Hi to all my faithful and new readers.

I know you where all hoping for a bit more action this chapter, but unfortunately it seems that won't be happening. I promised my sister I would go shopping with her today, and I only have the smallest bit prewrote.

Sigh.

Seems I stumped you all though with that last movie quote. In case you where wondering, it's from "The Count of Monte Cristo"

This weeks chapter is dedicated to:

Darkangel:

Hi Sarah! And you really should attempt a story. I bet there are some pretty good ideas in that head of yours…

Sarah-K-O-M: Thank you thank you thank you! You are the only one of my reviewers that gives me feedback on my own characters, and I love getting it. And you know what? Computers suck, but alas we all must live with it, non?

LittleCountryDragon: Yeah, school sucks. Sorry for the lack of excitement (yet again). And well, just wait a few more chapters.

Drink-Up-Me-Hearties-Yo-Ho: Yeah, I can take a hint, more Jack, and yet still, he doesn't fit back into the story…yet

little reminder, the Blue Crow is the tavern where Katrina worked in London before it shut down. referance ch 1

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Katrina was humming a jaunty little tune she remembered hearing while working at the Blue Crow as she was hanging up freshly washed linens to dry. Her humming was cut off by a short shriek followed by a cry of "Kitty!" Two little arms wrapped firmly around her knees, eliciting a startled squeak as she grabbed at a sheet, in an unsuccessful attempt to regain her balance.

"Sera!" Katrina exclaimed, exasperated, trying to disentangle herself from the damp and now dusty sheet.

But the little girl just giggled saying "Look, Kitty." doing a pirouette, showing off a new dress that was pure white, trimmed ad the hem, short puffed sleeves and around the waist with thick blue ribbon so deep that it looked almost violet, matching Sera's eyes perfectly.

"Very pretty." Katrina commented, peeling the clingy cloth from herself. "Did your mum make it?"

Sera nodded, twirling again, skirt flaring out. Katrina studied the garment a bit closer.

Surprisingly there wasn't a stitch of red in sight. Sera continued spinning, arms held out from her sides, gleefully shrieking and laughing. Katrina smiled at her mirth, remembering doing the same thing in her younger years.

Sera tumbled unceremoniously at Katrina's feet with a dizzy giggle that stopped abruptly when a sheet fluttered down over her head. Shrieking, Sera began to battle the offensive cloth. Katrina couldn't help but laugh at the disgruntled pout the little girl gave her when she gave in and finally helped Sera out of the sheet.

Suddenly a masculine laugh joined Katrina's, surprised, she spun towards the sound. There, a young man with sandy brown hair stood. "That look usually means trouble." He said, green eyes twinkling.

"Link!" Sera squealed, rushing up to the man.

With another hearty chuckle that man scooped Sera up and spun her in a circle, then placing her on the ground, crouching before her.

"How is my favorite one year old?" he asked. Sera shook her head and held up two fingers. His eyes grew big in mock shock. "Two already? I didn't know, I feel totally unprepared for this." he said, reaching into his coat pocket, producing a simply wrapped package. "Her you go, pixie."

With a smile Sera caught the package from his hand and tore it open allowing that paper to fall away, she gazed at a little doll. And one other thing, a mask. Sera beamed at the man, hugging the doll and holding the mask to her face. She turned to Katrina holding out the presents. "See, Kitty?"

"Yes, precious, they are very nice. But why a mask Mr. Link?"

"It's just Link, short for Lincoln." He told her. "And for the masque dance in town at the fair. You didn't know about it?"

Katrina shook her head. "It is the first I've heard about it." She bent down to pick up the now two dirty sheets. "I better get these to the wash house." She said, rolling them into a bundle.

"Here, let me help you." He reached for the sheets, but his hand was captured in Sera's grasp.

"Looks like you have another responsibility to look after." Katrina grinned.

"So I do." He returned, looking down at Sera.

"Come see mommy." She demanded and drug him to the kitchen door, still clutching her new doll and mask.

Katrina smiled and shook her head at their retreating backs, did no one say no to the little "pixie"? As Link liked to call her, Katrina decided it fit perfectly.

Katrina wandered down a side path, it took longer to get to the wash house, but it took her through her favorite part of Bridgewood, the gardens. She allowed her mind to wander and started humming again.

Turning a corner, she bumped into something solid and hard, causing her to fall down, scrambling to maintain her load of laundry. She looked up to see what she hit.

"Hello." A man said, she could see from his clothing that he wasn't a servant.

"Oh, excuse me, sir. I had no idea, almost nobody is in here this time of day." She apologized. Getting up off the ground.

"Well, that's just perfect, isn't it?"

Katrina looked up, startled to see him leering at her. "Please excuse me, I have to get by." She attempted to walk past him.

"Why the rush?" he asked, grabbing her arm.

Katrina's eyes flashed turquoise fire, "Sir, unhand me."

"Why would I want to do that?"

Suddenly Katrina slapped him and stomped on his foot, hard, causing him to release her arm and grab at his injured foot.

"That's why." Katrina said curtly walking off, smiling to herself.

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OK, so a little bit happened. Yeah, didn't expect that to happen…

Reviews are as good a pizza hobo pies!

Sneak peek for next week goes to the first person who can correctly tell me where this line comes from:

"Told you he was real."