Serena stopped the truck in the plaza Harry and Ron recognized as the one their Portkey had taken them to. The boys jumped down from the bed, looking around eagerly. Vendors' booths had sprung up around the town square, selling everything from sparklers to overpriced fast food. Billy bought a very large, ridiculous Uncle Sam hat from one of the vendors, then stopped suddenly, like a deer caught in headlights.

A very pretty woman clad in a somewhat transparent and revealing sundress approached them, her spiral curled red hair bouncing and swaying.

"Well, I'll be damned and sent to Hades!" she cried. "Ain't you a sight for sore eyes!"

"Hello, Jane," said Billy.

Jane hugged him, kissed him on both cheeks, and squealed with girlish delight. She repeated the process for all the men, except Dirty Steve. She merely gave him a weak, forced smile. Then she turned her attention to Serena.

"Well, look at you. You look as pretty as a Grand Canyon sunset," said Jane. With a chuckle, she added, "Which of y'all held her down while somebody put the dress on?"

"Believe it or not, I did it all on my own," Serena said, a cold edge in her tone.

"Oh, I was only teasin', honey. Lighten up," Jane scowled.

"Say, Jane, how about buyin' your favorite boys a round of whiskey?" Billy asked.

"Why, of course. You and I need to catch up, Billy."

"You go on without me," said Doc. "I'm gonna find Yen."

"I ain't goin' either," said Charley. "I'm meetin' this little Mexican gal."

As the others moved toward the saloon, Chavez motioned to Serena to follow, saying he didn't mind if she joined them. Serena didn't move. She knew for a fact she was the cheapest drunk in the state of New Mexico. A single shot of Kentucky red-eye had once caused her to spend an evening talking to a ceramic gnome. Half a beer had given the boys the privilege of watching her wail Aerosmith tunes into a floor lamp.

Off her look, Chavez said, "Right. I'm sorry. I forgot what you're like when you drink."

Trying to get off the subject, Serena held up two lengths of ribbon. Chavez got the message, and the pair of them went to a shady spot. Serena sat between his feet as he began to braid her hair. He sang softly as he worked.

"Oh, that's beautiful," sighed Serena. "Is it Navajo?"

"Yes."

"What does it mean?" she asked.

"Just something a friend taught me...in case I ever met the right woman," said Chavez. "It means that you're the only one I'll ever give my heart to. I'll protect you in this world as long as you may live, until we both meet again in the spirit world."

Serena, for once, was at a loss for words. She had never dreamed her feelings would be reciprocated; it seemed too good to be true... Craning her neck back, she planted an upside-down kiss on his lips. She blushed slightly at her boldness. Chavez returned the kiss and dropped the ribbons onto the ground.

"Your hair looks better down anyway," he said.

Serena stood up, brushing dust off her dress, and held out a hand to pull Chavez to his feet. She took off at a run, still holding his hand, which nearly jerked his arm out of place.

"Where are we going?" Chavez asked.

"To the carnival," Serena replied.

"There's one here?" he said, puzzled.

"Yeah," she said, breathless with excitement. "I can hear the merry-go-round."

"I've never been to a carnival," he confessed.

"Don't worry. You'll have a great time."

---------------------------------------

Chavez looked hesitantly around him at all the whirling, noisy machinery that had sprouted up in the fairgrounds. Serena's face was glowing with girlish delight as she purchased their ride tickets. She waved at Charlie, who was trying to win a goldfish for his date. She laughed when she realized the passengers in a boat coming out of the Tunnel of Love were Doc and Yen Sun, both kissing passionately.

"I don't know about this," Chavez said uneasily.

"I've been on this ride before," said Serena, yanking the lapbar of their Ferris wheel bench into place. "It goes really slow and it's not very high."

But it DID seem high once they were up in the air. It was especially scary when the bench came to a halt at the top of the wheel, rocking back and forth in the slight breeze. Chavez was quite glad when the ride ended.

After the Ferris wheel, Serena introduced Chavez to the carousel, the Hall of Mirrors, and the tilt-a-whirl, as well as the ubiquitous haunted house ride with dented cars and laughable special effects. Then it was time for the bumper cars and some of the larger rides.

Chavez's knife-throwing expertise came in handy when he decided to try some of the carny games. He was dead on with softballs, darts, and little plastic rings. He and Serena left the midway laden down with biker posters and stuffed animals.

At suppertime, they bought some tomales from a vendor, then made their way back to the parking lot. Serena had filled her metal toolbox with several bags of ice and cases of cold drinks so she and the boys could have a little tailgate party before the fireworks began.

"'Bout time you got back," said Billy, tossing Chavez a bottle of beer. "We was startin' to think--" He brought off, snorting in laughter.

"You and Rena was gettin' a start on your clan of half-breeds." Steve laughed.

Chavez saw red. He whipped out his knife, began cursing and calling Steve assorted names. Charley left his date's side to punch Steve in the jaw. Billy whooped and shouted encouragement as the fight continued. By the time all was said and done, Steve was squalling like a newborn as he clutched his broken nose.

The fireworks began shortly after dark. The mix CD blaring from Serena's stereo provided a nice soundtrack for the display. The crowd "ooohed" and "ahhhh" as the colorful sparks took form in the night sky. Halfway through, Serena felt a slight poke in her ribs.

"I think Chivato had a bit too much cerveza," said Chavez, laughing.

Serena glanced at Billy, who was dancing the tango with her giant stuffed penguin. She laughed too, a clear, musical laugh like the peal of a church bell. Chavez slipped an arm around her and pulled her close to his side. Serena laid her head on his shoulder, enjoying the fragrance of whatever cologne he was using these days. This day had been almost perfect...