A/N: Wow, getting up there chapter-wise! There will be 50ish chapters total, so we're kind of nearing the end, but not really. I was just remembering how back in January I was writing Chapter 37 (AKA the last chapter) of Resistance. I think this story is a lot better/more realistic than Resistance, though it may not be as fun because we don't get Shoone sex like every other chapter. Haha. Well, I'll get on with the chapter – Shannon's visit! Yay!

6/26 – I added a bit to the ending.

Chapter 37

When Boone answered the door on Sunday evening, he didn't even have a moment to look at Shannon before she flung her entire body weight into his arms. He was too happy, too excited to care what the others, also in the living room, were thinking. "Boone!" she squealed, not minding the fairly awkward fact that he was holding her up, his hands resting under her thighs, and that Ben, Lilly, and Becky were watching in shock. The only sign that Ted even resided there was the distant sound of death metal wafting from his room. She loosened her grip around his shoulders, pulling back to look at him. "Oh my god, I missed you SO much!"

"Yeah, god, me too!" He exclaimed eagerly, hugging her to him again.

"It's so nice to finally see a Carlyle that's not Sabrina," she giggled. "Here, let me down," she bit her lip, a whine in her voice. Boone released his grip on her, letting her hop out of his arms. Finally, Boone was able to stand back to look at the sister he had missed so dearly while being away. He was still mesmerized by her exquisite beauty. She was wearing her long blonde hair down, mussed by the snow that was currently falling from the sky. She was certainly more covered up than she was in California – she had replaced her usual miniskirt with jeans, that still managed to hug her body, achieving the same sexiness that the skirts did, if not more. She was also wearing a fleece black jacket, topped off with a colorful striped scarf. It was her eyes, however, that attracted her to him the most. They sparkled with a honey glow that Boone had forgotten in the past few months. Before he could stop himself, he reached over and touched her cheek lightly, and surprisingly, she leaned into his hand. He crept his hand over her cheek, and across her chin – her skin was fairly cold from the outside air, and it tingled when he touched it. After a few moments though, Boone realized that the others were still watching, and pulled away. "You look pale," she said. "And you need a haircut."

"Thanks, Shannon," he mocked hurt. "You look great, too."

"Thank you!" She chirped, ignoring his sarcasm. "So, introduce me to your roomies!" She took off her jacket, revealing a tight cashmere sweater that had a deep v-neck revealing subtle cleavage.

"I'm Ben," said Ben, smiling at her. Boone was glad that Ben was going to make this as normal as possible – he had made Ben promise never to mention what he had told him again. "This is Lilly, she'll be an unfriendly little bitch until she gets to know you." Lilly scowled at him, playfully pushing him away from her.

"That's not true," she said. "Shannon, I'm Lilly," she stood up and shook Shannon's hand.

"I yelled at you!" Shannon remembered. "Sorry about that. I'm just a little overly protective of my Boone," She pulled Boone closer to her and kissed him on the cheek. "Isn't that right, Boone?" she murmured.

"Yeah," he said uncomfortably, trying not to let her behavior affect him. "And, uh, this is Becky," he introduced his sister to her.

"Hey," Shannon said coolly, her knowledge of the social hierarchy getting in the way of common etiquette. Shannon had a bitchy side to her, and he sometimes worried that it would overpower her. He nudged her, letting her know she was being rude. "Sorry," she smiled. "I'm Shannon. I've heard a lot about you." Boone had expressed some concern about how lonely she was to Shannon over the phone.

"Really!" Becky exclaimed. "I mean… hi."

Just then, Ted emerged from doing god-knows-what in his bedroom. Shannon eyed him beadily, remembering Boone's unfavorable description. "Woah," he said, staring straight at her chest.

"You must be Ted," she smiled icily. "My face is right here, by the way."

"Right." He moved his eyes towards her hips. Boone rolled his eyes. "Who are you?"

"Shannon…" Then Ted discovered her legs.

"Dear lord," he muttered under his breath. "Why are you here?" He asked her.

"I'm Boone's sister…?"

"Oh right. His sister." Ted smirked. What did he know?

"There's something in your hair," said Shannon crassly.

"What?" Ted reached towards his long, tangled hair.

"Like a bird's nest or something…" she started. "Oh wait, that is your hair."

"Bitch," Ted muttered, and retreated back into his room.

"Nice," Ben grinned.

"Well, now that we've met the lovely Ted…" Boone announced. "Actually, Shan, I have a surprise for you." He had saved up to buy them both tickets to see the New York City Ballet perform because he had felt guilty about not being able to attend her ballet show in California.

"What is it?" she asked.

"It's a surprise," he stressed the last word.

"Well… okay," she said dubiously. "Where should I put my stuff?" She motioned to her suitcase.

"Um," said Ben. "If you want, I can sleep on the couch for a few nights while you're here. You can use my bed, stay with your brother." Boone sighed in relief. Ben was such a good friend, he thought.

"Becky's going home for break tomorrow," Lilly said. "So Ben can just stay in her bed in my room after that."

Ben made a choking noise. "Really? Is that okay with you, Becky?"

"Yeah…"

"Just wash her sheets when you're done!" Lilly reminded him.

"Gross, Lilly, of course I'd – I mean, what are you suggesting?"

"That you're a filthy teenage boy, maybe?"

"What, like you're that clean!" He sneered. "I mean, I've seen those slippers you wear, can you say nasty?"

"You talk like a ditzy girl, Ben."

"At least I wash my clothes," he retorted.

"Shut up!" She squealed.

"Shut up!" Ben mimicked in an exaggeratedly high-pitched voice.

"They always act like this?" Shannon asked Boone.

"Pretty much." He took her luggage, which was practically overflowing, in typical Shannon manner. "Come on, let's get you settled in." She brushed up against him, following him closely into his dorm room. "We're alone now," she ventured cautiously when they got into his room.

"And?" He wondered what she was insinuating. Shannon wrapped her arms around his shoulders, burying her head into his neck. He returned to gesture, his hands around her waist. "I just missed you," she whispered in his ear. She pressed her lips into his neck softly, and he deepened the embrace, rocking her back and forth slowly. He had forgotten how warm she felt. He let himself relax into her touch.

Suddenly, Ben appeared in the doorway. "Oh!" He exclaimed awkwardly, and Boone pulled away from her quickly. "I just wanted to get my hairbrush," he said. "Sorry…"

"We were just hugging," Shannon shrugged, unable to see why Ben was acting so weird.

"Well – uh, we should get going," Boone said. "Especially if we want to go out to eat first."

At dinner, they caught up with each other. Shannon informed him of some new school gossip, complained about Sabrina, and raved about a kid's ballet class that she was helping to teach. Boone told her he was proud of her, and they let friendly, easy conversation flow throughout the meal. The ballet would have been a little bit dull for Boone, but Shannon was so excited, her face lit up animatedly throughout the whole thing, and the fact that he had pleasantly surprised her filled him with a warmth he couldn't describe.

When they got back, Lilly was watching one of her obscure independent movies on the TV in the living room. "Ben's with Michelle," Lilly noted, words dripping with disdain.

"What's the matter with Michelle?" Shannon asked.

"God… I dunno. She's just… ugh, not right for him!" Lilly complained. Boone was amazed that Ben and Lilly were unable to see what was in front of them. It was so obvious she liked him too.

"Oh," Shannon said. "I'm gonna go put on my pajamas," she told Boone. She came back out minutes later, wearing a lacey yellow camisole, his favorite color on her, and white sweatpants. The shirt showed off the smooth, tanned skin or her shoulders – skin that he longed to caress between his fingers. "Boone, you gonna come to bed soon?" She bit her lip.

"Yeah, coming." He wrinkled his nose as he watch the television screen in confusion. What the hell was Lilly watching? He turned around, wishing Lilly a goodnight, and followed Shannon into the dorm room.

"Aren't you gonna change?" She asked him expectantly, going over the sit on his bed.

"Yeah…" he said.

"So change then."

"Um…?" He motioned for her to give him some privacy.

"Oh come on, I've seen you naked before." Boone gaped at her. "Remember, when we got drunk and went skinny dipping last summer?" Like he would ever forget that night. "I dunno, maybe you were too drunk to remember," she shrugged. Sure. Like hell he was.

Boone tentatively took off his shirt, ignoring Shannon's calculative gaze. "You need to tan," she announced.

"Yeah, in 30 degree weather in the middle of winter – they actually have seasons here." He replaced the other shirt with a gray t-shirt, and took off his pants, but there was absolutely no way he was going to change his boxers with her there. He'd just have to wait until tomorrow. "Happy?" He asked.

"Wuss," she shook her head. "You disappoint me, Carlyle."

"You're being kind of weird," he said, though thoroughly enjoying her flirtatious behavior.

"Oh," she said, and Boone hoped he hadn't offended her. After they brushed their teeth, they lay down in separate beds, and he turned out the lights.

"Shan," he said after a moment.

"Yeah?" Her voice sounded small and vulnerable in the dark.

"You don't really want to sleep in the bed of someone you know nothing about, do you?" He asked, a little mischief in his tone.

"No, I'd rather be with you." He scooted over to accommodate her, and she slid into bed with him, giggling as she cuddled close to him. She wrapped her arms around his neck, rolling onto her stomach and burying her face in his shoulder. He lay on his back, sliding his arms over her back, tickling down her spine. When they woke up, they were tangled in each other.

Over the next four days, Boone was the happiest he had ever been. He liked the new world he was living in, but without Shannon, it was hard to bear. With her here, it was almost as if his life was perfect – but during her stay they had definitely been pushing limits with little forbidden touches they hoped the others wouldn't notice. Shannon seemed to like New York too; one day, she dragged Boone shopping with her, but he would do anything just for her company.

She and Lilly got along okay, but they both had strong opinions that clashed, so they could never really get past the small talk stage in their relationship. Shannon and Ben seemed to get along well, but Shannon had made it pretty clear that she was here to see Boone, not to make friends. Ted didn't seem to understand this, and no matter how much Shannon expressed her disgust for him, he wouldn't take a hint and was constantly trying to hit on her. On her third night there, Shannon came to Boone's bed after brushing her teeth, informing him that Ted had told her she had "dick-sucking lips". Boone had seethed with anger, but Shannon told him that she had already "taken care of it". The next day, Ted was walking around with a considerable limp. Shannon never ceased to amaze him.

On Shannon's last night in New York, Lilly decided that they should all stay in the dorm and have a little bonding time. She referred to it as an "initiation ceremony" for Shannon, similar to the one that Boone and his dorm-mates had had during their first week at NYU. Ted had somehow acquired some alcohol again, but Boone decided he wouldn't be drinking tonight – he wanted to be on his best behavior for Shannon. Plus, he was beginning to feel a bit guilty for how often he had been intoxicated lately, and his pot-induced confession had been a mistake he wouldn't have made otherwise. Luckily, the mistake had seemed to resolve itself, but he didn't want to risk anything.

Ted usually considered himself too cool for the rest of the people in Boone's dorm, but Boone had a suspicion that he was only attending their little get-together so that he could look at Shannon. Maybe he hoped he could get her drunk and take advantage of her, but there was no way Boone was letting that happen. Another reason for him to stay sober.

"Ben and I are gonna go get some pizza," Lilly announced to them. Shannon and Boone were on the couch, watching some VH1 special that Boone wouldn't have ever watched if it weren't for Shan.

"Couldn't you just have it delivered?" Asked Ted from the kitchen.

"Um," said Ben. "It costs extra." But Boone knew that he just wanted an excuse to spend time with Lilly alone.

When they finally got back, Shannon shut off the television, pulling her knees up to her chest and turning to face the others, who were sitting on the floor. "Who wants booze?" Ted asked. Shannon, Lilly, and Ben all took some.

"What Boone, you chicken?" Shannon asked, nudging him. "Just have a little." Boone wondered why she cared, but acquiesced, deciding he would only have one drink. Besides, he was in college, so there was nothing wrong with having a little too much to drink every once in a while. Plus, he didn't want Shannon to think he was a prude.

As Shannon became more and more intoxicated, she started acting more and more anxious, scooting closer to Boone. Now, she was fidgeting with the hem of Boone's shirt, feeling the fabric between her fingers. She was much drunker than Boone, who was only slightly tipsy, but he wasn't going to stop her or anything. She was also leaning into his side, probably making the others quite suspicious. But he noted that Lilly and Ben looked a little suspiciously cozy as well.

"So Boone," said Ted. "I got one." They had casually been playing Truth or Dare.

"What?" Boone looked up, having been distracted by Shannon's antics.

"Kiss you sister." Boone nearly jumped at the opportunity. "Like, full-on."

"Ew, no," he tried to play it cool. The others looked on at him expectantly, but Ben's expression held more knowledge than the others. And he nodded slightly at Boone.

"Come on, Boone," she whined. "It'll be fun."

"Well… I guess…" he said.

Shannon tilted her head towards him, putting one hand in his hair. He pulled her closer, feeling awkward about the others watching, but this was Shannon, and he knew he couldn't resist her. And frankly, if he had an opportunity to kiss her, which he did, he was going to take it. Their lips met, and her lips were just as soft and smooth as he remembered. Her touch intoxicated him, as usual, making him almost unaware of his roommate's awed faces. He pulled away from her after a few seconds, but she pulled him back to her, kissing him again.

"Guys…" Lilly started, but trailed off when the others silenced her.

Their faces were both at a significant angle to his, and her nose matched up to the side of his. This time, she opened her mouth, and Boone skimmed his tongue over her lips, letting his hormones take control.

"Woah," said Ted, breaking the spell for a moment, but he was right back into it when Shannon started rubbing into the muscles on the back of his neck. He wrapped his arm around the back of her waist, letting her press her tongue against his, slowly and rhythmically. He kissed back, but his kisses were slower and more fervid than her drunken, playful kisses. Shannon shifted herself so that she was practically sitting in his lap, sighing with pleasure. She was smiling against his lips, and Boone tightened his grip, running his hand up and down her back as she rested her hands loosely around his wrists.

"Holy hell," Ben squeaked. "This is so – "

"Hot!" Ted interrupted. "God, this is even better than I expected!"

Boone was beginning to feel uncomfortable, but Shannon was clearly enjoying the attention, smirking slightly as she pressed her hand against Boone's chest. "Come on, don't be scared," she hissed in his ear. What the hell, he thought, and tickled up the side of her thigh, resting his hand on her waist, his thumb a little higher. He opened his mouth even further around hers, deepening the kiss. She moaned in recognition, just making Boone want her more. But it was Ben who eventually stopped them.

"Uh," he coughed. "Maybe it's someone else's turn now," he ventured. Shannon ignored him, moving her lips to Boone's ear, kissing it softly. Boone shuddered under her touch, but he knew that if they went any further, he wouldn't have the power to say no. He pulled back, and she reluctantly moved away from him, her eyes still fixed on him. Oh god, she just had to want him… but then Boone remembered that she must be pretty wasted to be behaving in this manner.

Shannon giggled shyly to the others. "Well, that was new," she slurred. Boone raised his eyebrows, but he knew better than to argue. He wanted her more now than ever, but as usual, there was nothing he could do about it. He looked at the group, noticing that Ted's mouth was still wide open in awe, and Ben looked a little anxious himself. Lilly looked somewhere between disgusted and captivated. "Come on you guys, it was a dare!" Shannon exclaimed.

"Yeah, it's not like we've ever done that before," Boone lied. Shannon gave him a meaningful look, and tossed him a pillow from the couch.

"Might wanna hide that," she mouthed, and Boone realized what she was trying to say. He turned bright red instantly, and grabbed the pillow to himself quickly. Thankfully, none of the others seemed to notice that part of their little exchange.

"A brother and sister swapping spit," Ted said. "I never knew incest could be so hot."

"Shut up, Ted," Lilly rolled her eyes. "You started it."

"No one started it," Ben tried to calm her down.

"Oh go screw your girlfriend," she spat, rubbing her eyes.

Boone tuned out their argument, still feeling restless about what had just happened. He knew it was just a game. But the level of unadulterated desire he had for her wasn't going to be sated by one kiss. He didn't think it would ever be sated.

Shannon fell asleep quickly and easily in his arms that night, but Boone stayed awake, watching her sleep, trying to capture the image in his mind and commit it to his memory. But when he woke up the next morning, he couldn't remember exactly how she had looked.

She wasn't in the best mood because she was hung-over, but she summoned the miniscule amount of energy she had to say goodbye to Boone. "I wish you could stay forever," he told her, hugging her deeply.

"I wish I could stay with you forever," she sighed, hugging him back.

"Take care of yourself, okay?" He held her closer, her head resting on his shoulder.

"Boone," she pulled back a bit, tilting his chin up to face her. He looked back, confused. "Kiss me goodbye?" Boone looked back at her, confused. She rolled her eyes, fed up, and gave him a quick peck on the lips. "Bye," she walked towards the sidewalk, where a taxi was waiting to take her to the airport.

"Shan, wait," he grabbed her arm, pulling her to him again. He kissed again, this time tenderly and a little more intimate.

"'Love you," she smiled after he pulled away.

"Love you too," he said, his voice filled with passion and conviction.

"See you this summer!" She waved,shooting him a genuine smile, full of brightness and warmth, before she jumped into a taxi cab – he wouldn't see her for another five months.

That chapter was fun, that's probably why I wrote it so fast! I even surprised myself how fast I wrote it. But that's probably because I'm going to be gone for like a month, all of July, and probably won't be updating much, if at all, for that time. I knew this chapter was long and I hope it wasn't too long for you.There was actually meant to be a scene where Boone gave Shannon a back massage, but Itook it out because it made this already huge chaptermonstrous. I'll put it in somewhere in the story though.

Also, there's a Rules of Attraction reference in this chapter, wonder if anyone will catch it. ;) Please review guys – it only takes a click of a button! Thanks!