A/N: WRITING CHAPTER 7! PROMISE! Jeaniverre is working on it at the moment. We've finally got a plot. We're so happy;)

A/N2: Co-written with Jeaniverre; this one has been revised.

"Lissa?" My mother's voice was calling me from the living room.

My eyes fluttered open and I rolled over, bumping into something... someone? "Sorry, Alex," I slurred, rolling the other way. Wait... "No!" I shot up, eyes wide, forcing him on his feet. "You have to go!"

He made for the window, but it didn't budge.

"Closet!" I hissed in a panic.

When my mom walked in, I smiled at her. "Hi, mom."

"Hi honey. Did you have a good time on your date?" She leaned on the doorframe.

"Yeah, it was, uh, great." That was an understatement.

"Okay so... what happened?" Maybe letting him hide in the closet wasn't such a good idea...

"Nothing, really," I lied unconvincingly, hoping against hope that he wasn't listening.

My mother raised an eyebrow. "You aren't a good liar, and I'm not stupid."

My mouth dropped open. "Mom!"

"What? I was a teenage girl once, and from experience-" I would not let her finish that thought.

I stood up and shoved her out the door. "Get out!"

"I'm going, I'm going! But, baby, promise me something," she whispered before leaving. I couldn't help but sense the importance of whatever she had to say.

"Yes?" I turned around.

"Promise me you won't be reckless," she stressed.

"Mom!" Really, mom? Really? You're going to do this with my boyfriend in the closet? Really?

"Just, promise me," she begged.

I consented, just wanting her out.

"Goodnight, honey." She whispered, kissing my forehead.

"'Night, mom," I sighed with relief as she shut the door.

When she was gone, Alex slid my closet door open. "I got it before, but I really understand, now."

"Understand what?" I asked, slightly confused.

"Why you stopped last night."

"Oh..." Blood rushed to my face as he sat across from me on my bed.

"I won't do anything you don't want me to, that makes you uncomfortable," he reassured me, taking my hand in his.

"I love you, Alex," I whispered, fighting tears, oblivious as to why I was so emotional.

"I love you, Lissa." He said it as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "I always will. Imprint or not."

I thought about that for a moment. "What happens if I imprint?"

His eyes clouded over suddenly. "You won't."

"Never?"

"Leah hasn't," he said sorrowfully.

"She hasn't met him yet," I assured him.

He was quiet for a few minutes. "I don't think you ever will. Sam's theory is that we imprint with the person who will make the most powerful descendents. But since you two won't be having kids for a few decades..."

"Understandable," I stated.

"Does that bother you?" He asked, sounding worried.

"What- that I can't have kids? I really hadn't thought about it. I never really saw kids in my future anyway." I shook my head. The cloud of gloom didn't go unnoticed, however.

"You don't have to live your life like this," Alex said painfully.

"Live like what?"

"You don't have to be like the rest of us. You can live a normal life. You know, 'give up the wolf', and whatnot," he whispered.

"No! Oh, no, I'm comfortable, I'm fine, for now," I smiled weakly. The conversation wasn't finished. I knew there would be more words later on, but I didn't want to argue right now.

Sensing my withdrawal, he squeezed my hand and kissed my forehead. "Werewolves need sleep too, you know," he said, standing up and checking his watch. "I'd better go."

"Are you sure? Because last time I checked, you hadn't-"

"I have parents, too," he smiled.

"Which I'll get to meet, right? Formally, I mean." I grinned up at him impishly.

"Sure," he chuckled, pecking me on the cheek and climbing out the window to run home. He leapt to the ground and jogged into the woods. I smiled to myself, collapsing on my bed from exhaustion, knowing that my mother would flick off the light that I was too tired to turn off.