A/N I just wanted to again thank all of you who read, and especially those who take the time to review this story. Your comments and feedback mean a lot to me and I appreciate your time. Now, on with the good stuff.

POE 1911

In this place where shadows live

and Ghosts that failed learn time forgives

Welcome friends, please stay awhile

Our story starts with one small girl

For somewhere on this night of nights

She's looking to believe

Here among the Ghosts of Christmas Eve.

TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA

THE LEGACY – CHAPTER 10

"So she's interested in me, I'm more flattered than worried."

"Well, I'd be worried Gary, that is one very smart kid, and as an artist, she's a trained observer, I doubt there's much she misses around here."

"So you think she might find out about the paper?"

"Honestly I'd be surprised if she hasn't already figured it out. She was asking Cathy about ways to get a paper that was different from the usual one. So she probably knows you're getting something different. If I had to bet, I'd say she's thinking some kind of accomplice working at the paper and printing up something just for you with stuff that doesn't make the regular paper."

"Do you think I should just fire her?"

"Definitely not, that would just tell her that she's right, it'll be tough, but just act normal around her if you can."

"Well normal and I aren't that well acquainted."

"True enough, but try to be as normal as possible."

Gary had tried to keep that conversation in mind all through the month of December; unfortunately Gary trying to act normal just didn't work. He did do some clever things, coming in the back door after a save, being a lot less conspicuous in his comings and goings, making sure all of his 'errands' were justified. But he hadn't counted on Ruthie and the level of observation that she was capable of. Gary doing things that he'd never done before was just as clear a signal to her that he was aware of her snooping as if he had taken out an ad in the paper. What she really found funny was that she really didn't need to snoop anymore; she believed she had all the answers, even if she was having a tough time believing them. From the number of different incidents that the articles dealt with, and from an interesting conversation that she had had with Logan Winslow one day, it was clear that Mr. Hobson got a different edition of the Sun-Times than most people. How he got it was still a mystery, but Ruthie was sure that it contained information that he used to save people, to stop accidents that hadn't happened yet.

In her mind, the question wasn't how he got it or why, the question was what she should do with the information that she had. No one would believe her if she said anything. Should she tell Mr. Hobson and offer help, or maybe just letting him know that she was willing to help if he needed it? That was the question that consumed her; what now.

Questions like this were tough to think on though, with Christmas fast approaching. Teressa had gotten her Christmas early when Ruthie had told her that she was a finalist for the Guggenheim. Ruthie smiled to herself as she remembered the incident; she wondered if Crumb's hearing was back to normal yet.

Unfortunately for the girl, thoughts of Christmas turned sad because she was going to be in Chicago and her family was going to be in California. It would be the first Christmas that she had ever spent away from them. Teressa had immediately offered the guest bed as an option so Ruthie wouldn't have to stay in the dorms by herself over the holiday. Ruthie had checked with Marissa first, then gratefully accepted when elegant woman had said that Ruthie would be more than welcome. Still it wasn't home, and it wasn't family.

Ruthie was experiencing a pre-Christmas gloom that was a new thing for her, and surprisingly something she shared with Mr. Hobson. She hadn't asked why Christmas depressed him so much; she figured that having to deal with self-absorbed fools at this time of the year would be trying for Gandhi. So they sat at the bar one night, just watching college hoops and nursing a couple of beers and letting each other know that they were not alone.

Ruthie had sent the presents for her family with Simon, but she sorely wished she could be there to see them opened. She had made most of her presents, not surprising for an artist, but the one for the twins was special, she hoped that Sarah and not Matt ran the video camera, because Matt always focused on the wrong thing when he was shooting. She still had one present to take care of, but that was going to have to wait until Christmas Eve night. She remembered approaching Gary and Marissa with her idea.

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"You want to hang a mobile in the bar?"

"As a present for Teressa, yeah."

"Why"

"Because it should be seen and appreciated by the public, and I think she'd want to share it with the people that are most important to her, meaning everyone here."

"But four hundred pounds of glass, that's not gonna be easy."

"I figured between you, your dad, Brent, Crumb and me, we could handle it."

"Anything else."

"Just one, I'm gonna have to rig the lighting and get a hook and pulley into place, and I can't do that while she's here, so I'm gonna have to come by late, will that be a problem?"

"Nah, just remind Toni so she doesn't come down here, guns blazing thinking you're a thief."

"I can see how that could be awkward" Ruthie said with a bit of sarcasm.

"As for getting it here, I'm sure Marissa can keep her busy for a while Christmas Eve afternoon, then it'll be up for the party that night. He turned to his partner "does that sound doable?"

"I'm sure I can come up with something" Marissa said with a smile "and that's a very thoughtful gift Ruth, thank you."

"You're welcome, after all the help she's given me, she deserves something like this." Suddenly feeling awkward, she said "I better get back to work" and left the office.

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It was Christmas Eve day, and the bar was surprisingly busy, or at least noisier than usual. Ruthie thought that could simply be due to the presence of Gary's parents. Bernie Hobson was in the kitchen, and she was sure that he was driving George crazy. He kept going on about some dish called 'gnokie' that George refused to fix. Bernie kept up with the pleading, and Ruthie was sure that George would just brain the guy soon. Lois was already trying to set Ruthie up with Gary's cousin Steven from North Carolina; he was a house painter and figured that was similar enough.

She felt a cold rush of air as more customers came through the door. She turned and said "Welcome to Mc….", that was as far as she got because she was looking at her parents.

"Hey Ruthie" said Sam "where should we sit?"

Ruthiefound herself incapable of speech, and just pointed at a nearby table. Her parents, Sam, David and Simon walked over and sat down. Ruthie followed and slowly her brain started to work again. "What are you guys doing here?"

"Well we figured since you couldn't be with us for Christmas that we'd bring Christmas to you."

"I can't believe you guys, thank you. Now, what can I get for you?"

"What's good here" Annie asked.

"Darn near anything, as long as Bernie isn't cooking."

"Who's Bernie" David asked.

"Mr. Hobson's dad."

"So what should we order?"

"Ask Simon, he's here all the time?"

They turned to Simon "all the time" Eric asked with a smile "you said once or twice."

Simon blushed "OK, maybe a little more often." Then getting himself under control said "you'd probably like the 'Chicago Ravioli', its good and definitely something you wouldn't get in California. What about you guys" he asked, turning towards the twins.

"Chicken fingers" they both answered.

Ruthie just nodded and took the order back to the kitchen. Gary was there, having pried Bernie away from George before the chef quit. Gary looked at the young waitress for a moment "what's up RC you're practically glowing, did Green Day just drop in for a burger?"

"No, my family just dropped in for Christmas."

"Hey, that's great; you want the rest of the day off?"

"Kinda, but we're really short at the moment, so I'll stay."

"Your choice, but lunch is on the house, OK and everyone's welcome at the party tonight."

"Sure, and thanks Gary."

"No problem"

She went back out and informed her family that she still needed to finish up her shift, but that lunch was on the house. She also informed them that they were invited to the Christmas party that night, that way they could meet everyone. She caught her mom checking the place out for herself; 'maybe she was still looking for signs that it was a strip bar or something' Ruthie thought. Suddenly the twins bolted upright "hey, there's a cat over there" they said as one. Sure enough, Cat was wandering through the bar like he owned the place, checking out the patrons and avoiding feet. "Can we pet him" the youngest Camdens asked.

"That's Mr. Hobson's cat" Ruthie informed them "it's probably best to just leave him be."

"How can you let a cat run loose in a place like this" Annie asked.

"I dunno mom, but he pretty much has the run of the place and all the regulars like him. Excuse me for a second; I've got another table or two to take care of." She finished up with her other customers and sat back with her family. "So where is everyone staying?"

"Well the twins are with Simon and your mother and I are staying at this old hotel called the Blackstone, it's just right down the street."

"Sounds great, gosh, I just can't believe you guys came all this way out here."

"Well, we missed you, and it gave the twins a chance to see snow."

"So how's everyone else?"

"Lucy and Kevin are fine, Savannah is growing like a weed and the next one looks like it'll be a boy. We really haven't heard much from Mary, I guess her job keeps her busy; and Matt and Sarah are fine. So how's school and everything with you?"

"Let me get your lunch and I'll answer that." She went back to the kitchen and brought the orders back to the table. "Does any body need anything else before I sit down?" Hearing a lot of muted nos, she sat back down with her family. "Let's see, my projects are going well, no problem with grades or anything, no boyfriends or anything like that, and my friend Teressa is a finalist for this year's Guggenheim."

"Now is that the girl whose step mom is a part owner of this place?"

"Yeah, that's her, you'll meet her tonight. Actually, before you all go, I do need a favor."

"What is it" Eric asked.

"Well, I was wanting to hang Teressa's mobile in here tonight for the party, the problem will be getting it over here, and for that I could use some strong Camden men."

Eric just looked at Simon, who shrugged "sure, we'll help, is there anyone else going?"

"Gary and his dad, between the five of us we should be able to handle it."

Ruthie rounded up her helpers and headed off to the studio while Annie went back to find Lois and see what she could do to help with the party tonight. 'The hanging crew' got to the studio building and piled out. Ruthie took them up two flights of rather rickety stairs to the third floor, the home of the advanced painting and design students. As they were headed for Teressa's studio, Eric asked his daughter "is your studio around here?"

"Yeah dad, it's right back there" indicating a door that was only a few feet away.

"Could I see it?"

"Hang on, let me open Teressa's spot and the other three can start getting it down, then we'll go look."

She opened up the door to Teressa's studio and turned on the lights so the others could marvel at the mobile. It was surprisingly Bernie that first noticed the fire effect on the walls and floor. Ruthie showed them how to lower the sculpture and then took Eric to her studio for a quick look around.

When she opened the door, he could not believe what he was seeing, paintings, dozens of them. Some he found brilliant, others awful, but the sheer volume of work was what impressed him the most. He looked around once more and then at his talented but enigmatic daughter "there's a lot of stuff here".

"Yeah, I just keep them up here for now; I'll store em somewhere eventually."

"You don't think that there are people who would be interested in these?"

"It's not that dad, I'm not sure if I'm interested in people seeing them. Come on, they'll need help."

Under Ruthie's direction, the four men got the mobile down and into the McGinty's van. There they managed to unload it as Toni and Lois cleared the floor. Ruthie had it set down below where it would hang and then she and the twins went about the tedious process of untangling the lines. Finally it was ready, and she had Gary hoist it into position while she made sure none of the glass pieces broke. Finally it was tied off and the lights turned on. It cast it's ever changing glow over the whole bar; and no one that saw it failed to be impressed and moved.

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Teressa just freaked when she saw her mobile hanging up in McGinty's, the girl just stood stock still for a few seconds, then came bolting over and just grabbed Ruthie and swung her around the room. "Thankyouthankyouthankyou" was what she was saying, although it was tough to hear over the ooh's and ahh's. As the party heated up everyone seemed to be getting along; even Toni hadn't shocked her parents too badly. Ruthie was watching her mom who was watching Simon dance with Lily; she figured that she should tell her mom that the girl was in Northwestern's Law School, and not just a waitress. Sometimes her mom got hung up on stuff like that. The person she really wanted to talk to finally broke away from Bernie Hobson and was standing by himself, so she eased herself over. "Dad, could we take a walk?"

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Eric Camden looked closely at his daughter, he knew that there was more to this than simple exercise; "sure Ruthie, let me get my coat."

As father and daughter made their way out into Chicago's streets he said "so what's on your mind?"

"Do you think it's possible for someone to know the future?"

"Well that was from left field, hmmmm; yeah, I do. I think that there are some people who have some ability that we don't understand who can do things like that, not to mention the possibility that God can touch us and give us knowledge of things to come, like prophets and guys like that. Why do you ask?"

Ignoring the question, Ruthie continued "if you knew someone like that, how would you be around him?"

"I don't know, something like knowledge of the future is a huge responsibility, an enormous burden. Someone like that would need all the help they could get because you would feel so responsible. Think about it, if something bad happened and a person was hurt and you possessed the knowledge to stop it, but didn't; how would you live with yourself? Why are you asking me this Ruthie?"

"I think I may have met someone like that, and I was wondering what I could do for him? I mean what can I do to help I'm just one young inexperienced girl. How could I help someone like that?"

"Well I can think of one thing, if you truly know someone who has knowledge of the future, you can help by simply being there for him, and listening to his troubles, and doing anything you can to lighten his burden, because someone like that is literally carrying the weight of the world."

"Thanks dad, you always give great advice."

"Even if you don't listen to it?"

"What can I say; occasionally I think you're right."

"Thanks kiddo, you're a real boost to my confidence."

"Just one service I provide, hey you wanna get back, I'm getting cold?"

"Sure, and Ruthie"

"Yeah"

"Thanks for asking"

They returned to the bar, one a bit confused by what he had heard, and the other determined to pursue a course that might not be the smartest.