He turned and began to approach me, and now I could make out the face of my Steve. When he was directly in front of me, his hand outstretched and he flashed me one of his most devilish grins.

"Come, Natalie. Join my world." His voice wasn't his. It was loud and overpowering. It made me shiver. He sounded like death

So I didn't die. Probably was being a little melodramatic, but I was feeling like it. The next day, I woke up with Steve beside me, a big smirk on his face. I felt a little stronger, but I had to listen to him sarcastically tell me how hard life would be with a corpse. He found my little 'I'm dying' dramatics to be very funny. He wasn't the one sick.

It had been three days since that, and while I could sit up and keep food down, I was still practically bedridden. I was worried for Hudson, I hadn't seen him in days. He had to have been getting things for himself, but I hated the idea of him risking getting caught because I had gotten sick. Now it was out of my hands. The only good side to me getting sick was that Steve was around a lot. I guess we were 'back', although I never thought of us as 'apart' -I had just despised every part of him. But being alone and away from him was harder than I had thought. I think I finally understood what was go-

"NATALIE!" I heard a voice whisper-scream at me.

"Huh?" I looked over the edge of the bed.

"Hudson!" I exclaimed happily. "Steve could be back at any time, what's the matter?"

"Nothing..I was just worried about you. I haven't seen you in days!" He looked fine. He lingered at the doorway for a little while before hesitantly making his way in.

"I know I'm so sorry, I've kind of been extremely sick…ha ha" I scrunched up my face, there goes my tough ego.

"You look…" He said, drawing closer to the bed.

"Horrible, I know." I said as I tried to nervously laugh it away. I knew I looked ugly but did he have to point it out?

"Different." He let out with a breath. He was inches away from my face, sitting on the bed. One hand moved to my arm, the other started to stroke my face.

"Oh." It was too high pitched.

"You're still beautiful as ever though." He leaned in for the kiss. I should probably try to move away. But there was something about Hudson. His face was covered in ugly brutal scars, but his eyes tore through me. They were blue and bright. What was wrong with kissing someone who I cared for? It wasn't like it would mean anything. It'd mean a whole hell of a lot to Steve. He'd never know though…And I felt so bad for Hudson. These past few weeks must have been hell for him. I just wanted to make him feel better like he made me feel better. I wanted him to be happy. I wanted both of us to be happy and maybe a kiss would help. Just one though.. I closed my eyes and leaned in.

"Get your hands off her." Oh no, please no.

Hudson backed away slowly, and I saw Steve standing in the doorway.

Why does this always happen to me?

I could have started arguing with Steve, but I waited for the anger.

"Natalie, who is this?" He asked slowly. His eyes were closed and his jaw was clenched, I could tell he was trying to keep his anger at bay.

"Hudson." I replied monotonously.

"Mhmm, so you do know him." Dang, he was really good at tricking me.

"Yup. He was almost killed by Osisius so I saved him and have secretly been harbouring him in my closet for the past two weeks and he was just about to tell me a secret before you came in." I drew in a big breath. It had all come out in one big rush. I felt a little better, but now I was afraid and weary of the consequences.

"You're serious?" He said crossing his arms. A faint smile was on his lips.

"Uhh yeah I'm more devious than you thought. I managed to harbour him all this time." Stall. Hope he believes the lies.

"You're really going to tell me that he was going to tell you a secret?" He burst out laughing. "What was this secret, Hudson, that you'd like to get awfully close to my Nat's lips?" His volume rose and he was getting angrier.

I hadn't noticed Hudson, but his fists were clenched. He looked exasperated.

"Yeah buddy, I would. I'm glad I finally met the jerk who she's so afraid of. Real nice job, I can feel the love." He started laughing at Steve, and I could feel the tension rising.

"I'm not afraid of Steve." I tried to change the subject.

"Hush Natalie, I'll take out the trash and then you and I can have a little talk about pets." He put every ounce of acid into the last word.

"That's alright, I don't mind being her pet. She's quite an…affectionate mistress." He said with a laugh and a wink.

"HUDSON!" I screamed! He was going to get himself killed.

"You little fuck.." Steve said and crossed the distance between them.

Hudson met him half way, "Come at meh bro!"

"STOP!" I screamed from my bed. Steve raised his fist. I jumped out of bed and raced across the room standing between them.

"Please Steve, I'm so sorry, just don't.." I broke into a violent round of coughs.

"Look at her, you're making her sicker." Hudson spat out.

"I'm not letting him live Nat. He's been here, living in my apartment, eating the.. He's been eating the food?"

"Yeah, what else would he be eating…?" Was food hard to get or something?

"Freaking hell.." Steve let out a sigh.

It was my last attempt "Don't take him away, like you took away Darius."

He looked at me, and I saw complete remorse in his eyes. He spoke slowly. "Follow me outside Hudson." There was no emotion in his eyes.

No no no no!

"No! Stop! Hudson! No!" Steve dragged him out. I took a step after them and I collapsed. Shit! Does it really have to come back right now?..

I crawled back to Steve's bed. I climbed on top of it and sat there waiting. I listened for any sounds that might indicate what was going on. I heard nothing. I pulled my legs up to my chest and rocked myself back to sleep. I had flashbacks back to the day he stole Darius. I prayed he wouldn't do the same here. Tears fell down my cheeks. Please let Hudson be alive. Please. I needed him, I loved him. Not in the way I loved Steve, but I loved his inappropriate manner and his sarcasm. I loved how he turned me back into who I was. He made me happy when Steve wasn't around. I couldn't stand knowing he was gone. Permanently. Forever.

"NO!" I said outloud.

Forget waiting around for Steve to decide my future- or Hudson's! I stood up, the sickness leaving me. I wasn't afraid of it anymore. I wasn't afraid of Steve either. I would go, and I would get Hudson back. It wasn't time to wait anymore.