Fawn was laying in a chair by the poolside vainly trying to get a tan. It was something that always seemed impossible for her, but she tried anyways. It wasn't fun walking around like a pale ghost. The invisible sunrays touched her skin, warming her. A breeze drifted through the pool area, sending a nice cool to her skin when she got too hot. A shadow came across her and stayed there. Fawn slowly peeked open her eyes and sat up angrily.

"Don't worry, I'm not standing here to stare at you." Travis said. He was in swim trunks and was standing in front of her shirtless. Fawn hoped he didn't expect her to be flattered.

"If you keep showing up like this when I'm alone, I'm going to start calling the police on you." Fawn growled and laid back down, closing her eyes. She heard a chair creak beside her and sighed. knowing Travis had sat down beside her now. She looked at him.

"What do you want now?" Fawn sat up on one elbow. Travis held his arms out.

"Does there always have to be reason for me to see you?" He asked. Fawn frowned.

"Yes."

"Maybe I have come to woo you." Fawn laughed despite her loathing for him.

"That will be the day." Travis smiled and looked around, suddenly looking nervous which Fawn didn't like.

"Travis..." She began slowly, he looked at her seeming a bit unsteady.

"Fawn, I came to warn you." He said. Fawn sat up completely.

"Warn me about what?" She demanded.

"You know the parade today?" Fawn nodded. Clay had said today there would be a parade to show them to the public. it would Amp up the excitement and give people someone to cheer for.

"When we go by the Lincoln Memorial today, duck and stay down. Okay?" Fawn's eyes widened.

"What is that supposed to mean?!" Travis took a deep breath.

"Listen, you did me a favor now I'm doing you one. Just duck, okay?" Fawn was speechless.

"What? Why? What's going to happen?" She asked the string of questions quickly. Travis only stood up.

"I can't tell you." He began walking away and Fawn started to follow him.

"Travis!" She shouted in frustration. He ignored her and began to exit the pool area. She put a hand on her hips.

"You didn't even come down here to swim!" Travis gave her a thumbs up and Fawn crossed her arms in frustration before raking her fingers through her hair. She looked around as if the pool held any answers for her, but of course the pool didn't reveal anything. She looked back at the gate that Travis had left through.

"Now what!" She shouted to no one in particular. Fawn grabbed her towel and exited the pool area, stomping up to her room.

"Fawn?" Violet asked when Fawn continued towards the bathroom angrily.

"You know what I don't get Violet?" Fawn said from the bathroom as she took her hair out of it's ponytail.

"What's that?" Violet asked from the room.

"Men, I don't get them." Fawn said, glancing in the mirror before exiting the bathroom. Fawn was confused when Violet started laughing,

"What?" Fawn asked, half confused and half frustrated. Violet took a deep breath, holding off another bout of laughter.

"Fawn, no one understands men, not even men." She chuckled. Fawn broke into a small smile, shaking her head.

"Well someone should figure it out because I sure can't." Fawn complained while she grabbing her clothes. The parade was allowed to be casual and Fawn was glad. Her chest still hurt from her corset yesterday.

"Do you need any help?" Violet asked, coming across the room. Fawn waved the servant away quickly.

"I'll be fine, Violet." She laughed. Violet seemed a bit hurt by Fawn's rejection of her help and Fawn felt bad.

"Although, I could use a bit of that vanilla perfume you gave me the other day." She said quickly. Violet's face lit up.

"I will go get it." She answered and rushed off down the hall. Fawn closed her room door, changing into her nice pair of jeans and fancy, but yet still simple, blouse. She grabbed a black pair of sneakers from her closet and slipped them on. Violet had just come back to the room when Fawn had finished re-brushing her hair.

"Thank you." Fawn said as took the bottle of perfume and sprayed it on her wrists and neck. She handed it back to the patiently waiting Violet.

"What do you think?" Fawn asked, spinning in a circle. Violet tilted her head.

"I think you look better in a dress." She said simply. Fawn rolled her eyes.

"I think I would also feel miserable." She replied. Fawn glanced at the clock and realized she needed to get going if she was going to arrive at the parade check-in on time. She grabbed a small jacket, even though she doubted she would need it, and headed out the door. Fawn headed down the stairs quickly, deciding to take her own car to the parade. Garrett and she had decided to use her car since, it was a convertible and would be easy to sit on. She quickly found her black Camaro and put the keys in the ignition.

~~~~~~~~

It was an uneventful ten minute drive to the check-in at the Arlington Cemetery. Fawn was let through security and parked her car behind Section 1's car. Climbing in the back, Fawn sat on the edge of the back of the car where the hood had retreated to. She looked around and soon spotted Garrett walking towards her vehicle. He climbed in the back and sat beside Fawn.

"So how was your talk with Willow?" Fawn asked, unable to keep down her curiosity. Garrett looked at her.

"She's nice." He said, not offering any other details. Fawn frowned.

"Garrett, you have got to be the most boring person on the face of the planet." Garrett smirked.

"Willow doesn't think so." Fawn shook her head. It was about five minutes until the parade when their driver finally showed up. He got into the car quickly.

"I'm so sorry, my youngest daughter put up a little fit when I dropped her off." Fawn smiled.

"How old is she?"

"Six, she absolutely adores you." He said, twisting back to look at Fawn. Fawn ducked her head, embarrassed.

"I will have to meet her someday." The driver eyes widened in surprise.

"Ma'am that would be an honor." He turned around and started the engine. Fawn gripped the car tighter when it started forward and the parade started down its course. People lined the streets, crowding just to get a glimpse at all the overseers. Fawn waved to everyone, a permanent smile plastered on her face. She carried a bouquet of flowers given to her at the beginning of the parade. People cheered for them and waved banners some that even had Fawn and Garrett's name on them. They were pulling around to the Lincoln Memorial when the driver shouted out, pointing to a little girl who stood on the steps of the memorial.

"That's my girl!" He shouted. Fawn smiled at the little girl and threw the bouquet of flowers that she had been saving the whole parade. The little girls blue eyes lit up as she caught them, squealing with excitement. Fawn saw rapid movement further up the stairs and quickly grabbed Garrett, ducking when she remembered Travis's warning. Loud booing became apparent and tomatoes flew through the air.

"What is going on?" Garrett asked, while he shielded his head.

"A pro-" Fawn words were cut off by sounds of gunshots and screams. Another round fired off and Fawn screamed as blood flew back from the front seat, splattering onto her clothes and Garrett's. She saw their driver slump over the steering wheel. Fawn didn't think as she climbed into the front seat, she heard the sound of guards firing back at the attackers. Fawn grabbed her driver, laying him down on the seat quickly. There was a hole in chest from the gunshot and dark blood pooled out of it. The driver gasped as he struggled for air. Fawn covered the injury quickly to prevent anymore bleeding. Her heart was beating so fast she was sure it going to explode. Fawn knew the danger she was putting herself in, but it didn't matter. She looked at the driver, who looked back at her with panicked eyes.

"A-A-A" He tried sitting up, but it caused him to cough blood everywhere. Fawn pushed him down.

"Please, stay still." She begged. Fawn had just finished her statement when a burning pain ripped through her arm. She ducked against the door, holding the injury. When she moved her hand, she saw the blood seeping through her sleeve.

Oh no.. She was brought out of her inner thoughts as the driver began coughing and he slammed against the seat violently. Fawn scooted forward, putting a hand over his injury. The driver looked at her.

"Aster, her name is Aster." His eyes rolled into the back of his head and Fawn went rigid.

"No! Stay with me!" She screamed at him. Fawn slammed her hands against his chest, performing CPR the best she knew how to. Her pulse rang in her ears while she thrust her hands against his chest. She leaned over his midsection, trying to hear a heartbeat, but she couldn't hear anything. She slammed her hands against his chest again.

"No,no,no,no." Fawn repeated as blood flowed in between her palms. She hadn't even noticed the gunfire had ceased in the background. Someone grabbed her and yanked her to face them. Fawn fought against the person.

"Fawn! Fawn, stop!" Garrett practically screamed at her. Fawn stopped struggling for a second.

"He's dead, Fawn." Fawn felt her head grow dizzy. No, he wasn't dead, he couldn't be dead. The wound on her arm burned, and Fawn stumbled out of her car, feeling nauseous. Her blouse was covered in blood as were her hands and face. She looked up, hearing a shrill scream and watched in horror as Aster dropped Fawn's bouquet, running to who Fawn assumed, was her mother. Fawn was about to take a step toward the girl, but Aster screamed and her mother glared at Fawn, shielding her daughter. Fawn felt the hot tears come to her eyes. Aster thought she was a monster! When Fawn looked to the right, she saw paramedics carrying a lifeless Trent out of his vehicle. The bullet wound stood out against his bloody face. Fawn saw movement out of the corner of her eyes and Travis was standing away from his car. He ran a hand through his hair, looking horrified. Fawn didn't stop herself as rage coursed through her. She ran at Travis, letting out an angry scream. Travis had just turned as Fawn's fist slammed into his nose, blood scattering across his shirt. He stumbled back and blocked Fawn's oncoming second hit.

"Fawn stop!" He yelled. Fawn didn't listen to him letting out another scream and raking a hand across his face. Travis pushed her away, holding a hand to his face. Fawn took another step toward Travis, but a firm set of hands pulled her back followed by another. She noticed one of them was Garth's. Guards grabbed Travis as well, pulling them apart. Fawn fought the guard and Garth, lunging at Travis. He was fighting his guards too.

"Fawn this wasn't me! I swear! Just listen to me!" He said while a guard yanked him back. Fawn felt the angry tears flow down her cheeks.

"I hate you! I hate you!" She screamed at him repeatedly. Garth and the guard dragged her away. Travis was going to respond to her screaming, but stopped and followed his guards, head hanging. Fawn stopped fighting, tears flowed down her cheeks uncontrollably. Garth wrapped his arms around her firmly and Fawn held onto him. Seething through her teeth she cried against Garth.

"I hate him." She sobbed, clutching onto Garth as if he was the last thing left in this world. He stroked her hair soothingly.

"Oh Fawn...I'm so sorry." He whispered. Fawn crumpled against him and the whole world seemed to be in chaos.