Life After High School. Is It Scary? You Bet.

By Risty Maskell and Silver15

Disclaimer: What do we want? LOTR! When do we want it? NOW!

Summary: Hell, I thought you would have figured it out by now.

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(Damon's POV)

We left Jaime, Billee and Legolas with Lucas, to make a list of invites, while Benny and I took a walk around the hideout. I gave the others a very strict warning not to go anywhere. Lucas is okay; well he is most of the time. But there were a lot of guys hanging around and not all of them were particularly nice.

"Hey, Damon, Benny" we turned round as someone came running up to us. Our old friend Blaze. He gave me a bone-crushing hug, then turned to Benny and looked at him carefully. "What happened to you?" he asked after a minute. "Something to do with those two prisoners of ours, was it?"

"Something like that. News travels fast eh?" Benny said with a laugh. "My ribs are killing me"

"I'm not surprised. I heard you took quite a beating" he leant back against the wall and smiled his easy-going smile. "I wanted to kill 'em when I heard"

"You're alright kid" Benny patted his shoulder affectionately. "So, what's the latest news?"

Before Blaze could answer, someone grabbed his shoulder roughly and pulled him away from us.  "Get back to work" A very familiar voice growled. Blaze looked at us apologetically and ran for it. Benny and I found us looking into the face of Kenny, Lucas's right hand man and an evil bastard to boot.

"Well, I see you two runts have returned" he said with a cruel laugh. "Couldn't stay on the straight and narrow, I see"

"Piss off" Benny said angrily. "We are here on business with Lucas. That is all"

"You brought outsiders in" Kenny spat. "That makes you a traitor. Both of you. Maybe not to the boss, but to me and a lot of the other boys. You ain't welcome here"

"Well, we're staying until our business is completed" I said bravely. Kenny had tormented us a lot when we were younger, but I wasn't prepared to be pushed around any longer. "So you can just get stuffed and leave us alone"

"What happened to you?" Kenny commented, his eyes on Benny. "Your wife beat you up again, did she?"

"Shut up" Benny hissed through gritted teeth. "You don't know nothing"

"And you call yourself a man" Kenny jeered. "You wife beats the crap out of you and you just stand there and take it. What a loser. And then she turns around and walks out on you because she finds out…"

I'd heard enough. With a cry of anger, I threw myself at him and punched his hard in the nose. My punch must have knocked him off balance, because he fell over on his backside. And you know the crazy thing? I just stood there and laughed. The guy was going to kill me when he got up and all I could do was laugh. Then Benny started to laugh too and we both stood there laughing and pointing at Kenny on the floor. He scowled at us and tried to look menacing, but it just didn't work anymore. I couldn't be scared of him after that. Kenny got up and glared at us before turning and walking off. I looked at Benny and smiled.

"Thanks Damo" he said softly. "But you didn't have to do that. He's just a stupid jerk anyway"

"I know" I replied. "But no one insults my best friend and gets away with it. Come on, we had better get back"

(Billee's POV)

Jaime and Lucas were still deep in discussion about who to invite to Mark's memorial service when Damon and Benny came back. They seemed rather pleased with themselves.

"What's up with you?" Lucas asked. "You look like the cat that's got the cream"

Next to me, Legolas began to laugh, which soon set me off too. That set Damon and Benny off again and soon all four of us were roaring with laughter, while Lucas and Jaime looked on, obviously puzzled.

"Ken started on Benny" Damon finally managed to blurt out. "I floored him with a punch" Then they both started laughing again. Lucas just sighed and shook his head.

"What are we going to do with you two?" he muttered, then turned his attention back to Jaime. "So" he continued. "You've got all the people from Midgewood that you want to invite?"

"Yes" Jaime agreed. "I'll call Elrond later, he can deal with the teachers. Classmates?"

"I'll do it" Benny offered. "Although I don't know where most of them would be now. But I'll do my best"

"And I'll be there" Lucas said immediately. "I'll bring two of my men, Blaze and Forrest. They didn't know Mark well, but I know they've met him a few times"

"Great" Jaime agreed. "So where shall we have it?"

"I think" Legolas said slowly. "That it should be some place in the middle of Gondor and Hobbiton. Otherwise it's too far for a lot of people to ride"

"How bout Midgewood?" I suggested. "It's only two days ride from Hobbiton, so it wouldn't be too hard on Benny"

"Sounds good" Lucas agreed. "I can't leave this place for too long or the guys will end up half killing each other. But I could get to Midgewood and back in two days. Bear in mind though, that my boys and me can't be seen. Not by anyone. So I promise that we'll be there, but none of you will see us. We will be well hidden"

"Just as long as you're there" Jaime said with a smile. "So shall we say, two weeks from today?"

"Great" Lucas nodded. "Two weeks today, in Midgewood. I'll be there. And in the meantime, I think I'll hold your parents here. See how much torture they can live through"

"Be my guest" Damon said with a grin. "Give 'em a kick from me and Benny, okay?"

"Will do" Lucas smiled and handed Damon an evelope. "You guys had better get out of here before the boys come back. It was nice seeing you and I hope the plans go well"

"It was nice seeing you too Lucas" Damon slipped the envelope into his pocket and gave Lucas a hug. "Say hi to Forrest for us"

After the goodbyes had been said, Damon and Benny blindfolded us again and led us out of the hideout. I couldn't wait to get home. I was worried about how Emma was coping without us. I also knew how disappointed she was going to be, knowing that she couldn't be with Jaime at Marks memorial service and I felt guilty because I hadn't been spending much time with her recently.