Marianne began spending lots of time with Bog, and the band, and she loved every minute of it. She had never felt so free in all her life. She absolutely loved riding Bog's motorcycle, often feeling as though she could fly. Performing at the club was definitely fun, she loved singing the songs Bog wrote. They were dark and loud, and when she sang with the Goblins she had just as much fun as the people dancing in the crowd, she would often notice guys pointing her out to their friends and attempt to get her attention.

They never got it, she wasn't interested in them, and most guys were the same; shallow, egotistical, womanizing, morons. She often wondered if her dad would send them down to the club just to try to get her dating again, she knew her dad had her best interest at heart but still…when the right guy came along she would know, none of these guys were it though. She also often caught women looking at Bog which made her feel sort of…jealous? Why did that make her feel jealous? It wasn't like Bog paid them any attention.

Then again, it never really seemed that Bog was interested in those girls anyway. Bog was usually glancing over at her like she was the only one in existence, which made her feel…well, she didn't know how to feel about that the way he would glance at her made her confused and curious.

One night after their latest performance at the Goedwig Dark Club, Bog took her to their favorite coffee house where they sat and discussed songs they could do at the next show. While Bog was considering one of her suggestions she brought up Dawn's birthday.

"The Goblins play for a birthday party?" Bog asked not sure what to think as he relaxed against the back of the sofa they were sitting on.

"Yeah, she's planning it all on her own and she wants me to sing as the live music but I told her not without you guys." Marianne explained as she took a sip of her coffee.

"Has she heard any of our songs?" He asked glancing over at her. "Yeah, she loves our sound and says she won't take no for an answer." She said as she waited as patiently as possible for an answer. She saw Bog thinking about it and chewed on her bottom lip nervous about what he was going to say.

"Alright, just don't expect any of us to wear anything fancy." He smiled. Marianne set her drink down on the coffee table in front of them and hugged him tightly. As she did she felt Bog's arm gently wrap around her, and she scooted herself closer to Bog placing her head on his shoulder and closing her eyes. 'He smells really nice, like pine,' she thought to herself blushing slightly. For some reason she never felt safer around anyone other than him outside her family.

Bog sat incredibly still as Marianne placed her head comfortably on his shoulder. He and Marianne had been growing close the past several weeks and she started making him feel as light as air when she was close to him. Whenever their hands touched slightly there was a surge of something tingly, he often pushed the thought aside as though it were a figment of his imagination.

After relaxing a bit he glanced down at Marianne, 'She is so beautiful,' he thought smiling, 'No, she is extraordinary, and I feel more like myself when she is around.' She seemed to be asleep but when she looked up at him suddenly he blushed and looked elsewhere.

"Bog, is everything okay?" "Yes, everything's fine." He quickly answered. 'No, everything is not fine. I want you to know how much I have grown to care for you, and I am hoping that deep down you feel the same way.' "Thank you for everything" she told him quietly. He gently tightened his arm around her, "No problem, tough girl."

~~~~ A Few Weeks Later ~~~~~

Bog, Marianne, and the rest of the band were getting everything set up in Fairy Fields Lounge. They had been permitted for that night to perform for Dawn's birthday. Bog had let Marianne choose a couple of covers that she could do easily. She had risen to the challenge by choosing one song to tell Roland to get out of her life and another for fun.

The party had just gotten started when Roland appeared and started singing in what he thought was his best voice when in fact it was excruciatingly painful, "Woah-oh-oh here I am, on my knees again, I'd do anything just to make it right…" Marianne furiously told him to get off of the stage but as usual Roland ignored her, "…say you'll understand, oh I know you can, c'mon Marianne. No matter what people say it didn't happen…"

And Marianne cut him off singing, "Think you got the best of me? Think you've had the last laugh? Bet you think that everything good is gone. Bet you think you broke me down? Figured I'd come running back? Well baby you don't know me but you're dead wrong!" She stood her ground against Roland so he couldn't take center stage where Bog was standing, "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger! Stand a little taller! Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone! What does not kill you makes a fighter footsteps even lighter! Doesn't mean I'm over 'cause you're gone!"

The moron kept trying and even got down on his knees moving towards Marianne who was ready to kick him put her hand to her head and turned to Bog immediately feeling relieved that he was there to back her up and she sang "Everybody's Fool" by Evanescence:

"…you don't know how you betrayed me

And somehow you've got everybody fooled

Without the mask, where will you hide

Can't find yourself lost in your lie

I know the truth now

I know who you are

And I don't love you anymore…"

As Marianne sang she noticed that Roland became pale as a ghost, winning her a small victory. She walked toward him ready to punch him as he backed off the stage. Then he did the smart thing and turned and ran for the door out of the building.

The rest of The Goblins set continued without any more interruptions from the moron and his little group. When the band was able to take a break Marianne grabbed her and Bog some punch and was heading over to where Bog stood in the shadows away from the majority of the crowd. "Having fun in the shadows?" she asked holding out one of the drinks to him.

"You could say that," he took the drink and downed half of it in one swallow. She stood next to him comfortably, "That thing with Roland was hilarious, was someone able to get that on video?" She smiled remembering how the idiot scrambled to get away from her.

The DJ, who had taken over while the band was taking a break, started to play a slow song. Marianne watched as everyone started pairing up, even Sunny and Dawn were dancing with each other making her smile a bit that her sister had found someone that she absolutely trusted enough with her heart. And that Sunny would never do anything to hurt Dawn.

Bog watched Marianne as she looked out onto the dancefloor. 'Why does that idiot want her back when he cheated on her? This could be very bad if he decides to stalk her.'

His thoughts were interrupted when Marianne set down their drinks and took his hand, pulling him towards the dance floor. "Oh no, I don't dance very well tough girl. I've got two left feet."

She looked at him a small plea in her eyes, "Please? It will be way more fun than standing in the shadows until our next set." He blushed slightly as she looked at him, 'Why is it that I can't say no when she looks at me with those eyes?' He let her pull him to the dancefloor.

He stiffened as she placed on of his hands on her waist and held his other hand with hers. He tried to remain calm as she got closer and started to lead him a bit. After a few moments he took the lead smoothly guiding her around.

When she laid her head on his chest he felt a shiver go through him, though it didn't make him feel cold just really warm. He slid his hand from her waist to her back pulling her a little closer. As they danced Bog's mind went back to the first set when they were interrupted by the blonde moron.

Marianne had looked powerful, confidant, it looked as though she had wings and he found it difficult to look away. His mind came back to the present as Marianne repositioned her arms around his neck, startling him as he was pulled down a little.

They were very close to one another, a little closer and they would be…no! He could not allow himself to think about that, maybe she didn't even want to. All objections about the idea of kissing Marianne became feeble as she began to lean forward slowly with a nervousness in her eyes that he rarely saw. Slowly he began to lean forward as well his; heartbeat quickening, his blood pounding in his ears.

Then, just before he could feel her lips against his, the door slammed open and a woman dressed completely in blue and was quite loud knocked him and Marianne back to their senses and put some distance between themselves.

'Oh crap!' Marianne jumped as her aunt glided in. Her aunt was widely known as Sugar Plum for her habit of snooping on other people's relationships. She also thought herself to be the best matchmaker in town and randomly paired anyone with anyone simply based on what she saw.

Marianne watched as her aunt walked over to where she and Bog were standing, "Hey auntie Plum how's it going?" Marianne asked trying to keep her aunts attention off Bog, she didn't need a repeat of her aunt trying to pair her with someone.

"Marianne! Look at you, you look so lovely! I hope Roland appreciates how you look! Where is he anyway?" As Plum started looking for her ex, Marianne couldn't help but mentally kick herself for not telling her aunt she had ended it with Roland months ago.

Then again if she had, her aunt would have set her up with another person before she was ready. "Hey!" Speak of the devil, "Tall and ugly, I thought I told you to stay away from my Marianne!" Roland threatened with his chest puffed out at Bog.

'Well, there's no time like the present to tell my aunt I'm no longer with Roland,' she thought with an inward groan. "Roland! I'm not your anything we've been over this too many times to count. Read my lips! I. Don't. Love. You!" She growled as he looked at her arrogantly.

"Aww. You're so adorable when you play hard to get. Why else would you hang out with this hideous beast." With that statement Marianne's vision turned red as she punched Roland with everything she had. "Bog King is not a hideous beast Roland, you are. Bog is ten times the person you will ever be."

Marianne felt a gentle hand on her shoulder and turned as Bog took a small step forward, she felt herself relax under his hand. Plum had been watching the entire interaction and was working on a plan to go out with Bog so she could continue to tease her niece.

"C'mon tough girl it's just about time for the next set. You can beat him up later." Bog said motioning toward the stage where everyone else was setting up. "Yeah, okay," she headed for the stage, but before Bog could follow Roland grabbed him by the arm.

"Stay away from Marianne. How she could ever fall in love with a beast like you is unthinkable. You will be the only person to get hurt in the end." Roland threatened while he was still in pain from Marianne's punch.

"Funny, because I was wondering why she fell for you before finding out that you are a cheating, womanizing, narcissist, piece of crap. If you try to harm her in any way you will not only have to answer to me but her as well." And with that Bog made his way over to the stage where Marianne and the rest of the band waited. They got through the rest of the party without any other problems, but Bog often found himself drifting in his own thoughts mostly about Marianne who was feisty, selfless, brave, kind, and so much more, 'she's truly an amazing girl that blonde git doesn't deserve a girl like Marianne.'

As the party came to a close The Goblins received the largest applause ever.

After helping the band put away the equipment Marianne helped clean up some of the mess around the lounge. She was able to get a whole trash bag full and brought it outside to the large dumpster on the side of the building.

Little did she know that someone had come up behind her. They grabbed her from behind and placed a cloth soaked in chloroform over her mouth and nose causing her to lose consciousness. 'No! Bog…someone…p-please!' She thought as everything faded to black.

A/N: Hey guys sorry I haven't posted in a while I have been meaning to get this up sooner but when you have work + distractions+ everything else going on in life+ a block that just seems to not want to go away. I hope you guys loved this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it, I should hopefully have the next one out fairly soon if not a little after Christmas. I also want to say Happy Halloween and Happy Turkey Day (Thanksgiving). Also if you guys have any ideas what I should put in the next chapter please send me your idea it will help me get it up sooner.

Songs: "What Doesn't Kill You" Kelly Clarkson

"C'mon Marianne" The Four Seasons

"Everybody's Fool" Evanescence