THE TRUTH PREVAILS

*Idea taken off the ending of The Young Marauders

** IN this AU Beth was not ever shot

A/N Yes, I could easily expand this, but I am doing – on purpose- a very condensed version (3 chapters) as I simply do not have the inclination to do more, not to mention I have other commitments taking priority over Fan Fiction. However; this muse buzzed loud enough I'm giving it a nod of acknowledgment...as is one shot that goes along with this

CH. 1

"Audra come back!" Nick hollered, but to his -and his brothers' horror, their sister did not heed his words.

10 years later

"Audra….…..Audra...she…" McColl gasped as he clutched at Nick's arm. "Papers in pocket. I didn't...she didn't… blame me...I didn't have time...find any other way… did love...always love..." Before he could speak again he was gone and Nick and Heath were left with their late foreman dead and papers they'd not ever dreamed of reading.

"So, what does the letter say?" Victoria and Jarrod asked as Heath and Nick had come home and told them about coming upon a dying McColl and already taking care of his burial.

It's not a letter, not all of them anyway." Nick wasn't sure whether to growl or slug someone -preferably Sydney Grover or Jake Kyle.

"Here." Heath handed the papers and handed over to Jarrod as he sat down. "We shouldn't have had to bury McColl where we did. When we get time, his body needs to be moved."

"Woe…" Jarrod let out a long low whistle as he read what had been handed to him. "I have always doubted what Grover claimed about McColl and the missing money; and, I certainly never entertained any of the Kyles' claim that Audra was forced to leave by McColl's own hand." When Victoria demanded to know what the papers said Jarrod folded all but one. "Most of what McColl brought us will clear his name and put others behind bars. I just hope I can get it the charges to stick." Jarrod shook his head. "Legally speaking, I can't show you the first four pages. However, this…" He held out his hand. "Is a letter from Audra who, with heaven's blessings, will be home soon. You can read it; though, I have to go meet a client at the station."

"After ten years, we find McColl at death's doorstep, get those papers revealing where our missing money -from a very lucrative deal -went to, you tell us Audra will be home soon… and all you can think about is work?" Nick didn't bother hiding his irritation, still unsure what to think of everything.

"I have my reasons." Jarrod looked at Heath. "I'll need you with me." It was a request Nick heard, but failed to catch the tone due to his own fuming. On the other hand, Victoria quickly caught on.

"Of course, you must go about living as we have always done. Get those papers to whoever you must to prove McColl did not steal from us, or force Audra to leave by his hand. Clear his good name. After all…" The Barkley matriarch smoothed her skirt. "Clearly, it cost him his life to get that information to us." Victoria took the letter and then watched as Jarrod and Heath left. Afterwards, Beth and Pilon walked in.

Beth and Jarrod were happily married with four children. Their sons were all outside playing, along with Nick and Pilon's three. None of them even asked to come inside.

Pilon had moved to Stockton when her first husband had been killed in a freakish accident. She'd needed work and wanted away from the Gypsy lifestyle. Hence her move to Stockton and – eventually- she and Nick had married.

"Might want to sit down," Nick was still fuming over the legal papers, but figured both his wife and mother would be far more interested in Audra's letter than Grover and Kyle's demise.