She headed to get herself some water while the same scene kept replaying in her head. Always the same never changed and did it trouble her. This definitely wasn't her first time but it got harder every time she had that same nightmare.

Her parents yelling at her… Them telling her she was a worthless mutie... Screaming why didn't she let them all die in that car crash, that it would be less trouble… accusing her that it is her fault… everything was her fault…. She knew the number, but how could 8-second dream last a lifetime… everything was happening in slow motion; glass her mother dropped never made it to the floor, water in the sink never stopped running…

She had love/hate relationship with her powers. She could create a shield within a second so it would be logical she would feel safe, but sometimes, even for a slightest sound or commotion she would raise them up and how many times did it almost cost her the hard-earned secrecy. She read some stuff online, she was grateful for the Internet and whole 21st-century fact but many things were mentioned, almost none of them explained. She was so frustrated by not knowing enough, not having enough information and this… nightmare. It was happening all over again; whenever she was under a lot of stress she would have the same problem. Not being able to sleep fall sleep past midnight and wake up before 3 A.M. heavy breathing, thirsty and scared. This was her 3rd or 4th night in a row, she stopped counting. While thinking about all going on around her she found and drank an almost whole bottle of water. Sitting on a couch completely zooned out she raised her shields when she heard him. Unaware that he wasn't here because of the sealmate talk she silently cursed, on which he smiled, to himself mostly. She didn't need this whole „sealmates" bullshit. And in her mind, he was here because of it.

Anyone who appreciated good looking man was unable not to stare… Tall, broad shoulders, dark-skinned, that semi-long jet black hair, not foreign to hard work. She had a feeling being with him would mean a lot of time outside, maybe not now but when this whole situation settles down. I mean, she could stare all she wanted, he was hers in the end but she had a hard time adapting to that fact. Forever? To find a forever person at 18? How would it work? Would two of them become obsessively possessive over one another? Jealousy? Other men/women? What would Andy say? Father? If he was terrible in her nightmare then this would be much worse. He was like 8 years older than her and… and she lost her too long train of thoughts when a noise of her name filled her ears.

„Lauren?"

„Sorry, what?"

„I asked if you're ok."

„Yeah, just couldn't sleep here for a second, I'll head back to my bed in mere seconds", she said as she was starting to get off the couch hoping to escape the whole whats wrong talk.

„Lauren…" he lingered „ Will you tell me whats wrong?" He sounded almost desperate to both of them, but she wasn´t in the mood for talking about anything, especially him.

„All is good. Just grabbed myself some water and going back to sleep." She mentally slapped herself for telling him two different stories as she was walking away. She knew she would end up telling him everything but she didn't like the idea of someone knowing everything about her.

She never found a lot online about sealmates after stumbling on the term but she knew some basics:

1) It's for life.

2) The rock in the relationship has a scar and the other one has an identical birthmark. She was stuck with a birthmark.

3) Happens to every mutant

4) Sealmates have some sort of connection.

Full stop. That's it. Whole internet and this is her knowledge. How were they paired together? Which birthmark? She had only a few and knew which one but some mutants are not as lucky, by a lack of knowledge or amount of birthmarks. What kind of connection? How do you connect? She met him, touched him and her birthmark started acting out? When will her birthmark stop burning? Do the same things apply to male and female mutants? What if there are some things he couldn't answer? There were a lot of mutants around them but she wasn't planning on asking any of the females… she doubted Blink could give her the info, she had more than some bumps on he life road with or without this bullshit, and frankly, she didn't like the redhead. Too close, too touchy, too `I don't care he is not paired with me´ sort of person. She was already getting jealous without realizing it and by the look of it, it won't get any better.

Lauren was scared. She was freaking out because she didn't know what her parents were thinking of her, why Andy wasn't talking to her, scared for her life, freedom, secrecy, and privacy. This whole John, sealmate, burn-fricking birthmark wasn´t helping. She wanted to scream her lungs out but knew that wouldn't help anyone. How was she supposed to adapt to this new way of living?

She was on her way, almost reached her bed while John was stuck in the same position how she left him. Occupied with his own thoughts.

He was scared. This was her 6th night of not sleeping and it was getting not only to her but to him as well. He knew she cared for other humans and mutants, wouldn't let them suffer but this was showing her lack of knowledge on their shared seal. He knew about the seal moment scar showed up. To John, it sounded silly, the whole idea of being scared and having a flash of a gorgeous blonde girl in the process. He didn't tell anyone, promptly because he wasn't supposed to have any scars. Now Marcos knows, but he isn't aware of who the seal is referring to. In the beginning, he felt lucky, she truly was beautiful, but when he first saw her another trail of thoughts crossed his mind. Lauren was so young. She must have been a child when he got it and it made him feel guilty. He was a man with so much stuff and problems… How could he trouble with everything that came with him?

He has to find a way of talking to her. Just to make her sleep. Her lack of sleep is affecting him, these headaches and tiredness are not traits you want in your illegal-yet-saving-mutant-lives-group leader. To him, Lauren is the most beautiful creature in the world, yet he could see past it. Bags under her eyes, tremor in her hands when she is playing with air, concern and fear and something else John couldn't decipher in her eyes. He was sure her mother noticed. Caitlin has proven herself many times over last weeks as a caring mother and nurse, but somehow he had a feeling she didn't know how to approach her daughter now like she needed a push. Certain it is not a problem of loving her less, just her believing Lauren told her everything and now that's gone. Lauren was hiding her biggest secret from her mother who knew everything about her friend fights, boyfriends, concerns and scares for future. Somehow John knew Caitlin and Lauren had a good, healthy mother-daughter relationship, but he felt his assistance would be needed.

Joh wasn't one of those shirtless people. His need to hide the scar and the story behind it too great. On his left side, just above his waist-line was a roundish scar. He knew she had a birthmark there and was unable to get smug of his features when he thought of seeing it once in the future. He knew her birthmark was burning. Although sealmates were a private thing and something that was different for every couple he knew some things. Her burning will become worse, with that so will her lack of sleep, tiredness, tremor, headaches, possible nightmares and he had to make sure both of them don't suffer possible negative outcome, they had months but he wanted to make sure he had enough time and patience to teach her everything she wanted to know. Sonya could probably talk to her, definitely Marcos, but first, he should make sure she knows. That will be a talk to remember.

Those were his last thoughts before he drifted off to sleep. That left only Lauren awake in HQ, wondering how will she talk to her mother.