b Disclaimer – I do no own any of the characters except for those that aren't recognised in the nightworld books written by the goddess L.J.Smith. But then if you wanted to read a work of fiction you wouldn't have come to this site. /b

"You're not going," snarled Ash from across the room.

"What do you mean 'I'm not going' of course I'm going," said Mary-Lynnette as she collected together her things, "Where are the keys Ash?"

"What keys?" said Ash as he stood up and walked to the door.

"The room keys, you had them last and don't pretend to be stupid we both know you're not," she said and sighed as she looked up, from the draw she was searching through and sighed, "if you think standing in front of the door going to stop me from going out then you're stupider than I thought."

"You're not going, I told you before. Stay with me, we can hang out by the pool."

"You're my soulmate Ash, not my keeper. I already have plans and I'm not going to let Maggie and Rashel down."

"Exactly, I'm your soulmate and I care about you more than anything. Which is why I can't let you go."

Mary-Lynnette turned to him, touched his cheek, "it was only prank Ash, nothing to worry about. Besides I'm only going shopping with the girls and Rashel will be there if anything happens, which it won't"

"You don't like shopping though. Why do you have to go?"

"Don't you wanna see my in a dress, Ash, "she smiled as she teased him. All night in her dreams she had forced herself it was just a prank, she wasn't about to change things now. Not after she had worked so hard, "that's it isn't it, fear of seeing me in a dress."

"Don't joke, I'm not in the mood," he said as he moved away from her closer to the door.

"Speak to Thierry if you're so worried," she whispered. She wouldn't give in, she wouldn't.

"No, I can deal with this myself."

"Don't let your pride get in the way Ash, you're not as bad as you think," she said watching him, maybe she shouldn't have said that last part. She looked into his eyes, saw the torn up feeling and the determination which shone through, "besides if I thought it was more than a prank, which it isn't, I would make you go to Thierry. I don't want you to get hurt in something you can't control."

"I won't let you go," he said quietly.

"I want to go Ash, you've never seen me dressed up so I want everything to be perfect, and for that to happen I have to find the right dress."

She moved up to him, hating to see him like this so upset and angry. Hated herself for what she had to do, hated herself even more for doing it. But it was only prank, nothing would happen and things would be okay in the end.

She pulled him away, whispered in his ear, "I love you Ash," then darted out the door.

She turned back once, looked at him standing in the doorway eyes hardened and heard his voice slicing through her mind.

If anything happens to you out there. I'll kill you-

His mind was determind, made up and with a tear in her eye Mary-Lynnette knew that if anything happened he wouldn't kill hr but save. And she knew that he knew, she knew that.

b Authors note: Okay Jocelyn Angel said she wanted to see Ash's rougher side, and that gave me an idea (an idea, no, which I'm not going to tell you). I know this is short and not much has happened, but I hope it'll keep you occupied until I get the next chapter up, which hopefully won't be long. I hope you like Ash being all protective, I know I do, and I hope this chapter had enough Ash being protective in it without being over the top.

Thanks everyone for the reviews. /b