Okay! So I promised to make this one longer, due to the shortage of the previous chapter. Personally I prefer several short chapters over a few long ones(makes it easier to keep my place if I have to stop).

Fable (c)Lionhead Studios.

ENJOY! :)

The Cliché Romance

Chapter 8

Two weeks later...

Reaver sat in his study by the fireplace. He had a glass of wine sitting to his right on the table and was writing a new log in his diary.

'It's been just over two weeks since I've brought that strange girl into my home. I have to say she is quite the bundle of fun, what with putting all those ghastly gnomes in my bedroom. Not to mention the pie...I had to leave to court of King Logan in a hurry because of the prunes. Needless to say that was a very unpleasant experience. But I've gotten her back a few times. If she wants to play games, by all means, lets have a bit of fun.

I am, however, quite sad that she is not willing to come into my quarters. I've asked her several times and each time she has given me this lecture about "true love" and all this nonsense. But in the midst of all this, I find her rather appealing and I'm not sure why. She has a sort of...mystery about her that I find intriguing. She always seems to have a smile on her face and the more I see her going about her duties, the more I desire her. She has this personality that is unlike any other women I've met, which -coming from me, is saying a lot. She has this free spirit that I will take a delight in breaking.

I've heard from Hatch that her birthday was not too long ago. It seems there is another party in order, and this Avril Evans shall be my guest of honor. She may have resisted me for two weeks, but we will see how long that will last.'

Reaver closed his diary and finished his wine. He stood from his chair and walked to the main room with a smile. He had already made arrangements for the party. This would be a night to remember.

As Reaver entered the main room, he saw many of his servants putting up the decorations for tonight. They were already preparing the meal.

It was still early in the afternoon and Avril was still asleep. He decided to let her sleep in since this party was for her, she just didn't know it. Reaver smiled to himself, thinking of all the juicy details he put into this scheme. He was just about to check upstairs when suddenly he heard running footsteps coming from the bedrooms.

"Oh no, I'm late!" he heard. Within seconds, she ran around the corner and right into Reaver, knocking them both to the ground with her on top.

Avril rubbed her head and looked at what she bumped into. "R-Reaver?" she hung her head in disbelief.'Oh my gosh...this is like a cliché scene from some poorly written fan fic.'(lolz)she thought.

Reaver just smiled, trying to fight off the laugh. "Well, I must say this is what I like to call a happy accident." He said moving his hands up her legs from her knees. Avril quickly jumped up, not even bothering to help him up and just darted off to the main lobby. Reaver just chuckled as he watched her leave."We'll see how much longer it will be."

Avril rushed to the main lobby and saw Barry there directing a few of the others on hanging some party ribbons. "Hey, what's going on?" Barry stopped and turned around.

"Oh, good moanin, Miss Avwil. We aw just putting up the last of the decawations for this evening's pahty."

"Oh, I see." Avril replied. She looked around and saw the vast colors of ribbon, strung around the mansion. " What do you need me to do?"

Barry looked at her a bit surprised. "Well, thewe is not much left to do now. I am about to have a wittle staff meeting, to go ovah the 'schedule' and who is going to be doing what." Avril smiled and nodded.

"Alright, sounds good to me. So long as I don't have to 'entertain' a guest." She laughed and walked into the kitchen. Barry looked down a bit and back over to the others who were climbing down from the ladders. He directed them to the kitchen for the meeting.

Once everyone was present, Barry began going over the details for the party. "Ok, The guests will be awiving awound seven. Jeanette and Alan, you two will be gweetahs. Wandy and Phillis, you will continue to make snacks for ow guests." Barry continued down the list."Avwil,Petah,Lily, and myself will be handing out snacks." Barry looked up from his paperwork."We have two owahs until the guests awive so let's get busy. Also, yow unifwoms have been pwessed and cleaned and are hanging in yow wooms. Pwease take this time to get weady for the pahty." Barry walked out and headed upstairs. Everyone else finished up before going to their rooms to get ready.

Avril rushed upstairs to see her uniform for tonight. When she arrived she saw what looked like her original maid outfit, but the front of the skirt was hiked up in the front-way up. Avril sighed, this was just an accident waiting to happen. She wasn't too pleased to be prancing around in this dress, while catering to potential rapists. "What have I gotten myself into..." She sighed and began to get dressed.

Meanwhile...

Barry was in his room getting changed, he wore a neatly trimmed black jacket over a white ruffled shirt, and black slacks. His jacket was trimmed with a gold lining and he wore a red tie.

He was quite nervous about tonight for some reason. It could be more 'surprises' such as the Balverines. Whatever was going to happen, he had a bad feeling that it involved Avril. He didn't want to see her get hurt nor did he want to lose her to Reaver. But that's how it always was and always will be.

Barry pulled out a pocket watch. It was almost time for the guests to arrive. He turned and headed down stairs to see that everyone, including Avril, had made it on time. Barry tried to keep his focus, but it was hard when he could see a generous portion of Avril's toned legs.

"Alwight evweone. It's time, so make show you do yow pawt wight." Everyone nodded."Gweat, now get into positions" Everyone left and went to their assigned positions. Avril went into the kitchen to prepare some platters for snacks. As the guests started to arrive, they were each escorted to the ball room. Mere minutes passed and there were already about a hundred guests.

It didn't take long for Avril and the others to get out and start serving the guests. Avril was very uncomfortable but she pushed through and tried to make the best of it. It was hard, considering the roaming hands. In a way she was slightly relieved. The past few nights, Reaver was making relentless attempts at getting her in bed. It was driving her insane and she didn't appreciate being made fun of for it by the others. The only one who truly treated her with respect was Barry. Sudden;y she was called over by one of the guests and she sighed. This was going to be a long night...

Hours later...

Reaver's party never let up. There were people drunk left and right, hanging onto each other in sinful bliss, including the servants. She came to the conclusion that she was the only one in the mansion who had good moral standards, which didn't come to much of a surprise to her.

There were no more snacks to be served and everyone was either passed out or upstairs having sex...or in the ballroom. Avril felt sick to her stomach, she hated being in this atmosphere.

"Avril!" Reaver called. Avril just turned at gave him a look.

'Here it comes..' she thought to herself, slowly making her way to him. Reaver had several women, and men, hanging around him. The girls were giggling like fanatic schoolgirls making her even more sick to her stomach. Suddenly she could hear whispers among them, all about her rejecting Reaver.

"Ah, my dear, Avee!" Avril glared at him, when he called her that. The only one who was ever allowed to call her 'Avee' was her father.

"It's Avril." she said sternly. Reaver gave her a look of warning as the girls looked at him in shock.

"You gonna let her talk to yah that way?" one of them asked. Reaver smirked and ran his fingers through her hair.

"Don't worry, my sweet. Reaver has it all under control." Avril crossed her arms and chuckled a bit.

"You're talking in third person again..."Reaver glared at her, when his guests started laughing.

"Yes yes, well why don't you join us for a private party in my quarters tonight, after all this party is for you!" Reaver smirked and carefully watched Avril's expression.

"That's sweet and all, but I'm not interested. Not with anyone here, and certainly not with you." Avril turned to walk away. She continued to hear whispering going on within the group of young women. Reaver's voice could be heard over the ladies.

"Tis a wonder why she is in a bad mood. Sad that this poor beautiful creature is still a virgin." Reaver chuckled."I wonder how her mother could be, she must be a spitting image of her mother, you know. I wonder if she would be willing to include her mother? Maybe that's why she is so nervous! Her mother is a pro and she is afraid." Reaver paused and smirked." I'm sure she is a wild one in bed, like her mother. They say the apple doesn't fall far from the tre-" Reaver's statement was cut short, as the room went dead silent in a matter of seconds. Reaver stared at Avril wide-eyed as her hand print was still stained in red on Reaver's cheek.

"Don't you DARE talk about my mother that way." Avril glared at Reaver as if waiting for his head to explode. Reaver snapped out of the shock and then smirked.

"Oh? Did I touch a nerve?" Reaver and his guests laughed.

"How could anyone resist Reaver!"Said one of the girls. Avril looked at her in disbelief of her stupidity.

"You want to know how I can resist this man whore so easily!"she paused for a moment looking at all the guests in the room. " Because I do not love him!"

There was a silence in the air.

"Here we go again with this whole 'love' bit." Reaver sighed.

"Reaver is one of the best lovers a woman could ever ask for!" Said a red headed girl. Avril looked at her in disbelief. This girl looked to be able her age if not younger.

"You know, I feel sorry for you, if you really think that." Avril looked at the girl."Love has nothing to do with sex."

"Oh, my dear, you needlessly deprive yourself of the simple pleasures in life!" Reaver stated. Avril looked at him sternly.

"Reaver, don't you dare push me. Or you will regret it." Avril warned. Reaver was a bit intrigued.

"And just what do you think you can do to me, my dear?" Reaver challenged foolishly. Avril looked at him and then back at the girl.

"Alright then." she began."You want to know why I've never had sex. It's because I respect myself enough to not just give myself away. This is something that is special and should be shared with someone that you LOVE, not lust over." Avril looked at the guests, who were now solely focused on her. " I want to share this with someone that I can love and cherish forever!" She paused trying to fight back tears."After my mother died, I asked my father why he never remarried. And you know what he told me!" she asked."He said he never remarried because he was still in love with my mother!" Avril clenched her fists, with tears running down her face. The crowd stood there stunned and Avril looked over to the young girl."THAT is what love is. Someone who will give their life for you, someone who will love you even after death!"

The girl sat there looking down, feeling a bit ashamed. Avril looked back at Reaver."And you...Reaver, are a coward." The crowd looked at her in shock. She must have had a death wish.

"Oh really?" Reaver asked."And how would I be a coward?"

Avril locked eyes with Reaver, who was hellbent on challenging her. Well she had her ace up her sleeve. "You still have nightmares, don't you?-Of Oakvale, of her?" Reaver's smirk quickly disappeared, and he gave her a very dark warning."What kind of man would sacrifice an entire village just so he could have eternal youth!"

"Shut up!" Reaver warned, but Avril just kept pushing her luck.

"You may say you have loved before but you're nothing but a coward! You never loved her, and you can never love again! Because all you think about is yourse-"Suddenly a gunshot was heard. The crowd screamed in fear and looked at Reaver who had his pistol aimed at Avril.

Avril stood there for a moment and then felt incredible pain in her right shoulder. He...He SHOT her!

"Everyone...Leave now!" Reaver warned, his features were dark. Every one of his guests quickly ran out of the mansion, leaving Avril and Reaver in the ballroom. Avril fell to her knees and gripped her shoulder. She started hyperventilating as tears ran down her face. She didn't know what to do or say. Blood was running down her arm, and lots of it. So much that she began to feel very light-headed.

"You...how did you know that?" Reaver asked, not really expecting an answer. Avril passed out and Reaver just stood there and looked at her body.

"HATCH!" He yelled. Moments passed and Barry quickly made his way to the ballroom. When he walked in, he stopped and stared at Avril's body in shock.

"M-Mastah Weavah?"

"Take her to your room. Take care of her, and don't you let her near me until she is ready to answer my questions!" Reaver stormed off as Barry quickly rushed to Avril's side. She was bleeding badly, he needed to get her a healing potion, and quick.

A/N

Welp, there you have it! That's what happens when you push Reaver's buttons. You had to have seen that coming, I mean REALLY. Anyways, lol, I hope to post the next one soon, this is where it starts getting REALLY good. :) PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE! R&R! Barry lurvs reviews!