Oh yeah, I do not own W.I.T.C.H. or any of the characters, the plot is totally a work of my twisted little mind...

Chapter 24: Pajama Party Interlude

Irma's POV

So here we all are sacked out in the guest room, after I supplied everyone with a pair of my pajamas. You know it's a little weird looking around you and seeing everyone in your clothes.

Taranee was already in bed propped up on pillows when we all trooped into the room. Well most of us trooped. Elyon more hobbled than walked, as she had chosen a pair of pajamas with full length bottoms and she is so much shorter than me.

Taranee crossed her legs Indian style and we positioned ourselves in a sort of circle on the bed around her, placing the food in the middle. We dug in as Will began repeating what Mrs. Hale had told us downstairs.

Taranee look relieved and hopeful. Who knew that getting beat unmercifully was a get-out-your-parents-home-free-card?

When Will finished it was sort of quiet for a few minutes as we ate. I could feel the fatigue from the day finally starting to wear on me. It was after 11:00 pm, I wondered where Caleb for at least the 100th time.

At that exact same moment, Cornelia wondered out loud, "I wonder where the guys are?"

I knew she really meant: "Where's Peter?" But truly there had been a strange absence of all of our guys today – not even phone calls.

"What's it like?"

We all turned toward Elyon. I wondered if there was more to her question – what was what like? She addressed no one in particular.

When no one answered her, Elyon clarified, "What's it like to be in love? I mean how do you know it's real? That you've found the one right guy for you?"

The girls and I looked from one to the other. Nobody said anything.

"Irma why don't you answer her," Will nudged me.

Me? I thought and before I knew it I said, "Um, I'll tell you but let the other girls tell you first."

That's when Hay Lin spoke up, "It's funny, but I've always known Eric is the one for me. From the moment I saw him no other guy would do. It's like every fiber of my body and every part of my soul knows and trusts him. I don't have to try to love him, I just do."

Pretty deep confession from the girl who's still a virgin.

"I knew when Nigel asked me out the first time," Taranee said with a smile, "it was the way he just looked at me, it felt like he was the first person to truly see me. To Nigel I was never the quiet bookworm standing by the wall. He's always made me feel like he needs me just to breathe. I feel warm and safe inside his love for me. Hay's right, you don't think about it...you just are. Once it hits you, there's no going back to how you were before...it's like love changes you, becomes a part of the very definition of who you are."

"At first it was scary, I had all of these strong feeling for Matt and I didn't even know if he knew I was alive. But it wasn't like I had a choice, I was drawn to him even though my scared side kept saying he was out of my reach. Funny thing is when we finally got together and talked, he had been feeling the same way: scared I would reject him. But after we finally faced our feelings, it's like the love that had been pulling us together got so much stronger and erased both our fears. Even when Nerissa turned him evil, that love wouldn't let me give up on him – on us."

As Will finished, we all turned to look at Cornelia. Tears were streaming down her face.

"I do," she said in a small frail voice.

"Huh?"

"You do what?" I asked wishing I knew what she was talking about.

"I do love Peter," her bottom lip quivered as she wiped her eyes and added, "I love him so much but I haven't told him...and...and...I miss him so much...no I ache so much to see him and tell him how much I love him!"

Elyon stared at her lifelong best friend in awe. Cornelia is known for her signature pouts, her stunning smile and being in control. This was a side of her that she only allowed her closest family and friends to see. This part of her heart she shared only in our circle of trust.

I wrapped my arm around Cornelia and whispered, "It's okay Corny, you'll see him Saturday. That's what he told you right?"

Cornelia nodded but continued to sob, releasing her pent up frustrations. I couldn't help it. I understand how hard it is to love someone and not tell them. I don't remember when I started to cry, but I gladly accepted the tissues Hay Lin thrust at Corny and I.

Cornelia looked up and watch me attempt to dry my face as she did the same. She gave me a heartfelt smile and said, "Thanks, Irma."

I knew she was not just talking about our little gathering tonight, but I think we both could feel the deep connection we shared. Cornelia is one of my best friends and so dear to my heart. Two months ago I thought I'd lost that friendship.

I wrapped her in a tight hug, happy to know that we are whole again. There are no traces of the past left between us.

I heard Hay run off again and looked up to see Cornelia and I were not the only ones crying. There wasn't a dry eye in the room.

Hay brought back two boxes of tissues with her this time. Blowing her nose as she came back into the room.

Cornelia brushed her hair back from her face, cleared her throat and started again.

"I think I was afraid to let myself be in love, like if I didn't admit it then it would protect me if he didn't love me back."

"Okay, so I have just got to know," I asked with a smile, "how long have you known you love Peter?"

Cornelia stared at her hands and was quiet.

"Remember when we were thirteen and I morphed into my older self and Peter asked me out?"

We all nodded watching her intensely.

"I was so in love with him then. But he always made such a big deal out of calling me a kid, I tried to talk myself out of it. Now that I think about it, I think that is why I was such a maniac with Caleb. I was trying so hard to force Caleb to give me what I wanted from Peter. When Peter finally started seeing me, he still had a girl friend so I told myself to take what I could get because he'd never see me as anything real."

"Aw, Corny, I wish you would have talked to me about how you were feeling. I could have told you about some of the really nice things that Peter said about you. I think he felt the same but was afraid he'd push you to fast. By the time you noticed him, he'd had quite a long list of girl friends – if you know what I mean. But about six months ago, he just stopped dating around. And do you guys remember how he never hung around us? I think it was because he didn't want to see Corny with Caleb."

We all nodded as we considered the possibilities that had been circling around us as we went along unaware. Cornelia's lip continued to quiver but she did seem to be sniffling less.

Now they all looked at me.

"What was the question again?"

Hay Lin sighed and fell back on the bed, refusing to look at me.

I couldn't help but giggle, I thought it was funny.

"Whew!," I blew my hair out of my face before I began.

"Huh, my turn huh?," I asked

Taranee threw one of her pillows at me and mock screamed, "Irma!"

"Okay, okay...I remember the day we met Caleb. The first time I saw him my heart skipped a beat and I knew I could never forget his beautiful green eyes. Every part of me screamed THIS IS YOUR DESTINY. But then he started dating Cornelia and it felt like a knife was stuck in my chest. Every time I saw them together it felt like the knife had been set on fire and was being twisted in my heart. It hurt so bad. How could I ever find someone and be happy? I'd already found my happiness and fate kept me from him. Everyday I lived with the knowledge that fate was denying me ever knowing his kiss or touch. I knew I loved him long before I had a hope or a right to love him. I know you guys think we're all about the crazy bunny sex...don't get me wrong the sex is REALLY great. But we don't just have sex because it fun. Um, how can I explain this...the way we feel, the time we waited and being together now...its like we're happy beyond our ability to express, but all we want to do is make sure that we show each other how grateful, happy and in love we are. It's like our feelings are too big for words to express all the things we feel at once, but when we're together we can give all of ourselves, our emotions – our everything and it seems to be the only way to truly express what we-"

"Alright girls, its after midnight and tomorrow is an important day so go to sleep," my mom called up to us.

Taranee gripped a pillow and asked with puppy-dog eyes, "Can you guys stay here until I fall asleep."

Without hesitation we all nodded yes. I mean, since Caleb was still gone I had no reason to rush to an empty bed.

We fell asleep, haphazardly crowding the bed – it was never meant to hold 6 teen-age girls - knowing we'd need our rest to face the coming day.

Caleb's POV

I didn't expect anyone to be up when we got home, but Irma's mom was waiting up, camped out on the couch with the television playing softly. In front of her on the coffee table was a platter of sandwiches and several cans of soda.

Tom chuckled, "Honey you're the best," as she rose to greet him with a kiss on the cheek.

The guys crowded in after me, hungrily eying the waiting food.

"Dig in guys, don't be shy," Anna encouraged as she took Tom by the hand and guided him into the kitchen, I could only imagine that she wanted to catch him up on Taranee's condition.

"You think the girls are still awake?" Eric asked around a mouth full of what looked like ham and cheese.

"Dude, I seriously doubt all of them are even here," I replied because it was too quiet for six teenage girls to be in the house and be awake. I love them all but they can be hella noisy.

Nigel popped open a cola as he headed for the stairs,"I'm going to go check on Taranee."

We'd all been concerned about her so it was no surprise that the guys just followed without a word, quietly to the guest bedroom. Things backed up when Nigel opened the door and just stopped. I worked my way to the door way to see what caused the backup. That's where we found them, the girls were asleep, squeezed haphazardly on the queen sized bed.

The distressing part to me is I couldn't see an easy way to remove my wife from the mix. That's when Matt did his Shaygon thing, then strode forward and picked up Will gently without waking her.

"Hey, open the window for me," Matt requested over his shoulder as he adjusted Will in his arms. Nigel moved forward and did as Matt requested and we watched as the pair disappeared into the night.

"Well that's one way to handle things," Tom said from behind me. I could hear the amusement in his voice as he began giving orders, even as he was unwinding Elyon's arms from around Cornelia.

"Okay, you two move your respective females downstairs to the couches," he directed with a nod, "Caleb, think you can manage to get Irma back to your room?"

Could I? Hell yes! I stepped forward a lifted my brown-haired beauty from the pile of arms and legs, only too happy that Tom and Matt provided a solution to my problem. Today was such a long and hard day, I was not looking forward to an empty bed.

Carrying my precious bundle to the door, the last thing I saw was Eric's broad grin as he scooped up Hay Lin into his arm.

I can't blame him after a day like today, being able to hold the person you love the most in the world in your arms and know that they are safe...I think that is what happiness is all about.

The guys had their respective girl in their arms as they headed back down the stairs, with Nigel bringing up the rear. I heard Tom offer to take the guys home after he settled Elyon back on the bed with Taranee.

Will's POV

I came awake slowly realizing I was rather warm – comfy but warmer than usual. As my mind took stock of my situation, I noted weights across my waist and legs, warm weights. With my eyes still closed, I tried to push from under the weights, that's when I heard a grunt to my right.

"Go back to sleep. We've got a couple of hours before we need to get up to make it to Taranee's court date," a voice thick with sleep groused.

Why hadn't I noticed the whole body attached to the weights?

"Um, Matt?"

"Who else?" surprisingly his still sleepy voice managed to sound incredulous as he turned his head to face me and continued, "And before you answer that, the answer had better be 'no one'."

His arm around me tightened as he swooped in for a kiss before I could respond. A small moan escaped my lips from the feel of his lips and the heat of his closeness. It was like my body had a mind of its own and arched into the arm banded around me.

With a nip to my bottom lip, Matt pulled back and looked at me expectantly.

"Well?"

"Well what?"

Matt reposition his body over mine as he redirected his earlier question, "Just who where you expecting?"

It may be wrong, but even though my head knew we were 'talking', my body seemed to only care about the closeness of his body. His chest was bare and he wore only boxers, which made squirrely things happen in the pit of my stomach.

Mentally lost, I tried in vain to follow his question, managing only to repeat, "Expecting?"

Matt chuckled as he ducked his head to nip along my neck and collar bone, further insuring my brain never turned on. Luckily other parts of me were very quick studies. Like we'd done this a million times before, I ran my legs along his muscled lengths to wrap around his back. Feeling his hard body cushion just right into mine caused me to fill with heat.

Matt rocked his hips against mine as he continued his exploration of my skin. In between kisses he rasped, "So now I learn your not a morning person? Guess you really need your coffee? To bad cause there's so much we could do long before we get to the kitchen."

Feeling his heat push my need higher, I didn't really care what he had asked. I ground my pelvis into his as I pulled Matt's head away from my ear and said, "Too much talk!"

"Yeah? But here's my point...think of all the fun we can have if you tell me what you like...what you want" he said with a smirk as he moved a hand to cup my breast.

He wants me to tell him what I want?

With my most stern team-leader voice, the one that says I must be obeyed, I ordered, "You. Inside. Me. Now."

O-frickin'-M-G! Does he know how to follow orders.

Cheers!

Posted 1/8/2014 8:55 PM