Don't own LK. Wish I did, then I could actually make these into a book. Stupid cancellations…stupid, stupid, stupid.

It was the next day, and Marie-Claire had awakened. Sarah had gotten some warm water so Marie could take a bath. Sarah was rummaging through her things, murmuring something about an old dress.

When Marie-Claire was finished, she put on the simple dress Sarah had picked for her.

James and Henri were having a fight with ink balls when they heard footsteps slowly coming down the stairs.

Marie-Claire was coming down the stairs, with Sarah guiding her gently so she wouldn't fall.

"There. You'll find it easier after some time. Henri can go up and down so quickly I'm surprised he hasn't fallen and broken his neck." Sarah said.

"That is because I am nimble!" Henri objected.

"Thank you, Sarah." Marie-Claire said gratefully, smiling at Henri.

Sarah glared at James when she saw the inkblots all over him.

"Have you and Henri been fooling around all morning?" She said, "This ink is expensive, you

know. As though taxes weren't hard enough!"

"It was Henri's fault. He started it." James said a-matter-of-factly, crossing his arms.

"WHAT!" Henri shouted.

Sarah shook her head, "You are both so immature."

Henri quickly changed the subject, "Marie, where did you get the dress?"

"Marie's dress was so ragged that I decided to give her my older green dress," Sarah explained when she got to James, "It was too small for me, but it fits her just fine. She is quite smaller than me, actually."

Indeed, it looked like it was made for her. The dress was all the way to the floor. It was a lot like the one Sarah was wearing now, except dark green. Marie-Claire's thick black hair was no longer limp, but shiny and wavy, healthy looking. Her face had been cleaned, showing freckles dancing across her nose. Her eyes, beautiful green, remained shining, and she looked very pretty.

James stared at her, and for a minute it felt like she was reading his thoughts.

"James!" Sarah said shouted, "Did you hear what I said?"

He blinked quickly, as though coming out a trance.

"Yes?" James said.

"I said that we need your article. Don't you still want the front page?" Sarah put her hands on her hips, irritated at having to repeat herself.

"Oh yeah, right," James said hastily, a bit embarrassed, "Umm…I'll go get it."

Just as he went up the stairs, James overheard Marie-Claire say she was hungry.

"How long has it been since you last ate?" Henri asked her as they went to the kitchen.

"I don't know, maybe four or five days." Marie replied.

Henri's eyes grew as wide as saucers, "FOUR OR FIVE DAYS! That is crazy! Follow me; we have some soup left over from last night. Oh, and don't worry, James didn't make it. He makes tres horrible food!"

Sarah and Marie laughed. James decided to go to his room and get the article.

For the next few days, Marie-Claire rested in James' room. When she recovered, she stayed to help them with the printing press. They adapted her as a member of their "family." She moved out of James' room and shared Sarah's.

2 WEEKS LATER…………

"James! Moses! Henri! Marie-Claire!" Sarah was calling, "Come here, look!"

Marie came out of the kitchen, Henri from the street, and James emerged from upstairs. Moses was behind Henri, and they all crowded around Sarah in the middle of the room.

"You have cordially been invited to a ball," Sarah read, "In honor of Lord and Lady McMillan's twentieth anniversary. We request that you please attend."

"A ball?" James frowned, "Does that mean I have to wear that collar?"

"Will there be food?" Henri asked, "Fancy food?"

"How far away is it?" Marie-Claire wondered.

"Who sent this letter?" Moses said above all.

Sarah replied to all of them, "Dr. Franklin sent it, as he is staying there in Lexington with them at the moment. He says in the letter that came with the invitation that he mentioned his "young journalists and printers", and Lord McMillan insisted we come. We must be wearing formal wear, as Lord McMillan is quite wealthy. I expect there is food there, Henri."

"No! Not the collar!" James said dramatically.

"Oh come on," Marie shook her head, "It can't be that bad."

"James whines like a bebe," Henri explained, "And Sarah says I'M immature!"

James shot Henri a rather nasty glare.

"Both of you," Moses pulled them apart, "Not right now. You all should go out and buy supplies for the trip. I think we're all out."

"Moses is right," Marie said, "Come on, let's go."

Henri smiled mischievously at James before they went out the door. James tried to ignore him.

Sorry that was short. I guarantee the next one will be MUCH better. There will be parts when there is J/M-Cness, but trust me, I will also focus on the war. Thanks again to P.I.D., and I read your "The Road to Manhood." It was fantastic! You did an excellent job of describing young James. Loverly yours, Autumn