The chaos that followed the attack, show, and slime, was an annoying, almost all night affair.

The police arrived, fully dressed up and looking sharp, mostly to sweep up the bodies and take notes, as far as I could tell. General Grant once more found himself at the middle of everything, all but taking over the head officers investigation. I spied his wife standing behind him, grinning from ear to ear in quiet pride as her husband basically just walked over and took charge.

And everyone was just as happy to do as he said.

Me, I was just exhausted.

From what I could tell, so were all the rest of us.

As soon as I gave my statements to the police, I once more shook General Grants hand, and got out of there as quickly as possible. I made sure to reclaim Tanya and Chenya in their basket from Mrs. Grant first, who’d been holding them through the show. But once all of us in our little group were cleared by the police and politics, we all left as quickly as possible.

Because of where Carnegie Hall had been built, there wasn’t a lot of other buildings of anything nearby, so the little group of legends found ourselves loitering in the lobby. We were all waiting for our rides, and quietly trying to process everything that had happened to us. Fortunately, the ushers and maids still had drinks to serve on hand, and we were all enjoying some liquid courage.

Most everyone preferred theirs straight.

Me on the other hand, I preferred lots of ice.

And a lot of actual ice water. At the moment, if I could, I’d had just drunk the ice water by the gallon. It felt like that kind of night, now that some time had passed, and I could feel the weight of it all hang on me.

Even Tanya and Chenya looked exhausted in their little basket, which Maggie had snatched back from me.

“Well now, it seems we’ve all quite the story to tell.” Twain chuckled as he walked up to us. “A legendary night for a legendary place with lots of legendary people.”

“Pretty sure all those professors at universities for higher education would be mad at the number of times you used legendary in a single sentence there.” Wyatt laughed. “Mr. Big Time Famous Writer.”

I just rolled my eyes at him, smiling in spite of myself. Wise ass. I thought, trying to keep from chuckling. Even if he did have a point.

“I was educated once.” Twain chuckled at Wyatt, looking amused at some inside joke. “It took me years to get over it.”

We all chuckled at that.

“Well, it’s been lovely, but we really must be off.” Sadie said, noticing that their carriage had finally arrived. She gripped Wyatt’s arm with a very firm grip, and in no uncertain terms, all but yanked him towards the door.

“It was lovely to meet all of you!” She said, nodding to everyone, especially the ladies. “We really should get together and talk within the next few days. We’re staying at the Dodger Hotel near the Bronx. Do drop a line through the telegram. Until then.”

The ladies all nodded to one another before she yanked her amused looking husband towards the door. She stopped when she came up to me, and smiled at me.

“It was good to see you again Jake. And thank you for saving my thrill seeking husband again.” She gave me a one armed hug, as she just refused to let go of Wyatts arm. It was almost like she was reassuring herself that he was still there.

“It was lovely to see you again as well Sadie,” I hugged her back, and then shook Wyatts free hand. “And it was a lot of fun getting into trouble with you again, old friend. Glad we made it out alive once more.”

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“Pleasure as always brother.” He laughed as he returned the shake. “Do visit when you’ve caught your breath. Assuming your new stable herd allows it.”

I blinked in confusion, while all the women, his wife included, giggled while glaring at him. I was at a loss. However, I suddenly had a strange feeling; like a half dozen big cats were looking at me in the dark, and seeing only an oversized mouse.

I waved them both off as I glanced down at the drink in my hand. They put something in this? I wondered, confused by the last encounter.

Shrugging, since I didn’t care as I wanted to be off as well, I tossed it all down as we went back to waiting.

“I suppose before I go and get a tongue lashing from all my guards for giving them the slip, I should return this.” Ella chuckled, holding out my sword in its sheath and wrapped in its belt buckle. “Thank you for lending it to me.”

I looked at it, then at her in her blood covered dress, then at her face with its quiet, soft beauty, and smiled.

“Keep it.” I told her, gently pushing it back to her. “Consider it a gift. A memento or souvenir to remember your brief, crazy visit to the Eagle Union.”

“Thank you.” She smiled shyly as she took it and buckled it around her waist once more. “Though, as royalty, it would be rude of me to receive a gift without offering anything in return.”

“Oh there’s really no need princess.” I chuckled. Though at her words, I noticed Lilly, Maggie, and even Twain perk up and glance at us with curious smirks, for some reason.

“Oh, but I insist.” Ella smiled impishly, which was charming as hell on her. “And since I am in this crazy country, I’ll emulate my new friend, and just take what I’ve been wanting. All. Night. Long!”

I blinked in confusion, and noticed Lilly suddenly blushing scarlet red in embarrassment. The hell? I thought, wondering what that was about.

Before I could even think to ask though, Ella stepped forward, grabbed me by my shirt collar, and half pulled me down, and half pulled herself up into a deep kiss!

I was floored, and totally unsure of what to do. Ella put everything into that kiss, and I felt her tongue even push through to my own mouth, which sent a thrill down my spine. My own tongue pushed back on hers, and for a moment, we were lost, both of us barely even breathing.

Then it was over, and she broke away, and then stepped away, her face as red as the red carpets we were all standing on.

I had no words.

Everyone else didn’t bother to speak, as they instead burst out laughing.

“Until next time we meet, Wild Ranger.” She said quietly, looking away with a deep blush on her face as she headed out the door. Though I did notice the tiny, satisfied smile on her face as she left.

“Uh, yeah, next time.” I stumbled over my words, once more totally lost. Everyone else all but fell over laughing at that as Ella gracefully strode out to her carriage and waiting servants, her head held high.

I glanced back at them after she left, and rolled my eyes.

“Oh, shut up!” I snapped, annoyed at their dragging out my embarrassment. They just laughed harder at that. I sighed, realizing I really should have known better, and just resolved myself to wait.

Lilly, after catching her breath, left next, heading out the door. She turned and grinned at me with grin that was both enticing, and terrifying.

“The papers over the next few days will positively write themselves.” She said as she headed to the door. “But they will be nothing to what my dear sister will write! She won’t be able to sleep for days once I pay her another visit.”

I was too wore out to do more than just groan in misery at her parting shot as waved goodbye to us all and got into her carriage.

“I’m afraid her sister and her dime store novels won’t be the only books that are written about you, and all of this tonight.” Twain said with a smile at me and Maggie. “I’m sorry old boy, but I’m gonna have to get in on the act as well. It’s just too good to pass up.”

I looked at him and at this point, just sighed and rolled my eyes. “Well, if you must.”

“I must.” He laughed, as he shook my hand, and kissed Maggie’s very bloody, fur covered hand, waved at the little mouse girls in their basket, and left.

Finally, it was just us now.

“Well, I had fun.” Maggie giggled, wrapping her free arm around mine, and entwining her fingers with mine.

“Shall we finally return to the hotel? I don’t know about you, but there’s a certain bed there that’s just screaming for me to crawl into it.”

“I couldn’t agree more.” I replied, chuckling, as I looked and saw our own odd, ostentatious ride arrive. “I’m glad you had fun. How about you ladies?”

“It was so exciting!” Tanya said, sounding both excited and barely awake at the same time.

“You stopped those evil witch robe people from doing to others what that witch did to us!” Chenya waved at us. “It was amazing!”

Both girls yawned as soon as they finished talking.

“Well, glad to hear you all enjoyed your night.” I laughed as I slowly and carefully led them all out the door to our ride. “Time for home, a bath, and bed.”

“Sounds like heaven.” Maggie purred, half walking with me, and half curling into me.

I had to admit, I enjoyed the feeling immensely.

And she was right, it really did sound like heaven after all this.