Chapter 11! Important chapter with yes, my signature cliff hanger, I has to keep you all addicted!

Ash's word was literally falling apart around him. And this news came to him, in the absolute worst possible way. After Mary-Lynnette sent him away, he wandered the halls for a bit, a ghost left in his own mistakes. He had been too impulsive; she couldn't really control what she did could she? And he should have never tried to control her. He was hers but it was not possessive as she thought, he wanted her, he needed her to be with him, like she needed the air in her lungs. He had to tell her.

But then, someone came strolling down the hallway with a present in her hands and tears in her eyes. Cassandra stopped before Ash, clutching the green and red box in her still fingers; she took a step back then dropped it, running away to the other side of the hallway. Luckily Ash had vampire speed and even though she was fast, he had managed to catch her in a matter of minutes.

"Cassandra," Ash said trying to catch the flying red head. "Why are you running away?"

"Go away." Cassandra cried –quite loudly for the few words she did speak-, pulling away from Ash's near fingers. "You're scary and mean. You yelled at Mary-Lynnette."

Ash instantly pulled his fingers back, appalled at the little girl's accusation. "What do you mean I yelled at her?" Yes he had probably yelled at her but he didn't mean for anyone, especially Cassandra, to hear him.

"You yelled at her for fighting that pretty lady." Cassandra told him quickly. "Its not her fault she does that, she can't control it. And you can't control her. No matter how much you want to. She's probably in her room right now crying."

Ash gasped, "She was crying?"

Cassandra nodded. "I saw tears on her face when I walked in, but she's sleeping now. So leave her alone." She glared at Ash. Leave her alone for a long time. You hurt her, Ash. You hurt her badly."

And with that, the little girl took off, leaving Ash alone in his misery.

. . .

As they days got closer to Christmas, Mary-Lynnette couldn't help but feel sad. Usual this time of year she was a buzz with excitement, unable to hold still. But this year, she wasn't in the spirit at all. Maybe it was because the one person who could really make her feel special and happy was avoiding her at all costs. When ever she walked into a room, he wasn't there or he would leave. And when he had to stay there, his eyes never even flickered in her direction. Had their fight done this? Had she hurt him to much? Or was he just waiting for her to crawl back to him and apologize because he knew he wasn't to blame. It didn't really surprise her much; Ash could be very manipulative when he wanted to be. But would he really do that to her? She would just have to wait for him to him talk to her, or at least until there was a moment for them to be alone, she couldn't just walk up to him in front of everyone's watching eyes and address why he was ignoring her, as much as she wanted too, anyway.

So as Christmas Eve ticked closer and Mary-Lynnette prepared, she waited anxiously for Ash to talk to her, or even just gaze in her direction for just one fleeting second.

"Mary-Lynnette?" Her father asked from the top of the stairs. He had been watching her stare at the Christmas tree, twinkling lights spun around its branches and ordainments of all shapes, sizes and colors hung on the twigs. There entire tree screamed of the Night World, with its black flower ordainments, paw prints, cat claw, and shining stones. There were human ordainments too, mundane ones like candy canes, little glistening bubs, even a tiny angel that Claudine had brought from her own house. So now, Mary-Lynnette and her father staring at it together, both realized that it was unique and to complete perfection.

"Yea, dad?" Mary-Lynette asked, not bothering to turn her head from the tree.

Her father sighed and sat down next to her, placing an arm awkwardly around her shoulders, staring at the tree with his daughter. "You guys really did a great job with that tree."

Mary-Lynnette nodded, twinkling eyes reflecting in her blank gaze.

Mr. Carter sighed, running a hand through his dark hair streaked with a few hints o9f silver. "You know I'm not very good at this kind of thing."

"What kind of thing?" Mary-Lynnette asked unemotionally.

Her father smiled. "I know how you feel about that Ash character."

Mary-Lynette blinked, barley flinching at the mention of Ash's name, while questions quietly and slowly flowed through her mind.

"It's the same look I gave your mother, when we were your age." He continued, his eyes beginning to grow as distant as his daughter felt. "She was the love of my life, my first true love. And god, not a day goes by that I don't miss her till my heart breaks." He looked at his daughter and a different smile approached slowly onto his face. "You know I'm not good at this kind of stuff but, I want you to know…If you and this Ash fellow are together, and you're just hiding it because you think I won't approve, you don't have to."

Mary-Lynette turned her head to her father, her face still not revealing any emotion whatsoever.

"I just want to see you and Mark be happy." Her father explained softly "Like me and your mother were. I do love Claudine too, and I'm happy, and I won't let anything stand in our way. I want you and Mark to remember that. Okay?"

Mary-Lynette nodded, touched by her father's words then hugged him tightly. He hadn't really known what was going on between Ash and herself but if he had, he would have defiantly said the same words he just had.

"Thanks dad." She mumbled standing up. "I've got to go talk to Ash, do you know where he is?"

"I think I saw him outside in the garden." Mr. Carter replied standing up next to her.

"Good luck Mare."

She was already running to the back door, calling thanks over her shoulder as she burst through the narrow frame out into the dazzling sunshine. As her eyes adjusted to the light, Mary-Lynnette searched the yard for her golden haired cat like soul mate. She went in complete circles some times appearing where she had before, noticing small dents in the iron fence from where she had fought Blaise –who was a really nice person once you finally got to know her and weren't fighting her.

After her third circle around the yard she decided to go back inside, when she saw a very peculiar thing. It was a figure, slumped against the fence on the other side, wearing a black hooded jacket and a long flowing matching skirt. Mary-Lynnette walked over to the girl carefully, laying her hand on the bars with one hand and leaned closer to the person. Their head whipped around at her, face still covered buy the hood pulled over their face.

"You're alive?" They asked, turning around to gaze at her on hands and knees. The voice was light, a bit hushed though, barely more then a whisper. "You shouldn't be alive, how is that possible?"

Mary-Lynette wanted to run, or scream or kick the person's face in completely. But instead she lowered herself on her side of the fence so she was eye to eye with the dark stranger. "What do you mean I shouldn't be alive?"

"She could have killed you". Was the soft whispered reply. "She would have killed you too, but you're alive. Is everyone else?"

Are they talking about Lily? Mary-Lynette thought carefully, leaning back slightly from the. And why would they know about her being captured and living with other people who might have been hurt? She needed answers, and she needed them soon.

"Who could have hurt me?" Mary-Lynnette asked seriously. "And why shouldn't I be alive?"

"She's not natural." Hissed the person from behind the fence. "She's to powerful for her own good, or anyone else's. You have to stay away."

"Why?" Mary-Lynette pleaded. "And who are you?"

The stranger inched back; afraid as if she had said too much, maybe she had and shook her head. "I can't…she'll know. She's dangerous Mary-Lynnette; you need to stay away from her."

Mary-Lynnette gasped, "Who?" She pressed her body close to the fence. "Who's dangerous? Who are you?" She reached out her hand and caught the stranger's jacket, pulling it tightly and revealing a pair of terror stricken topaz eyes.

*Gasp* okay you guys ready now? Some bad stuff is about to go down and I can't wait till one of these characters explains it all. Review? And I'm still debating mortal instruments…I can't decide on much…