She was so hot. She could feel the sweat pooling into every crevice of her body. She had no idea what was causing the enormous amount of heat in the room. It was early spring. Even in California, it didn't get this hot until later in the year.

She shifted and realized with more than a little panic that her mattress was moving under her. It was rising and falling like the easy waves of the water lapping against the beach at low tide. She rolled with the movement. Sleep still had enough of a hold of her mind that she could almost imagine herself on a boat, drifting peacefully out to sea.

But then she was reminded once again of the heat and decided she really needed to move away from whatever mysterious force was causing it.

Blinking lazily as she tried to rid herself of the grogginess that consumed her, her eyes found her alarm clock and she saw that it barely past one in the morning. She had no idea why she was awake yet again at an ungodly hour of the morning. Then her mattress moved again and she glanced down and immediately understood why.

She silently chided herself as she recognized the position she was in. She was draped over a sleeping Patrick, literally sprawled across his chest as if he were a living pillow. Her chest rested squarely over the center of his. Her legs were still secured to either side of his thighs and she winced as she shifted and found her hips protesting wildly and loudly at the movement. His arms were holding her to him tightly, embracing her to his chest. She squirmed and rolled off of him before moving away from his body completely.

She wasn't this girl. She didn't know what was going on with her. This was ridiculous. Here she was lounging all over a man like he was the only thing saving her from drowning. It was so cliche and disgusting.

That was what she was. She was disgusted with herself. Disappointed that she had let herself get this far gone without pulling back.

He had warned her. None of this was his fault and as she looked up into his peacefully sleeping face, she knew she wasn't mad at him for any of this. He had none his best to stop this all from happening.

She brushed a wayward curl from his forehead and smiled when he unconsciously leaned into her touch. His lips were pursed just slightly and she felt herself blush as she remembered exactly how those lips had made her feel when they were pressed against her skin. Running a finger over them softly, she let herself indulge in that memory for a moment before going back to kicking herself for her lack of self control.

She finally pulled away from him completely moving as far to the side of the bed as she could. She didn't want to touch him for a moment. She needed to think about everything that had happened, what she had done. How would he react when he woke ? Would this new step in their relationship bring about reactions in him that she couldn't deal with ? Would he turn possessive and clingy now ? Would he suddenly pull away now that he had gotten what he ultimately wanted from her ? Would he pretend nothing had happened ?

What the hell had she done ?

Once her body left his, he shifted in his sleep, rolling to his side and stretching into a more comfortable position. She watched him move and let herself enjoy it for a few moments. She loved the way he moved. He was so fluid and graceful, despite his long limbs and body. He was so comfortable in his own skin and it showed in the way he executed very movement he had. She wished she were even a degree of that kind of perfect.

So flawless, she thought as her eyes settled on his face. Even when he was awake and that crease appeared between his brows, or his beautiful eyes widened in surprise or disbelief, or his mouth quirked up at the corners and his lips formed that smile, the lopsided, smug, arrogant one that drove her crazy.

Crazy, that was exactly what she was. She was completely crazy for this man-boy that had infiltrated her life so utterly. And she was crazy for letting herself feel this much for him.

His hand came out suddenly and it appeared as if he were searching for something. That crease appeared in his brow when he didn't find it and his eyes slowly began to blink at his awakening.

" Where did you go ?" He asked when he finally opened them fully and found her clinging to the opposite edge of the bed.

" I just.." Her words failed her as she tried to find a way to explain what she was feeling. " I needed a minute." She ultimately stated a touch lamely.

He shifted again, propping himself up on his elbow and looking her over critically. " You needed a minute for what ?" His voice was full of genuine concern now and all signs of sleep had left his face.

" To think." She answered. .

" Kat," His tone was edged with a warning to it that said he would not take any kind of rejection from her well at this point. " Don't do this."

" Do what ?" She shrugged in feigned innocence. She knew exactly what he was talking about. She was freaking out and he could see it all over her face, sense it in the set of her shoulders.

" You know exactly what. This is a good thing." He reminded her. " We both enjoyed it. Nothing is going to change. Just stop, right now." His voice was harsh, edged and insistent.

And he was right. Everything he said was completely correct. This was a good thing. Everything was wonderful. She loved him, he loved her. There was no need to panic.

Taking a deep breath, she let it out slowly and eased back towards him. He grabbed her out of nowhere and yanked her against him before smothering her lips with his.

When she managed to breath again, she found herself laying flat on the bed with him hovering over her, nearly surrounding her with his body. " There." He smirked as he leaned back enough to see the smile that was easing across her face. " That's my girl."

She punched him and he winced in response. " See, like I said, nothing changed."

" Don't call me your girl. It's demeaning, demoralizing and sexist." She announced.

He chuckled quietly before kissing her again. She could feel his smile against her lips. " I love you." He breathed when he let her go.

" I love you, too." She whispered as she cupped his face in her hand.

He leaned into her touch just as he had while he was asleep and she lost herself in his eyes for a few moments. Then reality set back in and she looked away quickly.

" There you go thinking again." He jerked, jarring her attention back to him. " If I have to keep kissing you to stop that from happening, it could get a touch awkward at the dinner table or during class, but I'm willing." He warned her.

She laughed despite herself. He had a way of making her do that, laughing when it was the last thing she felt like doing. It was one of his gifts. One of the things she loved the most about him.

" My dad's heart is only so strong. Please don't make me an orphan by attempting to make out with me at our dinner table." She joked.

" Like I said, it could get awkward. But," He shrugged. " Whatever it takes."

He shifted, taking himself off of her and bringing her into his side as he laid down next to her. It was one of those smooth movements that she so admired. Not only did he have complete control over his own body, apparently he had control over hers as well and could easily manipulate them both simultaneously. It was an amazing ability.

" So what happens now ?" She asked as she settled her head on his shoulder and snuggled in tighter to him.

" What do you mean ?" He wondered, glancing down at her for clarification.

" You said nothing's changed. But that's not true. Everything's changed today. Nothing will ever be the same between us again." She tried to explain.

" Only if we let things change. We are in control here. What is it that you're worried about ? Do you think that now that we have sex, it's all we'll do ?" He asked, leaning up further so he could see her better.

" Well, maybe." She answered, suddenly understanding that, that was exactly what she was worried about. She didn't want to lose him the way he was before. The sex was amazing, there was no denying that and she wanted to repeat the experience, over and over again. But she didn't want to lose the long talks they had, or the rides to the beach, or the late night conversations on the phone. Would all that stop now that there was something better to do ? Would she lose her friend in lieu of him becoming her lover ?

He shifted again, arranging himself lower on the bed so that he was level with her face and looking into her eyes. " I've already told you this isn't the reason I'm here." He answered her sincerely. " It was great, don't misunderstand me. And I want to do it again," He glanced down at her bare chest and smirked, " Soon, and often." That earned him a chuckle in response and it encouraged him to continue. " But it isn't all I want from you. There is so much more than just this between us."

She blinked as she felt a sudden rush of tears burning the corners of her eyes. " You're my best friend." She whispered quietly.
" And you're mine." She raised her eyes back to his with a finger under her chin. " And sex isn't going to change that. It just gives us yet another thing to do when we're together." He smiled again. " See, we have so much to do, we'll never get bored with each other. I'll prove it to you, even."

" How will you do that ?" She asked, curiously.

" Saturday night, we'll dress up, do dinner, maybe a movie, the works." He offered.

" Like a date ?" She ventured.

" Exactly like a date. I'll even ask your dad's permission and sit through the damn films." He muttered.

" We'll pay for dinner ?" She teased him remembering their first experience at this kind of thing.

He nodded. " I'll pay for dinner and the movie. All you have to do is be here, ready to go at six, wear a dress and let me drive your car."

" I'll drive." She announced with a smile.

" No, it doesn't work that way. I drive, I pay, I even open all the doors for you." He smiled back.

" That won't be necessary. I promise I possess the mental capacity to understand how a door works." She rolled her eyes.

" Don't start Joan of Arc, No one is trying to lit you on fire. Ease back on the feminism. I get it, you are woman, here you roar." He rolled his eyes back at her.

She laughed out loud, a touch too loudly and he quieted her with a quick kiss.

" Something tells me your father won't let me take you out Saturday if he comes in here and finds us naked in bed together on Thursday. I'm just guess here, though." He laughed with her.

" No, I'm guessing there aren't enough films in his library to make him okay with this set up." She confirmed. " But I don't think he's home yet. He said he'd be all night."

" He came home about an hour and a half ago. I heard him coming up the stairs." Patrick informed her.

" That's funny." She muttered as she eased up from the bed. " I usually wake up when I hear his car pull in."

She rose from the bed, dragging one of the sheets with her, holding it to her chest with one hand while she went to the window to look down at the driveway. The only car she found there was her own.

" Dad's not home." She shook her head.

" Well," He got up to and came to stand beside her, not bothering to pull a sheet with him. She glanced around at him and found herself captivated by the moonlight that played off of the plains and plateaus of his chest. " Someone was here and it didn't sound like Bianca's dainty little footsteps."

She suddenly registered what he was saying and a panic began to form around the corners of her mind. Was there someone in the house ? An intruder ? Someone waiting outside in the shadows of the hall to grab either her or her sister if they ventured from their rooms ?

He must have recognized the look on her face because he moved to the foot of the bed and snatched his jeans from the floor. Tugging them on quickly, he came back and placed a kiss on her lips. " Stay here. I'll check it out." He told her. Then he turned as he reached the door and gave her a smirk. "Where is Joan of Arc now ?" He teased. " Oh, Patrick there's a big bad person roaming around in my house," He mocked, " Protect me from it."

She snatched a stuffed animal from her desk and threw it at him before he manage to get out the door.

She followed him to the door and stood there with it cracked listening intently for any signs that he had found trouble. She found herself chewing on her bottom lip and fought off the urge to pace.

When he reappeared a few minutes later with a bemused look on his face, she heaved a sigh of relief.

" What ? Is everything alright ?" She asked.

" Ah," He pulled her into him. " Honey, you were worried about me."

She smacked him response.

" Everything is fine. Seems Bianca is having her own sleepover." He informed her as he tugged off his jeans and got back into bed.

" What ?" Kat demanded as she joined him on the bed. " My little sister is having sex next door ?"

" No," He shook his head, but the smile remained in place. " I'm pretty sure they're done now. They seem to be sleeping."

" Who ?"

He blinked at her in confusion. " Uh, Donner, her boyfriend."

Kat rolled her eyes again. So much for her attempt. Ah, well, It was Bianca's life. Kat wasn't required to like her boyfriend.

" They aren't nearly as smart as we are." He informed her. " I mean her door wasn't lock. I just turned the knob and it opened right up. Has she met your father ?"

Kat laughed. " Maybe I should call her and warn her to lock it."

" I locked it for them when I shut the door. I'd say Donner owes me one for that."

He had snatched up one of the blankets and it was resting low over his waist. Kat let her eyes trail down the length of his chest and found herself fascinated by the contours of his hips, the trail of hair that led under the blankets and the bumps of muscles made by his abs.

She didn't realized she was doing it until her hand came into her vision, but she watched, mesmerized by it as her fingertip bumped over said abs and ran through the length of hair.

He grabbed her hand by the wrist and she suddenly found herself sprawled over his chest indecently. " Woman, are you insatiable. I've created a monster." He smiled before pulling her down for a kiss.

" Well, I figured since we have definitely made solid plans that don't involve sex, we could indulge ourselves while we have the opportunity." She answered as she wiggled her lower body over his.

He hissed and gasped into her mouth as they kissed again. " Who said Saturday's plans don't involve sex ?" He teased. " If I'm going through all that effort, I expect to get laid."

" Are you planning on asking my father's permission for that as well ?" She laughed as his hands settled onto her hips.

" Do you think I should ?" He countered, bantering right along with her, another reason she loved him so much.

" I thought we just discussed you not making me an orphan."

He sighed and looked a little put out. " You mean you want me to lie to him ? I don't that's the proper way to start a relationship between us."

She smirked this time. " Maybe you're right. Tell him everything you plan to do with me. Don't leave out any detail and let me know how that works out for you."

He winced and pretended to cower in fear even as his hands started to move along her sides seductively. " I think I like all my parts where they are. And I'm pretty sure you're in agreement with me here." He punctuated the statement by raising his hips and grinding one of her favorite parts of him into her thigh.

She tossed her head back to give him access to her neck as his lips began to trail down her jaw. " Can we please stop talking about my father now ?"

" Yeah, that sounds like a good plan." He agreed before dipping his head to the valley between her breasts.

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Author's note : I just wanted to take a minute to say thank you to everyone that's reviewed. They really do keep me going. I also wanted to add my two cents into the mix over the demise of this great show. I want to do bad things to the PTB at ABC family. This show deserves a chance it never really got. And I want to wish great luck and great success to the people who put it together and worked hard to keep it going. May your next ventures be successful ones. A particular note to Lindsey Shaw and Ethan Peck, you have done a wonderful job making these characters real and lovable. I truly hate to see them go, but know that you have fans that love you and we will be watching for you where ever you end up next.