I don't own the Secret Circle but I do own Amanda and the rest of the New Mexico coven

Happy reading!

Xox H

Nick POV

When I came out of the bathroom Amanda and Sammy were laughing. I didn't ask because I was pretty sure it was about me. I paused for a minute watching Amanda and she was just so happy. I didn't want to leave to go face whatever we had to. "Are you guys ready?" I asked. "Almost" Sammy said as she dug for something in her bag. She pulled out the gold diadem and placed it on Amanda's head and it literally cast a yellow glow around her head making it look like a halo. She looked absolutely radiant all she needed was a pair of wings and she could pass as an angel. Sammy had already had on the gold cuff and the garter and we were ready to go.

The three of us walked quietly to the beach. I held Amanda's hand tightly. I knew when we got there and the ceremonies and rituals started I would have to let it go and I didn't want to. I wasn't the type of guy that got scared; however, with all of the unknown we were facing, I couldn't help to feel uneasy.

We got onto the beach and we saw the fire blazing very close to the shore line which I thought was weird, however, I trusted Diana's judgment so I didn't question it. We walked toward the small crowd that was gathered close to the fire. A short girl with black short spiky hair bounded over to us and flung her arms around Amanda almost knocking me over. "Amanda I'm so happy to see you" Amanda smiled "good to see you too Lexie, this is Nick". "Nice to meet you Lexie" I said and that is pretty much how it went for the next few minutes. I met Max who was short and stocky, Steven and Robbie with both tall and athletic with short hair they were cousins and Scott was also on the tall side with bleach blond hair. They seemed nice but I was too preoccupied with other things to really notice. Everyone looked nervous so I was relieved to see I wasn't the only one.

Faye and Cassie we standing on the eastern end of the circle with the fire in front of them and the clapping waves of the ocean behind them Diana took the dagger and drew the circle around the fire leaving an open gap on the western end of the circle and then took her place in between Faye and Cassie. "Will the Black Circle please enter" Diana instructed. I lifted our linked hands kissed her hand, let it go and followed my group into the circle around the southern end being the last to enter. "will the white circle enter with the leaders entering last" Diana instructed. They entered and took their place on the northern side Amanda being the last to enter taking her spot next to Sammy on the Western side of the circle. "Sammy will you please close the circle" Diana asked handing her the dagger. Sammy closed the circle and passed the dagger back to Diana.

I looked around the circle and it really was a sight to see; Faye in her black shift wearing the garter, Diana in a silver shift wearing the silver diadem and then Cassie in her white shift wearing the cuff on one end of the circle and then Sammy wearing the gold cuff and the garter and Amanda wearing the diadem on the other end. Only the fire was separating the five girls. We were truly becoming one circle and to see all the Master Tools in one place was actually kind of awesome. I thought back to when Adam, Cassie and Diana found the original tools not really giving a rat's ass about them and then to now sensing their power and admiring their magnificence I couldn't wrap my ahead around all the changes in me that had taken place. A part of me wanted to revert back to the place where I really didn't care. Back to a time where I was guarded and alone so that I didn't have to deal with all of these emotions and then I looked at Amanda. Just looking at her gave me feelings I couldn't even describe. She was my life now and I knew that even if I wanted to stop caring about what happens with the circle or forget about magic, I just couldn't because I cared so deeply for her that I had to put my all in whatever was about to happen so that she would be safe.

"fire, earth, water and air as two circles we gather here, by the sea and by the sand we will join hand in hand" Diana said and held her hands out to Cassie and Faye who took her hand and then everyone followed suit and we were all standing in the circle holding hands and i felt really silly like I was in grade school about to do the hokey pokey. The only thing that made me the least bit comfortable was that I was holding the hands of the two people I trusted the most Deb and Amanda. "by the day and by the night black and white will unite, by the moon and by the sun these two circles now become one" Diana finished and what happened next was pretty cool. The fire shot sparks out of the tip of the flames and roared so brightly that it lit up the night sky like fireworks. A strange feeling came over me and I felt a connection to each and every person standing in that circle even the members from New Mexico that had just met 5 minutes earlier and barely said a word to. I could tell by looking around that everyone felt it too. We had become one circle united and ready to face anything that came our way.

"this completes our binding ceremony" Diana said as Amanda started covering the circle with sand to hide any remnants of this circle. "We will now just hang out and get to know each other and we will start the ritual to rid the circle of evil at midnight" she smiled. There were coolers lining the rock wall and Adam, Suzan, Lexie and Steven went over and started taking out refreshments. I hung back by myself and lit a cigarette. I looked around the beach observing everyone. There was a nervous anticipation in the air and the need to protect Amanda was growing stronger by the second. I noticed Amanda talking to Sammy, Cassie and Laurel. I didn't want to interrupt her. I took the last drag off my cigarette and I went over to join Deb who was talking with Robbie. "Hey Nick" she said smiling. "hi guys" I said. "pretty weird night" Robbie said. "I would say weird day all together" I laughed determined to keep mine and Amanda's engagement to myself for a while. "I was just talking to Robbie about my bike" Deb smiled proudly "yeah I'm really into bikes and cars. Nothing like getting an old Ford Pickup and turning it from a pile of rust into a fully restored masterpiece" he said. I liked this guy! Finally someone I can relate to. He had a coldness about him that I recognized all too well. "I know what you mean. I'm in the process of restoring my second Mustang" I said and that was it. The three of us talked for a while about bikes and cars and I told Robbie he should come by my garage tomorrow and check out my makeshift shop. Deborah seemed too interested in the conversation and when she said "I saw an old Harley at the junkyard last week I would love to restore it but I don't know that much about putting a bike together" she smiled. She liked Robbie. I looked at her with narrowed eyes and a huge smile on my face and she started blushing. I was about to tease her when I felt familiar arms wrap around my waist. Amanda wiggled so that she was in front of me and my arms were around her. I looked down and kissed her on the cheek and motioned for her to pay attention to Deb and Robbie and rested my chin on her shoulder. Robbie lifted a hand to his blonde hair and said "well I'd be happy to ride over there with you and check it out if you want". Deborah was shuffling her feet nervously looking down at the sand "sure" she said shyly. Amanda slipped out of my arms took my hand "how about that walk?" she winked and she led me away.

We walked away from the crowd towards the shore line and headed North. She just held my hand and we walked in silence. I could tell she was deep in thought and I wasn't sure what she was thinking because she didn't look up at me at once. I was getting a little worried because it wasn't like her just stare straight ahead. I stopped and pulled her hand so her body turned and she was facing me. She smiled a tiny smile and leaned up and kissed me. She pulled back and just looked at me and stroked my face and I closed my eyes. Her touch was so tender and I could feel that she was trying to tell me something without saying anything. I opened my eyes and I could see sadness in her eyes. "what's wrong" I said softly. She shook her head and took a deep breath "today has been the happiest day of my life so far" she choked and shook her head again "I don't even think that words exist that can really describe how I feel. Every moment we spend together you never cease to amaze me" she said quietly. I smiled nervously not sure what she was trying to say. "there are few things I want you to know because I have no idea what is going to happen come midnight" she said still looking sad. "I am so happy to have found you" she smiled as a few tears trickled down her face "the minute I saw you I felt something special and from that moment on you have always been the forefront of my mind. I never thought that I would know a love like what we share" she started crying "and if anything happens to us you have to know how crazy in love I am with you. How honored I am to be wearing your mother's ring and how thrilled I am at the prospect of marrying you and growing old together at Number Seven" she started sobbing and i took her in my arms and held for a moment and then I realized what she trying to say. I pulled back and held her arms. "Don't you do that" I said in a panic. "You are not saying goodbye to me" I choked out trying to blink back my own tears "I'm not going to let you". "Nick" she started and I cut her off shaking my head "no. I will not believe that this it for you and me. I can't." She leaned into me and I hugged her tight. "I love you so much" she said I looked down at those eyes that looked so sad yet loving at the same time and whispered "forever".