It was very nearly completely silent. As it had been on the way back from the spring. The only noise was the sound of breathing, and occasionally people outside.

Needless to say, Emily felt extremely awkward.

Mae and Tuck were sitting on the couch, staring off in random directions at nothing. Miles, a fresh bandage on his head, was sitting at the table of the kitchenette, head in his hands, staring at the tabletop. Jesse was in one of two armchairs, staring at what Emily thought was the floor. Emily was in the other armchair, legs drawn up to her chest, and feeling extremely out of place.

Even when Emily had first found out that the Tucks were immortal, she hadn't felt this intrusive. And she realized that she'd never felt this removed from the Tucks before. It was like she wasn't sitting in the room with four humans; they seemed distinctly inhuman now, wise and knowing… and old. That was a little backwards when she thought about it; when they were immortal, they seemed human, but when mortality came into it….

She looked over at Jesse, sprawled in the armchair, not moving at all. His hair was stuck up in the back, she realized. It was cute, but Emily was getting the nearly overpowering urge to smooth it. She new she was just looking for a place to put her energy.

But almost as soon as she felt the urge to fix Jesse's hair, another feeling was coming over her. As she gazed into Jesse's face, a feeling was blooming in her chest. She began to forget about everyone else in the room. She forgot about every boy she had ever liked. She even forgot where she was, and the awkwardness that had its hold of her before. And, even though she didn't know why, she was suddenly just… happy. Content. Warm.

She tried to fix the image of Jesse sprawling in that chair in her mind. She knew that she wanted to feel this simple, sweet feeling forever. That was all there was to it. She didn't even want to know what it was.

Someone, without her knowing what happened, she was curled up next to Jesse in the chair. When she realized where she was, she started. Jesse looked at her, his arm around her, his eyes concerned.

She started back up at him, realizing she concerned for him, too. He'd been sitting there and staring at the ground for a while. It was actually starting to get dark outside.

Without words, both of them knew what the other was saying.

Are you okay?

Jesse smiled, pulling her so that she was sitting on his lap and lying against his chest. He wrapped both his arms around her, and she smiled back up at him. And once again, they knew what they were saying to each other.

I'm just peachy, thanks.

The other Tucks hadn't moved.

Emily was getting tired, she slowly realized. And it was so warm and comfortable where she was, with that feeling in her chest. And she's closed her eyes, as well. She was breathing in time with Jesse, which added to the peaceful feeling. And the feeling in her chest, come to think of it.

She was asleep before she knew what was happening.

Birds woke her up. Birds, and sunlight on her face. And, once she started to regain some consciousness, she realized that Jesse's chest wasn't nearly as poofy as whatever her head was on right now. His arms weren't big enough to cover her whole body, either, and something was keeping it warm.

Her eyes flickered open, and she was gazing at a wall that looked vaguely familiar. She rolled over onto her back, and stared at a dark ceiling. She was a little disoriented for a second, and then she realized that she was in her room, back at her aunt and uncle's house.

Hi room.

She sat up, blinking a little to get her eyes working, and then swung her legs out of the bed and headed for the bathroom.

Someone else was in there.

She tapped her foot impatiently. After was actually wasn't that long, the door opened, and her mom came out, wearing flannel pajama pants and a huge t-shirt, her hair wet and slightly curling down her back.

"Well, look at that!" said her mom, a smile splitting her face, and her eyes widening. "You're… wait… yeah, you're my kid, right?"

"Mom," groaned Emily, trying to get around her mother into the bathroom.

"It's nice to see you actually exist," said her mom, taking her by the shoulders and pulling her back around in front of her.

"Mom, I have to pee, move," Emily groaned, trying to get around again only to be stopped again.

"Just glad to see you," said her mom, taking her face in her hands and kissing her forehead. "Have a good day, honey."

"Thanks," grumbled Emily, patting her mom on the back and making a run for the bathroom door, nearly slamming it when she was inside. She heard her mom laughing outside, and then walking away.

She's not on crack, it's just early in the morning, Emily reassured her reflection in the foggy mirror.

It was humid and warm in the bathroom, because of the shower her mom had just taken. As Emily brushed her teeth, she thought about the night before. She was wearing pajamas; she must have gotten into them somehow.

Memories started to flow. She must be really tired not to have remembered them right away. Well, she wasn't tired; the opposite, actually: she'd sleep a little too much, and was just groggy.

The Tuck's must have come out of their trances, and noticed that she's fallen asleep. On Jesse's lap, she remembered, smiling. Jesse had gently shaken her awake, and Tuck had driven her home, and Mae sat with her in the back seat, stroking her hair as she lay on her shoulder, trying not to fall asleep again. The boys had stayed back at the hotel.

Then they'd gotten back to her house, and Mae had explained to her aunt, uncle, and mother how she'd been hiking with the boys all day.

It was also the first meeting for the Tucks and my mom, Emily thought, smiling. That must have looked strange. Here's your half-dead daughter, and oh, by the way, we're her boyfriend's parents, nice to meet you.

Emily wondered what conclusions the Tuck's had come to about the spring. And what it would mean for her and Jesse.

She then remembered that she was on summer vacation, and she'd eventually have to go back to her real home. She realized, whatever happened, she'd probably never see Jesse again after this summer.

She dropped her toothbrush in the sink, because her chest has suddenly started to hurt, like it was contracting.

She took a few deep breaths. She retrieved her toothbrush and started to brush her teeth again. As the gazed in the mirror, it began to fog up again.

A/N: crappy ending, I know.  I've been sick, so I was able to have some time off to write, but my sister's home from school and has banned me from her computer. I'll write more as soon as I can!! Thankz for all the reviews!!