A/N:

This chapter is dedicated to my amazing guest reviewer; you're the only reader that reviewed! I'm glad you like it so far, I hope you enjoy this chapter! :)

DISCLAIMER: L J Smith owns The Night World, its dialogues, plot-lines and character names. All other plotlines, characterizations, and details belong to the author: xForbiddenLoveBitesx.

Ash

I shut the door behind me silently. My knees gave way beneath me, buckling under my weight and sliding me down the door until I was kneeling in front of it. I exhaled a relieved sigh, she was awake. I felt a smile break free on my face gradually building into a triumphant grin. Strong inhuman hands gripped my arms, where they lay suspended at my side, and hauled me up so I was standing.

"Thanks." I said, the ridiculous almost comical grin still plastered on my face.

"No problem," James replied, his tone suggesting held back laughter. I looked up and, sure enough, James had his lips pursed. I suddenly remembered him and Quinn had in fact been in the same room as I had been in just moments ago but they were gone before I left. He chuckled. "We left just after she woke up; we thought you could use the privacy. Quinn went back to see Rashel." He explained.

"Oh, thanks, again." I acknowledged and suddenly needed James to hold me up again as my knees protested against my weight. What…?

"Whoa, careful Ash," James said alarmed. A concerned look crossed his face before asking: "When did you last feed?"

"Before Mary-Lynnette arrived." I answered and winced. Going without blood was definitely having a profound effect on me.

"That's why; you need to feed like, now." James muttered, shaking his head in disapproval.

I laughed at his expression, it was the same one Mary-Lynnette pulled when she told me the same thing. After he frowned at me for a second, I gave up trying to resist. "Okay, okay, I'll go feed."

"Thea's in the dining room." James called after me as I walked away. I changed my course and nearly walked into a bouncing figure in front of me. Only one person that could be…

"Hey Poppy," I said politely, there really was no point in being snappy with her; her moods were kind of contagious. I laughed as she continued to bob up and down in excitement. "Why were you bouncing?" I asked after she had finished.

"Can I go and see her, please? Pretty please?" She asked, looking at me with wide eyes and her hands held in front of her, begging.

I sighed. "I guess James told you she's awake then," I assumed. "Figures." I muttered under my breath, cursing my cousin in every name I could think of. The last thing Mary-Lynnette needs right now is for some hyperactive vampire going to see her and demanding when she's next free to go shopping.

Poppy cleared her throat delicately. "A, yes James did tell me she's awake. B, I heard that! And finally C, I just want to meet her, I'll decide when we're going shopping later." She said, finishing with an angelic smile.

I stood there for a few minutes, weighing my options, while my legs and arms felt like they were seizing up. The pain was nearly unbearable, making my thought process a lot harder to concentrate on. I needed to feed immediately, before I do something I'll regret. I sighed again, this time in defeat. "Fine," I murmured. Poppy started squealing. "But," I said, holding up a hand to stop her and watching her face fall in disappointment. "I have to be there and, right now, I need to feed." I finished and turned away from her exclaims of delight and toward the dining room again.

I found Thea sitting at the table, staring intently at the scattered pieces of paper on it. Her forehead was creased in concentration, her mouth puckered. The radio was on, playing softly in the background, seemingly not disturbing her attentiveness. "What are you looking at?" I asked, making her jump in her seat and swat me with her hand feebly. Chuckling, I sat down on the chair next to her.

"Vet school applications," She sighed. Gathering the pieces of paper into a neat pile and pushing them away from herself, she turned to me. "How are you?" She asked concern clear in her brown eyes.

"Thirsty." I said, smiling broadly at her.

Rolling her eyes she said: "You know that's not what I meant but okay," Rolling back the sleeve of her green sweater, exposing the underside of her arm, she thrust it under my chin. "Go ahead." She whispered after catching my moment of hesitation. Taking the opportunity, I sunk my elongated teeth into her arm. The blood flowed freely into my mouth, pooling at the back of my throat until I swallowed in need. The hot, heady liquid was medicinal, reviving my muscles, sharpening my focus. Ahh that was enough, I decided. Drawing my head back from Thea's arm, I exclaimed in content. My teeth shrank back to their original size, satisfied with their feast. I looked up at Thea's face. A smile was plastered on her face.

"Thank you."

"No problem," She replied, the smile widening. "Go be with your Soulmate," She continued her voice a mere whisper as she ascended from her chair and wrapped me in a hug. I smiled warmly at her, the anticipation curdling my stomach, or was it the blood? Then, surprising us both, I hugged her back. "You really have changed." The tears were forming now as she smiled. She sat back down on her chair and made a shooing motion with her hand. Chuckling, I made my way to the door. I could feel the grin forming again, dominating my face with its enormity, and I didn't care.

"Ash, you have the most ridiculous grin on your face," Poppy said, giggling with her hand over her mouth. The grin widened, if that was even possible. Poppy smiled then, the same one Thea had produced. "You look so happy," She said in awe. "And your eyes…" Trailing off, an excited look crossed her face. I frowned, what did she mean about my eyes? "Never mind that," She almost shrieked, flapping a dismissive hand in front of her. "Are you going to see Mary-Lynnette?"

"Yes." I said, frowning at what that would mean.

"Yay." She exclaimed, tugging on my arm. James appeared at her side a few paces in, shaking his head at his Soulmate's antics.

"Can I come too?" He asked tentatively. He must've picked out our destination from Poppy's thoughts; I hadn't noticed him trying to access mine.

"Sure." I answered. It didn't really matter if James came too, he would be alright around her, it was also better if her was there to calm down his estranged Soulmate.

I glanced at James and he was glaring at me for the comment about Poppy.

Poppy reached over to James and patted his arm in comfort. "It's alright Jamie; he's just worried about Mary-Lynnette."

I rolled my eyes at that statement. Of course I was worried about her.

"See." She said winking conspiratorially. James' expression softened and he gave me a look that was full of empathy.

We stopped short at the door and I exhaled in anticipation. I turned the handle slowly and stepped back over the threshold, my worries evaporating.

A/N:

So, there you go, chapter two. Nothing exciting really happened in this chapter did it? Oh well, this is only the second chapter and I have a lot planned… :)

Please review, I know there is more than one person reading this, as the reviews suggest.

xForbiddenLoveBitesx