The sky was still dark when Pat awoke. The thunder rattles the windows and the lightning chased the shadows away for just a blink of the eye. She looked around, slightly surprised that she slept so well. Darren's arms were still around her, holding her fast in place, like she even wanted to leave his side. She turned towards him and ran her finger across his forehead, brushing a group of hair out of his face. She vividly remembered what happened after the nightmare. A lump formed in her throat and she swallowed hard, trying to ignore the image in her mind. The warmth radiated off of Darren's sleeping body. Pat smiled, blushing slightly, and snuggled in with him. She felt his muscles tighten and his cheeks pulled up in the sly grin. He kept his eyes closed but kissed her forehead (mostly got a mouthful of hair) and whispered incoherently. She smiled gently and ran a few fingers down his neck. The skin below her fingers was hot to the touch and she felt him jump a little. "Those are some frosty hands, woman." He whispered in her ear, making small waves of desire run down her back.

"It's 2 in the afternoon." She informed him, refusing to let the light from the lightning, into her eyes. He groaned in response, then pulled himself up slowly.

"Imma go make brefunch." He managed to mumble.

"Nice word." She laughed at him brightly.

"Tanks." He smirked. "Just go take your shower then come eat, I got dibs on the heated water next." He mumbled, slightly more awake than before. She smiled at his back as he made his way to the hall and disappeared down the stairs.

The water rushed out of the shower head onto an empty tub making the clang echo throughout the bathroom. Patricia sat on the top of the toilet, with her eyes closed. She rolled her neck slowly, then eased up and climbed behind the curtain, into the porcelain tub. The water poured over her body creating tiny rivers, and slowly easing her muscles. She stood there for a good 20 minuets, rubbing her neck, back, and shoulders as well as she could. After a heavy sigh she arched her back slightly, soaking her hair. She reached forward and grabbed the strawberry shampoo and lathered up her hair.

Two quick rinses later, she pulled out another bottle, this time it was body wash. She pushed the one part of the top down and took her fill of the flower and spice scent inside. She grabbed the purple poofy thingie and poured the blue body wash and lathered it up. Her hand slid down her back, legs, and front, making sure to soak it all up. Sure she was hungry, but food could come later. She sighed heavily and rinsed herself off, then turned to the faucet and turned the water off. Yawning, she reached out and grabbed a towel, wrapped it around her head, then grabbed another to dry herself off with. The air outside the bathroom was a bit nippy, or so her nose decided. She shivered but braved it and snuck to her room.

Darren looked up from a Styrofoam carton, and smiled. "Man you gotta be the hottest wet rat I've ever seen." Pat playfully hit him upside the head.

"Oh hush you... parson who sucks at cooking." She motioned at the "Panda Express" bags on the table, laughing quietly.

"Hey, be nice to me if you want your mandarin chicken." She narrowed her eyes and growled at him, then laughed.

"Lover you Darren." Then she blew a fake kiss, grabbing the bag out of his hands. "Your shower's waiting." He grinned madly.

"No peeking, Patricia." He laughed and dodged an empty coke bottle she threw at him. She then turned to her lunch and ate happily.

Pat had just thrown away the empty bowl of her lunch when the lightning blew out the power. She jumped then calmed herself as much as possible and slowly reached around, catching the wall. Her hands and feet guided her safely up the stairs and to the bathroom, only letting her trip twice. She knocked on the still closed door, calling out the man's name. No answer replied so she turned the knob. Thunk "OW!"

"Duuuude I'm sooo sorry." She replied, cracking up.

"That was so not cool."

"Darren it's not like I can see."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah." He sighed. Pat heard the slide of cloth. She reached her hand out and felt him grasp it. "You're shaking, what's wrong?" He pulled her slowly into his lap. She sighed heavily.

"I don't like it when it's pitch black." He laughed gently and she slapped him.

"Owwww dang woman you got some sting to those hands."

"Oh shut up you dork." She laughed back at him. Just then, the miracle of General Electric kicked in and the lights fizzed on.

Patricia stepped back, running into the wooden toilet paper storage compartment, causing it to clatter to the floor. Her eyes were wide and a hand covered her mouth. She stood there frozen, her heel scrapped by the turned over compartment and her side agenst the wall. Darren looked to the floor, his face covered by his black hair. His arms were locked, his hands gripping the toilet hard. They stood there, in complete silence, for what seemed like an eternity. Darren finally walked to the door, yanked it open, and disappeared. Pat sank to the floor in complete shock. In her mind was the image she just saw, burned like a searing scar. The man was sitting on the lid of the toilet. His dark blue track pants barely defining his muscular legs. His torso and chest were glistening from his shower, his black hair fell over sky blue eyes, which were widened. There, reaching behind his moist shoulders......... were black wings. They reached a foot above his head, softly curved to the side of his arms, and the bottom tips kissed the floor. Pat shook her head wildly, trying to convince herself she was hallucinating.

Darren kneeled beside his fallen bike, the rain pouring over his long sleeve shirt. He mumbled curses and pulled out the short poncho from under the seat. "Come on Tieranna, we gotta get out of here before Pat gets up. She's seen me and reacted badly. Come on baby work for me." He had thought about getting his leather jacket from the girl earlier but he couldn't find it. Rather than face her, he decided to just forget about it. "Damnit WORK!"

"I don't think she wants to listen." A hoarse voice stated behind him, causing him to jump and his bike to fall back to its kick stand. Darren glanced to the side and saw Pat standing there out of the corner of his eye.

"Don't worry, I'm getting out of your way."

"Do whatever you want, but I don't think 'your baby' wants to move."

"I'm not doing this for me." His words hit Pat like a slap.

"Th.... then... why..?"

"I'm doing it for you. You don't want a freak like me livin with you." She tried not to cry, after all, it would just lower her to the weak status she always hated. Her efforts were fruitless. The lump in her throat was back, but for a different reason. She fell to her knees and threw her arms around his back, crying hard agenst his back. His muscles stiffened and, after a few minuets, he turned and pulled her to him, clutching her tightly. A half hour later, he was carrying her back into the house.

The two sat on the couch in the living room, sipping the hot cocoa Darren mixed. The strong scent of french vanilla filled the whole house. Pat closed her eyes, and gulped down half of the cooled liquid then turned to him. "So you were the dark shape I saw flying above me that made me fall?"

"Yeah. So you see why I had to patch you up. It was all my fault." Pat laughed at him. "What? It WAS my fault."

"...And the rain's, and the lightning's, not to mention the friendly rock." She sipped her cup, still smiling. Darren chuckled.

"Yeah I suppose they have to take the blame too."

"Alrighty, so why did you stay with me when you could have taken your bike and flown home?"

"Tieranna doesn't like flying."

"Ohh come on, she's not a living being so you can't use that excuse."

"Alright, you really want to know?" Pat nodded her head. "Well, I knew you were alone and... well..."

"Oh out with it."

"You like torturing me doncha?" He looked shocked. "YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I'M GONNA SAY!!!! EVIL!!!!" Pat laughed so hard she spewed her hot cocoa back into her cup. She dabbed at her tears.

"Oh just say it, you'll feel better."

"Wench" he muttered under his breath, blushing madly. "OK I LIKE YOU! HAPPY?!?!?!?" Pat laughed more and nodded her head.

"ABSOTIVALUTELY!!" She answered, grinning smugly. "Ain't I evil?" She stuck her tongue out at him again and he pretended to bite her. "I wouldn't do that if I were you, I bite back." She stated. He looked into her eyes and grinned.

"Promise o' evil one?" They both cracked up as Pat nodded. He moved in and bit her shoulder, she grinned and bit his neck, then winked. They laughed again and Darren reached for the box of tissues, then dabbed at her eyes, and his.

Pat collapsed and let her head fall into his lap. He took a deep breath and stroked her hair. "I'm glad you accepted me." She opened her greenish eyes and looked into his, feeling a twinge of randomosity. She reached her hand and gently brushed his hair out of his face. Her finger traced the side of his face, along his cheek bone, across his lips then along his jaw.

"I'm glad you stayed." She smiled as he took her hand and kissed it. A small shiver ran up her spine and a light fear took her. She got up and walked to the front door, then peered out. "Still pouring." Muttering, more to herself than him, she turned, only to bump into him. His eyes locked onto hers. The lids started to close as his hand held the side of her face. She braced herself only to hear the word "no" escape his lips. Slowly she opened her eyes. He looked at her with need but slightly tense. Just as she started to move away, his mouth overtook hers, softly at first, then more demanding. Her arms slid around his neck as his hands moved to the small of her back, pulling and holding her tightly agenst him. They kissed till she was drained, and collapsed agenst him, breathing heavier than before. He held onto her as if scared to let go. The storm seemed louder than before and the thunder shook the house again. The power shut off once more, but they didn't seem to notice. All they could feel was their breathing, hard and rhythmic.