hi everyone! first of all, i'd like to say thanks to everyone who reads my stories, and for all the comments! they really help get my creativity flowing and let me know if i'm on the right track or not. and thanks also for pointing out any small mistakes i make. i really want to make this a great story, and your feedback is wonderful! on with the story!

Rylie climbed out of bed the next morning, feeling slightly drained. Dealing with Devon always left her like that. How were they going to get rid of him? And what will happen when he informs Cassandra that their two targets are together in Ipswich? And now she had to worry about Devon trying to steal the Powers of the Covenant. Ugh. Why had she come back?

The image of Reid above her, kissing her, rushed through her mind, and she couldn't help but smile. Her body burned again. She inhaled deeply, trying to calm herself. The thought of seeing Reid today made her stomach flip.

Rushing out into the hall and into the bathroom, Rylie showered quickly, and then ran back to her room to change. She pulled on a pair of dark hip huggers and a blue tank top, as well as a black bra and underwear. Pulling her hair back into a ponytail, she added a little mascara and eyeliner. Satisfied, she headed downstairs.

"Rylie?"

She paused outside her mother's bedroom. "Yeah?"

"Sweety, come in."

Slightly unsure, Rylie opened the bedroom door and walked into her mother's room. Nothing had changed. The large bed still had the red satin sheets and comforter, the big comfy armchair from her childhood sat in the corner opposite her, and pictures of beautiful landscapes were scattered around the walls. Her mother sat in the bed, the covers pulled up over her legs.

"Yeah?" Rylie asked.

Her mother smiled, looking somewhat tired. "Close the door and come sit down."

Curious, she obeyed. When she sat down on the bed, her mother sighed.

"I heard your argument with Caleb last night."

Rylie glanced away. "We didn't mean to wake you, if you were sleeping."

"You didn't wake me." Her mother paused, as if unsure of how to phrase her thoughts. "So… you heard our conversation about you?"

Rylie looked into her mother's eyes, and knew she was talking about the day her mother had begged her father to love his daughter. She nodded and looked away again.

"Honny—"

"Mom, don't."

"He was worried that you would somehow get hurt. That the Power would—"

"He wasn't worried," Rylie said, cutting her mother off.

"Yes he was."

"No, he wasn't." Rylie stood.

"Rylie, please. Your father was a good man. He just had some problems. The Power got to him."

"Dad was a selfish bastard," Rylie retorted. She held up her hand when her mother tried to speak. "I don't want to get into this. I'm going downstairs." Turning, she left the bedroom and headed down the stairs.

Pausing on the bottom step, she wondered if Reid had told the others. If so, how were they going to react? Aw, shit. Caleb would probably be even more pissed.

Following the voices into the kitchen, she found the Sons, Leila, Kate, and the blonde girl from Nicky's spread out, some sitting at the table and others leaning against the wall or counter.

All conversation stopped when she entered.

"Yeah, that doesn't make me paranoid," Rylie commented, pausing in the doorway to the now silent kitchen.

"Morning, Rylie," Leila said, giving her friend a small smile.

Rylie returned the smile. "Morning." Her gaze flicked around to the other faces, and she suddenly felt extremely awkward. "Is everything still in the same place in here?"

Caleb nodded. "Yeah. Take whatever you want."

She moved about the kitchen, gathering things for cereal, and then sat down next to Leila. No one was yelling, so Reid must not have told anyone. "So what were you guys saying about me?"

"What are you talking about?" Tyler asked.

"Well, normally when people talk about someone, they stop when that person comes into view." Rylie took a bite of cereal and let her gaze flick about the room. When it landed on the blonde Son, who was casually leaning against the counter, her cheeks flushed a little, and she redirected her gaze to her food. "So what were you saying?"

"Just because we stopped talking doesn't mean the conversation was about you."

Rylie looked up at the dark haired girl beside Pogue. "Well I'm making an assumption since it's happened a couple times."

Kate opened her mouth, but Pogue cut in. "Baby, don't."

Kate rolled her eyes, but remained silent.

That was it. "What's your problem?" Rylie asked.

"I'm not the one with the problem," Kate shot back. "You are."

"Kate, don't," Caleb said.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"You're the one who ran off for a few years, and then just show up, bringing your problems with you," Kate answered. "Your life isn't the only one in danger anymore."

"No shit, Sherlock," Rylie snapped. "But this isn't about the danger, is it?"

Kate's chair scrapped across the floor as she stood. "You're right, it's not. It's about how you ran out on your family and the Sons."

"Kate, come on, sit down," the blonde girl said.

"You're not mad that I ran out on them. I bet you were happy to see my back. You're mad because I came back."

"That's bullshit," Kate said. "Everyone's happy to have you back."

"Now that's bullshit. And if it were true, you'd be even more pissed. In case you still haven't noticed, I'm not into your boyfriend. Never have been and never will be."

Everyone's eyes widened.

"That's why you two were always fighting?" Pogue asked.

But Kate didn't seem to hear him. "I suppose it's kind of nice to know that you've moved on."

"What are you talking about?" This was ridiculous.

"Like you don't remember. Last night? You and--"

The blonde girl jumped up and covered Kate's mouth before she could finish her sentence. "Leila said to keep that a secret," she hissed.

Rylie's eyes widened as she realized what Kate had been about to say. Her shocked gaze went to her friend. "You…psychic…them…you…."

Leila bit her bottom lip, trying hard not to smile.

"What's going on?" Caleb asked slowly.

Rylie's eyes jumped from one Son to the next, and then landed briefly on Reid, who was holding back a smile. Her cheeks heated up and she looked away. She glared at her blonde friend. "We need to talk. Now."

Smiling cheerfully, Leila hopped up and motioned for the blonde girl and Kate to follow.

"Hold on. Anything you have to say, you can say in front of us," Pogue said, getting to his feet.

"No, we can't," Rylie said. "This is… a private matter."

The four girls left the kitchen and hurried up the stairs and into Rylie's room. Rylie closed the door and turned to face the other three girls.

"I don't think we've been introduced," Rylie began. She held out her hand to the blonde girl. "I'm Rylie."

"Sarah," she girl replied, shaking her hand. "Okay, so about last night."

Rylie held up her hand, signaling for Sarah and the others to be quiet. She looked at Leila, who nodded, and her gaze became distant. She held up her hand and counted down from five to one on her fingers. When she put the last finger down, her gaze returned to the room.

Rylie walked to the door and yanked it open. Pogue fell forward into the room. The three boys standing gave her a sheepish smile. "It's nice to have a friend who's a psychic, who can warn us when people are about to eavesdrop." She smiled down at the long haired son.

"Forgot about that," Tyler grumbled.

"Good bye, boys," Rylie hinted.

The four Sons turned and headed down the hall to the stairs. When they were out of sight, Rylie shut the door and turned to the girls again.

"Leila, keep watch."

Leila nodded. "Yes, ma'am."

"That's an awesome power," Sarah commented.

"Thanks," Leila smiled.

"Why are we here?" Kate asked, looking around.

"Because you almost spilled the beans about Rylie and Reid," Leila snapped.

"Kate almost spilled it to the guys, but you already spilled it to the girls," Rylie said, her eyes on Leila.

Leila smiled. "I was just trying to check and see if you were okay. I didn't mean to see that."

"But you did mean to tell Sarah and Kate."

"Oh, come on. I've been stressed and needed some girl talk," Leila whined playfully.

Rolling her eyes, Rylie focused on Kate. "I can't believe you almost did that."

Kate shrugged. "Forgot it was a secret."

"Why do you hate me? Is it all really because you thought I liked Pogue?"

"I don't hate you. I never did," Kate sighed. "At first I thought you had a thing for Pogue. When you left, the guys changed. Caleb became the man of the house and had to pull double time taking care of your mother and father. Pogue did his best to help, and at the same time tried to still be himself. Reid seemed to rebel even more. And Tyler tried to hold the Covenant together. It was hard watching them go through that."

"That probably would have happened whether I had stayed or left."

"You don't get it. Growing up, you were the one that kept them together. They'd fight, and then you'd get in the middle and five minutes later they'd be friends again. As much as they would hate to admit it, you're the reason they learned how to control their Power at thirteen. They didn't want to hurt you. You kept the Covenant together."

Rylie swallowed. She hadn't thought of it like that. "How is it that you know about the Power now?"

"Pogue told me after the Chase thing. I'd always known something was different about them, but I never pushed the subject." A small smile pulled at her lips. "So. Caleb has Sarah. Pogue has me. Does Reid have you?"

Rylie couldn't help but smile. "I don't know."

"Girl, that smile says that you have a story," Sarah laughed.

"Spill," Leila added.

"I thought you already knew," Rylie said.

"We know what Leila said," Kate replied. "But it's totally different coming from the person who experienced it."

"How's his style?" Leila asked. "Give us the details."

"There's only one word. Amazing," Rylie answered.