Hey! I wrote another tidbit! You all get a two for one deal today!

Sarah-K-O-M: I thought it'd be mean to keep you all in suspense for a week, so here is more.

Chapter 20!

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Katrina sat against the wall outside of Rachel's room, a bored Sera sitting on her lap, Link leaning against the wall on the opposite side of the door, arms crossed.

Sera sighed. "Kitty?"

"Yes, Sera?"

"Mommy be ok?"

Katrina glanced at Link who stared straight ahead, giving no sign that he heard or cared. "I don't know precious."

The door opened and the doctor stepped out with Millie.

"How is she?" Link asked as Katrina got to her feet holding Sera.

The doctor hesitated and looked at Sera.

"Sera, how about we go see if there are any sugar buns left?" Millie held out her arms and the little girl gave a weak smile, but allowed herself to be handed over to the kind woman.

"So?" Katrina prompted the doctor after Sera and Millie were gone.

"I'm afraid its not good news. I'm not sure of the disease, but it appears to be advanced. Advanced enough to be no longer contagious, if it was to begin with. She is sleeping, I gave her some laudanum. I will leave some more to give her if she has trouble sleeping. Sleep and quietness is what she needs now. Try to keep her comfortable. She may yet pull through. I'm afraid that is all I can do for her."

Link grabbed the doctor by the front of his shirt and slammed him against the wall. "That's not good enough!"

"Link!" Katrina placed a hand on his shoulder. "Stop it! This won't help Rachel!" the fire in Link's eyes died down a little. " Just- put him down." Link let go of the doctor, allowing him to thud onto the floor.

"I'll go sit with Rachel." Link avoided Katrina's eyes. "Don't tell pixie, not yet." He entered the room and closed the door.

Katrina stared at the closed door for a moment, wondering at the change in Link's attitude. Then she bent to help up the doctor. "Are you alright sir?"

"Perfectly fine, miss." He stood and straightened his hat. "Don't worry about me. Call for me if there is any change."

Katrina followed him to the foot of the stairs. "Good day, Millie. Only mild foods and lots of broth when she is awake." Then he left.

"Millie?" Katrina approached the woman. "Can I talk to you?"

"Sure, Kitty, just give me a minute." Millie finished checking the progress of that night's dinner and returned to Katrina, removing her apron. "Let's go talk in my room, shall we?" Katrina followed Millie to her room.

"Now, what is this all about?" Millie asked after she shut the door and sat in a chair across from the one Katrina was in.

"Millie, what is the relationship between Rachel and Link?" Katrina kept her gaze firmly on her hands folded loosely in her lap.

"Why the sudden interest?" Millie asked.

"Well, when the doctor said he couldn't do much, Link, well, he got really upset. He slammed the doctor against the wall, I've never seen him anywhere near that upset before and well, it scared me."

"Ah, I see. Well, Link and Rachel have always been close, making Rachel the target of jealousy among many of the maids and town's girls. But they misunderstand their relationship. Rachel reminds Link of his younger sister who died in a fire at a young age. He never really has forgiven himself for not being there to help her, he was so young when it happened, though."

"That's terrible." Katrina said.

"Yes, and so he has kind of adopted Rachel as his sister, and not being able to protect her from Edmond has heaped more guilt on him, even though it was none of his fault. He tends to blame himself and has become very protective of her and Sera."

They sat in silence for a while, Katrina allowing the information to settle.

"Is that all dear?" Millie asked.

"Oh!" Katrina mentally shook herself. "Yes, thank you, Millie."

"Well, I best get back to the kitchen, heaven knows what mess has been made since I've been gone." She got up to leave.

"Millie?"

"Yes?"

"Might I have the rest of the day off? I would like to make sure Rachel is alright."

"Today? Of course, though there is not much to be done for her. But I will need you in the kitchens tomorrow, mostly to keep an eye on Sera. We can have the other maids take turns keeping an eye on Rachel."

"Thank you." Katrina got up and followed Millie out the door, turning the opposite way once they reached the hall. She reached Rachel's door and slowly pushed it open. "Link?" He was sitting on a chair next to Rachel's bed. "How is she doing?" She sat on the edge of the bed, the only other place in the room to sit.

"She is fine now, but I think she was having nightmares earlier."

Katrina took Rachel's limp hand in her own. Concerned for her friend.

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Rachel had been sleeping for three days straight, with no apparent improvement. If anything, it appeared that she was getting worse. Katrina was kneading dough on the work table, Sera sat at her feet, listlessly rolling a ball back and forth between her knees on the floor. Marie, the maid who was to watch Rachel, came rushing down the stairs.

"She's awake. An' she wants to see Sera." Katrina picked up Sera and quickly brought her up the stairs.

"Mommy?" Sera approached her mother and climbed up on the bed.

"Sera" Rachel's voice was barely above a whisper. "My little angel." Katrina sat on the chair next to her bed. "Kitty? Would you do something for me?"

"Anything." Katrina replied immediately.

"Take care of Sera for me."

"D-don't talk like that. You'll be alright, you'll see." She said, smoothing hair from Rachel's face.

"We both know that's not true." She turned back to Sera. "You mind Kitty, and be a good girl, alright?" Sera gave a nod. "I love you." Rachel reached up and put a hand to Sera's cheek. She fell back asleep so quickly that Katrina was afraid that she was dead.

Rachel slept for another full day before she died, peacefully and in her sleep. Sera was inconsolable, and wouldn't eat. At Rachel's funeral she clung to Katrina and wouldn't stop crying. Katrina stood unmoving, she had already cried her tears and watched stonily as the coffin was lowered into the village cemetery. Link stayed for the ceremony, but left after it was done.

Back at the manor she sat with a crying Sera until she fell asleep from exhaustion. Katrina tucked her in. then retired to her own room, which was in a room now connected to Sera's own small room.

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OK, so it was a little more than a tidbit.

I hope everyone enjoyed the long weekend.

And I promise that Andy's birthday is the last one for a while. We just have a barrage of family birthdays in the second half of May.

Preview goes to the first person who can find the movie quote in this chapter.