A/n; this chapter has a few bad words in it, if that sort of stuff offends you don't read it! Thank you to all who read anyways…. And review! People who don't annoy me sometimes…. Like my so-called best friends Stephanie. But I owe her, she helped me write this chapter and most of the next one! Anyone who likes it should say thank you to Stephanie in a review. Thanks Shakespeare's Love

Chapter 18:

Sounds of the barnyard

Several nights had passed since Bassanio's ship had reached Belmont, and fair Portia. Emma had a growing feeling of discomfort in the house; it wasn't only the fact that she was hated not only by Portia, and all the servants in the house, but also the fact that everywhere she went there was Adam. He seemed to follow her like an owl stalking its prey, waiting for the right moment to strike. The only time she could be alone was at night when she, quietly as she could, snuck past his room and out the door.

When alone she had the time to think about Bassanio and what had happened on the ship. Since they had reached Belmont he had healed, incredibly fast. He had also seemed to forget all about her. With Portia around all of his attention seemed to be sucked from her. She had to step up her game, she knew this but the thing was, how?

She walked the gardens slowly taking in everything, the water near the giant shit ugly shrubs. She rolled her eyes; Portia even had bad taste in plants. She tossed her thoughts on how to get him back. She knew how to get a guy in the 21st century… but how in the 17th…

The next morning she rushed downstairs to get the first of breakfast (for the last two days she hadn't gotten anything because fat Portia had to eat so much). As soon as she reached the kitchen, what to her surprise? The cow was already there! Eating all of the good eggs and bacon. 'I thought pigs didn't eat their own kind!' Emma thought to herself.

However, she tried her best to put on a good expression for Portia. "Good morning, Portia," Emma said so smooth she even fooled herself.

Portia turned her head around, with a face full of eggs said, "What do you want, wench?"

Emma's jaw dropped, "I'm sorry?" she strutted her way over to the table of eggs, "Why don't you shove some more food in your snout? Maybe I could understand you better then!"

Portia wiped some egg from her cheek, "You know I can kick you out anytime I wish of it!"

"From this barn of a house? Like I'd care!" Emma yelled picking up the large plate of eggs and throwing all over Portia.

Portia picked a piece of bacon from her bodice and threw it in Emma's face; "You had better watch your back, little strumpet!" she turned to walk out.

"STRUMPET! What you swine?" Emma yelled making Portia turn around with a jaw hitting the floor.

"What did you say?" Portia gritted her teeth, calling her swine was like calling Emma a strumpet.

"You heard me, PIG!"

With that Portia lunged over the table, hands first headed straight for Emma's neck. Emma fell straight to the ground with a smack but quickly countered with a right hook. Portia flew three feet, straight into a wall, allowing Emma to jump at the chance of an easy shot. Not so easy as it looked, Portia jumped, again tackling Emma into the floor. Emma rolled over her and pinned her arms to the floor.

"I think you dented the wall fat ass!"

Portia struggled and soon got her hands free, she struck Emma in the stomach (very painful while wearing a corset) Emma rolled on her back holding her stomach. Portia stood up and looked down on Emma as if she had just made the kill.

"Go find a street corner, strumpet!"

Emma moved fast, kicking Portia's legs from under her. They went rolling through the piles of eggs. Then finally they both had the chance to stand up. After taking a few, egg covered, shallow breaths they again lunged at each other, both attacks where stopped by the bacon grease on the floor, causing them both to slip and fall on their own backs.

"Okay," Emma said sitting up while holding her back, "That was stupid."

Portia sat up and felt her face, there was a small scratch caused by Emma's nails. She was infuriated! "This means WAR!" she yelled sliding through the grease on top of Emma. Emma and Portia slid under the table. Portia was insane! Tearing at clothes, why not her face? (Ya, I don't know either). Emma soon got sick of these pointless attacks and jumped on top of her forcing both to slide towards the fire.

Emma now on top had several successful blows to Portia's face. With Portia screaming Emma wasn't surprised when half the household servants appeared for the show. Emma sat up high, "That's how you fight, bitch!" she screamed grabbing her hair. She was ready to throw it into the fire before Bassanio's voice caused the whole room to fall into a deadly silence.

Emma froze, with a fistful of Portia's hair still in her grasp. Both gazes slowly met Bassanio's eyes, the way a two year old does it when he or she knows they are in trouble. In an uncanny event they both found the strength to stand.

"She started it!" they both yelled simultaneously, it was quickly followed by a glare shot at both of them.

Bassanio shook his head. They were both covered in bacon grease. Emma had a torn bodice, plainly showing her white corset. Portia's had a black eye, a bloody nose, a small cut on her face, and a missing shoe. How the shoe got lost we'll never know, but we do know it was never found again.

Bassanio looked at Emma, "What do you have to say for yourself?"

"She called me a strumpet!"

"Portia?"

"She was insinuating that I was fat!"

"Emma?"

Emma folded her arms and cocked her head, "Well, if the corset doesn't fit!" Portia again leapt for Emma. But Emma had learned fast, she simply took half a step back, allowing grease monkey to slid face first into the opposite wall.

Bassanio ran to help her up, "Shame on you Emma!" he said escorting Portia up, then looking at the wall, "Oh my god," he looked at Portia, " I think you dented the wall!" Portia burst into tears and ran off.

"What did I say?" Bassanio said looking at Emma.

Emma shrugged her shoulders and watched Bassanio leave, followed by the line of servants. Once they had all gone only one remained… Adam. Adam stood beside Emma, "That is one big dent."

Emma rolled her eyes and tried to walk away, "Wait Emma," Adam said in an unusually whiney voice, "Do want me to help you mend your dress? Do you want me to go to town and get a new dress? Do you need any food? Are you okay? I'll kill her for you!"

Emma couldn't stand it, after three days of this she couldn't hold it back; she turned and slammed her fist into his jaw. He fell to the ground and looked up with hurt puppy dog eyes, "Thank you anyways," Emma said before storming her room.