Background information: As we can see on the preview of episode 5 (SPOILERS!), Bryan's father orders him to go back to university and he actually does. Chloe is sad but gets over it. In the couple of months that follow, Chloe has been getting better at juggling school, work, friends and Mai training. She has been getting closer to Jasmine, who has been included in some girls' nights with Amy. Alek has been acting less like a jerk and is getting closer to Chloe and the others too.

With Every Heartbeat

Chloe King was very worried about her protector. Alek had dark circles under his eyes and looked like he might collapse any second. From what Jasmine had told her, he had had a lot going on for him on the past few days, including keeping watch on her roof. Chloe was convinced he was in serious need of some rest and she knew exactly what to do so he could get it. When the bell rung, ending yet another torturous day at school, the blonde Mai found the perfect opportunity to put her elaborate plan in action. Step 1: get him to her house.

"Hey, Alek," Chloe greeted him, catching up to him on the way out of the school building.

"Hi, Chloe," he greeted back, still looking very much exhausted. "Do you need anything?"

"Actually, I was wondering if you could walk me home today."

"Yeah, sure. I can squeeze that in before I head for training with Valentina," he said.

"Thank you," she told him with a smile and they headed out towards her house.

The journey to the King's residence passed mostly in silence, since Alek didn't seem to have the energy to taunt Chloe at the moment. She couldn't help but look at him and feel sad that he had been neglecting himself this way. She also felt guilty knowing that part of it was her fault. He didn't sleep to assure that nothing would happen to her while she was sleeping. It was a really sweet gesture if you stopped to think about it, but also really stupid if it got to the point when he could barely stay awake. That's exactly why her plan was so important; it would make sure he got some rest. Step 1 completed successfully, now on to Step 2: get him inside the house and cooperative enough to agree with Step 3.

"Do you want to come in for a second? You look like you could use something to drink," she said when they reached the stairs in front of her house.

"Sure, why not?" he agreed.

Once inside the house, Chloe went towards the kitchen and Alek followed behind her. "We have water, coke, juice and milk."

"Milk is fine, thank you."

"Yeah, that's what I thought," she taunted him, something she'd been getting better at due to spending more time with him. "I'll just warm it a bit and add some honey."

Chloe put some milk in two glasses, warmed the white liquid in the microwave and put some honey in it. She handed one glass to Alek and kept the other. When they finished, Alek looked even sleepier than before, which was exactly what Chloe needed to accomplish Step 3: getting him into her bed.

"Hum... This was nice, Chloe, but I really have to go. If you think Jasmine gets mad when you show up late for training, you should see Valentina's reaction when we're not on time," he said, shuddering at the thought of his aunt lecturing him.

"Just come upstairs with me for a second; I have something to show you in my room," she insisted and he agreed somewhat reluctantly. They went upstairs and entered her room.

"What exactly did you want to show me up here?"

"Can you give me your jacket, please?"

"What?"

"Just bear with me for a bit, will you?"

"Okay," he said, taking off his jacket and handing it to Chloe. "Now what?" he asked, obviously getting confused.

"Take off your shoes, please," she requested. He eyed her suspiciously but did as he was told. "Very good. Now lay down on the bed, please."

"Really, Chloe, if what you wanted was to get me into bed, all you had to do was ask. There is no need to make up excuses," he said smugly and shot her his trademark smirk.

"Shut up and do as I say!" she said so forcefully that he couldn't help but comply and lay down on his back, with his arms resting on his sides. With Step 3 of her plan completed, she could go on to Step 4: convincing Alek to actually stay in bed and sleep.

"What I wanted to show you up here was my bed, since it looks like it's been a few days since you've seen one," she stated as she sat on her bed, next to where his stomach was. "You've been on my roof for the past four nights, Alek. You can't keep doing this. I know you take your duties very seriously but you have to rest too," she added in a softer tone, putting one hand on his chest, over his heart, and using the other to comb his bangs out of his eyes, exactly how she'd been secretly craving to do since the night he looked over her mom for her.

"How do you know it was me on the roof and not Jasmine or another Mai?" Alek asked, putting both his hands over the one Chloe held over his heart, holding it there.

"I always know when it's you keeping watch on the roof," she confessed.

"And what gives me away?" he asked and she noticed how his accent sounded thicker and even more mouth-watering when he was sleepy.

"I'll tell you after you've had some sleep. You're not allowed to leave this room until you do," she started firmly.

"You're even more appealing when you try to boss me around, Chloe King," he teased her. "But seriously, Valentina will kill me if I miss our training session and what about your mom? She'll be cross with you if she sees me here."

"I'll call Valentina and tell her that I need your help with some defence training. And let me worry about my mom. I'll tell her as much about the truth as I can without revealing that we're Mai."

"Are you sure that's what you want?"

"Yeah, I'm sure. It's not fair how she keeps looking at you like you're a bad guy when you're actually keeping those away from me. You don't deserve her glares and I've let this go on for long enough without correcting her."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. Now go to sleep," she ordered playfully.

Chloe freed her right hand from both of his and removed her left one from his hair. She got up and went to her window to close its blinds, darkening the room a bit. She got a blanket from her wardrobe and covered her protector with it.

"Sleep tight, Alek," she whispered but no response came. Using her enhanced hearing, she checked on his breathing and heartbeat and found them to be even and peaceful. With Step 4 of her plan completed flawlessly, Chloe exited her bedroom to call the leader of the Mai in San Francisco. After that, she would still have time to rehearse what she would tell her mom.

Author's note: Hey there!

It's been quite a while since I've posted something here. I've been really busy now that I'm in college. Since I've started watching The Nine Lives of Chloe King the plot bunnies have been attacking me and now that I'm on holidays I actually have time to write something other than college papers :) Anyway, this will probably be a two or three-shot, depending on how long the rest gets. By the way, reviews make me really happy and inspire me to update sooner *hint*.

Love, Cari xx