Chapter 9- Thank you everyone for your positive comments, keep them coming please! Please please comment! They keep me motivated! :D Enjoy!

Alayna practically jumped out of the cab, picked up her gown and ran towards the fort.

"Alayna, wait! Don't trip!" Elizabeth called walking briskly after Alayna. Will exited after Elizabeth along with Jack and Garrett. Jack held out his hand for Angelica to take, giving her a sly smile. Angelica took his hand willingly but looked at him with stern eyes.

"Do not think this changes anything,"

"Now why would I think that, love?" Jack asked smoothly. Angelica sighed and walked off.

"Is it just me, or does it feel as though we're coming to this thing without dates?" Jack asked confused.

"Aye," Garrett and Will replied in unison.

"Alright good," Jack said. The three walked together towards the fort. The entire town was there, husbands, wives, fiancés, and all the above were dancing in the center of the fort while other stood on the sidelines clapping and singing. Alayna was already in the center dancing with different young men. One moment she was swinging with one man then the next she was dancing with another. She was laughing, smile from ear to ear. It was the most fun she had ever had. She looked over on the sidelines and saw Will standing alone with his hand cupped in front of him. He looked down at the ground, glancing over to his left every once in a while. Alayna looked over and saw Elizabeth standing alone watching as well.

"Excuse me," Alayna said curtsying to her dance partner who bowed in return. Alayna ran around looking for Garrett who was also dancing with some of the young women. Alayna caught his eye and waved him over. He excused himself from his date, bowing out of politeness and hurried over to Alayna.

"We need to make things right between your parents," Alayna told him grabbing him by the shoulders.

"How do you propose we do that?" He asked confused. Alayna thought for a moment.

"Come with me!" Alayna said picking up her dress and hurrying over to the band at the front of the fort. She tried her best to avoid dancers and on-lookers, but ended up crashing into one young man who had walked out in front of her path.

"I'm so sorry miss, let me help you!" He said as he turned around and held out his hands. He had brown hair that was cut neatly and brown eyes. He looked at Alayna with admiration. Alayna was more focused on Elizabeth and Will, however. She took his hands to help her up and Garrett came up right behind her.

"Thank you," Alayna told the boy.

"Would you care to dance?" He asked.

"Sorry mate, we're busy at the moment, come on Alayna let's go," Garrett said grabbing Alayna by the shoulders and hurrying her along gently.

"Right," Alayna responded, waving one last time to the boy mouthing thank you. He waved back smiling. Alayna walked up to the conductor of the band once the song ended.

"Could I please request a slower tune for this next song?" Alayna asked sweetly. The conductor smiled and nodded.

"Of course, miss," He said gently. He was an older gentleman with white hair and aged wrinkles surrounding his very light blue eyes. His age made Alayna think of Hugh. She wondered what he was doing right now, probably sitting in his rocker looking at the ocean. The violins began to play a sweet but slow melody.

"Alright, you get your father and I'll get your mother, meet us in the center of the floor," Alayna told Garrett. He nodded and took off towards Will. Elizabeth walked over to Elizabeth who was standing near the stage.

"Hi," Alayna said sweetly. Elizabeth took her eyes away from the crowd and her stern stare turned to a warm smile when she was Alayna.

"Hello, dear," She said warmly.

"Come with me!" Alayna grabbed Elizabeth's hand and pulled her to the dance floor.

"Wait, no I can't!" Elizabeth fussed.

"Just come on!" Alayna said laughing and looking back at Elizabeth. Elizabeth smiled and shook her head. Alayna pushed through all the slow dancing couples until she spotted Garrett and Will. Garrett spotted them and smiled. Will caught sight of them coming over as well. Will smiled slightly at Elizabeth who gave a half smile back. Alayna saw their looks and stopped Elizabeth a few steps away from the boys.

"Elizabeth, I know for a fact you and Will have been through a lot together, don't give up on everything now, please," She told Elizabeth with all seriousness. "You two love each other, so why are you pretending that you don't?"

"It's complicated, Alayna," Elizabeth replied looking down.

"You want to talk about complicated?" Alayna said smiling, grabbing Elizabeth's shoulders, "Look at my mother and father," Alayna half chuckled. Elizabeth looked at her and nodded in agreement.

"I know…"

"It doesn't need to be complicated, if you truly love each other," Elizabeth looked at Will when Alayna said that second part. She looked back at Alayna and smiled, wiping a tear away.

"You're right," She confessed, leaving Alayna and walking directly towards Will. She grabbed a hold of the back of his neck and kissed him deeply. Garrett opened his eyes wide and stepped away towards Alayna. Will was shocked at first, and then accepted the kiss by wrapping his arms around Elizabeth and pulling her closer. Other couples stopped to look at them in awe.

"I don't know what you said to her, but it must have worked," Garrett commented. Alayna remained serious.

"It was just pointing out the obvious," She replied. Garrett turned towards her.

"Are you alright?"

"I just with my parents were that easy to fix,"

"Maybe they will be," Garrett said, rubbing Alayna's back with one hand. Alayna felt calm and confident at Garrett's words. "Would you like to dance?"

"It's a slow song, and everyone dancing is either married or fiancés or just in a relationship…" Alayna reminded Garrett.

"What, two friends can't dance to one song?" He asked. Alayna smiled at his words, she had hoped that he'd say something like that.

"Alright, let's do it," He gently took Alayna's hand and led her away from his parents. He wrapped an arm around her waist and took her hand in his other hand. Her free hand rested on his shoulder. They danced slowly, back and forth, back and forth. Alayna felt safe and peaceful again. She could smell the ocean through the warm breeze that played with her curls. The dim lighting and slow music lulled Alayna. She saw in the distance Jack standing next to Angelica, obviously bothering her due to her blank stare the other way. Alayna had to look away from the disappointing sight. She looked back at Garrett who was also looking past her. Alayna turned to see Mary standing on the sidelines. She hadn't caught sight of Alayna and Garrett yet.

"Things didn't go well, eh?" Alayna asked sympathetically.

"Not at all,"

"Should you go talk to her?"

"No, it will make her more upset," Garrett admitted with defeat. Alayna knew he didn't want Mary to see them, so she let go of Garrett and smiled.

"I think I need a drink," She told him. He nodded but looked at her with confusion.

"Alright, yeah sure," He stumbled. Alayna turned and walked off and Garrett walked off the other way, unsure if he should follow her or not. The song ended a few moments later anyways. Alayna grabbed a cup of water and stood near the table, watching as everyone danced quickly to the next song. She spotted Elizabeth and Will dancing together. They were having a fantastic time; laughing and smiling. She even saw Will grab her and tickle her.

Sometimes I wish I had that in my life, Alayna thought to herself.

"Hello there again," Alayna turned to see the brown haired boy who she had run into earlier.

"Hello," Alayna answered shortly, still focusing on Elizabeth and Will.

"Would you like to dance now?"

"I'm sorry, but I'd rather not right now," Alayna replied kindly. She didn't want to dance with just anyone right now. The boy nodded and walked away quickly. Alayna could tell he was embarrassed.

"How about a dance with me, love?" Alayna turned once again to see Jack standing there

"Well then I'm going to look like a hypocrite because I just told him I didn't feel like dancing,"

"Well I'm your bloody father and I want a dance!" Jack said taking Alayna by the hand and leading her back to the dance floor. Alayna laughed and followed willingly, accidentally bumping into dancers. Jack led them to almost the center of the floor. The beat of the music picked up and Jack spun Alayna round and round. Their footsteps were quick and precise. Alayna never knew she was a good dancer, it almost came to her naturally. She was on top of every move. Other dancers stopped to look at them. Then out of nowhere Jack spun her out and when she came back he grabbed one of her hands and dropped her so she almost hit the ground but stopped about an inch before she hit, then he sprung her right back up.

"You're a better dancer than your mother," Jack commented confused.

"I've never danced before, I have no idea," Alayna responded laughing. Once the dance was over Alayna realized she was exhausted.

"See you're learning a lot of new things, sword fighting, dancing," Jack said and grinned.

"Thank you, Jack. This is truly the happiest I've been in awhile," Jack looked at her with sad eyes.

"Let's talk tomorrow, alright?" Jack asked. Alayna looked at him wanting more information, but Jack walked away towards Angelica. She saw Jack confront her and Angelica looked at him with dull eyes. The next song was another slow song, the violins playing a soothing tune. The romantic atmosphere did nothing for her parents though. She saw Jack say something then Angelica slapped him hard across the face. A tear formed in Alayna's eye, and decided it was time for her to leave. She picked up her skirt and walked towards the stairs. She stopped after the first step to wipe the tear away. She then took off her shoes and picked up her dress again, but something caught the corner of her eye. Two people, Mary and Garrett, standing by one of the large support beams to the fort. She hid behind another beam and peeked around to see what was happening, not that she wanted to spy, but she didn't want it to be awkward for her to walk by while they were having a potentially serious conversation.

GARRETT'S POV

"Mary, I need to go." Garrett whispered quickly. Mary seemed to have had one too many sips of wine, however, and her hands were wandering all over his body. He tried to escape her grasps but she just kept grabbing him, by his shirt, his arm, whatever she could hold onto. Her other arm reached around his neck.

"Garrett don't be ridiculous," She slurred, her face getting closer to his. Garrett tried pushed her off and she came back full force, grabbed him around the neck and pulled him into a kiss. The most disgusting kiss Garrett had ever experienced.

ALAYNA'S POV.

Alayna watched, highly confused. She thought she should feel upset, or jealous or something, but she was too distressed about her own parents to worry about this situation. She picked up her dress and continued to walk home, or rather Garrett's house. Right now, Alayna felt as though she didn't have a real home, or a real life, or anything.