It's early in the morning where I'm at and that's when I always make brash decisions, so here I am posting another chapter. I actually wrote this one months ago, I knew this scene needed to happen but it didn't fit into the plot until now. I just knew it event occurred in the lives of Chloe and Alek, it was playing on repeat in my head until I wrote it, so here it is. That actually happens a lot, I have other chapters floating around in my brain that I need to write. And let's just say reviews always serve as a little inspiration. I hope that you like it as much as I do! Enjoy!

Ten Years Ago: A month after the Warehouse Incident

It had been a little over a week since I had confronted Chloe about our relationship and her feelings, though it felt more like an eternity. A week since my realization about my feelings for her.

Trying to cut cold turkey from Chloe King, one of my closest friends and also the girl I was falling hard for, was much easier said than done. Jasmin had taken over all her training and I only filled in for Uniter Duty from a distance when needed, preferring to continue to train new recruits. The lack of school made it easier not to run into her, which was true except for the times it seemed like she went out of her way to find me. And showing up unexpected at our door did qualify as such.

"Did Jasmin not tell you? Training is cancelled for tonight because of a sudden important meeting with all the California prides." I said to Chloe after opening the door to her timid knock. I tried shutting the door as quickly as possible to avoid any uncomfortable moments. And it was also painful to have her so close with her enticing vanilla smell and knowing she was never going to pick me.

"I know," she quickly replied, "it's just I was already on my way over when she called and I had forgotten something here that I needed to get. Can I come in?"

There was no way I could say no to her wide, wonderfully blue-green eyes. "Fine," I mumbled with an exasperated sigh while opening the door wider for her to pass.

She responded with her own muffled thanks and took off towards Jasmin's room before I could make some sort of witty remark. I tried to chase away the pang of sadness that it was not my room she had left something in, mostly because ever since our talk on the balcony she had stopped going in there. It was my own fault for the distance, but necessary to not get my heart trampled on… again.

I leaned against the arch that separated the living room from the step up to the hallway of bedrooms waiting for her to emerge. It was a couple of minutes before Chloe came out empty handed from Jas's room.

"What? Couldn't find it?" I questioned.

Chloe stared at her shoes as she shuffled down the hallway to me, stopping a few feet away. "No," she said to the floor, "I guess it wasn't something that I necessarily forgot per-say, but more of something I realized, or I mean, rediscovered… it's sorta complicated." She sighed.

I let out another mock scoff, trying to keep the mood light from whatever direction Chloe was pulling it in. "The great Chloe King's life complicated? Would have never dreamed of such a thing? What's the problem now…"

Only, I was not able to finish my remark since Chloe was kissing me. Like her lips on mine, stopping the words from coming out, kissing me.

She and her cat abilities had somehow managed to close the gap between us with lightning speed and now the rest of the world was moving in slow motion because when a girl like Chloe kisses you, you stop focusing on the rest of the world.

Her arms are wrapped around my neck, pulling me down to meet her lips. Every part of me was tingling with happiness by having her so close, especially after such a long time apart. Her warmth jump starting my heart and causing my brain to short circuit. Thoughts of the Order and training and my heritage all melting away, Chloe and her kiss was the only thing on my mind.

After what felt like forever but not nearly long enough Chloe pulled away but still rested her forehead against mind, the air between us still mingling as we both tried to regain our breath.

"Found it," she whispered with a smile.

"What?"

"When I said I forgot something, it was this feeling of having you near… of needing you near. Oh Basset, that sounds so sappy doesn't it?" A half laugh escaped her lips, causing my smirk to broaden.

"One of the sappiest bloody things I have ever heard, but it gets worse." I whispered to her, once again confiding in her something I would never tell anyone else.

"And what could possibly make it worse?"

"The fact that I know that exact same feeling and that I feel like I am finally whole again. I'm not missing a leg or arm, or my heart…" Though the words were inaudible to any human, Chloe's Mai senses allowed her to hear my confession and she perked up from the dream daze of kissing like she had been pricked with a pin. There was now distance between our bodies and her eyes were large with a look I couldn't quite place and the panic was starting to build inside of me.

Did I say the wrong thing? Was it too much too fast? Oh bollocks, this was a new side of me Chloe had only had glimpses of before, what if she didn't want a mushy feely guy? Bloody hell.

"Alek," she said, gaining my undivided attention, "I think, I mean, I know… oh shit, this isn't coming out how I want it to. What I'm trying to say and what I rushed over here to say is… you're never going to let me live this down. You have to promise not to use this against me, ok?"

I was still processing what she was saying so I just nodded and watched her lips as she continued to speak. Dammit, they looked so good after being kissed, making me want to kiss them again!

"I need to tell you that… you were right." She said those words so fast that it was almost sounded like they were not said at all. But I had heard them and I grinned once again at the fact that she did not want to admit such a thing because despite my agreement I was still totally going to use it against her.

She continued, "I mean you were right about how I was acting with Brian. I was trying to hold on to some of my normal life by being with him, even after his life was no longer normal. It just felt like life would be simpler with an 'ordinary' guy like him. And I hate that you gave me an ultimatum, you should know how I hate them and that humans are part of my life as the Uniter."

I let out a small groan because she was right and I was still mad at myself for even posing the question and causing us both pain, "I know Chloe, and I'm.."

But she cut me off again, "It's ok, because, I should know by now that even though I am friends with humans, my life is the farthest from ordinary as humanly possible and that Brian not the right guy for me, and never can be, because I'm in love with you."

Her words hung in the air, waiting to be accepted or rejected.

Chloe King just said she was in love with me. Chloe King, the Uniter and the girl of my dreams just told me she was in love with me. And I was standing here like an idiot not saying anything!

My normal cocky, chip-off-the-shoulder attitude was failing me, forcing my raw emotions to have to surface. I had mastered a fine facade of suave and flirtation to hide behind for as long as I could remember, hiding my inner self out fear that it was a sign of weakness. But with Chloe I knew it was not a weakness to be feared, so I spoke from the heart like the sap I am.

"Chloe King, I am so in love with you that it scares the shit out of me. Yet, I have never felt more complete in my life than I do right now with those words you just said. I love you Chloe."

Her smile was enough to light up the Golden Gate Bridge.

"I love you too Alek."