Virtual American Gothic - Second Season Episode Eighteen Three Weddings and a Funeral by Queri and Dana ********************************************* NOT TO BE ARCHIVED TO A WEB PAGE WITHOUT THE AUTHOR'S PRIOR CONSENT. Special Guest Stars: Illeana Douglas as Sabbath Brent Spiner as Jonathan Kane Polly Holiday as Mamma Lucy ********************************************** PART I Clothes were strewn everywhere- lacy panties hanging off a doorknob, socks left in a trail across the floor. Selena lay in bed, glowing, one bare shoulder peeking over the leopard print sheet. "Now, I was thinking of a white wedding. Everything looks nice in white. Do you like me in white, Lover?" From in the kitchen, a man's voice: "Mmmhmmmmm." "I could have white lilies and babies breath, my bridesmaid could carry daisies and white irises....." "Mmmmmm." "I could have the whole chapel bathed in the light of white candles... how does that sound, Darlin?" "Mmmhmmmmmm...." "What are you getting into out there that's any better than what you could be getting into back here? My bed is getting awfully cold." "Well, I'm just the man to heat it up. " Lucas Buck, wearing a white robe, turned the corner into Selena's bedroom, holding frozen champagne glasses aloft. "Whatsa matter, I thought everything looked nice in white?" Selena smiled. "Are you the Good Humour Man?" "I'll tell you what, darlin, if you rummage around in my freezer here, you just might find yourself a Rocketpop." **** Sabbath had mornings off work, to help Selena with the wedding. So far she'd done nothing, but today Selena was picking her up early for a shopping trip- they needed gowns. Bridal and maid of honour gowns. "Just dont make me look like a meringue." Sabbath had growled. At nine thirty am Sabbath heard the Corvette pull up outside. She ran down the stairs and out the door. As she opened the door of the car, Selena threw a "BRIDES" magazine at her. "I've marked the styles I like, see what you think." "You're wearing white?" Sabbath smiled. "You arent exactly a virgin." Selena returned the smile, her eyes gleaming," That IS my point. This is my wedding and I'm marrying the Mayor of Trinity. That should quiet a few of my critics . And if it doesnt, let's see their faces when I walk down the aisle in this-" She reached over and flicked to an earmarked page- the dress was long and ultra sleek, sheer satin with not an extra stitch to be had. "Well, I think Kane having a coronary in the church when he sees you in that would raise an eyebrow or two, if that's what you mean." Selena covered her mouth with one hand, giggling. "Well, it'd be a start!" ******** "Lucas, you've got a phone call. It's your Grandmother." "Aw, hell." Lucas turned on his desktop speakerphone, Leaned back into his chair, feet on the desk. "Hello, Mamma Lucy." His voice dripped with fake southern charm. "Well, boy, how are you?" "Busy. What is it?" "You want to play cut to the chase? I'll tell you what it is. You need to quit messing around out there and be a man, Lucas. You need to marry and have some kids." Buck rolled his eyes, the marriage speech again. "I met your Caleb, and he smells like their side to me. You haven't turned him yet, for all your fancy moves. So get another one in the oven and make sure it stays there this time. Put the ring on her finger and the baby in her belly. Dont you let your Grandmother down." The veins on Lucas forehead were arching again, that damn ol woman. . . "Yes, Ma'am." He spit out sarcastically. "Do you think I'm foolin with you, boy?" Lucas' desk moved out from under him, his feet fell to the floor with a thud. "Because I'm not." Click. Dial tone. **** The refrigerator door hung open, Loris stuffed inside, scrubbing . "Loris." She hit her head as she jumped out. "You scared the daylights out of me." Matt took her in his arms, they kissed lightly. "I came home for lunch, hope you dont mind. " "I dont mind a bit. " She smiled up at him. "I brought some for both of us, hang on. "Matt reached into his case, grinning widely. "Here you go. I was over in Goat town today, Had to stop in to the deli. Best food south of Philly." Matt spread the kitchen table with cornedbeef sanwiches, kuygel.... "Sabbath isnt here, is she? Because I love this food too much to do anything but chew my way through her 'that was a living thing' speech." "The coast is clear, Matt. She went with Selena Coombs to look at wedding dresses, if you can imagine." Matt looked into Loris' eyes, held them there for ages. ****** Selena was singing "I feel pretty" as she gunned her little yellow vette. "Selena," Sabbath was suddenly serious. "Do I remind you of Gail?" "Where did that come from?" "I dont know, really. But she's been in my head lately. I'm sort of--- her successor, maybe." "Sabbath honey, you could not be less like Gail if you tried. That bitter little victim, she..... well, you're nothing like her. At all." Selena pulled the car up to the boarding house. "I'll tell you a little something. You've got more sense in your little finger that that girl ever had in her whole underdeveloped body. She just laid down and let Trinity swallow her up, and good riddance to her and the prissy little cloud of doom she carried around with her. You're my friend and nobody's going to swallow you up. They'd be iceskating in Hell before I'd let Gail Emory be my bridesmaid -- in dusky Rose, no less, and you're going to be so beautiful in it. Everybody will be beautiful at my beautiful wedding." Sabbath had a foot out of the car as Buck drove up. "Get in." "I just got home, I-" "Get in." Selena eyeballed Buck and burned rubber leaving the scene. Sabbath climbed in the Buckmobile. "Okay, so I'm in. Now what?" "Going to my house." Sabbath warmed, he might be dangerous but he sure was cute. This wasn't 1697 and she wasn't Gail. "No crimes to fight this afternoon, Sheriff?" "Not a one." ***** Matt and Loris finished their lunch slowly, talking until the soup had chilled. "Matt, why on earth are you looking at me like that?" "Loris, let's do it." "What?" "Let's get married. " "Matt!" Matt stood up, more animated than she'd seen him, his eyes glowing, his skin shining. "I mean it, marry me. We can be a family, it would be the most perfect life I can imagine." Loris hugged him, tightly, and in his ear, she whispered, "Yes." ***** Lucas paced in front of his fireplace. Sabbath sat on the couch, bewildered. "You bring me over here to watch you walk, Crisis Boy?" ***** Selena wrapped the phone cord around her little finger. "Oh, you should just see my dress, Jonathon. It is exquisite." "I know you'll have a hard time waiting till Saturday, baby, but you'll just have to. Don't worry, it'll be worth waiting for. You'll never forget it." ****** "Whatever has gotten into you, Lucas, I dont want to be witness to it. I'll see myself out." Lucas was just there in front of the door as she tried to make her exit. Now, how'd he do that, she thought. "No more walking anywhere except to the bedroom." He was kissing her as he pulled her up the stairs. "I have to be at work this afternoon." "This won't take long." **** Take out containers covered the kitchen table when Caleb and Rose walked in. "Miss Holt! Miss Holt!" Caleb and Rose greedily picked at the leftover goodies, licking their fingers. "Good, you found the food." Miss Holt appeared in the doorway, smiling. "This is fancy food, Miss Holt. Where'd you get it?" "Dr Matt got it. It's our celebration lunch." "What's the celebration for?" Matt joined Loris in the door, and took her hand in his. "Caleb, Rose; Miss Holt and I- we're getting married." Caleb let out a whoop that could be heard down the road. "Well alright, Dr Matt!!" "Caleb, we'll be a family. We want you to stay with us, here." "And when we get home from Charlotte," Loris said, her eyes shining. "we'll take the steps to make it official." "Yes ma'am! I'd like that." "Then it's settled." Matt bent down and Caleb rushed into his arms. **** Sabbath rummaged through Buck's bedside table nervously as Buck unbuttoned his shirt. Anything to delay a decision she was afraid had already been made. "Looking for the handcuffs, Woodstock?" She pulled out a gun and waved it around. "What's this?" "Hey, I am the sheriff." "Well, maybe I should take you hostage." The gun suddenly went off, cracking the edge of a mirror opposite the bed. Sabbath put it down, scared to death. "I didnt think it was loaded." "You should know by now I dont go around half-cocked." The gun fired again all by itself, this time nearly parting Lucas's hair, lodging in the wall by his head. "Where's the bathroom?" Sabbath said shakily. "Door to your right." Lucas glanced at the mirror a strange smile on his face, "Good one, Gail." **** Caleb knelt by the side of his bed. Everything was finally turning out right. For everybody he loved. "Merly, if you can hear me, thank you for giving me a family when I thought I'd never have one again. Now if you could just do something really good for Sabbath too. Everything would be perfect." He glanced around out of the corner of his eye. But there was no comforting glow. No trace of Merly at all. ***** When Sabbath walked out of the bathroom. Buck was lying on the bed in a black silk robe. She gulped. "Lucas, I know we got a little hot and heavy for awhile but, I've been thinking. . ." He got up and grabbed her around the waist, pulling her close to his chest. "Thinking is not exactly what you do best, Woodstock." The smell of his skin was getting to her. Thinking was sort of slipping away, along with all her carefully rehearsed excuses. There was one left. "Lucas, I have to be at work. Marion needs me." "I need you, too, Woodstock. Right now. Marion can wait. Call in sick." Lucas smoothed the fabric from her shoulders, kissing her neck persuasively. "Oh shit." Sabbath stumbled over to the bed and reached for the phone. Lucas's fingers dialed the number and then strayed over to her shoulders. "Helloooo, Marion, um, it's Sabbath. I'm not....feeling myself right now, and I think I need to get in bed right away." Somehow or other she had peeled Lucas's robe away and her own clothes were rustling. "Oh, I dont know, I'm just really hot, and tingly all over. Yeah, I hear it's going around. Thanks." Sabbath still held the phone listening to the dial tone. "You done?" Sabbath blinked real hard. "No." "Uh huh. Well, hand over the phone. Need to make a call myself. Woodstock, you could make yourself useful." Lucas leaned back against the head of the bed and dialed the office. "Ben, I need you to reserve a church for Saturday. Yeah, I know that's day after tomorrow. Any church, I don't care." He was blinking a bit himself. "Huh? what? No, I'm not distracted! For a wedding! Mine!" Sabbath popped up to say. "That's the day Selena's getting married". "Guess you'll have to blow it off." From behind the cold glass of the mirror Gail was watching, helpless. "Don't just go along with this, Sabbath. You may be different, but not that different. Lucas only needs your blood. The vessel isn't important." Not a word was getting through. "Don't you understand? We're all the same to him." Lucas pulled Sabbath closer. "You interested in a little heart and soul, Woodstock?" "Long as your body comes with the package." "Darlin, you're getting the whole boxed set!" Her clothes ended up in a heap on the floor and they rolled on the tangled bed sheets. Lucas loomed over Sabbath, his hands pulling her hair back from her face, looking for the mystery, as usual. Tonight he found it. Her eyes widened and changed to pale ethereal blue, her hair fading golden blonde. He was holding Judith Temple in his arms. His grip tightened and his eyes narrowed. "You gonna tell me, no, now?" Sabbath grabbed Lucas's back and bit his shoulder, " All I'm gonna say is Yes, Lucas. Yes." "That's what I want to hear from that mouth." He leaned closer as Judith's beautiful face darkened into wise coppery shadows around her eyes. Nan looked back at Raven, wondering why everything went wrong. For a moment Lucas stopped. But this thing was too far gone to stop now. "Woman, you started me on this road to Hell and you're going to go with me all the way to the end." Sabbath fingers twisted in Lucas's long dark hair. Oh my God, she thought, this is really love, the real thing. " Yes, Lucas. Anything! He was about to kiss Nan's broad open mouth when her eyes turned black and sparkling, her hair softly curling around Merly's glowing face. "You!" he said, reaching around her slender white neck with his strong fingers, "Darlin, you just complete the picture." And his lips crushed into Merly's mouth. Sabbath kissed him back with everything she had. The sweat was pouring off his body and she thought, oh honey, have you got something to worry about now! Buck sat up in bed and looked at the long mirror, Sabbath sleeping peacefully on his chest. "Well, Miss Emory," he said into the shiny glass, "I hope you got all this on your trusty tape recorder." The mirror burst into flames. Lucas just laughed. "Never could stand the heat, Gail. Good thing you got out of the kitchen." *** Marion Bridgely was shooting venom at Sabbath when she dropped by the library later that afternoon. "Got over your flu fast! Some kind of new injection?" "I was feeling a little better and I thought maybe I could help. . " Marion sniffed like her employee was reeking of something. Brimstone, Sabbath thought. "You could restack the History section. The Mayor put everything back himself. And when you're done there, start in on Science. Anatomy and Physiology, you oughta be an expert there." The librarian threw the keys on the desk. "Lock up when you're finished." If I ever am, Sabbath thought. Caleb came by after school to look up something on local bugs for a school report. Marion was nowhere to be found so Sabbath showed him the insect section. He was flipping through a beetle book as Sabbath thought about how to break the news. She didn't want to tell anybody else till it was all over and done but Caleb was different. He was going to be her stepson. "Hey?" "Hey back." He was studying a picture of two stag beetles fighting each other. " Caleb, I gotta talk to you. I think I'm getting married." She barely had the courage to tell him who. "Think? Don't you know?" "Well, I havent been asked, exactly, but the church is booked. Oh heck, it's Lucas." Caleb's eyebrows arched at her just like his father. "Dont worry,though, that way, I'll never leave you." "Dont say that. Sometime might come when you have to, and I dont want you stayin cuz of me." "I think this will make things better for us. " "Sometimes things look like they're goin to be better and they turn out lots worse. Like they say, You keep your options open." "Okay. Dont worry about me. Lucas will take good care of me. And you, too, Caleb. He really does love us both. I'm not going anywhere. I've found a home." "You sure? I dont want no more surprises." "I'm not about to kill myself, Caleb." "I know, but stuff happens." TO BE CONCLUDED. . . ********************* PART II Ben was filing more unpaid parking tickets in the circular file when Buck leaned over his desk and told him to pack it up. "Good," he sighed, "I could use an early night." "Too bad you ain't getting one. Fire up the car, we got celebrating to do." Celebrating! Ben had never seen Lucas look so grim. Who's gonna die now! **** Selena's kitchen was decked out with flowers, jewelry, dresses in their slick plastic bags and seven shiny bottles of sparkling wine. "Let's play!" She said when Sabbath walked in the door, feeling like a ghost at the feast. "My whole trousseau arrived today!!! " She held a pair of pink tap pants aloft. "french silk, you wanna try them on? Lord knows we'll have more fun with them than Jonathan ever will" Sabbath laughed in spite of herself. "Sure, let's have a fashion show." Selena broke open the first bottle of wine **** The Zebra Club looked like a warehouse on the outside, but inside it was wall to wall women gyrating to the deafening music. <<. . . I LIKE THE NIGHT LIFE, I WANT TO BOOGIE, ROUND THE DISCO OH YEAH. . .>> "Lucas, I didn't even know this place was here." "Well, it's kind of a private club." "Those women are stark-staring naked!" "That's the private part." <<. . . LET'S SPEND THE NIGHT TOGETHER. NOW I NEED YOU MORE THAN EVER. . .>> "You know, Lucas, I can't believe you're getting married tomorrow." "Well, if I'm not, why am I getting you drunk tonight." <<. . . LITTLE RED CORVETTE . . .BABY, YOU' RE MUCH TOO FAST. . ..>> "So, anyway, Selena was wearing that tight red dress, you know the one, Ben, I know you know the one, and she bent over the pool table and it split all the way up her. . ." "Selena sure can shoot pool." "She knows how to handle a stick, that's for sure." "Sends those balls flying." "Uh huh. Have another drink Ben." <<. . . .LOOKING FOR LOVE IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES, LOOKING FOR LOVE IN TOO MANY FACES . . . >> "It's not like I don't get horny, Lucas. I mean somedays all I can think about is blonds, brunettes, redheads, never been bad enough for sheep though." "Hell, Ben, stay away from barnyard animals. The rest of my family I can't answer for, bunch of perverts! But I've always drawn the line at my own species." "Whatever that is." "Exactly." ******* "Have you ever been in love?" Selena rolled over on the bed, holding her toes in the air. It was hard to tell what was her and what was the teddie, the silk clung to her body and echoed the color of her skin. " Maybe, probably, I hope so." Sabbath replied, a bit sad. " I was in love once...." Selena whispered. "But it didnt work out. He needed me, but he didnt love me back. Not like I loved him." She stared at the ceiling. "I guess he just lacked the imagination." ********** <<. . . DOCTOR, DOCTOR, GIVE ME THE NEWS . . .I GOT A BAD CASE OF LOVIN YOU. . .NO PILL'S GONNA CURE MY ILLS. . .>> "I don't know about marrying again. You know, Lucas, they say love is really an addiction no different than cigarettes or dope." "Do they?" "Oh yeah, you . . .uh . . . eat too much or you starve yourself. . .something like that. . and the addict just, uh, takes over the soul." "Ben, that is really deep, you surprise me sometimes." "I surprise myself." <<. . . FALLING IN LOVE AGAIN, NEVER WANTED TO, WHAT AM I TO DO, I CAN'T HELP IT. >> . "So basically you're saying my marriage to BJ would have turned out better if I'd had a two story house?" "Well, actually I was talking about the divorce, but yeah. Course you need that big picture window on the second floor to make it work." "Think so?" "Trust me. No safety glass." <<. . . .FALLING IN LOVE AGAIN. . . .>> ****** "So Jonathan's no love match?" Sabbath said, trying on a hot little black nightgown that plunged all the way to nowhere. "Oh, no. I'm marrying Jonathan for only two reasons: money and power. Settling for that house in the suburbs at last, but at least it's a big, big house, and he isn't fat. I cant get by on my looks forever." She looked at Sabbath in the slinky black and suggested some bright red lipstick. Sabbath slathered it on. "I look like a vampire." "And what's wrong with that?" "Was it Billy, who you loved?" "Not really, for about five minutes I was in dreamland and then I woke up. He'd have given me the moon on a string if I asked for it. But he turned out to be just like everyone else." "Dead?" Sabbath giggled drunkenly. "No," Selena, suddenly maudlin, continued, "afraid of Lucas Buck. " **** <<. . . .UNCHAIN MY HEART. . . AND SET ME FREE. . .>> "So you're telling me you would never have let them cart off Selena to prison?" "Hell, no! Can you see her ass in those sweatpants they make em wear at the state pen? " "It'd be a crime." "Make's murder look like jaywalking." <<. . . MY BOYFRIEND'S BACK AND THERE'S GONNA BE TROUBLE, HEY NONNY NAH MY BOYFRIEND'S BACK. . . .>> A pair of fruit salad drinks were set in front of the dauntless duo, pink parasols and all. "What the hell is this." " Called a Panty Dropper. Fellow over with the ladies sent them along." Lucas looked over by the corner pole where Jonathan Virgilius Kane and a bevy of beauties were wrapped around it, tryin out a few new moves. Kane waved breezily and strolled over. "Since we're both celebrating our last night as batchelors, I thought I'd buy you a drink. We have so much in common., after all." "Uh huh." "Now, Selena loves this particular drink." Kane was very effusive as Ben was nearly impaling himself on the parasol. " But then there's very few things Selena doesn't like, once she gets a taste for them, wouldn't you agree? And it's sooo easy to give her that taste." " Butter and jam together." " I beg your pardon." " She doesn't like them . . . on toast." ****** "Try on the dress for me, Sabbath." Selena had opened another bottle of wine and they were both trying out every shade of eyeshadow Selena owned, shading, conturing the whole works. "It's beautiful." Sabbath said wistfully. spinning in the mirror to see how the fabric moved. "I just wish I could wear it. I wish I could be there, but. ." "Don't tell me. Stuff happens." Selena sighed. "Well, least you're here now. Have another drink of wine. I'm going to paint my toenails and then I'm giving you a facial. Nothing's bringing me down tonight." ******* <<. . . .STANDING IN THE SHADOW OF LOVE, WAITING FOR THE HEARTACHE TO COME. . >>. . "Lucas," Ben was wavering a little back and forth on the bar stool. "All you've done all night is talk about Selena. Selena in her tight dresses. Out of her tight dresses. How pretty she is. How smart she is. Why are you marrying Sabbath?" "Divine intervention." "Oh." Ben collapsed face first in his Panty Droppers. "I'd better get you home before you put out an eye." **** Sabbath woke up, the green clay masked dried over her face. Selena had fallen asleep with the cotton balls still between her toes. Sabbath rubbed her eyes and looked around. Five empty bottles of wine. "Oh, God..." She dressed and walked home, slowly. "I am going to have a bitch of a hangover." She climbed the boarding house stairs, went inside. Little Gail sat on the living room rug, purring. "Morning sweetie. I need to go to sleep before the big evil hangover monster strikes. You wanna come along?" Gail rubbed along Sabbath's calf, Sabbath picked her up and smiled. Upstairs, she opened the door to her room, put Gail down on the bed, turned away to undress and change into her sleep shirt. She turned around, then grabbed for something- anything- to hold her up. "I need to talk to you, Sabbath. I have something you dont seem to understand." "Wait a minute. You were the little kitten a minute ago! Am I still THAT drunk?" "I wasnt the kitten, but I am here now, and we need to talk. " Gail the...what....bit of light? ghost? angel? sat on the bedside, stroking the tiny grey kitten. "You dont get it, Sabbath, " "What? I dont get it what?" "Lucas Buck. He doesnt love you. He needs your blood is all. I thought I showed you that." "You did, but I know a few things you dont. I know what you were like, I know you were bitter, and manipulative, and-" "Maybe so. But this is true, so pay attention. Look." Gail pointed into Sabbath's mirror, and Sabbath saw herself and Lucas making love. "Voyeurism, huh? Ghosties must have a lot of free time." "Just watch." Sabbath did as she was told, and watched. Her expression changed when she saw what Gail truly had to show. Though it was she under Lucas, her face was not her own! "Hold on, Sabbath, it's a tricky ride." When it was finished, Sabbath pulled clumps of hair with her hands and cried. "Who were they?" "Every one of us that has come before you. He wasnt making love to you, Sabbath. He was screwing the whole family." *** Beautiful huge white bouquets of irises and roses and baby's breath were being carried into the church for Selena's wedding. The altar boys lit the candles, dozens of them in between the masses of lilys on the high gilded altar. Organ music soared in the background. In a dark church a few blocks away, Buck dropped a bunch of dark red roses on a granite altar. The minister winced a little as the petals fell across the altar cloth like blood. **** "I have to talk to somebody." Sabbath muttered as she stumbled down the stairs. "Somebody real!" As she walked into the kitchen, Loris was nestled in Matt's arms, her head on his shoulder. They were laughing about something. They stopped when they saw Sabbath's face, her red eyes, tears barely dry. "Girl, what is happening to you!" Loris reached for her. "I just can't marry Buck!" "I didn't know you were going to!" Matt said. "It's set for today." Sabbath gulped. "Oh my God." Loris clutched her heart. "I have an idea." Matt said. "We're leaving town this afternoon to get married in Charlotte. You want to go with us?" "Hell," Sabbath said, her eyes brightening. "I'll drive you there. But can it be sooner than this afternoon?" "It can be right now, if you want." Loris said, glancing at Matt's surprised face. "Why not, we're all packed, and too many things can happen in Trinity if you just wait around." "Perfect," Sabbath said, "Give me time to say one goodbye." *** Buck leaned against the altar in the church, his black overcoat fading into the darkness. Two small candles weren't lighting up much. Ben was sitting in the front pew trying to make his eyes focus and his head stop hurting. The minister shuffled through his missal, otherwise the church was empty. There were footsteps outside running. Bright light poured in as Caleb dashed through the big doubled doors and handed his father a letter. "She wrote this to say goodby to me, But I figure part of it's for you." <<"I know it isnt a lot of notice, so it's sort of a surprise. But I'll keep in touch, so you'll always know where to find me. I can't stay in Trinity anymore, that's all.">> Buck folded the letter carefully and handed back to Caleb. Closed his eyes. **** Sabbath had a big smile on her face at the wheel of the rental car. "There's a sign coming up, guess what it says?" Everybody shouted out at once "We are leaving Fulton Co!" Gail the cat strolled into the center of the road. "Look out for the cat!" Wheels swerved and brakes locked "Oh my God!!" The brakes were screaming and burning rubber. Metal slammed into something very solid and crumpled in the smoke. The sign tilted, its post buckling. **** Buck opened his eyes. "Well, if that's what she wants. No sense crying over spilt milk." He put his arm around his son's shoulders. "Wanta go to a wedding?" **** The Bride and the Groom were at the altar. The minister, splendid in gold and white satin, almost as pretty as Selena, was asking the crucial question. "Do you Selena Coombs, take Jonathan Vergilius Kane to be your lawful wedded husband, for better or worse, to have and to hold, to love and to cherish, in sickness and in health, from this day forward as long as you both shall live?" "I. . ." The church door opened with a bang and Buck stood in it. A mighty wind tore its way through the crowded church. Selena's lacy veil went flying. Kane was just turning around to see the cause of this hurricane when he heard the altar creak and moan. He had time to put a hand up before everything, flowers, candles and all the heavy curlicued gilded plaster fell down on top of him. Selena fluffed her hair and brushed some dust off her gown. "I guess I don't." *** Caleb, Selena and Buck sat on the steps leading up to the ruined altar, Buck had found a bottle of champagne and was pouring it into two glasses. Ben held his aching head trying to clear out the mass of screaming people. Somebody was calling 911 for Kane. Buck smirked at Selena and planted the bottle on Kane's body still lying under the altar, fingers slightly twitching. "The World can be a very beautiful place." Selena clinked glasses with Lucas. She certainly was a beautiful bride, with or without her veil. "If you know how to look at it." END Except of course for the epilogue. ****************************** LAST RITES Epilogue by Queribus Caleb was just about to take his first sip of champagne when Lucila Mae Buck pushed past the hysterical crowd into the church. "Ain't you heard about the accident?" "Well, we been a bit busy around here." Buck sprawled his long legs out on the red carpeted steps and looked up at his grandmother. "Want some champagne?" Lucila eyed the bottle sitting up between Kane's legs and snorted. "While you were getting liquored up, your intended has been lying all over the highway out near Sulphur Springs." "She'll be all right. Women drop into coma around here all the time. You been listening to the police band on your CB again?" "Your fiance is as far from all right as she can get. And so is that doctor friend of hers and his hussy." Caleb wrinkled up his eyes. "Has something happened to Doctor Matt?" "Cat ran out and crashed their car. Sorry honey." Lucilla's smile would chill a dead man. "Whut!" Lucas glared at his grandmother and pulled himself to his feet. "Don't worry, son, we'll take care of Doctor Matt." He pulled Selena up and kissed her hard. "See you around." "Anytime." Selena purred. *** The room was so bright. There was more light in it than the walls could hold. But the light helped the pain. It helped it a lot. Gail walked out ofthe light, smiling. "Take my hand, Sabbath, and you won't have any pain, ever again." **** The Buckmobile was burning up the road to Sulphur Springs Trauma Center. It wasn't going any faster than Mama Lucy's mouth. "That was that Kane fellow under the altar wasn't it? You always liked those splashy moves. You're so sharp you'll cut yourself one of these days." Caleb sat in scrunched between them, praying and praying for Matt to be all right, and Sabbath and Loris. . .oh, Merly, help us all now. "So is Kane dead or not?" Lucila absently patted Caleb's head in what she considered comfort. "Or do you have one more thing to finish off?!" "Who knows, who cares." Buck snapped at her. "You wanta give him mouth to mouth?" "Keep a civil tongue in front of the boy!" Caleb held back the tears and leaned against his father. **** Sabbath was trying to move. To go to Gail. Wherever Gail was. Oh, it hurt so much here. "You have to hurry," Gail said, her grey hood falling across her dark hair like a veil. "Your mother's here waiting for you. We're all waiting for you." Her white hand reached out of the bright light. "Just take my hand, Sabbath! Do it now!" ***** Buck screetched the car to a halt in front of the clinic and dashed up the steps. Something was definetly wrong, that was certain. He looked back for his son. Mamma Lucy had Caleb in a iron grip, tears running down his face. "We're going to look for your precious baby's Doctor Matt. You just go DO what needs to be done!" *** Lucas pushed past a nurse coming out of Sabbath's room shaking her head. The body on the bed looked pale and still, then her chest rose with a shuddering breath. Not too late, then. "Woodstock! Cmon Woodstock, you don't have to die here." Sabbath opened her eyes and looked at him. "Miss me, Crisis Boy?" "Little bit, take my hand, darlin." "I don't think the marriage would work. There's too damn many women in the bed." "We can always get a bigger bed. There's not much time, Woodstock." "They don't come big enough for the whole family." Her eyes started to glaze over. "You don't understand." Lucas's voice was almost desperate. "You don't understand, take my hand, Sabbath. Take it now!" "I'm sorry Lucas." Sabbath whispered with her last breath, reaching for him. Her hand touched his and went cold, icey. Gail was lying on the bed in her place, smiling at Lucas, the back of her head blown out. "Checkmate." "Bitch!" Mamma Lucy slammed open the door to see Lucas standing over Sabbath's dead body, her hand in his. Caleb hugged in the crook of his Great Granny's arm. "You FOOL! That was the last Cross!" "I know." Buck said and dropped Sabbath's hand. END DISCLAIMER: Any story/episode appearing that states it is part of Virtual AG-Season Two is based upon the Television show, "American Gothic", which is the property of Shaun Cassidy, Renaissance Productions,and CBS (apparently). The characters added to support this concept, and the storylines, are the property of the writers acknowledged as such. PLEASE, DON'T SUE US!!