At Sleepy Hollow Woods:

Loralee *muses over how Isabella has progressed.  Isabella has been with them for a few nights now, and although Delano was saddened by her new fate at first, he has come to accept it … in fact, he has to admit that Loralee was right. He did want her. And now he’s rather pleased with the situation; it amuses him how interested she is in their kind … their ways, their history … and he is only happy to answer all her questions. Loralee on the other hand has lost interest in it. For her the fun was torturing Delano, who somehow still manages to have feelings resembling those of a human, but the fun has worn off now that Delano has embraced the idea of Isabella as a vampire. It annoys her how he shows the new one attention by talking to her, hunting with her, touching her, and sleeps next to her in the day. She even followed them one morning when they didn’t go to the cave at morning’s first light, but instead went to an abandoned cabin to do their love-making. If Loralee cared enough, she might make Isabella disappear … turn her into a big pile of dust. But why bother? It will only be a matter of time before the humans find a way of turning the girl back to her former self and then she will have Delano back again. And Loralee can have her own fun in the meantime … perhaps pay a visit to the funny book-man who didn’t seem to fear her, despite the fact that she could wring his neck or feed off him before he’d even have a chance to think of fighting back.*

At Stratford Castle:

Corso: *stops and stands, ready to break into a run if necessary* Oh, hello, Mistress Fiore, so nice to see you again. *he coughs and tries to muster a grin. I brought your book. From the Vatican, and it was a very hard task...*he looks at her expectantly*

Mistress: What do you want from me a medal *looks down at him* get in come along now *ushers him in as she turns to Sweeney* I'll deal with you later.

Sweeney: And I cannot wait *turns to Corso* Do try to make her angry.

Corso: Umm, I can wait for my money her on the yard, if it suits you... It's the fresh air after all that incense smoke, you know. They use it a lot there. You can just send me the check by mail, thank you so very much! *he back slowly off*

Mistress: Oh well then your next assignment Corso will be double the amount of money ... I guess then I wll have to find some one who is willing to take all this money off of me.... Sweeney what did you do to him

Sweeney: Oh nothing her just prefers not to see a man bleed maybe I should let you teach him a thing or two ... I am sure his wife does all the work.

Mistress: poor is the man whose pleasures depend on the permission of another...

Corso: *boldening at the next remark* Excuse me, but I do choose freely my pleasures and pardon me if I am not into those of yours. So, will I get the money or not? You can always try to find someone else to find these books for you, but I can assure you it will take a much longer time for someone else to acquire them. And I can keep this book  myself. *he strokes it lovingly* It deserves a good home. So, Mistress Fury, what do you say?

Mistress: *glares* well if you come in you'd be able to get your money but seen as you have gone all wussy chicken on me how can I give it to you. *looks at Sweeney* You go upstairs I'll continue with you later I think your scaring poor Corso. *watches him leave* I will give you the money if you get me  another book that price will be higher

Corso: *thoughtfully, returns* If the price is enough I might do it. *he grins* You know that I am the best when it comes to books. *reluctantly follows her inside the castle. It is much darker and less pleasant than Portsmith's pompous fake castle and he can't repress a little shudder.* Now what book would that be?

Mistress: *opens her library door* It would be De Natura Demonum as you'll soon find out these things will get harder to come by so your misses wont be able to do as much shopping *looks at him* now what amount are charging for the book. I bet 4 times the price you got it for *looking deep in his eyes with an icy stare* but as I need that book and money is no object to me I am willing to pay it... now on the other hand the second book I have this for you. Whiskey or Brandy what will it be

Corso: Oh! De Natura Demonum? Are you going to raise the demons *his grin fades as he feels her withering stare on him. Cracking a joke to her might not be the wisest course of action, as it were...* Er, whisky, please, but I am really in a hurry. I just need the money for living, everybody knows I do this for the love of books, but a nice little sum of say, 10.000 would be greatly appreciated. After all, I had to talk to some very high officials in the Vatican, and they are not cheap. *He looks at her hopefully, wanting to get out as soon as possible.*

Mistress: *stands up and pours him a whisky and she walks behind him* Hmmm *starts to tap her fingers on his shoulder. * 10.000 *digs her nails in his shoulder.*  You go and do another disappearing act and I will kill you ...  *puts the glass before him* drink up.

Corso: *jumps and squeals* You know, I might settle for little less, but I have the expenses to cover, it isn't cheap to fly to Europe and all that ... *his voice is quivering, he lifts the glass and looks suspiciously at the beverage, then he downs it all in one gulp - it's excellent stuff, and the warmth makes him feel a little better, so he smiles his brightest smile, the one that always works wonders on Capucine* I would not have any intentions of disappearing anywhere, with these businesses of ours. *he recalls Capucine waiting for him* I suppose that being among the cream of the society, you too are attending the wedding of the Blake's, I mean, it takes time for a lady to dress up for an occasion like that to show her best....*

Mistress: *looks at him* Well if you want less money just say and I'll write you a lower amount *cringes*  Wedding.... I have to go to that blasted pirate wedding .... *shudders*  You may leave now .... *mutters*  Bloody pirates.

At Elliott’s house:

Elliott *glances at Ava with some trepidation, goes to the door, listens for a moment*  Wh-who is it?  *he instantly feels foolish for being nervous about answering his own door in broad daylight, but Ava’s stories have unnerved him*

Da Silva: I wish to see my daughter Emina and tell that woman Ava who is in there. I have a whining little twit to return to her. *calmly* just hear me out with ever she said it came partly from that fool Aaron, he doesn't like me and well the other half from the twit Don Juan. *turns to Mark* Oh do shut up I know you don't know who Don Juan is *rolls his eyes* please just hear me out. I swear I'll even talk through the letter box just let me give you an explanation *smiles* and let me get rid of this teenager wannabe

Mark: Twit you can be yourself. I am not a teenager, Grandfather. You don't seem to realize that skateboarding is a serious business, do you?  Who are these people then, huh? Emina, Ava? Aaron? I've got nothing to do with anyone of them.

Da Silva: Excuse me Mr Elliott *rolls his eyes* OH DO SHUT UP WILL YOU YOUR SERIOUSLY BEGINING TO GRATE ON ME. *looks at him* your see that thing on your thing on your thing that piece of worthless gold Ava is yours. Emina is my long lost daughter whom I was refused access to because of that twit Aaron. All I wanted in life was to see my daughter and get my hands on the twit that had his way with my wife. Now I have that twit in my clutches and I can’t kill him because he has some sort of forgetfullness. And no one will let me see my daughter because they think I am going to be cruel to her.

Mark: *in mock surprise* Well I really do wonder why they would think that.

Da Silva: You deserve it Dork you should go sticking things in other men’s wives.*sighs* This why I need to see you Mr Elliott and give Ava this thing. *Mark begins to wiggle again* Would you keep still the more you move the longer I will keep you.

Elliott *opens the door, frowns at Da Silva*  All right, enough!  Keep it down, mind the neighbors!  *he motions for them to come inside, closes the door; glances at Mark, then looks at Da Silva very sternly*  If you want me to hear you out, you’re goin’ about it very badly.  This is my house an’ you’ll calm down or you can just leave.  And let go of that kid!!  *the two of them look at him a little surprised and for once say nothing; Da Silva releases Mark, they stand quietly, chagrined for the moment.  Elliott feels encouragement; truth be told, he was frightened at the pounding on the door, but now that he sees this Da Silva, he realizes he's faced far worse, when out to sea with Malachi … or even from his own ex-wife.  He nods*  That’s better.  Now, the issue of your daughter, sir … *he swallows, lowers his head, speaks in a soft, broken voice*  You … you haven’t heard … *looks at Ava*  This always seems to come down to me.  Somehow I’m always the bearer of bad news.  *turns to Da Silva, manages a tear in his eye*  Emina … she’s dead, sir.  I don’t know much behind it all, I’ve only known her a very short time … *lowers his head again, brings a hand to his eyes*

Da Silva: *not comprehending the news he pushes Mark to Ava*  Here have Dork he thinks he's Mark not Don so that’s why his called Dork .... *and it finally hits him like a hammer to the stomach, his eyes fill with tears*  My daughter is dead she is dead *he falls to the floor* how .... why ... I swear I'll kill that Aaron .... did you pay for the funeral .... I'll pay you back... was she pretty... I bet she was ... I could imagin she had ana eyes.... *looks up at Elliott* my only child gone .... *sighs* and I never got to see her hold her or kiss her good night...

Ava: *stifles a laugh as she hears the name Dork* That ain’t my husband ... *turns away as she feels guilty as hell*

At Grape’s:

Abberline: *relieved that Mary pulled away, he starts to feel very uncomfortable. *Would he believe such trash? *but it makes him worried - Kat would... They stop at Grape's and he eyes anxiously the long row of shovels on display* I must say that I am not the expert on shovels. Except that I know what it is like to be hit by one.

Mary: You've been hit by a shovel? Why that's terrible.... I hope you tossed that person in jail *she makes sure she keeps her distance from him and try's not to look into his eyes because she doesn't like the feelings he brings out in her* she picks out a shovel that is entirely too big for her to wield but she tries to do so anyway. She is comic in her efforts and beautiful as well. Her determination to swing the shovel is great but she just can't manage it.*she looks over at the Inspector unaware the image she portrays and smiles* Oh, I am so not good with these weapons! * then she remembers his question about Mort and thinks about it for a few minutes*  I don't know how Mort would react. I've  never given him  reason to  be jealous but he  becomes jealous easily. When we were at Security the other day, he got very jealous when I smiled at Charlie too much. Of couse I smile at everyone.* she tries to swing the shovel again, but it falls to the ground with a thud. She looks to him for help with a huge smile on her face* 

Abberline: *smiles at her an picks a lighter shovel* This will fit better your dainty hands, Mary. That one is far too heavy for your slender frame. *he listens a bit worried to what she says about Mort.* Well I wouldn't like my lovely wife smiling at other men either, so I do understand him. *he takes the heavy shovel, puts away it and gives the lighter one instead. *I think you should take this, and then it is high time for you to get back to your husband before he starts to worry about you. This shovel is on me *he pays to Melissa and they both go out.*Oh, and the person who hit me with the shovel - it was Kat. She is too good swinging them... I can walk home from here. Try the gun, remember what I said* he reaches out his hand to shake hers, but instead he just keeps it for a while in his* I will expect you then when Mort leaves. Call me immediately if anything happens.

Mary:  Your wife hit you with a shovel!?  *a smile plays at the corner of mouth as she pictures it*  Thank you Inspector.  I’ll see you when Mort goes to New York.  *looks down at their  hands clasped together and wonders if  maybe its not such a good idea to stay with him but then decides she was  being silly. The Inspector was a gentleman after all!  And this spark she feels is her problem to deal with, not the Inspector’s.  She gets in the car and drives home*

At Elliott’s house:

Mark: *stares at Ava, she must be the prettiest woman he has ever seen although she seems to be a little heavy on the middle, but hey, no one is perfect. He adjusts his loose trousers* Hey, you are called Ava? Have you lost a husband? *he grins* I hear that happens a lot. Happened to Granny and my mum too.  Er... while you are keeping a lookout for him, would you like to see some great skateboard tricks? I don't think you want to be in the same place with that lunatic?

Ava: *looks him up and down, she then looks a Da Silva who is still sobbing* Sure why not it could be entertaining. No my husband wont returning he died I think along with love *looks away* Now I will only watch for a little while because I need to return to George he will be waiting for me. *she stands up showing the full extent of her ever increasing bump (21 weeks)* Good bye Elliott thanks for the company and juice.

Da Silva: *still sobbing* I must leave now Mr Elliott *he hands him over a rather large cheuqe* I hope this covered the cost of the funeral *standing up he disappears through the door and back to Chez Roux*

Emina: *enters the house with Dawn* Hey we got milk quite a lot of milk *laughs* and some candy we couldn't help it ... what some it's good *she kisses him*

Mark: Wow, or I mean that's so devastating! Hey, we got rid of that jerk, come I can show how to ride the stairs and the railing down by the park*she has a beautiful face, but she sure would need some motion to trim herself.. Suddenly he feels a little shy, he has never really talked to women*

Ava: *laughs* nervous are you? No need to be nervous nope me I am gentle as a teddy bear *laughs, she can see him staring at her bump*. Honey I am pregnant that’s why I am getting fat for *laughs* he knocked me up, denied it was his, and that’s when he left me. *she looks at her watch* So it's going to be me and my son from now on.... I cant be too long ok I need to be some where this afternoon... . but I can watch for a little while.

Mark: Wow, he must be a creep! *after they've walked a while he points at the City Hall stairs* Watch me! *He runs to the top of the stairs, makes sure that she is watching, then he starts bumping down the stairs and in the middle he jumps on the railing and down again, then he stops in front of her* Not all guys can do that. *he eyes the stomach* Are you going to give him a good trashing if he shows up?

Ava: *surprised* Wow that’s really good that’s quite a trick and a half  *shrugs* I dunno know I suppose both parties are to blame *sighs* we both played our parts to the break down but now he's gone I finally know how much I truly loved him *sighs* and what he meant to me *looks away*. Now I know I wont ever get him back *there is a slight breeze* I think it's best I be leaving now Mark *smiles* I suppose your going to Manouches wedding I dont think I'll be going. I am not quite ready for that just yet. *smiles* Keep up with the skate boarding you bound to become the worlds greatest skater better than Tony Hawk *smiles*...

Mark: Everybody goes to the wedding. You know, I would be really happy *and he blushes* if I could see you there. It might do you good. Now what I think is that that husband of yours is an idiot. I promise, I can give him a smack for you if I ever meet him.*he picks up his skateboard* My Granny says that most men are idiots. She also says that I am the perfect idiot. *he grins* Bye, Ava, you must come to the wedding! *he backs off, then breaks into a trot, waving at her* 

At Tropical Breeze:

George *sits in the house twiddling his thumbs the twins are having their naps and Shane has taken the day off. His day has been pretty empty he wants as Ava to Manouche’s wedding but so far he hasn’t been able to get through to her. The only problem is he doesn’t know Manouche and Ava is probably too upset to go anyways.  He leaves a message* Babe it’s me George maybe if you want you could stay with me for a while. I mean you don’t have to if you don’t want to. Hey it will be some company for you me and the twins look forward to seeing mommy … *goes silent* Goodbye my love.

Ava *checks her mobile after she has left Mark seeing that she has a message from George she calls him back.*

George: Hey it’s George speaking.

Ava:  Hey George my answer is yes George I would like that a lot.

George: You had no choice babe.

Ava: I know *laughs* any way I don’t think I could go back to the convent for a while.

George: Convent.

Ava: Long story don’t ask I’ll be ten minutes max.

George: Ok goodbye Ava.

Ava: Bye George *she blows him a kiss down the phone*

At Mort and Mary’s house:

Mort *to Mary*  I’m so glad you are home *locks the door and leads Mary up the stairs* Come here Sweets, I have plans for you…..

Mary: * smiles * I’m all yours sweetheart *pushing her down on the bed, makes sweet love to her into the night.  Later, Mary sat in front of the secret window. She gazed over to Mort as he slept peacefully. *forgive me my love, I don’t mean to lie to you* she whispers.* Hugging her knees she reflects back over the last several years. Telling the Inspector about her past earlier today brought back so many unhappy memories. Nobody would understand how it was for her when she was locked up in a few rooms for nearly three years. There was no one she could go to for help back then. Her father had her surrounded by his men.  And, how could anyone understand the loss she felt over her baby and James? Well, that’s not true, the Inspector would understand.  She thought she would go mad from the anguish she felt back then. And now, four years later she has found a new love. A love she meant to keep until the day she died.  It hasn’t been easy since she arrived here in Deppville she mused.  She hates having so many fears but she can’t help herself and she blames her father for it. He made her fear her very existence. Her father didn’t cherish her the way a father should. She always wondered if he really wasn’t her father. Perhaps that was the reason he didn’t love her. He wouldn’t give two thoughts to killing her or taking Mort away to punish her for what she has done. The thought made her shiver.  Her thoughts turned again to the Inspector. What a fine man he is, she thought, but he seems so sad. She prayed for him to find happiness. She still felt unsettled by the electricity she felt when she was close to him. She fell asleep with the Inspector on her mind*

Mort: *shaking her awake gently as he knelt in front of her * Sweets, why are you sleeping in this chair. Are you alright? You’re not feeling ill are you? *touches her head to see if it’s warm*

Mary: *reaches up and touches his face* No, sweetheart, I’m fine. I just couldn’t fall asleep when you did and I didn’t want to disturb you.

Mort:  Come to bed. Lets get some rest *pulls her up and leads her back to bed*