Author's Note: Sean is still at the Hamilton's house and Marita is preparing to come home, she has less than a week to go. I'm not really sure if I should use the word "negro" or "black" or "colored" or what, so I picked "colored" because I think that it would be most appropriate, but if anyone knows of a better choice, let me know. Also, some other things that I mention may be totally fictional and unreal, but hey, this is fanfiction.net. I'm just trying to make a good story. I have to give special thanks to all of you who reviewed the story and sent encouraging e- mails. I thought that no one was reading the story, so I slacked up on writing. Oh! I would also like to give extra special thanks to Rozlips, who so quickly edited the chapter and made it easier to read. Location: Hamilton's home in Kentucky "Please Mr. Hamilton. I cannot see her and not be with her, and the thing is that whether you help me or not and whether we can marry or not, I'm gonna spend the rest of my life with her. But, I won't dishonor her. I won't allow myself to take everything that is pure about her if I cannot honor her as my wife, but I will hold onto her as long as I can. If you only knew her, you'd know that she deserves to have the honor of a wife's security. She deserves to have a home and children and anything else that she desires. But, if you won't help me then she'll have to settle for just being someone's little secret and soon enough she'll get tired of that, and I'll lose her," Sean's voice became crackled. "I'll lose her to someone who can't love her as much as I do, and I just can't live with that." Sean was fighting to hold back the trickle of tears that threatened to flow. Mrs. Hamilton finally exploded. "Please John, tell him so that he can go. I can't take it anymore," she wailed. "Alright Mr. Logan, but before I tell you anything, I want you to see something." Sean had no idea what Mr. Hamilton wanted to show him, but he was more than willing to see it. "Go get her," Mr. Hamilton spoke lightly to Mrs. Hamilton. ".But you said that no one," Mrs. Hamilton tried to object, but she was cut off my Mr. Hamilton waving his hand and silencing her. "I know what I said, but I feel that we can trust Mr. Logan especially if he gives us his word as a gentleman," Mr. Hamilton looked at Sean with his hand extended. "Yes, of course, Mr. Hamilton you have my word.as a gentleman," Sean said as he clasped hands with Mr. Hamilton. Mrs. Hamilton knew that an agreement was made so she went to go and get her.

Location: Boston Setting: Parlor of Miss Liza's hotel "Man Marita, I can't believe that we're gonna be going home. I almost feel like this is home. You know what I mean?" Shawn asked. Marita thought for a moment and no she really did not feel that Boston was any sort of home to her. She hated the city life. "No, I can't say that I do. I miss Lexington," Marita admitted. "Yeah and I bet that's not all you miss. Answer me this. If Sal moved to France, Spain, heck even Timbuktu, you'd forget all about your little Lexington wouldn't you?" Marita thought about it, and the truth was that she would want to be with Sal/Sean no matter where he went, but would he do the same for her? Would he really give up everything, the money, the privlege, the Logan name, just to be with her? Sean had told her many times that he would do whatever it took for them to be together, then why hasn't he? Why hasn't he responded to my last two letters? She knew that she was really beginning to think irrationally now. "No! that's not true Shawn, I do care for Sal, but I have a father and a whole life in Lexington," Marita exclaimed. "Take it easy Marita, I didn't mean to push your buttons." "Yeah I'm trying to take it easy, but it seems that you really enjoy pushing my buttons." "Yeah you're right, I do enjoy pushing your buttons, but it's just because we'll be headed home in a couple days and I'm gonna miss you," Shawn admitted. "Yeah, I suppose I'll miss you too," Marita also admitted. Just then Shawn livened up with Marita's confession. Marita continued, "You're the brother that I never had." Then Shawn's demeanor changed again, this time it changed to an angry scowl. "Look I don't have time to be messing around here with you. I gotta go get something for Sadie," Shawn got up and walked out of the room, barely missing Miss Liza as he turned so abruptly. He didn't even excuse himself or apologize. He just kept on going. "What's wrong with him?" Miss Liza asked. "I have no idea. You know how men are. Up one day, down the next." Miss Liza laughed. "I take it that you haven't heard from your beau?" "Nope. Not a word. You know, I don't know what's wrong with him. He made all these promises before I left and now I'm about to come home to I don't know what," Marita lamented. "Marita honey, I hate to ask you this, but do you think that he met someone else?" Miss Liza asked. What?! All of a sudden a feeling of nausea came over her. Sean had turned down a plague of other offers, so in order to avoid rejection, the ladies pretty much stayed away from him, except Vivian. "Have you ever heard of the phrase 'out of sight, out of mind,'?" Miss Liza asked. "Yes, I've heard of the phrase, but Sal is committed to me, and besides he's not at all like all of the other men. He's never been one to flirt or be overly-friendly with a person, especially females. A girl would really have to warm up to him, even to get his attention," Marita said. "Well for your sake, I'm glad. I just don't wanna see you get hurt. So, have you got your grades yet?" Miss Liza asked. "No, not yet. You know I'm really gonna miss you," Marita said as she smiled lightly to Miss Liza. "I'm gonna miss you too. You're like the daughter I never had, but if I coulda had one, I'da wanted her to be just like you." "Except I'm sure she'd have to be several shades lighter?" Marita laughed. "Marita, I don't care what color ya are. You cain't help the way the good Lord made ya. You're beautiful through and through," Miss Liza said tearily as she placed her arm around Marita.

Location: Kentucky Setting: Hamilton's home

Mrs. Hamilton came into the room carrying a child about three or four years old on her hip. Mrs. Hamilton finally spoke. "This is Rain. Rain Hamilton." Sean didn't say a word, but he just looked at Rain. She was a very slim child and had a deep tan color contrasted with bright hazel green eyes. She had brown hair with blonde highlights around her face. Even for a child, Sean thought that she was adorable with her head resting calmly on Mrs. Hamilton's shoulder. Sean finally asked, "Is she your son's child?" Mr. Hamilton spoke up, "Yes, my son, John Jr. and his wife, Esther's child. Rain was five months old, and John and Esther had just announced that she was expecting again. John had found a place that he and Esther would go to when they wanted to go out. Well, Mrs. Hamilton and I had agreed to watch lil' Rain, and they left and never came home. The next morning, I went out looking for 'em. Then I was going down the road and I heard a horse whimpering. When I looked down the ditch, I found their horse and carriage turned over and their bodies were under the carriage. There was a stench of liquor everywhere." Mrs. Hamilton sniffled and clung to Rain even more. Mr. Hamilton looked at Mrs. Hamilton but continued. "The sheriff said that John was drunk and that he probably was going too fast and just lost control, but I knew that that wadn't the truth. Esther hated liquor because her ma's old master was a drinker. He'd get drunk and come in on Esther's mother, and that was how Esther was conceived. So, when she told John Jr. about this, he immediately quit drinkin'. Then on top of that, there were bruises, cuts, and gashes all over their bodies, and her blouse was torn. There was all sorts of disrupted ground and torn branches and footprints of all sizes. What we think is that the bastards made a roadblock and pulled them over. Then they tried to hurt Esther and John Jr. did his best to fight them off of her." "Did they.rape her?" Sean asked. "No, I don't think so because her undergarments were still intact. Nevertheless, we don't know what all happened, but that John Jr. and Esther are dead, and they have left us with little Rain here. She never got to know her Ma or her Pa, and she will never be able to live a normal life." "Why not? There are plenty of children here in Lexington that are just like her," Sean said. "Yeah there are, but they are raised by their colored families and the father of these children has never been confirmed. But we're not colored and we're raising a part colored child, so it's just different. Society says that she can't do the same things that we can do and I don't want her to know that part of the world. She's happy here at home with us." Sean listened to Mr. Hamilton. "But what about when she gets older. She's gonna want to do things on her own." "Yeah we've thought about that and when she is ready, we will let her go. We love this child more than we loved our own, but one day I don't want her to look back and think that I kept her in a cage. So, when she's ready, we'll let her go." Rain who had been sitting quietly for so long, finaly spoke, "Pappi, I'm hungy. Can we eat now?" "Oh, I'm so sorry Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton. I forget that it must be about dinner time. I want you both to know that I am truly sorry for the loss of your son." Mrs. Hamilton stood up with Rain in her arms. "Mr. Logan, our son would have ran away if he couldn't have married Esther. They loved each other so fiercely, it made all of us jealous. But, they really brought out the best in each other, and now they left us to raise Rain. I wouldn't trade that or her for anything else in the world." "Mr. Hamilton, I just have one more question for you. How did your son manage to marry Esther?" Sean asked. "Well, that was basically a matter of a technicality. I told you that Esther was the child of her ma and her ma's master. Well, it's the midwife's responsibility to record the child's birth with the name and race. Well, it normally takes about three days for a colored child's color to come. After three days, if the midwife felt that the child could pass for white, they recorded the child's race as white in the county records and they gave a copy to the family. So, when the child got older, if they could still pass for white, then they wouldn't have no problems because legally, they were white. Now when Esther was one of these children, and legally she was white, even though she really couldn't pass for white." "So what did they have to do? Did they just go to any minister and did he just take their word for it?" Sean asked. "Nanna I'm hungry," Rain intervened. "Oh okay honey, Mr. Logan would you please excuse us, we'll be right back," Mrs. Hamilton said as she stood up with Rain. "Certainly," Sean said. "Can I bring you anything?" Mrs. Hamilton asked "No I'm fine. Thank you." Sean said and turned his attention back to Mr. Hamilton. "Well we asked around secretly and we couldn't find a minister, colored or white, here that was willing to perform the ceremony even if Esther was "legally" white, but we found an old abolitionist who was willing to do it. He lives about 50 miles from here on an estate deep in the woods." "So, all we have to do is find out if Marita's race has been recorded as white, but if it's not, then I have no idea of what we can do next," Sean thought aloud. "Well, it became very popular for midwives to do this for real fair skinned children. So, I really hope that it works out for y'all. Just remember what I've told you. Unlike my son, you've got a political position and a family name to uphold. Just make sure that this is what you want because if it's not then you'll grow to hate the young woman you now love and everything that ever brought you two together." "Mr. Hamilton, my political aspirations are sacrificeable. I've been a farmer first and always, and my family name means nothing to me if Marita can't have that name too. And as far as regrettin' goes, I have no idea what tomorrow holds, but I would live every day with Marita like it was our last." Mr. Hamilton broke into a deep chuckle. "You sound just like my John Jr. He said that if he had to die tomorrow at least he could be with Esther today. They had just over a year together, and I never saw two people happier or more in love, but Mr. Logan, John Jr.'s tomorrow did come and he and Esther were killed, but I know that if he could do it all over again, he'd do it in a heartbeat. So, I hope that information will help you and your special lady." Sean walked toward the door with a huge smile on his face, "Yes sir, Mr. Hamilton, I believe that it will help me a great deal. I can't explain how much I appreciate your help. Please, if there is ever anything that you need." Sean was cut off my Mr. Hamilton, "No, Mrs. Hamilton and I, we'll make it just fine." "I understand, but if Rain ever needs anything or if she wants to go to school, you know, my youngest sister, Lexy and all of the other worker's children, take private lessons at home. Rain is welcome to join her." Mr. Hamilton extended his hand toward Sean, "Thank you Mr. Logan, we will definitely consider it. If there's anything else that you need, please let us know. Gladys, Mr. Logan's leaving," Mr. Hamilton yelled. A few seconds later, Mrs. Hamilton emerged from the back of the house with Rain trailing her. She grabbed Sean's hand in both of hers, "Oh Mr. Logan, it certainly was a pleasure meeting you. We don't get company here too often, and I'll be sure to remember you and your intended in my prayers." "Thank you Mrs. Hamilton, we sure do need 'um, and the pleasure was all mine." Sean stooped down to Rain who was holding onto Mrs. Hamilton's skirt. Sean looked into her eyes, and it brought a big grin to his face to think that he and Marita may actually be able to have a child like her someday. He reached out his hand to her, and she slowly placed her small hand in his. "Nice to meet you too Rain. You take care of you grandma and grandpa here." Rain just giggled and blinked her eyes. Sean stood back up, "Again, thank you so much.." When Sean finally returned home, it was late into the evening, he thought that everyone had gone to bed. He removed his hat and started to head upstairs when he heard his pa, "Sean, that you?" "Yeah pa, it's me." Sean turned around and walked into the great room where everyone, even Isaac, was still there. Looks like they were asleep, but they were now waking up, except Lexy. "What happened, we were about to go looking for you?" Ned asked. Sean explained everything to the family. Everyone was happy and went to bed.

Stay tuned.More to come soon.We'll be checking in on Vivian.