A/N: PLEASE DON'T KILL ME! My God was the holiday season busy! I wasn't on break until this past Friday for some, unknown reason and it was just hell. You have every right to throw stuff at me, just don't kill me!

I come bearing a peace offering too. I'm going to post 3 chapters today (it was supposed to be 2...but the next 2 were over 10,000 words combined and I decided to split it) starting with this semi-romance fluff chapter. The first part with Zoey is a bit risqué, but it's basically just what JC saw when she was pulled into Stark/Zoey's private moment. The second part, well, Stephaim fans will hopefully be happy.

What can I say? I needed to write some fluff...so here it is. It's kinda short, but there are some clues in here that could foreshadow to something greater. See if you can pick up on them.

ALSO! There is a poll on my profile about Linda's funeral. Please please PLEASE vote in it! I'm split 50/50 as to what I should do there and I want your opinions on it. AND, if you want to see something happen in the funeral, please let me know in a review, PM, whatever! I have half of it written, but there are so many possibilities for that that I don't know where to begin. And I only have one more chapter to write out before I actually have to post the funeral. SO VOTE!

Shout-out to Kimberlyy for reminding me that there are still people reading. These next few are for you ;).

Zoey's POV

With JC literally flying out the door, it left just me and Stark standing in the basement alone. "She's really worried, isn't she?" Stark asked as we turned away to go back to the tunnels.

"Aphrodite just told her one of her friends might die, the girlfriend to her roommate," I explained, "I'm sure she is. And add to the fact that she gets extremely protective over the people close to her now, it's worse for her."

"Yeah, I've been noticing she's protective," my Guardian agreed, "I mean…suggesting I don't go with you guys to the funeral? That's pretty protective."

I bit my lip as we walked towards our room in the tunnels. "I actually agree with her there," I said, "the funeral is in the afternoon…it starts at 2:00, that's still in the day Stark, there's still sun out."

"It just means I have to be extra careful, not that I can't go," he explained.

"Stark, I love the effort and your trying to get there, but you don't need to protect me 24/7…especially if JC will be there. She'll do a good job of that, I know it," I sighed a bit. Boy did I ever know it, my cousin would probably going crazy and hit someone if they tried to hurt me, even at a funeral. And also, as Stevie Rae would say, I don't want a crispy crunchy boyfriend from the sun either.

"And can we please just stop talking about this?" I asked, "the whole funeral issue…it's still a bit too new and surprising. I'm already going to my mom's funeral and I lost Heath, I don't want to risk you being the third person I lose…that's the only reason I don't want you going," I explained quietly. The thought of going to my mom's funeral and saying it allowed, it was still too weird.

Instead of saying anything, Stark lifted up my chin and kissed me. It wasn't in the 'I-want-to-get-in-your-pants' kiss (which…we had been sharing a lot of late), but a gentle, sweet kiss. "You aren't going to lose me, mo bann ri," he promised, "just face it Z, you're stuck with me."

I smiled as we pushed past the blanket serving as a curtain to our room. "I know I am, and I'm extremely happy about it too," I told him.

This time in response, he kissed me again…only it was more like the 'I-want-to-get-in-your-pants' kiss…and I was perfectly fine with that. Anything to get both our minds off of the funeral tomorrow was a welcomed relief…this just so happened to be the perfect way to do it.

Before either of us knew it, we were both on the bed stripped of our clothes. Stark was hovering over me, and that's when something strange happened. His eyes flashed red very, very briefly and he opened his mouth as if he was going to bite me…and hard. But then it was gone and my Guardian was back to his normal looking self. Yet, something about the air around us didn't feel quite right. It felt like another presence was there…almost like Spirit.

Anything else that might have happened though, was cut short by my mind. "I love you so much, Zoey," Stark said huskily. Yup, no more coherent thoughts for me.

"I love you too, Stark," I responded a little more breathlessly than I would have liked.

In response, Stark started placing kisses down my jaw line and grazed his teeth across my neck.

"Yes, Stark," I whispered. Goddess did I ever want him to do it.

He bit into my neck and started sucking at the small bite mark. My moans must have kept him going because that was exactly what he did. "Stark," I called in pure desire and need. And yes did he ever respond.

Had I been observant at the time, I probably would have noticed the spiritual presences missing. But it was just me and Stark in our own little world and nothing else mattered. And after that, I fell asleep in Stark's arms. It was probably the best sleep either of us got in a while, and I was glad to see my Guardian sleep calmly through the night for the first time in a long while.

Stevie Rae's POV

After the meeting with JC and Sgiach and everyone, I rushed back down to my…our room with the speed of a tornado to check on Rephaim. He wasn't awake when I left, and I was both hoping and not hoping he was awake now. I mean, I wanted him to wake up yeah, but I kinda wanted to be there too.

Walking into the room, I noticed he was still asleep on our bed. He looked like a sleeping baby, it was so cute. But I knew he had to get up sometime soon, even if he was still makin' the Change. "Rephaim, c'mon, you gotta wake up," I said and shook his arm gently. He didn't even move.

I sighed, "well, alright then, you gotta be comin' round soon." I went and sat back down in the chair in my room that I pulled by the bed.

I was worrying of course. It'd been a while since the fight and what happened to Rephaim. I mean, JC healed him right good, but I couldn't help but to worry. What if he never woke up? What if his body rejected the Marking because of who and what he was? What if his body couldn't get used to his new punishment…what if it was too much for a fledgling? Goddess, I couldn't lose Rephaim…not so quickly after I got him.

"Please don't leave me, Rephaim," I whispered to him and I could feel tears in my eyes. Hell, I was turning into crybaby. I really was one lovesick puppy.

I sat in that chair next to Rephaim for a while longer. I could tell the sun was up by now and I was really sleepy. My eyelids felt like sandbags, but I kept them open. I would make sure I saw for myself that Rephaim would wake up. At least, I tried.

I did doze off in the chair, but it wasn't enough for me to be out like a light. I noticed the movement on the bed and opened my eyes to see Rephaim staring back at me. "You're awake," I grinned and rubbed at my eyes, "good…I was starting to worry about ya."

"It was just a time to adjust, nothing to worry about," Rephaim answered and slowly sat up on his arms, "I had to adjust to a different kind of Spirit."

"Whaddya mean?" I asked and scrunched my face together.

"I was a part of my father for so long, the power that I thrived on was tainted and Dark," he said, "what JC gave to me by Marking me, it was pure and Light. I just had to adjust to that, and I am glad that I did."

"It's a good sign for ya," I agreed and smiled, resting my hand on his arm.

"Yes, I agree," he nodded and smiled at me, "this is nice. I cannot thank you enough for this."

"Me?" I asked, "I wasn't the one who Marked ya…that was JC."

"I know, and I thanked her for it already. But you are the reason why I was able to be Marked in the first place, so thank you too," Rephaim explained.

"Aw…Rephaim," I smiled, "that's just what you do. My mama always said love was a funny thing and it'll make you do some crazy stuff. I guess she was right."

"Love, yes," he mumbled, "there is one more thing I would wish to do," he said and slowly got out of bed.

"What are you doing? You could still be weak, you shouldn't be getting out of bed," I admonished him.

"I know what I am doing, Stevie Rae," he said and got down to his one knee, fisting his hand over his heart. "I know I am only a fledgling, and I only have been for a few hours, but I have been in this world for an extremely long amount of time, and you are the only one to have made me feel like this. Vampyre Warriors have done this for centuries, and I would wish to do the same," he said.

"R-Rephaim what are you doing?" I asked again. I had a feeling I knew, Z explained what happened with Stark and this was real similar. I was shaking like a leaf.

"I'm pledging myself to you, Red One. Do you accept my pledge, my lady?" he asked.

Of course I do, and I wanted to! But my mind wouldn't let me say the words. "What about JC…she's the one who Marked you and turned you into a fledgling. She is your High Priestess, not me."

"While this is true, JC is a strong, powerful girl who I will protect as well, but she will be okay without a Warrior," Rephaim answered and then paused, "and I am not saying that you are not…but I am here for you now. JC will be ok and she will understand, she is a kind and understanding person, she will not be mad. So again I ask, do you accept my pledge, Stevie Rae?"

I smiled brightly and nodded, "yes, Rephaim, yes I do. And in Nyx's name I bind you to the Goddess's service, as well as to mine, because to serve me is to serve her," I said and held out my hand, "now would you please get up…you're still making me a bit nervous," I admitted. He still should've been in bed.

"Of course," he smiled back and took my hand. The moment our fingers connected, a small flash of light passed between us and Rephaim jumped back in surprise. Looking at his arm, there was a purple bracelet wrapping around his wrist…it was exactly like JC's. "What is this?" he asked in confusion and winced a bit.

I gently grabbed his hand and turned it around to look at the bracelet-like Mark. It had my name in it surrounded by feathers that made the design. "It's a Charge Mark I think JC called it…it signifies who your Charge is."

"What's a Charge?" Rephaim asked, "and why does it still hurt?"

"I dunno what a Charge is other than it's something a Spirit vamp has. And you are called a Guide, it's kinda like a Warrior and Priestess relationship I think, except on a spiritual level instead of physical" I explained. She didn't talk much about it, so I didn't know all that much either, "and it still hurts 'cause I think it's givin' you free choice. The Goddess doesn't just force one person on another, so neither does Spirit. Try accepting it."

"Oh…Spirit, I accept your suggestion to make Stevie Rae my Charge," Rephaim announced and he relaxed a bit, "the pain is gone."

"Good," I nodded and traced the design on his wrist, "I guess we're bound in a lot of ways now, aren't we?"

Rephaim nodded and gave me a soft kiss on the lips, "all the more helpful it is to aid me in your protection," he agreed and kissed me again.

"I guess so," I said when we pulled apart again, "now you're still lookin' mighty tired. Them circles under your eyes are as dark as the sky, why don't you try sleeping some more?"

"I believe that is something we should both do," Rephaim added and lied back down on the bed, me in his arms, "it is past sunrise, you must be tired as well."

"Mhm," I mumbled and let my eyes close. Being on a bed was all that I needed.

"I love you, Stevie Rae," he whispered to me right before I fell asleep.

"I love you too," I muttered and let sleep overtake me. He was my Imprint, my Warrior, and now my Guide. Rephaim was mine and no one could ever tell me otherwise.