Argh, I had major writers block for every section! This was the best I could get it, and it's still really bad. Sigh. Sorry for making you wait for a majorly atrocious chapter.

I don't own Night World. Thanks for all the recommendations for the playlist!

Chapter 6

"Morgead, I was thinking I should get to know the other Wild Powers better," I said.

He looked up from bathing Adenah. She slapped the water and laughed when the splashes got on Morgead's clothes.

"Oh, brilliant, Adenah. You're hilarious," he said sarcastically. Adenah giggled again. I smiled. "That would be good. I've heard that Iliana is a good shopping partner," he said to me.

I rolled my eyes. According to Keller, the girl was crazy about any type of shopping.

"Good thing that I like shopping, then. You don't really make a good shopping partner," I said.

"I make a great shopping partner!" Morgead protested.

"Yeah. Compared to... the Grinch, for instance."

He widened his eyes innocently. "I happen to know that the Grinch makes a fantastic shopping partner, as long as it isn't Christmas related."

I stared at him incredulously. "You are so immature," I said. I turned and walked out.

As usual, Morgead got the last word. "Immature is just a word used by people who don't know how to have fun!"

I chuckled and sat down on the sofa. Morgead was more of a child than Adenah was.

At least he wasn't treating me like I was on a death-bed. He usually acted as he did before, but sometimes when I woke up in the night he was crying and holding me.

I never let him know that I was awake. He always calmed down after a while, but never let go of me.

I remembered what Claire had said. "He loves you."

I didn't think she knew to what extent he loved me. He would tear the world apart just to make me happy for the most fleeting second.

I would do that for him. I would let the Apocalypse come and wipe out the humans if it meant we could be alive and safe, together.

But that safety would never happen. Morgead and Adenah would have to live without me.

Morgead came in, Adenah on his hip. She was dressed in her pyjamas. He came to sit next to me, and Adenah crawled onto my lap. I held her and leaned against Morgead.

~ * ~ * ~

I woke up in the middle of the night. We hadn't moved from the sofa. Morgead's arms were still around me and I was still holding Adenah. Her breathing was deep and even.

Morgead was crying again. Holding me and rocking me gently.

I moved my head to look at him.

"Morgead... you have to stop this," I whispered. I touched his cheek, trying not to jostle Adenah.

He leant his forehead against mine.

"Why does it have to be you?" he whispered.

I didn't answer. I felt myself beginning to drop off again, but I fought to stay awake. I wanted to make sure Morgead slept.

He fell asleep after a few more minutes as I watched him. It wasn't completely peaceful, but at least he was sleeping.

I relaxed against him again and let myself give in to blissful oblivion.

~ * ~ * ~

When I woke up again, Morgead was still asleep but Adenah was awake. She was sitting, watching the clouds out the window.

"Mama," she said as I woke up. She hugged me around my neck.

"Hey Adenah. Did you sleep well?" I said softly, trying not to wake Morgead.

She nodded, her blue eyes wide and solemn. She slid off my lap and got a few toys out from a box.

"Play quietly. We don't want to wake up Daddy," I said quietly. She nodded and started playing, quiet as a mouse.

Morgead woke up after about half an hour. His arms tightened around me and his lips pressed onto my forehead. Adenah had gone into her room by this time.

He was quiet for a while, just holding me tight, but then said, "Wait here."

He got up and went into the kitchen. I watched him.

He came back after several minutes with some human food.

"Breakfast in... well, where you slept," he said.

"Thanks," I murmured.

He watched me eat, playing with my hair.

~ * ~ * ~

Adenah went to bed early that night. Morgead and I stayed in the living room, watching films. I chose comedies, hoping to lift Morgead from his depression.

He was hiding it well from Adenah, from which I was grateful for, but he'd lost the spark that made him who he was. I could tell that he was breaking inside.

I found myself wishing the same thing as he did, why me? I did have the most to leave behind; so why should it be me? Why should I have to make that terrifying walk to the lodestone, knowing that it had been the last time I would hear Adenah laugh, see Morgead smile. It would be the last time that I had held Adenah to me and kissed her forehead, the last time I would feel safe in Morgead's arms.

I felt myself sinking into the depression.

I shouldn't have thought of that, I thought to myself as we watched Notting Hill. I should be living my life to the full, and be grateful that I am still going to have months with Adenah and Morgead. Most people die with things unresolved. They never had the chance to know when they were going to die.

But was it better? Was it better to have to suffer months, counting down the days until the death, or for it to hit suddenly, unexpected? Was ignorance better than knowledge?

I might find myself running away, someday soon, having forgotten the reasons that I had to do this. I might lose courage at the final fight and run.

We finished watching Notting Hill and Morgead said that we should get to sleep. I looked at the clock and realised with a shock that it was almost three in the morning.

I didn't sleep at all that night, just listened to Morgead's breathing - he'd finally decided to sleep - and found pictures in the pattern of the ceiling.

Dawn came rather quickly, and I was tense, not at all tired. I felt the need to go outside, not able to bear staying cooped up.

I slid away from Morgead and made my way silently to the en suite, hoping not to wake him up. The shadows under his eyes were getting frighteningly dark.

I got dressed silently and let myself out of our room to write a quick note to Morgead explaining where I was. I went outside.

It was warm and the sun was starting to come up over the horizon. We were living just outside of Las Vegas, near to Thierry's mansion. There were hardly any trees in the sand.

It was a strangely beautiful place. Hardly any cars passed by, and thankfully the hydro-electric station was the other side of the town from us.

This city may be among the busiest in the USA, but it was an isolated place.

I walked without direction, around the house and into the desert. It wasn't helping though.

I came to a halt, looking across the desert. Maybe I should run, I thought to myself.

I looked back at the house and felt a longing. I was still so young.

I started jogging. I wasn't running away, though. I was running because I felt like it.

I tripped a lot the first few minutes, then got into a rhythm and got used to the dips and ridges. After that, I got faster. I sprinted, dodging the creosotes.

It felt good to be able to stretch my legs. I'd been cooped up for so long, protected by the body-guards. I'd persuaded them to let me live in peace, without 24/7 protection.

I ran for several hours, revelling in the loneliness. I'd always enjoyed being in my own company. I made a loop after a while and sprinted back. It was early afternoon by the time I came back home, and I wasn't even sweating.

Morgead came out to greet me, Adenah on his shoulders. She smiled and held out her arms. I lifted her off Morgead's shoulders to hold her. He kept an arm tight around my waist and we walked inside.

~ * ~ * ~

The phone rang. Morgead answered it then held it out to me.

"It's Hannah," he said. I took the phone from him.

"Hi, Hannah," I said.

"Hey, Jez. We were planning to go shopping later, just me, Rashel, Keller and Iliana. Do you want to come?" she said.

"That would be great. When were you planning to go?"

"You could come over straight away if you wanted."

"OK. I'm coming right over. See you in a few."

"Yep, see you."

She hung up. I put the phone down and grabbed the keys to my motorbike and my bag.

"I'm going to town," I said to Morgead.

He walked over and kissed me quickly. "OK. I'll probably take Adenah hunting later," he said.

I tightened my arms around his neck for a second, then broke away and walked out the door.

I hardly rode my motorbike now. I usually took Adenah when I went to Hannah's, and there wasn't anywhere else to go. I missed being able to ride it as much as I wanted.

I got my helmet from the garage and wheeled the motorbike out. I swung my leg over and started it up. I roared out of the driveway and on my way to Hannah's.

The ride was short, but perfect. The sky was a beautiful blue, paling into a pale white in the horizon. It was warm, and the speed was thrilling as it always was.

Hannah came out as I put the motorbike against the gate.

"Hey! You ready to go now?" she said.

I smiled at her excited expression. "Sure."

Rashel came out. She was stuffing a wooden knife in her purse. She looked up at us, watching her warily.

"What? We need as much protection as possible without having those bodyguards that are infatuated with Jez and Iliana!" she said defensively.

"I don't understand. Why are we not having those bodyguards?" Hannah said.

"This is meant to be girl time, and the vampires don't think that girls are up to the job. But with Jez and Keller, we should be fine," Rashel said. She finally managed to put the knife in her purse.

"I don't have a weapon," I said. "I forced Morgead to put them all in the attic after Adenah was born. I didn't want her to hurt herself."

"You forced him?" Keller asked. She smirked.

"He wasn't cooperative. He didn't agree with the plan," I answered.

"He likes fighting, then?" Iliana said.

I laughed. "Only if it's against me, and only if he wins. He never does."

"You go, girl!" Hannah cheered. We all laughed.

I forced myself to forget completely about the prophecy, to not sour the mood. It was good to spend time with some girlfriends. I got to know Iliana better, as I'd wanted. She was as crazy about shopping as Keller had said she was, and seemed to know everything about fashion. She talked a lot, and was generally a bubbly girl. It was a relief to have someone like her; Morgead and I were both too serious.

After the trip, I went home the happiest I'd been since Aradia had told me the prophecy. It was about six in the evening and Adenah was in bed by the time I got in.

"Did you have a good time?" Morgead asked softly as I went into the kitchen.

I grinned. "Yeah. Iliana is as crazy and bubbly as Keller warned us."

He laughed and walked closer to me. His arms folded around me. I let myself relax as he kissed gently down my neck. I pushed him back slightly to kiss him properly.