(The same colonial man comes back, huffing) CM: I can't believe they are making me do this again. I better get paid for this this time! (Colonial man stands on the soap box again.) Hear-ye, hear-ye. Ye olde disclaimer (again!): Mackenzie W does not own the following characters: James, Sarah, Henri, Moses, and Sarah's parents. They belong to whoever makes Liberty's Kids. The famous people also mentioned to not belong to anybody (we think) and therefore no one can sue Mackenzie W for using them. Thank you.
MW: Thank you, Mr. Colonial Man, dude.
CM: Did you purposely make the disclaimer longer this time?
MW: No. It just flows.
CM: Do I get paid?
MW: Get paid? (All of Mac's other created characters laugh as Colonial Man realizes that fanfic characters don't get paid. Colonial Man walks way muttering about starting a union)
Chapter 2: James
James watched as Sarah hugged Henri good-bye. Why was she leaving? Why? This war was getting to him as well, but no one saw James Hiller running away to another place. So why was she? James was disturbed by this side of Sarah. She was never one to run away in the face of danger. The missions they've been on and the danger they've put themselves in to get a story for the Pennsylvania Gazette. Now she was running away from the danger she never ran way from before.
He watched as Sarah finished her good-bye to Moses and followed her as she walked towards him. He immediately turned around, not wanting to see her eyes. Why did she have to be so beautiful? Wait a minute, did I just think that? James was confused and deep in thought when Sarah placed her hand on his arm. She didn't even notice his slight jump. James knew she was still upset about the day Sarah told them she was leaving. He had acted like a jerk to her, but she never saw what she did after leaving the Gazette.
James walked down the streets of Philadelphia, thinking. His best friend was leaving. He had accepted Sarah into his new family, even though she was a Tory. Now she was heading back to England. 'And to think I trusted her!' James thought angrily. But, as he walked, he realized that Sarah was only human, and that she, like he, had enough of this war. He now felt bad about the remarks he made back in the office and wanted to make up. But there was no way he was going to apologize and see the smug face she would make. Instead, James stopped into the book store down the block. He bought a small, blank, blue book.
When he snuck into the office, it was empty. James ran up to his room and wrote a letter to Sarah and wrapped the book in tissue paper.
James looked into Sarah's valise to make sure the gift was in there. "Well I wish you luck," Sarah said, nervously. "I wish you luck too," James started, before continuing, "Enjoy nice, safe England." James wanted to kick himself when he saw the hurt in Sarah's beautiful eyes. No, no! Apologize you idiot! NOW! one side of James' conscience was saying. No, no! She deserves to hear it. She IS the one leaving, the other side argued.
"And not be rude to me?" Sarah snapped. She thinks I'm being rude? At least...
"I'm not the one leaving those who care and depend on me!" Did I really just say that? James watched as Sarah's eyes hazed over, and he was confused about what he saw there. Sarah stood there apologizing, as James turned around. He could hear in her voice the tears and was tempted to hug her and say he was sorry. But he had resolved not to, and stayed facing the houses by the dock. "Well, then go!" he said. Oh dear God, did I really say it like that! He heard Sarah leave.
James didn't turn around until he knew the ship was far enough out so Sarah couldn't see. Moses and Henri were on their way back. "I'll be right there. There's something I have to do," James said. Moses nodded, as if he understood and took Henri away. James watched their retreating forms as they faded off into the distance. He then ran out to the end of the dock, scanning the horizon for the ship.
It was a tiny speck, but it was there. Maybe Sarah was just finding his gift and letter. His heart sped up as he tried to picture her expression as she read the letter and saw the gift. Would she write in it? Or has she already thrown it overboard because he gave it to her? Once the ship was gone from James' vision, the blonde American turned and walked towards the Pennsylvania Gazette. The wind was blowing off the sea, and James closed his eyes, letting it blow upon his face. The salt water in the breeze would cover up the tears that were now freely running down his face.
In the breeze though, he thought he heard something. I love you, James. I always have and always will. Sarah. Was his emotional state affecting his senses? Did his subconscious so want to hear those words, he imagined hearing them in the wind? Or did Sarah really admit her love to the wind, hoping it would reach his ears? He hoped against hope it was the latter reason, since he too knew he had long loved the British beauty from the time he met her in Boston. James entered in the Gazette and went into his room, pondering his new found feelings, and hoping that Sarah would return to Philadelphia one day, so they could be together again.
A/N: Finished! J/K. I'm going to write the chapter where Sarah and James met again, taking place after today's (Friday's) episode. Keep looking. Mac