"Angel."

Rubbing her eyes, Skyla hoped to both clear the few tears she'd shed and confirm whether or not Brandon was really in front of her. When nothing in her vision changed, she stepped forward. Her voice shook "What are you doing here?"

He shook his head, his blonde hair falling in his face, "Lauren told me everything. Angel, please. Come inside." He walked over and hugged her, "Whatever happened, I want you to tell me about it."

Relaxing into his arms, Skyla took a deep breath to calm herself. "You smell like coffee..."

"Good. I know you like it" holding her tighter for a moment, Brandon kissed her head. He let go suddenly, and started leading her toward the house, "You must be tired. We'll talk after you've gotten some sleep."

"Actually, I pretty much just woke up." she laughed softly, "I guess the schedules in the North Pole are different from here."

"So you really were in the North Pole?" he breathed softly, "I'm jealous. It's good to have you back, Angel. Stay for a while, would you?" leading her through the front door, Brandon closed it behind them before helping her take her coat off. "Is this new?"

"It is." As Brandon hung her coat up, she took her shoes off. "What are you doing here?"

"I had to return your mp3. Sorry, Angel, I borrowed it. I added some new music, by the way." He smiled, and Skyla noticed how tired he looked. Like he hadn't slept well the past few days. It worried her to think it was her fault. "Angel. You're staring."

"I know... Wait, why do you keep calling me that?"

"Because that's who you are." He wrapped his arms around her again, "You're my Angel. It was stupid of me to say anything else." Gripping his shirt, Skyla cried silently. Her fear that she'd lost him disappeared, replaced with the guilt of pushing him away.

"I"m sorry. I am. It was all my fault, and I don't know how to fix any of it!" she sobbed softly against him and he started rubbing circles on her back. "I was such an idiot. I didn't want to lose you, but- I'm sorry- I love him."

"Shh, I know. Love makes people do stupid things. And I know it's cliché but I have to say it. You can't help who you love. I understand that. Because I love you. And I can't help it."

"How could you love someone who hurt you? How could you love me after I-"

"Angel. Shut up. I love you. No matter what you do, I will always love you." Kissing her head again, Brandon pulled back to wipe her tears away, "So stop crying. Whatever you're going through, there are people here to help you. People who care about you. You are not alone."

Skyla sniffled and calmed down a little. Smiling softly, she leaned her head against his shoulder, "I really needed to hear that. I don't feel like a part of the team around the Guardians. Jack-" she hesitated. Sighing, she continued, "Jack tries. I know he does. Brandon, thank you. For not hating me, I mean. And I'm sorry, but I can't return your love. Not like I could before."

"...Angel." He draped an arm around her shoulders and led her towards the living room, "There's something I should tell you. Well, there are a lot of things I should tell you. Let's just-" the two sank into the couch, staying close to each other, "Wow. I missed this. Sitting beside you, my arm around your shoudlers-"

"Brandon. I miss it, too. But can we please-"

"Right. Tell me what happened; we need to talk about you first. I'm guessing you didn't want to go through the magic portal."

Laughing softly, Skyla once again relaxed in his arms. It seemed like so long ago that they had done that. Since they had been so close. "No. I did not want to go through the magic portal." she sighed, "I was with Jack-"

Brandon tensed, "Of course you were."

"Do you want to hear the story or not?" she asked impatiently. He apologised quickly and she smiled. It quickly faded as she went on, "Okay. I got worried because the other Guardians weren't around- which they usually were, cause, I mean- never mind, it's another long story. Jack didn't know what was going on either, so I went to go find them"

"Alone? Why didn't he go? I thought they were his friends- or work friends? Accomplices?"

"Jack... Well, it doesn't matter. He was throwing a tantrum. Shut up" she chided Brandon as he snickered. "I went alone. The North Pole is a safe place to be. Besides. He thought that if I found the Guardians then we would be pulled apart. They were, umm, trying to separate us. So he stayed behind. I couldn't find any of them. The yetis wouldn't tell me anything, and neither would the elves-"

"Wait. Can I ask about that?"

"...You don't even have to. Can't understand either of them. But usually they gesture in a direction or something. I pretty much gave up after a while. Then Jack Frost flew up-"

"Show off" Brandon scoffed.

Skyla rolled her eyes, "He's a major show off. Anyway, he flew up. Told me some stuff about keeping safe... Told me he loves me... Kissed me-" Brandon tensed again and she patted his knee. "Sorry. It was an important part, though. Cause after he kissed me he threw me through the magic portal. And I landed right where you found me. Well, not right where you found me," she corrected. "I ran after the portal as soon as I realized what happened."

"And that didn't work. So you're stuck here until Jack Frost comes to get you?"

"Or one of the others, yes. So. Now you know what happened-"

"I only know part of it. But I guess that's the important part. You were sent back here because the Guardians had to go defend the children or whatever." His arm tightened around her, pulling her closer against him, "You're here. That jerk abandoned you-"

"Hey!" Skyla protested, moving away from him, "I know you don't like him, but please try to understand-"

"I am trying. He abandoned you, that's what I understand. Him and the other Guardians-" he stopped suddenly. Running a hand through his hair, he sank back against the couch and laughed, "What the hell are we talking about? Guardians? Spirits? Jack Frost" he stressed the name, disbelief and frustration hanging on each syllable.

Skyla sank back with him, taking his free hand, "I know. It's kind of my life now. If only they would realize that. Like I said, they don't consider me part of the team."

He squeezed her hand, smirking, "You really shouldn't act so affectionate, Angel. I was going to tell you something, right? The reason I came back every day after our fight with the smallest of hope you would turn up."

"...Never mind. I don't want to know." She tried to take her hand away, but he held onto her. "Brandon, please."

"We can talk about Jack Frost all you want. So long as we're talking. But, Angel, you need to know. I want you back. I want you in my arms. I want you to be mine. Except- replace want with need. Because I need you. You think you need Jack? You don't; you have me. I know more about you than he does, and I understand better than he ever could. Remember, back in April when-"

"Yeah, I remember April. And everything else. Do you remember January? Maybe we should talk about that?" His hand let go of hers and she smiled triumphantly, "See? Time and place."

"Well I thought this was a great time to bring up April, but fine. If you're just going to throw January in my face-"

"Of course I am." she argued. Softly, Skyla continued, "I love Jack. There is nothing that can possibly end my love for him. And I won't apologise for that. But I will apologise for hurting you. That was never an intention of mine."

"I know... And I only made it worse. I'm sorry I pushed you away. I didn't want to, you know. I was just-" he sat forward and put his head in his hands. "You probably know everything I want to tell you. All my reasons. All my excuses. I love you, Skyla. And I hate myself for letting you go. Do I have any chance of getting you back?"

Putting a hand in his back, she leaned forward slightly, "Brandon, I love you, too. I really didn't want to say it, because I was worried about how you would take it... But I love you, and I can't deny that. Not to myself, not to you... And not to Jack"

Brandon lifted his head up and stared at her, his hair slightly hiding his brown eyes, "He knows?" he asked, his voice was sad but tinged with hope.

"He knows." Skyla confirmed, "He thinks I love you more than him. Actually, he thinks I just can't love him. Which is total crap- But anyway. Your question? No, it's not likely you will get me back. Not unless you wait until I'm old and grey and Jack doesn't want me anymore-"

"That would make him a hypocrite. He's old. And he's not just grey, he's white! So I've heard. Hair the color of snow? How do you even stand looking at that- I mean, it's very unique." He corrected at her glare, "You're going to look great no matter what age you are. I'll grow old with you, if you'd like"

"I'm staying with Jack." she enunciated slowly, "Him and I will figure something out. I know we will."

Sitting up again, Brandon looked to her seriously, "Skyla. You have him now. But he's a spirit, and you can't expect to be with him forever. Not even for very long. You're already older than him, right? In appearance, I mean. And you'll keep aging until-"

"We have forever." she smiled and her hand left his back and rested on his shoulder, her thumb rubbing a circle there, "We've promised each other forever. He's- He's going to ask me to marry him."

His hand covered hers and his eyes begged with her to see reason, "You can't say that. No matter what you two have been through, you can't just expect him to ask you that. You two have been together for how long? It isn't happening, Sky. It won't."

"It will. I wouldn't say it if I didn't know he would ask me. He- Well, it was sort of strange. He told me himself. He will ask me at a better time and then, when he learns a certain few things about me, we'll set the date."

Brandon's hand slipped from hers, "You're not serious. You're engaged to this guy?!"

"Not... Technically?"

"But you plan to say yes?" When Skyla opened and closed her mouth several times, he finally pushed it closed to shut her up, "So you don't know?" he sighed, "You should figure it out. Figure out what you really want. You don't have to be married to him to be with him."

"I know.. But it would make him so happy-"

"Who cares! What would make you happy? Is it him? Is it spending your life dreaming of things being different so you can have a decent life with the Winter Spirit?" He moved closer, taking her hands again. Skyla didn't move away even as his face came within inches of hers, his warm breath tickling her skin. His voice came out smooth and loving, "Or is it me? A life with me where you don't have to change a thing about yourself, and you don't need to separate yourself from humanity."

Skyla couldn't speak. She didn't dare. She let her grey eyes stare into his brown ones, and that was it. He was so warm next to her; a great contrast from Jack Frost. Even if the cold didn't bother her as much anymore, she knew she would never feel that warmth from him.

"Angel, it shouldn't be this difficult to make a choice. Between me and him, it should be me. I can make you happy, and in the end I can offer you more than he can."

"Because you're human?" she asked quietly.

"Among other reasons, yes." A hand reached up and touched her cheek, "What does he have to offer you? Snow? Every night would be cold if you choose him. Whether he's with you or not. And most of the time he won't be. You know that."

"I can't help who I love, right?" she replied, gaining some of her confidence back. It soon left her again as he moved even closer. Her breath hitched and her heart raced, "I-I love Jack Frost. He's the one I choose. Nothing will change that."

"Oh? Because, while you may be talking about him, you're sitting here with me. And you're not pushing me away no matter how close I get." The hand on her cheek moved to grip the back of her neck, "I love you" He pulled her close, closing the distance and pressing his lips against hers. It was hard, it was passionate, and Skyla couldn't help herself. She started kissing him back, her free hand gripping his shirt and pulling him closer against her.

She would hate herself if it weren't for the heat surging through her. She'd missed that warmth, and how could anyone blame her? She was human. Her whole self needed heat to survive. Each touch was more than enough; like it was flame on her skin.

Brandon leaned against her, pushing her back onto the couch. They lay there, their bodies pressed against each other. Skyla, craving the heat, and Brandon simply craving her. He bit her lip lightly, begging for her to let him in. She started parting her lips when he pulled back, his eyes staring into the hallway.

Skyla nudged him away and followed his line of sight. Lauren stood just outside the living room, staring at the two like she couldn't figure out whether to run or not. "Lau, this isnt-"

"How could you?" the red-head interrupted angrily, "What about Jack?! Are you really going to hurt him like this?!"

"No, I-"

"It was my fault" Brandon stated, standing up. "Don't blame Skyla." he had a blank expression and his voice held no emotion, "Don't tell Jack. You would only complicate things."

"Someone has to tell him! Skyla, if you won't-"

"I will" Skyla answered, her mind going into over-drive "I have to. I'm sorry, Lauren. Please, I didn't mean for that to happen, and it definitely won't happen again" she said with more confidence than she felt. If Brandon kissed her again, she wasn't sure she could resist. She noticed the luggage Lauren had trailed behind her and forgot everything else, "Are you leaving?"

"Oh, yeah! I am. So you have to get out." she eyed the blonde, "You're not welcome here any more. Sky can stay until Jack comes and picks her up. Oh, damn!" she exclaimed as a car horn sounded outside, "That must be the taxi."

"You're leaving your car, too?" Skyla asked, trying to follow what was going on. "And why now? It's the middle of the night!"

Lauren sighed, "Flight schedule. I'm not really going to need a car, am I? Now, really, Brandon needs to leave. You can lock us out, but I'm making sure he's gone before I go. Help me take my bags out?"

Completely lost on the situation, Skyla helped out as much as she could. Brandon did too, until Lauren shooed him away. He waved to Sky, shrugged, and drove away.

"You can come find me sometime." the red-head mentioned, "You and Jack, I mean. I doubt you'll be leaving his side any time soon. You know how much I missed him the first time he left. Now I'm losing you both."

"Lau, you'll have plenty of shopping time to get over it. And, in case you can't tell, I'm not exactly by his side right now." The cab driver gestured at them like he was in a hurry and Sky rolled her eyes. Taking her time thinking of what to tell Lauren, she played with a loose strand of hair, "Actually... The thing about Jack is-"

"Ha! You think you can tell me something about him I don't know? I really doubt that. Anyway, give him a hug for me. Tell him I already miss him, blabla. Bye, Skyla! You know I suck at goodbyes so let's just say see you later? Thanks for being the best roomie ever!" Lauren mumbled something as she closed the car door behind her.

Sky decided to ignore it. Waving at her friend, she said a short, "See you later" before the taxi finally sped off and she was left alone again. "Not like I had a million things to talk to you about" she sighed, "What the hell"


NOTES:
Okay
So here you go
Thanks for reading
Reviews, please!
Questions that I have asked previously are still on my mind.
I would like your opinions!
Love Y'all *hearts*