He should get a medal or something. Nathan gave himself a mental pat on the back for doing the right thing and pointing Pogue back towards Branwen when all he really wanted to do was keep her for himself. As he drove to go pick up Maggie from the local coven member she was staying with, Nathan thought at the very least he should be getting some karma points.

If he was smart, Pogue would tell Branwen to suck it up and just accept that he was going to be there with her no matter what, but for being privately educated, intelligence didn't seem to be Pogue's strong suit. Then again, Nathan was biased.

Still, Nathan admitted to himself, begrudgingly, he could see why Branwen liked Pogue. He was extensively wealthy, clearly skilled with a wrench, which spoke of some vast resource of intelligence, he had classic good looks which spoke of generations of good breeding, and he had the cliché bad-boy attitude. Nathan was sure there were more girls out there sighing as Pogue walked by. Nathan had his fair share.

So then maybe it wasn't a surprise that they both fell for Branwen. Perhaps Branwen was kind of girl who brought the dangerous good-looking types to their knees. Maybe Nathan and Pogue's type was weakened by an incomparably beautiful girl who was quietly tortured while being stubbornly independent and blind to both her own charms and the damage she was doing to herself. Whoever said that girls were the ones who found someone broken and wanted to fix them clearly had never loved Branwen Argall.

What was he going to do when their charade was over and he had to give her back? Nathan sat at a red light, stating into its bright, almost mocking hue. It's angry red denial of letting him believe he could keep her. 'Stop', it said. 'She's not yours. You can't keep her. She won't let you.'

He knew that well enough. But he had her for the time being. Nothing could deny him that pleasure, just as the light could not deny him moving forward forever. As the light turned green, however, he felt the oddest, most terrifying feeling of losing her. Like she was being ripped from him. Knowing he was close to his destination, he continued up to the next block before pulling over. He took a moment to give the feeling a chance to fade but it didn't. Giving up, he got out and walked over to the elegant front door.

He was so distracted by the feeling that it took him a moment to realize that Maggie answered the door.

"What are you doing here?" she asked him.

"You're not getting senile now, are you? I'm here to pick you up. Why are you answering the door?"

"Why aren't you with Branwen? Where is she?"

It wasn't often Maggie missed the chance to cuff Nathan for making fun of her, but she was clearly very serious.

"She had a test. She's in class."

Then she cuffed him. "Haven't you been paying attention? Can't you feel it? She's in danger. How can you not have realized your own fiancé is in trouble?"

Because she wasn't his fiancé. They didn't have that kind of connection anymore. He wouldn't feel it that strongly. He only felt it as a mild discomfort. That fact was almost as painful as realizing what the warning truly was.

His face must have lost its colour because Maggie reached up and patted his cheek. "It's okay, my love, but you must find her now. Find our girl and keep her safe."

He was trying to. He had been trying to. Why had he not thought to stay close by her the day after a very public magical showdown? How stupid he had been.

Nathan didn't say a thing before turning and running towards his car. He almost caused four accidents before he cleared the end of the street, but he didn't care. He needed to find Branwen. Sending out his powers, he tried to locate her, but he was still very weak after working on Caleb. He would never forgive himself if he lost her. He would never be able to live with himself. Which wouldn't be much of a concern, because Aria would kill him.

She didn't know if it made her more or less uncomfortable that he looked just like he had that morning she woke with him in her bed. Aria stared down at Caleb, in her new bed, and thought about how outwardly the only differences were the cuts and bruises on his face. Of course they reminded her that nothing was the same as it had been then. Nothing ever would be. Too much had happened.

Even if she could ignore the fact that she was supposed to leave in what could be a few months, even if she could forget that he was addicted to his powers, the victim of her coven's curse and forbidden to her, even if she could find a way to get past that he had almost killed them all with the sheer amount of power he'd released in his breakdown, the one thing she couldn't avoid was that she wasn't the only cause of his break. There was someone else in their relationship. Someone, most likely a girl, who had hurt him enough to cause a slow burn that her omission had fanned to explosive proportions. If they were to ever get passed everything that had happened, it had to start with getting rid of the third someone in their relationship. Metaphorically, of course…

She may feel differently once she found out who it was and what they had done, but for now it was just a metaphor.

And then they would have to deal with all the other issues. She knew she would never be able to forget about his power addiction. Even after last night there were new lines on his face. He was starting to look more in his late thirties than his early twenties.

All of a sudden Caleb twitched and his eyes opened.

"What…" His voice cracked and it sounded so painful.

"It's okay. Stay down. You need to rest."

"But…"

"Shhh. You're safe. You're going to be okay. I won't let anything happen to you." Nothing you haven't already done to yourself, she thought.

"Aria…"

"You should really just rest. We'll talk when you're feeling better."

But the stubborn tool would be that easy. "Pogue?"

"He and Branwen had a test they couldn't miss. They should be back…" He voice broke and she gripped her chest.

"Aria?"

She couldn't breathe. She felt like her lungs and heart were being ripped from her body. She could see Caleb struggling to sit up and wanted to tell him to stop and lay down but couldn't. All of a sudden she was the one lying down and he was leaning over her, feeling her pulse, caressing her face, holding her hand. She could see his mouth moving, asking her questions she couldn't hear. She couldn't ever manage an answer, not because she couldn't say it, thought she really couldn't, but because she had no idea what was wrong. All she knew was that it had something to do with…

"Branwen…"

He had bruises on his face and across his upper body, the worst being the one from the seatbelt, but the doctors told him that he was extremely lucky.

"Even when taking into consideration the air bags and seatbelt, Mr. Parry, you were remarkably unharmed in the accident. The Police say that by the time the SUV collided with your vehicle, Miss Argall had managed to get most of the car wedged between some parked cars. The only damage sustained to your side of the car was from it flipping over. You have a rather large bump on your head and some cuts that needed some stitches but after we verify that there isn't any lasting damage, you'll be free to go."

Pogue did not miss the irony that again Branwen has protected him. He'd had a pain in his chest so strong he thought he would pass out when he'd had his conversation with Branwen. He'd had to pace himself because it had taken so much effort to breathe. He no longer doubted he loved her but he didn't realize that loving her would make that conversation so hard. They were only words, right.

Oddly enough, the conversation was over and still some of that pain echoed. The pain of losing Kate hadn't been even remotely close to this.

Kate. He hadn't thought of her, really thought of her, in a while. He'd drawn some comparisons, but even then, his focus had been Branwen.

"Mr. Parry, do you have anyone we can call to pick you up when we release you? We understand you're here for school, so there may not be family close, but even a friend or classmate. We wouldn't recommend driving for a few days at least."

Pogue opened his mouth to say he could call Caleb and the remembered everything that had happened before yesterday. It was weird to think that it had been two days ago that he had been on his road trip with Branwen. When he thought he could still be friends with her. That night everything with Caleb had gone down and yesterday he had taken a test that could mean the end of his education if Branwen's little trip didn't work. They told him he'd been out for four hours the first time he woke up. Then he was in so much pain, admittedly both physical and emotional, that they'd had to sedate him. Deep bruising, they'd suggested. Pogue could only roll his eyes. Yeah, heart-deep pain.

It was now 1pm the day after the accident and he wondered if anyone knew he was missing. If Caleb still hadn't woken up yet, Branwen would be the only one who knew what had happened. She had probably already told Aria. Nathan probably knew too. Despite Pogue's words to Branwen, with Caleb still not mobile, Pogue may actually need Branwen, or at least Nathan's help getting back to his dorm. Or should he be asking to stay at the condo because Caleb was there? Wouldn't that be extra awkward? He may not be happy about everything going on and still confused about most of it, but he did trust that they wouldn't hurt Caleb. Sadly, after the blow up, the question was would Caleb hurt them? Maybe it was Pogue's turn to suffer in order to protect Branwen.

Maybe he should talk to Branwen. Would she pick up? She hadn't been happy with him before…

The accident. They said his side of the car had been protected… what about hers. How had he not thought to ask about her? She would have taken the full force. But she had magic. Surely she would have used her magic to protect herself. He had guessed she had used some to protect him. The cars beside them had not been budging the last time he had taken notice before impact. Pathetically, he had been in so much pain, he hadn't even thought of using. So much pain… why had he been in so much pain before the accident? The conversation with Branwen had been hard… but his pain had grown.

The things that confused him grew daily lately. Deciding these things could wait, Pogue waved down the next nurse that went past.

"Is there something I can help you with, Mr. Parry?"

"I was wondering when Bran… Miss. Argall was being released. I figure I could get a ride with her."

His blood ran cold at the look on her face. "I'm assuming they didn't tell you because you aren't family. Only immediate family is allowed in to see her."

"Why? Where is she?" The calm of his voice surprised him.

"Miss Argall is in the ICU. She is in a coma."

Pogue jumped off the bed and across the room before she was able to stop him. "Mr. Parry, You aren't allowed in there. Only immediate family."

"She has no immediate family. Someone should be in there with her. Is Aria there?"

"Miss Belmonte is not immediate family. She is no longer here. Mr. Gregory is in with Miss Argall."

Pogue couldn't help it, he bristled. "He's not immediate family. Aria is practically her sister."

"Practically her sister does not count." The nurse said, glaring at him for the tone he had just given her. "Mr. Gregory is her fiancé."

Pogue really wanted to tell her Nathan wasn't really her fiancé but figured that would only lead to them checking him in for mental instability. Instead he followed her out to the nurses' station. "Can you please ask Nathan if he'll come speak with me?"

The nurse didn't looked like she wanted to be she nodded and walked off with her clipboard. Pogue went back to his room and sat in the chair, staring at the bed. He could imagine Branwen lying there, unconscious, hooked up to all sorts of tubes. Why hadn't she used her magic to protect herself? She was the all-important descendant, right? She would have some serious magic. Why hadn't he protected her?

Less than ten minutes later Nathan walked in the door, closed it lightly, and had Pogue up against the wall with surprising strength and silence. "What the hell happened and why do you look like this while she is hanging on for her life?"

Pogue wanted to be angry and indignant but had he not just been asking himself the same question? "I don't know. They didn't even tell me about her until just now."

"What Happened?"

"I don't know!"

Nathan released Pogue and stepped away seconds before a nurse peaked in the room. "Is there a problem in here?"

Nathan was all weary smiles and curtesy. "No, sorry. Just worried. Thank you."

The nurse smiled and nodded before giving Nathan a once over and leaving. Of course even now, is a freaking hospital, Nathan was charming women unintentionally with his Southern freaking charm.

"Explain." Nathan finally said. "Explain what happened."

"We went to class, wrote our test and were on our way back home. We stopped at the red light and were talking about everything. When the light turned green, Branwen continued through the light but the SUV coming in the opposite direction veered into our lane and wasn't slowing down. She tried to get out of its way but we were stuck between it and the parked cars. It hit is and then I woke up here."

"And not once did you think, hey, maybe I should remove us from the car? That is something you can do, isn't it?"

"I was in a lot of pain. I was distracted." That sounded like a crappy excuse even to his own ears." It was like…" No, he wasn't going to get into this with Nathan. Not right now.

But Nathan shifted his weight and crossed his arms, giving Pogue a cold glare. "It was like someone was trying to rip your heart out of your chest. Like it had been made someone's life goal to separate every particle of your body from the rest in the most painful way possible."

"Close." Pogue said, confused as to how Nathan would know that. "Maybe not quite that intense."

"Probably because you guys aren't actually dating."

"Now doesn't really seem the time to argue." He said, motioning to the door the nurse had closed only moments before.

"I'm not trying to argue." Nathan said. His glare lessening slightly. "Everybody has instincts. We are all connect to the people we care about. The more we care or the closer we are to them, the stronger the bond. When two magical people are connected, it's even stronger. Both Aria and I experience pain before the accident. Both our bodies and magic reacted to Branwen being in danger. Aria's was almost paralyzing because of her bond with Branwen. Mine was a strong discomfort. It used to be stronger. My grandmother thought it should have been debilitating. But she doesn't know about you."

"Me?"

"My bond isn't as strong as it should be with Branwen because I am not really her fiancé. She doesn't care about me the way she once did. Because she has you." He stepped closer and leaned on the bed. "I read the police report. It says that at the last minute it appears the car was jammed sideways, half out of the way of the SUV. Branwen doesn't like to use magic. She avoids it whenever possible. Our magic doesn't work the same as yours. If we don't use it, it weakens. Branwen had already used a lot of her magic to protect Aria. She used what she had last of her magic to protect you in that accident."

Pogue had already suspected she had used to save him, he just hadn't known it was a her or him kind of thing.

"I really want to hate you." Nathan said. "I really want to flatten you into a wall because she loves you so much that she sacrificed herself for your safety, but I will not make her sacrifice mean nothing. I have done for her what I did for Caleb. She should recover soon. But if this has shown me nothing else, it has shown me that the problems with the coven have to be taken much more seriously. I am going to need your coven's help. I have spoken with Caleb and he is still dealing with the shock but he's agreed to help if you agree to it."

Everything else faded into the background for a moment. "Caleb's awake?"

"I thought he would have contacted you."

"They said my phone didn't make it."

"Well he is at the house, resting. You can stay there too if you'd like."

"I don't know if that's a good idea. What if your grandmother comes over?

Nathan's eyes darkened and he stepped away again. "Due to everything going on, I decided it was time to come clean. There is a good chance I am going to need Maggie's help. She was already suspicious, so it wasn't too surprising. She's disappointed but it wouldn't be the first time I've disappointed her."

A lot had happened while he'd been stuck in the hospital, Pogue thought. Caleb was awake, but Branwen was in a coma. Branwen was no longer engaged, but Pogue had told her he didn't want to be with her. And in the middle of it all, he still didn't know if he had an education in his future or if the Head Coven he had just found out about was going to come and wipe him and his friends off the face of the earth.

And in the middle of it all was Branwen.

"I'll help on one condition. I want you to get me in to see Branwen. Alone."

"She'd in a coma." Nathan said, confused. "She won't wake up for a little while longer."

"I understand. I still want to see her."

Twenty minutes later he stood over her. There was so much beeping and humming from the machines in the room and yet the silence was still deafening. He remembered hospital sounds like echoes from nightmares. His father had slipped into a coma before he had died and Pogue had sat silently by his side like it was his life's purpose. Caleb's mother had told Pogue that sometimes people in comas could still hear you. He hadn't believed her. He'd stayed silent until he couldn't stand it anymore.

When it became too much, Pogue and leaned in and begged his father, with tear-filled eyes, not to leave him. He'd begged him to come back. To stop using his magic and come back so they could be together again. He told his father how he loved Caleb and his family but Pogue didn't want them. He wanted his dad.

The next day Pogue woke to the change in the machines. They didn't beep and hum anymore, but buzzed and blinked. People came in and rushed around until everything stopped, the machines were turned off and there was just Pogue and the deafening silence.

This time would not be the same. This time would be different. This time Pogue would not beg like the terrified child he had been, this time he would be the man his father's death taught his he needed to be.

"Branwen." He repeating his last thought to his cracking voice and began again. "Branwen, I need to tell you something. I need to tell you that…" I love you. No. Now was not the time for that. "I need to tell you that everything is going to be okay. We are going to handle this. All of us. Together. We are going to find a way to fix it. I understand that I screwed everything up when I wouldn't let you go. You screwed it up too. You never should have kissed me. But I will never regret that. And I don't want you to either. So I am going to fix this. No matter what. So get better. Because you don't get to know the plan until you do."

Which means he should probably start coming up with one.

Author's Note:

Sorry all. I know I've been away a very long time. Life has gotten in the way of my writing. Just wanted to reassure everyone that I may be away for long periods of time but I will finished the story. So don't panic. It's not over yet. Far from it.