Bran had been more aware of my presence in the house than usual and watched me constantly. Despite being nervous about the phone call there hadn't been another break down or anything close to that. It came to mind while making my favorite dessert, cinnamon buns, that it may be my own fault that Bran shelters me. With all of my break down and panic attacks it is possible that he is just trying to protect me, worried any more would be too much. That of course made me want to kick myself in the ass, but simply groaned and made a plan on how to change all of this.

Bran got home with Charles and Anna in tow and all of them looked at the kitchen with raised eye brows. There had been no need to make the cinnamon buns with all the other desserts that had been made over the last week or so. The space was rather limited in the kitchen now because of everything that had been made. When they all turned their attention to me it appeared that at least part of my assumption had been right. Both men face's went emotionless while Anna had a smile on her face, but her eyes were thinking. The music was at a normal level, now that they had stepped into the house my singing went to humming, and there was a large smile on my face.

"Good you guys are here too. Please stay for dinner there's lots here, and you can take what you like home. I went a little crazy with the baking and don't know what to do with all of this stuff."

No one said a word just sat at the table and watched me flutter about the kitchen getting the last of the dinner table set up. Then got everything placed on the table and got my food and watched the rest of them dig in. It had become a routine for me to get my food first since I eat less then a werewolf does. Dinner was silent both Anna and Charles seeming to be waiting for their father to start the conversation. When he didn't and the numerous desserts came out it was me who started with a question and watched all of them tense then look at each other silently.

"So what's on your minds?"

"We wanted to see how you are doing?"

I frowned chewing on a cinnamon bun."Why are you hesitant to ask that?"

"No one wants to break the good mood that you have been in." Anna offered softly.

"What do you want to know?"

"The bruises for starters. How are they?" She continued.

"There healing nicely thank you, almost gone."

"And your detective?" This time it was Charles.

"No more calls, from experience don't expect another one for a few months."

That was all the questions for the night, but there something in the bond that told me that Bran wasn't satisfied yet. Anna helped me with the dishes while men went to Bran office and came back just over an hour later. In that time Anna had been persuaded to take a decent amount the dessert I had made. Charles stopped for only a moment to look at Anna with the tower of desserts, shook his head with just a hint of a grin, and took half before leaving. Still not happy that we had desserts for the next year to eat my next task went to making up containers. Bran stood there for sometime watching with curiosity in silence, as I worked away.

When the phone rang he got it and spoke to the person for a few moments before handing the phone to me. Whether it had been my focus or Bran playing with me, I hadn't heard a name spoken. It was clear though who it was the moment they started talking and brought a smile to my face. Jesse and I talked on the phone for a number of hours before Adam made her go to bed and to be honest that idea sounded great. My other half had gone off somewhere, so that left me time to go for a shower. The water did wonders for the remaining of the soreness that wanted to cling to my body still. With a deep sigh feeling completely relaxed, my eyes closed allowing the water to wash over me.

' You truly are an intriguing woman. The way you hold yourself while inside is a whirlwind of emotions. Just like Bran, people may have under estimated you.'

The voice came out of no where making me jump, but the yelp was kept in by years of training. Bran was somewhere in the house a would over react and there was not an explanation. Not one that would make any sense at all, or wouldn't be a lie, and there just weren't the words yet. The chuckle echoed in my mind giving off a chill having heard all of my thoughts though he hadn't been meant to. That slightly irritated me that he was doing so much better at this whole reading thoughts things than I was. That earned me another laugh, and genuine laugh and to be honest it was a weird kind of comfort, a chilling comfort.

'I should hope I am better at this than you. It has been years being able to talk to others in their mind. You appear to be my only source to covers back with, so it is natural that I have the upper hand in this. You have been doing rather well though.'

'Sure I am. We only do this when it's convenient for you.'

'Not true. I hear you all the time when you make contact with me. Now you just need to practice hearing me, I do not stop you from that.'

'Do you hear everything?'

What he would say made me nervous.

'No not everything. Mostly just what you want me to.'

'Mostly?'

'When you get emotionally strained your control tends to weaken and things slip through.'

'Great, so you've gotten a front row seat to my insanity.'

'Not insanity, I told you.' He growled.'Just emotional over run, nothing wrong with that.'

'Yeah, okay.'

'I promise not to share it with anyone.'

He sounded sincere, but so could most people.

'I don't even know you.'

'Of course you do. You have met the entire pack therefore you know me. You simply do not know my name.'

'And you're not going to tell me.'

'There's no fun in that. Sweet dreams.'

With a slightly frustrated sigh turned off the water and stepped out of the tub to finish getting ready for bed. When I got to the bedroom Bran was already laying in bed his eyes trained on the ceiling in the dark. He shifted slightly when I crawled into bed and curled into his side and rested my head onto his chest. His steady heart beat was always comforting and helpful when trying to fall asleep at night. When he began to run his fingers through my hair a soft sigh escaped me just before sleep finally found me. It was amazing just how much a simple action like that could be so soothing and gave so much comfort.

In the morning the bed was empty as per usual, but it was starting to bother me less than it used to. My man was an important man and needed to be else where, and it wasn't fair of me to have him to myself all the time. Today I had set out my own task for the day and was looking forward to completing it. As breakfast and coffee disappeared my focus was on the map of the town that had been found a few days before. It wasn't any more than a few years old and still looked up to date, Bran wasn't one to leave things half done. My dirty dishes in the sink and my car loaded up it was time for me to get to work.

The front door was locked, my music played in the car, and the map in my hand as I drove slowly. There was no one outside the first house and that was completely okay with me. My coat blocked some of the coolness as I got out of the car and place a container of baker goods in the mail box. With a smile retreated back to the warmth of the car and went on to the next house. This went on for some time,no one opening their doors until I was already driving away. Until I got to one of the last few houses, just as I was opening the mail box Sage opened her door and called me inside. I gladly went in for some tea after turning off my car and handed her the container myself.

"What's this for?"

"Just being nice."

"I think this is the first time I've ever gotten baked goods and everyone is nice."

Her grin told me she was joking.

"I can take them home if you like."

My grin matched hers and her fake horror at my words made both of us laugh as we sat at the table. We talked for a long time about Bran and his family and how the pack fits into that. Sage put it into a different perspective for me and made it a little easier to understand some things. There were somethings that she wouldn't talk about either, but I respected that about her. She gave me her number since she already had mine and made me promise to call anytime I needed or wanted to. It was just after dark and late for dinner when I took my leave wanting to get the last few containers given out. Sage and I both wanted to have a girls days to do our nails, and hair, and Sage would talk to Anna and set everything up.

Bran was already home and just finishing dinner when I got home and shed my coat. With a smile took the time to wash my hand before setting the table as Bran watched me closely. We had small talk during dinner about our day and my day seemed to really amuse him. It was beyond me what was so amusing, but let it slip asking him what had happened during his day. Bran was not as forth coming with details as me, but had helped Charles and Anna get ready for a business trip. My stomach sank the moment those words were said, but he didn't seem concerned in the least. They would be leaving in the morning and be back when things were taken care of.

Last time Charles had gone away it had eaten away at Anna and now that they were going it was me being eaten away at. As the dishes were being done I took the time to multitask and call the two that were leaving in the morning. Charles was shorter with me than usual and simply passed the phone to Anna who talked with me for some time. The woman was good at passing this trip off as a breeze, more of a short vacation than anything else. Problem was I had been the one to console her not long away and that stuck hard in my head and gut not allowing me to be swayed by her easy tone. For whatever reason it was important for me to believe that there was nothing going on, so knowing they could tell a lie remained half convinced.

The dishes and the phone call ended at about the same time, Bran reappearing from his office. He watched me for a while, his head tilted deep in thought about something he wasn't sharing. My focus was on cleaning the rest of the kitchen then looked over at Bran with a smirk. It took a moment, but it appeared that he got the emotion that had been pushed in his direction as I walked passed him. At first it was only his head that snapped over to my direction, his body perfectly still, tense even. His eyes lightened slightly as he watched me slowly slip each item of clothing off on the way to the bedroom.

The moment I went out of sight was when Bran finally came into action, passing the hallway faster than me. Then he had me in his arms and on the bed before my yelp could properly turn into a giggle. Bran no longer waited and watched me, he took over and that was fine with me. He had a way of taking control without being forceful or intimidating and it made me love him all the more. His passion fueled mine in turn fueling his allowing our love making to go for hours until I tired. When we laid on the bed ready for some much needed sleep now, Bran nipped at my shoulder bringing on another set of shivers from me and a growl from him. Despite being so tired the thought occurred to me to go just one more time and as if he heard me Bran whispered.

"Sleep. It will be day light soon. We can continue later if you wish."

That was enough to leave a smile on my lips snuggling into Bran's side resting my head onto his chest. He pet my hair as sleep clouded my mind until there was nothing left, but pleasant darkness that sleep sometimes brings. It stayed for time, allowing me to recover from the previous nights actives and other things on my mind. When my eyes opened it was nearly noon and part of me was not as lonely like each morning seems to bring. There was a smile when getting the shower at the right temperature and humming came next. Today I took time to get ready for the day enjoying the uplifting feeling that still had me in a good mood. My hair was done differently and a touch of make up, not enough to show off just enough to be subtle.

The first thing that came to my attention was the Bran's office door was closed, second my clothes weren't on the floor. A little relieved at the latter and avoiding the embarrassment that would have followed went straight to the kitchen. Lunch needed to be made and that was my specialty and already knew what to make. Time went on and lunch slowly came together, before long the office door opened and the muffled voices became more clear. All three men stopped at the kitchen entry way and called 'good after noon' to me. The one man's name I couldn't place, the other two were Bran and Tag and both sat at the table. It didn't take much to convince Tag to stay for lunch he merely glanced at Bran who nodded once. The other man quickly said he had plans and left the house before anyone said anything, the air got a little heavy then.

"Not one of my fans I take it?"

Both men just looked away and found something on the table rather interesting for the next few minutes. That was enough of an answer for me, so simply nodded and served the bowls of food. Unable to contain myself picked my camera up off the counter and snapped a picture of the two quickly. This was a meal the everyone seems to give a weird look at, but when they finally eat it really like it. There is a collection of people's reaction and was just not able to pass up the opportunity to catch Bran's face. Once the picture was take and both men exchanged glances Bran composed his face a bit and looked up at me bringing my own bowl to the table.

"That's an interesting combination. How did you come up with it?"

"Had to make dinner one night and that's all we had left in the cupboards and in the fridge. It's really good I promise."

"Stew, Rice, and Cheese. Hell eat them separately, can't be that bad together." Tag muttered taking a large bite seeing me eat mine.

Bran sat there for a moment watching the two of us eating our food before he looked down at his. His nostrils flared as he smelled it one last time before he put a forkful in his mouth. There was a smile on my face waiting to see if he liked it or not, his face stayed neutral making it hard to tell. My suspicions was that was my pay back for the meal which was fine with me. Tag had seconds, then thirds enjoying the food quiet a bit while Bran stayed with seconds. Before long we had the house to ourselves again, Tag not staying long after the meal. The silent conversation the two had seemed to have something to do with it. He thanked me for the meal and the snacks, I even got him to take some more with him. Then it was just the two of us and I put my full attention onto Bran to which he simply grinned.

"Was it really that bad?"

"No it was quiet good. Reminded me of something that I had a long time ago."

"That good or bad?"

"Neither."

There was this tone in his voice when he spoke that I hadn't heard before and it was accompanied by a feeling. A feeling that made my stomach turn and was bitter in my mouth, then it would ease into a sweet taste, then back. When the conversation winded down the was this far away look in his eyes that didn't suite him. It went on for sometime as the kitchen was cleaned up then as if nothing happened he was stood up. He kissed my cheek pulling me into his arms and asked to go for a walk with him, his tone back to normal. The whole thing was odd, but tucked it away to ask Sam about later when Bran wasn't around. With a smile agreed to go with him and went to get some warmer clothes on for our walk.