Cinderbones?" he asked.

Roxy blushed and rolled her eyes. "Nickname." she said. "Don't ask." she grinned slightly at him. "I have to go. Thanks again for the flower. It's really nice."

Seeley smiled, brilliantly. "No problem. I'll see you around, Roxy. Okay?"

Roxy smiled, smiling shyly before scurrying after her friend, the three blondes right behind her, all eying him.

Seeley smiled politely at them, before bowing. "Ladies." he said.

The oldest one, obviously their mother, looked him up and down before sticking her nose in the air and turning on her heel. The other two did the same and all three stomped away from him, making him feel like filth.

But he didn't care. In fact, he was still smiling to himself as he continued his walk through the village, his mind still on one Roxy Hart.

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Nearly an hour later, Seeley found himself walking back towards the Palace gates, and he was almost there when he heard the voice of his friend, shouting out for attention as he announced the upcoming Ball. Booth was startled as the village square grew deadly silent. Seeley listened as Jack announced the ball and smiled as he spotted Roxy in the crowd, half a dozen additional packages in her arms and another dozen in her companion's arms. Both women looked exhausted and bored as the three blonde women listened intently to Jack, clapping hysterically when he finished. Then they were off, carting the exhausted women along like mules.

Seeley frowned, feeling somewhat sympathetic for the women. Especially for Roxy, who he felt he had some sort of bond with.

His frown turned into a smile as a somewhat disheveled looking Jack came bustling up the path to the gates to meet him.

"Tough day?" Seeley asked, grinning.

Jack smiled. "It was actually okay until the last ten minutes there." he replied. Seeley chuckled and Jack joined him. "How about you?" he asked, showing his ID to the guards at the gate.

Seeley smiled. "I had a pretty good day. In fact, I'm thinking of going back there tomorrow."

Jack scoffed. "Yeah, right! Not a chance, Seel." he said.

Seeley grinned to himself, picturing Roxy's gorgeous eyes. We'll just see about that. He thought to himself.

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