I had a feeling tonight was going to be restless by the looks of everyone. Tess waited nervously for Elijah to come back, Jeremy looked like a wreck, and Derek tensed every time someone moved. I had to do something to help.

"You need to relax," I said quietly to Derek. "You look like you're about to have a heart attack. Both Tess and Elijah think you can't do anything to hurt her so why do you?"

Derek squeezed my hand, "I can't explain it."

I suggested that a hot shower might help ease the tension, Derek agreed and went to take a shower. I figured the distance would help him relax some too. No chance of Tess torturing him in there.

While he was showering, I grabbed Jeremy and dragged him over to Tess.

"Jeremy and I can go look for him," I said to Tess.

"I'm sure he's fine," she said. "I just don't know when he'll be back."

"Are you fine though?" Jeremy asked. "You can't wait up all night for him. It's not good for you."

"Alright," she sighed. "Just be careful please."

We nodded and walked out.

"Why am I coming?" Jeremy asked once we were outside.

"I figured you needed a break too," I said. I walked in the direction of the patio Elijah was at earlier. "You're still a newer wolf, no offense, and you seem like a nervous wreck. I didn't want to see you make yourself change."

"I don't really want to do that again," he nodded, he'd only been through it once. "I just don't know what I did so wrong. I did what Tess said to do."

"Just relax a little, she'll come around, give it time."

The patio was the right place to pick. As we walked up we could hear music coming from the building attached to it.

"There's no way he went from sad drunk to party drunk," Jeremy shook his head.

"One way to find out," I replied as I pushed the door open.

Jeremy was quickly proven wrong. In the center of the restaurant looking room, was Elijah and probably twenty or so others dancing to the music. Smiling, I took out my phone and snapped a quick picture for Tess.

"How do we shut this down?" Jeremy shouted to me over the music.

I shrugged, "Wing it."

We were spotted by Ashe, who I was surprised to see. She came over with a smile.

"Welcome," she said. "Can I get you two anything?"

I nodded, "We'd like Elijah please."

Ashe rolled her eyes, "Oh come on he's finally being fun to be around. It took me forever to coax him out of sad drinking."

"Please," Jeremy asked.

Elijah noticed us and waved us over. We walked away from Ashe and up to him.

"Hey," I said.

"Shots," he said placing one in each of our hands.

"Only if you come back with us. Tess is worried," Jeremy said.

Elijah drunkenly frowned, "Party pooper."

"Yes I am," Jeremy nodded.

I took Elijah's response as an agreement to Jeremy's terms. Drunk Elijah was a lot easier to persuade than normal Elijah. The two of them took their shots, I set mine down while they weren't looking. Elijah grumpily followed us to the door while Ashe wasn't paying attention. I mentally thanked the person talking to her for distracting her so she wouldn't try to keep Elijah.

Jeremy and I directed Elijah back to the hospital. As we walked in the door I ordered, "Bed."

"I have my own house," Elijah responded before falling onto Tess' bed and passing out.

"Huh?" Jeremy looked confused. I shrugged, who knows what he was trying to say.

Tess grabbed a garbage can and set it on his side of the bed.

"He's going to need to that," she smirked. I was glad to see her smile, hoping that meant she wasn't too mad at him for getting wasted.

Jeremy kicked his shoes off and headed towards his bed, "I don't know what was in that shot but its not sitting very well."

I chuckled, wondering if that was Jeremy's first encounter with alcohol. Soon everyone retired to their beds. Derek had been waiting for me at mine.

"I don't like you disappearing with him," he said. "He's a jerk."

"I can hear you," Jeremy mumbled through his pillow.

"I know," Derek replied then turned back to me. "Please don't disappear on me again."

I promised and soon we fell asleep.

I woke up sometime later feeling sweaty and sick to my stomach. Whatever that shot was, it made me feel sick too. I coughed and opened my eyes, wait a second. I didn't take the shot. Why did it feel so hot in here? I gently shook Derek who felt cool. I was hot not the room.

"Hm?" He said sleepily.

"Derek," I whispered. "I don't feel so good."

Derek opened his eyes and sat up so he could feel my forehead, "You're burning up. What's wrong?"

I had to take a second before answering to make sure I didn't throw up, "I don't know."

Derek got up and brought me a cup of cold water. He laid back down as I drank it.

"Do you think I'm…"

He took the empty cup and set it on the ground, "What's that thing you always tell me? Try not to worry about it. Come here, try to sleep. You'll feel better in the morning."

I was grateful for his calm approach to this. He pulled me close, he felt cold compared to me. I closed my eyes and laid like that for several minutes but couldn't fall asleep. I opened my eyes and tapped his chest. Derek opened his eyes, he wasn't falling back asleep either.

"You'll be ok," he whispered. "You might just be sick I mean you were walking around all day without shoes or socks."

I asked Derek a question that would take my mind off the uncomfortable fever.

"When will I have a home?"

"What?" He was caught off guard.

"I moved around a lot growing up then I stayed at the Lyle House then safe houses and then hotels and more safe houses. When does it end? I want to have somewhere to call home."

I coughed, my throat feeling dry.

"I… we… well…" He stumbled for words. "I don't know how to answer that. What about Tess'?"

I shook my head, "That's her home its not the same." I paused, the nausea coming back. "I don't feel good."

"Hold still," he said as he got up. He snatched the garbage can Tess left for Elijah and brought it to me. "Here."

Derek set it between my legs and helped me slowly sit up. I sat with my face in the can for some time until the feeling passed. Derek set it back by Elijah's side of their bed and sat beside me.

"Take your own advice and try to relax," he said. "I'm right here if you need anything."

I leaned against him and asked him to tell me a story. In the morning, I remembered Derek talking but I didn't remember anything he said in his story. I'd finally fallen asleep at some point during it. He was out cold next to me, his hand wrapped tightly around mine. I felt better which made me wonder if it was the werewolf gene or not. Maybe the emotional drama, losing blood, and getting possessed, and all that stuff had just taken a lot out of me yesterday.

"Hey," Tess whispered, seeing that I was awake. "Come with me."

I slipped out of Derek's grip and stood up. He must've stayed up really late keeping an eye on me because he did not react at all to me moving. Normally that could wake him in seconds. Tess took me out the front door, leaving it propped open so the others would know we were outside.

"What're we doing?" I asked as she sat down in the dew covered grass.

"Making the little things count," she said as she looked at the sunrise.

I sat beside her, it really was a pretty sunrise. The horizon was full of pinks and oranges swirled around the mountain tops.

"That's really pretty," I said. Tess nodded in agreement.

"I think there's a lot of beauty in life that we don't always stop to appreciate," she said. "Like sunrises."

We sat and watched the sky for a while.

"You're not mad at Elijah for last night, are you?" I asked.

Tess shook her head, "I didn't like what he was saying about himself but no I'm not mad. It wouldn't be fair of me to be mad that he let his sister get back at him. Elijah lets his stress pile up and occasionally his drinks to let it out. It's probably not the best idea but that's his process."

I didn't know what to say so I dropped it. A few minutes later we heard movement inside.

"Ready? Its hangover time." She asked as she stood up.

I didn't know what she meant right away so I followed her back inside to see Elijah waking up. He was face down on the bed as he groaned. He stretched his arm out to find Tess but when she wasn't there he raised his head.

"Oh no," he groaned as he quickly grabbed the trash can and threw up.

Tess had the biggest smuggest grin on her face as she watched him. "Karma sucks, doesn't it?"

"Shut up," he groaned, face still in the trash can.

I couldn't help but chuckle a little bit. Elijah set the trash can down and buried his head under his pillow. Tess walked over and sat down on the bed. The sudden movement of the bed made him grab the trash can again to throw up.

"I'm dying," he said when he was done.

"Oh you're such a drama queen," Tess giggled.

There was a knock on the door behind me, I stepped aside as two men brought in our breakfast and set it on one of the middle tables.

"Mmm," Tess inhaled. "Extra bacon today. Can you smell it EJ?"

Elijah once again had his head in the trash can as soon as the smell of the bacon hit him.

"You suck," he whined as he buried himself under pillows to barricade him from the smell.