Reaver's Servants Chapter 30: An Engaging Evening, a fable fanfic

Reaver's Servants

An Engaging Evening

"Well, look at it this way, Hatch…" Reaver murmured to Barry, as they swung over the canyon suspended by a rope.

Reaver and Barry were still tied back to back and swinging in the wind as the bandit leader kept his foot on the lever that meant life or death in the raging river far below. Barry tried to look at his boss, but found the endeavor quite hard. He hated how calm Reaver was being, given the circumstances "…at least we can say we had a good time before we die an agonizing death at the bottom of this cliff. If the fall from this height and jagged rocks don't kill us, the rushing water will drown us and wash us out to sea. And if that doesn't…"

"Shut up!" the bandit leader shouted, leaning his foot against the lever a bit more. He fixed Reaver's hat to fall over his greasy mop of hair, which made Reaver furious, though he still kept some composure. Reaver and Barry's rope jolted a bit and they went down about a half a foot. "Save your breath for your last words. I'll at least grant you that. Now, have you two got anything to say?"

Reaver said nothing as he recovered from the recoil. Barry sighed, knowing it was now or never. "I have something to say, but not to you." Barry shouted at the bandits. Swinging his feet wildly, Barry made himself face the cages with the servants, in particular Miss Sarah's cage.

"Hurry up, Hatch. I want to die with a little dignity if you don't mind." Reaver shouted, staring at the rushing water below.

Barry swallowed and stared directly at Miss Sarah, who was now leaning against the bars of her cage. "Miss Sarah…"

Earlier that day

The early afternoon was bright, with birds singing and the warm weather finally coming in. With a grin on his face and nervous chuckle, Barry wrapped his gift to Miss Sarah and hid it under his pillow. It had finally arrived after weeks of waiting. It cost him half his savings and numerous unscheduled trips to Bowerstone to make sure it was just right, but it was finally here. Now, all that mattered was the planning.

Barry sat on his bed and sighed happily. He leaned back slowly and glanced at his ceiling. "Tonight, I'm going to make sure everything goes perfect." He whispered. Barry took the gift from under his pillow again and held it close to his heart. Tonight was going to be the night.

Barry hid the gift under his pillow again and decided to get his rounds done before Reaver came home. As he opened his door, the sound of servants shuffling around caught his attention. "Mr. Hatch!" he heard a small voice shout. Barry sighed and closed his bedroom door. Reaver always left Barry in charge of the manor when he wasn't home and Barry often felt that the servants could barely tie their get dressed without some sort of guidance. Turning around, Barry was met by Willa running towards him. "I've been looking everywhere for you!" she shouted.

"Did you even bother to knock on my door?" Barry asked, fixing his jacket while walking toward the main part of the house.

"It was literally the last place I was going to look. The first was the kitchen." Willa shuffled around in her pocket and took out a piece of paper as they walked together into the dining room. "I got everything on this list and I promise Miss Sarah doesn't suspect a thing. Now, are you going to tell us what this is all about?"

Barry chuckled softly and sighed softly. He motioned for Willa to stay where she was and went back to his room. When Barry emerged, the other servants were waiting with Willa (save for Miss Sarah). "I guess I do owe you all an explanation, seeing as you are going through all this trouble to help me…"

Reaching into his pocket, Barry pulled out a small green box. "I special ordered this a few weeks ago. It cost me half my savings and it had to be sent off to be specially made, but it is all worth it. No woman can refuse a gift of this magnitude. My dear servants…"

At that very moment downstairs, Reaver had decided to come home early. Instead of being greeted by Barry as he usually was, Miss Sarah was in the foyer to take his coat. Reaver thought this was odd, if not somewhat punishable in some way. "It's good to see you, Mr. Reaver. How was the office?" Miss Sarah asked only half paying attention. Reaver didn't answer. Miss Sarah hung his jacket on the coat hook by the door and put his cane in the umbrella stand.

Reaver couldn't help but notice that the manor was suspiciously quiet. Normally, the servants would be doing their rounds at this time. He was rarely home during the day so he at least hoped this is what they were doing during the day. "Miss Sarah, where is Hatch?" Reaver asked as Miss Sarah took his hat.

Miss Sarah looked around and shrugged. "I'm not sure, Mr. Reaver. I haven't seen him since this morning when he came down for breakfast. He didn't say much, though. He was talking to the others in a hushed tone, which I don't appreciate at the breakfast table." Miss Sarah went back into the kitchen with an air of disapproval about her.

Reaver didn't like being out of the loop in his own house. Straightening his vest, Reaver made his wait upstairs. Reavie, who had been napping on a chair in the foyer, woke up and followed behind her master closely. As the two came to the top of the steps, the sounds of servants murmuring (and not doing their jobs) caught Reaver's attention. Before he could clear his throat and get their attention, something about the conversation caught Reaver's ear.

"Well, I finally got the notice that my order was ready yesterday morning but I didn't get a chance to go get it until last evening. The moment I walked into the store, my order was already on the counter and waiting for my approval. It was everything I had hoped for and more. I just know she will love it…" Barry sounded excited. Reaver, who's tall stature made him tower over his servants, easily saw what his troublesome servants were gawking over.

Barry opened the little green box and revealed his gift. The servants gasped and the girls smiled. "Oh, how wonderful, Hatch!" shouted their boss. The servants turned their heads in shock, not realizing their boss was behind them. Reaver shoved his way through his servants and took the gift from Barry. "So, this lovely bobble is why you asked for tonight off. Well, I must say this is a long time coming. My, my, what a lovely piece! No expense spared, either! I didn't think I paid you this much, Hatch. I should really look over the books more often." Reaver's inspection made Barry very uneasy. "A bit small for my tastes but lucky for you Miss Sarah has tiny hands."

Barry fumbled with the box when Reaver tossed it back to him. Barry put the box back in his pocket and cleared his throat. "Well, at any rate, I have a big evening planned and I have to start getting everything ready. I have nothing but high hopes for tonight."

As the servants dispersed to finish their duties and Barry left to go back to his room, Reaver scratched his chin and wondered a bit. He didn't like this new attitude Barry had and he certainly didn't like how this event would shift the routine of his home. Reaver, though he should have been more used to it by now, didn't like change if it wasn't in his favor. He had been doing everything in his power to keep the status quo as it was, but it only seemed to drive Barry and Miss Sarah together. Reaver mumbled to himself a bit until he realized Rosie was still standing behind him, watching him.

"I assume I pay you to do something besides stand there like a post, Rosie." Reaver growled, turning to face Rosie. Rosie just stared at her boss. "Rosie, stop staring at me. You know I don't like that. Unless you have something you need to say, get back to work." Reaver started to leave the area but something stopped him. He looked behind himself and saw Rosie gone. He sighed and started for the stairs again but stopped when he noticed Rosie was now right in front of him.

"Mr. Reaver, something bad is going to happen tonight." Rosie blurted out.

"I know, dear Rosie. Hatch is going to make a complete ass out of himself in front of Miss Sarah and for once I will not be there to bail him out." Reaver straightened up his vest and started to leave. An odd force stopped him before he could take another step. Rosie stayed in her spot. "Rosie, be a dove and stop whatever it is you are doing. I am much too busy to deal with whatever it is you're doing to manipulate reality."

Reaver would deny it up and down, but he was admittedly very scared of Rosie. Reaver wasn't afraid of anything else in this world, but Rosie wasn't just a woman. She was a force of nature. "Mr. Reaver, please listen to me. Something very bad is going to happen tonight and I can't see what it is. All I know is this feeling is a very bad one. Tonight's events could affect not just us, but you as well if precautions aren't taken soon."

Waving his hand dismissively at Rosie, Reaver chuckled softly. "Oh my darling, charming, and very terrifying Rosie; the only thing that is going to happen tonight is that Hatch is going make himself look stupid and he'll once again come blubbering to me with his problems. But I suppose we should be supportive. I'm going to have to have a long talk with Hatch before the night is through. Rosie, have Miss Sarah make something light for dinner tonight since she'll obviously be too busy to do anything else." Reaver laughed and started toward his office.

Standing in the middle of the dining room, Rosie just sighed. She remembered reading an old book years ago about myths from foreign lands. In one story, a girl was given the gift of foresight but could only predict tragedies. To add insult to injury, she was doomed never to be believed until after the event. Rosie often felt like this girl from that myth. She sighed, accepted her boss's dismissive attitude towards her warning, and went back to her chores.

The rest of the day went off almost too perfectly. Rosie went to the garden with her laundry basket to gather the laundry, as she usually did this time of day. The sun wasn't setting anytime soon, but the chill of the night air could already be felt. Rosie could hear the birds in the distance and sighed softly. Reaver's linens were already dry, having sat in the sun on the line all day. Rosie still had that bad feeling, and had been trying to shake it all day. Not even distracting herself with her daily chores seemed to work.

At that moment, while taking a sheet down from the line, Rosie's head started to hurt. She grabbed the side of her head, taking a handful of her hair as she fell to her knees. Rosie gripped the sheet tightly, trying to keep her balance. The images in her head came at her at once. "No…" she murmured softly.

Across the lake, on a hill overlooking all of Millfields, two men sat at their campfire. They had been there for a few days, though none of the residents of the region seemed to notice (or care). Their brightly colored caravan sat open nearby, though it was empty. The wooden door had been replaced by a barred one with a lock and the bright colors seemed to have faded off the wood side. The two men had only ventured from their camp a few times for supplies, but most of the time it looked like they were looking for something.

If anyone had asked the children of Millfields, who often played near the hill the two men camped on, they would know these two men seemed up to something. Any house in the region would be ripe for picking by bandits. Most residents didn't even try to hide how well off they were. But these two seemed to be after a specific house and the specific spoils inside. One was a scrawny young man who seemed to be getting just a bit impatient with all the waiting. The older man, a bandit leader, was obviously stronger as he was doing the heavy lifting.

"What do you see?" The Bandit Leader asked in a gruff voice.

The Leader's Lackey took out his spyglass and peered across the lake. He saw Rosie, picking herself up from her latest vision. "I see one of them. A woman, it looks like. Tall woman, long black hair reaching down her back, and a gaze that looks like she can see into your very soul." The young man's voice quivered a bit saying that last line.

"Yep, that's Rosie. If she's here, that means the others aren't too far away. So, they did indeed get jobs with Reaver." The Bandit Leader nodded as he loaded the back of the caravan with supplies. The inside of the caravan needed to be spacious for what they had planned. "Rosie the Fortune Teller. She just showed up one day, years ago. She literally came in with the wind. Odd might be an understatement when it comes to Rosie. Our 'employer' said to use caution with all of them, especially if Rosie is still kicking around." The Bandit Leader shuddered a bit, trying to distract himself from the thoughts he was having.

The Leader's Lackey swallowed a bit and went back to his spyglass. "A man is coming over to help her up. About the same height, slight muscly build…"

"Gordon, if I'm not mistaken. He was one of the acrobats. He was quite nimble on the trapeze. The ladies seemed to love him." The Bandit Leader finished what he was doing and joined the young man. "He's an agile man, can outrun anyone. Gordon showed up about a year or so after Rosie showed up. Our employer saw his skill and put him in training with the acrobats. It was all second nature to Gordon. He thought no one knew, but he has the hots for Rosie. He masks his crush because he knows Rosie would never choose him. Or perhaps he's scared of her. I don't blame him."

Keeping his spyglass open, The Leader's Lackey pointed again. "Someone just left the house. A child?" he asked.

The Bandit Leader shook his head. "No, that's Willa, Olaf's daughter. Unlike the others, she was born into circus life. Her mother died when she was a baby and Olaf spent any years training her to take over for him when he retired. For someone so tiny, she packs quite a punch. She didn't become acquainted with the others until after Olaf 'disappeared'. Up until then, she was staunchly loyal to our employer like the rest of the troupe. She was devastated when Olaf 'disappeared' and found something of a second family with those deserters."

"A lady…" The Leader's Lackey said. "…she's holding a basket and looks like she's asking that man Gordon for something. She's not as tall as the other woman but taller than the girl…"

"You must mean Sarah." The Bandit Leader took the spyglass and nodded with a disgusting smile. "Yep, that is indeed the lovely and pure-hearted Miss Sarah. Our employer will be most happy to see her. She started working for the circus a few months after Gordon came on. Miss Sarah was first brought in to work as the animal caretaker. One day, the Magician's assistant 'quit' and Miss Sarah was the only one around. The Magician taught her simple tricks and eventually took her on. She came to the circus with only the clothes on her back and a purse with what we think is money she stole from her family. Someone like her doesn't just role in from nowhere. She came from money, looked like she was taken care of."

"Arranged marriage gone sour by the sound of it. Seen it before." The Leader's Lackey said taking back his spyglass. "A girl with glasses…"

The Bandit Leader didn't flinch. "Beryl the Contortionist, and a bloody good one, too. She used to come around and help deliver wine from her grandparent's vineyard before she joined up. She was already pretty flexible before joining and training with the other contortionists over the years really did wonders. I've never seen another human being bend like Beryl. Beryl may not look like much with those glasses on, but she can twist in ways you've never dreamed of!"

The two men nodded to each other and then walked over to a small crate. On top of the crate were old flyers advertising circus acts. "Yep, it's them…" The Leader's Lackey said softly, lifting the pile gently. The young man shifted through the flyers and picked up each one. Each one advertised each servant's act with unneeded grandeur. "Why does your employer want these people? They sound like more trouble than they are worth."

The Bandit Leader sniffled and growled softly. "They owe a debt that only their lives can repay. You know the old saying about burning your bridges? Well, when they suspected that the Ringleader was up to no good, those deserters hatched a plan. They took what little they had, whatever the Ringleader didn't sell to pay off his debtors, and burned everything to the ground. Our employer lost everything. He didn't even get to claim the insurance on his business because it was believed he started the fire himself. He knew it was them. They started the fire in some kind of blind revenge and left him to die. He wants them to pay for ruining him and he's paying handsomely to get them back alive."

Nodding, The Leader's Lackey looked at the posters again. These five people caused a lot of trouble and they were worth more than he could imagine. Their only obstacle was Reaver. Their plan was to wait until night and sneak up on them. The less they had to deal with Reaver or his Dragonstomper .48, the better. "We'll need to be careful. These aren't just any old servants. They happen to be under the employ of Reaver and he's very protective about his 'possessions'. We wait until nightfall, and then we get the band ready. I'd bet they will go down fighting to protect Reaver and each other. We sneak up on them and that's when we strike."

Deciding to bide their time, the two men sat on the cliff and watched.

After Miss Sarah had left their line of sight, the other servants gathered together. The servants seemed to be plotting something as well. "Mr. Hatch told me to keep Miss Sarah busy until the surprise is ready, which should give you guys time to set up. Remember, we have a tight schedule to stick to." said Willa, barely tall enough to be in the huddle. "Does everyone know what to do?"

The others nodded. Willa nodded too and with a directorial leadership, clenched her fists. "Alright, Rosie and Gordon will set up the decorations. Remember, Miss Sarah likes orchids and lilac flowers so find a way to incorporate them." Willa pointed to Rosie, who nodded along with Gordon. "Beryl, you're in charge of music. Mr. Reaver recently bought one of those new-fangled 'gramophone' things and it's supposed to play music. Set it up in the agreed upon spot and make sure it works." Beryl nodded as she fixed her glasses. "I've expertly tricked Miss Sarah into making her own surprise dinner, so when Miss Sarah leaves the kitchen later to 'help' Mr. Hatch with something, I'll sneak it out. Does everyone remember where to set everything up?"

The servants nodded again. "On the hill in the clearing before going to Driftwood; it's been cleaned up and the bandits should be gone." The others said in unison. Willa nodded and folded her arms.

"What will you have me do, Little Bit?" asked Reaver. The servants shrieked in terror, not realizing their boss had snuck into their huddle. With a smirk and a soft guffaw, Reaver stood up straight and fixed his vest. The servants just stared at him. "I say, I hate to be left out of the festivities. I see why all the chores were done early and why everyone has been standing around all day. It seems Miss Sarah and I have been left out of the loop." Reaver bent down slightly to Willa's eye level. "You know I don't like being left out of things in my own home. So, what can I do to keep Hatch from falling over his own feet tonight?"

Willa swallowed loudly. "Well, Mr. Reaver, we've got everything covered. But if you want to escort Miss Sarah up to the clearing so Mr. Hatch has more time to get ready…"

Reaver laughed loudly. "I'll keep the dear occupied, don't worry about that. But there is something I must discuss with you all." Reaver stood up straight, watching his servants stand in attention. "It has occurred to me that certain…future events are going to disturbed the odd balance we've somehow become accustomed to. Now, my lovelies; I don't like change, but it is something that can't be avoided. I've seen it, I've lived it, and I've even fought it on one occasion I choose not to mention. But know this: I support love in all its fashions. Personally, I think the entire idea of Hatch even being worthy of someone as sweet and lovely as Miss Sarah is ludicrous in itself. It's been established that he feels strongly for her and my dears, this next part breaks my heart. If tonight goes as horribly as I expect it to, one of them will have to go…"

The servants gasped. Reaver shook his head and placed his hand over his heart. The very idea that Reaver's heart could break was the ludicrous idea. "I'm sorry, my doves; but I refuse to sit through any awkwardness and bad blood between servants. I've seen it before and trust me when I say that the mess, metaphorical and physical in the last case I remember, is not a fun one to clean up. I still have no idea how they got blood on the ceiling, but that's a story for another day."

Reaver sighed, as if he was actually dreading making such a hard decision. "Hatch has been my loyal assistant for years, but Miss Sarah is the best cook I've ever had. I really don't feel like hiring new people for either job, but if it keeps the status quo from shifting then it is an undertaking I will have to…well, undertake." Reaver chuckled a bit and looked at his servants with a devious glint in his eyes. "Depending on how bad tonight goes, I might have to get rid of both! Think about that tonight when you're setting up your little celebration. I will be inside…waiting for this entire event the crumble around your feet."

The servants looked at each other with worried looks. "Damned if we do, damned if we don't." Gordon sighed, wiping the sweat from his brow. "I think the pressure is on now, you guys. If things go bad tonight, and let's face it we've all accepted that it probably will, both Mr. Hatch and Miss Sarah could lose their jobs. We promised to stick together no matter what happens, and that means if Miss Sarah goes, we go. It also means being out of a job again. So, let's work to make this night perfect!"

The others nodded in agreement. "Okay, let's do this!" Willa shouted excitedly. The servants ran off in their own separate directions.

Inside, Barry left his room, making sure no one was around. He made sure his gift was still in his pocket before tip-toeing out of the hallway. He pressed himself against the doorframe and made sure no one was in the dining room. Counting to three, Barry stepped lightly and made his way to the doorway leading to the stairs. He slowly made his way down the stairs and stood in the middle of the foyer. Thinking stealthy, Barry hopped behind a house plant and then behind a nearby chair.

The door to the kitchen was open slightly, meaning Miss Sarah was not there or she was just finishing her cleaning. Barry slowly made his way to the door and opened it slightly wider. The kitchen was empty which meant he was in the clear. Miss Sarah was nowhere around and now he had time to get his surprise ready. "Good, everything is clear. Now things can get started."

"What can get started, Mr. Hatch?" Miss Sarah chirped from behind Barry. Barry jumped in surprise, turning around fast. Miss Sarah was holding an armful of dish rags and her apron looked dirty. "I spilled some of Mr. Reaver's lunch on the counter and I went to get more dish rags. Is there something you need from the kitchen?" she asked, making her way past Barry.

Barry, trying not to panic, swallowed loudly. "NO! I mean…no, Miss Sarah. I'm just doing my rounds. Carry on…" Barry stepped backward a few steps and ran outside.

Miss Sarah cocked an eyebrow and put her hand on her hip. "Why is everyone acting so strange today?" Miss Sarah asked herself as she cleaned off the counter. She heard the front doors slam shut and the sound of boots running away against the pavement outside. "It feels like everyone is avoiding me." Miss Sarah put her hand on her forehead and counted to three in her thoughts. "I'm not sick, and I think I'd remember if my dress was tucked into my stockings again." Miss Sarah turned her head to examine her backside.

It was at this time that Reaver walked in. "Tuck your dress into your knickers again, Miss Sarah?" he asked as Miss Sarah turned to face him. Miss Sarah straightened up her uniform. Reaver watched Miss Sarah as she finished cleaning up the kitchen. Miss Sarah was a little nervous about being watched while she worked, but she couldn't shoo away her own boss. Reaver leaned against the now clean counter and smiled at Miss Sarah every time she passed by him.

"Are you still hungry, Mr. Reaver?" she asked softly, putting a now clean bowl away.

Reaver shook his head. "Oh, I'm quite full from that delicious lunch you made. I was just thinking how someone hasn't snatched you up and made you a married woman yet." Reaver chuckled softly. Miss Sarah blushed and continued to clean. "I must admit, though; the very idea of someone stealing the best cook I've ever had makes me somewhat…jealous. I feel dirty thinking about you cooking for someone else, Miss Sarah. I do hope you'll promise to never leave my kitchen." Reaver lean backward onto the counter and smiled an upside down smile at his cook.

Miss Sarah laughed softly and waved him off the counter. "Mr. Reaver, I don't think me or the others are leaving anytime soon. This is a good job and you pay well. For the first time since we left the circus, I've actually been able to put some money away in savings in case of emergencies."

Reaver smiled a wicked smile and walked around the counter. Miss Sarah was just finishing up when she turned around to Reaver being uncomfortably close to her. "Miss Sarah, your role in this house is about to change and I do believe I'm scared of it. Change is something I'm used to, but it's not something I like. Granted, change is inevitable but I want to make it clear that sometimes change is bad." Reaver lifted Miss Sarah's chin with two fingers and smiled a smile that oozed evil. "Miss Sarah, I like the status quo here in Lakeview, but just remember when you have to make any life changing decisions today, tomorrow, or even, shall we say, tonight, that you and the other party aren't just effecting your own lives."

Miss Sarah instinctively puckered her lips, but Reaver left her standing there wanting. Wanting for what, she didn't know. "I guess Lakeview Manor is in need of a lady of the house, yes?"

Reaver left the kitchen, leaving Miss Sarah blushing. "Lady of the house?" she asked herself. Miss Sarah blushed deeper at the thought of being any closer to her boss than she was just a few minutes ago. In fact, the very idea seemed to make her stomach turn. Miss Sarah wasn't much of a drinker, but she soon found herself taking a small nip of the cooking sherry.

Outside, the servants marched up the hill toward the clearing where the gypsy camp used to be. Gordon carried the table, Rosie dragged the two chairs, Beryl fumbled with the gramophone (it was heavier than she thought it would be), and Willa carried a box of decorations. Barry was already in the clearing, waiting. "Alright, good; let's get this show on the road." He murmured, directing everyone where to go. Gordon cleared away any spare twigs and branches from the area while Rosie decorated the table.

"The orchids and lilacs haven't bloomed yet, but we have plenty of sweet peas and gardenias. They are her third and fourth favorite flowers." Rosie explained to Barry, holding up a basket containing the mentioned flowers. Barry sighed and motioned where Rosie could spread the petals. Rosie plucked some petals off some of the flowers and started sprinkling them on the bridge. Rosie stopped in the middle of the bridge when something across the lake caught her attention.

A light swinging with the breeze could be seen and Rosie felt something familiar about it. It reminded her of the lanterns she and the others used to keep on their wagons when their old circus traveled. Rosie sometimes found herself missing her old wagon from the circus, but not the lantern that hung outside. Rosie often wondered what she would do if she ever found herself out of Reaver's service. She wondered if the other servants thought about it too.

Rosie smiled softly remembering how happy she was traveling to each new city in her little circus wagon. She didn't miss the old circus, not by a long shot; but people would always stop by her wagon when she was finished setting up to receive a fortune. Her craft was spotty at best back then, and though she had been practicing, Rosie still felt uneasy about telling people their futures. Being a seer was a risky business and most people have tried to use her abilities to their own gain. Rosie, not surprisingly, caught on very quickly.

Resuming what she was doing, Rosie kept the light in her peripheral vision. Something was off about that light and she didn't like it. Before she could finish, Rosie dropped her basket and grabbed her head. Her eyes went blank and she fell to her knees. Beryl, who was helping Willa put up some strings of flowers, saw Rosie fall to her knees. Beryl let go of the ladder that held Willa up and ran to Rosie. Willa soon found herself without a ladder and swinging her little legs to keep from falling from the tree.

Not noticing Barry running to help Willa, Beryl helped Rosie up. "Rosie, what's wrong? You've been acting strange all day." Beryl murmured. Rosie dusted herself off and looked down at Beryl. Rosie easily towered over Beryl. "Rosie?" Beryl waved her hand in front of Rosie, trying to get her attention.

"Beryl, have you ever wondered what you'd do if you left Mr. Reaver's employment?" Rosie asked. Beryl shook her head, wondering where Rosie was going with this. "If we do end up leaving, I think I might want to start traveling again. Like we used to in the circus, remember?" Rosie picked up her basket and finished tossing the rest of the petals on the bridge. "Maybe I'll take some of my savings and buy a wagon from one of those 'Eco-warriors' that live in Driftwood and travel Albion again."

Rosie left Beryl by the bridge with a confused look on her face. Noting that the sun was setting and it would be time for Miss Sarah to come out soon, Beryl decided to give the gramophone a try. Barry had her set it up under the tree where the table was going to go. Before she could get past the first post, two hands emerged from the bushes and grabbed Beryl. One hand was covering her mouth, keeping her from screaming. The hands yanked Beryl into the bush without a sound.

The sun was starting to set and everything was almost ready. "Where is Beryl?" Barry shouted, dusting off the table. Reaver, who decided to join them (but not actually help in any way), sat in one of the chairs at the table with Reavie on his lap. He was enjoying watching everyone do all the hard work, which is why he employed the servants in the first place. Reavie jumped from Reaver's lap and onto the table, licking her right paw. Barry stopped and glared at the cat. "Reavie, off!" he shouted, pointing in no particular direction. Reavie just stared at him and went back to cleaning herself.

Reavie looked at Barry after a few seconds and gave him her famous, "I'm Reaver's cat and I'm better than you" look. Reaver, who helped himself to the wine Willa brought up, chuckled softly. Reavie wrapped her tail around her legs and lay down on the table. Barry grabbed the cat by her nape and placed her on the ground. When Barry turned around, she jumped right back on the table. Reaver laughed loudly and stood up. He looked around and noticed he was indeed a servant short (not counting Miss Sarah).

"Beryl?" he shouted, trying to look concerned. "Maybe she went to go get Miss Sarah. She should know I've got that job. Tell Little Bit that I'm going to go fetch Miss Sarah and that she needs to go sneak the food out soon." Reaver left the clearing and went towards the manor. Willa followed behind closely.

After a few minutes Barry turned to see Willa running toward him, huffing loudly, carrying a large silver platter over her head. "Here's the food. She already had it on the platter with the lid closed." Willa shouted, out of breath. Barry lifted the silver platter lid and glared at Willa. Barry kept the lid close to him as Willa looked down. "I was wondering why it was so light…" Willa murmured, realizing there was nothing on the platter. "Or a better version of this story would be she was preparing the platter and the roast wasn't finished."

Barry didn't have to say anything. Willa smiled nervously and ran down the path carrying the platter. Willa reached the bottom of the hill when two shadows caught her attention. She looked behind her and cocked an eyebrow. "Hey, who's there?" she asked. She didn't have time to react, though she tried to distract the two by throwing the platter at them. Before she could do anything else, she had a big hand on her mouth and a rope around her body.

Gordon looked over at Barry, who kept looking at his pocket watch. Willa shouldn't have been gone this long. Rosie finished setting up the gramophone and looked over at Barry. Reavie was still on the table, giving Barry a nasty look. He tried to shoo her away, but Reavie didn't budge. He finally gave up and sighed. Barry reached into his pocket and pulled out his gift to Miss Sarah. "Do you think she'll like it?" Barry asked the cat, as if expecting a response.

Eventually, Gordon left and came back with the dinner Willa never brought up. "I didn't see Willa or Beryl anywhere. I wonder where they got to." Gordon murmured to Rosie, as she finished setting up the table. "I know Miss Sarah is going to have a fit once she sees the roast missing."

Gordon decided the table needed some roses and went off toward the manor again. The garden was quiet, which would have been a more perfect spot for Barry's surprise. Gordon tried to convince Barry to have it in the garden, but Barry couldn't be persuaded otherwise. He claimed there was something magical about the clearing where the gypsy camp used to be and he wanted Miss Sarah to feel it tonight. Gordon rolled his eyes and started collecting roses.

Reaching for another set of pruning shears, Gordon found it odd that his spare set wasn't on the table he normally put them on. He didn't have time to think about it when a shovel smacked him on the head, knocking him out. Gordon let go of the roses as the world went dark and two men dragged him away.

"This is a disaster!" Barry shouted to Rosie, who finished preparing the two meals. "Miss Sarah will be up here any minute and the other servants have bailed on me!" he panicked. Rosie sat in the chair next to his and patted Barry's back when he slumped over. Rosie caught the energy of something bad coming. She got up without a word and left the clearing. "And now she's leaving!" he shouted to Reavie, who was batting her little paw at the green box on the table.

Rosie kept walking until she made her way to the garden. She sat on a bench near some roses that had fallen on the ground. She sat in a lotus meditation position and closed her eyes. "I will not struggle." She said to the approaching shadows. "I know who you are and why you've come. You're under the employ of our former boss to retrieve us and the only thing standing in your way is Mr. Reaver. I will not fight you, because you will take me either way. But know this: you will fail and it will be your own incompetence, like always, that leads you to this failure." Picking up Rosie was easier now that she was in a meditative state. They knew to be wary of Rosie when she meditated, but they had a time table to fill and now only one remained.

On the hill, Barry opened and closed the gift box multiple times. Despite everything going wrong this evening, he still had hope for this. Reavie sat on the table and softly batted at the box with her paw. Barry took the box away and sighed softly. He took the gift from the box and stared at it longingly. As Barry smiled at the beautiful piece of art in his hand, something tickled his nose. He sniffled a little bit and finally let out a loud sneeze that knocked the gift from his hand and scared a few birds away.

"Oh no!" he shouted, diving for the gift. Reavie jumped in front of him and knocked the gift across the ground. "Hey, stop it!" Barry shouted, chasing Reavie and his gift. Reavie picked up the gift in her mouth and started running toward the bridge. "Get back here you damn cat!" Barry yelled, giving chase.

Reavie darted across the bridge and down the hill, finally stopping at the manor after a long chase. Before Reavie could think up her escape, Barry grabbed her up and gripped her tight. "Alright, you little bother; hand it over!" Barry demanded, squeezing Reavie tightly. He was expecting Reavie to give it back but in the little cat's panic, the unimaginable happened.

Scared to death, Reavie swallowed Barry's gift.

Barry stood there, holding the cat with outstretched arms. The only sound being that of the wind from the storm coming in. Barry's eye twitched as the cat stared at him. The emotion coursing through him at the moment was unlike anything any human could comprehend or begin to comprehend. His entire body was number and his blood felt cold.

"You stupid cat! You swallowed Miss Sarah's gift!" Barry shouted, shaking Reavie. "Spit it up! Spit it up right now!" he shouted.

"Mr. Hatch, what are you doing?!" Barry heard a soft voice shout. Barry stopped shaking Reavie and turned to see Miss Sarah and Reaver, standing at the front door. Reaver, who found this amusing, chuckled softly while Miss Sarah thought the scene was horrifying. "What are you doing to poor little Reavie?" Miss Sarah cooed, running to Barry and taking the cat from him. Miss Sarah cooed softly and hugged Reavie close. "Mr. Reaver told me you had something for me, and I certainly hope it wasn't that spectacle!"

Reaver just stood back and laughed. Barry tried to defuse the situation. "Miss Sarah, I promise you, strangling the cat was not my intended idea. Reavie swallowed my gift!"

Miss Sarah snuggled Reavie close. "A gift?" she asked softly. "Reavie, do you have something for me?" Miss Sarah held Reavie up and shook her softly. Reavie just blinked. "Mr. Hatch, what could be so small that Reavie would want to eat it?"

Before Barry could say another word, the sound of a gunshot caught their attention. The two looked at Reaver, who patted his sides. "Well, don't look at me, my doves. For once, I'm not the one who fired. I must say, whoever did sure has impeccable timing. That was getting awkward." Reaver moaned.

Miss Sarah gasped softly and pointed toward the gate of the manor. "I know you!" she shouted. Barry and Reaver looked in the direction of the gate and saw two men standing there with what looked like an army of bandits behind them. "You used to work for my old ringleader!"

The Bandit Leader laughed. "It's good to see you too, Miss Sarah. What's it been, 'bout a year or so since you and your friends burned your bridges and left? Not your bridges, but our tents! You and your friends owe a very substantial debt and we've been dispatched to make you lot pay. Come quietly, Sarah dear, and let's do this nice and painless like."

Miss Sarah didn't move. Barry got in front of her and motioned for her to stay behind him. Reavie, still in Miss Sarah's arms, hissed loudly at the bandits. Reaver decided to take it from here. "My good gentleman, let's all be civilized, shall we? Whatever debt my beloved circus rejects have incurred, I'm sure I can make them pay up. I'll just deduct it from their pay and you lot can leave my property without doing any damage. Now, let's all have a nice quiet sit down and discuss this like men, shall we?"

"The time for talk is over, you fop!" The Bandit Leader shouted. He whistled for The Leader's Lackey to get Miss Sarah and The Leader's Lackey obliged. "No amount of money can pay back what they owe. Their former boss wants to see them and settle the score himself!"

Reaver rubbed his chin, making a mental note to shave before we went to bed that night. "Well, that certainly is disappointing. And here I thought we could be rational adults. C'est la vie, I suppose. But I cannot allow you to take my servants. Miss Sarah, show them your brand please." Reaver clapped his hands into the air. Miss Sarah, sighing as she turned around, loosened her apron and pulled down the collar of her uniform to reveal her shoulder blade. "See? That is the official insignia of Reaver Industries. She and the others are my employees and I demand you return the others at once!"

The bandits looked at each other and laughed. "Come with us quietly, Miss Sarah, and we won't hurt your boss or lover boy over there." The Bandit Leader laughed.

Reaver smirked softly and patted his side. "Hatch, would you and Miss Sarah be dears and let me handle this insubordinate malcontent and his lackeys? I'll meet up with you as soon as I'm finished here. And Miss Sarah, when you find the others, tell them the damages done to my property for having to save their sorry hides once again is coming out of everyone's pay."

The Bandit Leader gave the bandits the signal and they started their attack. Barry grabbed Miss Sarah's hand and ran for the gate, dodging the oncoming bandits. The least of Barry's worries was his boss. Barry ran with Miss Sarah toward the path to the clearing he planned the special dinner in and stopped at the foot of the hill. Both of them were breathing heavily. "Should we go back for Mr. Reaver?" Miss Sarah asked right before the sounds of gunshots filled the air behind them.

"No, he's got it covered." Barry mumbled. "Miss Sarah, there's something I need to tell you and it's obviously not going to wait." Barry motioned for Miss Sarah to follow him up the hill. He wasn't surprised to see his planned celebration was in ruins, as if the place had been ransacked. "I planned all this for you, but as you can see it could have gone a lot better."

Miss Sarah put Reavie down at her feet and glanced at Barry. They didn't notice Reavie hissing at something in the bushes. Barry swallowed hard and took Miss Sarah's hands in his own. "Miss Sarah, I wanted to have everything ready for you and I wanted this to be a magical night not just for you, but for everyone. I decided that someone else's routine wasn't going to rule my life anymore. Miss Sarah, I wanted to thank you for the advice you gave me and I wanted you to know that…"

He was having trouble with the words, but Barry knew he had to say it. "Miss Sarah…I…" Barry was fighting with his words and didn't see Miss Sarah cover her mouth and hold back a scream. He did, however, feel the shovel hit him on the head and felt himself hit the ground. Barry felt the world spin as everything started to go black. He saw some forms grab Miss Sarah and her screams were somewhat gargled as Barry attempted to stay conscious. He felt himself being lifted up and then nothing but black.

A few hours later, Barry awoke to the feeling of the ground moving. He attempted to bring his hand up to rub his throbbing head but immediately noticed they were tied to his side. He was also tied to something. "Well, it's about time you rejoined the living, Hatch. I was getting a little bored sitting here attempting conversation with the walls." That something was someone, and that someone was his boss. Reaver and Barry were tied back to back and inside a moving wagon.

Barry shook his dizziness away and looked around. "How did…how did we get here?" he asked, still somewhat slurring his words. Barry looked around and saw a small cage in the corner containing Reavie. What their captors wanted with her, he didn't know.

"Well, we were tied together and now we're awaiting our ultimate fate." Reaver answered simply. "They clonked you on the noggin with a shovel and tied us together."

"How did you get captured, Master?" Barry asked, attempting to struggle against the binds.

"I'd rather not talk about it. Not my finest moment, let's just say." Reaver answered simply. "They took my gun and my hat…" he pouted. Reaver looked attempted to struggle out of the binds as well. "Well, this marks the third time I've been tied up and left to the elements. Last time I was left in the middle of a swamp in my underpants. Ha-ha! Such jolly good fun that was finding my way back! Remember that day, Hatch?"

Barry nodded, still recovering from a headache. "It was the day I learned how to handle a blowtorch. At least this time it's not steel chains." Barry mumbled, resting his head against the wagon wall. Barry sighed and thought about the wasted evening. The dinner was ruined, his surprise was eaten by a cat, and now he was tied to his boss awaiting his fate.

"Oh, woe is Reaver! To end a magnificent life such as mine in a way! I always figured, if the day came that I did die, it'd be in my bed; covered in beautiful men and women." Reaver sighed softly and looked longingly out the single window the wagon had. "Truth be told, Hatch; I always figured you'd be beaten to death over a bad poker game."

While Barry could see that happening, he knew his preferred way to die wasn't being tied to his boss during the actual act of dying itself. Barry figured the universe decided to play one more cosmic practical joke on him before it completely ruined the evening. "I wonder if the others are okay…" Barry murmured as the wagon came to a halt. "I wonder what kind of fate awaits them. I'm also curious as to what kind of fate awaits us as well. I suppose we'll find out in a bit."

"Now, Hatch, try to think of the positives: You've lived a pretty conventional and pedestrian life up until now so you really aren't leaving much behind. You didn't have a chance to make an ass out of yourself in front of the woman you love, so there's that too. And best of all, you get to die being tied your magnificent and distinguished boss, Reaver. Personally, I couldn't think of a better way to leave this mortal plain. You shall be the envy of all the wretched souls that await us in the eternal abyss."

Now Barry was hoping whatever fate these bandits had in store for him was quick and painless. The wagon door swung open and the two men were met by a thunder clap. Of course it would start raining, when wasn't it raining in Albion? The bandits wasted no time dragging the two tied up men toward a cliff overlooking a canyon. Reaver wasn't sure exactly where they were, but knew it couldn't be too far as the wagon trip only lasted a few hours. The bandit leader had Reaver and Barry strung up on an industrial hook attached to a wench and pulley. The servants, all in individual cages, were taken off another wagon.

The bandit leader smiled and took out Reaver's hat. Reaver growled when the leader put the fine silk hat on his mop of a head. "We'll rest here for the night. In the morning, we take you five to the ship and it's off to a lovely reunion. But first, you lot get to watch your boss and the red-headed lover boy over there drop to their doom. We'll head to the docks in the morning. I know a gun shop around there that will pay top gold for this lovely piece and not ask questions." The bandit leader took out Reaver's Dragonstomper .48 and unloaded the bullets onto the ground. This infuriated Reaver even more.

The servants, with panicked looks all around, murmured their disapproval and concern for Reaver and Barry. The servants were far from the cliff's edge, but not much safer. They were each in their own individual cages, trying to think of any way out. Reavie was still in the small bird cage, hanging from a light post. Only Rosie seemed calm, as she sat on the floor of her cage in a meditative state. Miss Sarah kept her eyes locked on Barry and her hands over her heart.

"Well, look at it this way, Hatch…" Reaver murmured to Barry, as they swung over the canyon suspended by a rope.

"Hurry up, Hatch. I want to die with a little dignity if you don't mind." Reaver shouted, staring at the rushing water below.

Barry swallowed and stared directly at Miss Sarah, who was now leaning against the bars of her cage. "Miss Sarah…"

"Miss Sarah…" Barry shouted over the sounds of the rushing water below and the storm approaching. While he wanted to do this in private, Barry knew that he'd never get this chance ever again and decided it was all or nothing right now. He swallowed hard and looked around, deciding everyone might as well be paying attention.

"Miss Sarah, I was trying my hardest to make this night special for you, because you deserve it. From the moment I met you, I knew you'd have a huge impact on my life. I knew I wanted to devote my entire life to making you happy and seeing you smile. Miss Sarah, I love you…"

Though no one was surprised by this revelation, Miss Sarah still gasped softly. Reaver scoffed and looked below, wondering how long it would take them to fall from this height. Barry ignored Reaver's sounds of disapproval and stayed focused.

"When you and the others first walked into the manor, I had no idea how much my life would change. Every morning when I greet you in the kitchen, it fills me with such unimaginable joy to see you smile. Every evening when we say good night and go down separate hallways, it breaks my heart because I'm not falling asleep next to you. You are the most beautiful woman I have ever met and no one can begin to compare to you in my eyes. Your kindness and your sincerity only add to it your loveliness. To me, you're the perfect woman and I don't care who disputes me because I'll argue it until the day I die. I know don't deserve your friendship and I certainly don't deserve your affection, but I want you to know before I die this horrible death that I have always loved you and not even the cold embrace of death can change that. I could die like this now, but I need to know, even if it's only for a minute that I have this joy because then it would make my death less meaningless. Miss Sarah…"

Barry swallowed hard, mustered up all his nerve, and finally shouted with all his might: "I LOVE YOU, SARAH! WILL YOU MARRY ME!?"

Wide-eyed, everyone (Bandits included and Reaver to the best of his abilities) stared at Barry. No one was sure what to make of this. Barry felt like a fool, but at least he finally got a chance to say his peace before the rushing water in the canyon below claimed him. It went quiet and the wind blew louder as the storm started to set in. The awkward whistling gave him little comfort and Barry sighed softly, finally feeling defeated. Barry felt his words were wasted until he heard happy whimpering coming from the area of the cages.

Miss Sarah, crying tears of joy, cupped her hands over her heart. "Oh, Mr. Hatch! Yes! Yes, a million times, yes! Yes, I will marry you!" she shouted, blowing a kiss to Barry.

Laughing triumphantly, Barry wiggled around in his ropes. "S-She…she said yes!" he shouted behind him at Reaver. Reaver groaned softly and rolled his eyes. The servants clapped awkwardly, considering they were still in cages. Rosie hadn't moved since being put in her cage though no one seemed to be paying attention to her anyway. Barry kicked his legs up a few times in his celebrating. The Bandit Leader decided to cut the celebration short. "She said yes!" Barry kept repeating. "She said…"

The Bandit Leader kicked the lever, dropping Reaver and Barry into the canyon. "YEEEEEeeeesssss…" Barry's voice echoed off the canyon as they fell.

"Mr. Hatch!" Miss Sarah shouted, reaching her hand out of her cage. Finally moving for the first time in hours, Rosie's eyes jolted open, glowing brightly. With a push of her arms, a violent force yanked all the doors off each of the cages, freeing the servants.

Not needing instructions, the servants attacked the bandits with whatever they could find. Willa yanked a bar off her cage and plowed her way through the bandits, making her way to the lever. Gordon grabbed a nearby tree branch and stood in front of Rosie's cage, fending off any bandits that tried to interrupt her concentration. He didn't know what Rosie was doing but he didn't want her to stop. Beryl leaped and bounded over and under her pursuers until she found herself cornered. When they charged her full force, Beryl waited for just the right moment to do a full split and lay herself flat on the ground. Her pursuers found themselves inadvertently running off the cliff. Reavie attached herself to a bandit's face and shrieked loudly as she attacked with her claws unsheathed.

Willa, after beating the bandit guarding the lever senseless with her weapon, grabbed the lever and started to pull it. She had to do it slowly, knowing the sudden jolt would snap Reaver and Barry's necks. Of course, the sound of the rope snapping made that a moot point.

Their yelling getting more distant, Reaver and Barry faced an inescapable doom. They soon felt themselves slow down, as an odd aura surrounded them. The force felt familiar and in their minds, both men agreed it was Rosie. Rosie's eyes stopped glowing and she fell against the bars of her cage. "I…I don't have the energy to…" Rosie yawned.

The aura dissipated and the men started falling again. Miss Sarah tried to focus on the task. Being a former magician's assistant she knew a few tricks, but had never made anything bigger than a rabbit or a deck of cards appear before. Knowing that now wasn't the time to point out her own shortcomings, Miss Sarah decided to try something she had never tried before. She closed her eyes, concentrated deeply on Reaver and Barry, and clapped her hands together loudly. Her clap echoed all around them. In a puff of smoke, Reaver and Barry appeared above the servants and immediately fell to the ground with a loud thud. Willa and Beryl ran to their boss and untied him and Barry. Gordon helped Rosie up and met with the others.

"Mr. Reaver, are you two alright?" Willa asked as Reaver shook the ropes off.

"Surely you jest, Little Bit." Reaver scoffed, dusting himself off. "Unless you weren't paying attention, Hatch and I were about to meet our grim demise at the bottom of the canyon." Reaver looked around and heard the scampering of the retreating Bandit Leader. Grabbing a dagger off a nearby knocked out bandit, Reaver took aim and tossed the dagger with such precise aim, it hit the Bandit Leader in the back of the neck. He fell hard and didn't move. Reaver slowly walked over to the Bandit Leader and reclaimed his hat and gun.

Picking Reavie off the bandit she attacked, Miss Sarah slowly walked to Barry and smiled. Both blushing softly, Barry took Miss Sarah's free hand and held it tight. "The offer still stands, Sarah…" he murmured softly. Miss Sarah leaned her head on Barry's chest and sighed happily.

It was at that time that Reavie decided to cough up the ring she had swallowed earlier that evening. Barry knelt down and after wiping it off with his sleeve, presented the beautiful diamond ring to Miss Sarah. After shifting Reavie about, Miss Sarah presented her ring finger and Barry slowly put the ring on it.

Reavie wiggled herself free and ran to Reaver, who picked her up joyously. "Well, don't leave us in suspense you two!" Reaver shouted jovially, him and the other servants staring anxiously.

Barry held Miss Sarah closely, his forehead touching hers. Barry and Miss Sarah kissed passionately as the rain finally started to fall. The group cheered as the thunder roared and the lightning lit up the sky. When Reaver decided he didn't want to get wet, the group started to walk home. A little ways away from the campsite, they found the bandit's wagon still intact with the horse still attached. Gordon helped everyone into the wagon and sat in the coach's seat. He snapped the reigns and soon they were off.

It took a few hours, but Reaver and his servants finally returned to Lakeview Manor. Barry and Miss Sarah lingered a bit outside, after Reaver jokingly warned them not to stay out too late. The two stood in the front of the manor, watching the storm clouds dissipate and reveal the crescent moon. Miss Sarah leaned her head on Barry's shoulder and held unto his arm tightly.

"I suppose I'll have to get used to not calling you 'Mr. Hatch' from now on, Mr.-…I mean, Barry." Miss Sarah giggled, tightening her grip on Barry's arm. Barry sighed happily and took Miss Sarah's free hand in his. He wished it had gone better, but all that matter to Barry was the conclusion of the evening. The diamond ring glistened softly in the moonlight. He had spent almost his entire savings on the perfect ring just for her, and with Miss Sarah on his arm, Barry knew it was money well spent.

"I'll write my mother tomorrow and let her know the good news. I know she'll be thrilled." Barry murmured. Barry kissed Miss Sarah's forehead and led the way back inside. He knew they would separate and go to their own respective rooms when they got inside, but Barry couldn't be happier at the moment. In a few short weeks, he and his beloved Sarah would be sharing a bed and a life together.

But Barry didn't seem satisfied, even when Miss Sarah kissed him good night when they arrived back inside. He wanted Miss Sarah to feel special and decided she would get the proposal she deserved.

A week or so later

"Oh no, where is it?" Miss Sarah panicked, tearing her room apart. Her ring was missing and she tried to stay calm. She remembered having it when she took a bath the night before and she had only taken it off to make breakfast that morning. She was hoping to see it again when she came back from making breakfast.

Miss Sarah nearly tore open her pillows when Rosie finally came in to stop her. Miss Sarah's door was wide open. "What are you doing, Miss Sarah?" Rosie asked.

"My ring is gone!" Miss Sarah panicked. "That beautiful ring Barry got me is gone! I took it off this morning before I went down to make breakfast, but when I came back up it was gone! Oh, Rosie, he's going to be so mad at me! Help me look for it! I remember putting it on my nightstand, so maybe it rolled under the bed."

As Miss Sarah attempted to lift up her bed, Rosie stopped her and motioned for her to follow. Miss Sarah stood up and followed Rosie out of the servant's hallway. The memory of Barry's proposal was still fresh in Miss Sarah's mind, and though she said yes, she was slightly disappointed that it wasn't more romantic. The bandits had been dealt with and Reavie didn't attempt to eat the ring again, but Miss Sarah knew that when it came to things around the manor, she had to take what she could get.

She sighed softly and looked at Rosie before they descended the stairs to the foyer. "Rosie, can I tell you something?" Miss Sarah asked. Rosie nodded as they stopped at the top step. Miss Sarah rubbed her arms and let out a soft hum. "I do love Mr. Hatch-…I mean, Barry, and I can't wait to be his wife. But is it selfish of me to wish the proposal was a little more…well, romantic?" she asked. "He was suspended over a chasm and looking at death in the eyes. I was hoping for a more poetic proposal, with flowers, and sunshine, and birds singing like in one of those romance books Mr. Reaver hides from us."

Rosie cocked an eyebrow and continued down the stairs. Miss Sarah giggled and stopped when they reached the bottom step. "Okay, so maybe the birds singing might be pushing it, but…"

"It's not selfish at all." Rosie finally said. "We both know the circumstances were unfavorable, but it is what it is. It doesn't matter how the proposal came about, all that matters is that Mr. Hatch meant every word that he said and he chose you to be his wife. Miss Sarah, you'll make a good wife to him. I'd say I've foreseen it, but you don't need to be a Fortune Teller to see how much you two care for each other."

Miss Sarah smiled and hugged Rosie tight. Rosie, not sure what to do, returned the hug and smiled. "Rosie, I've discussed this with Willa and Beryl and they seem to be supportive, if not somewhat jealous, but would you do me the honor of being my Maid of Honor?" Miss Sarah asked.

The two women stopped at the door. "Why me, Miss Sarah?" Rosie asked.

"When we first met at the circus, you were the only one who befriended me at first. You showed me the ropes around the circus, you helped me perfect my magic tricks, and you even introduced me to the others. You always seemed to know when trouble was around and you always came to our rescue when we needed you. Rosie, you were the first true friend I ever made that didn't want my family's favor or money. You truly wanted to be my friend and for that I am eternally grateful." Miss Sarah looked hopefully at Rosie.

Rosie smiled the biggest smile anyone had ever seen her smile. "Miss Sarah, it would be my honor. But we need to take care of something first…" Rosie opened the front doors wide, revealing the sunny spring day and the noise makers sounding off. Streamers had been set up around the front of the manor and the servants stood behind Barry and Reaver.

Miss Sarah looked around and giggled softly. With a shove from Reaver's foot, Barry stepped forward and took Miss Sarah's hand. He bent down on one knee and took Miss Sarah's ring from his coat pocket. It had been shined and buffed to perfection (if one ignored Reavie's teeth marks on the bottom).

"My beautiful Sarah, I promised I'd give you a perfect proposal and though it's not as elaborate as the one that was ruined, I hope you like it just the same." Barry looked up at Miss Sarah's smiling face as she looked around. Happy tears flowed down Miss Sarah's cheeks. Barry, who had fixed himself up in his best uniform, looked up at Miss Sarah with a big smile. "Sarah, will you marry me?"

Miss Sarah grasped softly. "Yes! Yes, Barry Hatch, I will marry you!"

Barry slipped the ring on Miss Sarah's ring finger and yelped loudly when he fell back from her embrace. The servants clapped loudly and ran to congratulate the couple formally. Reaver, holding Reavie, stood in his same spot. A million things were going through his mind but one thing he couldn't shake was the feeling that things were indeed going to change. Reaver, not one to share the spotlight, decided to make the best of this and find some way it will benefit him.

"Well, Reavie, it seems we have a wedding to plan." He mused to his cat. Reavie mewed softly. "Now, don't start getting sentimental my naughty kitty. I'm still in charge around here and I say we throw caution, and the status quo, to the wind!" Reaver started to walk toward his servants, a little unsure of what the future will hold. He was sure of one thing, though.

"This will be a Reaver party the likes Albion has never seen!"

N'cha, everyone!

So, it's come to this, has it? It looks like we've got ourselves a wedding to plan!

I should explain why this chapter (and a few of my other stories) is late. I've been going through some personal issues lately, along with some technical difficulties involving my car. I had to replace the entire ignition and trust me it wasn't fun. I've been emotionally and physical drained, which is why my updates have taken another back burner. But not to worry, I'm still going strong and I hope to finish off this story before Christmas.

You know, this story has a lot of significance to me. It was the first story I posted on and it's always had a special place in my heart. I do hope that this fic will have a special place in the hearts of all my fans, even after it ends.

So, what are we waiting for? We have a wedding to plan! And knowing Reaver, he will somehow make this all about him. Expect to see some old characters come back for the biggest Reaver party Albion has ever seen! The next few chapters include an adventure including an overeager mother-in-law-to-be and a dress, bickering bridesmaids, another love confession, a bachelor party gone horribly (and hilariously) wrong, and a little snippet chapter starring everyone's favorite pampered kitty, Reavie.

And now, I bid you all a good night! Review and be merry, all of you wonderful people! Review and let me know how I did and if you like, give me some ideas for this wacky wedding!

Reaver and Barry Hatch belong to Lionhead.