Author's Note: Yes, I know. I've been a bad author. But I updated this chapter, changing a bit... I think you'll appreciate the bit I added. Not only that, but I am working on the next chapter :) So give me lots of "inspiration", and the rating may just go back up to "M", if you catch my lemonade drift ;)

Chapter 10:

DPOV:

It never dawned on me to call Simon. I could've killed him. It's not like I could blame Chloe or anything. Even though she was the reason I had lost focus, it's not like I've thought about anything else all of these years.

We sat on the couch, just watching some old sitcoms when Chloe looked over at me.

"How come you never tried to contact me?" she asked. She had a firm clutch on my hand, and I could tell by the look on her face that this was a big question for her.

I took a deep breath. "At first, I didn't want you to be with me. I wanted you to have a safe, happy life. I didn't want you with a monster. I didn't know if you would ever get with Simon, but I hoped, I guess that if I suffered, then you would be safe.

"Later, I decided that I couldn't stand it anymore. I wanted to be with you. At that point, I didn't care. I came to terms with myself. The wolf pushed for it. But by that time, I had grown up. I had fully changed. And Simon thought that it was for the best to keep us separated."

"That's why he told us that we were seeing different people," she whispered.

I nodded. "I still don't understand why he chose Veronica as my girlfriend. But anyways, he told me that you had a boyfriend. Michael David Boget. I decided to give up, and move out here. Then I decided that I had to see you, and then…"

"Now we're here," she said quietly, and I could see that she felt better now. "So, you did try?"

"Of course! And it's not like I didn't think about you." Trust me. You're all I thought about, I thought. I pushed her hair back, behind her ear. She sighed, and looked up at me smiling. I could smell the relief washing off of her.

"Good," she said. "That's good."

I gave a little smile of my own, and leaned in to kiss her cheek. She turned, and let our mouths touch. We continued to pull away for a few seconds, keeping our noses side by side, and then rejoined our lips. Nothing like our first kiss. Small, beautiful kisses.

The wolf barked, laughing. Beautiful? Since when did anything but Chloe seem beautiful? You're mood is almost sickeningly happy. Hey, you helped cause it. Good thing I did, too. Otherwise you guys would still be just friends. Now you are a couple; just like you should be. Feels good, doesn't it? Yeah, it does.

"So tell me," Chloe whispered.

"Yeah?" I asked, just was silently.

"Are we going to go crash Tori's wedding as a surprise?"

"Would she kill us?"

I felt her chuckle quietly. "I have a feeling she would do just the opposite. Don't tell her, but she misses everyone. I don't blame her."

"It was her choice to move out west."

"Not really. Since her mom died in the fight and her dad suddenly disappeared, she had to move with her grandma. She just stayed out there. I mean, that's where Lucas is."

"Is that the guy?"

She nodded, and I could feel her smile. "She's really in love. And I'm happy for her."

I wondered how Chloe felt about getting married. It's not like I was going to ask her that. It would just be awkward. I knew, that deep down, we will get married. I could feel it. But it wasn't necessary to bring up the subject before we were comfortable with it.

I felt my phone vibrate, and I sighed. Chloe backed up, just a little bit, and when I opened my eyes, I saw her confused look. I got my phone out of my pocket, and she nodded.

"Hello?" I asked, hearing a crowd on the other end.

"Hey Derek. Hope that I wasn't interrupting anything." My cheeks blazed. "But I wanted to let you know that we'll be there in a while. You know, plane ride over, and then the drive, I'm estimated at least six hours. Kay?"

"Yup. Just be careful."

"Will do bro. So…did you tell her yet?"

I took a deep breath. "Yup."

"And what did she say?"

"You could say it's mutual." I didn't want Chloe to know we were talking about her, though I was sure she could figure it out.

Simon laughed. "Well that wasn't a surprise. I'm glad, bro. It's good that you two have each other."

"It feels…right."

"Yeah, I know how you feel. Bout time we each find love, right?"

"I'm not complaining."

Simon laughed again. "Alright, well we've got to board the plane. I'll call you when we land."

"Kay. Bye, Simon."

"Bye Derek."

He hung up, and I put my phone in my pocket. Then I looked over at Chloe.

"They'll be here, say, nine."

Her eyes lit up. "What time is it?"

"Around three. Why?"

"Wow. Time goes by fast."

I laughed. "Yeah, I could say it does."

She smiled, and then slowly came into my arms. I got comfortable, making sure that she was as well, and then let the time past. Before I knew it, she was breathing deeply, snoring lightly. I smiled, kissing her on top of her head.

"Goodnight, Saunders. I love you."

I heard her murmur a soft, "Love you too," and then paid my attention back to the TV.

Time passed quickly, unfortunately. When it was nearing eight, I quietly woke Chloe up.

"Babe, they'll be here soon. I don't know if you care or not, but you're still in pajamas." She waved her hand lethargically, and then groaned.

"I hate waking up," she murmured, and then headed to the bathroom. I chuckled.

"Want me to make some coffee?"

A grumble, which I translated into a "yes". After getting the coffee going, I looked through the window. I couldn't feel my Change coming on, but then again, sometimes they came on suddenly. I had a hard time remembering the Changes from when I was just a teenager. Hell, I have a hard time remembering the ones I had last month. But there was a possible chance that Chloe could get hurt. I'll have to try and force the Change while she's asleep...

Chloe only took a quick shower, and came right out. I handed her a cup, and she promptly filled it with coffee. Her hair was still wet, and her eyebrows were furrowed as she poured herself some coffee. I leaned down and kissed her cheek. The blood promptly rushed to her cheeks, and she looked at me.

"What?" she asked, her voice perfectly innocent and curious.

"Do you mind?" I asked, taken back a bit.

"Of course not!" she said loud and defiant. "It just kind of came out of no where."

I smiled slyly. "Sneak attack. Besides, isn't normal for boyfriends to kiss their girlfriends?"

She blushed again, and then set down her mug of coffee. She stretched up, on her toes, and brought her faces together. I smiled, and closed my eyes. But her lips had gone to my ear.

"Want to tell me where the cream and sugar is?"

I smiled, and pulled her slightly away, just so that I could kiss her quickly.

"Let me get it," I said, and headed to the fridge. She took a sip of the black coffee, and made a face.

"I don't see how anybody could drink this," she said.

I just laughed, handing her both. I heard a car rolling in, and I instantly looked up. The car stopped, and then began, and continued the pattern three times. Simon. We made up that when I first moved out here and I almost totaled his Jeep, mistaking him as a hiker or some other stranger.

"Simon's here," I told her. She sighed, and looked at me. She set down her coffee once again. I anticipated it this time, though I didn't expect one thing. Instead of trying to reach, she wrapped her arms around my neck, pulling me down to meet her lips. I smiled, wanting as long with her alone as I could possibly get.

The kiss...was intense, to say the least anyways. I ended up picking her up and setting her on the counter. She wrapped her legs around my waist. One of my hands had a firm grasp in her hair, keeping her lips on mine. The other one was on her lower back, keeping her body touching mine. Her arms were still around my neck. My lips trailed down her neck, kissing right below her ear. She moaned, which sent a shock through me. I continued to suck there, and her hands in my hair tightening.

Whether Simon honking the horn was a good thing or not, I'm not sure. Chloe and I both jumped instantly, and we smiled. I gave her another quick peck before I headed out to the front door. Before I opened the door, I basked in the moments of Chloe, trying to drink it all in. Then I opened the door, and was greeted by many suitcases.

"Well, are you just going to stand there, or are you actually going to help?" asked Simon, shoving the suitcases towards me. I shook me head, taking them all and putting them into the living room. Then Simon came over and gave me a great big hug.

"Nice to see you, bro," he said. "And look. You're actually smiling."

"Big change, huh?" I asked, sarcastic.

He nodded. "Yeah. Yeah, it is."

Both Chloe and Veronica came in at the same moment. Simon yelled Chloe's name, and ran towards her. He picked her up and swung her in a circle. I cringed, wanting him to be more careful with her.

Veronica gave me an awkward, one armed hug. I returned it. Her and Simon were polar opposites. Veronica was about his height. She was Hispanic, with deeply tanned skin, brown almond eyes, and long, brown curly hair. It wasn't just the looks that made them so different though. Veronica wanted to settle down, grow some roots sort of speak. She didn't especially like to party or date as Simon did. But she changed him. She tamed the untamable Simon Bae.

"Nice to see you again, Derek," she said, and pulled away.

"You too," I said. After Simon and Chloe were acquainted once again, Simon and I went out to his car to get the rest of his bags.