Hello lovelies!

This one is pretty ridiculous and violent again- Just a heads up! But hey, it always gets worse before it gets better, right?

Please review and let me know what you think. I know you're not going to be happy with what I am making some of these characters do...

Marie's eyes fluttered open slowly. The sun hadn't yet begun to rise, the nights were so much longer now as winter approached. It was her dream that had shaken her awake. It was him, of course, disturbing her peaceful sleep. They were outside in the sunshine. He was walking in front of her, his hand wrapped tightly around hers, leading her down the dusty road. He turned to look at her, a wide grin spread across his handsome face.

"Where are you taking me?" she asked.

"You'll see, hold your horses," he laughed, his eyes twinkling, "I want you to be the first to see it."

"To see what?" she persisted, still smiling.

"Our land," he said finally, stopping. She took a step closer to stand beside him. The road stretched on into a green valley, the tall grass blowing like green waves of the ocean.

"Everything on the right side is your uncle's land. Everything on the left… It's ours."

She looked up at him. His face beamed proudly. His eyes now twinkled with tears.

And then she was awake. Marie sat up, glancing at her tear-stained pillow.

He looked so happy.

She pulled herself out of bed, trying to shake the image of him that was haunting her.

I'm not going to worry about him today. I'm going to focus on work today. That's all I need- a paintbrush, a canvas and a few tubes of paint.

She washed and changed into a plain work dress, pulling her hair into a bun. She wrapped a thick shawl around her shoulders and made her way downstairs.

Please don't let him be outside, she pleaded.

She walked down the street, keeping a lookout for a newsie- any newsie that wasn't David or Jack.

"Marie!"

Her heart stopped beating for a second. She turned slowly to see Skittery walking up the street, a handful of papes resting on his shoulder, grinning his lopsided grin.

"Oh, Skittery," she breathed, "Hello, how have you been?"

"I'm alright, how've you been?" his dark eyes were full of concern.

"Oh, you know…" her voice trailed off. Skittery chuckled quietly.

"I do, actually. Jack got me all caught up last night."

"What did he tell you?" she asked, a little defensively.

"Well I heard about his visit to see you after his fight with Sarah. And the kiss. I heard about dinner on Wednesday night. He's been driving himself crazy over it. He's vowed to make you see that he's serious about you."

Marie gritted her teeth.

"How serious can he be? He had just broken up with Sarah. He was trying to salvage things with her a few days ago. How could he be serious about me now? I have this theory you know, he's just really afraid of being alone-"

"He was trying so hard to deny it all, how dissatisfied he is here, with Sarah… He realized that she's not the girl who would support him. That's you. He didn't realize until then how much he loves you."

"He doesn't know me well enough to love me!"

But please, God, I hope he does.

"So you don't love him either, then?" he interrupted once more. Marie opened her mouth again to reply but couldn't force the lie out.

"He told me all about the advice you gave him when he was frustrated with Sarah. You said he had to tell her exactly how he felt, that he had to make her listen. Well, he's trying to tell you now. You can't keep pushing him away."

"Samuel," Marie fought back the tears, "I am so ashamed. And scared. What if he changes his mind?"

"I dunno, Marie," Skittery said softly, putting his free arm around her, "But what if he don't?"

"I gotta go, Skittery. My uncle started lessons with me. I'd love to buy one of your papes, please."

Sighing, he handed her one and pocketed the coin she handed him.

"You're so hard-headed. Just like Jack. But maybe I can come visit you again tomorrow? Perhaps we could get some lunch?"

She nodded.

"Oh, I almost forgot," he pulled the journal out of his pocket. Marie's eyes widened as she recognized the book.

"He wanted me to give it back to you. Please read it."

Her hand quivered as she reached for it.

"I'll see you tomorrow," he called to her as he continued his trek down the street. Still trembling, she retreated into her apartment to deposit the journal on her table then to the gallery to throw herself into her lesson.

The next day, she found herself anxious for Skittery's arrival. She hadn't had the courage to bring herself near Jack's journal, let alone open it. She was trying to decide whether or not it had been a good idea. Despite herself, her mind lingered on what news Skittery might bring of how Jack was doing. Once again, Mr. Peak instantly caught on to her restlessness.

"Marie, is Mr. Kelly coming to call on you today? You seem a little worked up."

Marie's face flushed thoroughly.

"No, Uncle Bob. Jack's been really busy lately. Our friend Samuel is meeting me. We're having lunch together."

"I see," Uncle Bob raised his eyebrows. Marie's blush deepend.

"Uncle Bob! Please! Jack is the only one I-" she stopped herself, groaning in frustration.

Mr. Peak smiled.

"Well, that's what I figured."

A knock at the door saved Marie from further humiliation. She went to open it for Skittery.

"Hello Samuel," Mr. Peak waved to him, "Marie, I'll see you later on this afternoon."

"Bye, sir."

"Bye, Uncle Bob," she muttered, pulling her shawl around her.

She and Skittery stepped out onto the street and began walking.

"How was the rest of your day?" she asked casually.

"Same old, same old. Sold and went home. Jack spent the night sulking and reading the book you gave him. Huck Finn, right?"

She nodded.

"How about you, did you get any reading done?" he smirked at her.

"No," she set her face into a frown.

"It's silly the way you're acting. You know you want to hear what he has to say. And it's just not like you to not speak yer mind."

"Skittery-"

"Just be brave, Marie."

It was then that Sarah and David appeared on the sidewalk in front of them. David's cheek was bruised and his eye remained a little swollen.

Sarah's eyes widened in shock as she recognized Marie and immediately narrowed into slits.

"Let's just turn around," Skittery said into Marie's ear.

"No, I deserve to hear what she has to say to me."

Sarah marched up to her while David hung back.

"Sarah, I-"

Marie was interrupted as Sarah slapped her hard across her cheek.

"Are you happy now? You got just what you wanted- my Jack all to yourself. But guess what, sweetie? He's not really interested in you. He's just looking for an escape route- an excuse to go out west. He'll forget all about you soon enough. And I'll be there to laugh at you."

"I know how much you must hate me right now. I am sorry, I didn't want him to leave you. But he deserves to be happy. He wants to leave so badly- he should go if he wants to-"

"Don't talk to me about making him happy. He was plenty happy with me before he met you," Sarah glared at her venomously.

"Believe me, I tried to make him stay with you-"

"Don't lie to me!" Sarah yelled. Marie could feel her patience quickly waning.

"No, really. I told him to try working through it all, to try talking to you. But you wouldn't hear any of it. How can you claim that you really care for him? You don't seem to care about anything that's important to him!"

"And let me guess, you're more than happy to listen to him? David told me how you looked at him. He saw through you from the beginning. Even the first time you saw him- you instantly wanted him, and it didn't matter to you that he already had a girlfriend-"

"You weren't his girlfriend, you were his jailor!" Marie snarled, "You did everything you could to keep him close to you. You locked him up in a cage two sizes too small."

"He's gonna walk out on you too, Marie. A dumb bitch like you won't hold his attention too long," Sarah replied coldly as she put her hand on her hip.

Something inside Marie snapped and she could no longer control the anger that bubbled up inside her. Before she could even realize what she was doing, she'd balled her hand into a fist and punched Sarah square in the mouth. Squealing in surprise and pain, she fell to the ground. Marie looked down at her, malice swirling in her eyes.

David rushed to his sister, pulling her up from the concrete. Sarah's lip was split; she held her hands over her mouth as she tried to process what had just happened. He approached Marie, until he was mere inches from her. She looked up at him, his blue eyes were narrowed in rage.

"I've had had it with you, you little slut!" He shoved her backward; with a sharp gasp she fell back a few steps before regaining her balance. She kept her gaze on his, setting her mouth into a firm line. His eyes glittered coldly.

Skittery rushed to her aid, shoving himself between the two of them. He grasped the collar of David's shirt. "You better think real hard about whether you ought to put your hands on her again, David."

Skiitery's voice had become disturbingly low and feral.

"Stay outta this, Skittery!" he raised his fist warningly. Skittery's hands balled into fists, ready for action. Marie quickly grabbed on of his hands and squeezed it, and he took a step back.

"I'm sorry. I should have controlled my temper-" she stuttered.

"Don't come near me or Sarah again. Don't. You. DARE," David spat between gritted teeth. He eyed her one last time and snarled, "You and Jack deserve each other."

He turned on his heel and, taking Sarah's hand, walked back in the direction they'd come.

Marie's entire body quivered with silent sobs. Her hand still clutched Skittery's savagely. Skittery looked down at their entwined fingers, then back at Marie and the tears welling up in her eyes.

He gripped her hand more firmly, "Come on, Marie, I'll walk you home."