I watched as Jack and Max walked up the drive, Jack walking his bike with him. He seemed to be awed by the crops we were growing today. I'd given orders for the workers to cease planting, but continue harvesting. I didn't want him to see everything just yet. Not until I knew why he was here. We hadn't parted on the best of terms.

Berries and some vegetables for a soup we were having for lunch and making large cans of later. The hunters would probably bring home gator or snake meat to add to the soup this afternoon. Beef, chicken and pork simply didn't exist anymore except in cans, and those were extremely rare these days.

I worried how they would fare when they had to move somewhere gators weren't so plentiful.

My eyes drank in the sight of him. He wore dusty worn jeans and scuffed boots, a black leather jacket and black shirt. His helmet was off. Max carried it for him. He looked good. His hair raven black hair was longer, and just as I'd once suspected, it suited him well. It brushed his shoulders. My fingers twitched with longing so I made them grip the arms of my chair.

This was not how I'd wanted him to see me. Lounging around eating while others worked. I probably looked more bonne a rien than I ever had to him. I caught a scowl on his features. I smiled wistfully. Same old Jack. Still staring and glaring at me. That seemed to catch him off guard because he frowned then his face went blank as they came closer. He looked...tired. He had deep circles under his eyes, and his face looked harder, leaner. And where was Clotile? Last I'd talked to her, she was on her way to his house to pick him up. Shouldn't they be together? My smile faded from worry.

He came within speaking distance and parked his bike. He took his helmet back from Max and Max went to the house to fulfill my earlier instructions for Jack's comfort.

"Jackson Deveaux. I could hardly believe it when the guards said you were here." He stood next to her chair, stiff and nearly ready for a fight. He seemed angry. I was about to invite him to sit in the chair next to me when he spoke.

"Evangeline Greene. You seem to be living a soft and easy life, watching others work. Doan look like it agrees with you though. You look a little cagou. -pale in the face. You sick? Caught the plague?

I stiffened at his accusation. Damn it, that was exactly why I hadn't wanted him to see me like this. Well, I'd already instructed a room to be made up for him and I was planning to invite him to stay as long as he liked. Might as well get the truth out there. He'd figure it out pretty soon anyway.

"I work an early shift around dawn that leaves me a little..." drained would be a little too much of a clue wouldn't it? "well, the labor is fairly intense and takes me several hours to recover. I prefer to do that here in the fresh air where I can watch the plants grow. I'll be fine by mid-morning, no later than noon."

"But I don't want to talk about that. How are you? Where have you been? And where is Clotile? Is she alright? No one has heard from either of you since the Flash. We've worried that..."

That seemed to make him a bit less hostile, my concern for his sister. "Clotile's fine. I dropped her off in the Bayou before I came here. She wanted to check on some friends. The night of the Flash, with my arm cut the way it was, I couldn't throttle my bike. Clotile took me to a doc with a cellar office in another Parish."

Clotile would be disappointed. Most of the Bayou folk were on the grounds of Haven now. With forty acres, there was plenty of space. Many of them had set up homes from reclaimed materials along the back forty near the sugar mill where the hunting was nice. Many Cajuns claimed it was nearly bayou living there. Some had chosen spots near the five wind powered watermills so they could have close access to water as well as keep watch on a valuable resource. When they came in to the main house and fields for the day they brought the daily water on a wagon cart. Win for everyone. If it was too hot and sunny, I put a few fruit or nut trees in that location to shade the homes or where the children played. We truly had created a paradise here.

He gave me an intense look. "She told me you called her, told her to come get me, that I needed help and what kind."

I couldn't look away. I wanted to, to hide, but I couldn't. So I just nodded. He nodded back firmly once.

"Why'd you call her Evangeline?"

I whispered, "I wanted you both safe. It was important to me." I cleared my throat. "So what happened after?"

"The doc had a mechanic friend who'd survived too. He knew how to fix his car. They were planning to join up with a militia. Hunt baggers, save mankind, all that shit. Talked me and Clotile into joining up too. Seemed like a good idea at the time. So that's where we've been ever since."

"Oh." He just couldn't wait to leave me behind. Well, I had told him not to come back. He'd taken me at my word. "So why have you come back here then?"

We're on our way to Texas, just passing through. The militia's a day behind us. We've stopped through to spread information, trade for food and supplies. And to solve one last puzzle."

I couldn't help a small smile. "You and your puzzles.." And now he was just passing through. Then he'd be gone. And I'd probably never see him again. My heart felt like it would break."We usually stop traders at the gate and trade only canned goods."

"Ouais, I can see why. Paradise like this, you'd need to keep a secret, which just makes the information I'm carrying all the more important. I brought gator meat to trade too, fresh caught, just this morning. What would that be worth to you in gas, fresh fruit and veg, and some canned goods? Plus I got information. Something big and dangerous is headed your way Evie."

I looked at Jackson, really looked at him, looking beyond the hardness, dust and fatigue. I searched his features for even a trace of the warmth I'd seen in him those few days so long ago. Seeing nothing I closed my eyes against the burning tears trying to form. Being so fatigued, sleeping so little, and hearing so many arcana calls constantly made my emotions on edge. I turned my face away from him, trying to get my emotions under control.

I gestured blindly to the chair at my left, my face turned to the right. "Have a seat, Jackson. I've already ordered the kitchens to bring you something to eat and drink. I'm sure you're tired from your travels. If you'd be willing to share your catch with the kitchens I'm sure they'd be grateful. We're always happy to have fresh meat."

When I felt I could look at him without crying, I gave him my eyes to assure him of my sincerity. "Good hunters are valued around here, as is any news of events beyond Sterling. You are welcome to stay for meals today and there is a guest room available for you and another for Clotile if you'd like to make use of it. Most of the Bayou population has moved to Haven since the Flash. A few hunters stay in the Bayou because they prefer it there, and we supply them with fresh food from Haven regularly. They come to Haven every Saturday for the festivities. I hope you choose to stay with us until then."

He was clearly surprised by my offer, and suspicious. He leaned forward, his keen eyes fixed on mine. "Why you goan out of your way to treat me as an honored guest? Everywhere in the world I have to wheedle and bargain for every scrap I can get, and you're just goan to let me dine and sleep for free here? Not that I doan appreciate it, but why?"

Oh, there was a definite reason. Before he'd wanted something from me and he'd charmed me, played me, and then he'd broken my heart. I figured he probably did have news we needed to know, and I knew we had items he'd want to trade for. The people of Haven and the Bayou owed Jackson more than they could ever repay. He'd given me the confidence to put all this in motion.I'd let him walk away with whatever he wanted…but I wasn't going to tell him that.

Not to mention that I was so exhausted from blood loss these days. I felt sure my time at Haven was drawing to a close, so I was draining extra these days, some blood to be saved and dried, directing crops to be grown, particularly those that could be preserved well. I was worrying my mother and Isabeu I knew. Mel, Tee-bo, Lionel, and Ronan seemed to understand that something important was driving me that I wasn't explaining, or couldn't explain. Even my mom and Isabeu knew something was coming, but they didn't understand why I pushed so hard.

My adopted brother Ronain and Anais were a joy and a comfort. In the mornings when I was often too tired to do much, Anais would sometimes come sit beside me in the fields when she'd finished her morning chores, cuddling and telling me what she'd been up to. Ronain was ten and a half and liked to charm the girls. He was sweet on one, so he often took flowers from the courting garden to her. I told him he was too young. He just grinned at me and gave me a flower too. He always had something funny to tell me or some prank to pull. He was the absolute best. I never let a Saturday go by without stealing a dance from him, telling him, flowers were great, but he had to learn to dance too, not that I knew how to dance all that well. We had a great time though.

The kids made a great distraction when they were around. But when I was alone at night, the voices of others called so loudly to me they were deafening. I yelled at them to shut the hell up, but they just got louder. Then if I managed to fall asleep, I dreamed nightmares of the Red Witch. I sometimes talked to Matthew, but that came with crippling migraines and nose bleeds. Sometimes I even passed out. He seemed to be more cryptic by the day, and he nagged about my health too. All that put together simply meant that I was too utterly exhausted and drained right now to deal with the charms of an irresistible Jackson Deveaux. Besides, even if I hadn't made the offer to stay, any of the others would have the moment they saw him, after telling him he shouldn't have stayed gone so long of course. It was just that he saw me first.

So, I thought, maybe if I just pretended to be what he despised, a useless little doll, and gave him what he wanted, which would be a fair trade anyway for the information, then maybe, he wouldn't bother with charming me this time around.

Problem was, I'd never found anyone I wanted the way I wanted him. I still dreamed about the way he used to touch me, talk to me, change my moods for the better. Another problem was how terribly perceptive he was. Avoidance might be a good idea.

"I have the authority to bargain with traders and I considered world information to be a fair exchange for the things I offered you." I gave him a shaky smile, trying not to cry. Emotions were close to the surface when I was this exhausted. Maybe he'd think I was lousy at bargaining. How my heart ached!

"Besides, we were nearly friends once weren't we? Most of the people alive in this parish and the next would have been dead without you pushing me, helping me and Mel. One night's food and lodging is the least we can do. Stay as long as you like."

About to cry, knowing I'd lost that battle, I stood quickly to get up. Black spots danced and my knees wouldn't hold me. I felt like I'd throw up. I was sinking...strong arms caught me, swung me up. My eyes slid shut, mortified.

Jackson cursed in Cajun. "Quoi y a avec tu fille? " -What's the matter with you girl? "You are sick! You catch the plague, you?"

I struggled to keep control of my voice but it was difficult. For over 200 days I'd dreamed of one thing, being back in Jackson's arms. Here I was, but not like it should be, not because he'd come back for me, not because he loved me. "No." My voice was breathy and I rested my head weakly on his chest. "I told you, I just need to rest."

Then I realized something. The voices were gone. Not just muted or at a whisper like they did when I was gardening or when lots of people were around. They were completely gone. All I could hear was Jackson's heart beating. The stillness made all the tension seep out of me and the last of my resistance to sleep faded. I went limp, barely awake anymore. The only reason I fought sleep now was to keep feeling Jackson's arms around me.

He was just stopping by on his way through for supplies. This was probably the last time I'd ever see him, be held by him. I closed my eyes to hide the tears and ducked my head. "Could you take me to the house please?"

He hitched me up in his arms and started walking. I wrapped my heavy arms around his neck,enjoying the feel of his strong broad shoulders and back. One hand stole a feel of his long black hair where it brushed the collar of his shirt, telling myself I could get away with just that much. My fingers itched to bury themselves in the strands and comb through them, but I denied myself. I didn't have that right. Instead I just let my fingers sit half buried in the strands, rubbing what was between my fingers to steal the memory. It was as soft I remembered. I knew he'd soon bathe the dust of the road off, and his hair would be even more tantalizing then. I soaked in the feel of him as he carried me to the house, my eyes closed, my breathing steady, my head resting in the crook of his shoulder, against his jaw. My lashes were slightly wet, but with my face pressed against Jack, no one would see.

My mother's voice cried out with happy surprise, "Jack! I'm so glad to see you! But what's wrong with Evie?"

He spoke quietly and I relished the feel of his baritone as it rumbled through his chest and into me where we touched. "We were out by the fields and she said she wanted to go inside to rest. She stood up and nearly fainted! She asked me to take her inside."

His voice was matter of fact but now it became concerned, even angry. "What's wrong with her Karen? She'd only tell me she's been working hard in the mornings and she'll be fine in the afternoon! She's sick! It's early morning now. When would she have had time to work?"

"Oh! Well..." Mom hesitated. "What she said is true, but she's been pushing herself too hard in the very early mornings, refusing to listen to anyone. She just says time is running out and she has to work harder but she won't say why. Maybe now that you're here...well, let me show you to her room and you can set her down. She doesn't sleep much either. She seems to be resting well now though..." Mom trailed off thoughtfully"

That was true actually, I was resting very well right now, more comfortable than I'd ever been. I just kept my eyes closed, soaking up Jack, his heart thumping steady in my ear.

As we walked to my room, mom continued chat, completely ruining my half-baked idea to make him think I'm a useless little doll.

"It's so good to see you Jack! I just know Evie will be thrilled you're here too."

"Will she?" He asked, sounding a bit amused at the idea.

"Of course! She's missed you, we all have. Maybe now that you're here, she'll slow down and get some real rest."

"What do you mean, real rest?"

"Evie doesn't take a rest period like the others do. She works too hard. We try to get her to slow down and she just laughs and says she feels like a good for nothing doll if she's just standing around doing nothing and finds something to do anyway. I don't know where she gets these ideas from..."

Well crap. That was a dead giveaway right there. The words Jackson had shouted at me the night before the flash. Bonne a rien! Good for nothing but getting yourself into trouble! Did he remember? Stupid question. His hands had tightened their grip on me briefly and then relaxed. Jackson remembered everything.

Jackson remained quiet for a few steps and I could practically hear the wheels turning. Then he asked, "And that out there, by the fields? That wasn't Evie...resting?"

Mom hesitated, but finally answered, "Yes, and no. I assume Evie invited you to stay the night?"

"Ouais, she told me she wanted me to stay as long as I liked. Got to say that surprised me a bit."

"I don't know why it should. Haven wouldn't be the success it is without all you've done. You'll always be welcome here, our home is yours."

I didn't know if mom should have gone that far...but then again, I probably should have made that offer if I were honest with myself. Brandon had been granted a room on site if he'd wanted it, but he'd chosen to stay at his home. He didn't know the secrets though, so it was easier that way.

We entered my room and Jack laid me down on my bed. I sighed regretfully. That had been far too short.

My mom said softly, "I've never seen her this relaxed."

"Non?"

"No." Thoughtful tone. "I think it's a very good thing you've come to Haven, Jack."

I heard him shift the books beside my bed. Robinson Crusoe, Island of the Blue Dolphins, The Hatchet. I'd read them all a few times since the flash. Learning to make do with only what you had was a valuable skill.

The door closed quietly...and the voices in my head rose like thunder. I pressed my hands against my head wanting to scream, tear my hair out, something! Loudest among the calls were:

-We will love you, in our own way.-

-Eyes to the skies Lads! I strike from above!-

-Your Death awaits.-

-I will feast on your bones.-

"Matthew! Are you there?"

Empress. You are weak. You still have no allies. No arsenal. Your foes draw nearer.

"Is it time to leave Haven?" I'd feared this for so long.

Soon it will be time to flee.

"I'll be ready." I knew the end was close. I just wasn't sure how close. I suspected Jack's "news" had something to do with it. And I'd left the morning's planting less than half done. I had to see to that. I couldn't afford to lay in bed. Good for nothing...

I forced myself to sit, waiting until the spots from my vision faded, then stood, again waiting for the same. Then I slowly made my way downstairs, carefully holding the banister.

Jack's up next!