I stood against the wall, leaning on the open window of the study as I was looking down at my propped cello that was against the coffee table in the middle of the room. I sighed in relief, stretching my fingers out and feeling the cramps slowly go away after putting in some hours on this instrument.

It was finally all done.

After my sparring match with Andy the day before, I needed a break and I down to the beach and just float out in the ocean. That conversation that I had with Andy made both my head hurt and go stir crazy. Andy was never one to try to lie to me or even lie for the sake of making herself feel better. She would tell the truth, no matter how brutal or uneasy it sounded, she was never own to beat around the bush so to speak. So when she was telling me thee things about Oliver, how he looked and viewed me, it made me confused all the more.

A mere fraction of a part in me wished it to be true, though.

I loved talking to him, hearing all about his family, and the adventures he would go on with his friends in his youth. He was a great storyteller of those moments he would share with us around the table, and I could tell the others were loving to hear his stories as well as I. But of course, he and I spot almost daily, from mundane topics such as hobbies and activities to more of the intense moments such as death and what that meant for us as Immortals.

Though he was hurting, he never showed it around me. Maybe he was afraid to, but when it was just the two of us, that connection was there. The connection of feeling safe and secure with one another, no passing of judgment or ridicule. He was kind, kind and polite in all we talked about.

And I did find myself at moments feeling a sense of a flutter within me when we were close, in how he spoke with some charisma and yet shyness at times as well. It showed he was growing closer to us as the days went on, which warmed my heart. When I could hear him give an honest laugh from one of Nile's jokes about how old the rest of us were in comparison to them. The intrigue in his eyes while Joe showed him his truck and they were talking auto mechanics because of how Oliver grew up fixing cars with his father. Hearing him try to learn Italian with Nicky, Niles present of course since she wanted to learn too, and how he was thriving for perfection. Lastly, of course, with Andy, since he started his training with her and Andy was teaching both Oliver and Nile how to fight hand to hand before they went onto weapons.

Why was this all so complicated for me? Why was I thinking about this far more than I should? Was it because I thought of how much older I was, which seemed morbid, but then again I was around for barely over a millennium before he was born. Yet we were physically around the same age, which made it worse. Or was it that trust that I was still trying to build back again? Oliver never seemed like the kind of man that would try and bring harm to someone on purpose, let alone on accident. He was far too kind for me, though I sensed about steel within his muscle and his bones.

This was more too complicate for me, and yet I was acting like a little girl with an absentminded crush.

Once I got back from the beach, I changed into some fresh clothes and went into the study. Throwing my hair up into a high bun, I got my cello out and ready for playing, sitting in the one solo chair that was in the room and getting the cello ready against my chest and body, my one hand on the neck along the strings and the other holding the bow perfectly. I finally found the song I was wanting to play, placing the bow along the string and taking a deep breath.

Playing this cello felt a bit different from my other one in my home out in the country. But it was like any new instrument: it took a few moments to get used to how the instrument would respond to you and work with you. The new strings were pushing against the pads of my fingers as I went from one note to another, closing my eyes and playing the piece I knew by heart. It was a slower piece, full of emotion and meaning. It made me think fo the Spring, the new flowers blossoming in the air with baby animals coming out into the roaming fields, full of new life and new love.

With the coolness of the ocean air coming into the room and then carrying my music out into the air, I was utterly lost in my playing, almost swaying back and forth as I played the piece to be in time with the song. My thoughts on The Wolf and his willingness to kill me ….Randal Stieve and how he saved my life… Booker and his loneliness that haunted me all the time….Quynh and how I wasn't dreaming of her anymore…they were moving in and out of my brain in time with every stroke of the bow or every turn of the piece.

If only I had a simple life, which was what I thought about at times. My life to be simple and not filled with heartache or pain, or worry or death around every corner. What would have that been life for me? If I was mortal, would I have ever had all that I had now: skills that could help me survive? A new perceptive on God and life around me? A family, a true family? I wouldn't have met Nicky or Joe that night at the church, and later on Andy and her search for Quynh. Then Booker…Nile…and now Oliver? I would be different if they weren't in my life, I knew that for certain.

I finished the piece, I was slowing down on the last note to make it last nice and long. And after the note was all done, I raised my bow from the string and have a small smile on my lips. It took a good few seconds before I heard a small noise at the door, having finally open my eyes to look over and see what it was. Or in this case, who it was.

Oliver.

"I'm sorry," he said, about to move out of the room since it felt like I caught him. I grinned and cleared my throat.

"Don't," I said, almost sounding like I was pleading. It was not like me at all to sound like that, but yet I also didn't mind saying it that way too. Oliver looked back over with his head poked in the room, giving me a small smile as he finally stepped into the room. He was still in his work out attire: a black athletic shirt and track pants, running shoes, and a very thin sheen of sweat on his tattoos and along his neck. I had to admit, I was trying not to stare.

"Did you finish your work out with Andy?" I asked, seeing him breathy laugh and nod, "How'd it go?"

"She kicked my ass," He admitted, having me laugh as I was merely picturing it in my head, "She finally decided to give me a break and I…I heard you play in here I just wanted to…" He almost wanted to mumble a bit the last part, since I almost saw a hint, or maybe it was a rush, of blush along his neck.

"I wanted to listen to you play some more, but you're all finished up I'm guessing," he admitted, almost being a bit shy about it. However, I was just grinning at him in how genuine he sounded, but also mortified at the same time. I sat up a bit in my chair.

"You can come in, though. I don't mind," I admitted to him, seeing him give me one of those shy glances before he finally walked into the small study, shoving his hands in his back pocket. since he didn't know where else to put them. I could tell there was a sense of nervousness there as he was standing in front of me, but then he pointed to my cello.

"You sounded really nice," He said at first, almost stumping himself as soon as he said that. I gave him a curious but kind look.

"Thank you," I said, but he shook his head.

"Well, I think you sounded more than really nice," He said almost in a stammer, as I then felt a small amount of blush on my cheeks, and I could tell he was once again second-guessing himself. I had to give him credit for somehow holding it together as he then moved over to sit at the coffee table in front of me. I went over to place my cello in the case that was out next to me on the floor, "What piece was that, that you just played?"

"Oh, it's called the Carnival of the Animals by Camille Saint-Saëns," I explained, seeing him look at me with a hint of shock on how I said it like it was some basic recipe, "It's a great piece to play,"

"I liked it," He replied, "Sometimes I wish I could have played something, or haven been musical. I'm rather daft at the piano," I had it chuckle from how he was sounding so genuine about it, shrugging at him.

"It's never too late to learn," I suggested, "If it helps, I think you're a brilliant mechanic,"

Oliver's grin was bit wider now as I complimented him, "I'm alright at it,"

"Joe's clearly impressed with you and how you knew your way around the truck, and he's our mechanic," I kept going, seeing him rub the back of his neck, "You have an immense knowledge there,"

"It's all from my dad, really. But, thank you," He said to me in a genuine grin, barely biting his lower lip before he sat up a bit and stared at me intensely in the eyes, "Actually, I came here because I was wondering if I could ask a favor of you?"

"Of course," I answered, "What is it?"

"Can you teach me French?" He asked, having me almost tilt my head at him now. Something inside of me almost wanted to freak out, since he sounded so kind about it, and it was almost a bit scary as well.

"Oh," I said, almost a bit flustered as I sat forward a bit in my chair to be an inch closer, "Well, I thought you're learning Italian with Nicky?"

"I am," He agreed, "And I'm doing alright with it. But…maybe learning French wouldn't be so bad,"

It was such a simple request, and in all honesty, I wanted to. But that guilt was seeping through in the back of my mind. I hated it, how I was feeling as though I was trapped in my own mind that was almost punishing me for having these feelings over a man who was just trying to get to know, who hasn't done anything wrong at all or was never ill-mannered to me. But then, I thought of Andy, and what she said to me in this very room sometime before when she could tell this was an inward struggle for me to deal with.

"I think you maybe deserve this."

"I would love to," I replied then, not thinking twice or regretting what I said. I saw the lightness go back into his seagrass eyes as he heard me agree. I had to grin widely too, and he looked like he just received the best present at Christmas.

"Really?" he asked, making sure it was true and seeming so innocent about it.

"Yes," I replied kindly, "However, It'll be challenging to learn both Italian and French at the same time,"

"Oh, I know," He replied as he got up from the coffee table and clasped his hands together in slight happiness, "Nicky already warned me."

Now, that's when I gave him a questioning look, raising my eyebrow at him. Something was off about this now, and since it involved Nicky, I was a bit skeptical.

"Did he?" I asked.

"Oh sure. I mentioned that I wanted to learn French and he agreed it would be a good idea and that I should learn from you," He explained, not understanding the subtle feeling that I was getting at. Nicky, of all the people in our group, was going to endorse this? If I knew Nicky, I knew it wasn't going to be on purpose or with ill intentions. That wasn't in his nature, but I also knew he was more subtle in decisions that he would make. I had to have a chat with him. Sweet Oliver, he was merely young in all of this and he had no idea who the others functioned mentally just yet.

"Well then, I guess we can start tomorrow morning before your lessons with Andy, if you'd like,' I suggested, seeing him nod his head with his massive grin. He seemed far too excited.

"I'd love to! Brilliant, thanks Eleanor!" he thanked me, then he started walking away. Before he left the room and out the door, he finally looked back at me and I saw a glint and twinkle in his eyes and on his smile, "That piece you just played?"

I nodded, showing him to go on.

"I thought you sounded beautiful," He merely replied, giving me one more smile as he disappeared behind the door. I was at a loss for words, sinking back into my chair and almost feeling like my stomach just dropped to the ground. Beautiful….he thought I sounded beautiful. I gave out one short breath of a laugh, covering my mouth within an instant to not fully laugh out loud in how ridiculous I was feeling about this. It moved me, hearing him say that about how I played. God, maybe Andy was right after all, and now it was coming over me.

I was feeling something towards Oliver. But for now, I needed to find Nicky.

"I need to have a word with you,"

Nicky perked up from his spot on his beach towel, his sword in his lap, and a wet stone going against the blade two more times as I approached him from my small hide down from the house. Joe was sitting next to him, mostly laying out on his stomach and was reading a book of poetry and still a bit wet from a dip in the ocean. Both Nicky and Joe looked up from their spots in the corner of the beach. Joe lowered his sunglasses sightly, having me see him give me a curious look with his brown eyes.

"Which one?" Joe asked, seeing that I was a bit distressed.

"Nicolo," I replied, Nicky's eyes looking a bit surprised since I used his old name against him. Joe whistled, giving Nicky a kind look before he pushed his sunglasses back up and looked back at his book.

"You're on your own, Habibi," He mumbled to Nicky almost in a warning as Nicky placed his sword down next to him on his towel.

"You told Oliver to learn French with me?" I asked him with a raised eyebrow, seeing him think for a brief moment. I could have sworn I saw Joe hiding his face in the pages of the book, but the face he made said it all.

"It would be beneficial for him since he's already learning Italian with me," Nicky said in a shrug, not sensing where I was coming from. I huffed, placing my hands on my hips and now glaring at him. I wasn't angry just yet but was inquiring about what his intentions were.

"Yet you want him to learn from me?" I asked. He gave me a questioned look.

"Aren't you French?" he asked.

"I am, but that doesn't mean you need to press it that hard," I reasoned, seeing him give a small huff as he gave me his kind stare, showing that he meant well.

"Eleanor, he wants to learn from you and I agreed with him. It was his idea," He tried to explain to me.

"And you endorsed it," I added.

"Because you taught Joe and I French?" Nicky said it like a question, though now I was quiet about it and I said nothing. Nicky could read it all over my face and in how I was standing there almost like I wanted to snap a tree in half.

"Eleanor," Nicky said my name so calmly and carefully, "Oliver wants to learn from you, that's all."

"Among other things," I heard Joe under his breath. Both Nicky and I looked over at him in a split second, the both of us glaring. Nicky swatted his arm against Joe's rib, quietly scolding him as Joe slightly flinching he looked over at Nicky first before he saw my shocked look. He groaned as I threw up my hands.

"You've got to be kidding me!" I said in a huff as I walked away from them both a few steps and I took out a long breath.

"Oh come on, Eleanor," Joe said in an amused tone, "We mean well, both Nicky and I do,"

"Don't bring me into this. I don't think like that, Joe," Nicky mildly scolded him under his breath but I heard it none the less.

"I expected it from Nile, and maybe Andy because she's kind of twisted in the head, but from you two?" I asked them both with a low tone. Nicky grumbled as he hid his face in his hands and Joe rolled over to sit up and rest his elbows on his drawn knees. He seemed playful about it, which was not helping this situation.

"Okay, it was mostly me," Joe admitted as he raised his hand, "Nicky was more professional about it. To be fair, Nile and I did talk a few times about it,"

"I can't trust you two talking alone anymore," I muttered at him, 'You're like school children together."

"None the less," Joe said to me with his kind tone, "All of us honestly think it's nice how you two are together. There are no ill intentions behind it, okay?"

It made me feel a bit out of balance that the others were talking about me like this, but it was almost a release to know that they were almost seeing what I was experiencing with Oliver and were endorsing it and wanting it to happen. I felt bad then, snapping at the both of them now as they were just trying to relax and I breathed out a heavy breath.

"I'm sorry," I apologized to them both, feeling a bit worse, "I'm acting like a goddamn teenager over this,"

"You're fine," Joe reassured me, his kind smile was back as he could tell I was longer angry, "In all honesty, we love seeing the two fo you together and how you talk. it's kind of nice,"

"It is?" I asked, my voice a bit timid about it since I had to hear it from someone else other than myself. Joe had to grin widely in how I was reacting to all of this.

"You know, this is the first time you ever act like this to another person, let alone an Immoral," He said to me as he pointed at me. Nicky finally got up from his spot on the ground and walked over to me, placing his hands on my arms, having me focus on him.

"You want to know what I think?" he asked, having me zone on him and nothing else. It was like he was giving me one of his pep talks that he would in the past.

"I always do," I said to him, seeing him give me a kind smile as his bright eyes looking right at my now own.

"You deserve to be happy," he replied simply already reciting the same thing that Andy told me, "And you should do what you think is right. Your intuition was always good. It honestly doesn't matter what the rest of us think and how we feel—"

"I think it should since you're all my family," I reasoned, seeing his smirk get a bit bigger from what I said.

"We are your family," he agreed, "But this is your choice. Only your choice, okay?"

It was like it was all set in stone now. I could feel how the others were behind me in what I chose to do or not to do. Maybe this was just a mere case of over-thinking and over-analyzing, because who knew if Oliver wasn't reciprocating those feelings for me. Was it all just because he wanted to be my friend and nothin beyond that? Or were the signs that I thought were there were real? The lingering stares he would give me or how his compliments were simmering underneath my skin longer than they should.

"Yeah," I said to him, seeing him give me a big smile. He rubbed my arms tin s oohing rhythm as I heard Joe get up from his towel to walk over to me, squeezing me in a hug.

"We love you dearly," He said to me as I smiled at him, "We want what is best for you and what'll make you truly happy. That's why we tease you, That's all,"

"Agreed," Nicky said in his light manner, "Though I don't agree with the teasing part. That's a bit too childish,"

"I don't tease," Joe said to him in almost a mocked tone.

"You're just as bad as Nile," I said to him, seeing him chuckle at me as Nicky nodded in agreement. Joe then gave both Nicky and I a playful glare as both Nile and I were almost gaining up on him. Although we were back in a good rhythm with one another like we always had, I still had that notion in the back of my mind of letting myself have this. If I heard it from Andy, and now from both Joe and Nicky, that had to be a major sign.

Was it?

The local farmers market was in full effect the next day, which lead about half of our group to go out on an adventure to both get some fresh produce for meals but also to get out of the house. Nile, myself, Oliver and Nicky went out to the market, Nicky mostly needed to come since the specific ingredients that we needed were going to be too hard for us to find. I could tell too that he wanted to spend some time with Oliver as well that didn't involve Italian lessons.

The main street was filled with vendors, but it was very small in comparison to the farmers market out in Venice that took over an entire square. This one was very small and quaint, plenty of room for us to move around through and see all that was for sale. The sun was blazing that day, a bit hotter than usual as the group of us were exploring the vendors and the merchandise up for sale.

Nicky was showing Oliver some of the spices and fruits that had out while Nile and I hung back to look at the other stalls that were a bit farther away from them. I couldn't help but have a few glances over at Oliver as he was breathing in some of the food that was on display and Nicky talking to him in a smile. He was wearing a cotton shirt and fitted pants with sneakers. His hair was growing out a bit, almost the same length as Nicky's hair but it still looked good on him. Now, this was getting crazy when it was now to the point as I was looking at his hair.

Nile playfully shoved me with her shoulder, having me look back at her as she winked at me once.

"You two are far too cute," she said to me as we moved from one stall to another that was selling jewelry.

"And you like to pry," I said back playfully. She shook her head.

"I don't pry, I observe," She informed me as she was looking at some of the rings there on display at the stall, "And what I observe is that he likes you,"

"I've never had to deal with that before," I admitted to her, holding up a ring that was on display. It was a beautiful yet simple ring, a silver band that had carvings along the surface that looked like vines and leaves. I smiled, feeling the texture the ring along the tips of my fingers as Nile looked at me watching the ring.

"It's a nice ring," She voiced, almost nudging me to get it for myself, But I shook my head and placed it back on the display.

"I'm not one for jewelry," I replied to her, but now she was just rolling her eyes with me.

"You think too much and not go with your gut," She explained, "From wanting to have jewelry to want to jump Oliver's bone,"

"Nile!" I scolded her with a smack to her arm as she chuckled, both of us were walking along to the next stall. Two young men were coming our way, both of them almost seemed a bit abbreviated as they were boisterously laughing together. They were American's, I could hear it in their conversation and their accent as we were passing them. But once we passed them, I felt one of their arms brushing against Nile on her lower back, right around her waist.

Both Nile and I whirled around, seeing that they were looking at us with their glazed look in their eyes as they were eyeing Nile up and down. I knew that look, and it was almost predatory in how they gazed at her. Nile was staring back at them, almost in a threatening way as the first one whistled.

"Watch your hands," Nile said to him calmly.

"Sorry," He replied, his voice was obviously slurred and he was staggering a bit in his stance, "No need to be bitchy about it,"

"Excuse me?" She asked, squaring her shoulders at him and was reading him with her eyes. He just laughed, his secondary friend was looking at me up and down, almost in the same manner as the first one talked back to Nile.

"All I did was give you a nice brush, you should be happy," he slurred at her, "You should lighten up before you get some wrinkles on that face of yours."

"And you should be quiet before I give you some marks to be worried about," I replied smoothly at me. I felt as though he was overstepping with Nile, and although I knew she could take care of herself when it came to self-defense, I still had an overwhelming need to protect her from people like these two. People who thought they were better than others and their egos outweighed everything else.

"What got your panties in a bunch? Sorry, we're not flirtin' with you and your mediocre face," He replied with a roll of his tongue at me. I just had to chuckle, wrapping my arm around Nile's shoulder, getting ready to steer her away.

"Sorry if we're not worthy to entertain your small brains, on both of your heads," I said as an insult, "Come on, Nile. They're infants to deal with us,"

I heard nothing at first when we turned away from both of us, making eyes with Nicky and Oliver as they were a bit farther up than us. I could see they were waiting for us, almost seeing what happened and they looked a pinch concerned. But I shook my head at them both as they were making their way over to us. It all came to a halt when I heard the first drunk in a sneering tone.

"What did you say to me, bitch?"

Nile instantly whirled around and I grabbed her arm, seeing the look of death on her face and her hand made a fist at her side. I held her back, seeing that she was about to explode as the second man drunkenly laughed from the outburst. But the first was sneering at me, thinking that he won against me saying that word.

"You're nothing than a boy who's balls haven't been dropped yet in how you're talking to us," I replied in a cold tone, seeing his sneer now go into an angry snark of a glare, "Here's a suggestion: get out of here before I make you,"

I looked over at Nile, seeing her trained eyes drilling onto the first guy and wanting so bad to punch him. I leaned into her ear and started to whisper, "Walk away right now and go to Nicky and Oliver. Nile, listen to me and walk away,"

Nile was steaming, I could feel it in the tremor of her arm against my hand and how she was drilling her eyes into the drunks. She finally huffed as she turned and walked in a stomp, the two men were watching her as I glared back at him.

"You're lucky she's not gonna break your nose," I warned them, about to turn and walked with Nile when one of the drunks grabbed my arm a bit too tight. I felt in how he was gripping me, having me look back at him and see that he was a bit too close for my liking. The stench of alcohol was on his face and his eyes were drilling into my own. For a split second, I was afraid. It wasn't that I couldn't handle him, I could show him over my shoulder if I could and break a bone. But the fear was from him being so close, and how he was holding my arm like I was his property. I knew this feeling before, and I didn't like it.

But another hand was now pressed against the chest of the drink, shoving him off of me and having the hand on my arm be released. Instantly there was a body in between the drunk man and myself, almost like a shield, and I knew who it was.

Oliver.

"I suggest you leave, as she told you twice, before you regret it," Oliver said in such a low tone that it made me look at him in shock. He was squaring off with the two drunks, and now that he was in front of the, he looked like a giant since they both seemed so scrawny.

"You hitting that, is that why you're offended?" The second one ask, once again slurring as Oliver glared at him.

"Not really, actually. I'm offended in how you both are acting like assholes in front of a woman," Oliver replied smoothly and with no weakness in his tone, "You two are am an embarrassment to man, and I don't appreciate you touching her like that,"

"What are ya gonna go about it?" The first one sneered, trying to square up with Oliver as he took a step closer. Now I was afraid for him, even when Oliver had more muscles behind him. Drunk people never really used logic on their side, and since there were two of them, things could so sour real fast. I placed am arm on Oliver's arm, silently tell him to back off and walk away with me. The first one saw that gesture and he chuckled, pointing at me.

"I get it," he said in a dry chuckle, "Sorry, my friend. You can do better and a lot hotter—"

I never saw someone get hit and fall to the ground so fast as he did.

Oliver's fist collided with his nose and the man fell like a sack of potatoes. I was floored from how fast and quick it was, and I could see the energy coil off of Oliver's face was placed back at his side. Other people saw him fall to the ground, his second friend was looked at Oliver in pure fear and he backed up a bit in case he too was going to be hit. This could go really bad as I yanked Oliver's arm with me.

"Come on," I said to him, reaching down to lace our fingers without even realizing it. I yanked him, seeing him come with me now without a word as I was pulling him along the street, not wanting to look back and see what the other people were thinking. I was just glad we got out of there before it got worse. Nicky and Nile were watching now, both of them were in a shock as the fours of us starting to walk together huddle in a group and out of the market before we were going to get in trouble.

"What happened?" Nicky asked Oliver as I released his hand.

"They were being rude to Nile, and especially to Eleanor," Oliver explained, sounding like he was in a huff as he then looked from Nicky over to me, a look of concern was on his face, "Are you okay?"

I felt a new switch within me from what happened. Of course, I knew it happened so fast, and I knew it could have been worse than it was. But the way Oliver defended me, how he was willing to stand in between me and someone else that was going to hurt me without a second thought had me lose my breath with him. No one has ever done that to that gravity before, and the warmth and admiration that I had for Oliver were deepening. This was becoming something real, and at that moment I didn't think I had the strength to ignore it anymore.

I was falling for Oliver.

"Yea, thank you," I thanked him, and he smiled at me with a sigh of relief.

Oh, I was falling for him hard.