Chapter 7 - Welcome to my Nightmares pt. 2
The memory followed Catherine outside, she sat on one of the benches on the porch, she was playing with her necklace. Then, Jack's mother came out and sat beside her.
"You're a lovely dancer," she told Catherine.
"Thank you," Catherine responded quietly.
"No Catherine, thank you," she said. Catherine raised her eyebrows in confusion, Jack's mom elaborated, "Jack knows a lot of people, he's very friendly, but he's only ever had one friend." She paused, "He doesn't want that to change because he took a step that neither of you was ready for." She laughed a little, "But I think he just realized that you're ready." Jack's mother stood, but before she left she added, "I would love to have you be a part of our family."
Catherine sat there on the porch for a few more moments playing with her necklace before standing and re-entering the house, presumably to go meet Mr. Burgess in his study.
The memory cut back to the ballroom, where Jack, his father, and Catherine's father were all standing and talking to each other.
"How's Gregory's leg?" Jack's father asked.
"He'll live, but it won't be the same." Catherine's dad replied.
Catherine re-entered the ballroom, looking even paler than usual. James followed not long after, looking very smug.
Catherine stood beside her father and said, "This is mom's dance."
"I know, she loved this waltz." He replied, he obviously did not like talking about his late wife.
"You always said that you would do anything to get to dance with her again, I know I don't look like her, but..." Catherine trailed off.
Her father smiled at her and took her hand and they went to the floor, as they began to dance.
"Catherine, did James tell you?" her father spoke.
The Guardians looked at each other with confusion, but they were too afraid to ask Jack for clarification.
"More like commanded," Catherine said.
"Catherine," he started with a slightly exasperated tone, "You will say yes won't you?"
"Well, I don't see how I can refuse, especially since he threatened me."
"Catherine, that boy would have never asked, you have a future with James. I'm sorry."
"Not you're not," Catherine said.
Her father spun her away from him and suddenly she was resuming the dance with James.
"Catherine, I hope you've come to a decision."
"Yes, I have."
"Good."
As the music slowed to a stop all the Guardians were feeling sick.
James took a step back from Catherine and he pulled out a box from his back coat pocket an immediate hush fell over the crowd.
"Catherine, you enchant me, from the first time I saw you I knew you had to be mine. Will you do me the honour of being my wife?"
Catherine looked up and made eye contact with Jack from across the room.
"She gave me the chance to say something. Why didn't I?" Jack asked no one in particular.
"Of course, I accept," Catherine said, faking a small smile.
The memory faded, and the next one quickly took its place. There was now a pattering of snow on the ground, it was around one month after the previous memory.
Jack was playing with Emma in front of their home, they were pranking someone. As it was executed, they high-fived.
Then they heard bells, the fire bells to be precise. They saw all the men in the village simultaneously freeze, and then run to get buckets from their home.
"Vat ist happening?" North asked.
"There was a fire," Jack said with a slight smile.
"Why are ya smiling mate?" Bunny asked.
"You'll see," Jack said, then covered the grin that was forming with his hand.
Jack and Emma raced after the adults and even helped carry some buckets, they ran towards where the smoke was forming and found that the home of Mr. Burgess was on fire. Jack's eyes went wide as he searched for Catherine.
"Cat?! Catherine?!" He called, beginning to panic.
"Cat!" Emma cried and pointed to the girl who seemed to be having a heated discussion with her father.
As Jack approached her, he could hear the end of the conversation, "You don't know what you've done," Her father told her sternly before marching away, glaring at Jack on his way by.
"What was that all about?" Bunny asked.
Jack shrugged, "I don't know."
"Catherine, are you alright?" He asked, checking her over.
"I'm fine," She said while looking down, avoiding eye contact.
"Cat!" Emma cried before running over to them.
Catherine bent down slightly so that she could embrace the girl, and when she did, the neckline of her dress opened slightly so that a large bruise became visible
Jack looked at her and the expression of relief fell off his face.
"I'm going to kill him! Where is he?" Tooth asked in outrage.
Catherine stood and notice Jack staring at her. She looked down at her collarbone and realized what had happened. She pulled up her dress before Emma could see.
"Catherine did he-"
"He tried," Catherine replied with an edge in her voice.
Emma, Jack and Catherine looked as two men came running out of the house just as the roof of the home collapsed.
"He was still inside," Jack paused, "She never did actually tell me how this happened."
"Well that's good ain't it?" Bunny asked.
Jack shook his head slightly, "I didn't know this until after, but Mr. Burgess was... he had a deal with these bandits or mercenaries or... whatever," Jack paused, "He was paying them to cut off his competitor's trade routes. When he died... they hadn't been paid yet."
The guardians shared concerned glances as the next memory began...
