I have returned with a new chapter! Sorry such a long wait, but college has been keeping me busy as well as job hunting for a summer job. Unfortunately, with my luck, I think I might as well just freelance write and edit my way through the summer. I decided to post a new chapter for this story instead of my LOTR fic because I initially had more written for this chapter. I'll be finishing the next LOTR chapter as soon as my schedule permits me to.

Now read on!

Entry 09 : In Grief

17 | 2115 | A | MAY | 22

Fourteen months.

That was how long it took for my inheritance to be brought up again.

I had been away on a trip touring Normandy with Lucille and Flavie Beauchêne, the latter of whom was Comtesse as she was married to Arthur's elder brother Bastien. Flavie was less outgoing than her sister-in-law, but I learned quickly that she had backbone nonetheless and had no reservations about being firm and putting her foot down when it was needed. We got along well on that point, and I was glad to make a fast friend in her during the trip. However, our trip had been cut short with a single phone call from Armand to Flavie. The call had not been made directly to myself since Armand had wanted either Lucille or Flavie, who had picked up first, to break the news of my grandfather's death to me.

He had a heart attack when reading in the library, and though he had been immediately rushed to the hospital he didn't make it.

That had been three weeks ago, and I still remember going into a pale state of shock. My mind had known what my ears were hearing from Flavie, but in the suspension of perception my shock had put me in couldn't quite believe them. I had only known my grandfather for barely over a year and now he was gone. I thought I would still have a few more years but that would never be the case for my grandfather and I. Now, I sat in the living room meeting with other mourners after the funeral, receiving their condolences. I spoke very few words with them, mostly nodding and simply thinking over my own thoughts throughout.

It had been a well-put-together funeral for my grandfather: Full military honors, a lengthy procession, and - to my surprise - a rather large crowd of mourners. More interestingly, as I noticed throughout the proceedings, many weren't natively French and dressed in the full military regalia of other countries. My grandfather had told me quite a few things about his illustrious and exciting military career, though I noticed when he talked more lightly and vaguely during more than a few of his stories. I knew that he had done quite a bit of traveling throughout his career, but he never really mentioned making a lot of friends or friendly acquaintances. Certainly not enough for this turnout for his funeral.

And, not unexpectedly, my father was conspicuously absent from the proceedings despite the many people who did arrive for a final goodbye to my grandfather. It looked like even I wasn't enough to come back for, and I made this the moment that, like my grandfather had nearly two decades ago, estranged me from my father. Of course, he wouldn't be inheriting anything though I doubted he would show even if he had been left something. However, Adrian Lacroix was better at leaving things behind.

The paperwork would be finalized in a few days, but other than that my inheritance was written in stone. Glancing around the room, it was easy to spot those whose grief was as sincere as mine. Inspecting a little deeper, however, and I found those whose grief was a mask to hide the jealousy and greed they had against me. This was no surprise for me, as I had expected this to appear in this wake for my grandfather and something Armand further warned me about. As he had told me: I was a pretty-looking stranger to many who ran in the social circles of elite society, and I essentially appeared from nowhere and so seemed like a charming upstart. Now here I was, a Comtesse at nineteen and inheritor of everything under the Lacroix name. Several individuals and even entire families would not like that.

Even though gaining a substantial inheritance seemed like a fairytale and the end to all troubles, one had to remember that this was not how reality truly worked and that with greater status came greater troubles.

I had only just begun to note those individuals who were unhappy with my sudden elevation in status for future reference when someone approached me with a sure, military-type presence. Turning my head to get a better look at this person, I not only noted that it was a man, older but not nearly as old as my grandfather had been though definitely starting to grey, and dressed in his full military honors. Picking out that detail, my eyes widened a little as I then saw it was the decorated military attire for a general from the United States. Once he was closer I stood, wanting to greet him on more even ground, and I didn't get the chance to read the name on his heavily-starched jacket before he offered his hand and introduced himself, solving that matter.

"Comtesse Lacroix, a pleasure to finally meet you though I regret it is under these circumstances," He said as we shook hands, "I'm General Clayton Abernathy. Your grandfather and I knew each other back in the day, and the world lost a great man with his passing."

The name did not ring any bells for me, but him personally knowing my grandfather did cause me to raise an eyebrow as I replied, "A pleasure to make your acquaintance, General Abernathy, and thank you for your condolences, but now I must ask how did you know my grandfather?"

Letting go of my hand, he had a nostalgic smile on his very military-looking face before telling me, "Gerard and I met while he was on loan from the French Government in the nineties. It was a top-secret project, so I can't tell you much about it-" Abernathy had an apologetic look when he said that, "But it was an experimental military outfit that we, among a few others, had been selected to try and see if it could work."

"And did it work?" I was incredibly interested, so I had to ask. My grandfather had never mentioned this whenever he talked to me about his military career. Then again, it was apparently top secret, so I could understand why he had taken the safe road and opted out of telling me about this. The general gave me a conspiratorial wink.

"It did, and I'm proud to say that I became good friends with your grandfather during the time he stayed with us. I remember the day when he received word from home that he became a grandfather. Kept showing us pictures of you and your mother every time he received new ones." He then chuckled, "None of us had the heart to stop him, even though the new recruits were getting tired of it."

We both had a good laugh at that and it was fairly easy for me to imagine a slightly younger version of my grandfather showing off the first pictures of his only grandchild. Easier still, when I remembered seeing the pride in his eyes whenever I accomplished something I was proud of. Afterward, General Abernathy took his leave, apologizing that he couldn't stay any longer as he had obligations elsewhere he had to take care of but wished me the best and again offered his condolences. When he had left, it was back to noting who was upset at my ascension until the wake finally ended. Once the last of the guests had left, I exhaled deeply as Armand closed the door softly behind them.

He looked to me, concern crossing his face before it was schooled back into professionalism and he asked me, "Voulez-vous passer du temps seul, Comtesse?"

Would you like some time alone, Comtesse?

I started a bit at being referred to by that title but realized that I would have to get used to it now. I now owned the title of Comtesse Lacroix and would be referred to as such in upper social circles. To answer Armand, I nodded.

"Je crois que je vais prendre un peu de temps pour moi-même dans l'étude de grand-père."

I believe I will take some time to myself in grandfather's study.

He nodded in response, and I disappeared from the living room and up to the second level for the study. I only gave a passing glance to the library, as you had to enter the library to get into the study. Once I was in the study and after I had closed the door behind me, I fell into his large office chair and closed my eyes. I had lost count of how many times I had cried between the news of his death and the present, but as the tears pricked at my eyes I knew that I would have to add another instance to my vague count. Sadness and exhaustion eventually overtook me as it sat his chair.

It couldn't have been more than an hour that had passed as I sat there in the study - though I wasn't certain - when there were a few polite knocks on the door.

I opened my eyes carefully, glancing over at the door for a few seconds before standing from the chair and opening the door a few inches. Armand was standing there, but what confused me was the small smile on his face. He presented himself as if he knew something important but would not tell me immediately. This was further proven when he then told me, "Comtesse, vous avez un visiteur."

Comtesse, you have a visitor.

"Un visiteur?"

A visitor?

He nodded, then stepped aside to reveal the person I had wanted to see most for months. Rex stood there - my thoughts essentially short-circuited a little as I realized that he was here in person - in a long black trench coat, wore a faded blue scarf that covered his ventilator, and it was all topped off by a wide black fedora. It was a lot of black barely broken up by the blue, but my emotions didn't care as tears flowed again. I ran the few feet between us and hugged him with enough force to send him stumbling a bit. He regained his balance in seconds however and hugged me back. That was all he did - no questions, just comfort.

At some point, Armand had silently excused himself but I hadn't noticed until Rex suggested that we go into the study to talk. We found ourselves sitting on the chaise lounge and Rex had maneuvered us to where my head was tucked against his shoulder and he was able to hold me comfortably. It was a while before I was able to stop crying for my grandfather's passing mixed in with the sheer happiness of seeing Rex here in person. When I did, Rex and I just sat in the quiet of the study, taking in the measures of peace we could take from it.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

I shook my head and leaned further into him as I attempted to not start crying again. I heard, and felt, his inhale and exhale deeply a few times before he then said, "Want to play a round or two of chess?" This caused me to look up at him, smiling when I saw the crow's feet at the corners of his dark eyes. I nodded.

"Grandfather has a set in here somewhere, give me a minute to find it."

A few minutes later, the old wooden chess set where the pieces were walnut-brown and cream in color was found and set up. Seven moves in and Rex hadn't pulled the plug on my half-hearted defense strategy yet, though I knew he would soon enough. We were both quiet as we played, the only sounds being his ventilator and wood on wood as we moved our pieces on the board. Eventually, I spoke up quietly.

"So how has your work been going?"

"Well," He replied lightly as he moved a pawn, "Everything is on schedule so far, and I have high hopes we can potentially accelerate our timetable over the next few months."

"I hear a 'but' in there, Rex."

He sighed. "Probably because I could have moved things farther along sooner if it weren't for the tight and as such limiting budget. It puts an interesting pressure on my quality of work."

I looked up from the game, staring straight into his eyes as I then asked, "You're not getting too stressed, are you?"

The smile in his eyes as present as he said, "No more than to be expected. I can handle the pressure, I just have to be particularly inventive with the workarounds."

Laughing a bit, I leaned forward onto my elbows after I made another move with my remaining rook before saying, "I seriously have to wonder what it is you do to be put in this kind of situation."

"Well, I can't talk about the project as that very top secret Lefty," He winked and moved his queen, "But what I can tell you is that I currently work as a scientist specializing in experimental biomechanical engineering. Also," He lightly gestured at the chess board, "Checkmate."

I leaned back in my chair, keeping my eyes on him. "Experimental biomechanical engineering? Like what?"

"Nano-technology."

I grinned. "Very science-fiction of you, Darth Vader."

"I try… now," Rex then laced his fingers together as he too leaned back into his chair, his whole demeanor then becoming very serious. "What do you plan on doing now?"

I shifted a little in my seat, thinking yet uncomfortable - no, uncertain - all of a sudden. It was so long before I responded, "Well, Armand says that as long as the accounts are balanced and the investments are handled wisely, I shouldn't have any problems with money. Grandfather taught me how to do that, and if I have any problems I have Armand to help me."

Rex nodded. "Anything else?"

I frowned. "He also thinks I should pursue a university degree. In what, I don't know. Hell, I don't even know where to start concerning university!"

"Do you have a high school diploma?"

"It's called secondary school here, Rex," I teased and corrected him simultaneously, "And yes, I have completed secondary school."

"Where?"

"Online. Never attended a school with other students in person, not with all the moving my father had us do before dropping me off with grandfather."

"And how long ago with this?"

"I'm nineteen now, so last year."

"Then I agree with Armand, you should pursue a higher education degree. Money only goes so far and you'll be taken more seriously with one than without one. Make your own reputation. Don't just be a Lacroix - be Sarah Lacroix of whatever you want to accomplish."

I had a very-wide eyed stare for him by the time he finished.

"That's a very motivational speech… where were you hiding it?"

He laughed, really laughed, before the steady mechanism of his ventilator forced him to stop so he could continue to breathe more evenly. After a few light coughs, he then said, "I can be motivational if I want to, but it only seems to come up when you're involved. You're my friend Sarah, and I want you to succeed in whatever you decide to do."

I gave him a soft smile. "That's very sweet Rex, and I guess I'll have to let you know if I find a degree and university that I like."

"When you do," He correct, his smile still on his face, "There's no doubt you will find something you like."

"Are you staying long enough to help me?"

Rex shook his head. "Unfortunately, I need to return to project fairly quickly. My employer will be wanting me to return to continue personally supervising the project he has me on."

I must have had a confused expression on my face, as his became questioning as he then asked, "What is it?"

"... Does your employer not know you're here?"

His eyes widened, but it was schooled quickly into reassurance as he then said, "No, he doesn't but he won't found out about this. Besides, he doesn't need to."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure."

But after we said our goodbyes and when I was in the privacy of my room, I allowed myself to think that there was something wrong - and worse was that I didn't know what beyond the certainty that Rex was involved. I took in a deep breath, calmed myself down, and told myself that all these little suspicions were probably just adding up to become some monstrous theory and I needed to stop.

Rex was my best friend, I was his best friend, and I trusted him as much as I was sure he trusted me. Unfortunately, that thought only created a sick feeling in my stomach.

If he really trusted me… why was he hiding something from me?

By this point, there is only one chapter between now and the chapter in which Sarah gets to be a part of some of the first Paramount G.I. Joe film. She is not heavily involved, but there is danger nonetheless.

Now don't forget to leave a review in the donation box, and that I don't own the G.I. Joe franchise!

Until next chapter and thank you for your patience!