AUTHOR'S NOTE- Here it is guys, the next chapter, I hope your enjoying this story so far. I wanna thank the two people who reviewed my story so far, you guys rock! And it means a lot to me. PLEASE review, I LOVE to hear people's comments good or bad. So please review and please enjoy and thanks again! Love you all, ****CARPE DIEM**** -Nat-
Tavington paced outside the chamber doors of Cornwallis. Not wanting to go in, but knowing he must.

"How long are you going to do that before you just walk in Colonel?" Wilkins asked.

Tavington glared at him then continued pacing.

"I do not want to go in there, because I know what is waiting for me, a nice, long, lecture." Tavington grumbled annoyingly.

Wilkins sat comfortably in a chair and just looked at him.

"You saw it too, come in there with me Captain and be my witness. You were there, all my men were there!" Tavington asked walking up in front of him.

"I would Tavington. We all would, but you got to understand that he wouldn't believe us unless you have rock solid proof, that's just how he is." Wilkins answered.

Both were silent for a little while.

"Besides that was kinda mean shoving a knife in a kid's hand, jeeze." Wilkins replied smiling looking away.

"Well he punched me." Tavington answered simply.

"So you shove a knife in the guy's hand! Well, I guess you have a reason after all he did shoot you." Wilkins said. Tavington looked at him.

"He was the one that shot me!?" He asked angrily.

"Oh, you didn't know that, well yea. I got my hands on him for you but the brat got away. He fights well like his father." Wilkins answered.

"Well that boy has something coming to him now, him and his daddy." Tavington said clenching his fists together.

"Um, sir, I wouldn't mess with the Martin's kid or other kids, ok." Wilkins remarked.

"And why not?" Tavington asked.

"Because Benjamin Martin, well rumor says you don't want to mess with that man." Wilkins answered.

"And what makes this Benjamin Martin fellow so special?" Tavington asked.

"He is most famous for his deeds at Fort Wilderness." Wilkins answered.

Tavington was silent.

"I have heard many stories about that Fort, impressive but not threatening. Wilkins I want you to find as much as you can on Benjamin Martin and his family. Know them like the back of your hand, I think that Benjamin might be a threat to us." Tavington answered and then walked into Cornwallis chambers.

Tavington walked to the front of his desk and nodded his head.

"You wished to see me my lord?" Tavington asked like nothing happened.

Cornwallis eyed him, saying that his 'innocence' would not work and to stop playing dumb.

"Colonel Tavington, let me put this in words that you may understand CLEARLY. Today was the first day on this alien soil and your brutal tactics has ALREADY begun!? I WILL NOT have it Tavington. There are other, more gentlemen like ways to settle issues than brutality." Cornwallis replied.

Tavington groaned to himself.

"My lord, that man committed treason, we all saw it. That mob of people was attacking me and the other officers, so we had to get their attention. Sometimes my lord you need to use brutal tactics to get them to do what you want." Tavington answered.

"Don't tell me what you think I should know, because I know a lot more than you do in this field Colonel. WE ARE NOT A BUNCH OF SLAVE DRIVERS! And these people are NOT slaves; therefore we will not treat them, as they are neither slaves nor lower. These are our blood, our brothers. We are not looking to harm them, just win this war. If I catch you doing so ever again, I will take action against you colonel, now get out of my chambers." Cornwallis replied.

Tavington nodded his head then walked out, Wilkins looking at him.

"Wow, that went better than I though I only heard 99 percent of the conversation than the regular 100 percent." Wilkins replied smiling.

Tavington sneered and walked past him.
Benjamin and Gabriel arrived home, all frightened once they saw Gabriel injured. Abigail had Gabriel in the kitchen cleaning and fixing his hand while Ben and everyone else was in the living room, him explaining about the war and telling them about it. Gabriel could tell it was hard for him, he heard it in his voice, his voice shaking and cracking. After Abigail was done Gabriel thanked her and then walked out on the porch, the sun just now setting, turning the sky a little bit of blue and orange. Gabriel turned once he noticed that his father had dismissed them, they all came out to the porch, all not saying anything and eyes fixed on no where.

"Do you guys wanna play with your toy guns?" Gabriel asked holding up Nathan's wooden gun, trying to take their minds off of what they just heard.

The boys shook their head no and sat down on the steps. Gabriel was worried, this was the most quiet he has heard his brothers ever. Gabriel sighed as he watched Thomas and William walk into the house, then looked over and saw his two sisters over on the swing hanging down from a tree branch. The wind blew gently as he saw their dresses flow gently in the wind as they both sat on the small swing, Susan on Margaret's lap. Gabriel jumped over the railing and started walking toward them.

"Is it alright if I join you ladies?" Gabriel asked once he got close enough so they could hear him.

Both shook their head yes, depressed faces on. Gabriel touched the rough rope on the side of the swing that held it up and walked behind them.

"Come on you two, you aren't nearly as beautiful as you are when you're smiling." Gabriel said to them softly grabbing the swing and pulling them back a little then let go, the swing swinging gently.

Neither of them said anything.

"Please talk to me about it girls." He said softly pushing on their backs, swinging them.

"This whole war thing, it scares us Gabriel, it might not scare you because your big, but it scares us." Margaret said softly giving in.

"What, I'm scared." Gabriel admitted.

"You are?" Susan asked in a voice, not believing him.

"Yea, big people can get scared too you know, there is no written law that says big people can't get scared." Gabriel answered as he continued to push them.

"Well, I can't picture you scared." Margaret responded.

Gabriel caught the bottom of the swing in his hands and he was holding them up in the air, their faces close to his.

"Truthfully Margaret, I am probably more scared than you are." Gabriel admitted smiling.

"Why? Your big, you can defend yourself." Susan answered.

"Yes I can defend myself and others, but that is what scares me. I am afraid I can't defend people." Gabriel answered.

Both girls looked at him confusingly. Gabriel smiled and chuckled a little.

"Never mind, you'll understand when you're both older." Gabriel replied guiding the swing back down so they can get off.

Gabriel sat down lazily in the grass, the sun sinking lower over the horizon.

"We're afraid that those mean men father was talking about will come and take you or father or anyone else away from us or us away from you." Margaret answered; Susan shook her head in agreement.

Gabriel looked at both of them.

"Margaret, Susan, I'll tell you this, if you EVER see ANY of those men wearing all red, come tell me or father. I won't let them hurt you or let them take you away from us. Do you believe me?" Gabriel asked.

The girls looked at them and shook their heads yes smiling. Gabriel smiled as well.

"Good, now come here." He said grinning opening up his arms.

Margaret and Susan fell into them, wrapping their arms around his neck and hugging them tightly. Gabriel wrapped his arms around their waists and hugged them, closing his eyes and kissing their heads. Once he let them go, the two girls were smiling and so was Gabriel.

"Come on, it's almost bed time." Gabriel replied, still squatting down to their length.

Susan immediately jumped on his back. Gabriel grinned and laughed wickedly as he stood up, knowing his little sister wanted a piggyback ride. He then picked up Margaret in his arms. She laughed and squealed with excitement as he tickled her stomach a little in the process.

"Run fast Gabriel!" Susan urged holding on tight.

"Ok, hold on Susan, you too Margaret." He said.

Both did so and he shot across the yard, running up onto the porch and into the house. Abigail backed against the wall as Gabriel, slower than before, ran into the house and shot up the stairs. She smiled once she heard the girls laugh in fun. Ben walked out of his room, and shoved his back into the wall as Gabriel shot past them. Ben raised an eyebrow but settled into a smile as he heard Margaret and Susan laugh hardly. Gabriel ran into their room and then dropped Margaret on her bed, who fell on her butt, laughing hardly. Gabriel smiled and then walked around the bed and dropped Susan, off his back, onto her side of the bed, who was also laughing.

"You two need to get dressed for bed before father gets angry, I'll be back in here in a few minutes." Gabriel said breathless then walked out. He smiled at Ben as he walked past him who only grinned back.

The sun was gone now, candles lit everywhere in the house for light. Gabriel, like he promised, walked back into the girl's room, who were dressed and sitting in bed. A smile stretched across their face once he walked in. He sat down on Margaret's side of the bed as she squirmed under the covers. Gabriel smiled at her then bent down and kissed her on the cheek.

"Good night Margaret." He said softly.

"Good night Gabriel." She said smiling.

Gabriel smiled wider and walked around over to Susan who had half of her face covered. Gabriel, though, could tell she was smiling by the shape of her eyes. He poked the top of her nose and kissed her on the cheek as well.

"Good night Susan." He said smiling.

"Good night Gabriel." She said sweetly.

"Sweet dreams girls." He said then gently shut the door, Ben walking in to tuck them in next.