All right, I gotta be honest with you guys – this chapter owns my soul. It was crazy fun to write, and it made me completely obsessed with these characters all over again. They're so cool. I just hope that you like it as much as I do.

And now, to acknowledge those that made this chapter possible. Reviews are vital to keeping me near the computer, and to all of you that do so, I can't thank you enough.

Laura: Your review was the first feedback I had on this chapter, and it did a lot to validate my writing – I was so nervous! I'm glad that you're enjoying the story

Lunatic: The dynamic between Ash and Mary-Lynnette is something that is continuing to evolve. As you'll see in this chapter, he's still the same wisecracking lamia that we know and love, but I think being around her makes him nervous since he has so much at stake. My feeling is that as they spend more time together and around others, they'll fall into a sort of "fighting without teeth" routine regarding one another. Whatever happens, I'm sure it'll be interesting to watch!

amber-rules: Yes, the trip will most definitely have some comical moments. Ever try to imagine a city-boy like Ash setting up a tent?

SpiritofEowyn: The trip won't just be Ash going out on missions, although given Mary-Lynnette's strong will and avid curiosity, I'm sure the topic will creep up on more than one occasion. And, let's just say, Ash has to obey if Thierry gives him a direct order ...

crystleflys: Your words are music to a writer's ears. The characters were very difficult to write for that meeting, and I'm so glad that you felt it was realistic and believable. That being said, I think you'll get a kick out of this next chapter

sweettooth: Well, you'll definitely get one of your wishes in this chapter! The other ones will have to wait a few, but it's definitely coming up. blushes I'm glad you like this story so much – it's gratifying to know that I'm not the only one having fun with this!

VenusDeOmnipotent: Nice, long, and sweet are definitely what I'm going for. I think Ash and Mary-Lynnette have a gorgeous love story, and I really love being able to add whatever I can to it.

Thank-you again to all of those who reviewed.

Okay, enough with the notes. Let's take a look at "the morning after."

For A Knight's Lady

By: EarthDragonette

Disclaimer: Ash is not my original character. Mary-Lynnette isn't my original character either. Neither are Thierry, or Hannah, or, well, anybody really. Except Reina, the blonde kid from the club, and the pup. Those I'm rather fond of – even if Reina DOES vex me so. Anyway, I'm not making any money off of this story.

Rating: PG-13

Mary-Lynnette rolled over in her bed, squinting at the bright light that cheerfully poured through her windows.

Ugh. I must've forgotten to shut the curtains last night, she thought, considering whether or not it would be prudent to shove her head under the pillow for another hour or so of sleep.

"Mary-LYNNETTE! Are you going to sleep all DAY!" Mark yelled from the hallway.

"Let me die in peace!" She called back, huddling under the blankets. Feeling safe and secure in her cave of linens, she racked her brain and tried to figure out why she was so tired.

Yesterday ... graduation ... party ... hill ... Venus ... Ash ... blanket ...

Ash?

Ash!

Jolting up from underneath the blankets, she dove for her alarm clock, perturbed to see that it was only a little after eleven.

It's not THAT late, she thought.

Falling back on top of the covers, she gave into a full body stretch, feeling rather content with herself.

This is wonderful, she thought. An entire summer ahead of me to do whatever I want. I can work on my observations and maybe put together a couple of reports for those scholarships I'm looking into. It also wouldn't hurt to have some data recorded if I want to start helping out with some extra research at the University labs...

And I can go on a vacation with Ash.

Feeling an overwhelmingly giddy feeling wash over her at the notion, she couldn't help but indulge herself in a couple of random daydreams about the trip. They would go to Las Vegas ... she would get a chance to meet his...

His what? Coworkers? Associates? Fellow-vampires? Witch-Friends?

Well, whoever it was, she'd get to know them. And in the evening, she and Ash could go and see one of the shows. Mary-Lynnette had never been to the famous city, and although she couldn't say that she was terribly interested in the gambling or the shopping, she'd always wanted to see some of the stage productions.

We could go camping, too, she mused, thinking of the Nevada desert. I bet if we got far enough away from the city, there would be some amazing viewing locations. The prospect of hiking and exploring some of the caves and rock formations with her soulmate by her side...

Not to mention, being able to sit by a campfire at night and...

How had Ash had put it?

Talk.

Chuckling to herself, she finally rolled out of bed, grabbing a hair tie and pulling her unruly morning locks into a ponytail. When she arrived in the kitchen, Mark was busy at the stove, involved in one of his latest projects: making the perfect omelet.

"How goes the frying of chicken gametes?"

Mark blanched, picking up the pan's handle and giving it a good shake as he prepared to flip over the vegetable-laden egg. "Do you always have to be so scientific?"

Mary-Lynnette gave him a pat him on the head on her way to the refrigerator to get some apricot juice. "Yes. It gives you different point of view of the world. I like to broaden your perspectives."

She could hear him mutter under his breath, "With three vampire blood-sisters, you'd think my perspectives were broad enough."

"One's concept of the universe can never be too broad as long as one can continue to foster rational opinions," she intoned, rummaging through the pantry to unearth a box of cereal.

Looking up from the pan, he warily peered at her. "What's with you? You're in an awfully cheerful mood."

Feeling a blush creep up into her face despite herself, she took an extra moment to search for a particular bowl before turning to face Mark and replying, "I have no idea what you're talking about. I'm just ... reveling in the freedom I have so recently been granted. I am no longer tied to adolescence and I have an entire summer ahead of me."

"And," Mark slyly added, giving her a knowing glance, "A certain blond-haired male is back in town."

Choking on her juice, Mary-Lynnette coughed for several moments before her lungs stopped complaining. "How did you know that?" she rasped, gasping for the clean, natural, non-liquid matter that was air.

Mark grinned as he added shredded cheese to his omelet, folding the circle in half to seal in the new addition. "Jade told me – he telepathically let them know that he was in town. They thought he'd be by to see them later on in the evening, but," there was that sly look again, "he didn't come home before they went to bed."

Adding milk to her cereal, Mary-Lynnette perched on a stool, leaning against a counter as she started to eat her breakfast. "That's really something. Kind of rude, don't you think? I would hope that if you ever came into a town I was living in, that you'd stop by before I went to bed for the evening."

Mark cackled, sliding the omelet on to a waiting plate. Pleased with his creation, he pulled up a stool next to his sister's. Before he took his first bite, though, he couldn't help but tease, "I think you'd forgive me if I'd spent the time in the company of my soulmate."

The blush reappearing on her cheeks, Mary-Lynnette ducked her head, mumbling, "We didn't do anything. He came by the hill and we talked for awhile."

Giving her a skeptical look, he cut up the rest of his omelet before saying, "Well, whatever it was you did, it took four and a half hours and the rest of us normal people went to bed."

"We had a lot to say to each other."

"I'm sure," he snickered, methodically inhaling his meal in a way that only seventeen-year-old boys could. He yelped when Mary-Lynnette slapped him on the back of his head. "What was that for?"

"Cut it out," she ordered, draining the dregs of milk from her bowl. "I don't need Dad or Claudine to hear."

Obviously offended, Mark grumbled, "As if I'd say something like that around them. They're out shopping for more furniture – Claudine wants to redo the living room again."

Mary-Lynnette rolled her eyes – this would be the second time in five years that her stepmother went on a decorating binge. "Why does she keep doing this? The couches look fine."

Mark shrugged, getting up to wash his dishes, "Who knows? Maybe she's just bored. She hasn't worked outside of the house in six years."

"Hmm," Mary-Lynnette replied, wondering how this latest spending craze was going to affect her father's ability to help with her college costs.

"They're going to sell the old stuff," Mark informed her, reaching for a dishtowel and accepting it when Mary-Lynnette passed it to him instead. "Thanks. Anyway, if they do that, then they shouldn't have to spend a lot on new things." He gave her a knowing look, "Dad's not going to mess up your college fund, sis."

Ducking her head guiltily, she couldn't help but ask, "Was I that obvious?"

Mark shook his head, "No, but it makes sense to wonder where the money's going to come from, if not Dad's pocket. So I asked Dad about it to make sure your cash is safe." He grinned at her, "You're so close to leaving for good, I can't help but make sure the process is secure."

Mary-Lynnette chuckled and resisted the urge to smack him again. "But I thought you liked excitement. If I leave, who'll provide all of the intrigue?"

Giving her a slightly superior look, Mark retorted, "I'll just make up my own intrigue."

Jade's really changed him, Mary-Lynnette suddenly realized, the observation doing as much to make her weepy as it did to make her proud. Mark never would've teased me like this a year ago – he would've just insulted me, left, and apologized later on. He's so confident now, too. He's growing up so much...

"What are you thinking about?" he asked suspiciously, narrowing his eyes at her. "That's the look you get when you're about to say or do something really weird. Stop it."

Coughing to clear her eyes, Mary-Lynnette picked up some of the dried dishes and moved to put them away, "Nothing, just being ... really weird." She smiled at him, "So ... how are things with Jade?"

"Um, fine." Now it was his turn to blush. "She wants me to go with her sisters on their vacation to California next month."

"You're going to California?" she asked, arching her eyebrow in surprise.

"Well, not officially," Mark answered, tossing the dishtowel to the side and hopping up to sit on one of the counters. "I haven't exactly talked to Claudine and Dad about it yet. I'd like to go, though. We went a long time ago with Mom and Dad and I remember it being a lot of fun."

Mary-Lynnette shook her head, "Do me a favor and wait to ask? It might be better for your case if you can reference me as an example."

"What are you talking about?"

Mary-Lynnette hesitated for a fraction of a second before explaining, "Ash and I are going on a road trip, too."

Amusement sparkling in his eyes, Mark leapt off of the counter and gave his sister a high-five. "All right! Go Mary-Lynnette! Makin' a move!"

Flustered by his enthusiasm, Mary-Lynnette waved her hands frantically, "Hush! For God sake, Mark, it's not that big of a deal!"

Giving her an owlish look, he sputtered, "You're joking, right? My anal retentive, brainy, overly academic and paranoid sister is going on a road trip with a vam—"

"With whom?" Mary-Lynnette's father's voice drawled, registering only a second before he walked into the kitchen.

Oh, great. With all the racket Mark was making, it's no wonder we didn't hear them come in.

Giving his sister a guilty look, Mark gave her a little wave before making a mad dash for the back door, nearly colliding with Claudine as she was making her way in. "Mark? What's the rush?" she asked, her accent making her sound even more confused.

You little traitor, she thought murderously, already beginning to plan the number of slimy, LIVING things that her brother would find in his bed that evening.

The sound of throat clearing brought her back to the present, and Mary-Lynnette looked up to see her father and stepmother looking at her with avid curiosity.

Leaning against the counter, her father prompted, "So who are you going on a road trip with?"

Ash woke up feeling groggier and more un-awake than he'd felt in a long time. Normally, he would regain consciousness without opening his eyes and cast out his senses to see if there was danger nearby. It was something that he'd learned during his Circle Daybreak training, and it was a skill he'd needed to cultivate given his tendency to wake up uncoordinated and in a foul mood.

Now, however, given that he was on a vacation of sorts, he was pretty sure he could abandon his security measures and just wake up like a normal person. Opening his eyes and glancing around the room, he nearly had a heart attack.

"For the love of—! What are you doing!" He snapped, dropping his head back on the pillow. His words were met with silence and he took a minute to rub his face as he recovered from the shock of seeing all three of his sisters sitting on the floor, staring at him.

"So the comatose beast awakens," Kestrel observed, gracefully standing up and folding her arms across her chest. "It's after noon."

Ash sighed and sat up, reaching over and grabbing a t-shirt to pull on. "Well, I was tired. I did drive for almost fourteen hours yesterday."

"You didn't come and see us last night," Jade stated, rising as gracefully as Kestrel had, the only difference being the cat that she held in her arms.

Scowling at the indirect interrogation, Ash stood up and made for the door, glancing at his older sister in passing. "Well?" he prompted Rowan, "Aren't you going to add something, too?"

Still sitting cross-legged on the floor, Rowan blinked her calm, brown eyes at him and softly smiled. "How's Mary-Lynnette?"

Letting out a groan of frustration, Ash stomped out the doorway and made for the bathroom, slamming the door once he was inside.

Giving off a low chuckle, Kestrel made her way out the door as well. "Just as we thought."

Thundering down into the kitchen a little while later, Ash was pleased to see that his sisters had decided to keep it stocked with various human food products. Although things like milk and doughnuts didn't affect him one way or another, he still liked to make them part of his daily diet.

Mark said Mary-Lynnette slept late, too, Jade projected to him from the next room as he went to help himself to the pastries.

Wonderful, Jade. Call the press: the astronomy nerd stayed up late last night. Feeling the need to slam doors again, he made do with the kitchen cupboards, finally finding a usable glass for the milk.

"Moonrise was at eleven-thirty," Kestrel remarked, coming to stand in the doorway. "Not much for the astronomy nerds to see after the sky filled with light."

Sighing heavily, Ash took his tasty, if useless, breakfast and scooted past Kestrel to sit in one of the heavy, wooden chairs that filled his late Aunt's living room.

Closing the book she had been reading, Rowan set it aside to gaze steadily at her brother. "You know we're just teasing you, Ash. I think it's wonderful that you went to see her last night."

Working his mouth around a chocolate covered, sprinkled doughnut, Ash telepathically responded, Fine, it's wonderful. We all agree. Can we stop talking about it now?

Ignoring him, Kestrel came to perch on Rowan's chair, unable to resist adding: "But four and a half hours? I mean, I would think you'd give her time to get used to you being back before keeping her up so late." Giving him an exaggerated wink she reminded him, "Mary-Lynnette doesn't have the same stamina that you do."

Before Ash could respond, Jade innocently interjected, "But Mark stays up really late with me, and he's human. Maybe it runs in their family?"

A long silence met Jade's comment as each of her sisters did their best to stifle laughter. Seizing upon the opportunity, Ash grit out between clenched teeth, "If I acknowledge that yes, I did to go see Mary-Lynnette last night, and that all we did was talk, can the three of you find it somewhere in your vast number of natural and supernatural abilities to shut up about it?"

Picking up Tiggy as the housecat wandered by the sofa, Jade glanced at Ash, her green eyes looking serene. "I don't see what the big deal is. They're soulmates, they're supposed to see each other."

Throwing his head against the back of his chair, he tossed the thought out like a white flag: I guess not.

Seeing his distress and feeling sorry for him, Rowan waved her hand, "All right, all right. We'll stop. We're just really happy that the two of you worked things out."

Opening one eye and narrowing it at her, Ash guardedly asked, "And how do you figure things 'worked out' so well?"

Kestrel smirked and answered, "One, because you're still here. Two, because you didn't go out and destroy anything last night. And three, because Mark was by half an hour ago and mentioned something about a road trip that you and Mary-Lynnette are going to take." Having tacked each of these off on three fingers, she crossed her arms and added: "We would think the two of you have progressed beyond just kicking each other if you're going to commit to hours of car travel."

"Cars aren't good places to have fights," Jade supplied, turning Tiggy upside-down so she could scratch his belly.

Putting his empty glass and plate on the floor beside the chair, Ash carefully chose the words to his reply, "Okay, since none of you are going to leave me alone until you hear what you want, I'll level with you." Looking up at each of his sisters, he hoped that his half-truths would be convincing enough for them. "She and I haven't had a lot of time together, so we figured we'd take a small trip to just talk and get to know one another a little better. I have some friends in Las Vegas, so we'll go there to crash and maybe check out the desert."

After a brief pause wherein Ash prayed that his answer had finally settled the matter, his sisters all began talking at once:

"You have friends in Vegas?" Kestrel asked, her amber eyes wide with surprise.

"She'll like seeing the stars from Nevada," Jade observed, her tickling finally provoking Tiggy into grabbing a hold of her hand with his claws.

"Was this your idea?" Rowan questioned, sitting forward in her chair and looking intently at him.

Finally having had enough with the third degree, he scooped up his dishes and made for the kitchen, leaving his sisters behind him. Feeling the need to stay out of the living room for as long as possible, he quickly located the soap and started to wash the cup and plate. After a few seconds, he heard Rowan's soft step glide into the room.

"We're not trying to make you mad, Ash," she said, reaching out to lay a comforting hand on his shoulder. "It's just very new to us."

"What is?" he demanded, turning his prism-like eyes on to her. "You guys have known about us for a year. You're acting like this is some kind of soap opera or something."

Turning her head to the side slightly, Rowan observed that Ash was probably just as uncertain about the relationship as Mary-Lynnette had been when the sisters had spoken with her the day before. "We've known that the two of you were soulmates, yes," she agreed. "But none of us were sure how things would play out – if you would actually come back for her." Her voice grew quiet as she revealed, "The old Ash wouldn't have."

Having finished with his dishes, Ash braced himself against the counter, his head hanging down. After a moment he asked, "Was the 'old Ash' really that bad of a guy?"

Blinking in surprise at the change in tone, Rowan could only shake her head and assure him, "No, of course not. I mean," Here she knew she had to be careful – this was something her brother was obviously sensitive about. "You did a lot of manipulative things to people, and you didn't seem to care ... but I don't think you were ever a bad person. Just confused. Scared." Seeing his mouth set in a tight line, she elaborated: "We didn't have a chance to get to know the old Ash very well – you didn't exactly stop by to visit with us. But, we're getting to know you now. Maybe there are more similarities between the way you were and the way you've become. It's just hard for us to tell."

After a few seconds, Ash straightened up and remarked: "Well, I have to visit you now. You couldn't pay anybody else from the family to come out here, and it's just as well that I be the one to keep an eye on things." He turned to head back upstairs, but before he got through the doorway, he looked back at Rowan and gave her a small smile.

Thanks.

Staring at the doorway after he left, Rowan took a minute to process the conversation before thinking to herself, You were never a bad person Ash, but you would never have opened up to me like that before. I'm so happy that you found Mary-Lynnette.

"But ... I thought you hated Ash? He is the same one you met last year, right? Mrs. Burdock's nephew?" Claudine asked, the bafflement very apparent in her voice. Then she looked at Mary-Lynnette more intently, "Or was I right? Was that all fighting like the little boy pushing the girl down in the sandbox?"

Mary-Lynnette shut her eyes, feeling the beginnings of a headache coming on. That hadn't been the first time Claudine had brought up that particular point during their very long conversation, and Mary-Lynnette was running out of ways to justify her change of heart without making too much of said change.

I could just tell her the truth, she flippantly thought. Claudine, Dad, my feelings for Ash took a 180 because we discovered that our souls our bonded throughout eternity. I'm the only one for him and he's the only one for me. In light of meeting my destiny, despite any initial reservations, I decided that I kinda liked the guy.

Sighing wistfully at the truth that could never be told, she settled for: "Like I said before, he came by the hill last night and we had a long conversation. I like him – he's interesting." Still seeing the doubt in her father and stepmother's eyes, she added, "And, well, we sort of resolved things between us last year."

Her father shook his head, still clearly confused. "Mary-Lynnette, you're an adult now, so you're certainly able to take this trip with or without our permission. We're just a little puzzled, that's all. We didn't realize you knew him all that well."

Deciding to play another card up her sleeve, Mary-Lynnette responded, "I know it sounds odd. And trust me, if you'd told me a year ago that I'd be going on a road trip with Ash Redfern, I would never have believed you. But, well, he knows about the research that I want to do this summer and so he offered to take me to Nevada."

Looking up at her father with earnest eyes, she continued: "Do you know what amazing things I could see this time of year? Although it doesn't show up very often, the June Bootids could possibly appear again." Mary-Lynnette conveniently "forgot" here that the last actual sighting of the Bootids was back in 1927 towards the end of June. "And that's just the exceptional stuff. There's no telling how clear the galaxies and –"

"Okay Mary-Lynnette, you've made your point," her father said, cutting her off before she could get worked up into a tangent.

Thank God, she thought. I was going to have to start making stuff up.

Sighing, he reached out to rub her cheek and tuck her hair behind her right ear. "Just give your old man some credit; I have my fatherly duties."

Rolling her eyes, she stood up and gave him a quick hug. On impulse, she gave one to Claudine, too. "I appreciate it. Sort of. Just ... trust me on this one." Thankful that the inquiry was over, she dashed out of the room as quickly as she could. As she made her way up the stairs, though, she found that she was not quite free of her father's parental influence.

"Of course you know," he called up to her, "That he needs to come over for dinner before I'll physically let him take you anywhere. Tonight would be fine, if you're free."

Closing her eyes in defeat, Mary-Lynnette couldn't help but try to picture her father fighting Ash to defend her honor. Needless to say, it was a pretty grim image.

I'd tell him that he would have better luck attacking Ash with a pencil than a gun, but I don't think he'd understand, she thought, shaking her head as she made her way to the shower.

Yes, my friends, Ash is coming to dinner. I decided that parental involvement in Nightworld soulmate couples was something barely present in the original books and so desperately needed to be integrated into this fanfiction. I have no idea what's going to take place, but I'm sure it'll be fairly amusing. Since I've been on a mad writing craze, you can expect the fourth chapter within a week.

In the meantime, if you're reading this, and I get the feeling a respectable number of you are, then I beg you to take the time to review – even if it's just to say something short and sweet like, "Good job!" Fanfiction review alerts in my inbox are vital to putting me in my happy place and keeping the writing flowing.

Until next time!