A/N: Here is the long awaited update. Thanks to all my readers and reviewers!! I can't tell you how much it means to me to see that people have actually taken the time to review. Hope you enjoy this chapter…

Ellie didn't make it through the movie. She was asleep in less than an hour. It had been so long since she had a good night's sleep.

As she slept, Tracker pried Sean for information. "So, who exactly is this girl?"

He shrugged. "Just someone I go to school with. Her dad just died, so she's kinda messed up right now." He glanced over at the sleeping girl, sprawled out on his couch, her feet dangling off the side. "I guess she just needed to get away."

"Should we call her mom or something? Let her know she's okay?"

Sean shrugged again. "I dunno. I'd just let her be."

Ellie was awoken by the voices. She sat up and stretched, slightly embarrassed. "It's okay you guys," she said in a voice barely above a whisper. "I'm sure my mom hasn't even noticed I'm gone. She was nearly passed out when I left."

Neither Sean nor Tracker responded right away. They knew the scenario all too well from their own parents.

"Well, you can crash here if you want," Sean finally added. "You can sleep on the couch."

She nervously tugged on her shirt sleeves. "Are you sure?"

Tracker nodded. "Absolutely. Let's get you a pillow and some blankets."

Sean stood up and headed to his room. "I can find you something to sleep in."

Less than half an hour later, Ellie was lying on the couch that had been made up into a bed for her, and was sporting an oversized sweatshirt and a pair of Sean's sweatpants. She was so grateful to be away from home, even if it was for just a little while.

But as the silence and the darkness of the apartment surrounded her, Ellie found she couldn't sleep. She was restless, thinking of her dad and what her life would be like now that he was gone.

Quietly as she could, she got up and walked to the kitchen for a glass of water. She was still searching for a glass, when she heard footsteps behind her.

"Can't sleep?"

Ellie jumped, and turned around to face Sean. He was shirtless, wearing just a pair of basketball shorts. His hair was messy, and he looked very tired.

"I just needed a glass of water."

Sean reached into the cupboard directly behind her and pulled out a glass. He turned on the faucet and filled the glass with ice cold water. "Here."

She managed a small smile. "Thanks."

Sean couldn't help but notice her hands shake as she drank the water down as quickly as she could. "How 'bout a walk? I couldn't sleep either, I thought some fresh air…"

She knew he was lying, but was grateful for his offer. She nodded. "Sure. Fresh air sounds good."

"'Kay, just let me grab a shirt."

Soon the pair was out in the cool night air, Sean's muscular abs now covered by an old t-shirt and his hair hidden under a skull cap. There was no hiding the sleep in his eyes though..

They walked in silence for what seemed like a very long time until they reached the park. Sean stopped and sat down under a large oak tree near the edge of the playground.

"Sorry, I need a break."

"We haven't walked that far."

"Yah, well, it's cold out here."

"You should be wearing a sweatshirt," she teased as she sat down next to him.

He grinned. "I would be, but I lent it to some chick."

She blushed. "Oh. Sorry."

"Relax, I'm just kidding."

She didn't respond – she wasn't sure what to say. Instead, she stared up at the night sky, mesmerized by all the stars.

Sean studied her. She looked so strong, so thoughtful. Not knowing what else to say, he pointed up at a group of stars. "That's the Big Dipper."

She turned to where he was pointing. "There?"

He nodded. "And if you follow those stars," he pointed again, "you can see Polaris and the Little Dipper."

She stared at him, amazed. "How do you know all that?"

He shrugged. "I loved stars when I was a kid. Tracker used to take me to the library and we'd get a book on constellations, then go out and try to find them in the sky."

She smiled. "I loved unicorns when I was a kid." She laughed. "I guess that's not quite as impressive."

He studied the sky for a moment, then once again pointed. "There. That's the unicorn constellation according to mythology. Menoceros."

Ellie was amazed. She had never imagined Sean to be so – she wasn't sure what. He was just very different than what she expected.

"We should get back," Sean interrupted her thoughts. "Don't want Tracker out hunting us down."

They stood, and began a quiet walk home. Just before they reached Sean's apartment, Ellie leaned over and whispered a quick, "Thanks."

"For what?"

"For everything." She smiled at him. "For understanding." She reached over and slipped her hand into his, and they walked the rest of the way home in silence.

To be continued...