Chapter Ninety Five


A/N: I do not own anything other than my OCs when they come out to play. Everything else belongs to Disney or the Greek Myths.

So sorry for the wait you guys! Unfortunately with the new job and all, writing energy has been not exactly at 100%. Thank you all so much for your patience!

Hope you guys enjoy the chapter! Let me know what you think! :D


Evan reached over and took one of the scrolls.

"What do you think this one will be about?" Rose asked.

"Only one way to find out," Evan told her.

Claudine made her way back to the Haven, frowning slightly as she brushed a bit of hair out of her eyes.

"Oooo another Isle scroll!" Lonnie grinned.

It had been many days since the madness at the delivery barge and she hadn't seen hide nor hair of her brother.

"Is that really a bad thing?" Melody asked.

"Mel…Freddy's in Auradon. Remember?" Elle said softly.

At first, Claudine hadn't minded. It was less pressure to get Henry to commit to a fling when Fred wasn't glaring at her whenever she came back with bad news.

"So a day ending in y then?" Claudine sighed

"But…every day ends in 'y'," Squirmy said softly.

But they were going on day ten and no sight of Fred…

"How had we not found him yet?" Mal growled.

If it was anyone else, Claudine would think he was simply trying to avoid being caught by the Rats. After all, the whole Isle knew by now that Ryan's sister had been caught in that mess. Not to mention the fact that Fred's disappearance was casting a negative light on the Angels as a whole.

"The Angels as a whole had a positive light?" Uma asked. "The only positive part of the Angels was Claudine, Morgan, and Brooke."

Some of the gang less girls were even accusing the Angels of leading the poor girl to her death!

"They're not wrong," Evan pointed out.

Which...wasn't exactly something that was new for their gang. There was a reason why they were only the second ranked gang on the Isle, no matter how hard they tried to take the number one spot from the Rats.

"You mean, besides the fact that the Rats have bigger numbers than the Angels and have some of the best swords people on the Isle?" Uma asked.

Not only did the Rats have more people on their side but since they also put the younger VKs under their protection when they could, they garnered good will from even the kids who didn't have gangs.

"Treat your allies and minions well, you won't have to worry about them uprising against you," Hades said.

Ginny Gothel had taken to glaring at the Angel girls whenever they saw each other.

"Good for Ginny!" Rowyn said with a smile.

Rather brave considering Ginny had no gang and was reliant on the practice of flings for food to survive. Though, if Fred cut her off, Zevon was always an option...or she could go just go to the Rats. Even in mourning, the Rats would have just handed her the food.

"Of course we would," Henry nodded.

But Fred would be basking in the chaos he created not hiding from it, Claudine thought as she entered the Haven. After all, with Henry distracted and concerned for Ryan, this would be the ultimate opportunity for us to move in on their territory. God I hate the fact that I'm thinking even remotely like him.

"Sometimes…it's important to know how your enemy thinks," Shang said. "It allows you to strategize."

"Shayla, have you seen Fred?" Claudine asked one of the other girls as she walked into the main area of the Haven.

"Why would she want to?" Ruby shook her head.

"I haven't seen his Holiness for a few days," Shayla told her and Claudine resisted the urge to roll her eyes.

The group of readers had no such willpower.

"Seriously?" Phoebus asked. "Not even Frollo had us call him 'his Holiness'."

She'd forgotten about the title Fred was trying to get the other Angels to use. Thankfully, being second in command, Claudine was exempt from such things. Or rather, she made herself exempt.

"Good," Rowyn nodded. "Proves you've got a brain."

What was Fred going to do? Kick his own sister out of the gang?

"Do…do you really want to test him though?" Rose asked.

"Locklyn? Strat? Morgan? What about you?"

Malinda shook her head. "If his sister and his fling hadn't seen him, I doubt the rest of the Angels would have seen Freddy," she said.

"Claudine, you're his sister," Strat stated, rolling his eyes slightly. "If you haven't seen him, chances are we haven't seen him either. He's probably with whoever's his next fling of the month, celebrating the fact that the Rats are a mad house right now."

"Is…is that normal for him though?" Rose asked.

"It's Freddy, I don't think he knows the word normal," Mal shook her head.

"I know! Did you hear how Ryan screamed? God, how weak is he?" Locklyn cackled as Shayla whacked Strat over the head.

"Huh…I can't believe I'm saying this but good for Shayla," Uma nodded. "Strat should be whacked more."

Everyone knew that Fred had finally picked her to go a second month for a fling and it was the only thing Shayla had bothered talking about. Thankfully, Claudine noticed that Morgan at least looked uncomfortable with the topic.

"…Compliment to Shayla is retracted. Why would she go for a fling with Freddy and why would she do it twice?"

At least one of them remembers their roots, she thought with an inward sigh. To this day, Claudine had no idea how her brother had been able to persuade the former Rats to leave their crew and their food security for him. Well...she had one idea but it wasn't exactly something she liked to think about.

"The sad thing was, it probably is what we're now all thinking of," Mal said with a small sigh.

"Oh yes, let's celebrate the fact that a fourteen year old boy found his sister's body and had a negative reaction to that," Claudine said, rolling her eyes. "If that'd been you with Lacey, Locklyn?"

"Sadly, with the fact that Locklyn dragged Brooke to the Angels; someone she was supposed to care about and guard with her life…I doubt Lacey will gather much reaction from her," Uma sighed.

"Please, Lacey's Gia's shadow," Locklyn shook her head. "Besides, my sisters are all weak. They're trying to get Gaston to acknowledge them. The Angels are the only acknowledgment I need."

"And Gia would have killed Freddy if she even suspected he had anything to do with Lacey's hypothetical death," Hadie said.

"How do you know…?"

"Lacey's one of my allies," Hadie said with a small shrug at Uma's shocked question. "Ergo, so is Gia."

Keep telling yourself that, Claudine thought. Locklyn might talk tough but Claudine knew that if Gaston actually broke down and admitted he had daughters and that Locklyn was one of them, the red haired girl would drop the Angels like a day old loaf of bread.

"You have to feel a bit bad for Locklyn though," Evie said softly. "At least the other LeGume girls have their mothers. What parent does Locklyn have? A dad who doesn't acknowledge her and a mother who didn't want her?"

"How do you know that?" Emma asked.

"Locklyn hung out near the taverns before the crew was formed," Henry said. "It…it was pretty common knowledge that she was found as a baby in the alleys there. I think Piper was the one who found her from what my mom would tell me. The umbilical cord hadn't even fallen off, that's how young Locklyn was."

"Why didn't your mom take her in?" Claudine asked.

Henry shrugged. "I don't know. But if I had to guess, she probably thought it might give my 'father's' argument as to why he didn't need to provide her aid some strength if she was seen with a baby who definitely hadn't been 'fathered' by him."

"We should probably look for Fred," Morgan said softly. "If he's in trouble, he could use us."

Malinda shook her head. "Even though I'm sure Freddy treats her horribly, she's still the one to suggest they look for him. Proof she never stopped being a Rat at heart."

"Um…"

"She cares about her gang," Malinda elaborated upon seeing the confused looks from the VKs.

And if he's wounded, we should find him before he becomes hyena chow, Claudine thought with an inward frown.

"Would that be a bad thing?" CJ asked.

"He could get the hyenas sick," Harry told her.

There was no love lost between her and her brother, and if he truly had caused the death of that young girl Claudine would probably have to write him off...but he was still her brother. Even if he wouldn't do the same for her, she wasn't going to let him die if she could help it.

"And that makes you a better person than Freddy could ever dream of being," Harriet said, giving Claudine a small smile.

"Locklyn, you stay here," Claudine ordered, slipping into her role as second in command. Locklyn was hopeless with a dagger anyway, her strength was first aid.

And because I couldn't face the LeGume girls if I did something that led to one of their sisters' deaths, Claudine thought. She knew there was some tension between the girls and understandably so but still. She wasn't going to cause Locklyn's death even inadvertently.

Especially now that Brooke was stashed away in her safe house. "Morgan, Strat, Shayla, go out and search for Fred. Stay in our territory though. We don't exactly have the resources to have a face off with the Rats right now."

"Sensible. Claudine may be 'off limits' but that doesn't extend to all the Angels," Harriet said.

"And what about you?" Shayla scoffed.

"I'm going to go and check in with my source. He can go into areas where we can't after all," Claudine stated.

"AKA go check with Henry," Jay said with a small chuckle.

Henry might know more about what's going on anyway. If Fred actually...the whole mess at the docks would have been perfect for Fred to use to escape the Isle. But he would have sent word somehow that he'd gotten off. Or even found a way to send for us.

"Would he? Would he really?" Harry asked.

Only a fool would try to confront Mal without backup. And her brother was many things but a fool he was not.

"I think you might be wrong about that," Neal said.

So it stood to reason that he was somewhere on this Isle. He had to be—and they needed to find him before the Rats did.

"Do you? Do you really?" Harry asked.

If he truly was behind the death of that young girl, of Ryan's sister...Ryan would be out for blood. And Claudine would understand but she wouldn't just stand by while they murdered her brother.

"You're a better person than I am then," Harriet shook her head.

"Hey!" Harry exclaimed.

"I meant if my brother was Freddy," Harriet explained.

"Ah…yeah that makes sense," Harry nodded.

Would she fight all that hard to protect Fred? Probably not. But at least then Fred would die in a fight. It'd be self defense for the Rats and no one would go after Henry in retaliation.

"Clearly you haven't met Shayla then," Jay muttered.

"What are you all just standing around for?!" Claudine barked as she realized that the other Angels were still in the Haven. "Go!"

Claudine sighed. "I hate having to break into my 'Fred' side," she muttered.

She held out her hand and grabbed Morgan's arm as the other Angels walked out of the Haven.

"What happened?" Ruby asked. "Is something wrong?"

"He doesn't know where Brooke is, does he?" Claudine asked in a low voice as soon as she was sure that the other Angels were out of earshot.

"He'd better not!" Harriet, Uma and Mal snarled.

That would be the one place Fred might have gone where the other Angels wouldn't know where he was. But it would be a good hiding place for him...and probably the nightmare of the youngest Angel.

"Not just your nightmare Brooke…" Malinda said softly.

"If he does, he never found out from me," Morgan promised. "I'm surprised Locklyn didn't ask about her, considering they joined together."

"Funnily enough I believe her," Henry nodded..

"She's got the brains of her father and the ego of her mother," Claudine scoffed, letting go of Morgan's arm.

"That's not too far off actually," Uma snorted in amusement.

"...do you really think Henry might have some idea as to where Fred is?" Morgan asked in a soft voice. Claudine sighed. Of all the Angels, Morgan was the only one Claudine even remotely trusted. Well one of two really but she didn't interact with Brooke enough to tell her about what Fred had planned.

"Don't tell her Claudine! This secret's too risky," Lonnie shook her head.

Plus, she was too young to hear about that sort of thing. The no flings until fifteen rule the Rats had was something that Claudine personally agreed with. Even if Fred did not.

"That much is obvious," Macaria said, shaking her head.

"Even if he doesn't, he should at least know we have no idea where our leader is," Claudine told her. "He'll be able to keep an eye out for him better than we can. Fifteen is more than six after all. He can give me any reports or possible sightings when we meet up."

"But…they do know where their leader is," Squirmy said softly. "Claudine's the leader!"

"How's that going by the way? Trying to get Henry to break his 'no flings' pact?"

Claudine sighed. "It's not. He's more stubborn than a mule!"

"That's accurate," Jay snorted.

"Hey!" Henry exclaimed.

Even though she hated it, she couldn't tell any of the Angels the truth about her relationship with Henry. If Fred were to find out...Henry would probably earn a one way ticket off the Isle. But there'd be no coming back. Not for him. Not if Fred has his way about it.

"Yeah well Mal would just go down to the Underworld and drag Henry back," Hadie said, crossing his arms to prove his point.

Henry may have his skills with a sword but Fred was more likely to play dirty. It was safer if all the Rats knew was that she was trying to seduce Henry for Fred.

"Err…wouldn't it be safer if it was all the Angels knew?" Emma asked. "The Rats would probably welcome you with open arms from what we've seen."

"I could have told you that," Morgan said with a small smile. "If he's anything like he was back when I was with the Rats...but even the most stubborn guy can get worn down. He's still a guy after all. He's got needs, and that need is almost a basic instinct really according to Fred. Just under the need for food and sleep."

"Yeah well, we don't really take what Freddy thinks much to heart," Evan muttered.

"Yeah," Claudine nodded with a small sigh. "Well, I should go. Last thing I need is for Fred to come back here and find out I didn't try to get Henry into bed."

"I can't believe I still have to hear that," James muttered.

Morgan gave her a small smile before running out of the Haven to catch up to the others. Claudine shook her head before grabbing a couple of her daggers just to be on the safe side. If one of the Rats who wasn't Henry found her...chances were they'd try to take her out because of what Fred did to Ryan's sister.

"They'd have to get through me first,'' Henry said, putting an arm round Claudine.

An eye for an eye and all that noise.

"An eye for an eye makes the whole world go blind," Belle said, her voice soft.

Never mind the fact that Henry's basically made me off limits in face offs and would probably kill any Rat who even caused me to have a paper cut , Claudine thought as she made her way down the familiar streets to Dragon Hall. Fred had been pleased when he heard about that development.

"Yeah well…I didn't do it to please you Freddy," Henry muttered.

To him, even though it was slow going, it meant that she was doing what she'd said she was doing.

"As I thought,'' Henry said, looking at the captains.

Fred need never know that Henry had basically made her off limits for two years, doing his best to disarm her before another Rat could.

"So…how'd he avoid hearing about Henry making Claudine off limits before then?" Emir asked. "You'd think one of the other Angels would have told him."

It was another rule Mal's gang had that the other gangs didn't. You don't hit an unarmed person. They're no threat to you after all.

James shook his head. "A noble rule but not the least bit true. Every human has two hands, two feet, two arms, and two legs. There will always be a weapon at their disposal if they're desperate enough."

Though, to be fair, the other gangs don't have as great of access to food. A weaker person isn't going to go after a stronger one, she thought as she climbed the stairs to the bell tower. Claudine couldn't help but hope Henry was still in there; having just left only half an hour ago herself.

Claudine sighed, wishing it wasn't so risky to go find Henry if he wasn't there.

"Henry?"

"Claudine?" Henry whispered and Claudine felt her heart soar. He hadn't left. "What's wrong?"

"Why must you ask me that everytime?" Claudine asked, giving Henry a sad smile.

Claudine sighed as she walked into the room toward him. "We haven't seen Fred in a few days. Not since the melee at the docks. You haven't...?"

"I think I can safely say that if the Rats had seen Freddy, you'd know," Uma said, glaring at the scroll.

"Trust me Claudine, if we'd seen Freddy, you'd know," Henry told her and Claudine could hear a bit of a growl to his voice. There would always be a feud between the Rats and the Angels but now it was almost cemented due to Ryan's sister.

"I'm pretty sure it was 'cemented' by Freddy trying to kill Mal when we were kids," Harry pointed out.

"How's Ryan doing?" Claudine asked, sitting down on the decrepit mattress. "I'm sure...after everything, he's got to be going through a rough time."

Esmeralda couldn't help but smile softly as she looked at Claudine. "It's sweet of you to think of him," she said.

"No one deserves that," Claudine told her. "To find their sibling that way."

Henry sighed and sat down next to her. "There was a time, about a week after we found Kristy's body...I was worried I was going to wake up and…"

CJ shook her head and Harry gently rested a hand on her shoulder. He was vaguely aware of what he was doing but…his little sister needed someone to comfort her more than he needed to hate her.

"I get it," Claudine said gently, softly rubbing his back.

"He's like a brother to me," he whispered. "And I couldn't do anything. This wasn't an enemy we could take out with swords. I couldn't just reach out and bring his sister back, and I couldn't get him interested in anything like he had been in the past. So I wrote to Mal."

"And yes Uma if this somehow happens again, I will write to you too," Henry said, shaking his head.

"Was she able to do anything?"

"She did something. She, the new guy, and Ry went over to Lord Hades' and when they came back...he wasn't magically better but there was a small spark back in Ryan's eyes. Now though he's determined to get his training underway. Derek made a joke the other day that Ryan's trying to best me in terms of how many hours he trains."

Harry and Jay both tilted their heads.

"That's possible?" Hadie asked in shock.

"Didn't you say your crew once said you train for eighteen hours a day?"

"Yep."

"You can't physically train for eighteen hours a day, you'd pass out," Ahkio said, shaking his head.

Claudine sighed and rested her head on his shoulder. Ryan was clearly trying to get ready for something. But what? And why hadn't he told Henry? The only thing she could think of was the fact that maybe he didn't want the crew to think him weak? After all if Locklyn was mocking Ryan for falling apart, it was possible others on the Isle were doing the same thing.

"And we would all like their names so we can teach them why that's a bad idea," Harriet said with a low growl.

"There's a rumor around the Isle that Fred's involved in that poor girl's death somehow," she said, breaking the silence.

"Involved..likely caused…" CJ growled, moving her hands like they were scales.

"I'm not surprised, especially since we haven't seen hide or hair of him for over a week," Henry muttered, holding her close to him. "Dustin, Jake, and Nick think he's off having a fling to celebrate hitting us with Kristy's death. Even if he didn't swing the sword himself, the fact that he's missing makes them think he's responsible somehow."

"But it sounds like you don't?" Rowyn asked, looking over at Henry.

"You don't?"

"Freddy's a sick bastard, and it's entirely possible he's responsible for Kristy's death, but isn't Shayla his fling of the month? He doesn't usually stop flings early unless they really displease him in someway."

"Ugh! I did not pay for those images!" Jay exclaimed.

"Jay? None of us paid for those images," Mal told him.

"Doesn't change the fact that I don't want to picture Freddy with his flings, Mal!"

Or they're far too young for that sort of thing but that was more my doing than his, Claudine thought thinking about Brooke. But all that would do would make Henry angry.

"You'd be right," Henry said, his voice low and his eyes darkening.

"So you really have no idea where he is?"

"I promise Claudine. If we had seen him, even in our territory, I'd have told you," Henry said, gently rubbing her back. "We had to chase Zevon out of our territory a few times, but not Freddy. Which...is a little alarming now that I think about it. I almost want to write to Mal but I know she's got that big dance thing coming up."

"I wish you could have been there Henry," Malinda said with a small smile. "You deserve a nice night."

And it would have been nice having your sword…though we did just fine without it, she thought.

"Has she said anything about it?"

"Apparently it'll be televised so we can watch if we really want," Henry sighed. "I know this is going to sound really Boreadony and I'm sorry about that...but there's a part of me that wishes we could have a night together like that."

You will and it'll be beautiful Henry, Malinda thought with a small smile as she thought about Henry and Claudine's wedding.

"Don't be sorry," Claudine said gently. "Even if it sounds 'boreadony' I think it's sweet. Besides, we're here alone. Who's going to find out what you said? The bells?"

"Sing the bells bells bells bells bells of Notre Dame," Emir grinned; as Ben, Ahkio, and Aziz shook their heads.

"Well I mean, they do like to ring loudly," Henry chuckled.

"Take it from me, they're good secret keepers," Claudine told him, gently kissing his cheek and running her hand through his hair. "Do people ever think you and Locklyn are siblings? Because of your red hair?"

Claudine I love you but don't put that image in my head, Henry thought.

"No, thank Gods," Henry shook his head. "Though I'm sure Gaston would be thrilled at the idea of a son roaming the Isle. A son other than the Gaston twins and Gil I mean."

"You got that right," James nodded his head.

"What does he have against women anyway?"

"To quote Harry, the man's an idiot," Henry shrugged. "Who knows what runs through his head?"

"Belle, from the number of times he rants about her," Harriet said.

Claudine couldn't help the small giggle that escaped her lips, a giggle that caused Henry to smile as he heard it. Even if he didn't know what sun felt like, he knew Claudine was his taste of it.

Claudine smiled and gently kissed his cheek. "You're my sun too," she said softly.

"...you should apply to get off the Isle," he said softly and Claudine looked over at him in shock.

"I'm not leaving you," Claudine said, shaking her head.

"It's safer for you to leave than it is me," Henry said. "And it's more risky for you to stay."

"I'm not leaving you," she told him. "The applications have already been sent in and I'm not taking a spot for a younger kid. We're both what? Nineteen? The younger kids are still innocent, they still have a life to live. If anything Ryan or CJ should have my spot. Or Brooke! Or didn't you say Sammy Smee had twin brothers?"

Squirmy shook his head and scooted closer to Smee. "I'm not leaving Papa!"

"And I'm not leaving Squirmy!" Squeaky said firmly.

"Squeaky and Squirmy," Henry nodded. "I'm pretty sure Mal's doing whatever she can to make sure they make it off the Isle but they'll be terrified without Sammy."

"It's not easy leaving someone who has been there your whole life," Kitty said softly.

"From what you've told me about Mal, she'll make sure they're put at ease," Claudine said, brushing some of Henry's red hair out of his eyes. "I don't care how much of a prissy princess I sound like Henry, I'm not leaving the Isle without you. I love you."

Henry and Claudine both froze, staring at the scroll in somewhat disbelief. That had not been something they'd expected their future selves to say.

She froze as she realized what she just said. Love. Such a word was forbidden on the Isle, having been the undoing of many a parent. But there was no denying the fact that she did love him. She felt safe in his arms and had more joy in just talking with him than she did when they kissed.

Claudine flushed slightly but didn't deny it.

"Her lack of denial disturbs me," James muttered.

That wasn't to say that she didn't get any enjoyment out of their kisses. But the days where they spent their hours just holding each other close and talking about the day to day activities of their gangs were the memories that brought her joy whenever the Isle tried to beat her down.

"Awww!" some of the more romantic AK's cooed

"I'm...I'm so sorry, I don't know what came over—."

"I love you too," Henry told her, his blue eyes shining with some sort of emotion that Claudine couldn't place. "No matter what, I will always love you Claudine. I've loved you since the first time I set eyes on you...which is why I want you to promise me. You will find a way off this Isle."

"Not without you," Claudine repeated, keeping her voice firm.

"Henry—."

"Claudine, if your brother finds out what we just told each other, he'll know that you've been lying to him about trying to get me to break my no fling rule," Henry said softly. "I can promise you shelter in the Rats but the only place where you'd be safest would be in Auradon."

Claudine shook her head, tightening her grip on Henry's shirt.

"Not if Fred's currently across the bridge," Claudine whispered as the thought entered her mind.

"Finally someone's realized it!" Akiho cheered.

"What makes you think he is?"

Claudine sighed. "Henry, Fred...Fred's been planning to escape the Isle. I know the likelihood of that happening is slim mainly because the Rats patrol the docks and that's really the only way off the Isle that isn't death. But…"

"Not sure I like that but," Phil Jr sighed.

"Phil? You do remember we know Freddy's in Auradon right?" Neal asked.

"But?"

"I don't know. Ever since the King's coronation, he's been like a hyena with a bone with his plan to get off of the Isle and to get to Auradon. The only reason why I think he hasn't gotten off yet is because he'd have sent for at least Shayla."

"Eh, not necessarily," Sammy said. "If Shayla had to twist Freddy's arm for a second shot at a fling?"

"You really think Freddy wouldn't jump at the chance for new fling opportunities? You know he turns his nose up at what he considers to be Zevon's sloppy seconds right?"

Mal, Jay, Harry, and Uma all turned to look at Henry in shock.

"What?" Henry asked.

"How do you know about 'sloppy seconds'?" Jay asked.

"I do. The more important question is how do you know that?"

"Good question!" Harry exclaimed.

Henry shook his head. "You do know I'm older than you, right Harry?"

Henry chuckled. "While I may not have flings, the other guys in the crew have a bunch of them. They know which girls have had flings with Freddy and which ones have had flings with Zevon."

"...It is a way to keep track of where they've been if they're suddenly seen with injuries…" Jay said softly.

"Fred and Zevon have had their rivalry almost as long as the Rats and the Angels," Claudine said softly, shaking her head. "If it wasn't for the fact that Zevon likes to use potions, I honestly think they might team up."

Malinda held back a shudder at the thought. Even though she'd had it confirmed by Quinn, it was still rather terrifying to think about.

"And on that terrifying note, are we really spending our limited time together talking about Zevon and Freddy and their flings?" Henry asked with a small chuckle as he leaned down on the mattress. Claudine smiled as he pulled her close and connected their lips with a tender kiss.

"At least it's a topic change," Phillip pointed out.

"Not one I'm happy about though," James muttered.

It was one of the things she truly loved about him. The fact that, despite being a hardened pirate of the Isle of the Lost, he was as gentle and tender as if he was a boy that had grown up in Auradon. Maybe it was because he had never been with a girl the way most of the other guys on the Isle had, maybe it was just his nature.

"I think it's just Henry's nature," Malinda said.

Whatever the reason, Claudine was glad he was the way that he was.

Gently pulling up his shirt and tossing it to the side, Claudine reached down and tugged slightly at the waistband of his pants.

"I'm sorry what?!" James exclaimed.

"Claudine...?"

"I'm not saying we need to go all the way," she murmured in his ear. "And not if you're not ready but you've had such a stressful few weeks. What with Ryan and Fred and I'm sure keeping us a secret hasn't been easy for you. Let me help you relax for a bit. I promise. This isn't for Fred or for me. Just for you."

Henry shook his head quickly, his face going red. "Claudine don't… I mean…I appreciate it but I really don't need anything…of that sort…"

"But...I don't know how...I won't be able to repay…"

"That's sweet Herny but you wouldn't need to" Claudine said, blushing just as much as Henry was.

"You don't need to Henry," she cooed, trailing kisses down his chest and abdomen. "But like I said, if you're not ready, we can just kiss. Or even just cuddle. I'm not going to force you."

Claudine shook her head. "I would never do that," she said softly.

The only reason she even knew about this sort of thing was because of the five times she'd walked in on Fred and his fling of the month. You'd think after time one she'd learn to knock but then you'd also think Fred would stop doing that sort of thing in the common area of the Haven!

"Under fifteens present!" Mal and Uma barked.

"So not something I needed to know!" Lonnie muttered.

"If...if you're sure..." Henry said softly. He knew in his heart that this wasn't a fling, that he would be with Claudine until he died if he was able. But there was just something so...he didn't like the idea of doing something like that right now. Not while Freddy was missing. Not while Ryan was grieving.

"And not while we're listening!" James exclaimed.

Claudine gave him a sad smile and rested her head on his chest. "And this is just one of the reasons why I love you," she said softly, as if she could sense what he was thinking about. "But if you're not comfortable with it, then I'm not comfortable with it."

"Good. Stay not comfortable with it," James muttered as both Henry and Claudine flushed bright pink.

Henry smiled and kissed the top of her head, holding her close. Both Rat and Angel sighed contently, happy to spend a few more stolen hours together in their little slice of paradise.

"Awww" sad coos go round again.

"That's the end of the scroll," Evan said. "Who wants to read next?"

"I'll go," Alexandria said with a smile.