Thank you for sticking with me through part 1! If you want, please listen to the song May Be by Yiruma near the end, it reminds me of the attitude I was trying to convey.

Disclaimer: I don't own Oblivion

EDIT: Stupid italics...

Chapter 10

As my major form of income, I spent a lot of my time fishing. Although I was in the city more than before, I still fished away a lot of my time. I was actually up late into the night every other day. I timed my outings based on the moons, making sure I went back inside with enough time to set out my catch and sleep. I occasionally saw thieves migrating toward the Garden, but chose to ignore it. While I had made a strong attempt to leave life as a thief, I didn't want to make any enemies either.

On this particular evening, a couple of weeks after retiring, I was sitting on a rock next to the water; my line already submerged waiting for a bite. I had used all the chum I'd brought and only been rewarded with two small slaughterfish. Granted, it was something, but I still wanted at least four before nightfall. I planned on getting inside early because winter was fast approaching and nights were getting colder.

After a few more minutes I put down the crude fishing rod in favor of a cast net. One of the weights had broken off, but it wasn't hard to compensate for the missing piece. The best catch with that was a mud crab shell. I sighed heavily and trudged back to my house, thoroughly defeated by a bunch of fish.

I entered, dragging my supplies, and nearly dropped my catch when I caught the eye of my apparent visitor. Armand was waiting for me. It occurred to me that I should be afraid with a thief in my house, that I should immediately go call a guard and make sure none of my stuff was gone, but who was I kidding? I didn't have anything worth stealing other than petty gold and a few slaughterfish scales and crab meat.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, continuing to put the supplies away and trying not to look nervous. Lay out the cast net, set the chum bucket next to the door, don't tangle the line…

"We need your help." Of everything in that one sentence that could make me cringe, the we was what did it. 'We' meant that it wasn't Armand that needed help, that it was his… associates.

I stood up straight to look him in the eye, "What do you expect me to say?" I walked over to face him, "Do you want me to act like I'm still one of you? What was it I used to say to you when you offered me a job?" How could he ask me for anything? I didn't want anything to do with him now, but he had the nerve to come into my home…

He wasn't fazed, in fact he looked a bit tired or pained, "There's an opportunity for a raid coming up but…"

"No."

"Listen, it's not what you think-"

"Then what is it?" I asked.

"It's Countess Alyssia Caro. She's coming to the city soon, and a few of the new recruits were thinking about raiding the Tiber Septim, where she's staying." He explained.

Why would he care? "Good for them." I said, not sure what he was trying to say.

Then he pretty much summed up the pained expression, "Margot, they're amateurs at best. The Countess of Leyawiin is a pretty big hit… She'll have guards, good guards."

They were going to get hurt somehow, or be forced to hurt someone else. "What do you need me to do?" I gave in, because while if the thieves got hurt it would be their own fault, but if a citizen or even a guard was in the wrong place at the wrong time…

"I need you to go instead." He said, bracing himself for what I would say next.

I suppose he was suspecting me to yell again, or possibly slap him. "Why?"

"Because they know enough to understand not to intrude on someone else's job, or at least that if you get there first there won't be anything to steal."

"What's in it for me?"

"Don't fake it and actually take something." So I was supposed to come out of my short retirement for one raid, mind you it was a raid I would have gone on a month prior, but I was still going to be considered a thief. The fact it was Caro made the choice easier, Hassiri and his brothers would occasionally talk about how it was hard to do business with someone as racist as her. Once she suspended the courier from the city for a week because she noticed a misspelled word on a paper and was sure it was 'the start of many bad grammar errors to come'.

I sighed, though insulted by his coming here; I knew he had a point. He couldn't go himself without leaving the Garden empty, the last time being an emergency. "When?"

His eyes brightened a bit, "Next Sundas, a week from today."

I stepped forward and extended my hand, "I suppose we have a deal." We shook hands, and he silently left the house.

Once I was alone I couldn't help but collapse onto the bed and try my best not to think about… Well, not to think at all.

The next day was a bit of a daze. I spent the morning cleaning the fish, then wandering the docks, and by the time I made it into the city it was mid-afternoon.

I decided that it had been awhile since I'd last seen White Gold Tower up close, so I made my way there, making a point to avoid talking to anyone.

I didn't make it to the Tower.

My retired mindset didn't help me keep an eye out for guards, and just as I entered the Arena District, there stood Lex, questioning two people I often saw sparring nearby. I tried to skirt around him, but failed when he managed to catch my eye as he left the two to return to their previous place.

"Hello Margot!" I stood awkwardly, mind flashing back to my promise the night before. I hesitantly waved back as he approached me. "Is everything okay?" He asked at my reluctant greeting.

"Oh yes, of course. Everything's fine." I said, trying to remember just how to mask my voice. After a couple of weeks you tend to get a little rusty.

"Well, what are you doing in the Arena District? You don't strike me as a gambler or as a…"

Forgetting the situation for the moment, everything seemed much more… normal. "Actually I'm secretly the Grand Champion." I said in a matter-of-fact tone.

He laughed, "And I'm the Gray Fox." I couldn't help but laugh, I mean genuinely laugh.

You'd be surprised how hard it is to act like nothing is going on. I've never lied to a friend but for some reason this seems worse. It probably isn't, but… I don't know.

I stood there chatting idly for a few minutes before excusing myself. For someone who's been trying to catch thieves for the entire duration of his career (speaking of which: Philida's ambition seems much more important), he's rather bad at it. I caught myself thinking that way, and then it dawned on me that I was the thief he couldn't catch. I was the thief.

I went home and fished. I didn't enter the city the next day, or the next day, or the next day.

Or the sixth day, and then, after a sleepless night, it was the seventh.

Before you label me as stupid, please understand that I considered taking back my offer dozens of times. Honestly I couldn't think of a very good reason why I shouldn't go, take a couple of things, and then leave. I tried and tried again to find that thought that made me quit in the first place, but it kept slipping from my grasp. I was sure there was a reason somewhere, but either I couldn't find it or I didn't want to find it.

I went to Hassiri first.

"Margot-"

"I need a favor." I said, looking at the ground.

I saw his concerned look out of the corner of my eye. "What is it?"

"I…" I struggled to find the words. "I need an… alibi."

His eyes widened, "Wha… Why?"

I had never involved Hassiri in my work before. I didn't want him to be arrested for any reason, especially if I wasn't caught but he was for helping me. "Just, tonight I'm here, even after I leave."

I waited for questions, for accusations, anything… "This one doesn't want to know everything. Please though, tell something, so that this one knows you are okay."

I looked up in shock, "Hassiri…?" I nodded. "It has to do with someone visiting town." I added after a moment's thought, "It's someone you don't like, if that helps."

"Honestly it does help." He said, and put a hand on my shoulder. "Do not worry."

I hugged him, happy that he really thought of me as a friend. I have never been sure exactly who is on my side. "Thank you so much. I owe you."

"Don't worry about it."

I really hadn't had many friends in the city, honestly I hadn't wanted any. Hassiri and I had met accidentally on the docks while he was delivering more papers to hand out to one of their couriers. He went by the Bloated Float, where I just happened to be eating, and sat nearby. Next thing I knew, we were friends. It was one of those sudden friendships where after a month you have regular conversations, both long and just in passing.

I left with the assurance that a friend was watching my back. It was a new feeling, and I still like it to this day.

The Tiber Septim had almost no guards on the outside. The inn's only security flaw was that anyone could walk in, but that wasn't to say they would get very far. I donned my cloak and scarf, watching every corner. Guards would be inside, the younger ones hoping for action, the old ones dreading it.

I slipped inside without a sound. A guard stood by each staircase, and one facing the door. I ducked quickly into a shadowed corner. I stood a few feet behind one of the guards waiting at the foot of the stairs. I jumped quietly, calloused fingers finding purchase on the stairs. They were lit more on one side than the other, so I pressed myself against the wall, thankful that the lock was on the darker side. I reached up and fiddled with it a bit with the Skeleton Key, flinching as the lock clicked into place.

I looked at each of the doors, first checking to see which were locked, and therefore housing something important. One of them seemed promising, mostly because I saw the boot of a guard through the crack in the bottom of the door. I removed my scarf for a moment to breathe easier. I turned back to the hall, thinking of how to get it. Without really thinking about it, I picked up a silver cup sitting by a bowl of grapes from the table, knowing it would be worth something.

"Stop, you've violated the law!"

How long had it been since my last raid? Three weeks? No, the lighthouse was unguarded and didn't really count. A month, maybe two? I was out of practice. I didn't lock the door behind me. The audible click of a lock can give a thief a few seconds warning. That can be the difference between freedom and imprisonment.

But, then again, so can speed. I was faster than a guard; what I lacked in muscle I made up for with speed and acrobatics. I dashed in an unlocked room, and then flung open the window and jumped out just as a guard appeared in the doorway. They had seen my face. I took off my scarf. They knew who I was. On the way down I grabbed a window sill, wincing as my shoulder strained to hold on.

I let go, landing and running immediately. I had to leave. I had to go. There was a bounty on my head. Armand couldn't clear the bounty of someone who wasn't in the guild. I had to leave the city, run far enough and they'll forget about it. No, it'll be recorded, they wouldn't forget. I could pay but…

I passed a few crates and grabbed some parchment and a quill. Hiding in a corner, I scribbled a few words down and ran again. Every few seconds I would disappear into the shadows and write another word. I knew how to stop everything. I had the chance to never be a thief again. I could stop.

Just before I entered the Guard Barracks in the Temple District, I felt in the coin pouch I carried with me now.

I dashed up the stairs and, sure enough, there was Lex, working at his desk. I stood there, breathing heavily, not sure what to say.

He looked over at me, "Wha… Margot?"

I walked over to him, placing the parchment and coin pouch on the desk. I leaned down and kissed him on the cheek and he blushed. "I really did like you." I whispered, and before he could respond, I was back at the door. I looked back once, "I'm sorry."

I fled the room, and headed north.

Lex watched her leave, not sure what to do. He looked at the parchment to find a hastily written letter:

Lex,

First thing, some guards are going to come to give you a report. They will say that I am a thief. They aren't lying. I'm sorry. I honestly quit for a while, but something... I'm so sorry. Please forgive me. I am leaving now. By the time you read this I will be gone. I know I should be in prison, but I can't. I hate this but, goodbye. –Margot

P.S. If anyone tries to be my alibi, don't punish them, they mean no harm.

He spilled the contents of the purse, and a few coins fell out. Not nearly enough if what the letter said was true, but he knew what it was. This was what she had to pay off her bounty.