Chapter Twenty-Five-To Be Or Not To Be

Chapter Twenty-Five
To Be Or Not To Be

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     They were sitting in the great room of Ardely, Charlie at his father's desk, pouring yet another drink, Garcia on her computer, no doubt IMing Kevin, Reid, a book in his hands, though he couldn't quite concentrate, Phillip on the threadbare couch and Melanie on his lap, staring without seeing in the direction of her brother. Aggie was in the floor, half asleep. He yawned, and Melanie snapped back into awareness. She rose, smoothing her skirt and leaning down-careful not to let her skirt pop up-to pick up her little brother. He sighed as he nuzzled his red hair under his sister's chin.

"Melly..." he sighed, yawning again,"I'm tired..."

"Shhhh, shhhh...I know, baby. Are you ready for bed?"

"Can you tell me a story?" he asked. Then, his eyes focused and he spoke up again. "Or will you sing?"

Victoria smiled. "Ooooo! Mammy, get my harp! Melanie can play and sing while I play my harp."

"I'll sing...I'm a bit rusty on the pianoforte..." Melanie said. Victoria didn't argue.

"What song do you want?" Victoria asked. Aggie whispered awkwardly to Victoria.
"Can it...just be Melly? By herself?" he asked. Victoria frowned.
"If that's what you want..." she grumbled. "I'm going to bed," she huffed as she sulked up the stairs. Charlie smirked.
"Okay, Aggie...let's go to your room..."
"Can you sing it here? So everyone can listen?"
Melanie looked around the room, her pale cheeks turning red. "Err...I guess...What do you want me to sing?"
"Whatever is playing in your head," he smiled. Charlie looked from Aggie to Melanie. Did he understand her? This bastard boy with no father? He understood her?
   Melly sat Angus on her lap and bounced her legs in slow rhythm, the beat of the piano if she had been playing. She hummed for a moment as the sleepy boy placed his head on  his sister's chest. Melanie began to sing as if they were the only two in the room.

"My father bought it secondhand from a silent movie star
It was out of tune but still I learned to play
And with each note we both would smile forgetting who we ar
eAnd all the pain would simply fly away
Something secondhand and broken still can make a pretty sound
Even if it doesn't have a place to live
Oh, the words were left unspoken when my abba came around
But that Secondhand White Baby Grand still had something beautiful to give
Through missing keys and broken strings the music was our own
Until the day we said our last goodbyes
The baby grand was sent away, a child all alone, to pray somebody else would realize
That something secondhand and broken still can make a pretty sound
Even if it doesn't have a place to live
Oh. the words are still unspoken now that abba's not around
But that Secondhand White Baby Grand still has something beautiful to give
For many years the music had to roam
Until we found a way to find a home.
So now I wake up every day and see him standing there.
Just waiting for a partner to compose
And I wish my father still could hear
That sound beyond compare
I'll play her song till everybody knows.
That something secondhand and broken still can make a pretty sound
Don't we all deserve a family room to live
Oh. the words can't stay unspoken until everyone has found
That Secondhand White Baby Grand that still has something beautiful to give.
I still have something beautiful to give,"

She smiled, touching Aggie's face.

"Do you miss him awful?" he asked. Melanie nodded.

"I'm sorry..." he whispered.

"You have nothing to be sorry for, Angus," she whispered, bringing him tighter to her chest. "You're so kind. Father loves you, too, you know. From Heaven. He looks down and watches us. He's proud of you, I know it."
Aggie's little blue eyes turned to a grey of uncertainty, his red brows furrowing.
"You remember what you told me was a good lesson once? Even though you said you couldn't remember it and you told me to remind you?"
Melanie stared at her little brother. "No..." she said, dragging out the word.
Aggie smiled. "You said,'Never give all the heart.' You told me to remind you and I did."
Melanie swallowed. "Yeah..." she said. "It's what I wrote in my note when I left," she said, looking at Charlie. He looked away.
"C'mon, Masta Angus. Let'm Mammy take ya to bed," she said, letting the boy hop of Melanie and he dragged his sleeping feet across the floor.
"That's what you wrote him?" Charlie asked after they had gone. The others were still in the room, and Melanie looked away sadly, embarrassed.
"I was going to leave him something sweeter. Telling him to hold on to hope. But there is no hope, Charlie. I gave him truth instead, and he could use it so much more."
"Do you honestly believe that? Never give all the heart?"
Melanie looked up, rubbing her eyes,"Just think of the misery I'd miss..." she whispered. "But I can't give half or nothing. I put my heart and soul into everything...and I get hurt...every time. Maybe God is vengeful, and I did something wrong. Maybe I'm just unfortunate. Maybe this is all chance, which is extremely unlikely.
I didn't want him to go through what I did, Charlie."
"...You left everyone a note. All you wrote on mine was,"I love you.""
"Don't tell me you didn't see more there. I couldn't write a good bye to you, Charlie. Thinking of it broke my heart."
"Then why did you leave? Do you even know what that did to me? Not having you with me? Worrying every second if you were dead or alive? Huh, Melly?"
Melanie was crying soft tears. Tears of regret.
"If I could do it over again, I would never leave. Not because of my pain, but because of the pain I've caused others. Do you think I haven't laid awake every night and thought about what I did? Here's what happened because I left:

Phillip returned to France, upon hearing this news, his older brother and his wife came down on a boat, leaving their young son at home. They died when the boat sank, and their child became an orphan.
We wouldn't fight. I wouldn't join the BAU. All those people who died on Coney and are dying here, wouldn't be dead because of Damien.
Maybe, if I stayed, I wouldn't have skipped a grade. I would've stayed with Audrey and India and maybe, Indie would be okay, not getting hunted down.
Johnny Potter wouldn't have died.
Phillip would be free to marry who he wants.
I'd have been around for Christmas and Thanksgiving and Easter and birthdays. I'd have been the mother to Aggie that he needed. I'd be support for Victoria. You'd be sober. I'd still be you're best friend. Think of the misery I'd have saved everyone if I hadn't gone. How many deaths are on my shoulders? How many more are coming down?
Charlie...you don't know how many times I thought I wasn't worth living. I thought if I had never been born...
Maybe, that night, the phone call may have distracted dad...maybe that's why he died. If I'd never been born, he could still be here!"
Melanie was sobbing. "It's all my fault! It's always been my fault! Every thing and everyone! I've hurt so many people! I'm so sorry! Saying it will never be enough! I can't stop saying it-"
"Melanie, sweetie," Phillip wrapped his arms around his fiance as Charlie stared, never thinking his litter sister did all that. "Shh....Melly, honey...nothing is your fault. It was supposed to happen, I know. It was all supposed to happen, baby. You're fine...you're fine Melanie."
He was holding her like a baby as she cried into his shoulder.
"Why did you let me go?" she whispered.
"Because you never would've stayed," Phillip sighed, kissing her head. "Stubborn and proud," he said.
"Quasi bos," Melanie smiled."I love you, Phillip. I love you so much..." she nuzzled her head in his neck and he smiled.
"I've always loved you, Melanie. And trust me when I say I would never change a thing." Melanie didn't smile again, just sighed. She rose, wiping her eyes, and said goodnight, giving each guest a kiss on the cheek. Reid blushed when he received his. Phillip said he wanted to escort Melanie to bed himself. Mammy pursed her lips and her eyes narrowed. Melanie's face turned bright pink, making her lips appear normal. Phillip took her hand as he lead her up the stairs.
***
"I love you, Melly..." Phillip whispered, his mouth on hers again. Melanie smiled. She still was upset with herself that she had let Phillip actually kiss her. The awful thing was, every time Phillip kissed her, she remembered that night in the forest and the first kiss she ever received.
    She remembered Spencer's mouth on hers, and the surprise of it, but it wasn't unwelcome. She remembered his hands on her neck and in her hair. His eyelashes fluttered against her eyelids and Melanie remembered the passion. She remembered being overwhelmed and not sure what to think. She remembered being assaulted by some emotion too strong for her. She remembered crying out of pain and fear. She remembered her heart breaking from it.
    That night she briefly remembered Phillip, still young and full of life. It was a sad thought and she hadn't dwelled on it for more than a minute. She never thought she would see him again. She wondered if he ever got those letters she sent, or if he was even alive. She remembered his lips on her cheek, on her forehead, her neck. Then Phillip showed up that next day, and Melanie had never been more confused. And Reid had been hurt and Melanie didn't understand any of it. Had Reid wanted more than that kiss? Melanie hadn't allowed her self to think it until now.
     Phillip seized Melly's chin, and she looked him in the eye.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"What do you mean?"
Phillip ran his soft finger under her eye, and pulled it back for her to see the moisture.
"Oh...I'm sorry...I was just...I really do love you,"Melanie whispered, the tears coming faster.
"Melly..." Phillip whispered. "Here, put on your nightgown and get in bed. I'll be back in the morning."
"Phillip," Melanie whispered as he was leaving.
"Yes?"
"Don't leave me alone," she whimpered.
"...You know I have to back to Ramblings."
"...I know. Could you...Could you send up Reid? Just so he could watch me tonight? I'm scared Damien-"
"I know. I will darling. And it won't be anytime at all, you'll close your eyes and dream of me, and then I'll be there in the morning, holding you. I promise." He kissed her forehead, and all Melanie heard was the clunk of his boots down the hall.
***
Reid hurried up the stairs after Phillip had informed him Melanie wanted him. Dodging around another corner, he finally came to Melanie's door. Knocking tentatively, his only response was a meek,"Come in," from behind the door.
     Melanie was sitting in the middle of her double bed, the white and black lace sheets pulled tightly around her. Her blonde hair was up in a tight bun, with one braid slinging down her back. Reid wondered how long her hair really was. Melanie was biting her lip, and her eyes looked sad as she watched him come around to her side.
"There's a chair there...and a couch. Or you could take the bed and I could-"
"No. You are never going to take the floor or the couch again. Okay?"
Melanie laughed her warm laugh that made the corners of Reid's mouth twitch up.
"Alright," she said as Reid pulled a chair next to her bed. He smiled at her.
"I just...I wanted someone with me tonight. I felt...better knowing it was you. You've saved my life so many times...I still never thanked you for letting me in that night I got shot. I would've bled to death without you, Spencer. You really are the best friend a girl could ever ask for. Thank you. For everything," she whispered, her little hands wrapped around one of his big slender ones. He smiled.
"I wouldn't have let you died, Melanie. I will never let anything happen to you."
Melanie looked away, blushing, and smiled. "You really are the best, Spencer. Go take the couch. I'm going to sleep," she sighed, rolling over.
"Wait," Spencer said. Melanie turned, sitting up.
"Yes?" she asked.
"Can I...do something?"
"What?" Melanie asked.
Spencer blushed deep as his hand went up to Melanie's head, and unplugged one bobbypin. One by one as he pulled them out the more the hair design fell until her hair fell in one swoop in a gold, wavy river down her back. Spencer reached forward, and stuck his hands in it. Her hair was the softest he'd ever touched.
"When you were at my house that night, and said you were leaving, I thought about all I didn't know about you. One of those things was that I had never seen your hair down...now I know."
 Spencer stayed in the chair, and he knew Melanie didn't even close her eyes that night as she was constantly rolling over, scanning the room for someone who could hurt her again. Melanie would constantly be looking over her shoulder. She always would.
***
"I just think it's time we finally announce it."
"I don't know, Phil..."
"Can we try? Please? I know you're scared. I'm scared too. Tell me, Melly, what are you afraid off?"
They were sitting in Melanie's father's old garden, which she had kept alive after his death. Xylen had been tending to it since, but it wasn't at it's peak like when Melanie and Rene had done it together. That's when there was always love and happiness. Always hope.
The gardens walls hide them from prying eyes from around, but not above where Charlie watched from his window.
"...If we do this now, it becomes real, so fast. This has all been this one big hit of nostalgia. After this, it's over. We just...nothing will be the same. At first, I was worried about missing the team and the freedom, I suppose. But now...Now I'm worried about Ardely Tower. I'm worried about Charlie and Victoria and Angus and Mother. I'll miss the team, dreadful. I'll miss America. I didn't think entertaining you're curiosity 6 years ago meant anything...now look where we are. My life will change forever."
"Is that bad?"
"...No, I suppose not. Just different and unknown and scary. Phillip?" she asked timidly.
"Yes?"
"...Would you be angry if...Well, if I couldn't have children?"
Phillip blinked. "But of course you can have children, Melly. Can't you?"
"...Mammy and I were talking and she thinks...well, she thinks it will be difficult for me to have a baby because my hips aren't wide enough. She think I'll have a dreadful time. She says I'm too skinny to have a baby. I just...I want to give you everything you want and if I can't-"
"Melly...all you've ever wanted is to have children. I remember you telling me all you've ever asked God for that was reasonable was to have children and a family."
"If I can't give it to you, I think you should go with someone who can....I want to give you everything I can, Philly. I really do."
"Melanie, you'll be able to-"
"Goodness gracious, Phillip! Just give me an answer!"
"Melanie Wilkes, I know you'll be able to have a baby. Because you are the strongest woman I've ever met."
Melanie looked down. "And if it comes down to it, I'll have the baby. Even if it means I have to die. I don't care if they know I'm going to die while I'm pregnant, I'm not going to kill our baby! It's going to get a fair chance."
"Say, you aren't pregnant?"
"Phillip Dufour! How in the world is it possible for me to be pregnant?"
Phillip smiled. "I'm only teasing."
"Well, I didn't find it funny. ...You're really okay with this? I might never be able to give you a child-"
"We have Gustave. I love him, even though I know I shouldn't. It's my fault-"
"Don't start," Melanie said, her finger on his lips. She replaced it with her own, kissing him softly. "I love you."
"Forever," Phillip whispered.
"M-melanie...?" Melanie whipped around to Charlie at the edge of the garden, looking like he could be sick.
"Yes?" she whispered.
"Mammy wants you in the house."
"...Yes...thank you."

Charlie grabbed Melanie's arm fiercely as the exited together.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"It's not important."
"Not important? Melanie, you could die!"
"I know."
"I don't want you dying for him!" he hissed in a fierce whisper.
"And what's so wrong with that?!" Melanie screamed. The team could here them from there spot on the porch. "If I die that's how I'll die! Why have you always disliked Phillip so much?"
"Because he's taking you from me!" Charlie panted. "I didn't like him since we were little boys. He was weird...his friends were jerks and bullies. Melly, you hate people like that!"
"I don't hate anyone and Phillip isn't anything like that. I love him! I can't think of any other way to die but by dying for him! You've hated him since that day he got in your car! I'm marrying him, Charlie! You don't have a say."
"You chose this, Melanie. It's not too late to come back."
"...What do you mean?"
"You're making a choice between me or him."
"What?"
"It's me or him, Melly. It's always been me or him. You can't have both." Charlie left his sister there.
"YOU DIDN'T USED TO BE THIS WAY! FATHER'S DEATH AFFECTED YOU TOO!"
Charlie ran back to Melanie, his nails digging into her arm. "His death didn't affect me," he hissed,"You're death did!" he yelled as he pushed her down.
"I lost the only thing I ever loved that day!" he screamed."I just...I just wished I would've known there was no way to save her..."
"Charlie..."

But he was gone.
***
"I can't believe it...but you just started courting!" Audrey yelled. "Oh! We are going to have to go dress shopping soon!" she squealed. "You know, a lot of people are upset about you two getting married."
Melanie looked up from her sewing. "Oh?" she asked her friend. They were in Melanie's dining room. Audrey was eating lunch while Melanie was taking up her needle-point again.
"Yes. Not a lot of course. A few of those people who saw you stick up for India and the people they told are upset. Annette, of course, couldn't be happier. Did you see Charlotte died her hair back to normal?"
"No. Thank heaven, too. I love her but it looked dreadful!"
"Why do you have to love her for?"
"She'll be my sister in due time."
"Sister, smishter. She's never been more than a roommate in Phillip's mind. He can't wait to get out of here and back to France. Back to France with you. After he turned 18, he came back, Melly. Back for you. There was nothing holding him here. Nothing but you. And you were gone, too. Probably thought you were dead. Going to a place like that Coney Island! I don't even know what you did there but still...Golly, Melly, its dangerous. He left before any of us knew you were gone."
"...What was it like when I left? I mean, for my family. I never thought about what would happen."
"What did you think happened?" Cal said, bringing Melanie her lunch. "Mammy went to grab you for breakfast and there was nothing but an empty bed, closet, and an open window. She thought you'd been taken. After reading the note and after she had done her crying, she said,"I never thought she'd be dumb enough to leave."
Melanie smirked sadly. "Sheer ignorance..." she sighed.
"Excuse me, Miss Melly. I have to keep cooking. You're mother has got the whole town over tonight for your and Phillip's engagement party..."
***
"I feel like a monkey," Angus sighed, then eyed himself in the mirror. "I look like a monkey..." he groaned. Melanie picked him up.
"You do not look like a monkey. You look very handsome, Angus."
He frowned, and ruffled his hair. "It's my hair. My ugly, orange hair. The kids at school make fun of me for it."
"Oh, Aggie, don't listen to those idiots! You're hair is absolutely beautiful!"
"I wish it was gold, like mothers. Or copper, like father's. I don't even understand how I got orange."
"That's because God made it special. He knew what a special little boy you'd be, and you could just have copper or gold hair like anyone else, now could you? No. He gave you the most beautiful, colorful hair around! And some day, some girl is going to look across the room and skip over all the boys and see you, and fall in love with Angus Wilkes."
"...You think so?" he asked.
"Why, of course, Aggie! But you have to wait for the perfect girl."
"Like Phillip waited for you?"
"Indeed," said a far away voice. Melanie smiled as she turned to see her future husband smiling, arms behind his back.
"Melanie..." he whispered. Melanie rose and embraced her fiance.
"I'm so glad we don't have to hide this anymore," she whispered.
     Melanie looked beautiful in a small ballet outfit that was a mix of sheer pink and red, matching  her lips. Her gold hair had been pressed into perfect banana curls. Her cheeks had been stained a delicate pink, but they had left her lips red and the rest of her pale as the moon.
"You look so beautiful..." he whispered. He too was wearing a red army jacket with white (tight) trousers. They were shockingly tight, actually, and Melanie was blushing like crazy and was glad for the jacket's tails. He had one tall, black boots and his hair was tied back with a black ribbon.
"Thank you," she whispered. "You look very handsome. I love you...so much..."
Phillip pulled back.
"Are you crying?" he asked.
Melanie turned away. "This can't be real," she whispered hoarsely. "You can't be real. This is too perfect. Everything I ever loved always gets ripped away from me. Why happiness? Why now? It's too good to be true...I just...I don't think I've ever been this happy..."
"It's alright, Melly,"Phillip whispered, embracing her again. "I'm not going anywhere. I'll always be with you, anyway."
"If you use a cliche-" she warned.
"In your heart." he teased. Melanie rolled her eyes, getting rid of the tears.
"It's true, though," she sighed, kissing his forehead.
"You look gorgeous...one more thing, though," he winked, then signaled her to get on her knees. She skeptically obeyed, eyeing him oddly.
Phillip pulled out a velvet black box, not small, but thin and wide. Opening it, Melanie gasped.

In the box was a gold tiara with a web of crimson rubies. It matched her engagement ring perfectly.

Phillip placed the tiara on Melanie's head, then helped her up.
"You look beautiful, Melanie. Like the future Vicomtesse of France should." He leaned in to hug her and he whispered,"your father would be so proud."

Her face flushed and she felt like crying.

Are you? she thought to her father.
***
Melanie and Phillip had somehow been forced into the middle of the ballroom, and Melanie once again turned red. The song started gently and Phillip kneeled and each took turns echoing the other's ballet movement. Their dance was startlingly beautiful considering it was not choreographed. Melanie and Phillip just seemed to fit together perfectly, there bodies molding into each other. Melanie blushed as Phillip gently took her face and planted his lips on hers. His pink lips and her red ones looked oddly like a elementary age child's valentines card.
"Aunt Josephine!" Melanie cried, running to a woman in the back of the room. The attention had shifted away from the couple again, and Melanie took advantage of this.
Melanie embraced a dark haired woman in the corner of the room. Reid rushed across to see Melanie-he hadn't seen her all night-but he came into this scene instead.
"Look at you..." sighed the dark-haired woman. Her hair was rolled up in a vertical roll on top of her head. She had on a silk straight red dress, which fell to the floor. Her eyelids were a rose pink in contrast with her tan skin and her lips were blood red.
"You look more like your mother, everyday, you know," she said. Melanie looked away. The woman gently seized Melanie's chin and made her look her in the eye. "That's not a bad thing."
"I wish I looked like Father."
The woman sighed, looking at Melanie hair. "In some ways, I wish you did too...How's the FBI life treating you?"
"Errr..."
She laughed. "That's what I thought."
"It's definitely interesting...if you could say that. Reid! Come here this instant. Auntie you must meet a friend of mine. Aunt Josephine, this is Dr. Reid. Reid, this my Aunt Josephine."
"Nice to meet you," she said, with a curtsy. Reid nodded.
"He works in the BAU with me."
"Well, I'm glad to see you have a friend."
"A very good friend, indeed. He has saved my life countless times now. I don't believe I've ever saved yours-well, you've never needed saving."
"Trust me, Melly. You'll need to save me more times than you can count later." They both smiled.
"Now, are you, uh, Melanie maternal Aunt?"
"Oh, no. I'm her father's younger sister. Erin Strauss, who is your boss, correct? Is our oldest sister. Well, half sister. Our father's daughter from a previous marriage. She was so much older than us, we didn't really connect."
"Oh." Reid took that in, then noticed the resemblance between Melanie and her Aunt. Their skin colors were contrasting, the slight glowing tan of her Aunt next to Melanie's snow white skin. Melanie's blue eyes matched her aunt's, and they both had the identical ruby red lips. Which, in turn, gave each of the them the ability to look their best in bright red dresses. Melanie's gold hair vs. her aunt's chestnut. Just barely lighter than her father's.
"Erin was always so...serious. She didn't really play with me, and that's why I was so close to Rene. He was always good with children. I remember when you were born, Melly, and he held you for the first time. He held you for an hour straight-minus when you were breastfed (your mother slept after that)-and just watched you sleep. Finally when you woke up, he was telling you stories and singing to you. He kept going on about your blue eyes and you just had this one blonde curl...you were born pure white you know. Not blue or purple like you were supposed to, but you came out chalk white with you hand on you chin. It really was the most adorable thing.
Your father went on this rant about how much he was going to give you. He said, when it came time for you to marry, you'd have the pick of all the gentlemen in the south. You'd have the best. Is he?"
"He's a Vicomte."
"Always a plus but, does he make you happy?"
"We've been childhood sweethearts forever. It would break my heart to see him go. But...I don't know. I'm marrying him. He seems like the best thing. I just always thought...I'd be feeling...more. Of something at least! I don't know...will you tell me about your latest trip?"
"Later, after the party. Go dance!" Aunt Josephine left the two together as she went to talk to Charlie, who was looking pale and angry.
"Melanie?" Reid said.
"Yes, Spencer?"
"If this could ever make up for it, can I have this dance?"
Melanie looked at Reid, who was smiling sheepishly, his hand held out low, so he could take it back without being too rejected. Melanie bent down and grabbed Reid's hand and they began the reel, Reid tripping over his own feet more than once, and Melanie saving him from countless face plants.
***
Melanie had spent the night dancing, and only after a beautiful triumphant song did she stop.

Along with the rest of the ballroom.

Melanie turned and stared at the intruder in the room and her face went dead pale.
"Why so silent good Monsieur's? Did you think that I had left you for good? Have you missed me?" asked the masked man. "I have written you an opera! Here I bring the finished score. Fondest greetings to you all. A few instructions before rehearsals start...Charlotte must be taught how to act, not her normal trick of strutting around the stage. Our dear tenor must lose some weight, it's not healthy for a man of his age. As for our star...Miss Melanie Wilkes..." Damien took no time at all to find Melanie in the crowd, his dark eyes darting to her. "No doubt she'll do her best. It's true, her voice is good. She knows. Though, should she wish to excel, she still has much to learn, if pride will allow her to return to me...her teacher...her teacher..." People gasped, backing away as Damien approached her. Melanie didn't flinch as he came up to her. Melanie knew the sadness in his eyes and she wanted to grasp his hand, to beg him to stop. But before he could, he yanked the tiara off Melanie's head and threw it on the ground.
"Your chains are still mine! You belong to me," he hissed, disappearing with a puff of smoke. Morgan ran after him, but he returned a few moments later.
"He's gone..."
***
After the party was over, Melanie sat by young Gustave as he played the grand piano in the large ballroom at Ardely. Reid looked around the room, taken by it's beauty. The floor was the shiniest tan granite, and the walls were gold with candles lit in the holders. The huge Grand Piano in the corner held Melanie and Gustave, who were both wrapped in her black shawl. Her hair had fallen out of the banana curls and was a golden and wavy river again.
    Melanie watched as her soon-to-be godchild's pale fingers danced across the ivories. Melanie smiled as he hit a wrong chord. She took his hand and placed it on the right keys.
"Here...try again...you'll get it if you practice."
"Why don't you practice anymore?"
"I stopped playing."
"I wanna stop."
"Now, now. Keep playing, please? Will you do it for me?"
"...Yes, Momma." Melanie smiled, kissing his head. She had changed into a long red dress with a button-up back and several petticoats underneath. She rubbed her eyes tiredly, sighing sadly. Her tiara hadn't been hurt, and the party had quickly cleared out after their intrusion.
"We checked the house," Hotchner said, coming in with Morgan and Rossi. "No one's here that shouldn't be."
"Thank you," Melanie said, rising. "I can sleep better knowing my family is safe tonight. I wish I could say that for the rest of the town."
"Don't worry, Melanie. He'll stay out of trouble till his play is performed."
"You think so, Derek?"
"Trust me, babe," he said, kissing her hair. She smiled, hugging her friend.
"I'm worried," she whispered to him, trembling.
"About?"
"Phillip's drunk. He left. I don't know when he'll be back...but when he does..."
"It's okay."

Phillip came in the room a few minutes later, slurring his swears.
"Phillip," Melanie whispered, her hands held up, trying to grasp his. Phillip yelled at his fiance, calling her a disgusting name, then struck her in the face with his fist.  Melanie fell to the ground, unconscious, blood trailing from the corner of her mouth. Charlie was the first to reach Phillip as he collapsed in a crying heap on Melanie, apologizing and sobbing to her. Charlie flipping his body off his sisters and held him by his collar.
"If you ever hit her again-"
"I'm sorry!" Phillip sobbed, falling into a heap. Morgan ripped Charlie away with Hotch's help, Charlie still screaming and cursing.
Reid stared at Melanie's little weak body, frail and lifeless. Her limbs were strone as carelessly as her hair.

Melanie's engagement had been announced. She would marry Phillip, she had too. It was more than honor and obligation. It was love.