Author's Note: OMG! I haven't updated in forever and I am truly sorry for that. I was extremely busy and when I would try to write, I had writer's block. It totally sucked and I am eternally sorry. So, I will reward you. I will post this chapter and an epilogue. Thanks to the people who took the time to review. I really love reviews. Anyway,I kinda had a hard time imagining what the others' reactions would be, but I just thought "Ah hell, I'll just wing it and see what happens". Hopefully, I can wing it with success. Oh, and because it was hard to imagine the others' reactions, this will be from Chloe's POV and how she sees the others react.

Disclaimer: I don't own Darkest Powers or any of the characters. Kelley does.

So, without further ado…I give you The Others…

Crystal

The Others

CPOV

When we finally broke apart we decided to tell the others as soon as we walked in the door and had everyone gathered around. As we entered the house, we noticed that everything was quiet. I glanced over to Derek to see if he had any idea of what was going on. He looked just as confused as me.

"What the hell happened in here?"

"Beats me. But I can smell them in the living room. All three of them are in there and are being exceedingly quiet."

"Huh." We walked into the living room and were met with the most bizarre sight. Tori and Simon were sitting on the couch. They weren't fighting (for once), but were glaring at Andrew…and he was tied to a chair in the middle of the room with duct tape over his mouth. They all looked up when we entered the room.

"Ummmm...What happened in here?"

Tori glared at Andrew, then answered. "Simon and I heard what Andrew said about Derek yesterday."

Then Simon piped up. "Then this morning, he came to tell us that Derek was dangerous and tried to say that you were too powerful to let live (Derek growled at that). Tori and I didn't agree about both of those "points" and tried to enlighten him."

Tori spoke up. "He didn't agree with us and tried to use his magic against us. I put him in a binding spell and then Simon tied him up. Then, we combined our magic to put a holding spell on him so that he couldn't get out of his little chair or use his magic."

"Ooookkkkaaayyy…um, thank you? For not believing him?"

"I may hate you guys most of the time, but even I know that he's wrong." Wow, Tori defending us? She continues to surprise us all.

"We have something to tell you guys." A knowing look from Tori and a worried glance from Simon.

"W-w-well…D-D-D-Derek a-a-a-and I-I-I-I-I…"I was so nervous that my stutter was worse than ever.

So Derek stepped in with his typical blunt-force-trauma style of conversation. "Chloe and I are together. She's my mate."

"I knew it!" Tori practically squealed.

"What?" Simon looked dumbfounded. To try to clear things up, I stepped back and leaned against Derek. He wrapped his arms around my waist and kissed my temple, claiming me.

"I'm sorry, Simon." I tried to explain. "I thought that I liked you (Derek's arms tightened around me, like he was making sure I couldn't go anywhere. I patted his arm in reassurance and continued.), but I think of you just as a brother. I love Derek."

"Oh." He looked a little pale.

"We are truly sorry Simon." Derek continued for me. "I tried to convince her that I wasn't any good for her. As usual, she was stubborn and she won that argument. I love her with my whole being and I couldn't deny that anymore."

While he was speaking, Simon started to regain his color and he looked like was accepting what we were saying.

"Okay. I understand. I remember Dad telling you about the whole mate thing and that that she's really hard to find and what your mate means to you. I'm happy for you." Simon smiled. "I really am happy for you."

I glanced past him to Tori. "You know, I think that this is the longest silence that I've ever witnessed from you."

She shrugged. "I knew that this would probably happen sooner or later." She smiled. "I think that you're good for Wolfboy and that you look happy." Again with the surprises. I was left speechless from her little speech.

Andrew was bug-eyed. Not even a duct-taped-muffled profanity escaped his mouth.

We might still be in danger from the Edison Group but we had each other, our make-shift family. I wouldn't have it any other way. I had Derek, my man and my mate, I had Simon and Tori, my two best friends, and we were safe for the moment, even with an enemy tied to a chair in the living room. Things would turn out okay; we would succeed in the destruction of the Edison Group. Until then, we would enjoy our time at the safe house.