AN: I can't believe we're up at chapter 22 already! :O When did that happen?!

I have neglected to say this in previous author's notes, but thank you so, so much to everyone who has read, commented, and gave kudos on chapters. I read every single comment and honestly, every interaction with this story from you guys makes me unbelievably happy.

Anyway, thank you all, hope you enjoy this one!

"So…"

"Becca," Riza warned for what felt like the hundredth time that day. The brunette had begun to grate on her nerves a couple of hours ago. "I'm not sure what is going to happen now, okay? Let's just leave it at that."

"Fine," Rebecca replied, accompanied by a long suffering sigh, kicking snow up in the air in frustration. She wasn't satisfied, but Riza really didn't want to get into her new relationship with Roy. In truth, Riza didn't know what was happening herself. The past few days she had been passed out as she recovered from the effects of the poison. The pair hadn't had a lot of time to chat. Riza didn't want to let on too much to her friend. She felt bad for doing so, however Riza didn't want to raise hopes for no reason.

The snow had not relented and continued to fall as the duo walked through the forest. Rebecca had a light fleece as she walked in an attempt to blend in. Riza, however, still struggled with fluctuations in her body temperature after that fever so she had opted for a thick fleece, a hat, and a scarf. Her condition had improved vastly over the past few days. She still felt exhausted after simple movements, but Sam had assured her that would only last another couple of days. Riza still continued to limp when she walked, but there was no surge of pain when putting weight on her leg. It was more of an annoyance now. The wounds on her head had healed nicely and were nothing more than a pink scar.

Cabin fever had begun to set in and Rebecca suggested the pair get out of the house for a while. Riza was extremely grateful.

Disappointment had filled her when Roy mentioned he would have to leave that morning. Riza felt childish as she thought of asking him to stay. Fighting the urge to do so, she encouraged him to get out for a while. After all, he had spent a week with them, not leaving Riza's side. It would be selfish for her to ask him to stay longer. After all, he had a life before her. He couldn't abruptly leave that all behind.

"Speaking of relationships…" Riza ventured. A change in conversation was definitely preferable at that moment.

"Yeah?" A confused look overtook Rebecca's face.

"Who is your mystery guy?"

Rebecca looked away quickly, but Riza caught the light blush over her cheeks. The blonde grinned. I was right!

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh really?"

"Yep."

"Well, who has been calling you at two in the morning? From the sounds of your conversation, it isn't someone who is simply a friend."

Rebecca turned her head back towards her friend. Riza watched, amused, as Rebecca looked like a deer caught in the headlights.

"Two can play at this game, Becca," Riza winked.

Rebecca sighed in defeat. A smile crept over her face. "His name is Jean. We met at the resort a couple of days ago."

"And?" Riza prompted, grinning. She was relieved to have the focus on her relationships shifted. Plus, she was happy for Rebecca. She deserved some happiness in her life. They both did.

"It is early days, but I really like him."

The honesty and excitement in her voice surprised Riza. Rebecca's eyes had lit up and her smile was bright.

"I'm really happy for you Becca," Riza replied. However, Rebecca's smile faltered for a moment, causing Riza to question it.

"It is nothing major, it is just… It seems too good to be true, you know? We really hit it off and I feel this urge to be close to him at all times. I mean, I just met the guy. Everything is moving so fast and I'm not sure what to make of it."

Riza grinned as she recognised Rebecca's current situation.

"What?" Confusion was clear on Rebecca's face.

"He's your soul mate."

Rebecca stopped walking, mouth hanging open. She laughed in disbelief, but it was nervous. "Are you serious?"

"Yes," Riza replied. Rebecca laughed again. "I'm being serious Rebecca. Sam told me about it and, from what you have described, it fits the description perfectly."

The laughter died on her lips as Rebecca regarded Riza for a moment.

"But… I don't believe in soul mates," Rebecca stated, one last nervous laugh leaving her.

"It doesn't matter if you don't, sweetie, because it believes in you."

"Wait, stop. How can this happen?"

"Sam told me that between vampires and werewolves certain relationships can be stronger than others. It happens between family members, but also with "The One"."

"The One?" Rebecca asked sceptically, raising an eyebrow at Riza's finger quotations.

Riza raised her hands in defence. "His words, not mine. Anyway, it happens quite often, which is why they coined the term soul mate to go with it. It was easier to explain and understand. You can fall in love with anyone, get married, have kids, but whenever you meet The One, you know. It hits you pretty soon after meeting them."

Rebecca's face paled as Riza finished her explanation.

"Has it happened to you?" Riza asked perhaps too eagerly.

Rebecca opened her mouth then closed it a few times before answering. "I thought it was indigestion," she whispered.

Riza snorted so loudly, it hurt. It wasn't what she expected to here, but it was a very Rebecca response. "That sounds about right," she laughed.

"It's not funny, Riza," Rebecca admonished. She glared at her friend, continuing her walk through the forest. It was frantic. Riza knew that if she was in a confined space, Rebecca would be pacing instead. "It can't be true. It's just too crazy."

Riza sighed. "I know the feeling."

Rebecca stopped for a second time.

"What?" The brunette turned slowly. Riza couldn't pinpoint her expression. It ranged somewhere between fearful, surprised, and hopeful.

Riza took a deep breath, steeling herself for the upcoming conversation. She knew she would tell Rebecca everything. She always would. However, she hadn't mentally prepared herself for it.

She knew she loved Roy. She had said those words to him herself. However, revealing it to someone else? It was an entirely different story. It was frightening, opening herself up so much to someone else, even now. Even to Rebecca. But Riza knew it was time. For once, she didn't let the fear and anxiety overtake her.

"It happened to me too. With Roy."

Rebecca didn't know what to say.

She knew they were in deep, but soul mates?

"Well…" Rebecca started, trailing off. "It would explain a lot," was her final reply. Rebecca dropped onto a nearby boulder, resting her elbows on her knees. "Soul mates, huh?" Her laugh was void of amusement. "Wow."

Riza joined her. Wrapping an arm around her shoulders, she hugged her friend. "I know. We're in deep. The question is now though, what are you going to do about it?"

Dropping her hands from her face, Rebecca raised up. She took a deep breath, letting it out in a rush. Then she smiled.

Roy ran a hand over his face in frustration. His plan to return home for fresh clothes and return to Riza had backfired immensely.

Instead, upon arriving home, he found Solf J Kimblee in his living room.

He smiled at Roy, causing the latter's stomach to churn in distaste.

"Ah, the prodigal son returns," he greeted, a grin on his face.

Shit.

"Hello Solf," he greeted smoothly, pretending the man's appearance hadn't surprised him. In all honesty, he had completely forgotten about the deals he had proposed to Kimblee. Roy had never liked the man, but before he changed he, for some unknown reason, thought it would be a good idea to go into business with the man.

"I was going to send out a search party. Your Aunt has told me you have been really busy these last couple of weeks."

"I have, yes."

"You've been doing a lot of travelling?" Kimblee ventured. He placed the cup he was currently drinking out of on the table next to him. Roy felt his eyes narrow slightly. His tone was conversational, but Roy knew he was probing for information. The man had always been waiting for Roy to slip up. Kimblee thought himself better than everyone else. Looking at him now, Roy truly didn't know why he thought this was a good idea. I guess being an asshole attracts others of a similar personality.

"Yes, actually." It wasn't a lie.

Kimblee hummed in acknowledgement. "Anywhere in particular?"

Roy sighed, fed up with his little game. "Look, are we going to make idle chit chat all day, or did you come here for a reason?"

Kimblee smiled to himself. In his own time, he raised from the arm chair and closed the distance between himself and Roy. Smiling at the younger man, he clapped him on the shoulder with a little more force than necessary. Roy felt the wolf within him bristle at the contact.

"Just making sure my friend is all right, that is all," he grinned. He turned and made his way to the door. "Oh, before I forget, I trust our deal is still on? You have had more than enough time to think about it."

Bingo. That was the real reason he was here. Kimblee was not a man who liked to be kept waiting.

"Actually," Roy began, taking a seat in the armchair opposite the one Kimble just vacated. "The reason my response has been so late is because I have had a lot to think about. I needed to travel, to clear my head and think things through clearly."

Out of the corner of his eye, Roy saw Kimblee pause. "Oh? And what have been your findings?" His tone had underlying harshness to it, which Roy did not miss. He knew he wasn't going to like Roy's answer.

"I would like to call the deal off."

Silence reigned on the room. Roy waited with bated breath for Kimblee's reply. The other man seemed frozen in time, however, Roy could see the cog's turning in his head, the set of his jaw, the way his hand twitched. He did not like that answer.

"Is that so?"

Really didn't like it.

"Yes. Aspects of my life have changed in recent weeks, causing me to rethink my future. I have had to revaluate the way I run my business and use the money my parents left behind. I don't want to get involved, or rush into, anything I am unsure about."

Again, silence followed Roy's statement.

"If that is your decision, I am sorry we couldn't come to an arrangement."

Despite his polite and civil reply, Kimblee's voice made Roy's skin crawl. He spoke as if this was something he would deeply regret.

I'd like to see him try and come at me. The wolf within stirred, responding to the veiled threat in Kimblee's words.

With an unsettling grin, Kimblee turned to face Roy, approaching him. Roy stood in response as Kimblee outstretched his hand.

Roy took it, offering his former potential business partner a smile. "I do apologise, Solf. But you understand. Circumstances change."

"I do. I hope that if we meet again in the future, it will be under better circumstances."

Without another word, Kimblee turned on his heel and left the house. His two henchman outside the door followed behind him wordlessly.

All that was left in his wake was an all too familiar, yet foul smell which caused Roy's stomach to lurch.

Why does Kimblee stink of wolfs bane?

"I never liked that man," his Aunt sniffed in disapproval as she entered the room. "I do not know what you saw in him."

Roy wasn't paying attention to his Aunt's words. Instead, his mind went into overdrive regarding this recent discovery. Was Kimblee a Hunter? Did he know about Roy's true identity? Was that the reason for the thinly veiled threat before he left?

"You all right, Roy boy?"

Roy's gaze snapped up to his Aunt's. It was concerned.

"Yeah, sorry."

"You have been out of it for weeks. Do you mind telling me what's going on with you?"

That was the question he was dreading.

"It's been nothing," Roy replied, brushing it off. He couldn't tell his Aunt the truth. He couldn't drag her into this too.

"Don't lie to me, Roy," she warned. "You may be able to lie to that snake, but not to me."

Roy couldn't help but smile at Christmas' description of Solf J Kimblee. She wasn't wrong.

"I didn't lie. I know I have been MIA for a few weeks, but I really did need to get out and clear my head for a bit. I've had a lot on my plate with this deal. I just wanted to make sure everything was right." Roy paused, considering his next words. "I wanted to make sure I was making Mom and Dad proud."

Christmas regarded him silently, before her face softened. She nodded, satisfied with his answer. It wasn't a lie. Everything Roy had done after his parents died, every business deal he had made, was measured against what his parents would think. He made sure he was using the money left to him properly. That's why he called it off with Kimblee. The man was too shady. Roy did have an interest in his proposal, but it was to find out what he had been up to. There had been numerous talks of black market deals between Kimblee and other buyers and Roy did not like the idea of that going on in his Aunt's estate.

That also meant Kimblee was dangerous.

Roy's heart sank.

True, he could take Kimblee in a fight. Certainly now. The man was definitely human. But if he was mixed in with the Hunters and found out Roy's secret…

Kimblee was capable of a number of things, none of which would be good for Roy, or his pack.

"Hey," Roy greeted Riza. She was currently chopping firewood outside the cabin. Roy's chest tightened as he saw her.

Riza turned and smiled at him. She looked genuinely happy to see him. Roy was glad, however it made this conversation all the more difficult.

Riza's smile faltered, then fell when she saw his face. "Is something wrong?"

Roy took a deep breath then nodded. Riza placed the axe against the chopping block then closed the distance between them.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong, I just…" God, he hated lying to her. "I need to go out of town for a few days on business."

Riza relaxed.

"Oh, is that all? From your expression I thought something had happened." She laughed quietly to herself. The axe returned to her hands and she continued her work. "Is that what all your phone calls have been about?" Riza questioned, knowing she was right.

Over the course of her recovery she didn't miss how Roy would often cancel a phone call when it rung. She had meant to ask him about it, but half the time she wasn't functioning enough to do so when she was awake. Her spell in the woods had left her exhausted, both physically and mentally.

"Yeah," Roy sighed. He didn't seem particularly happy about it. "It was."

"Okay, well it is about time you did something about it," she grinned cheekily.

Silence followed her comment and Riza thought she had crossed a line.

"Yeah, I guess so," Roy finally replied. He laughed, but there was no humour in it.

For a second time, Riza put down her axe. "Are you sure, you are all right?"

"Yeah, fine. This is just… Something I have to do."

Riza wasn't convinced. Roy wasn't telling her the whole truth, and it bothered her. She thought that they had become close enough that they wouldn't hide things from each other. Riza thought the feeling was mutual.

Apparently not.

"Okay," Riza began. She forced the feelings of irritation down. Surely Roy had his reasons for his secrecy. "When do you go?"

"Today."

"Oh." Her disappointment was clear and Riza didn't try to hide it.

"Look." Roy rubbed his neck as he spoke, clearly uneasy. "I don't want to go." The last thing he wanted to do was to keep things from Riza.

But he needed to find out what was going on with Kimblee.

He couldn't risk getting her involved. If Kimblee was going to be a threat then he needed to know about it. He needed to protect his pack.

If it was a misunderstanding, then no harm done. However, if Kimblee was a Hunter then he couldn't drag Riza and Rebecca into this mess. He would kill them too.

"But it is something you need to do," Riza repeated back to him. Roy heard her scoff quietly to herself. With a slight shake of her head, Riza turned away from him and picked up the pile of firewood, carrying it inside. Roy was left outside, alone with his thoughts. Closing his eyes briefly, he took a deep breath.

Before he could reply, Riza cut him off. "I thought we could discuss things with each other, Roy." Her tone held a harshness within it, causing Roy to flinch at her words. I hate this. But it is the right thing to do.

"We can, I just… I need you to trust me on this. Okay? I wouldn't go without good reason. You know that, right?"

Roy didn't think the blonde was going to answer. He watched her unceremoniously dump the firewood in the basket next to the fire place. She used more force than necessary to do so.

Riza sighed heavily. "I'm sorry," she apologised. She turned slowly, offering him a sad smile. "I… I don't know what came over me." She dropped onto the armchair closest to her, pinching the bridge of her nose. Her emotions seemed completely out of whack nowadays and she couldn't get a handle on it.

Roy joined her, electing to sit on the arm of the chair. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"It is all right. I know I'm not being fair by not telling you everything, but it is for a good reason. Trust me."

"Okay," Riza replied, listing her head and offering him a small smile. Her voice was determined. "I will. Just be careful?"

"Always. I won't be long."

He kissed the top of her head before standing to leave. However, when he began to move, a hand kept him in place. Roy turned expectantly to Riza, curious.

Instead of words, Riza placed a hand on the back of his neck, drawing him close. As she initiated the kiss, Roy responded in kind. He reached for her waist, pulling her even closer to him.

Pulling apart, the pair rested their foreheads against each other.

"I love you," Riza whispered. Those three simple words made Roy smile. He felt like the luckiest man alive.

"I love you too, Riza Hawkeye."