Author's Note: After I was done reading the trilogy, I got this idea and it would not leave me alone. I wanted to write out my version of how Derek and Chloe told each other how they felt. It's probably OOC, but I thought that I did okay. Oh, I also got rid of Chloe's stutter. She's completely comfortable around Derek, so there's no need for it.
Disclaimer: I don't own Darkest Powers or any of the characters. Kelley does.
So…here it is…
Crystal
Even though we were safe, something was wrong…off. Not wrong like the Edison Group was right outside the door, but wrong as in someone in our band of misfits was hiding something. This thought stemmed from how Derek and Andrew were behaving.
After we had arrived at the safe house, I had noticed that Derek would try to avoid Andrew, and Andrew seemed relieved by it. I had the nagging suspicion that Andrew was totally uncomfortable around Derek. I mean, he couldn't even stay in the same room as Derek. I have no idea why, but this fact just pissed me off royally.
That day, around lunchtime, I walked into the kitchen and found Derek (aka the bottomless pit) snacking, or more like, inhaling his food. I smiled at him and grabbed an apple. He just grunted at me continued his inhaling. I had just sat down at the table when Andrew walked in. He stopped dead in his tracks (no pun intended) and I saw a flicker of fear in his eyes. Derek noticed (how could he not?) and, with a growl, walked outside. That was the last straw!
I was so pissed that I actually saw red. I threw my apple across the kitchen and stood up. I marched over to Andrew (basically got in his face, well, as much as my vertically challenged self could) and did something that I would have never done in my old life. I yelled at an adult (I have no idea who was more surprised, me or Andrew). "What in the hell is wrong with you?" I yelled/demanded. "He is the same person that you've known since he was five!"
Andrew looked down at me with feigned ignorance and asked, "What do you mean?"
"You know exactly what I mean." I was seething with anger. "Every time you're around Derek, you look at him like he's some rabid dog looking for the chance to attack you!"
My rant must have struck some kind of nerve because he then got very very angry. "He IS an animal!" he snarled giving Derek a run for his money in the growl department. "No, I take that back. He's worse than an animal, he's a MONSTER!" And with that, he spun on his heel and stormed out of the kitchen. All I could do was stand there. I couldn't believe it! Andrew, who was supposed to be a friend, just betrayed his own kin.
That night, I was shaken awake by a hot, rough hand. I opened my eyes to see a big shadow looming over me. Derek. I immediately knew what was going on. Derek was Changing. I shot out of bed so fast that I fell, but I didn't land. Derek caught me before I could hit the floor. I heard his rumble of a laugh and started to giggle. I knew we had to hurry though, so I scrambled into my jeans, slipped my sweatshirt on and grabbed a blanket.
We headed out to the clearing we had found the week before and he stripped down to his boxers. I folded his clothes and hurried over to his crouching form. I was rubbing soothing circles on his back (while he was throwing up his dinner) when I felt the hair grow. I heard the snapping and rearranging of his insides. His face had elongated into a muzzle and his ears had moved upwards. With a final crack, I was staring a BIG black wolf. His head reached my shoulder and his body was massive. He was about the size of a small horse. Even though Derek had Changed, his eyes were still their amazing emerald green. He just sat there and stared at me. I scooted closer and slowly reached out to him. He met me halfway and nuzzled my hand. I let out a breath that I hadn't known I was holding.
He stood up, slowly, and ran around the clearing. He just looked so happy, so relieved that he had finally completed his Change. After a few minutes, he slowed and walked back over to me. He just sat and sat there, staring at me.
"What?"
He just shook his head and looked down, sheepishly.
Huh. "Can you Change back? Do you know how?"
A head shake. Yes.
"Are you going to?"
Another head shake. Yes. He looked past me, and then he gave me a pointed look. Turn around.
I turned around. Then I heard a gasp of pain and then the snapping and cracking of Derek Changing back into his human form. I heard him getting dressed. I couldn't stop the blush that crept up my cheeks. The thought of him naked…now is not the time, Chloe!
"I'm dressed."
I turned around, just in time to see him collapse, completely exhausted. I grabbed the blanket and hurried over to him. I covered him with half the blanket and lay on the other half. As soon as I did this, Derek rolled onto his side and put slid his arm across my waist. I was a little shocked and couldn't help the feelings coursing throughout my body. I felt safe and protected, but also…loved, cherished. This one simple act (that he probably didn't know he did) made me realize something, something that would change my life forever. I realized at that moment that I was completely, totally, and irrevocably in love with Derek. I couldn't believe it! Then memories of our adventures together flooded my mind. All of those moments when I had felt…something. Everything clicked then. I had been in love with him since I stumbled upon him Changing for the first time.
With those thoughts fresh in my mind, I curled into Derek's side, resting my head against his chest, and fell into a dreamless sleep (after I noticed that as I snuggled closer, Derek's grip tightened).
The next morning I was awakened by Derek's grunt of surprise. I was right. He didn't know what he had done. He jumped up and blushed furiously. I had to smother a laugh. Derek acting embarrassed was funny and adorable. Derek…adorable…yup, I had it bad.
In silence, we started walking back to the house. Halfway there, Derek spoke up.
"Sorry."
Completely confused, I asked, "For what?"
"For…this morning. For everything." He said, not meeting my eyes.
"I don't mind Derek. I never have and never will." I stopped walking and waited for him to look at me. As soon as he did, I continued. "I don't care, I really don't. I like being there for you." For some reason, this pissed him off…royally. So pissed, that he started yelling at me.
"How? How can you not care Chloe? How does my turning into a MONSTER not bother you?"
In as calm a voice I could (that monster crack pissed ME off), I tried to explain myself. "I don't care because I know that you would never hurt me. Even when you Change, you're still you, still Derek. It doesn't bother me because you aren't a monster." He looked surprised by that last sentence. (It was probably because I basically screamed the last half of it. After all, I was good and pissed now.) "I swear, if I hear one more person call you a monster, I will summon every damn corpse I can and sick them on them."
After my little vehement speech, I tried to walk past Derek to continue on to the house. I didn't get very far. He reached out and grabbed me about the waist. Then, starring at my eyes, he asked me the one question that I didn't want to answer, that wasn't ready to answer.
"Why do you care so much Chloe?"
Trying to stall, I asked one of my own. "Why do you care that I don't care Derek?"
"Answer the question." Silence. "That wasn't a request Chloe."
I sighed. "What do you want from me Derek?"
"The truth."
Another sigh. I knew that sooner or later I would have to answer, but I just wish that it was later, not sooner. "You aren't going to like my answer." I stalled.
"Try me."
Deep, fortifying breath…"I…love you."
I knew that I shouldn't, but I had to look up. I had to see his expression. Shock…and something else…something nameless. Silence. Tears started to well up. I tried to step out of his hold, but he just tightened grasp.
"Chloe, I…"
"Don't want that from me." I interrupted, holding back tears…
"No,…that wasn't what I was going to say." That dried up my tears, my hopes rising. I stopped trying to squirm free.
"Answer my question." I demanded. Silence. "That wasn't a request Derek." Repeating his previous command as I stepped closer.
He half smiled then he turned serious. "I…I…love you, too."
I couldn't help the big, goofy smile that spread across my face. I was seriously contemplating jumping up and down like a little kid in a candy store, but I settled for something better. Something much better. As Derek leaned down, I stood up on my tippy toes. When our lips met, I felt as if time had stopped. How cliché, but that's what happened, what I felt. As we stood there, holding on to each other for dear life, a fire started in my belly. A deliciously hot, all-consuming and delicious wildfire spread throughout my entire body, 'til I felt as I was going to drown in it. Derek lifted me to gain better access, causing our bodies to align perfectly, like I was made for this, for him. He nipped my lower lip, causing me to gasp. He took the opportunity to plunge his tongue into my mouth. I thought that I would go up in flames with the pleasure he was wreaking on my body. We both came up, gasping for air. As soon as I caught some of my breath, I started kissing him again. This time, me being the aggressor. I bit his lower lip, causing him to growl and allow me entrance. I thrust my tongue into his mouth, taking my sweet time in my exploration. When we came up for air, we were both breathing heavily, trying to recover.
When I could finally speak, I asked," How long?"
As Derek set me on my feet, keeping his arms wrapped around me, he answered. "Since my first Change." I couldn't hold back my laugh.
"What? What's so funny?" He started to look hurt.
"Well, last night, when I laid down, you wrapped me in your arms." He looked confused, so I rushed to explain. "At first, I was sorta shocked, but then I realized that I liked, actually I loved it. Then I came to realize that I loved you."
"What's so funny about that?"
"You didn't let me finish. I also realized that I had been in love with you since your first Change." At that, he smiled one of his rare and beautiful, only-for-me smiles, then kissed me. Only this time, sweetly.
"Chloe, I have something else that I need to tell you." He didn't sound too happy about it either.
I glanced up warily. "What?"
"I, um, I think that…that you're my, um, mate." He stammered, his usual scowl settling into place. "I would understand if you were disgusted by this. An-"
"Derek, shut up." I had to interrupt this. (I had read one of the werewolf books from the safe house library, and I knew what he was talking about. Basically, I was his one and only. Forever. Lucky for both of us that I felt the same way.) "Hear me now. I love you and always will. I don't care that you're a werewolf. I never have and never will. I don't care what about what everyone will think about us. I just want to be with you. I know what being your mate means (a look of surprise crossed his face at this) and I'm proud that you chose me to be your mate. Oh, and don't ever refer to yourself as a monster again. I won't tolerate it and it's insulting to me. AND remember this conversation. If I ever hear that you think that I'm disgusted to be your mate, you'll wish that you had never been born. Do I make myself clear?"
"Crystal."
He smiled then kissed me, possessively, like I belonged to him.
And I did and vice versa.
Please review. Like it? Hate it? Want to flame me? Anything need work? Review and let me know. Be honest. Again, please review. If it's any good, I was thinking of doing the story from DPOV. What do you think? I also got other ideas. If this story is any good, I was gonna post the others.
