Chapter seven, this is amazing! I'm sooo happy I can actually take a story this far! Ya, there isn't any Gilan in this chapter, so here's what he's up to: normal ranger stuff. There really isn't anything worth mentioning, so it's pretty much all Jenny. Anyways, enjoy!

Oh yeah, each new section in this chapter means it's a few days later, to avoid confusion. Now enjoy!

I won't tell, I won't see him again. That was what ran through Jenny's head the next morning. She still couldn't believe he could have beat her like that. Sure, he was drunk, but that was no excuse for hitting her. It was inexcusable.

She got ready for the day repeating that thought in her head. She would not see him. She would not talk to him. She would not even acknowledge the fact that he exists anymore. But as she got ready for the day, she started having second thoughts. That was the first time he had ever been mean to her. Why did he do that? Maybe it was the alcohol. She knew spirits made some men mean. That could be the case with Steve. She could maybe- no, he hit her. That was inexcusable. No contact. She should go to Will and tell him what happened. Yes, that's what she'll do. She'll tell Will.

Jenny finished messing with her hair and set off across town. The men were still working on the Inn, so she had another day to herself. She came to a bridge and decided to stop for a minute and look out over the stream. There was something familiar about this place. Oh, that's right, it was the spot where she and Steve had first kissed. She still remembered that feeling. Again, she started to think about him. Besides last night, he was really good to her. He was always kind to her. Never did anything to hurt her. Well, last night. But last night he was drunk. Really drunk. She had been out late, and at another man's house. It was Will, so there was no chance of anything ever happening between them, but still, to another guy, that was probably hard to take. You know, come to think of it, she didn't really blame Steve for being mad at her. He shouldn't have struck her, but that was the alcohol getting the best of him, not him.

She should go see him now. She turned around and headed for his house. She would talk to him about what happened. She would convince him not to drink anymore. After all, he did care about her. There was no doubting that.

Jenny walked up to the smithy shop where he worked and lived, and knocked on the door. "Yes?" answered a short, gruff man. It was Anthony, the foreman.

"Hello, Anthony. Is Steve in?"

"Yeah, he's just getting up. Come on in." He led her upstairs to the living quarters where Steve was. She found him in the kitchen huddled over a mug with what looked to be a very bad hangover.

He looked up to see who entered. When he saw Jenny, his face lit up with a smile. "Jenny! It's wonderful to see you!" He got up, grimaced, then sat back down. "How have you been?"

"Oh, alright, I guess."

"Just alright?"

Jenny sat down at the table. "Actually, there's something I need to talk to you about."

Steven frowned. "Okay, what's that?"

"Do you remember last night?"

"Yes, well, part of it. Why?"

"Do you remember meeting me in the alley?"

Steven frowned. "No, when did that happen?"

"Late last night. Well, anyways, you, well... you really don't remember?"

His frown grew larger. "No, I can't remember anything past around nine. Why? Did I say something?"

"No, you, well, just... look." Jenny pulled up her dress to reveal a huge bruise. It was just starting to color in, but it was already purple.

"Oh my god! How did that happen?" he exclaimed.

"You."

"Me?" he said, surprised. "What do you mean?"

"You punched me," she said, pulling her dress back over her underskirts.

Steven looked shocked for a minute, then said, "Jenny, I'm so very sorry. I- I don't even know why I- my god, I'm just.."

"I don't think you did it on purpose." Jenny said. Secretly, she was relieved. He really wasn't a mean person after all. She forgave him.

"Thank you. I'm so incredibly sorry. It's just, I usually don't drink, but the boys convinced me to have just one. I knew I shouldn't have but I did. And, when I drink, I just can't seem to stop. I turn into a terrible person. I swear, I'll never drink again."

Jenny hugged him. She knew she could trust him.

Jenny walked out of the kitchen carrying a tray full of food. Normally she didn't serve people, but Steve and some of his friends were dining in the Inn tonight, so she thought she'd take the chance to see him. She arrived at the table to see him taking a swig of beer.

"What are you doing?" she asked. He had promised he wouldn't drink again.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"You said you wouldn't drink again, remember?"

"Oh, come on, it's just one beer. I promise I'll only have one, okay? Just one with dinner."

She considered for a moment. "Alright, I guess that's fine." After all, it was just one.

-Later that night-

"Come here, baby, show the boys that pretty face of yours!" Steve yelled obnoxiously.

So much for one. Jenny thought to herself. She walked over to his table, none too pleased. "Steven, can I talk to you?"

There was a chorus of oohhs and a few mommy jokes from the group of men. Steve finished off his brandy, then got up and said, "Why sure, honey, anything you want!"

Jenny led him back into the kitchen. When they arrived there, she turned to face him. Her expression was one of slight anger and extreme annoyance. "So, what happened to only one beer with dinner?"

"Oh, you know, I wanted more." he said, an idiotic smile on his face.

"Well, I don't want to have more. Remember what happened last time? The bruise is still there."

His face turned from drunken euphoria to angry and dangerous. "I can do whatever I want." He swayed slightly.

This time, Jenny was a little more guarded, but she wasn't giving up. In a softer tone, she said, "I just don't want anything coming in between us, that's all."

"Like what?" he said.

"Like, distrust."

"Whaddya you mean, 'distrust?'"

"Well, how can I trust you if you act meanly when you drink? How do I know I can trust you?"

"You can trust me." he slurred. He was starting to get annoyed. Jenny was keeping him from his love, alcohol.

"But how do I know?" she said.

"Because I say so!" he said, a little more forcefully.

"Don't yell at me!" Jenny yelled..

"I'm NOT!" he yelled back.

Jenny almost said something back, but thought better of it. She didn't want a replay of the night in the alley. Instead, she turned around to leave.

"Hey, don't you walk away from me!" he said, grabbing her by the shoulder. He yanked her back, but lost his balance and tipped backward, falling against the counter. Jenny went sailing into the counter next to him, but hit it with the side of her head. "Not look what you did!" he said. He grabbed her by the arms, his strong hands digging into her. "Now, don't you ever walk away from me, ya hear? Well, do you?" he said, shaking her for emphasis.

She nodded. "Yes, yes, I hear." He shoved her away from him with a satisfied nod, sending her into a pile of dirty dishes. He staggered back out to the dining room to drink some more, leaving a dazed Jenny to her own devices.

Will walked into the Inn where Jenny worked. He hadn't heard out of her for a good three weeks, which wasn't like her. He decided to give her a surprise visit. He sat down at the bar and ordered the lunch special. A few minutes later, his lunch arrived, with Jenny.

"Hey Will! How are you?"

"I'm pretty good." he said, smiling. "You?"

"Oh, same old, same old. It's been pretty busy here." she said.

"How about you and Steven? You too seem to be pretty close now a days." Will asked.

At the mention of him, Jenny shuddered slightly. It was very small, most people wouldn't have noticed it, but Will did. "Oh, you know..."

"Is something wrong between you two?" Will questioned, concerned.

"No, no, we're fine. It's nothing, really." Jenny said. Her words were just a little rushed.

Will thought about nagging her to see what's wrong, but decided not to. If she didn't want to tell him right now, that's fine. She would eventually let it out. She always did. "Okay, if you say so. This stew is delicious, by the way."

"Thank you." Jenny said. Will didn't miss the double meaning of the word. For the rest of his lunch, they chatted about this and that, how things were going in the ranger world, him and Alyss.

"Well, I should get going now. It was good talking to you."

"You too, Will." Will leaned in to give her a hug when he noticed a partially healed bruise on the side of her neck.

"Jenny, what's that from?" he asked, pointing to it.

"What?" She asked, confused. Then she realized it was a bruise from Steven. An expression of guilt and fear flicked over her face for a brief second, but Will, trained to notice everything, saw it very clearly. "Oh, it's nothing, really. I just, fell." she said.

Will was already suspicious by her facial expression, but it was how she rushed her words slightly that told him something was seriously wrong. "Jenny, what's going on?" he asked.

"I don't know what you mean." Jenny said.

"Yes, you do."

"No, actually. The only thing I see 'going on' is you questioning me pointlessly." Jenny snapped.

Will studied her for a long moment. Then his face softened. "You know you can tell me anything, right? I won't be mad."

A strange look passed over her face for a moment, then she said harshly, "I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about, Will."

"What is going on between you and Steven?" Will asked.

"Nothing Will, nothing is going on! What makes you think anything bad is happening? I wish you would stop being so interrogative and just but out!" Will was shocked. Jenny looked at him and said, "I think it would be best if you were to leave."

"Fine, I will. Just remember you can always talk to me." He turned around and walked out of the Inn. Why did Jenny act so strangely when it came to Steven? He would have to find out. Whatever the reason, it couldn't be good.

Jenny sighed. She felt a very wide range of emotions. She knew is was mean of her to drive Will away like that, but he would be furious if he found out that Steven was the cause of her bruises. Then Steven might leave her. Even though he had hurt her before, she still believed he was a good person deep down, and didn't want to lose him. If she stuck to it, she could get him to change. She knew he had a caring side, he just had a mean side, but she could get him to lose it. She could.

O.O Jenny freaked on Will! What shall happen next? Sorry it took so long, but it was a hard and crucial chapter to write. I wanted to get it right so you can understand how Jenny feels and why she acts the way she does. Well, I promise I will get the next chapter up soon, and there will be some Gilan action in the next few chapters. Not the next one, but maybe in the next. Anyways, REVIEW!