I know I haven't updated for days, cause I'm on vacation right now, enjoying the inspiring Mediterranean sea :) Hope you all have a good summer time! ( Although I'm missing winter :) )

1 Week Later

Ben stared at the empty bottle of beer in front of him. He was thinking of the things he had went through before he came to Washington. His miserable childhood with his mother... How he was blamed for the murders in London... How he became bitter when he was forced to move from London.

But now there was something else in his mind. Something which made him want to forget about everything he had experienced before... Something that could take all sadness away... It was Aurah's witty words with her velvet voice that he couldn't help thinking of!

"This is wrong," he muttered to himself. "This is sick! She's only twelve!" He creaked his teeth irascibly.

He ran his fingers through his hair and leaned against the fridge where he took another bottle of beer. It wasn't his habit to drink in the mornings. Especially on Sunday morning!

Just he was about to open the bottle, his cell phone vibrated. He took it out of his pocket and he froze! It was Samuel calling! Was it another favour time? Was he going to ask him take care of Aurah again? The smile yanked the corners of Ben's mouth automatically.

"Hello?" He picked up.

"Hello, arrogant Brit!" A naughty voice came from the otherside of the line.

"A... Aurah?" Ben stuttered.

"None other!" She yelled.

What's happening to me? Why am I getting excited to get a call from a twelve-year-old girl? Ben thought. He tried to assume on a serious air:

"What do you want?"

Aurah laughed silently. "You've become even more polite since I last saw you."

Ben heaved a sigh. "Aurah, what is it that you want?"

"I missed you."

Ben paused. The only sound was his heartbeat which Aurah could hear very well. That's why she continued with self-confidence.

"Samuel was called from the hospital. An emergency occured. Which means I'm all by myself. I thought we could meet somewhere, see a movie or just wander around..."

"I don't think so."

"Why?"

"I'm busy today." He lied.

"Stop lying Benjamin!" Aurah growled.

"Why don't you hang out with friends of your age? Like Jesse, maybe?"

"First; Jesse is technically not my age." Aurah replied smugly. "Second; she hasn't made it back yet from her mother's city. Third; I have enough of friends in hometown, New York. And I only make friends with people I'm interested in."

"Thanks, I'm very flattered," Ben groused.

"You should be!" After a short pause, she said; "I'm getting dressed now. Meet me at the mall in fiftteen minutes. And Benjamin, don't make me wait!"

"Aurah..." But before Ben could say another word, Aurah hung up.

"Crazy little bitch!" Ben groused under his teeth as he put his phone back into his pocket.

He turned around to meet his reflection in the hall mirror where he put on his tie everyday before he left for work. His eyes were shiny. His cheeks were all pink. Wo am I fooling? He sucked in a deep breath. I missed her, too!

And he found the perfect excuse to releave himself. If he didn't go meet her now, she would be all by herself on the streets where drifters are hanging around. He changed his shirt and put his new jeans on. Just before he left, he suddenly turned around and took a tiny little bottle out of the drawer. A bottle of perfume that he'd never used before... Now he was not only looking good, but also smelling good...

At the Mall

Ben had driven at the speed of light to arrive there before Aurah. So, he had to wait for five minutes at the entrance before Aurah came with her red dress and converse shoes. Was she looking taller than she was a week before?

"Hi there!" Aurah waved her hand happily.

"Hi," Ben murmured.

"Thanks for coming!"

"Like I had a choice!" Ben couldn't help but laugh.

Aurah smiled. "Shall we eat something? I'm starving like a wolf."

"Sure."

Ben bought two XL chicken menu from Burger King. Aurah was way faster than Ben at eating! She finished her meal first. Ben slowly raised his head and examined her.

"You look different," he said.

Aurah raised her eyebrows. "In terms of what?"

"Could you stand up for one second?"

Aurah pushed her chair back and came to her feet.

Ben was bewildered. "I thought I was confused when I saw you walking towards me. But I've become sure now. You're taller than before!"

Aurah sat back to her chair grinning. "I played some basketball this week. Seemingly it worked out very well."

"And your face looks a little bit different." Ben frowned.

"Is it better or worse?" Aurah lowered her eyelids.

Ben blushed. "Just different..."

"Why are you trying so hard to hold aloof? I saw that you're pretty comfortable with Warren and Mercy and even with your Alpha. But when it comes to me, you're acting like you're sitting on a time bomb!I don't know why."

"Aurah," Ben muttered, sucking in hard breath, "You stand so close to me. It bewilders me. No, it knocks me!" He put his hand on his forehead. "And when you act like that, I feel myself like a..."

"Pedophile?"

Ben immediately looked away like he was haunted by some of his unpleasent memories. He didn't say anything.

Ben?" Aurah leaned forward and took his hand. "You're not a pedophile. Cause you're NOT that kind of person. You may be sexist, arrogant and noisy, but you CAN'T be a real pyscho!" She paused for a moment and smiled. "A bad guy would never bother to save a cat from an exploding trailer coach by throwing himself into the flames!"

Ben was struck dumb. When he collected himself, he managed to ask; "Who told you this?"

"Warren and I had some chat last Thursday when he stopped by. He told me about what had happened to Mercy's ex trailer coach. That poor cat could have been piecrust if you hadn't jumped inside there following Adam."

Ben blushed to the roots of his hair. Aurah cracked a bigger smile and decided to change the subject:

"So... Which movie are we gonna watch now? I'm interested in SALT."

"As you wish." Ben bowed his head quizzically.

They came to their feet and walked side by side to the film theather...

At the Hospital

"I hate traffic accidents," Samuel said to the head nursein the hallwhile he was walking to his doctor office. "Fortunately, it all went well. Some suturing and some dressing for the wounds..."

"I'm glad to hear that," Melinda, the head nurse, answered without raising her head from the paperworks.

When Samuel walked inside her office and checked out his cell phone, he found two missed calls from Angelina, Aurah's mother. He immediately called her back.

"I was working, sorry. Is everything all right?" He asked.

"I'm not sure." Angelina's voice was tense. "I talked to Aurah on my videophone this morning. She looked a little bit different to me. Didn't you notice?"

"Well, I can't say I didn't," Samuel answered. "She got taller in one week. I was planning to talk to you about that, actually."

"I guess she has started growing now. That's what occurs to me."

"How could it be?"

"Samuel, the main question should be WHY, rather than how!" Angelina said.