Alfred had decided that he was going to do it. He felt guilty about betraying Amelia.

Ivan had told him things to do every day. The man was not detached from the situation, however. He knew Amelia, and he was fond of the misses, Alfred had noticed. Though he seemed to interact with Amelia kindly enough, but not too closely.

Alfred wondered if he was like that before, or when they decided to start their little plan to drive Amelia away.

"You have been doing everything?" Ivan asked when Alfred entered the stall.

Alfred nodded, hesitantly. "Yeah. Amelia made me sit down though and she tried to talk to me about it."

"What did you say?"

"Well, after she pointed out that I was staying in the fields all day and wouldn't come home for lunch, I told her we have no driver. When she said that I was busy when I came home, I pointed out that we have Francis coming today!"

It was the day that Francis Bonnefoy was due to arrive. His note said that he was to arrive in the afternoon. Alfred wasn't only stressed by Amelia, but the man, a source of money that could help them spread their goods and get more money. Alfred groaned internally. "Why, why did I start this when there's too much going on?" He asked himself.

He felt the large hand on his back as he relaxed a bit, leaning into the touch. "Need to calm down, Mr. Jones," He heard Ivan say.

"I can't. Too much to do."

"How much time do you have?"

Alfred grumbled, mulling it over in his head. It was late morning, and so it would be a few more hours.

"Take Wildfire and go for ride. Is unrestful too."

Alfred smiled at Ivan's word. "Restless," He corrected.

"Restless." Ivan repeated in his low voice. Alfred had gotten attached to his voice, and he didn't even realize it. "Go, take horse. It is early enough, and need to relax."

Just as Ivan finished his sentence, the hand left Alfred's back. Alfred looked back as Ivan pulled out Alfred's riding horse. Ivan prepared Wildfire as Alfred chatted a little bit with Ivan, asking him how he felt he was doing on the farm.

Apparently after the first few months, the other slaves no longer saw the color of his skin, well most of them. The ones that had attacked Ivan wound up flung through the windows or pinned high into a tree.

Alfred thought about that. "Huh. So… You've been hurting my property?"

Alfred received such a cold glare that he didn't realize he'd get. The smile on Ivan's face was also icy. He was wondering if winter had come early. "Property? Yes. I have. Has been trying to hurt me too, your property."

Alfred winced. "You know what I meant. The ones I have to take care of."

Ivan shook his head. "Being foreigner, words and choice mean much. Have to be careful what you say." Ivan gently cooed to Wildfire. "Is saddled up."

Alfred was looking down. "Look, Ivan, I-I didn't mean…" Why was he apologizing? He didn't have to. He was the master, yet he knew that to treat the slaves with the amount of respect that his father taught him, words meant a lot. He felt a hand patting his head. He looked up into the beautiful violet eyes of his slave. He couldn't help but be caught by them, and he thought that they were so pretty. Pretty, yet not in a girlish way. More as if, just natural and that they belonged in the big, broad face, making it a little less intimidating.

"Go, take your ride." The big man said. "Just enough to let self relax."

Alfred slowly nodded. He got up on the horse, and told Ivan one more thing, "Thanks."

Ivan smiled, and waved a single hand as Alfred set Wildfire off in a gallop, out of the stable, around the field, and through the grove's back paths.

Amelia had gotten a note, and read it. Francis was going to be arriving earlier than expected. He was arriving before noon, and the morning hours were quickly disappearing. "Oh gosh, where is that man?" Amelia huffed. Her husband was missing somewhere. She felt her stomach knot and twist. She hurried around and got things ready as best as she could. "Nadeen! Please prepare at least snacks for before lunch!" She called.

"Why ?" The house slave called.

"Mr. Bonnefoy is arriving before mid-day!"

There was a response that Amelia didn't register. She headed out to the fields to see if Alfred was there- And she saw a carriage coming down the dirt path leading to their house. She called for the young house girl, who came scurrying over. Amelia told her, "Go and tell the others to find Alfred and send him back here. has arrived!" She sent the kid on her way. Amelia hurried back in, and tried to fix her frazzled appearance.

Francis Bonnefoy was traveling down the road towards the Jones Plantation. He had come to America several times, and there was many a time that he had gotten good materials from this family when he was merely picking and choosing. He was not very excited to meet the people, however he needed to see this family and their work for himself. He needed to know he was supporting good people.

However, "America is so boring," He murmured to himself. There was too much open space, with nothing to see or hear. Sometimes there was a party, and he enjoyed the affections of the women, but they all seemed to be trying too hard to win him. It was bad in his homeland too. No woman would be able to stand the harshness of all the competitors. "I wish that things would get more interesting," He murmured to himself. He watched as the Jones' house came up.

He arrived, and stepped out of the carriage. Out of the house came a young woman with dark blond hair, golden by days in the sunlight. She had her hair pulled back in a messy bun, and wore simple clothes. She was either a servant, or a nanny. There was nothing too special about her at first glance. However as she walked closer he noticed she had the most stunning blue eyes he had ever seen.

"Hello mademoiselle," He greeted her with a smile. "I am happy to see such a lovely lady coming out to greet me." He took the woman's hand, and as she opened her mouth, he kissed the back of her hand.

The woman's fingers twitched. " , I take it." She said. "Rumor says you are a flirt."

Francis was startled to hear that from a lower lady of the house. He looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "Oh? How is zat a flirty gesture, mademoiselle?" He asked. He kept her hand in his, and brought it up to his mouth again. "One kiss is polite, but more…" He trailed off and kissed the woman's hand again. She flushed a bit red. Francis thought it was embarrassment, and brushed it off. He couldn't tell that he was making the young lady annoyed. "I am here to see the man and lady of this estate. Would you fetch then for me please?"

The woman smiled, though there was this crack of a laugh that made Francis feel somewhat uneasy. "My husband is out somewhere. He didn't get your note of arriving early."

That startled Francis. "So this mademoiselle is actually a madam?" He asked, astonished. She looked so poor and uncultured for being the wife of a successful plantation owner!

The woman kept her smile. "Yes. That's right, . I am Amelia Jones, wife to Alfred Jones." She waved a hand, gesturing. "Please come in, my husband will be with us as soon as he can."

Francis followed the lovely lady into the house, to wait for her husband.

Jackie rushed into the Stable. "Papa! Papa! Have you seen ?" He asked, bouncing up and down. "A man with a funny soundin' voice came up to the house an' went in. Sasha's watchin', and no-one knows were is."

Ivan took a moment. "Is already here?" He asked.

Jackie nodded, taking slightly heavy breaths from running. "Yeah! The funny talkin' man's here!"

Ivan nodded. "Thank you Jackie. I will go find ." He smiled at his kid. "Go tell Nadeen will send Alfred to her shortly."

The little boy ran off, and Ivan took Tanya. He mounted the plow horse, and set off to the grove. He was not nearly as good of a rider as Alfred. He was still considerably clumsy, and he still felt nervous about riding the horses, however he knew he had to get Alfred. He went through the back paths that Alfred showed him. He listened, and looked. No Alfred. " !" He called. Nothing. There was a stomping coming back the way he came. Ivan saw through the trees, Alfred was flying on the paths.

Ivan couldn't lose him. "HYAH!" Ivan snapped the reigns, and Tanya whinnied as she bolted off down the paths. Ivan felt his stomach clench up as he swiveled through the paths. He tried his best, and was actually avoiding trees and roots that would trip the big horse. He took a path that would cut off Alfred. " !" He called out again.

That time he caught the man's attention. Ivan heard a crack of a branch as Alfred ran into it.

Ivan slowed Tanya down, and got down off of the plow horse. "Are you okay, ?"

Alfred was rolling around on the ground. "That hurt," He grunted. It sounded like the wind was knocked out of him. He slowly sat up. "What is it, Ivan?"

Ivan held onto the reigns of Tanya as he said, " is here."

Alfred blinked a few times. "What, what? Already? He's not supposed to be here for a couple hours!"

Ivan nodded. "I know, but is what happened."

Alfred became flustered. "Oh no, bad first impression, I just know it! I gotta get there! WILDFIRE!" He called for the horse. It was long gone.

Ivan helped Alfred up. "Here," He said, "Take Tanya back."

Alfred gave Ivan a concerned look. "Don't you need her?"

Ivan shook his head. "You need to get back. I need to find Wildfire." He wouldn't take no for an answer. He made Alfred get up on the horse, and sent him on his way, while he went to go find the runaway horse.

Alfred got to the house in only a few minutes. He tied up the plow horse and headed inside. "Whew, sorry ." He said, hurrying into the parlor. "I didn't mean to be gone when you…" Alfred trailed off.

Francis was sitting side by side with Amelia, and he was leaning close, trying to whisper into her ear.

"…Am I interrupting something? Something that has to do with my wife?" He raised his eyebrows.

Amelia leaned back from Francis. She got up. "Hello Alfred, welcome back." She wrapped her arms around Alfred's neck, and gave him a good long kiss on the lips.

Alfred didn't mind. Even though Ivan told him to minimize the contact with Amelia in a way to drive her off, seeing Francis that close to her… He did feel annoyed how close they were.

"You weren't interrupting anything," Amelia reassured him. " was just telling me a few little things that he looks for in choosing who to invest in." She looked back. "Isn't that right?"

Francis raised an eyebrow and nodded, though he looked somewhat hurt. "My dear Amelia, I told you two things. One, what I am telling you about my process is a secret!" He tutted. "And two, you shall call me Francis."

"I like better," Alfred said with an annoyed smile.

The man chuckled. "Oh do not worry. You can all me Francis as well." The Frenchman stood up, and extended his hand. "It is good to finally meet you. Alfred, or ?"

Alfred hesitated and took Francis's hand. "Alfred," He decided after a moment.

Francis smiled. "I must say that you have a charming wife," He mused, eyeing Amelia.

Amelia didn't giggle; she merely stood by Alfred's side and put an arm around his waist. "And I have a good husband that deserves it." She kissed his cheek.

Alfred narrowed his eyes. Take that, Frenchman! Wasn't he supposed to be trying to make Amelia go off with someone? That wasn't important now. This man should respect that Amelia was Alfred's wife.

Francis chuckled. "I can still appreciate someone else's wife, Alfred."

Alfred felt himself flush and open his mouth.

Francis held up a hand. "No no, do not worry. I won't take her away." Though the wink told Alfred otherwise.

Alfred clapped his hands. "Let's get down to business then, huh?" He had a forced smile on his face as he sat down with Francis to discuss the ideas and ideals of his plantation.

All the while, the Frenchman flirted with his wife…

After the sun had set, and dinner had been served, Alfred was more than a little annoyed at Francis. Though he had to keep his tongue in check.

Amelia was good at using Alfred for a prop, more or less, to keep Francis's flirts light and playful.

The couple saw Francis off.

"I will come back in a few days, telling you what I have decided." Francis flashed a smile at the two of them, his eyes lingering on Amelia a while longer than necessary.

"We're looking forward to hearing that you'll back us!" Alfred replied, confident.

Francis raised an eyebrow. "I haven't decided yet." He said simply, and got up into his carriage and left.

Amelia relaxed beside Alfred. "Oh, wow… That was nerve wracking." She leaned on Alfred's shoulder.

"Yeah. Though he seemed right at home." Alfred huffed, rubbing the opposite shoulder.

Amelia smiled up at him. "So… I think we're going to get his backing."

Alfred rolled his eyes. "Only because of you."

Amelia pouted at first. "Well, aren't you glad that you have me then?" She wrapped her arms around his neck. "We won't have to worry about if we get a bad crop next year. It'll be great stability!"

Alfred knew where this was going again.

She pressed a hand to his lips. "Shh. No, I'm not going to say it. I just want to go curl up into bed and sleep with my husband."

Even though he kept telling himself, now it's over he could stop and continue with trying to stay away from Amelia, he didn't. "Are you even planning on letting me sleep tonight?"

The young woman pressed up against him. He couldn't hide the fact that he was already getting excited. "Of course not." She kissed him, long and hard. Her arms were locked around Alfred, and by the time they came up for air, Alfred was red in the face and out of air.

"O-okay. No sleeping tonight." He conceded.

He saw Amelia's face in a dreamy haze as she led him inside, and upstairs to their bedroom.

Several hours later. Ivan had found Wildfire and placed her back in the stall. He was just finishing up for the night as he heard a clink behind him. He spun around.

There, standing in the entry to the stable was Alfred. He looked… Stressed. More than in the morning when he came to Ivan. He was also carrying a few bottles of some sort of alcohol.

"Hey Ivan, come and sit with me for a drink."

Ivan raised his eyebrows. "Is everything okay?"

Alfred first nodded. "Yeah… No. No it's not." Alfred dragged himself into the stable. Ivan took one of the lanterns and set it on the ground. Alfred sat down, and patted the spot beside him. Ivan sat down with Alfred.

"You said before you were with a woman, right Ivan?"

Alfred popped open a bottle and took a drink directly from it.

Ivan nodded. "Yes. What does this have to do with anything?" He asked.

Alfred handed the bottle over to Ivan. The large man took a drink of it. "Were your women clingy? Y'know, like they'd never let you go even if you stuck a snake on them?"

Ivan thought about it. "…One was. Only lasted night, thought we were in love, and demanded marriage." Ivan closed his eyes. "Though not much else pops to mind…"

Alfred snorted. "Amelia wound up jumping me after that Francis guy left."

Ivan gave the appropriate noise that Alfred was apparently looking for. Alfred continued on. "Been like that since the first day. She must have jumped me six times in our first month of marriage! And she knows I have a bad heart too!" Alfred huffed. "Could swear right here, right now, she intended to have me dead that first month by sex."

Ivan merely nodded and drank the burning liquid. It was much better than he had been able to get his hands on since arriving in the United States. "Do not like sex?" Ivan asked bluntly.

Alfred was not startled, though his face was turning red. IF it was from the question or the liquor, Ivan didn't know. "No, I like it. A lot actually." He laughed. "But I just… I don't want kids! I just don't want kids, not with her!" He rolled onto his back, exasperated. "She even managed to keep a hold of me for too long… Who know? I might be a dad in a year." He grumbled. "I hope that doesn't happen, Ivan." He closed his eyes. "I really don't."

Ivan placed a hand on Alfred's head. He patted and ruffled the young man's hair. Alfred made this strange noise and moved Ivan's hand in a jerking motion. Once Alfred twisted his head, he let Ivan's hand back down on his head.

Ivan continued to pat him. Ivan was feeling a little flushed himself, not used to the burn and feel of alcohol nearly as much anymore. He heard Alfred's sigh, and said, "Do not sigh."

"Why not?" Alfred demanded, starting to sit up.

"Because will make you happy again."

Alfred rolled his sky blue eyes. "I don't believe you can right now."

Ivan raised his eyebrows. "Oh?" Ivan set down the bottle of finished liquor and started to tickle Alfred's sides.

The young man jumped, and started to giggle. "N-No! Stop that! Ivan!" He swatted at Ivan's hands, but the slave just scooted closer and tickled Alfred more, not letting him escape.

Alfred was laughing hard. "F-fine! If that's how you're going to play!" Alfred tackled Ivan as best he could. By now, Ivan was laughing as well.

The slave looked up at his master and smiled. "You seem better. Should I complete spell?" He asked.

Alfred snorted. "What are you, some kind of witch?" And Alfred returned the tickle. The large man squirmed underneath him, laughing.

Ivan took Alfred's face in his hands, and started to plant little kisses all over it. He kissed Alfred's nose, cheeks, forehead, and at the corner of his eyes. He didn't reject Ivan's kisses, and it even seemed as if he was enjoying them.

Ivan took a moment to catch his breath. Alfred had stopped tickling. The smaller man was laying on top of him as he stared down into Ivan's eyes.

Alfred was catching his breath as well. Though the next words out of his mouth were: "You are beautiful."

Ivan felt his face redden in the lamp light. He smiled. "Thank you." He murmured. With Alfred's face still in his hands, he leaned up, and kissed him.

After a few heartbeats of keeping his lips on Alfred's, his master started to kiss back.

Smith came back. He had revenge planned, and a gun in his hand. "You expect me to just roll over and die, huh kid?" He snarled to himself. The damned brat went and warned every last farm in this part of the south. He had enough trouble before! Now he couldn't even get a job in a town a long way over. He couldn't enjoy himself anymore thanks to that damned brat. This time he would hide. He'd hide where Alfred would come out, alone, and shoot that son of a bitch dead.

Smith heard noises as he went around the grove route. He heard not just the sound of whinnying horses, but something else.

Smith snorted, thinking it would be a good idea to avoid the people. He didn't need no-one spotting him.

Though he caught an image out of the corner of his vision into the stable. Two figures rolling around on the ground. One was big, must have been that white slave. The other must have been one of those free-willed slave girls—but even in the lamp light she wasn't the right color. Was that big bastard having an affair with Amelia? What was supposed to be HIS after all of this?

Smith stomped into the barn. "Get yer hands off my woman-!"

And that's when Smith saw it. On the ground, flat on his back, was Alfred F. Jones, and on top of him, hand up his shirt and mouth covering mouth, was that white slave, Ivan.

Smith never felt so repulsed in his life. He felt bile in the back of his throat. "GAD DAMN IT!" He shouted.

The two men were startled away from their… Feeling. Oh, Smith couldn't even think of that.

"Now I have two reasons to kill you, betrayer of God," Smith hissed. He aimed his gun at Alfred, who was sitting up, and shot.

There was a bark from the large man, and he grabbed Alfred. The bullet grazed his back, and Ivan let out a yelp.

Smith aimed again.

His previous boss grabbed one of the lamps, and threw it at Smith's head. It was a direct hit.

Alfred felt his heart racing. Oh god. Oh god, what was Smith doing here? And what had he caught them at? Alfred knocked out Smith, and the man was now lying unconscious before them. He turned his attention to Ivan, who was gritting his teeth. "Let me see your back."

"No," Ivan said quickly. "We have to move. Now." The large man pushed himself up.

Even with his chest hurting, he pushed himself under Ivan's arm, and led the tense man out of the stable, leaving Smith laying on the ground.

Alfred had bought Ivan to the lake. Ivan's back was burning. He seethed.

"Take off your shirt," He heard Alfred say. Ivan did as he was told. "It's not too bad. The bullet just grazed you." He felt Alfred tend to him. He closed his eyes as the smaller man went and got some water to wash and used Ivan's own shirt to dress his wounds.

Ivan murmured his thanks to Alfred once he declared himself done. He heard Alfred's sigh again, and he felt a head and soft hair get pressed against his back.

"Ivan…" He heard something in that voice. It sounded like a woman's tone, almost. Needing, and comfortable.

Ivan grew ridged. "Could you please… Sit up?" He asked.

Alfred hesitated, but stopped leaning on Ivan's back.

Ivan breathed in and out. "What… What I did…"

"That was—" Alfred started.

"Wrong. I am sorry. I will not do it again." Ivan finished quickly.

"Ivan—"

"Please go home, Mr. Jones." Ivan cut him off.

He heard Alfred's hesitation. He then heard a dejected, "All right." The shuffling of feet on grass, and then the distinct silence of a lone night.

Ivan put his head in his hands, and stayed there for a long time, thinking about what he had done.

Sorry it has been so long since I updated. School's eating me. x.x I wasn't able to do my hour a day for quiet a few days.

This is also a really long chapter, and guess what? We're only a few texts from finishing this RP! We started it like a month and a half ago, so it was a petty quick one by my standards. ^~^And probably the second one I'll ever finish. Third one's coming in at 1 1/2 years.

But yes. I hope you've enjoyed this stupidly long chapter.

Sit back, relax, and enjoy. ;D