*I own the OC's nothing more! Enjoy!*

*TOLD FROM ADELAIDE'S POV*

I woke up and even before my eyes opened I could tell that I was somewhere I had never been and judging by the movement I felt immediately next to me I wasn't alone. I thought back to the last thing I remembered and came to the conclusion that the girl I had saved from that group of bloodsuckers had taken me somewhere. I could tell it wasn't a hospital and for that I was thankful. Slowly I opened my eyes to take in my surroundings. It was clear to me that I was in a bedroom and judging by the contents of it I concluded that it was the room of a man. Suddenly a mass of pain swept through my body causing me to gasp.

"You're awake!" I woman's voice rang from the direction of the extra weight on the bed. Slowly I turned my head to see a pretty young blonde sitting wide eyed next to me.

"My name's Nora." She said with a smile.

"You're safe here." She added as she squeezed my hand.

"Where am I?" I asked my tone much lower than normal.

"You're in our home. Sally brought you here." She explained sweetly. I was impressed with her bedside manner.

"Sally." I mused aloud. She must have been the girl I found.

"She's downstairs, and she's fine thanks to you." Nora replied.

"That's good." I said as I began to slowly sit up. Nora jumped up and gently wrapped her arms around my torso and helped me to a sitting position.

"Do you feel well enough for a shower?" She asked taking a couple of steps back.

"Uh, I think I could manage that." I replied as I brought a hand up to my head and felt the massive mess that my hair had become.

"I'm going to get Sally, we'll get you showered and in some clean clothes." She said quickly and rushed away before I could protest.

I sat for a moment contemplating the situation I had found myself in. I wasn't used to being the one getting taken care of and I was honestly taken aback by the actions of the strangers who were now housing me. Slowly I swung my legs over the side of the bed and as the covers fell away I saw for the first time the damage that had been done to my body. I knew that I had been worked over pretty good but I was surprised by the scale of my injuries. I understood fully now why Nora was Hell bent on me not managing a shower on my own. I heard footsteps near the room and then the door slowly creaked open to reveal Nora and Sally both grinning from behind it.

"Oh!" Sally exclaimed as she rushed to the bed and cautiously hugged me.

I won't lie, it was awkward, what with me still bloodied and only in my underwear but still I hugged her back.

"I'm so glad that you're okay." She said as she released me and wiped a tear from her eye.

"Don't cry." I said reaching out for her hand. She reminded me a bit of Kenlie.

"As soon as I get all this blood and dirt washed off I'll be fine." I said reassuringly.

Nora and Sally helped me to my feet, provided me with a robe and led me to the bathroom. Having a stranger help you to shower is most definitely and experience I wasn't prepared for, but considering the shape I was in I couldn't afford to protest. Besides I had the feeling that even if I had it wouldn't have mattered. Sally helped me to undress and wash my hair as we learned that I couldn't raise either of my arms above my head. After shampooing my hair three times she was finally happy with the result. Nora had gone to find me something to wear but hadn't yet returned by the time I got out of the shower. Sally helped me to wrap a towel around my body and sat me down on the toilet to brush out my hair.

"Thank you, Sally." I said as she began to braid my hair.

"It's me that should be thanking you." She said with a chuckle which I returned.

"No really," I said

"Thank you, for everything. You didn't have to this." I finished knowing full well that most people, regardless of if I had just saved them from certain death or not, would have left me beaten in the street.

"And you didn't have to save my ass. So I guess we're even." She replied as there was a soft knock on the door.

"Hey." Nora said as she entered and shut the door.

"I brought you some of the finest from the Josh/Nora collection." She said smiling as she held out a pile of clothes.

"It's all clean, I promise." She added as Sally took the clothes from her.

"Thank you." I said with a smile. My instincts told me that I had been extremely fortunate to end up here with these girls and whoever this Josh was.

Sally finished braiding my hair and she and Nora helped me into new bandages and the clothes she had brought me.

"I went with a sports bra since they're a little more forgiving than a regular one." She said as she helped me to balance while I stepped into the bra as Sally held it.

"And this is one of Josh's favorite t-shirts and sweats. He insisted that I bring you these in particular." She added as I finally put on the last of my attire.

"This is great, thanks." I said nodding my approval.

Happy with the outcome we made our way out of the bathroom and down the hall; Nora leading and Sally hanging onto me as if she was afraid that at any point I would just go down. The stairs proved to be a challenge for my damaged body. I hadn't been this sore since my training for the Guard when I was 16. Nora beat us to the bottom of the steps but waited for us to join her before going any further. Finally Sally and I joined her and followed her past the living room and into the kitchen. Nora stepped to the side giving me a full view of the kitchen. My eyes initially fell on a handsome young man who sat looking quite concerned at the end of the table furthest from me. For a moment we just stared at each other until a bit of movement in my peripheral vision caught my attention. I looked to my left and my breath caught immediately in my chest. Instantly he was on his feet and in one swift movement he was standing in front of me, looking down at me.

"Aidan." I greeted quietly.

For a moment he stood still and quiet and then he gently grabbed me and pulled me to him letting out a sigh of relief. He released me and held me out at an arm's length as he looked me over from head to toe almost as if making sure that I still had all my parts.

"I'm fine." I assured him with a smile as I leaned slightly to the side to see Josh sitting in his chair with Nora standing behind him, her hands on his shoulders.

"Josh," I began with a smile.

"Thank you."

He stood up and made his way over to Aidan and I. He didn't say anything at first, just looked at me.

"No." He said pushing past Aidan and looking deep into my eyes.

"Thank you." He added as he too hugged me.

"Because of you my family is alive and well." He said giving me a gentle squeeze.

That's when it hit me, I wasn't in the company of mere friends; I was standing with a family. Sure it wasn't a traditional one, but it was a family none the less.