I KNOW! I KNOW! I'm a terrible person! I know you all probably wish I'd crawl in a hole and never come out again... but I'm sorry. I'm so terribly sorry this took so long! I knew I said 1 month maximum and it's been nearly two! So bite me if necessary!

So here is Chapter 11... another Luna POV. It's short and I admit I envisioned it to be much much longer... but it felt right to end it where it ends. Like I said before, I was going to drag it out longer, but apart from it feeling right, I was pissed at myself for making you all wait so long. So it's not one of the longest, but it's important for the development of our characters.

It's 1AM but I know I'll be spending all of tomorrow (Sunday - yes, I know... I have no life) doing homework, so I promised myself I wouldn't give up. Surprisingly, I'm really happy with the outcome of this chapter... and I really hope you will be satisfied too!

Now please ENJOY!

Chapter 11

"Ms?" I heard somebody call; the voice was muted and distant. It sounded like they were speaking to me through water, each quiver of sound turning into mere bubbles. "Ms?" I blinked, the fuzzy image of the hospital bedroom turning more visible as I sat up on the hard and uncomfortable bed. "?" I nodded and rubbed my right eye with a clenched fist. "I'm sorry, but visiting hours are over. Only family members are allowed to stay overnight; you are welcome to come again in the morning, though," a young nurse smiled. She was tall and skinny, blonde with a gentle smile. I suppose she was interning here, she looked like someone who could have graduated less than a year ago.

"Oh, yeah… of course," realization slowly came at me, how long had I been here? I checked the clock over the door, it read 11:35. No wonder my back ached so badly… I'd fallen asleep in the most uncomfortable position on the hardest god damn bed on the face of the planet. I stood up, carefully laying a sleeping Sage on the mattress. I pulled the vomit colored bed sheets over his resting body and caressed a fallen strand of hair that had fallen over his closed eyes away.

I walked across the room, leaned over the maroon sofa, and grabbed my bag and coat. I started to walk towards the door but before stepping over the frame, I looked back at the boy that convinced me to care without asking for it. Sage, what are you hiding?

The nurse was fixing up some tubes, attaching new bags to them. I didn't want to leave. "What time do hours start again?" I asked, courteously keeping my voice down for other patients in the rooms next door.

"Eight," the nurse smiled and continued adding and removing a complexity of wires, I didn't understand how she could see the difference between them.

"Will you tell him I'll come back after lunch?" The nurse looked up again, "I have to run some errands, but tell him I'll be back." I hoped she would. I didn't want Sage thinking I didn't care. I knew it was silly, but I needed him to know I'd be here for him.

"Of course," she nodded. I turned around and began to walk towards the hospital exit. The lights went off one by one as I made my way out into the chilly air. My feet, slow and constant footsteps that trotted on the wet asphalt. I hated the rain.

VV

I turned off the engine and took out the keys, resting them on my thigh. I breathed in deeply, listening quietly at the light tapping of raindrops hitting the garage roof. I waited patiently, expecting my mother to burst in through the door at the top of the stairs, barking questions at my irresponsive mind. I was dazed by the whole situation, what were Sage's reasons to believing he was to blame? Why was he so convinced, so drenched in his own guilt? He hadn't set the fire, he couldn't have. So why did he insist on the responsibility of his mother's death?

I sighed and checked my appearance in the rear view mirror, I looked terrifying. My hair was one large knot of ink-black bristles, my face blotchy and my eyes swollen, with dark crimson rings below them, as if I'd been crying for hours. I didn't recall letting any tears slip in the past couple of hours, but I felt it, a punch to the stomach. The sorrow pulling at my heart-strings, the sadness scratching my throat for a woman I'd never even met.

I pushed the door open and dragged my feet up the steps, slowly entering the kitchen. The kitchen that could've belonged to me, you never saw any of the vampires around here. The kitchen, like my room, was my area; it was open and at the very centre of the building, at the view for all eyes, yet you never caught anyone looking. Nobody was interested enough.

I felt my stomach tremble under my coat; I pulled it off, setting it on one of the high metallic stools and walked over to the fridge. I was starving, indeed, but nothing appealed me dearly. I decided on a good old bowl of cereal, it never went wrong and was always incredibly satisfying. I pulled out the milk carton and walked across the room to grab the box of cereal. I sat quietly along with the crunching of my meal, gazing at nothing in particular, my mind in wonder.

Where was everybody? They had gone hunting not long ago, why would they go again, and so soon? Nothing made sense lately and it was really starting to become unnervingly frustrating.

As I put everything away I realized how comfortable I felt in the silence. So much seemed to have happened in the past couple of weeks, reminded myself of the events and decisions spun my mind in circles, leaving me clueless as to where I was to turn to next. The silence, a dear melody that pranced along my eardrums, it reminded me of one of my favorite sounds. A sound I'd nearly forgotten about.

I paced to the living room, my slow steps in synchronization to my peaceful heartbeat. The house felt so empty, yet I felt comfortable. I was used to being home on my own whenever the family went hunting, but I'd never realized just how much I enjoyed it in this particular house, until now. Raindrops glided down the large windows, rushing from the top to the bottom in a speedy race. They reminded me of the tears I'd let go of not too long ago, they reminded me of sadness… but they were still unable of removing me from my unexplainable bliss. I felt confused and worried, I felt anxious and angry and filled with sadness, yet I still managed to feel okay; for no reason whatsoever.

I ran my hands across the keys lightly as I walked around to seat myself at the large and black grand piano. I inhaled and closed my eyes as I rested the palms of my hands on the smooth ivory, one by one I let each note play, fulfilling into a soft melody I hadn't heard in far too long. I had forgotten the rush of joy one piece could bring to me, its voice speaking to me in a language few could understand. I didn't open my eyes, but suddenly noticed a presence next to me, two hands joined and played along with mine; the harmony contorting into conversation only the two of us could speak. I felt a smile grow upon my face, I missed smiling. Emotion filled me as the music slowly came to a close, I thought I'd forgotten happiness; I'd almost given up on feeling that way again. Almost… until now.

I wasn't afraid of opening my eyes, I was just worried I was imaging the rush. But as I carefully blinked away the darkness, I caught her mesmerizing stare looking straight at me. I wrapped my arms around her and sighed, "I'm sorry, mom. I'm so sorry."

I felt her pull away, she touched my shoulders and held me there, as for me to keep her gaze. I didn't mean to cry, but I felt how my eyes glazed and tears spilled over. I didn't want to seem weak, I wasn't weak, but no matter how hard I tried it seemed impossible to convince a family like mine. "Honey, honey don't cry," my mother wiped the tears from my cheeks and pulled me in for another tight hug. She felt strong and cold, yet I was comforted by it, it was what I was used to. "You don't have to apologize for anything, dear." She stroked my hair, "In any case, I do. I apologize for the fighting and the protectiveness, I apologize for not accepting the fact that you won't turn out the way I hoped for you to be," I looked at her, it seemed as if she wanted to cry, but was unable to. She smiled, "You turned out better."

Ok... so next chapter will be Rose POV unless I randomly decide to change that.

I really hope you liked this! I know it's short... but it's necessary. I love you guys soooo much and thank you a billion times for your ongoing support and your putting up with my turtle-speed self. I'm hoping chapter 12 won't take too long to be up *fingers crossed*

BTW, if you're wondering what song Luna and Rose played... it's called "The Rain Theme" (youtube) /watch?v=OeLhhEfyjvQ so go ahead and check it out! I listened to this over and over while writing this chapter... maybe it'll make reading this more vivid! You decide! (PS: If you guys like this, we can maybe start a playlist... I give you songs to listen to at the beginning of every chapter and then you guys read along to the music. Thoughts?)

I'll be waiting for those reviews... so please remember! ;)

Love you all soooo much!

Saskia xx