The next few days were nothing but bliss for us at the villa. Lazy morning and long afternoons hiding away from the sun when it as too hot, diving into the crisp waters of the ocean, and finding a small reflection of peace in the chaotic world we lived in.

The first morning at the villa was spent harvesting the olives and lemons from the grove and orchard in front of the villa. Joe and I went on our own, talking about memories and adventures we went on that were memorable and also a fluke. It was already warm when we were halfway down, filling up the old pick up truck that Joe and Nicky had stood away in the garage with baskets upon baskets of the food. By the time we were done and heading back to the house, we have more olives and lemons that we bargain for, but it made Nicky ecstatic to use them in his recipes.

The rest of the time was for our leisure. Every other night we would go out to a restaurant, helping Oliver dive into more French food, much to my pleasure. Oliver enjoyed it though, and I could tell he was very slowly coming into normalcy with us as a group. It was still baby steps though, those first few days of rest before we were training him were very much needed.m

Nile would go running in the mornings, a Marine habit that she never got rid of, and by the time I was finishing my breakfast she would come in sweaty and exhausted, but glad she ran. After the third morning, Oliver joined in with the run since he too was military trained and had to run a bit in his time in the British Air Force. I could tell it was a bit of a relief for him to go running and not be timed for it or have to worry about what was on the end of the road.

Andy liked her solo time, she was always a creature of habit when it came to being alone. She would work on the handle grip on her awe, brush up on the ancient Greek texts that were hidden in the library thanks to Nicky and Joe, or just sit out near the water deep in her thoughts. We wished we knew what she was thinking about it, but we never asked. We wanted to give her that kind of privacy, but I also had a hankering that she was thinking of how to train Oliver properly.

Since it was their home, Nicky and Joe would move about to and fro in the house. When he wasn't sketching or painting, Joe would find something to fix in the house, whether it was a leaky pipe in the bathroom or a broken window sill, and he would occupy most of his day getting the small repairs done and over with. It soothed him, having him use his hands and have his mind occupied. Whereas Nicky, who was more prone to reading by himself, would be tucked in one of the larger chairs in the living room, feet tucked underneath him as he read intensely to let the hours slip by.

As for me, I found myself going towards the ocean and jumping into the waves. Every day right after breakfast, I would go down with a towel in hand along with a spare one-piece suit that I bought in town after our first night at the villa, jumping into the water and swimming for a bit before resting out on the sand. I couldn't help it, the blue waters and the rolling waves reminded me of Nassau and how they were powerful and yet peaceful at the same time. I never thought of the notion of having a previous life, but if I did, I might have been some kind of sea creature or fish. The ocean, even the sound of the ocean, was something that calmed by heart.

Joe never mentioned to Nicky, or anyone else in the group, about my panic attack in the middle of the first night there. I was glad he kept his word, but I could see every once in a while he would give me some kind of look, asking me silently if I was okay. I would smile back, every time, because he and I both knew deep down that I could make it after all. I had my own time to tell the rest of them, but it wasn't that time just yet. I wondered when that time was going to come, maybe while we were at the villas or something later down the road. But until then, Joe and I held our silent agreement together.

Once late morning I was reading one of the local papers at the dining table, Oliver next to me as he was drinking his coffee black as Joe was cleaning up the breakfast mess at the kitchen, turning on the radio to come classical music. He turned up the volume a bit as he then cleared his throat to get my attention.

"What song is this, Eleanor?" Joe asked, having me turn my head to listen to the song as Oliver looked a bit confused. Joe just crossed his arms and leaned against the counter, watching me with a smirk on his face.

"She knows classical music?" He asked Joe in curiosity as I leaned back my chair, trying to pin-point the right title with the instruments and the notes being played.

"She knows it and has listened to it almost religiously in the past," Joe explained as he walked over and sat down on my other side at the table, "It's a game I like to play with her, since she has listened to hundreds, if not thousands, of pieces in her life. I have yet to stump her in the past 300 years. In fact," He got up from the chair, reached into the back pocket of his jeans, and was pulling out a small wad of cash that was folded in the middle. Placing it in the middle of the table, Joe smirked at me and was having me chuckle at him.

"300 says you won't get it," He challenged, sitting back in his chair and folding his hands behind his head as if he already won. I've played this game with him, and the others, for quite some time. The others gave up after I was naming pieces like it was nothing, but Joe was persistent and kept playing this game with me.

Oliver looked over at me with his eyes, clearly wanting to hear my answer as well. I then gave Joe a wide grin, seeing him cock his head at me as I folded my hands in front of me like I was about to show all of my cards in a game of poker.

"String Quintet in C Major…." I trailed off, seeing Joe tilted his head at me now, even leaning in slightly as if I was truly stumped, but I chuckled, "G. 324 Op. 30. by Boccherini."

"Damnit!" Joe said in a slight grimace as I chuckled, reaching over to my rewards and placing it in my jeans pocket as Oliver looked at me in amazement. I just shrugged at Oliver as I threw up my hands and pointed a finger at Joe.

"It's too easy, Joe," I said to him with a roll of my eyes, "One of these days you'll gonna have to find something truly hard for me or else you might as well give up,"

"I'll never give up," Joe said in a chuckle, to which Oliver was now looking at me and pointing at the radio, still playing the music, but his eyes were on me.

"You know that song?" he asked, having me give him a soft smile.

"I've played it, a mere 3 dozen times," I explained, seeing him drop his hand to the table surface as I went on, "In fact, it was one of the audition pieces you had to play to get into the orchestra at both Rome and Berlin,"

"What do you play?" he asked, moving his chair over to face me a bit more.

"Cello," I answered, "Well that and I can barely play the violin to begin with. But I prefer cello,"

"Let me guess, for a hundred years or so," Oliver said as a joke, but I shook my head.

"Not really," I answered back calmly, though now he was giving me a confusing look, "I only started playing back in the 1950s."

"Huh." He said, thinking to himself before he raised his eyebrow at me, "If you don't mind me asking, why'd you wait until then to play?"

I locked my eyes over to Joe, seeing him shift a bit in his seat and give me an intense stare. He and I both knew it was after I left the team, and I have yet to tell Oliver that part of my story. I was afraid to, that or it wasn't the right time. But I wasn't going to tell him there at the dining room table.

Thankfully, the front door swung open and we all looked. We could hear some kind fo commotion out at the front door, Joe getting up from the table and walking over, clearly confused.

"What's going on—" he said but was silent immediately. I wanted to go over too, but Oliver and I sat at the table in confusion as we heard a voice finally.

"Is Eleanor in the living room?" It was Nile, and she sounded like she was carrying something rather large and was making her sound like she was huffing and puffing.

"I'm at the dining table," I called back out, both Oliver and I were looking at each other in confusion.

"Perfect! You need you close your eyes," She said from out of my view, I was now thoroughly confused.

"Why?" I asked.

"Don't ask questions, just do it," She replied shortly, in which I still wasn't convinced.

"I don't understand—"

"Christ Almighty, close your goddamn eyes before I make Andy do it!"

I was shocked by Nile's outburst, but I was sighed knowing that I wasn't going to win with this battle. So I finally closed my eyes, not saying a word now as I heard some mumblings and moving of feet. I had to grin because it sounded like they were childcare trying to hide a present from me. But then again, I was just glad of the light mood. We all needed a light mood in those days there at the villa, and once the sounds were coming a bit closer, I shifted a bit in my seat.

"Not yet!" Nile said in excitement, having me chuckle as I shook my head.

"What is going on?" I asked to ask, not sounding mean but amused. Finally, the sounds and noises all came to a stop and I finally heard someone hush another person. This was getting to be a bit ridiculous as Nile cleared her throat.

"Okay," She said, almost trying to hide her squeal, "Open your eyes."

Once my eyes opened, it took me a moment to figure out what was going on. All of the group were watching me, almost in a half-circle, as Nile was holding in front of her a case that was shared precisely like an instrument. It took a split second, then my face lit up and a look of pure shock was on my face.

I knew what this was.

"You got me a cello?" I asked in a light shocked tone, looking straight at Nile as she was on the verge of squealing. Her face was so bright and her smile was beyond wide. She nodded her head vigorously, Andy who was next to her wanted to roll her eyes as both Joe and Nicky were merely grinning with pride.

"I couldn't help it! We were out and getting stuff when there was this music store, and I found this there," She explained, pointing to the cello case, "I asked the owner and he said that it was old and needed some work and maybe it'll take a while but—"

"Easy, Nile," Andy said as she placed a hand on her shoulder to stop her for rambling. But she still smiled none the less. I looked from Nile over to Andy now as Andy stared at me with her light eyes, "We figured we wanted to hear you play around here to give some uplift and some good music,"

I was at a loss of words, since it felt like this was my birthday. Clearly, it wasn't, not until June, which of course was not too far away at this point. But this was different, and I felt a huge wave of emotion about to come through me as the others were simply just watching me react to this. I didn't want to cry since it made me feel silly, but I didn't want to be stone face since Nile was watching me for a reaction. But I finally looked at her straight in the eyes, seeing how she was watching me with anticipation.

"Thank you, Nile," I thanked her, feeling it all in my heart as she was now beaming like the sun. I stood up from my chair, walking over a bit and carefully grabbing the case from Nile, feeling the weight of the handle within my fingers and palm as I placed it eery gently on the dining room table. The others were all flooding around the table, Oliver included, and I was unbuckling the sides carefully. I could hear Nicky praising Nile when I opened the top, moving it carefully as I peered down at the cello itself.

It was an old cello for certain, but I saw the character in it. The color of the wood was gorgeous, a few posts that weren't polished or glistening against the light of the room but it was still there. The strings on the cello itself looked own, beyond worn as the were still arched, and the bow that as latched to the inside of the top also looked like it needed repair. But in the end, it made me grin as I placed my fingers on the surface of the cello.

"As I said, it does need a lot of work," Nile said, almost in a grimace as I looked from the cello over to her, seeing a small look of grim on her face. Maybe she was reacting to how I was reacting to the condition of the cello, and it was hurting her inwardly as I gave her a small grin.

"It's wonderful," I said to her, seeing her now look at me almost in shock.

"It is?" She asked, confused as I nodded my head, looking back at the cello on the table in its case.

"It's in good condition for its' age," I said to her, seeing her briefly peer over to see what I was seeing, "It's a D'Luca, such a great brand that has been around for some time, and the willow on the backside is beautiful. The strings are too thin, I can tell they're worn down so much by playing, but that's an easy fix," I took the cello out very carefully by the neck, feeling the lightness and weight of the cello as I then tilted it and looked at it up and down.

"And the bow," I felt like I was mostly talking to myself as I was looking at the bow that was still against the case, taking it out and looking at the horsehair on the string, "The horsehair is a bit brittle. But that's another good fix that I could do with some new hair and some wax too,"

"You're gonna fix it?" Oliver asked, not that be didn't believe me but he was more intrigued by it. I nodded as I placed the bow back in the case and grinned.

"It'll take a few hours, some elbow grease, but I can definitely do it," I answered, "I just need to go to the music store and get the right strings, some tape, and maybe some wax for the string. But, all in all, it'll be exciting for being some life back into this," I finally looked over at Nile, seeing that there was a massive look of relief on her face from me being happy with the present.

Nicky squeezed her shoulder for some reassurance and calmness as I can tell she was just glad I liked it. I finally walked over and gave her a massive hug, feeling her hug me back. It was such a simple gesture, but it felt like she knew I was having some struggles within me and this would bring it back to life.

"Thank you, Nile," I said against her ear, pulling away and framing her face gently in my hands, "I'll play for you as soon as its done,"

"How about a concert?" Joe asked, trying to sound light as I grinned.

"Of course," I replied, moving away from Nile and looking back at the cello, "Can I borrow the truck to go into town and get the supplies? I want to get started right away,"

"You don't have to ask," Nicky answered as he then reached into his pocket and took out the truck keys to hand to me.

"Can I come along?" Oliver asked with a sense of hope was in his voice. All of the group was watching him as he was looking at me in interest. I was a bit floored in how genuine he sounded, almost excited. But it was the others and their reaction that got me a bit shocked. They were watching this small interaction, all of them seemed both shocked and amused. Nile was trying hard not to smile, hiding her mouth in her hand, Andy was just smirking from behind Nile and was not afraid to show it. Both Joe and Nicky were a bit shocked, though Joe was grinning and Nicky was a bit floored. I wanted to mentally tell them to back off and lay low since it clearly was seen that they all were making assumptions about Oliver and me.

"I think that would be lovely," I replied to him, though I gave the group next to them a quick glare. Oliver didn't see it, which I was grateful for, but they saw it and I could tell they got the message. Joe chuckled as Nile hid her smile even more, "In fact, do you want to go now before it gets busy down there.?"

"Sure," Oliver, though he was already picking on the tension and awkward moment in the room. We both started to walk over to the front door, though I was letting him go first to the truck. As he was walking away, out of earshot, I whirled around and glared at the group. All four of them were huddled together and watching us like hawks.

"Whatever you all are thinking," I warned them all in a low tone, seeing them all watch me as I tilted my head in a warning, "Don't even think about it."

"I have no idea what you mean," Andy said nonchalantly, keeping her stone face. I felt like I was already being part of some kind of joke that was no necessary. I knew the inner workings and jokes of Joe and Andy, Nick not too much since he was more sincere, but I knew. The glances to one another when others weren't looking, silently conversations with the eyes, I caught them fair and square.

"Voglio dire che!" I said in a lower tone, and now the mood shifted from the playfulness right into seriousness. No one said anything, and I saw the teasing that most of them harbor go fully out the window within a split second. Nile was throwing up her hands and no longer laughing, almost spooked from my outburst.

"I have no idea what you said, but I think I go it and I'll shut up," Nile said with a serious look now. I glared at both Nicky and Joe, both of them were saying nothing but I knew they were thinking about it. Joe only smiled, showing that he meant well, and Nicky looked a bit confused by it. Joe even nudged Nicky to show him all was well. I sighed, turning on my heel and walking out to the truck.

"Santo cielo," I said as I threw up my hands.

After Oliver and I made a run to the music store, I spent the rest of the day fixing the cello, hunched over the instrument that was laid out on a coffee table in the sitting room, and going at my own pace. I had the windows wide open to let the sea breeze come through as I was re-stringing the cello one string at a time. It was keeping my thoughts in one place and with one action in mind.

I was still peeved with the others in how they were almost teasing me about my interaction with Oliver, or how he was interacting with me mostly. I didn't know why it both bothered me or even hit a nerve within me, but I knew too that it was partially me wanting to keep a barrier up with him. I had to because it was an inward battle with all that I was feeling in those dreams before he even died. Those dreams moved me in a way that scared me, and I knew I was afraid. But to act out on it, I couldn't do it.

There was a knock at the door, though I was still working as a head popped in. It was Andy, and for a split second I wanted to glare at her, but I decided not to as I was going from my cello over to the bow with a new set of horsehair to get ready.

"You were missing at lunch, so Nicky made you a sandwich." She said as she walked in with what looked like a BLT sandwich on a small plate and a smaller bowl of Kalamata Olives on the side. She carefully placed it on the end table next to me as I was still working. I could tell she was trying to find the right words to tell me, but it was never her strength when it came to this department.

"I'm guessing you're mad at us," Andy went on, sounding a bit uncomfortable now as I was aligning the horsehair in a precise manner.

"Mad? No," I said in a huff, "Agitated…if you want to call it that, then sure,"

"We were coming from a good place," Andy tried to reason, already sensing that she was about to be chewed out by me.

"I know you guys were," I said, resting my hands not he coffee table and taking a breath before I looked up at her, "But he doesn't need to see any of that, and I don't either,"

"Maybe we did come off of it a bit much," Andy kept going, and I could tell she was trying to steer this around and make it a bit better, "Do you honestly think we would be cruel to tease you like that?"

"I don't know why you did in the first place," I grumbled going back to work not he bow. But then I heard Andy snort, having me pause, looking up at her and glare, "What?"

"You don't see it, do you?" She asked, having me think and then shrug.

"See what?" I asked, not understanding. She sighed, moving over to sit on the windowsill and fold her hands in her lap.

"The boy looks at you like you hung every star in the fucking sky," She explained, though I was still looking at like a deer in the headlights since it didn't seem like that to me at all. I was dining my own business, and yet the others were seeing something else beyond the visions.

"What are you talking about?" I asked her, still confused. She gave me a smile that seemed both amused and yet stunned in how I was catching up with her.

"The boy likes you, Eleanor," She finally stated. And now I was just downright petrified and freaked out by it. Was I that oblivious? Did I really miss the signs, if there were any? It made me sit back in my chair and look beyond dumb. Andy could read it on my face, and maybe she thought I was going to react differently.

"You didn't know, did you?" She asked, and how I was shocked at her.

"Why would I know?" I asked her back, trying to raise my voice.

"It was a bit obvious," Andy explained with a shrug of her shoulders. as if it was nothing serious, "Ever since you two met in New York, he's always interested in you. Just you. The way he looks at you, and how he wants to know more about you,"

"You guys want to know more about me when you met me way back in the day," I countered back.

"It's not the same," She said in a sigh.

"And it's not safe," I said a pinch too quickly, now Andy was looking at me in confusion.

"Why is that?" She asked, having me sigh and run my fingers in my hair, clearly not wanting to have this conversation with her, but we were anyhow. Andy wasn't too fond of talking about feelings, or other people's feelings. That department was on Nicky and Joe, maybe Nile. But Andy, she had a warrior mindset, so her wanting to talk to me about Oliver and the apparent feelings he had for me was coming out of nowhere and I wasn't prepared for it.

"He's way too new as an Immortal," I explained to her, "Not even a month into this, and for all I know he is still trying to let go of his family. I'm all for being there for him when it gets rough, I really am. It's been a bit too long since I felt that, but I also just went through some heavy shit and I can't handle someone else being like that with me,"

"You don't think he's capable of helping you?" Andy asked, seeing that I was getting worked up with it.

"No," I answered with a shake of my head, "He's a good one. it's all within my head," I admitted to her, seeing Andy look at me almost in disbelief before I took in a breath and went on, "I can't just jump into my feelings when I have this wall up, making it very hard to trust someone new in my life,"

Andy said nothing at first, crossing her arms in front of me as I laced my fingers together and tried to make it sound better from how it was sounding in my brain.

"My fucked up in the brain with trust," I sighed, almost in defeat. I knew that's what it was, and I knew it was the truth whether I liked it or not. It was worse when I was letting it out, exposing it in front of Andy. She was watching me now this whole time as I was rubbing my face in my hands in frustration.

"You're not fucked up in the brain," Andy reasoned, finally seeing what I was feeling and showing on my face. I looked up at her, seeing how her face was so soft and careful in how she was staring at me. I could tell she was finally seeing it in front of her eyes, and she was more of an analyzer than anything.

"I am," I commented, though she scoffed.

"I'm more fucked up in the head than you could ever be," She reasoned, having me see how she was getting up and then squatting down next to me as I was still in the chair, "You're screwed up in the head because of another person, other people. I have no excuse for me being fucked up,"

"Enough with the swearing please," I mumbled as I was rubbing my temples with the tips of my fingers.

"What I'm saying is….I understand you have trust issues, and rightfully so. With that being said, I felt like I overstepped then when we did that to you earlier. I'm sorry," She said, having me now look down at her and seeing that she was sincere about it. I sighed nodding my head and showing her that I understood.

"It's fine," I replied, "I'm acting like a teenager over something so simple and so trivial," I explained as she was giving me a soft smile to see she was understanding what I was feeling, "But I just…I need to not have him too close to me or else—"

"You'll break," Andy ended for me, having me go quiet as she silently nodded her head, "Trust is hard to build up when you thought it was lost and broken. I've dealt with it too, though it's not the same as yours. But Eleanor, as anti-emotional as I am which I admit to…I think you maybe deserve this,"

I had to think about why she would say that. I knew how Andy was affected ebbing mostly on her own, though we were all together. It was different for her, because Nicky and Joe were an item, and Booker was alone with his drinking and his agony of leaving his family behind.

I was somehow left in the shuffle, going through the motions of the ever-changing world. It never occurred to me to fall in love, nor was it ever a desire for me. But now that Andy was telling me that it could happen to me and that it should happen to me, I was floored. I wanted to believe her, I did. Yet it was so hard to believe her.

"I'm just not sure," I said, almost in defeat. Andy only smiled and patted my hands on my lap.

"You'll see it like we do, sooner or later," She reminded me, having me groan as she chuckled, seeing how I was slightly bushing now from the mere thought of something happening between Oliver and me. She then got up to standing before she placed her hands on her hips, "How about this, wanna spar with each other?"

"What?" I asked, seeing her shrug.

"You're so wound up you need to punch something, I can tell in her hand and in how you're about to snap Nile's present to you," She explained, having me look down and see how my hands were clasped together in a death grip. She tapped my arm, "Come on, I can take you,"

"You're mortal now, Andy," I said, not in a warning, but as a reminder. She just smirked at me now as she remised her eyebrow at me.

"Oh trust me, I can still kick your ass,"

I was thrown to the ground in a heap, groaning out as I was slammed to the patio ground and Andy was peering over me. I had to grin, Andy backing off slightly as I was slowly getting up and brushing it off. The sun was peering right over both of us, making us sweat and be out of breath a few times. I thought I had the upper hand with her since I was more prone to fistfights and boxing.

But Andy, she knew how to fight and fight dirty.

"Damn," I groaned as I got up and cracked my neck, seeing Andy grin at me, "I thought I had you that time."

"You don't think I know how to move and fight?" She asked, getting her hands up at the ready. I had to give her credit for that one.

"Sure," I replied, "Same as me knowing how you liker to fight high and tight,"

"Which makes you the best sparring partner then," She replied back, coming towards me with a swing to the left. I blocked it easily, and we were back in a rhythm with punches, ducks, and sweeping of the legs. Andy knew how to fight, she was great at it, and her hands were the substitutes when she had no guns or knife to use. But we've done this before, plenty of times together when we either had downtime or when we were feeling a bit slow. There were times when I won and times when she won, but either way, we were good to spare again each other when it came to fists.

I kicked Andy back hard, seeing her stumble back a bit now and take a heavy breath. I stood up, looking at her with a hint of concern.

"You good, boss?" I had to ask. This time, for now at least, it was going to be different. She wasn't immortal anymore, and that meant her body was going to slow down. She could dive herself to exhaustion if she could, and I knew she could get away with that if she could. But I wasn't going to let that happen, and if she had an injury, that would be worse.

"Fine," She rolled it off, trying to shake off the small fatigue that was threatening to come over her. I was still giving her a look, though she came barreling back and we were sparring again. It was a give and take, back and forth, and I knew she was a bit better than me in this. But of course, this time I wasn't going just as hard, and halfway through this round, I knew Andy felt it too as she got me along the jaw.

I shook it off, trying to get the pain to go down as her energy was shifting now, from playful as it was to almost defensive.

"You going easy on me?" She asked as I was leaning over my knees and taking a few deep breaths.

"Yes," I replied in a huff.

"Why? You've never done that with me before," She asked, not understanding what I was thinking about. I could see the rest of the team watching from the living room, half of them were relaxed with how Andy and I were fist fighting. But the other hand, the newer half, looked bit conner in how we were being a bit vicious in our punches and kicks. Especially Oliver, who looked like he was about to be sick when I made eye contact with him.

Of course, my stomach dropped.

If Andy what was saying was true, about how Oliver felt about me and the others knew, then I could clearly see it on his face as I was hunched over and trying to take a breath. He looked like a lost puppy that saw another member of its litter kicked or even a heartbroken lover. Was that what that looked on his face? My stomach once again flipped and I could have sworn something inside of me screams to make him go back to happiness again. A sense of protectiveness, but I had to push it down as I looked back at Andy in a soft glare.

"You know why," I said back to her as I pushed myself to stand again, moving my arms around to get it ready for another round that Andy could need.

"I'm mortal, but I'm not slow," She reasoned, sounding a bit agitated.

"But you're fragile," I countered back, though it might have pissed her off as soon as I said it. I knew it was true, and Andy had to have known that too, "I'm not gonna push you to the point of getting hurt,"

"Why not? I can take it?" Andy said, her voice getting a bit raw.

"I can mend some things, but not all things, remember? I know you can, but I won't do it," I said to her, "Not unless you make me." Now I was pushing it, literally asking her to push it with me and get me to hurt her. Andy was one of those souls that needed a push, a sense of pain in her life to have her realize that she was real and she was alive. Now that her mortality was there, I didn't want to be the one to stop it and make it worse. a

"You're really pushing it," She warned me, but I shrugged her off.

"You wanna hurt me, go ahead," I said to her, blindly giving her permission to go extra hard on me. Maybe she needed this, something to punch on and get her aggression out like I was doing at that moment. People coped with anger and emotions in different ways; some had Alcohol like Booker, others had sex, and others had substances that could kill them. People also needed to fight to feel better, and that was Andy.

"You can't be serious," She snarked.

"Fuck it, I can survive it and you can't," I corrected her as I motioned her to start, "Let's go."

She paused, trying to think in her head if she was going to make the right choice in all of this, inflicting pain on me. I didn't mind it, as long as she was fine and got a relief out of it. I knew I could take it, and maybe it sounded a bit crazy but then again I knew Andy would never hurt me genuinely.

She then took a few steps towards me and we swung at each other. I could feel it this time, the way shew as punching me hard against the chest or going for a swift kick in the leg, though I countered back. it was getting a bit more brutal now that our jabs were fiercer and our kicks were getting a little more vial. I knew I could stand it with her, and in comparison to the people who were in her way at times in missions and past battles, this was nothing in comparison to what she did to them.

Finally, she got the slip on me, by grabbing my arm, pulling me hard against her, and throwing me over her shoulder to land on the stone floor, breaking a rib in the process. I didn't mean to, but I yelped from the broken breaking, curling into myself for a slight moment since the pain was tough and shocking. I knew I broke a rib, sprawling on my side, and squinting through the break.

It was like time froze.

I saw, on my side, the others in the house watching the whole ordeal and they are a bit shocked it got this far. My pain in my rib was making me breathe heavily through my nose over and over, gasping in slight pain as I saw Oliver looking petrified. I didn't want that for him, an instinctual part of me wanted to throw out a hadn't to him and say that I was fine, but nothing came from my mouth since I was riding out the pain. But Oliver started to walk over, clearly in concern as Nicky grabbed his arm and made him stop. I could see how he was whispering in his ear, maybe telling him to wait and see.

Andy was walking over to kneel next to me, a hand on my arm and remorse on her sweaty face. That anger that was festering in her was long gone.

"Shit," She said in worry, looking down at my side and seeing the clear sign of a broken rib poking against my skin. I shook my head, taking another breath, "That was too far, I'm sorry-"

"Don't worry about it," I groaned out as she reached over to take my hand, knowing that in a few seconds I was going to have it pop back in. We waited a few seconds before I felt it, my rib popped back in and the pain was almost numbing, but soothing at the same time. My eyes were big from the instant healing, the small bump on my side where my rib instantly went back in and I breathed through the aftershock for a few seconds.

"Is it safe to say," I groaned, pushing one more antagonizing breath before I looked up at Andy with a sad pathetic excuse of a groan, "You won this round,"

Andy grinned, an honest to God grin as she smiled and helped hoist me up from being on my side. I squinted a bit from getting back up on my feet, feeling Andy pat me on the back and I looked over at the others once again. There was Oliver, looking a bit relieved to see that I was fine. But I didn't know what he was thinking when he saw my rib being broken and then popping back in with ease. though it was tough shit to breathe though. I small smile on my lips from seeing him grin at me, thoroughly happy to see that I was okay.

"I saw that," Andy whispered in my ear as I playfully shoved her off of me,

"Shut up."