Author's Notes: After a week of being plagued by writer's block I bring you this the supposed last chapter of this fic. I could drag it out longer but I think this'll do fine. The chapter title is a bit suggestive… But I just like to mislead people I suppose. After all this story is only rated PG… Enjoy!
Virginia leaned close to the book, staring at the tattered pages with a sense of scrutiny. It was almost impossible to read the writing; the ink was smudged by constant fingering… either that or Werner's handwriting was terrible. Virginia chuckled at the thought. She read on, mumbling quietly to herself. She narrowed her eyes, not only from the exertion of reading but from a slight anger. Why couldn't she remember these wonderful things?
Still, she couldn't feel completely angry. After all, she did remember a little bit… and besides, the stories were pretty amusing within themselves. Virginia was right in the middle of reading about Leehalt's elaborate Valentine's Day scheme when she was interrupted by the sound of footsteps. She instantly snapped the book shut, almost crushing her fingers between the pages. Virginia found herself panicking for a moment, and she tugged furiously at the hem of her nightgown. None of the others had ever seen her like this… the wasteland was no place for frilly things like the silky lavender nightgown she now wore. After panicking for a while Virginia settled for standing up and clasping the book to her chest. That way the nightgown fell just a few inches above her knees and its rather revealing neckline was concealed. She smiled, adjusted her hair and faced the staircase, ready for anyone who decided to join her.
Virginia breathed a sigh of relief as she saw Clive walking down the stairs. Clive had always been the mature one… still she couldn't help but blush at the man's appearance, for Clive was wearing nothing more than a pair of boxers and his signature glasses… he wasn't by any means unattractive. However, she still felt more at ease. She placed the book down on the table and smiled. "Hello Clive," she greeted.
Clive smiled. "We really do have to stop meeting like this," he mumbled running a hand through his hair.
Virginia nodded. "Just think of what the others would say…" she paused thoughtfully. "I can just imagine Gallows now…" She cleared her throat then continued in a voice four times deeper than her usual tone, "Whoa, looks like the punk has some competition from Clive…" Virginia grinned and Clive laughed. "Though I can't really imagine what Jet would say…"
Clive shrugged his shoulders good-naturedly. "Probably something profane… I'll tell you he's very jealous when it comes to you."
Virginia's eyes widened in a mixture of disbelief and embarrassment. "Really?" she stuttered.
Clive chuckled. Virginia gave him a slightly reproachful look. "Forgive me… I did not realize I was revealing some great unknown secret. I figured it was as painfully obvious to you as it was to all of us. Then again you weren't present when the infamous argument occurred."
"What argument?" questioned Virginia.
"Well, it all started with one of Gallows' lewd comments… Jet apparently didn't like the fact that he had complimented, in his own indiscreet manner, your beauty. The argument the followed was nothing more than a series of insults."
Virginia put her hands on her hips. "So that's what you guys are up to… Men are all idiots…"
Clive adjusted his glasses. "I plead that you be a bit less hasty in making that generalization… Many men are quite sensible…"
"Yeah well, do me a favor and point them out to me when you see them…" She paused then gasped. "You do know I wasn't including you in that category? I don't really see you as a man."
Clive raised an eyebrow at this comment. "Would you mind terribly if I asked you to rephrase that statement…?"
"No, that's not what I meant. Umm… okay let's see. I know that you're a man and you're obviously hot." She blushed as she realized what she had said. "But it's like when people tell me that my father is good-looking. I can't really say that he isn't but at the same time I can't say that he is. You're like family." She paused and smiled. "I'm really sorry about what I said earlier…"
Clive shrugged. "There's no harm done…"Virginia nodded and both drifters were silent. Clive glanced around eyes finally resting on the all too familiar red book. "Ah, I see you've begun reading Werner's journal."
Virginia nodded placing her hand on the book. "Yeah… I… well… it's a bit strange. I can't explain how I feel exactly." She paused looking around. "You know Jet and Gallows have a tendency of sneaking up on people… I don't know if I feel comfortable talking here."
Clive smiled wryly. "It's a grave thing when you don't feel comfortable in your own home… but if you truly feel that way, I suppose it can't be helped. Will you allow me to accompany you outside?"
"Outside?" exclaimed Virginia. "Like this?" She pointed to her nightgown.
"I don't see the harm… small towns such as Boot Hill and Humphrey's Peak seldom have night wanderers… I don't believe we'll be seen. Besides if I can go out in my current state of undress you should be fine."
Virginia giggled as she stared at Clive. "I guess you're right… let's go."
Clive nodded and headed for the door. Virginia grabbed the book and followed him. Clive pushed the door, and it creaked loudly causing the party of two to cringe. He looked both ways in an almost comical gesture of caution. "Is it safe to press forward, leader?" he questioned dramatically.
Virginia nodded, laughing. "Yes I think it's safe," she replied.
Clive nodded and stepped outside shivering slightly. "It's a bit cold…" he complained somewhat bitterly.
Virginia shrugged her shoulders as she closed the door gently. "I happen to like it. It's nice and crisp and cool."
"Yes, well I'm a summer person myself." He paused turning to Virginia. "So where exactly do you want to go leader?"
"Umm… how about the graveyard? It may sound a bit morbid but I like it there."
"It's fine. I was thinking of going there myself." He walked towards the graveyard and Virginia followed close behind. He strolled from tombstone to tombstone idly touching each one. "Would it be disrespectful if we were to sit?" he asked.
Virginia shook her head. "I'm sure Mommy and Daddy wouldn't mind if we sat near their graves. They'd want us to be comfortable."
Clive nodded as he sat near the grave which was dedicated to Werner Maxwell. Virginia plopped down on her knees as she smoothed down her nightgown. "So are you comfortable enough? I'd like for you to me about your experience while reading Werner's account of the past," stated Clive after a moment.
"Yes I am." Virginia patted the hard red cover. "I can't understand some of it… but what I do understand I don't really like."
"Why not?"
"Well I like it… but it's strange knowing that your own past is a mystery. It makes the book seem like fiction rather than a diary," she replied sadly.
"Has it helped at all? Do you remember anything?" questioned Clive urgently.
"Yeah, I do remember some things…. But it's also kind of depressing. I start remembering all the good times with the Council and then I realize that they're all gone. It makes me regret killing the Prophets…"
"That's a completely natural feeling… people should always regret taking the life of another person. There seldom is a justification for murder… It wasn't right but yet it had to be done. Do you understand?"
"Yes, I do…"
"One cannot change the past, no matter how hard they may try. You do realize that your memories with us are now a part of your past… they are written in stone. However, you have a choice to make now…"
"Yes, what is it?"
"Do want to continue reading the book?"
Virginia was silent as she flipped through the pages. There truly was no point in reading it if made her feel depressed. Then again it couldn't hurt… Her cerulean eyes widened as she came up with a solution. "Clive?"
"Yes, what is it? Have you decided?"
Virginia nodded. "I've decided that I won't read the book anymore… because it makes me feel sad… But I've also decided that I'll give it to you… the book and the photos."
"You'll give it to me?" questioned Clive stuttering slightly. Virginia nodded brightly. "I'm flattered but I can't accept the pictures or the book… they're rightfully yours."
"No go ahead… think of it as borrowing them. Maybe one day I'll take a look at them again. Until that day, you can keep it. I know you'd like to have it so don't let politeness prevent you from taking it."
Clive smiled. "Yes, I suppose you're right. I'll accept it." He leaned over towards Virginia and gently took the book. He pulled away for a moment then as an afterthought, leaned towards Virginia again. He hugged her and gave her brief kiss on the cheek causing Virginia to turn five shades of red. Clive chuckled. "Honestly Virginia, don't get so embarrassed. We're practically family; such displays of affection are allowed."
Virginia nodded as she gently touched her cheek. "I know, I was just shocked… It was very unexpected…"
"I do hope you'll forgive me, I didn't mean to shock you…"
"No don't apologize… it was nice."
"Whoa, looks like Jet's got some competition!" roared a voice that was instantly recognized as Gallows. Virginia immediately stood up, running to hide behind a gravestone… the last thing she needed was for Gallows to see her like this.
"Shut up… Clive could be her father," mumbled Jet as both he and Gallows approached the cemetery. Both were fully dressed, they apparently had time to put on their clothing, meaning the spying was not a spur of the moment thing. Yes, Virginia noted, eyes narrowing in anger, Jet even had time to put on his strange scarves… Virginia gasped… she was wrong before. Jet was the last person she wanted to see her like this. She crouched down further behind the tombstone. However, there was nothing she could do; both men where now standing a mere four feet away form her.
"Everyone please settle down…" pleaded Clive as Jet and Gallows continued bickering. Somewhere behind him he could hear Virginia praying to various guardians that she would not be seen. He turned towards her. "Virginia there's really no need to hide… we're all friends here. Besides I'm sure they've already spotted you." Virginia sighed and finally relented, stepping out from her hiding place. "As for you Jet… I didn't mean any harm by what just happened, I simply…"
Jet held up a hand, silencing the sniper. "Don't explain… You're pretty trustworthy. It's that big oaf that I don't trust." He pointed at Gallows before murmuring "I don't care anyway."
Clive chuckled. "Thank you… but I don't think Gallows is all that treacherous either…"
Jet scowled. "Whatever…"
Virginia frowned as the whole party grew silent. "Hey guys why are we all so tense?" she asked breaking the silence.
Gallows shrugged. "It's because the punk and I don't know what's going on here."
Clive nodded. "Fair enough… Let's see, Virginia has just given me Werner's journal because she was unprepared to read it…" He turned towards Virginia. "That's about all isn't it?" Virginia nodded and Clive turned back to his original audience. "Yes, that's about it."
"…Unprepared to read it… you're gonna read it later right?" questioned Jet suddenly.
Virginia nodded. "Yes much later."
"Well when you're ready, I wanna read it with you."
Virginia stared at Jet strangely. "Why…?" Jet was silent and Clive chuckled lowly to himself. Virginia paused thoughtfully. "Oh my god, is it because you can't read? Because I've always kind of figured that you couldn't but I thought you'd get mad if I said it…"
"I can read…!" shouted Jet angrily. Virginia looked shocked.
"Well than why do you want to read it with me?" she questioned.
Jet seemed to shrink down in an attempt to hide behind his scarves. Virginia even thought she could see a bit of a blush forming on his cheeks. He was completely silent.
"I think what Jet meant," began Clive, "Was that while he is perfectly capable of reading the book by himself he'd like it better if he could read it with you… isn't that right Jet?"
Jet stared at Clive with a mixture of gratitude and resentment. "Yeah," he mumbled.
"Well… I… umm… Of course I'll…" Virginia stopped rambling and taking a deep breath said, "Yes."
"So that means you two are a couple now!" announced Gallows jovially. Jet twitched convulsively and Gallows, in a safety precaution learned through experience, sprinted away. Jet was after him in a moment.
Clive chuckled even as a worried expression crossed his features. "I'm afraid I may have to stop another one of their brawls…" He stared at the book in his arms. "Would you mind holding this for me?" Virginia shook her head. He handed her the book and followed after the other two drifters.
Virginia stared at the book she held in her hands. She flipped through the pages idly. This was her father's book and she had given it to Clive… Still, somehow it didn't bother her. It was still fairly empty and Virginia considered letting Clive document their adventures… It'd be perfect…
Gallows suddenly gave a particularly pained scream and Virginia looked towards her three companions. Clive, who seemed slightly distressed by the caliber of violence taking place, attempted to pry Jet's hands from where they were snuggly coiled around Gallows' neck. All three men were making a lot of noise and Virginia wondered how long her aunt would manage to stay asleep. She smiled at them fondly. Yes, she'd have to let Clive document their adventures…
Virginia smiled once again, turning towards the giant tombstone dedicated to her father. She knew that her father was not really buried anywhere near the tomb but somehow felt that the cemetery was a connection between her and him. She held the book close to her heart and mumbled, "Thanks for everything Daddy…"