A/N: Thank you, lovely reviewers. I'm glad you're enjoying the story so far. Be sure to always give your honest opinion; no pity reviews. As much as I love and adore your fantastic comments, I can't become a better writer off pity.

Enjoy Chapter 4!

Ivory Wolf

I gave a small acknowledging smile as I walked up onto the stage.

"How many times am I going to have to save your hide?"

I placed my hands on my hips, watching Joseph unravel the remaining rope from around his leg.

"So nice to see you too." He replied, sarcastically. "It's good to know you still look after me, even though I did my best not to give any hint of my whereabouts these past few years."

"You did your best to not communicate with us at all these past few years. After some point in life, isn't it the older brother's turn to look after his younger sister?"

I jested, as I took hold of his hand to pull him off the floor.

"Right, as if you needed looking after." Joseph smiled. "So, how's my dear, sweet baby sister?"

He came forward as if to hug me but I evaded his embrace, and crossed the stage to retrieve the weapon that had cut through the rope.

"Oh, just dandy…chasing you half-way across the world."

I yanked the knife out of the backdrop it had embedded itself in.

"Awe, now I've got to repair that." He complained. "You still carry that thing around?"

"Comes in handy, don't you think?"

I slipped the blade into a brown leather sheath wrapped around the lower section of my calf. I could feel my brother's disapproving gaze as he eyed my unusual apparel.

"When are you gonna' start dressing like everyone else?" He headed backstage, and I followed.

"I do dress like everyone else."

"Like everyone else your gender."

"The day you give up the drink, ol' Jo."

He walked briskly back to the stage with a broom in tow and started sweeping up the broken glass.

"You don't seem all that thrilled to see me, dear brother."

"What do ye want me to say, Mags? After four years of nothing; no communication, no nothin'—!"

"It's not like you've tried!"

"It's not like I wanted to!" He sighed in frustration, running a hand over his face.

"You're not supposed to be here."

That remark stung a little, even though it shouldn't have. After all, it wasn't like this was the first time this had happened. But I kept my face carefully composed.

"Alright," I took his hand and shook it, as if saying good-bye to a mere acquaintance.

"Joseph Buquet, it was nice saving your arse again. Hopefully, we'll meet up in the near future when you've stopped being such an arse yourself."

With that said and done, I flashed my fake grin, turned heel, and left.

"Wait," I heard him heave another sigh, "Hold up there, you."

Turning around, I watched him without expression as he ambled off the stage to catch up with me.

"I suppose you've got nowhere in particular to be gettin' off to?"

"No problem. I'll get by. I always do." I tried walking out on him again.

"You can stay with me."

"No, you don't have—."

"Perhaps you're right, Maggie. It is my turn, and what kind of brother would I be to not look out for his little sister?"

I allowed a hint of a smile as he ruffled my hair and put his arm around my shoulders.

"Besides, who better to keep you out of mischief than myself?"

I sniffed. "I don't know what you're talking about. I certainly don't start any fights, unlike somebody else I know." I teased, throwing his arm off.

"Maybe not," he laughed, "But you sure as hell, end them!"