A/N: *flops down onto bed* FINALLY this chapter is done. Again, not one of my best, but it'll get better*crosses fingers*

Thanks going out to La Rosa Rossa and Bloodylilcorpse for reviewing the last chapter, :)

Enjoy!

The day they were to depart for the festival Mike was given every chore imaginable. Some he'd never even heard of. He managed all of them, just in time. He'd been at one point asked to go out and find something in town-a sign maybe he was being trusted more-and he ran into Manitoba, who was also heading to the capital along with the theater company. Manitoba almost didn't recognize him and hugged him tightly. "You look real banged up…" he commented upon taking in his appearance .

"It's not as bad as it could be…" Mike excused with a shrug that caused him to wince. His shoulders ached. His back did too. His posture had worsened over the year from constantly bending over cleaning.

Manitoba released him from the hug. "Don't need to worry, mate, we gone get you outta that hell," he promised softly. He didn't say exactly how it would happen.

After their brief talk had continued a little while longer, Mike returned with the items he'd been sent out to get…and found that his stepfamily was going out the door. "I'm afraid you were a bit late, servant," Noah said as he stepped into the carriage. "Better hurry."

Mike frantically climbed the stairs and grabbed the luggage he'd packed earlier. He hurried back out but the carriage was already far down the road. No. No…NO! You're not leaving me here. Mike started to run down to try and catch up. It hurt immensely but he managed to grab on to the back and pull himself on, clinging to the back of the carriage with all the strength he could muster while keeping his bag secure. He needed to remain silent or he'd be spotted stowing away. Not that he wouldn't be by passerby, but those people said nothing.

An agonizingly long trip later the family arrived to a nice house Noah had rented for them to stay in. Noah and his two sons exited the carriage and made their way inside, while Mike waited til they were inside to jump off the carriage and run in the opposite direction, towards a familiar part of town. He'd be back that night, when he was less likely to be caught.

When he did return that night, it was about half an hour after sunset and the sky was still growing darker every minute. Usually the younger members of his stepfamily were asleep by dark. Mike crept in through the back door that Scott had left open during the initial explanation of the house hours earlier. He looked around, the halls and lower floor difficult to step through because of the darkness shrouding it. He walked carefully through until he found a staircase leading up to the second floor.

Suddenly a light came on and Mike flinched. Scott slowly grinned maliciously from the top of the staircase. "Hello, Multiple Mike…" he greeted him slowly, heading down the steps. He appeared oddly energized. Not sleepy at all.

"Scott-I mean, sir-wh-why are you awake?" Mike asked, fear in his voice.

"I heard the door opening. Dad and Vito are asleep," Scott replied as he now stood almost face to face with Mike. He'd grown quite a bit in the last year. "Which means no one but us around to hear. How did you even get here?" he asked interrogatively.

"...I hitchhiked," Mike admitted, looking at the floor.

"No wonder the carriage moved so slow. Deadweight…" Scott punched him in the abdomen.

Mike winced slightly, but had been hit there enough times that by now he was almost used to the pain.

Scott grabbed him by the collar of his shirt, flattened his hand against Mike's chest, and pushed him backwards so Mike stumbled. He glanced down at the bag in one of Mike's hands and snatched it from him before Mike fell back too far. "What's in here? Your fancy pants?" He opened it up and started to empty the bag roughly onto the floor.

Mike regained his footing and watched helplessly as Scott went through his things. Scott gasped upon finding something nice in there. It was the shirt Mike had worn to the wedding, and he'd planned to wear it again to the dance at the palace, along with the pants that had come with it and an overcoat that had belonged to his brother. "What's this!?" he asked, shoving it in Mike's face, his voice loud. "Did you want to wear this to that dance?" Scott laughed.

Footsteps were heard before Mike could form an answer. Noah entered the room, appearing unhappy to have been disturbed. Upon seeing Mike his expression became oddly neutral. "Servant…" he started before addressing his son. "Scott, go back to bed."

Scott threw the shirt on the floor, gave Mike a dirty look, glanced at his father, and hurried back upstairs.

Noah hadn't looked at Scott as this happened. He was instead looking at Mike. "As I recall, you finished all the tasks I gave you…"

Mike nodded.

Noah smiled a small, enigmatic smile. "...the deal has changed," he said, picking up the clothes from the floor. "You resume your normal duties while we are here and you find something to wear, maybe, just maybe, I will let you attend that dance."

"...I already have something to wear,'' Mike said, his voice quiet.

"No, you don't." Noah took the bag and the clothes and walked off. "Get to work."

Mike watched his vanish into the darkness and sighed sadly. This just got even more difficult.

Please review if you feel so moved, and til next time, see ya :)