The Immigrant Song

"Remember everyone," Rome said quietly, with nervous laughter: "Should anyone be caught or killed, the Secretary will disavow any knowledge of your actions. Good luck."

He waited as the Valet service opened the door for him, and stepped out, preening a little as he adjusted his immaculate suit.

"Name, sir?"

"Remington," Rome said, as he proceeded to tie his tie perfectly without a mirror, "and guests." Without turning, he addressed Aly: "Smith, they'll take the car from here." He allowed the Valet to help Georgie and Lennie from the back seats, watched as Aly handed the car keys over. Then Rome thought of something. Something he'd forgotten. Crap.

But he played it cool. "Pay the man, Smith," he said, and, when Aly's eyes widened in alarm and confusion, Rome started: "Oh!" He laughed, "Well, of course you can't, I haven't given you the--here." Rome pulled out a huge wallet that was bursting at the seams with cash, pulled out a crisp $100 bill, and handed it to the Valet service. After this show, he left the rest of the money in his "bodyguard's" care: obscenely wealthy Romulus Remington wasn't about to carry around his own money!

It was actually absurd. Rome had lived this life, had known how these people lived, was pulling stunts his own dad had been fond of, but he'd never actually valued this life. The only thing money was good for, as far as he was concerned, was stuff, not status, and it sort of disgusted him. And who the hell had a bodyguard, I mean, really? Besides Dr. Venture, but only because Brock Samson was a certified badass. Haha, then that would have to make Elenna Dean, and Georgie would be Hank. Man, the things he came up watching late night Adult Swim cartoons. Okay, serious, Rome, serious.

Although it had been a while since Rome had seen true architectural beauty--and this place was about nine times larger than the home he grew up in--he remained unimpressed with the house, though he gave it a tactical once-over before offering Georgie his arm and proceeding up the steps to the entrance.

They got through the door with relative ease. The invitations were good, so even though they were not on the list, they had only to stand around for a short nerve-wracking period before, amidst profuse apologies, they were escorted in, unfrisked. A guard at the door raised an eyebrow at the Desert Eagle Aly was wearing in a shoulder holster that covered more of her body than her dress did, but either this really was a don't-ask-don't-tell shindig, or those weren't the guns the guy was looking at.

Lenna followed right behind Rome and Georgie and she had a very hard time not to run around with her mouth open. She saw Rome’s home briefly but this was immense. She looked around and tried to concentrate on her job. Even though she was still trying to figure out what hors d'oeuvres were. She as long one Rome or Georgie were around she knew it would be okay, gee even Aly knew better to be around those rich guys.

She walked a bit closer to Georgie. “Um hey sis’, where are the things to buy? All I see are furniture and fittings.”

“Relax we first do the social round and then see all the items on sale.”

Lenna looked uneasy at her, she had a couple of more questions but she felt watched already and tried to fit in at least a little.

The minute Georgie walked in everything felt incredibly well-known. True, she didn't know anyone here so far but it was the entire atmosphere and this very special, indescribable smell of designer clothes that gave her this familiar feeling. She caught some glances of older women who were probably jealous that they could no longer wear a figure-hugging dress, and she caught a view glances of men who were more interested in the figure-hugging dress and the young lady who wore it instead of focusing on their wives.

"Dude, I would feel a lot better if people would stop staring all the time", Elenna mumbled.

Georgie turned to her. "Don't say dude."

"Geez, what the-"

"And don't say geez either."

"Oh my sweet Lord, I feel slightly annoyed", Elenna replied with a sarcastic voice. "Better?"

"Yes."

A servant appeared in front of them, holding a shiny silver tray. "Brioche au Caviar?"

"What?" Elenna stared at the weird finger-food looking things on the tray.

"It's caviar on bread", Georgie explained.

Elenna looked at the servant and quickly shook her head. "No, thank you. I think I'm gonna puke...ahem, pass."

"Look at all those ludicrous, narrow-minded guys around us. We're definitely the most dashing couple here", Rome said with a grin. "It's like being prom king and prom queen."

Georgie was just about to agree when she suddenly felt something weird. Just for a brief moment it felt like Elenna had conferred her emotions on her. She turned around to look at Elenna who walked around with crossed arms and seemed to feel rather insecure. It really felt like Lenna's insecurity was contagious but was she the only one who noticed it? Georgie quickly shook her head and started feeling like herself again. That was a bit creepy though, thinking of the ability to feel what others could feel. Georgie held on to Rome's arm and politely returned a smile whenever someone smiled at her.

Suddenly she noticed her friend staring at a giant necklace that one of the women was wearing.
"Elenna!", Georgie said with a hushed voice. "Stop staring at other people's jewelry like that. They will get suspicious."

"Come on, she's wearing a necklace that could feed an entire country!"

"Lower your voice, people start looking."

"Geez!"

"Ahem...what was that?"

Elenna roller her eyes. "Good Lord of mine, have mercy!"

"Okay, that's a bit over the top", Georgie said.

Elenna sighed. "I seriously want to get out of this hell as soon as possible."

Lenna caught a glimpse of her reflection in a mirror or was it just some shiny furniture. She shook her head, this dress was hideous, she looked like a black shower sponge and in this tiny red purse didn’t even fit more than her phone, her small EMF, a tiny notepad and a pen, not even a tiny book
fitted into it.

Fine concentrate on your task. Find the stuff on sale and with it the cursed object. I hope it is something really cool, like a fancy dagger.

“Champagne?”

Lenna smiled. “Finally something I know.” She took a glass for once not wondering if it was appropriated. “So sis, can I pick whatever I want from the auction? You know it was my birthday and you didn’t get me a gift.”

Georgie raised an eyebrow. “I know Elenna, I was in Milan and I did apologize that your birthday slipped my mind.”

They finally found the room in which all the objects on sale were on display. Lenna smiled when she saw all the old books. She had already found four she wanted. She was wondering if they could just steal them as well when Rome’s questioning look reminded her of her real task. She didn’t even need to take the EMF out of her purse. Six weeks of nothing to do, okay nearly nothing shopping with Georgie, nearly dying and a weird trip they had no memory of let Lenna and Rome come up with the idea of an EMF that she could mute and that vibrated when it detected something. So all she had to do was walk along the objects and wait until her purse vibrated.

That is not weird at all, to wait for a vibrating purse to start vibrating. I really don’t wanna be here. I wanna go home. Gosh I don’t like rich people, they are annoying.

Lenna smiled innocently at everyone and no one could have guessed that this felt like her worst nightmare or maybe not her worst nightmare but like a nightmare in which you are naked in class or something.

Allison stalked the glamorous halls. The M-9 strapped to her thigh just hovering over the slit of her dress was acceptable.

Babysit, indeed.

It had been a while, but she was still colder than ice when it came to the team. It was a job, nothing more. the only reason she was there and not curled up in bed at Tex's was some warped sense of responsibility--like if she didn't go she couldn't protect them or other bullsh*t like that.

Aly scanned the crowd of fancy fake faces and tried not to let her contempt show on her face. It was a general rule of thumb not to let those you're protecting know you hate them.

She walked by the display of shiny weapons wondering which was their artifact of evil. She could case the place too. She was only trained by the best criminal detection agency in the US. It wasn't like she was an amateur or whatever the others seemed to think.

Her eyes was drawn the the red jewels encrusting the hilt of one particular sword. How easy it would be to just take it and prove to the others she was more than just a hired (more like compelled) gun. Her hand reached out as her eyes admired its beauty and craftsmanship. Despite the ornate design she somehow knew it would be light in her hand--so easy to spill the blueblood around her.

"Excuse me, madam--champagne?"

She blinked, breaking eye contact with the line of weapons, and turned around. Somehow she'd been mistaken as a guest. She wasn't going to complain.

Aly took the alcohol and left the exhibit hall feeling a headache coming on--or was it passing? Either way she needed air and almost bowled Rome over to get to it.

Rome fumed as Aly bumped into him, not caring a bit about his uncharacteristic lack of sympathy. He knew she was still too upset about Raime. She shouldn't have come.

Rome took pride in his long fuse. He didn't have a quick temper--but he did have a bad one. Though it took a lot to get him mad, when he did snap, he snapped hard. And putting him and his girls in danger by risking blowing their cover was definitely a good way to make him snap.

He struggled to play it cool, though, grabbing her arm with a smile and a loud voice to abate the concerns of any viewers: "Smith! Another cigarette break already, ha ha!"

Then he lowered his voice and practically growled in her ear: "Aly, what the hell? You trying to blow our cover or you just want to make Mr. Remington look bad?"

"I just need to go outside for a minute," Aly said, breathy, not really listening to him.

He let her go, forcing the smile again as he raised his voice, "Don't smoke the whole pack this time, you know those things are bad for you!"

Lenna quickly looked at Rome and then Aly leaving when she saw for a moment someone behind Rome. A real piece of eye candy but it was as quickly gone as he appeared. For a moment Lenna considered to search for him but the suddenly vibrating of her purse distracted her. She looked at the object she was standing at and saw the sword Aly was observing before she left.
Georgie was looking at a necklace on the other side of the room, but Rome who looked still a bit mad was close to her. For a moment thinking about how to address him she stepped closer, but not too close.

“Romulus I think there is an object you would consider as interesting. It would be a perfect addition to your collection of antique swords. Would you like to have a look?”

Gosh speaking like this is serious exhausting and where did the hot guy went I totally wanna say hi to him.

Listening to Elenna's pretensions to Society put Rome instantly in a good mood again. If Lennie could play along, they just might sell this.

He clapped her on the back and brought her into a hug, grinning widely. "Of course, sis, let's go take a look! Honey," Rome called, eliciting Georgie's attention, "We'll be right back."

As they walked over to the displays, Rome really did find himself wanting to ask how much that puppy in the window was. They were beautiful pieces, and a couple of them could be the murder weapon they were after: a set of katana, a jungle machete, some medieval-looking sword, and quite a few knives. He wanted all of them, frankly, and had to remind himself that he was here on business.

Elenna's purse began vibrating. He remembered the silent EMF he had helped her build, otherwise he would have told her to answer her phone. "We're nearby," he said quietly. "Which one is it?"

"I'm not sure."

"Okay, well see if you can figure it out. We don't want to look too interested in these things, so I'll go schmooze."

Also, he kind of wanted to schmooze.

Although it had been a while, navigating Society was like riding a bike: it was something you just never forgot. Rome admittedly had to change his angle a bit--he used to play up the playboy, life of the party--and now had to sober up and basically pretend to be his dad. Luckily, his dad and he had had a lot in common.

He even had a phrase, a favorite phrase, to go along with this persona, this fake-real-him, which he hadn't used in over two years: "The name's Remington. Romulus Remington: Like the empire, and the gun."

He does what? Schmooze? Oh God please let it be something with his clothes on.

Lenna watched Rome worried, but all he did was talk and it looked so easy. How did he do that? But the vibrating purse distracted her. She turned back to the set of katana, a jungle machete, some medieval-looking sword, and quite a few knives. Lenna leaned closer down to the displays, the sword was really pretty, there were jewels on it and it was just pretty. She couldn’t explain it but if she would curse an object it would be the sword because it was too pretty not to be cursed.

Wow this might just make sense in my head.

Lenna grinned when she turned around to find Georgie. She wasn’t far away. She touched her at the elbow. “Georgina, may I ask you something? What is schmooze?”

Georgie looked blankly at her wondering if she meant this question for real.

“As a noun it means: A long and intimate conversation. As a verb it means: Talk intimately and cozily; gossip or talk in such a way to (someone), typically in order to manipulate, flatter, or impress them. Does this answer your question dear sister? If you would have gone to college like dad wanted you and not backpacking through Europe you would know that.” A small smiled played around Georgie’s lips, which made Lenna sigh. She stepped closer to her and whispered. “I saw a real yummy guy. Mouth watering.”

Now Elenna got all of Georgie's attention. She raised an eyebrow while a smile appeared on her face.
"A yummy guy, hm? Describe! I want every detail!"

"I only saw him for a couple of seconds."

"Hair color?"

"Dark. Not blonde. Rather brown."

"Eye color?"

"He was in a distance, I couldn't really see it."

"Body?"

"What?", Elenna looked around, hoping nobody would listen to their conversation.

"Is he small, tall, skinny, fat, athletic?"

"Seriously, I feel like I'm sitting in court, bombarded with questions by a crazy lawyer."

Georgie smiled. "Sorry, that runs in my family. So, how is he built?"

"Well, he's taller than me- which is not hard. And he's, I don't know, I think he looked athletic or something. I couldn't really see it under his suit."

"Maybe you're getting lucky and will have some time to check that out", Georgie winked at her teasingly.

"Dude!"

"What was that? Dude?"

"You know what I mean!" Elenna sighed. "And besides, I'm here to do my job, and not to chase after hot guys."

"That doesn't mean that you can't look at them."

Actually Georgie was right, but Elenna didn't want to admit it, that looked unprofessional. She didn't want to let the group down...but she really hoped to see that hot guy again.

"Hey Georgie, sorry, Georgina, did you see the sword that-" Elenna immediately stopped talking when an older lady approached them. She wore jewelry probably as worth as five villas in the Hollywood hills, and smelled strongly like Chanel No 5- Georgie could smell that, Lenna had no clue what kind of perfume it was.

The woman looked right at Georgie and ignored Elenna completely. "You look incredibly familiar, Madam, I swear I've seen you before. What is your name, if I may ask?"

Georgie had the feeling she knew the woman as well, she really did look familiar. Georgie smiled politely. "Georgina Remington. And this is my sister, Elenna."

"Remington?", the lady repeated, still not looking at Elenna. "I'm not sure..." She scrutinized Georgie closely, then she shook her hand. "I am Matilda Kingsley. You have a really lovely dress, absolutely gorgeous."

Georgie held her breath for a second. She did know that woman! When she was 14 her uncle took her to the golf championship (which bored the hell out of her) and the entire time she had to sit next to a woman who were talking about every single expensive restaurant in Paris, she even listed the various menus of those restaurants. After an hour Georgie spilled her coke (by accident, of course) on that woman's white dress. Two years later, she met her again, this time at a polo match (even worse than golf, because Georgie didn't like horses) and that lady started talking about every single expensive restaurant in London. Georgie wanted to spill her drink (this time on purpose) to make her shut up but her uncle caught her before she could do anything. And now that same woman was standing right in front of her.

"Have you tried some of the food yet?", she asked. "It actually reminds me of some I had in Paris. Have you ever been to Paris? If not, you have to go! The restaurants are excellent if you have the right address, of course!"

Georgie cleared her throat. "Excuse me, Mrs Kingsley, I don't mean to be rude but my sister and I have to take care of something." She smiled, giving Elenna a sign.

"Oh yes!", Elenna nodded. "Totally! I mean, yes, indeed."

Georgie shook the lady's hand. "It was a pleasure to meet you."

"The pleasure is all mine."

Georgie turned away from her. "Move it!", she said to Elenna in a hushed voice.

"What was that about?"

"Believe me, you don't want to know." Georgie sighed when she saw that they were far away from Mrs. Kingsley. "Where is my husband, by the way?"

"Probably checking out the beautiful...things you can find here", Elenna said with a smile. Suddenly her smile faded. She thought she just saw him again, that really handsome young man.

"Focus!", she said in a demanding voice.

"What?" Georgie looked at her.

"Not you! I'm talking to myself."

"Wow, there's something new..."

"Shut up!"

"Language!"

Elenna sighed. "Dear sister of mine, would you please be quiet?"

"Well, that sounds better."

Lenna giggled. “You know I think I just saw you for the first time scared, when this woman talked to us.”

“Oh be silent. This woman is a horrible person, and she does know me but I’m not going to tell her…”

Lenna grabbed suddenly Georgie at the elbow and turned her around. “Look there!”

Georgie was about to tell her that it was rude to pull at her arm like this but he distracted her. “I call dibs I saw him first and you are married anyway. Do you think Rome, um I mean your lovely husband can buy him for me? Please I want him more than any book. Did you see the perfect hair?”

Georgie pulled her gaze away from the guy and looked wondering at Lenna. “I never saw you that excited except when you saw the huge book store in the mall a couple of weeks ago.”

Lenna stuck out her tongue at her and tried to keep track of her guy but he got lost in the crowd.

“Where are Rome and our bodyguard anyway. Shouldn’t the dinner start soon? I’m friggen starving.”

Allison let the lecture go in one ear and out the other before glaring him down.

"For all you know, SIR, I was responding to a threat against your life. Next time I might not be so dedicated." She growled and then moved back into the crowd before he could give some half-assed remark about her place again.

For some reason she avoided the exhibit hall altogether, looking more at the people this time and trying to profile a high-society killer among them. She stayed just within eyesight of her charges, but not within speaking range. Rome was after a prize for the night and from the look of things so was Lenna. Was she the only one actually doing her job?

Her stomach rumbled but she supposed guards didn't get to eat. She certainly wouldn't if she were actual secret service and she figured they were treated better than society's hired guns.

"You have a really good taste, I have to say", Georgie said after the handsome guy disappeared somewhere among the other guests. "And that skirt he was wearing..."

"Kilt", Elenna corrected her. "It was a kilt."

"Whatever! It looked nice. I wonder what brand that is..."

Lenna rolled her eyes. "It's traditional Scottish clothing."

"I know that, Elenna. I didn't think 'Gee, there's a freak running around in a skirt', or better: 'There's a transvestite!' I know it's a kilt."

"Then don't call it skirt."

"Who cares?" Georgie looked if she could get another glimpse of him, but there were too many people who blocked the view. "So I guess your Mr Handsome is Scottish..."

"Don't call him my Mr Handsome."

"Yeah, I know I'm handsome, thanks", Rome appeared behind them.

"Believe it or not, but we're not always talking about you", Elenna mumbled.

"I'm sorry, but I find that very hard to believe." He shot her a grin. "Besides, who of these wrinkled Woody Allen's is handsome?"

"That one." Georgie nodded in the direction of a man who looked at least 80. "Could be you in a couple of years." She winked playfully at Rome.

"Thank you, Mrs Remington, I really appreciate your lovely compliments."

"You're welcome, darling."

"Hey, where's Aly?" Elenna turned around. "Wasn't she just behind you?" Suddenly she saw her Mr Handsome again. Only for a second, but that was enough to make her blush.

Georgie felt something weird. Something almost exciting, like butterflies in her stomach - which was weird because she had just looked at the 80-year old guy again, and the fact that she felt butterflies in her stomach at the sight of that man worried her a bit. Then she noticed Elenna's flushed face. That was the second time this evening Georgie felt like she could actually feel Elenna's emotions. But that was impossible. Well, it was more possible than having butterflies in her stomach at the sight of a wrinkled old man who looked more dead than alive... Or was something utterly wrong with her and she was attracted to old, very old guys?

Rome shrugged at the kilted figure the girls were staring at. "Hell, I wouldn't kick him out of bed," he winked. "He kinda looks like the guy who plays Wolverine."

"Where's Aly?" Georgie asked, and Rome was about to reply "If you mean our bodyguard, Ms. Smith, then I couldn't tell you," before he noticed the slight frown in Georgie's features.

"Hey, G, you okay?" he whispered, pulling her close, concern radiating off of him.

"Ahh, hmm?" she asked, playing innocent.

"Are you okay, honey?" he asked, as Elenna began to get concerned and leaned in to listen.

"Yeah, fine," she insisted.

Rome might have pressed the issue, even at the cost of worrying Elenna, if an attractive brunette across the dining hall wearing 40s-red lipstick hadn't caught his eye. It wasn't just that she was attractive (really) but she also looked authoritative. He saw her giving orders to a few of the wait staff, and surveying the area with a tactical eye. To his credit, sometimes Rome could manage to mix business with pleasure.

Sometimes.

Completely forgetting he was supposed to be married, he excused himself from the girls and made his way over to make her acquaintance.

"Romulus Remington," Rome said as he approached, taking her hand and kissing her knuckles. She smelled like vanilla. "I couldn't help but be captivated by your presence from across the room." She smiled, so he continued: "Lovely party, isn't it?"

"I should know, I'm the hostess," she replied, in a mouth-watering British accent, like she couldn't get any hotter. "Bela Cohan."

"Ahh, Ms. Cohan, of course. It's a pleasure to finally meet you in person."

She nodded politely, but Rome felt like a bug under a microscope being analyzed for a weakness. "I had been under the impression that the Remington family was not represented on tonight's guest list," she said, he cool blue eyes chilling his spine.

Rome tried not to flinch at that. "Indeed?" was all he said.

"I am pleased to see I was wrong," she cooed. Oh, yeah, she was totally into him. If only in the eat him for breakfast kind of way, but Rome didn't much mind. He had almost let his imagination get away with him before she dropped the bomb:

"Rawson Remington declined my invitation to tonight."

Elenna crossed her arms while the girls watched Rome taking to the attractive brunette. "Seriously? We're here for work!"

"Says the one who can't keep her eyes off Mr. Scotland."

"Firstly, stop giving him stupid names, and secondly, I don't remember going over to him and flirt with him-"

"Because you're too shy", Georgie said dryly.

"I'm not."

"Yes, you are."

"No, I'm not."

"Yes, you are."

"This is ridiculous!", Elenna sighed, then quickly looked at Rome and the other woman again. "Come on, he's supposed to be married!"

"Did you expect anything else from him?"

"That chick isn't even attractive!"

Georgie cleared her throat. "Firstly, don't say chick, and secondly, do you have a disturbed perception or is it simply jealousy? She is attractive."

Elenna grunted. "Jealousy? Yeah, right..."

Suddenly Georgie felt a shiver down her spine. She had goosebumps all over her arms. She looked at Elenna, but her friend seemed fine.
"Is it only me or did it suddenly get really cold in here?", Georgie asked.

"Cold? It's freaking hot with all those people stuffed in one place."

Georgie didn't know what it was, she tried to ignore it...and then she saw Rome's face, who was obviously pale and looked like someone had just brought him death news.

"Hey Barbie, you okay?" Elenna had noticed that something was wrong with her.

"It's nothing", Georgie said, rather unconvincing. "I was just really cold."

"Cold? Are you sure it's-"

"I'm always cold, so it' doesn't matter." She tried to look relaxed, but that was kind of hard. "Can you hear what they're talking about?"

"Who, you husband and that bi...brunette?"

"Yes."

"Do I look like I have ears the size of Prince Charles? Of course I can't hear them", Elenna replied sarcastically. Now she also noticed that something seemed to be wrong. "Why does he look at her like that? Should we move closer?"

"To spy on them?"

"Aehm...yes?"

"Isn't that kind of...immature?"

Elenna rolled her eyes. "I don't even want to know how many times he secretly listened to our conversations."

"What?"

"Come on!" Elenna turned around and tried to hide behind a group of large men. Although Georgie felt ridiculous she followed her friend.

Lenna didn’t like how Rome looked and for that matter she also didn’t liked Georgie being cold. There was something going on with her and Rome. Knowing how much Rome hates it when she cock-blocks him she kept her distance. She lost Georgie for a moment in the crowd, but Lenna didn’t bother when she bumped into Mr. Scotland. He was tall and even better looking from the nearness.

“Hi.” Lenna mumbled and smiled shy, before she felt someone grab her hand and pull her away.

“Stay close by. I don’t want that you embarrass yourself or us. Do you think Rome knows the woman?” Georgie seemed to have seen to whom Lenna was talking and Lenna was too busy searching the crowd for him. But suddenly Georgie took a closer look at her, so she tried to distract her. “Geez, how long to we have to wait to get something to eat here?”

Georgie sighed. "How many times do I have to remind you not to say words like geez?"

"Give me a break! I heard you saying it too..."

"Yes, but not among high society. When I'm on a trip with you guys and don't hear anything but swearing and rough language I might say geez once in a while but not here."

"Hey, we don't swear all the time!"

"If our trips were made into a movie it should be PG 18. And not because of the scary creatures..."

"I actually agree with you, dear sister", Elenna said with a sassy smile. "Everytime you and Rome-"

"Would you please not talk about my private stuff in front of these people?", Georgie interrupted her quickly.

"I'm just saying..." ELenna shrugged her shoulders. "Geez, I'm hungry!"

"What was that?"

"Damn, I'm hungry!"

"What was that?"

Elenna rolled her eyes. "Oh dear, I'm hungry!"

"That was better." Georgie nodded proudly. "But you should stop moaning."

"I'm a hungry kid- and the hungry kid wants to be fed!"

"That was a fancy description of your current state", Georgie said dryly. "Maybe we can distract you a little bit..." She nodded in the direction of the handsome guy in the kilt. "You could introduce yourself to him."

"What?" Elenna blushed. "No...no..."

"It's nothing unusual. You smile at someone, offer your hand, introduce yourself, ask for his name and get into a little conversation. No big deal."

"But...I...that's kind of..."

"After all you are too shy, I was right."

"No, I'm not!"

"Oh my God, he's looking at you!", Georgie grinned.

"What?"

"Smile!"

"But I-"

"Smile, Elenna!"

"Okay, okay!" Elenna finally managed to smile shyly, and when he smiled back she heard Georgie giggling.

"Gosh, I feel like we're in Junior High School!", Elenna turned to her.

"But since we're not", Georgie said while touching Elenna's shoulders and turning her back to look at the cute guy, "you might as well go over to Mr. Scotland and talk to him."

Callum still wasn’t sure how he had managed it but his status as an archaeologist had somehow allowed him into the auction on the premise that he would examine the artefacts. And that was the extent of his plan. I mean, he wasn’t even sure that the sword would be there.

The evening was extremely formal, not something that Callum did well. Luckily he had brought his kilt to America with him, although he felt extremely out of place amidst men in their suits and women in long dresses. Still he’d rather be wearing his old kilt than any other uncomfortable suit.

At first he had thought it would be difficult to find the sword. But once inside that same protective urge he had felt when he first found it took over. It was like he instinctively knew where to go. And there it was. Sitting beside other rather lethal looking implements.

Callum checked it over. He could see that it had been cleaned further since its discovery. No signs of corrosion. Good. At least whoever had stolen it had the good sense to look after it. Callum picked it up carefully. Maybe he could just walk out with it? But as soon as his skin touched the hilt his desire was not to escape but to use the sword. He swung it experimentally.

“Sir, I’m going to have to ask you to put down the sword,” said a rather large, black suited man. Auction security.

Callum apologised. “Sorry. I’m the archaeologist.” He futilely tried to explain.

The man gave him a hard stare and Callum put the sword back down, no longer compelled to swing it into something. He escaped into the crowd and tried to keep a low profile. He would have to think of another way to get the sword out. In the meantime he was going to keep a close eye on it.

Many people admired the sword but there was one group of people in particular that seemed to have a special interest in it. Two girls and a guy, and a bodyguard. Callum shook his head at the bodyguard. Typical high society! Still he watched these people closely. The man walked away, leaving the two girls alone. One blonde, the other brown haired. Eventually they too moved away.

Callum followed them with his eyes. He lost sight of the one with long brown hair but he could still see the blonde one. Then before he knew it he had walked into the brown haired girl. She mumbled “hi” and then was dragged off by her friend. Callum was too surprised to react.

Callum found a good vantage point to keep watching the girls. If he had been in his right mind he would have felt a bit stalkerish but now all that really mattered was the sword. He needed to find out what these people wanted with the sword. He continued watching, his attention drifting more towards the small (and as he now realised, pretty) brown haired girl.

Suddenly Callum realised that the girls had seen him. They were whispering excitedly to each other. Then the brown haired girl smiled at him. He really had to get a proper name for her. He couldn’t keep referring to her by her hair colour. He smiled back. This was something new, he thought. Usually muddy archaeologists didn’t attract many glances from girls.

Well, thought Callum, this was his chance to find out more. And maybe it didn’t have to be all about the sword. It couldn’t hurt to make some new friends on the way. So taking a deep breath he stepped through the crowd and began walking towards the girls.

It was a good thing Rome was well-practiced in the art of deception, because damn! Like he needed that to think about tonight, too!

"Mr. Remington?"

He coughed to cover up his anxiety. "Ah, yes. I'm sorry. I actually haven't heard from my cousin in a long time. I was just a little surprised, is all. You know how the Remingtons are, don't ask, don't tell," he smiled lightly, but the gears in his devious little mind were working full-throttle on a plan to get this chick alone--and, for once in his life, not for that reason.

Well, not only for that reason, anyway.

Rome spotted Georgie and Lenna sneaking around nearby, probably trying to spy on him or to execute an elaborate cock-block, which they always found to be terribly amusing. He mustn't let them screw this up: this was his only lead on Rawson in over a month.

He was just about to pull the woman aside in order to speak to her privately, when the kilted figure actually approached Georgie and Elenna! What luck! Stifling a grin as Elenna blushed to the ears, he quickly took advantage of the distraction:

"You know, Ms. Cohan--"

"--Bela."

"Bela." He smiled warmly, and she smiled back. "I would be willing to pay handsomely for any information regarding the whereabouts of Rawson Remington. Shall we continue this conversation later tonight?"

She smiled invitingly, like the spider to the fly. "But of course. After the auction, meet me at the top of the north stairs. Perhaps we can lay some other negotiations out on the table."

Was that a double-score she just proposed?

That was a double-score!!

Rome swallowed the giggle, and nodded stoically, but letting his eyes sparkle as he took her hand and kissed it again. "Until tonight."

"Until tonight. Enjoy your dinner, Mr. Remington."

"Romulus."

She dipped her head. "Enjoy yourself, Romulus. I look forward to our negotiations..."

"As do I."

Lenna blushed. She never felt that shy, but okay she normally doesn’t flirt with guys that stink of money.

She whispered nervous to Georgie. “What do I have to say to him?”

Georgie grinned. “What about: Hi?”

“Smartass!” Georgie didn’t have time to tell her that it wasn’t appropriate for a young lady to say smartass but McDreamy reached them. Lenna smiled shy when he took her hand and whispered. “Hi.” And that was it, both side just looked at each other and were silent. Georgie shook her head pushed Lenna aside and shook his hand herself.

“Good evening I am Georgina Gilmore and this is my sister Elenna. I am sorry I didn’t catch your name. I have to admit we,” Lenna looked at her shocked, she shook slightly her head. “okay I noticed that your are wearing an interesting evening suit.”

“Georgina I told you that this is a kilt, and the traditional festive dressing in Scotland. The kilts always have the colors and pattern of the clan.”

Lenna felt more confident talking about facts and not doing small talk. “So what is a Scotsman doing here in Maine?”

Callum smiled as Georgina and Elenna discussed kilts. They, or at least Elenna, seemed nervous, but then so was he. He had no idea what to say, or how to behave among such a glamorous group of people.

“My name is Callum Murdoch,” he said, feeling that his accent was totally out of place. “My kilt is Murdoch tartan – so yes, my clan colours so to speak.”

Elenna gave Georgina a look that said I told you so. Callum tried to hide his smile. When they turned back to him he continued.

“I’m an archaeologist. I was working near here and I heard that there were some interesting artefacts on display here.”

Callum hoped that he could draw out talk about the sword. “Do you have a favourite?”

Lenna eyes sparked with joy. “An archaeologist? That sounds so interesting, digging for long forgotten treasures and I don’t mean gold and silver. I read once an article that you try to find anything to proof the Vikings were here first, which others think is totally hideous. But my favorites are the book the in action. There is one about the early ritual of the Christians. I must be fascinating to learn how much the religion’s traditions have changed.”

Lenna smiled shy, as usual when she passed the quieted nervousness she couldn’t stop talking and for once her opponent seem mildly interested in what she says.

“I’m sorry my sister always talks that much when she found someone who is kind enough not to stop her. We should go into the dining room the dinner will be served very soon.” Georgie didn’t sound that interested anymore.

Unbelievable you barely can see in her face that she thinks this is boring.

“Finally, I started to think they never gonna feed us more than canapés and champagne.” Callum offered Lenna his arm and she took it a bit stiff. “My other favorites are the swords daggers and things like that. They look amazing. I just which they could tell us their story about the fights they saw.”

Georgie had a hard time holding back a grin while she watched Elenna and Callum. When he offered her his hand he proved to be very gentlemanly, and if this would be High School Georgie would tell them that they looked like the most adorable couple but she knew Elenna would kill her -or even worse, cut her hair while she was asleep!- if Georgie would say something like that so she kept her thoughts to herself. The two definitely fit together, since both were interested in that ancient stuff that Georgie didn't really find fascinating but Lenna seemed totally into it. Even now they were still talking about swords and God knows what other ancient things. Even if Georgie wasn't really interested in their conversation she couldn't stop watching them because it was too adorable.

A match made in heaven! Georgie smiled as she followed the two. Before they entered the dining room she quickly turned around to see if she could find her super unfaithful husband but it was hard to see anyone in this big crowd of Armani suits and Prada dresses.

"Where have you been, darling?" Georgie asked as Rome came up behind her in time to push in her chair for her. The dining hall was enormous, with circular 8-seater tables that seemed to go on for miles and were dressed to the nines. The wait staff stood ready.

"Just taking care of some business, my sweet angel," Rome replied smoothly, leaning down to kiss her cheek. He straightened just in time to see the Scot helping Elenna into the chair next to Georgie. He watched the man work with an overprotectiveness he couldn't quite explain--or, okay, he could explain, but he didn't want to. The man seemed out of place but well-meaning: absolutely without any practiced or natural suavity, but a basic level of earnestness that seemed to make up for it.

And yeah, okay, the kilt was sexy.

As he straightened, he glared polite holes into the man: they were roughly the same height, the same build, the other man a bit older perhaps, and not nearly as attractive. But Rome could spot a player and this goody-two-shoes-number certainly was not that.

So he offered the man his hand. "Romulus Remington," he said. "Like the empire, and the gun." He squeezed the man's hand with warning strength.

"Em, Callum Murdoch," the guy replied, matching the grip of the handshake but never going over.

Rome was still scrutinizing him carefully, and absolutely wanted him to know it. "I'm Elenna's brother. In law." There was a hint of warning in there, too.

"Oh. Oh!"

Rome nodded, and finally let a smile show through. "Glad we understand one another, Mr. Murdoch. Enjoy your dinner."

Callum felt like he had been pulled apart and then put back together again. He had most definitely been warned. Warily he took the seat next to the seat next to Elenna.

“May I sit?” he asked her, discreetly glancing in the direction of Mr. Remington. He didn’t seem to be watching.

Elenna smiled, slightly shyly. “Of course.”

Callum took the seat and gazed, dismayed at the tabletop. There must have been about ten items of cutlery set out before him. And five different glasses to choose from. What was he doing here? The sword came back to his mind. How on earth was he going to get that back?

One thing at a time, Callum thought. I have to get through this dinner first. So pushing the sword to the back of his mind again, he turned to Elenna.

“I have no idea which fork to use.”