This is my first reviewer inspired chapter. A heartfelt thanks to murgatroid-98 for the idea.

P.S The italic is the memory, the bold is speaking aloud, the bold italic is mind speaking.

After a few hours people headed to bed. Annika and Andre stayed in the living room, gazing into the fire. Andre caressed her hair, amazed by it's softness. Finally he asked the question that had bothered him for a while.

"How did you escape?"

Annika was silent for a moment. Andre wasn't sure that she was going to answer. Then she opened her mind to his. The memories swamped him.

The caves had been her home for years, as long as she could remember. By now she knew the routine, she would wake up, eat the meager rations, console the other children, wait for Razvan to be taken over by Xavier, he would drink her blood, every other day Xavier would rape her.

All in all, it was her life.

In the evenings, when Xavier was gone, Razvan whispered to them about the outside world. He told them of the trees, the grass, the freedom to go wherever they wanted. A place where they had real names. It was these stories that kept them alive and sane. There was always hope.

He told her of the Carpathian way, how to hold on to honor, and to never let anyone hurt her family. He told her of the miracle of lifemates, and how someday she would find someone to help her.

Razvan had been conserving his strength, waiting to strike at Xavier. Finally the day came.

Thirteen warned the other children. Six was her second in command. Together they soothed the others, telling them that today was the day. Of course, they didn't really know what day was. It could have been night, for all they knew.

Thirteen waited for Razvan's signal. He had waited for Xavier to take him over. Then he made his strike. Father pinned Xavier down, in his own mind. Go, he yelled to her, go now! Take all the others, so that I can't hurt you anymore!

Thirteen knew that she only had half an hour at the most. Signaling Six, she raced from her cell, running to the two Three's cell. She directed Six to take Two, and told the two Fives to run behind them.

Following the directions in Razvan's mind, she took the other children up to the surface. Finally, they burst from the ground, into the glaring sun. Thirteen covered the other children as much as she could, protecting their sensitive skin while she blistered. Six did the same.

Come on, she told them, we have to get as far as we can. The children stumbled blindly after her. Turning her face to the sky she made an oath that she would always protect them, and never let them be taken back into a prison.

The memories skipped ahead, Andre caught glimpses of stealing food, huddling under bridges, fighting off human predators and others like them for food sources. The danger of kind old ladies offering them food and places to stay. There was one last memory.

Thirteen was now Fourteen. Six was now Seven. The two Fives had taken Six's old name. The two Three's were now Four. And the Two, was Three.

She had watched the human couple for a few weeks. They lived simply, harvesting food from the land. Fourteen had stolen a few melons, giving them to the others. She and Seven often went without so that the others might have food. As it was, they were all skinny, on the border of starvation. She knew that she and the others couldn't keep this up soon. They needed food, one of the Fours was sick and needed care that Fourteen didn't know how to provide.

Fourteen stayed in the trees watching the old man and woman. They loved each other, that much was plain. Gently, she touched their minds. Kindness swept over her. She read the images of their past, they had been rebels, refusing to go to war for something that wasn't right. They had traveled around the country in a minibus with other rebels. Lucky for them, they had transportation.

Fourteen came to her decision. They couldn't keep running. If anyone could accept them, it was this old couple. Carefully, she returned to the others, telling them of her plan. They agreed readily. Their trust in her was frightening. Silently, she renewed her vow that nothing would hurt them ever again.

When the old couple went to bed Fourteen moved her family to their porch. She had to carry the sick Four on her back. When they had reached the shelter, Fourteen looked at them. She had cleaned them up as best she could but they were still grimy.

Slowly morning came. The old woman came outside and stopped when she saw them. "Can we stay here?" Fourteen asked. "We can help with the farming."

The old woman looked at them with shock, but didn't hesitate to usher them inside. The old man looked surprised as well, but hurried to put food on the table. The others didn't touch it until Fourteen nodded. She told their story to the couple. She felt her own shock when they agreed to keep them and not tell the state authorities. The old woman told her that she had been raised in a foster home and wouldn't give any child up to that kind of life.

"So we've been here ever since," Annika told Andre. She had tears in her eyes. "They accepted our differences, and raised us as their own."

Andre held her until she cried herself out. He remained silent for a few moments longer. "Forrest and Celyn?" he asked hesitantly. Annika laughed and opened her mind again.

She had a name now, it was Annika Jensen. Years had passed. They were quite comfortable in their life. They had discovered that they had gifts. Annika had known that they were all part Carpathian, so it made sense. Oliver had contacted one of his psychic friends and asked for good books on controlling psychic energy. They had been surprisingly useful.

She had been weeding the west garden when she first saw them. Immediately her senses screamed predators. Slowly, Annika rose to her feet calling her family. "Hey," she said noncommittally.

There were two of them, a male and a female. They looked to be around seventeen and eighteen. The way the male stood it was clear that they were on the defensive. He had put himself between him and the female, protecting her.

Annika reached out with her mind, trying to see if they were a threat. She met the male somewhere in the middle, two dominant minds vying for supremacy. It felt like hitting a lightning bolt, or running into a wall.

Annika hid her shock. "You're like us. Who are you?"

The female glanced away, "We don't know. We only remember till five months ago. We came to together, we've been wandering around since."

"What are your names?"

"I'm Celyn, that's Forrest. We don't have last names."

Annika nodded, then spoke to Danica, Hey ask Tabitha and Oliver if we have room for two more misfits.

Tabitha says bring them on in, came the reply.

Annika pulled herself out of the memory. Andre crushed her to his side in a hug. He couldn't explain the feelings that coursed through his body. He identified gratefulness towards her adoptive parents, anger at what she had been through, and resolve that he would help her keep her family safe.

He kissed her hair, then traveled down to her mouth where he teased and nibbled, insisting on entry. Without hesitation Annika gave it to him. I want to be past that, she whispered.

The sound of her voice caressed his mind like a butterfly wing, increasing his need for her. Andre groaned, You cannot do that to me and not expect retaliation.

Annika laughed softly. He made her feel things that she had never felt before. Her body wept for his, every cell reacted to his touch. And he was touching her. His hands caressed her hips, her back, as if memorizing the feel of her.

Belatedly, Andre remembered to put safeguards up around them, hiding them from sight and sound. Returning to the matter at hand he willed their clothing away. He felt her stiffen, then force herself to relax. His hand cupped the damp curls. He was rewarded with a wave of liquid.

She keened, there was a firestorm in her blood, Annika pushed down against his hand, trying to get relief.

Andre stared down at her perfect breasts. They rose up and down with her breathing. Gently, he began suckling. She writhed, pushing against his mouth. He suckled harder and nearly lost his mind when another wave of liquid dampened his hand. He kissed his way down to her lower stomach, pausing to tease her belly button. He kissed the damp curls, waiting for her to meet his eyes. The need in them was nearly his undoing. He slipped a finger inside her, then another one, stretching her, pressing against her most sensitive spot.

She fragmented, the waves of pleasure bordering on pain. She bucked, trying to get away from the sensation of falling apart. Andre held her still, taking her over the edge again and again. He bent down and speared deep with his tongue. She tasted like fire, like warmth left over from the sun kissed rocks. She screamed, bucking against his arms holding her down like steel cables.

He couldn't wait another moment. Holding her still he pressed his shaft against her opening. She gasped, eyes flying open. Slowly, he began to invade her. She pushed against him, trying desperately to get relief. He gave her a smack on her perfect bottom, reminding her who was boss.

He pistoned into her, deep, lodged against he womb. He bent over her, so that he was pressed against her throbbing clit. Her release came quickly, overpowering. The rush of honey cream was his undoing, he drove into her, spilling his seed. He collapsed over her, drained.

Thank you, she whispered.

For what?

For being gentle, for reminding me that it didn't have to be horrible. For caring.

Sivamet, we have all night for more, he promised.