Big Mama was there when Ivan was helped in.

"Oh my gracious child, what happened?" She went over to help Ivan, telling the one he was leaning on, "It's okay honey. I got him."

Ivan explained what had happened between groans of pain. She helped the poor man into his room, and to his cot. "Now you just lay yourself down now. You're going to be sleepin' on your stomach the next week or two."

Ivan grunted. "I know."

"Don't you 'I know' me child! You have been picking it up from those little rascles, haven't you." Ivan opened his mouth and Big Mama put up a hand. "Don't you back talk me, now down." She helped Ivan down on the cot, onto his stomach. "I'll get you somethin' to eat. You need it." She did a little extra sway, what happened to her hips when she was on a mission. This mission was to make the big man less stressed. He had done what he had done, there was no going back.

The two kids, Sasha and Jackie, were coming inside from playing on the other side of the quarters. "We heard that had come back!" Jackie said, excitedly. Sasha nodded. "Do you think he'll play with us?"

Big Mama shook her head. "No children. He's restin', ya hear? Don't go around disturbing him."

The twins looked crescent fallen. Big Mama huffed. "Don't you go lookin' at me like that! Look, if you want to see him, come and help me fetch him some supper."

"Okay!" Sasha answered for them both.

With Big Mama, they had gotten a big portion of the stew that the others had cooked up. After hearing about Ivan(Word spread quickly 'round here) they were more than happy to help a fellow man. "It's a good thing the Master's so liked around here." She muttered with a sigh. "He's such a good kid too."

She knocked on the door. "Come in," Ivan replied.

Big Mama came in, and Ivan was sitting up. "What are you doing sitting?" She demanded.

Ivan scratched the back of his head. "Was told food would be coming. Do not want to eat laying down…" As he spoke the twins had closed the distance, and were "Oh"ing and "Ah"ing at the bandages. Ivan looked at the two kids and gave a little chuckle.

Big Mama's face scrunched up in annoyance. "You two! What did I say about disturbing him? And you!" She turned to Ivan. "You shouldn't a' sat up without my help!"

Ivan looked up. "No, these two are okay." They snuggled into his sides and under his arm to avoid the look Big Mama was giving them.

Big Mama sighed. "You spoil them… Just like their mother used 'ta." She grumbled. She saw Ivan raise an eyebrow, and continued on as if nothing happened. She set the bowl of stew down. "Now children, come along with me so you can let him eat in peace," She emphasized the last word. "Come on now."

The two kids whined. "I wanna stay…"

"I do too…"

Ivan ruffled Jackie's head. "Come back after. Can't move, but can tell you stories."

Jackie looked at him skeptically. "Will you really?"

"I want one about a prince this time!" Sasha requested.

Jackie huffed. "I want one about a dragon that eats the prince!"

"You can't do that! The prince will slay it!"

Ivan chuckled, and Big Mama took the two of them. "Okay you two, time to get your butts out of his hair."

Ivan took a moment, first feeling his hair for these so called hair butts, and then said, "Big Mama, will you stay, please? I have questions…"

She turned to Ivan, and then seeing the beat down puppy look, she nodded. "Okay, honey. Just wait for these two rascals out of the way. Thomas!" She called.

"What is it?" A happy, yet old and crinkled voice called from down the hall.

"Do me a favor and make sure the twins stay out of Ivan's room."

Lazy Tom peeked out into the hallway. "You want me to look after those Raccoons?"

"Yes, Thomas." Big Mama took the kids and gently pushed them towards him. The twins were none too happy.

Lazy Tom gave them a toothy smile. "'Course Angie. Anything for the loveliest woman in the world!" He took the two kids, and headed outside, asking them if they ever say a crock with cat's whiskers.

Big Mama came back and pulled up a chair next to Ivan's cot. "What is it child?" She asked.

Ivan was spooning the stew into his mouth. He took a moment to gulp, and wiped his mouth with his wrist. "Why is Smith here?" He asked.

Big Mama sighed. New slaves… "To make sure we go and do our work right, and quick."

Ivan shook his head. "No. Why is Smith person here?" Ivan was struggling with the words.

Big Mama took a moment. "You mean, why is it him and not someone else?" Ivan nodded. She thought for a bit. "Well, you see, the last driver wasn't that bad, and started under the previous . He worked up until two years ago. He was old though, retired to spend some time with his wife." She waved a hand. "The previous didn't find a good driver to replace him, and 'stead went out into the fields himself to act as the driver. was a fair man," Big Mama admitted. "He treated us well, but his hand was also firm. The poor dear though, he over worked, and his heart just gave out." She placed a hand over her own chest, feeling her heart beating below as she sighed.

Ivan knit his eyebrows together. "His heart gave out…?"

Big Mama nodded. "Yep, poor man. It runs in his family. His father before, and his father before him." Though when Ivan gave her that look she said, "I'm not that old. I listen to them!" She huffed.

Ivan pressed his lips together. "What happened next?"

Big Mama mulled it over. "You see, Alfred was the one that took over the plantation. Now, I've raised this kid from when he was little…"

Ivan reached over and took Big Mama's hand. "A story for not now."

Big Mama took a moment, and then waved a hand. "Fine. I'll tell you it another time. He was a cutie." She smiled at Ivan, but then went on. "The previous driver had a son, and that'd be David or Smith as everyone calls him. He had gotten fired from several plantations, and the previous Smith sent Alfred a letter, asking him to take in his son as a last chance."

Ivan frowned. "So, is a pity take?"

Big Mama nodded. "He be a pity, al'right, but I think Smith knows that. Alfred really respected his dad, and doesn't want to give up on that man." Big Mama shuttered. "Though maybe now he'll see that be no good idea and kick him out." She puckered her lips, and crossed her arms. "We ain't be needin' no driver who is the incarnate of the Devil."

Ivan mulled this whole thing over. "That is sad."

Big Mama shrugged. "It's what it is. Just gotta keep on going with what the master decides." She wasn't happy about that situation… She noticed Ivan had finished his stew. "Ya full, honey?"

Ivan nodded. "Thank you," He said as she took the bowl away.

"Don't worry about it. Now you don't strain your back. Lay down, even if you're going to tell those kids a story like you say you're gonna."

Ivan smiled. "Yes. Tell them they can come back in."

Big Mama obliged. She found them with Lazy Tom, wrapped in some sort of tale about the knickknacks in his room. "You two, Ivan's gonna be waintin', so don't be too long."

They called back and enthusiastic but distracted "Okay!"

When Big Mama swung by to listen in, she paused at Ivan's room and leaned on the door, listening as he told the story of how a prince gotten swallowed by a dragon, and survived. Big Mama mused. "He's spoilin' those kids, Georgia." She wobbled off to her room.

Alfred woke up the next morning with Amelia by his side. She was curled in a ball, head against his side. He looked over to her, gently stroking her short blond hair. "…How's Ivan doing?" He wondered aloud, looking up towards the ceiling. He was so tired. His face was sore and his chest hurt. It took an hour, maybe more, for Amelia to wake up. It at least felt like an hour. He was bored in bed, and when he finally tried to move, he woke Amelia up.

"Good morning Alfred," She murmured, sleep clouding her voice as she pushed herself up. She leaned down and kissed him. "How are you feeling?"

Alfred grumbled. "I hurt. I can't move my face. And I'm bored."

Amelia gave a laugh. "Good to know you're not too hurt." She mused.

Alfred tried to sit up, asking, "Where's Ivan?"

Amelia gently pressed a hand to his chest. Gently was not the right word. The woman could go head to head with Alfred on a good day. On a bad day like today, she had him pinned to the bed. "Now, don't move." She rubbed his shoulder. "Ivan is hurt, but he'll live. Nearly gave us all a heart attack bursting through the door with you in his arms."

Alfred blushed a bit, though he wasn't quite sure why. "I'm glad he's fine."

Amelia brushed Alfred's hair out of his face, and said, "I think he's a good man. I don't see how he became such a thing." She frowned, but then kissed Alfred's head. "I'll go get you some breakfast."

And off she went. Alfred just lay there, looking at the ceiling. 'I'm not that small', He thought, 'but I didn't realize he was so big.' He must seem like a child too. Just how old was Ivan? He looked worn through the years… Almost fourty, he guessed, but he was strong. He still must have some youth still left over… "I'll ask him when I see him." He said decidedly, wanting to know more about the white man under him, and finally admitting it too.

Smith had been confined to his quarters by the dirt men. Alfred hadn't woken up, as far as he knew. Damned man. He slipped up. Oh well, it's not as if Alfred had a will, or any male relatives that could take over the plantation. If anything, he had to get out of there before Alfred had a chance to fire him. The word had spread in the plantation, but lord knows the law won't listen to those things. He waited, he would wait. "Come here ya pieces of horse shit," He grumbled under his breath, waiting for one of them to come with his 'food', they called it. Then he would grab whoever it was. He would get out of here.

Ivan had heard word that Smith had escaped about two days ago. Ivan was still in pain, but he could move and start his job off with the horses, assuring Bob that yes, he was just fine. He stopped by the house once to check up on Alfred, and Nadeen had told him that the master was resting, adding on that he was doing much better, but still bed ridden.

Amelia came out to chat with Ivan from time to time as well. It was nothing big. She just would sit, and chat. Ivan guessed she was grateful, but didn't know how to show it besides doing that.

On the third day, she said, "I think when Alfred gets better, I'll start taking him to church again." She petted Wildfire's head. "Do you go to church, Ivan?"

Ivan nodded. "Used to, every week." He admitted.

Amelia looked towards him as Wildfire gave her cheek a good lick. She gently popped the horse on the nose which made him trot away. "What's your section?" She asked.

Ivan shrugged. He didn't know the English names.

Amelia nodded. "I'll bring you a cross sometime then. And a bible, if they let me." She grinned. "Might take you one day if you decide to be my man's protector!" She teased.

Ivan smiled a bit. "Would be pleasant, . "

She decided on it. "I will take you when we go!" She said happily.

And with that and a flurry of her hand, she walked off. Ivan had heard stories of different tales from the bible. He couldn't help but imagine Amelia as Lilim, the unwritten wife. Strong and daring. The equal to her husband. Ivan didn't see much harm in having such a woman for a wife. He smiled a bit. Alfred was lucky, wasn't he?

On the way back, Amelia was walking around the plantation, and nearer the grove. She was in a good mood. The big man was a church goer, so at the very least he was a God's man. She was happy until she spotted someone. She felt her good mood slip away as she hurried up to the lurking figure. "Smith!" She barked.

The man flinched, but then turned around to give Amelia that smile… A smile that made her skin crawl. "Hello . What a pleasant surprise," He said in a tone that dripped sarcasm.

"What are you doing here? I thought you had your tail tucked between your legs and ran, dog!" She spat at him, coming up closer.

"A lady should watch what she says." Smith was quickly getting impatient.

"And a dog should obey his master's orders, pup." She had come up feet away from him.

That statement earned her a slap to the face. "Shut up, bitch."

Amelia returned a hit to his gut.

Smith kept his ground, but the punch did hurt like hell. "Ugh!" He bent over, grabbing her fist. "You—" He pulled her fist away from his body, and pulled Amelia up to him, grabbing her chin in his hand. "You should learn your place, woman." He smirked. "Though it would be fun to train you."

Amelia was fighting, squirming. She stomped down on his foot, hard. He yelped, and let go of her. She went in to hit him again, but next thing she knew, she was sprawling on the ground.

"I got other things to do, ." He said, suddenly calm, and business like.

Amelia groaned as she pushed herself back up onto her feet, and sprung on Smith's turned back. "You will do no business while you are here!"

Smith fought Amelia a while, and eventually did toss her off again. When she hit this time, she was also topped, and proceeded to have her stomach be met with fist after fist. She cried out in pain. "Better than hurting that pretty lil' face, not stay. Be a good girl for Daddy." He smirked. Amelia saw that, and he got up from her, and headed towards the house.

'Alfred' She thought. "Alfred…!" She groaned.

" ! Was that you?" Someone called.

"C-come! Help me!" She yelled back. Soon help came, and she told them(Dizzy she couldn't even tell if it was a man or a woman) to fetch Ivan, tell him there was trouble, and to go help her husband.

Ivan was brushing Tanya as a young slave boy ran in, yelling, "Ivan, Ivan! There's trouble! said to hurry to the house! is in danger!"

Ivan left Tanya the moment that the boy said 'There's trouble'. He could have jumped on the horse and rode over to the house, but he had not ridden since the first time a few days ago. Instead, he ran. He ignored the pain surging though his back as he bolted as fast as he could down the path to the house. He burst in, saying, "Am Sorry—" To Nadeen as he hurried past her, only hearing a confused voice demanding what he was doing. "Where is ' room?" He demanded.

"Last door on the left. Ivan, what's wrong?"

Ivan didn't answer as he hurried, hoping that it was nothing serious— As he opened the room, he saw Smith looming over Alfred, knife in hand.

Ivan's and Smith's eyes met. "STOP!" Ivan cried, barreling into the smaller, but muscular man. He started to wrestle with him, one hand clamped over the wrist with his knife.

Alfred woke up, startled and unfocused. "Wha-what's going on-?" He saw the two on the ground, a flash of metal went through the air, and the smell of blood. Panic was filling his mind, and his heart started to beat quickly. Oh god. He put a hand to his chest, and tried to calm himself down. He couldn't. The smell of blood was becoming thicker, and he was becoming more panicked. He had to stop them. How? Simplest way first.

"YOU TWO STOP!" He yelled.

Ivan had pinned Smith down before he had obliged. Smith struggled under him.

Smith looked at Alfred. "YOUR SLAVE IS CRAZY! He just came out of no-where and tried to ATTACK YOU! Then he attacked ME!"

Alfred felt a shiver go up his spine. "Ivan, is this true?" He asked, flatly.

Ivan looked down and shook his head. "No." He said, honestly.

"….Smith, drop the knife."

"What the—"

"Drop the KNIFE, Smith. "

Smith furrowed his brow, but Ivan's hand started to crush his wrist. He let out a yelp as the blade fell to the floor with a clatter.

"Now Ivan, let go of the man." Ivan hesitated. Alfred could see his willingness to disobey the order. "NOW." HE demanded.

Ivan let go of Smith. The two stood up, and Smith had scooted away from the large Russian.

Alfred's chest was untightening ever so slightly. He took a few more deep breaths. "What happened?" He demanded.

Smith glowered. "I saw this THING acting suspicious so I followed him, ." He stated, sneering."

Alfred narrowed his eyes. "He's not the one who had a knife in his hand." He pointed out. Before Smith could retaliate, Alfred said, "Smith, you are fired. Get out of my house, and stay away from my farm."

Smith started to protest, "You can't fire me! Who will make sure your slaves are in order?"

Alfred smiled. "I will. Now get you bastard." He said it overly happy, which made Smith start to rile.

Ivan stepped towards Smith, arms spread wide as if to hug him. "Come here. I can throw you out by self!" Ivan chirped happily.

Smith shivered from the pair of smiling faces. He got the feeling that the two other men in the room could easily become madmen, and attack him.

He bolted, screaming back, "YOU SONS OF BITCHES WILL GET WHAT YOU DESERVE!"

Alfred felt his body slowly start to relax, and closed his eyes. His chest was still somewhat tight. He felt a hand on his back. He leaned into it as it rubbed. "Mmm…" He enjoyed it. He was breathing better as he heard a voice from the door way, "What happened ?"

It was Nadeen.

Alfred sighed. "Ivan came and saved me again." He said gratefully, not bothering to look at the white slave as his back got rubbed.

He could hear the skepticism in her voice. "So that, , had come to attack you again?" She was startled.

Alfred nodded. "Can you go make dinner for three? I want to treat Ivan to something, as a thank you."

He heard the Russian's hesitation, speaking in a hushed tone in a foreign language. Nadeen's footsteps faded, and Alfred opened his eyes to look at the man towering above him. "I'm all right." He reassured him. He eyed Ivan as he moved his hand away. "I want to ask you a few questions…"

My gosh, this one is the longest chapter thus far. e.e It took me three writing sessions instead of one or two.

This chapter has more explanations. I need to work on how to integrate that more than anything else. A person telling a story like that... Can get you kinda glazed over.

And THANK YOU FOR NOW I HAVE 3X AS MANY REVIEWS! 33

Sit back, relax, and enjoy~