Disclaimer: I don't own anything except for original characters and ideas.

Chapter 11.

Rachel P.O.V.

"Rachel….. Rachel….. Rachel!" I sat straight up in bed, alarmed.

"Who! What?" I asked, looking around. Shelly was standing next to my bed, looking scared. The little clock on the dresser in the room said 2:13 AM.

"I had a bad dream." She whispered. It looked like she had been crying, her eyes and cheeks red and puffy. I sighed and turned on the lamp next to my bed. Throwing my covers off, I swung my legs over the side of the bed and stood up.

"It's ok Munchkin. You want some milk? That used to help me get to sleep when I was scared." She nodded and grabbed my hand. I smiled at her and we snuck down stairs and into the kitchen. I picked her up and set her on the countertop, then opened the refrigerator. I pulled out the milk and grabbed two cups. Pouring us both a cup, I looked at her.

"You want me to warm it up? It helps you relax." I asked, walking back over to her. She nodded and gave a small smile. I ruffled her hair and put her cup in the microwave. Once it dinged, I let it sit for a second, put the milk carton away and heated mine up.

"Here you go, nice and warm." I handed her the cup once it ok for her to hold it without the cup burning her. She took a sip and smiled widely.

"Thank you! That tastes yummy." I laughed at her and drank some of my own. Once we finished our milk, I set the cups in the sink and carried her back upstairs. She kept scratching at her eyes and I made a B-line for the bathroom. I set her down on the edge of the bathtub and grabbed a little wash cloth.

"What're you doing?" She yawned, rubbing her eyes. I ran the cloth under lukewarm water and ringed it out a little, then turned to her.

"This will help with the itchiness." I told her, and gently wiped her face. After drying her off, I carried her back into our room and laid her down on my bed. I went to the other side and sat down. Turning off the light, I turned over onto my side so I faced her. She smiled tiredly.

"My eyes don't feel so itchy any more." She yawned. I smiled and kissed her forehead.

"Goodnight Shelly." I told her. She crawled closer and snuggled up next to me.

"Goodnight Rachel. I love you." I hugged her closer and smiled.

"Love you to." And we were out like that.

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Snap!

I slowly opened my eyes and found yet another person in front of me. Mom was standing there with a camera in her hand. It was one of those one's that print the picture out the minute you take it.

"Good morning mom. Where did you get that camera?" I asked, letting out a yawn.

"Good morning honey. I found it in the closet of my room, and couldn't resist getting a picture of this." She nodded to Shelly, who was still snuggled up to my side. I smiled and gently shook her awake. She let out a little yawn and smiled.

"Good morning." She sat up. Mom smiled and set the camera down.

"Good morning Shelly. When you girls are done getting dressed, I have breakfast down stairs for you." She told us. I nodded and mom left the room. I got out of bed and picked out my clothes. A white short sleeved V-neck, blue jeans and sneakers. I helped Shelly pick out a pink top with a huge butterfly on it, cute little jeans and pink sneakers. We walked down stairs and ate with my mom, dad and to my dislike, Jimmy.

"Thanks for breakfast mom, I'm going to go find Ben now." I stood up and mom smiled.

"Ok, have fun." I nodded and ran upstairs really quickly. I grabbed the camera, then left the house. It has been two weeks since Ben and I became a couple, and I know I love him. I walked over to the Mason house and into the family room. Matt was sitting there, looking bored as ever. He smiled at me.

"Hey Matt, you look bummed." I leaned against the wall. He sighed and nodded.

"I'm super bored." He told me. I walked over and sat next to him.

"Shelly's next door, why don't you go play with her?" I suggested. He grinned and stood up.

"Ok. Ben's up stairs in the last bedroom down the hall." He then ran out. I laughed and walked up their stairs. I peeked in the door and Ben was reading. I knocked on the wall and his head shot up. He smiled and put the book down.

"Hey babe." I blushed at the pet name and snapped a picture of him. The flash caught him off guard and he blinked several times. I set the camera down next to the door and walked over.

"Hello. I missed you." I crawled on his bed and sat in his lap. He laughed and wrapped his arms around me, kissing my hair.

"I just saw you last night." He said and I shrugged.

"Don't care, it was still to long." I told him, leaning back against his chest. He laughed again.

"Well I missed you too." I smiled and kissed his cheek.

Snap!

We looked up, only to see Hal set the camera back down and hurry down the hallway. I laughed while Ben glared where he was standing.

"Just ignore him." I told Ben, turning around in his lap so I was straddling him. Ben smirked and kissed me passionately. My hands tangled in his hair and it quickly got heated as he pushed me onto my back. He broke it off so we could breathe and grabbed my hand. I giggled as he kissed my hand, then up my arm, to my shoulder, neck, another kiss to my lips, then to my neck again. He placed little kisses all around my neck and I closed my eyes.

"I love you Ben." It just slipped out. I kept my eyes closed and the little kisses stopped. It was silent and I got scared. Now he probably thinks I'm crazy. I couldn't take the silence and opened my eyes. I was surprised to find Ben hovering over me, the biggest, sweetest smile on his face. He caressed my cheek and I leaned into his touch.

"I love you too, Rachel." He whispered back. I grinned and giggled, pulling him back into another passionate kiss.

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And so on it went. Week's passed and Ben and I got closer, our bond deepening. Shelly and Matt became best friends, Hal became like my brother. Mom and Dad got closer all over again and are happy together. Jimmy and I have stopped snapping at each other, we just ignore each other completely. Anne became like my second mother and Maggie like a cooler older sister. Uncle Scott helped me out and I do school work every few days. I hardly talk to Pope, except for when I help cook some of the meals, then we complain and scream at each other. The fighters were able to bring back more harnessed kids and remove the harness's. Everything was slowly getting better,

Or so I thought…

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