Disclaimer: I don't own the Dukes of Hazzard, not making any money, just cheap thrills.

Warnings: Angst

Rating: K+

Italics and/or indicates thoughts

A/N: I'd like to thank HazzardHusker for her invaluable help as beta reader.

Trouble On The Horizon

Chapter 7

Lavinia remained outside while the family had breakfast, too angry to join them. As she paced the yard, her anger and hurt grew, deciding that she needed some time alone, she headed into the woods.

"Jesse, where's Lavinia?" Martha asked, peeking out of the kitchen when Jesse came inside.

"She's outside, why?"

"Breakfast is ready and I don't know if the boy's can handle eating with her this morning," Martha replied.

"I know, I already told her that she needs to avoid being alone with them. Let's just give it a try, maybe with me and you both here they'll be okay."

"I suppose," Martha reluctantly agreed. "Well, you better let her know that breakfast is ready. Daisy, could you go tell the boys that breakfast is ready?"

"Yes ma'am," Daisy replied, running to the boys' room and delivering her aunt's message.

When Jesse went outside to get Lavinia, he was told that she wasn't hungry. Returning to the kitchen, he relayed that message to Martha and sat down to eat. Breakfast that morning was a quiet meal, an unusual occurence in a household with three young children.

"Bo honey, aren't you hungry?" Martha asked.

"No ma'am," Bo replied, moving his breakfast around the plate with his fork.

"Now Bo, you know we don't waste food in this house," Jesse reminded him.

"Yes sir," Bo answered, taking a bite of eggs.

"Jesse, I think we could let..."

"No Martha, if the kids are gonna get back to normal, we have to treat them like we always have."

"I suppose," Martha said, not convinced but willing to go along for now.

Bo was only half-way through his breakfast by the time everybody else was finished. Swallowing hard, he tried to hold back the tears, when first Daisy and then Luke got up from the table. When Aunt Martha began to carry the empty plates to the sink, the first tears fell. He didn't complain though, he just kept on eating.

"Bo, would you like to be excused?" Jesse quietly asked.

"Yes sir," Bo replied through his tears.

"I suppose we can't expect you to eat as much as usual, so go on and play with your cousins." Jesse couldn't help smiling at the transformation as the tears stopped and Bo happily climbed down from the table.

"Thank you Jesse," Martha said, coming up behind him and wrapping her arms around him.

"I know he's not up to a full meal Martha, I just didn't want him to make himself sick by not eating," Jesse explained his earlier demand.

"I know, and of course you're right," Martha replied. Kissing him on the cheek, she took his empty plate and moved back to the sink. "Jesse could you set Bo's plate out for Lady?"

"I can do that," Jesse answered. Picking up the plate, he carried it outside and called the old birddog up to the house for a treat. While Lady cleaned the leftovers from Bo's plate, Jesse watched the children playing on the porch. In only a couple of minutes, Lady had licked the plate clean and Jesse returned it to Martha.

Lavinia walked through the woods to the small creek that ran through the property. Sitting down on a nearby log, she watched the water and thought about the last couple of days. I can't believe Jesse expects me to tiptoe around the children. I know this has all been hard on them, but why can't they see that it wasn't easy for me either? Doesn't Jesse understand how scared I was when I realized my trailer and the kids were gone? When do I get a little sympathy? The kids weren't really hurt and they're home safe and sound. At least they still have a home, I don't even have that anymore. I didn't just lose my home either, I lost everything I had. Oh sure, I've got insurance but that can't replace things like family pictures. Ok, ok, I can get copies made from the ones my brothers have, but they can't replace my christening gown that mama made me. I'll never be able to pass it down to my daughter, if I ever have one. It's not fair, just because I'm not a child they act like I don't deserve any sympathy. Well I'm not going to put up with it. The first chance I get, I'm just going to have to make Bo see that he shouldn't be afraid of me. I'm sure that if I can get Bo over being afraid of me, then Luke will get over being mad. Having come to a decision, Lavinia stood up and headed back to the house.

Walking back into the yard, she saw Jesse heading for his pick-up, a piece of paper in his hand. Figuring that Martha was probably in the kitchen, Lavinia decided to go to the barn for the time being. Stepping into the barn, she heard voices coming from the back of the building. Moving towards the voices, Lavinia was as quiet as possible in case the voices belonged to thieves. As she got closer, the voices were easier to make out and she realized it was her niece and nephews she had heard. Stepping out the back door of the barn, she saw the two older children were playing hangman, using a stick to draw in the dirt.

"Can I play?" Lavinia asked, kneeling down to their level.

At the sound of her voice, Bo jumped a foot and hurriedly hid behind Luke. "Go away!" Bo yelled, "I don't want to go with you!"

"You don't have to go with me Bo, I don't even have a house anymore."

"Did the tormado take your house away too?" Daisy asked.

"Yes Daisy it did," Lavinia replied, happy that at least one of the children was talking to her.

"Then go find it and leave us alone," Luke demanded. Turning slightly away from her, he tried to reassure Bo. "It's okay Bo, she doesn't have a house and I won't let her take you anyway."

"Don't like her house Luke, the big wind lives there," Bo softly said, as he shook with fear.

"I know Bo, it's okay you don't have to go there," Luke assured him again.

"Promise?"

"I promise, Duke's honor."

"Luke I know you're mad at me, but I didn't know there was going to be a tornado," Lavinia tried to explain. She had realized as she watched the children that if she could get Luke on her side, the other two would follow. She was sure that if the children were no longer upset with her, Jesse would forgive her for her carelessness.

"You left us alone Aunt Lavinia, I didn't know what to do," Luke told her angrily.

"I know Luke, and I'm sure you were scared. You have to understand though Luke, I didn't know there would be a storm. If I'd had any idea that it would happen, I would never have left you children alone."

"You're a grown-up how could you not know?" Luke asked, still believing that grown-ups knew everything.

"Luke just because I'm an adult doesn't mean I know everything."

"You're lying! You left us alone and the tornado took Daisy and Bo away. It picked me up and threw me around like...like Daisy's ragdolly. There was lots of stuff in the tornado but I couldn't see Daisy or Bo, no matter how hard I looked. I hate you! I hate you!" Luke screamed at her, his screams attracting Martha's attention and bringing her out to the barn.

"Don't you speak to me like that young man," Lavinia ordered, punctuating the order with a slap.

"How dare you hit my boy," Martha growled, walking up just in time to see the slap. "I want you out of my house now!"

"Martha you didn't hear what he said, I'm sure if you had..."

"I don't care what he said Lavinia," Martha calmly informed her sister-in law. "The fact of the matter is, he's not your's to raise so you have no right to punish him."

"Well we'll just see what Jesse has to say about this," Lavinia snapped. "I honestly don't believe Jesse will throw his own sister out with no place to go."

"Lavinia perhaps you've forgotten who you're talking to. This is as much my home as your brother's and I know in this case he will agree with me. I suggest you pack your bag, in the meantime I'll call Elbert to come and get you."

"Elbert? How am I supposed to take care of settling my property if I'm all the way up in Placer county?" Lavinia demanded, stubbornly crossing her arms across her chest and glaring at Martha.

"That's your problem, not mine," Martha replied. "Come along children, let's go inside," she said. Bending down to pick up Bo and taking Daisy's hand, she walked to the house, Luke following behind her and watching to be sure Lavinia didn't try to follow. "Luke, could you take Bo and Daisy into your room to play?"

"Yes ma'am," Luke replied. "Aunt Martha, I'm sorry for yelling at Aunt Lavinia."

"Well Luke I won't tell you that it's okay. She is your elder and your aunt, but she was wrong too so I don't think your uncle will need to punish you. Go on now, you kids go and play," Martha said, wanting them out of the line of fire when Lavinia came inside. After the kids were safely in the boys' room, Martha moved to the phone and called Jesse's brother Elbert. It didn't take long to explain the situation to Elbert, who understood the need to have Lavinia stay with him.

Lavinia walked into the house and saw Martha hanging up the phone. "So I suppose I'm to be shipped off to Elbert's now?"

"Don't try to make me feel guilty Lavinia, you brought this on yourself. Jesse and I were willing to let you stay here, we wanted the kids to get over being upset with you. You're the one who couldn't wait until they were ready to be around you. I just don't understand you Lavinia Duke, you're an adult but sometimes I swear you act younger than Bo."

Before Lavinia could reply, the two women heard Jesse's pick-up pull into the yard. Without another word, they waited for Jesse to come inside.

The moment Jesse walked in he could feel the tension in the air, even before he saw the faces of his wife and sister. "What happened?"

"Jesse I was just trying to..." Lavinia attempted to explain, before being interrupted.

"She was talking to the children out behind the barn Jesse."

"I didn't plan it Jesse, I came across them and thought it was a good chance to make things right."

"A chance to get things your way, you mean," Martha snapped.

"How dare you?"

"Enough! Lavinia just hush," Jesse yelled. "Now Martha, what happened?"

"I was in the kitchen when I heard Luke yelling. I ran outside and found Lavinia talking to the kids out behind the barn. I heard Luke yelling at her that he hated her, and that's when she slapped him."

"You what?" Jesse demanded, nearly yelling as he turned again to his sister.

"Well what would you have done Jesse? You don't think either of our parents would have tolerated that sort of disrespect, do you?"

"That's not the issue Lavinia. Them ain't your kids and it's not your place to punish them when you're in our home. Besides, didn't I tell you not to be around them unless me or Martha was there too?"

"Well yes Jesse, but you see..."

"I've had it with your excuses Lavinia. You've always made excuses for your mistakes, never took responsibility. Well as much as it pains me baby sister, I want you out of my house and don't come back until you've learned to take responsibility."

"Fine, if that's the way you want it Jesse Duke you won't have to ever worry about my irresposibility messing up your life again. I suppose Elbert is on his way?" she asked, turning to Martha.

"Yes," Martha replied.

"Good, I'll just get what little I have and wait for him outside," Lavinia snapped. Stalking to the spare room, she left Jesse and Martha alone.

"I'm sorry Jesse, I know how hard that was for you," Martha whispered, as she wrapped her arms around Jesse's waist.

"It was hard, but I'm tired of her refusal to admit when she's in the wrong. Now, I think I should go have a little talk with Luke, where is he?"

"They're all in the boys' room, Jesse don't be too hard on him," Martha suggested.

"I won't Martha, but I have to make sure he knows he can't be disrespectful to adults," Jesse said. Kissing her on the forehead, he gently removed her arms and walked to the bedroom.

"Who is it?" Luke asked, when he heard a knock on the bedroom door.

"It's Uncle Jesse."

"Come in."

Stepping into the room, the first thing Jesse noticed was how the younger two children had moved to protect the oldest. Sitting down on Bo's bed, Jesse clasped his hands together and fixed Luke with a serious look. "I understand you did a little screaming at your aunt today Luke."

"Yes sir," Luke reluctantly admitted.

"Do you think that was right?"

"No sir, I'm sorry Uncle Jesse."

"Uncle Jesse please don't spank Luke," Daisy plead with him.

"No spank Luke," Bo chimed in, wrapping his small arms around his cousin.

"Do you think I should let him talk that way to an adult?" Jesse seriously asked, though secretly he was proud of the way they rushed to protect Luke.

"But Uncle Jesse, Aunt Lavinia already slapped him, don't that count?" Daisy argued.

"You have a point there Daisy. Luke?"

"Yes sir?"

"Have you learned your lesson?"

"Yes sir."

"Then I suppose we'll let that slap stand as your punishment," Jesse told him. Seeing the confused look on the boy's face, he clarified; "I won't spank you, this time. If you ever speak like that to an adult again though..."

"I'll get spanked?"

"Yep," Jesse confirmed.

Luke nodded his understanding and then climbing from the bed he headed towards the door.

"Where you going Luke?" Jesse asked.

"Don't I got to apologize to Aunt Lavinia?" Luke asked, turning back to his uncle.

"Not this time Luke," Jesse replied, not sure how Lavinia would respond right now. "Now I need to tell ya that your Aunt Lavinia is going to stay with Uncle Elbert for the time being. In fact he's on his way here to pick her up, so why don't y'all stay in here and play. We'll let you know when she's gone," Jesse told them.

"Okay Uncle Jesse," all three children agreed, not really wanting to see their aunt right now.

As much as they would've liked it to be, Lavinia leaving wasn't a magic cure. The kids continued to suffer from nightmares, especially Bo. The more time that passed the fewer the number of times Jesse and Martha were awakened by the screams of a child. They were relieved when a few months after the tornado, Bo saw a neighbor's dog and for the first time he didn't scream in fear. He wasn't able to pet the dog, but he did let it sniff at his feet as Jesse held him.

"Luke was right Uncle Jesse," Bo said, snuggling into his uncle's arms.

"What was Luke right about Bo?"

"Doggies won't eat me," Bo explained.

"Yep, he sure was right about that," Jesse agreed.

Later at home, Jesse told Martha about Bo's reaction to the dog. "I think he's going to okay Martha, at least with dogs."

"I think so too Jesse, now if we could just get him past his fear of storms," Martha softly said. Sitting in the porch swing next to Jesse, she laid her head on his shoulder and began to softly hum her favorite hymn.

It was only another month before Bo seemed to be over his fear of dogs. Though throughout his childhood, there would be the occassional dog that would remind him of the wolf and give him a momentary shudder of fear. His fear of storms wasn't so quickly cured, it would be many years before his fear of storms would ease. Even as an adult, if a storm was severe, Bo would struggle to hide a terror that he didn't understand.

Daisy forgot the tornado quicker than either of the boys, perhaps because she had been found so quickly. Jesse and Martha didn't know why, they were just grateful that at least one of the children wasn't plagued by nightmares.

Luke struggled for years with the memories of that day, and the months of nightmares that followed. He didn't speak of his Aunt Lavinia after that. He was only able to forgive her after surviving a war himself, and finally understanding how fallible people could be. A month after returning to Hazzard, Luke called his aunt in the hopes that they could bridge the gap between them.

"Aunt Lavinia, it's Luke," he said when she answered the phone.

"Luke? Why are you calling me after all these years?" Lavinia snapped.

"I wanted to say I forgive you for the mistakes you made, I know you never meant to..."

"You forgive me? What makes you think I need your forgiveness? For that matter, what makes you think I'm ready to forgive you?"

"Me? For what?" Luke asked, surprised by her last question.

"For costing me my brother, if you and Bo hadn't thrown such fits Jesse wouldn't have thrown me out. No, I don't believe I'm ready to forgive you Luke," Lavinia snapped, the bitterness easy to hear.

Hearing the click as his aunt hung up the phone, Luke sadly placed the receiver back on the phone. Knowing that he had done all he could, Luke went to join his family as they enjoyed the sunset, finally free of the anger he'd carried since childhood.

The End.

Hope y'all enjoyed the story, please let me know what you think.