So this is (technically) the last chapter of Breaking The Trend, and I hope you've enjoyed it, but since it ends in a very open way, I'll tell you all now there will, at some point, be a smaller second part, named Falling Into Step. It's not done yet, but if you liked this story and Maggie, she'll be back very soon.

Also, reviews are VERY MUCH welcome and appreciated :)

So enjoy. And thanks for reading/reviewing.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Maggie was almost sure she was dreaming when she saw the hut again. It was dark by the time they'd reached it, and for a moment she just stood, looking at it.

"We can stay here for a while," she told Hal. "While we figure out what to do."

He nodded. "We can't go back to the house, I suppose. And we do need a place to regroup in the middle of all this Murdoch warfare."

"Murdoch warfare..."

Hal eyed her warily. "Yes. That's what I just said."

"No, I mean... the book!" she said excitedly. She turned and looked at him, smirking. "My brother would have me shot for leaving it for so long. It's practically the Murdoch Bible," she said, and disappeared round the hut.

"I think your brother needs to sort out his priorities," he said, following quickly, and almost walking into her. "What the...?"

The door had been kicked in, and was barely hanging on by it's hinges. Inside, they could see overturned furniture and ripped up sheets. Maggie was frozen in front of the door.

"Maggie, are you alright?"

"They found me."

"What? Who?"

"I should have known. If Vinnie-Vincent-could find me... he must have found this place first. He must've tracked me from here."

"They've been here?" Hal looked determined, gripping her arm. "Come on, we're going."

"No."

"Maggie, they hurt you. They want to take you away. I'm not going to let them do that."

"I need to get it."

"What? No. I'll come back for it later."

"We're here, Hal. They're not. It's fine."

"But if they've been here before, they'll come back. They'll come back, and they'll try to take you!"

"Vincent's on his own now, Hal. He won't come looking for a fight he knows he can't win."

With a sudden gust of determination she strode into the hut, Hal surveying the clearing outside before following her inside.

"Ugh," he said, wrinkling his nose. "They smell awful. Why do they smell so bad?"

"They're inbred," Maggie stated, focussing her attention on a chest of drawers with the drawers yanked out and strewn across the room. "All inbred. Every single one. I'm surprised you didn't notice it before."

He snorted. "You don't smell like that," he said, without really knowing why. "You smell rather nice."

She glanced up at him from beside the bed, looking puzzled. He suddenly wished he'd kept his opinions to himself.

"I'm not a wolf yet," she said plainly. "Come and help me with this, will you?"

He moved to her side and took the bedframe from her hand, grunting as he raised it high enough for her to slip under. Her shirt slid up her side as she reached forward, pawing at the floorboards, exposing a long jagged scar, running from her hip up her ribcage, and back under her shirt. He frowned, averting his eyes, to instead focus on not dropping the bed on her head.

He heard her pounding on each floorboard in turn, before a dull thunk and a hiss told him she'd found what she was looking for.

She emerged from under the bed a moment later, rubbing her cheek as anger flared in her eyes. He dropped the bed, trying his best not to snigger as he crouched down to her level.

"What's so funny?" she demanded, narrowing her eyes at him. He choked back laughter.

"Do you... do you often find yourself attacked by floorboards?"

"Shut up," she snapped, punching him on the shoulder, but there was a hint of a smirk on her face as she plonked herself down on the bed. "I'll have you know, floorboards are devious creatures, and worthy opponents of a Murdoch."

"Is that so?" he teased, when his eyes fell on the thick, dusty, leather-bound book sat in her lap. "Is that... is that it?"

"Yup," she said, sounding almost... satisfied, as if the book would solve everything. "Everything a Murdoch ever needs to know."

"You said... you said I was in there," he said, hesitantly sitting by her on the bed. She looked at him gravely.

"You are."

"Could I... could I see? Just the parts about me, of course." Her entire opinion of him was based on what was written in that book, and Hal had a sudden longing to know; a need, almost.

She glanced down at the book on her lap and frowned.

"I don't think you'd like to," she said quietly, suddenly avoiding eye-contact, picking at a corner of the tattered old book.

"It's not that bad, surely," he said lightly, suddenly wanting her to look up, to look at him.

She didn't look up, only fingered the books edges.

"Where do you think Adam and Allison are?" she said eventually, still looking at the book.

"I couldn't tell you, Maggie, but I'm sure they're fine. Tom won't be long in finding them."

She glanced up. "I hope so. How's your face?"

In truth, he'd forgotten all about Paul's ape-fists. "It's fine. I'm fine."

"Let me see," she said, putting the book to the side and reaching over to push his hair from his face.

"That was some acting, back there," he said conversationally, trying to distract himself from the electricity her gentle fingertips sent through his body.

"Um... thanks?" she said, sounding doubtful. "I think. I feel really bad about it."

"It got us all out, didn't it?" he replied. "It worked. It's fine."

"I get the feeling Tom didn't just leave to find Allison though..."

Hal shrugged. "He'll get over it eventually. He's just a little... surprised at it all. You put Allison first, he'll come to see that soon enough." He paused. "How did you do it?"

"Allison was curious. She wanted to know... what they wanted me for. So I told her. It was weeks ago! I said that as the Mother I had power over the whole pack. They had to do everything I said. And when I ordered her to take Adam away, I hoped she understood."

"You never mentioned they were even looking for you."

She shrugged. "I never expected them to find me."

He shuddered.

"Are you alright?" she sounded alarmed, watching his face carefully.

"Yes, I'm fine, I told you."

She raised an eyebrow, smirking doubtfully at him. "I'll be the judge of that."

She examined his face for a minute, sending shivers up Hal's spine as she pushed his hair back and traced his dirt covered brow and jaw.

"I don't even know why I'm doing this," she mumbled. "Habit, I guess. I'm not even sure vampires can be hurt. They didn't bleed on you, did they?" she asked, looking up at him. He smiled down at her.

"I don't think so, no."

They looked at each other for a moment, and for that moment the whole world seemed to go silent. Maggie's hands were still in Hal's hair, and she could feel his breath on her face.

Without thinking she leaned forward, pressing her lips to his in a deep kiss as her hands delved further into his hair, and his arms wrapped themselves around her waist.

A cough came from across the room.

Jumping from his lap as faster than she'd thought possible, Maggie turned to see Alex stood by the door. Hal let out an embarrassed laugh as Maggie felt her cheeks grow hot.

"I'm all for this," Alex said. "But now's hardly the time."


Tom was sitting on the grass outside, huddled over something Maggie couldn't see. Adam stood beside him, clutching his arm, which was covered in painful looking burns.

Where was Allison?

And then Tom lifted his head. His sobs were almost silent now, but the tears still ran freely down his cheeks, and Allison lay still in his arms.

She wasn't breathing.

"I'm sorry," Adam was saying, and he was crying too. "I tried, I really did. But he bled on me! I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!"

"Oh God," Maggie whispered as Hal rushed to Tom's side.

"Who did? Who killed her?" he was asking.

"He must've slipped owt when we was fighting the others..." Tom was sobbing. "And now... he's killed her."

"It was Vincent," Adam said, cradling his burnt arm. "He came out of nowhere. There's was nothing I could do."

Maggie eyes widened, and Hal turned to look at her.

"What have I done?" she whispered, and Hal turned away again.

A shiver ran up Maggie's spine.

"I want you gone," Alex hissed, so quietly that only Maggie could hear. She swallowed, not daring to look back at the ghost at her shoulder. "I want you out of my home and away from my friends before you hurt anyone else. As soon as this is over, you make your excuses and leave, or I will make your life a living hell. Am I clear?"

"Yes," she said quietly. "But just so you know, Alex, I never meant for this to-"

"Shut up!" Alex snapped. "I don't want to hear your excuses!"

Maggie turned slowly to look back at her. "I really am sorry. For everything."


Tom held Allison a funeral, and buried her beside McNair, but Maggie knew it would be wrong to stay and watch. It would only hurt Tom more if she was present. So she left them to bury their friend in peace, and found a spot she wouldn't disturb them.

She was a coward really, if she allowed herself to admit it. She couldn't face Tom. She was too afraid to see the hatred in his eyes.

Hal came to find her soon after Allison was buried.

"Hey," he said gently, lowering himself down onto the grassy hill next to her. He knew instantly why she'd boycotted the funeral from the look on her face, so he changed the question. "What brings you out here?"

Maggie looked up at the dark night sky, dotted with twinkling stars and sighed. She'd dealt with guilt before. It was unbearable, and it never dulled.

"I'm leaving in the morning, Hal," she said with a heavy heart.

He frowned. "You don't have to go anywhere. You... you don't have to go because of Allison! Maggie, that wasn't your fault. You can stay as long as you like."

She laughed to herself. "I'm not leaving because I feel I have to," she said reassuringly, putting a hand on his arm. "I'm leaving because I really do have to."

"Damien?"

"I've been here long enough. All the commotion has distracted me from why I came here in the first place. It's time for me to go. Before I hurt more people."

He turned to look her in the eye. "But I don't want you to leave."

"I'll come back," she said quickly. "I promise I'll come back, as soon as I find him."

As soon as it's safe. When Vincent is dead.

Hal looked uncomfortable as he spoke. "Let me come with you."

She shook her head. "No, Hal. You belong here, with your friends. They need you, and you need them. Now more than ever."

Now that I've gotten Allison killed.

Hal didn't look convinced. "What I need is you."

Maggie shook her head, lifting her hand to touch his cheek. "It wouldn't be fair to Tom and you know it. You have my word. I'll come back."

I can't take away his girlfriend and his best friend.

"You'll tell him I'm sorry, won't you? Tell him I wish him well."

He took her hand from his cheek and held it in both of his. She felt him press something cold and flat into her palm. She looked down into her open palm.

"No, Hal, I can't-"

"Take it," he said, closing her fingers around the domino.

"Why?" Monsters don't deserve gifts.

"So you don't forget to come back to me," he said sadly.

She smiled, reaching up to kiss him quickly. "Like I could forget."