Author's note: Thanks again for all the love, guys. I wasn't sure if this would get written because I'm kind of on a vacation, but my friend and I are chilling in the hotel room tonight as he just drove all day. So it did get finished after all. Yay! Anyway, please feel free to review and let me know what you think.

Happy reading!

Chapter Eight

I spent a lot of time with my mom and avoiding my dad, just as I had planned. But on the last night, Dad called me into his office. He was sitting at his desk, looking over a file when I walked in. He didn't look up, just told me to have a seat.

"What is the status of your assignment?" He asked, still not looking up.

"Everything is going as it should. No one suspects anything is amiss with my charges."

"Is the Keepers girl behaving herself?" he said with disgust.

"Yes. She's learning a lot in her training with Eddie—Guardian Castile. And Miss Dragomir is doing well and keeping a low profile."

"Excellent. And the other Moroi boy? Ivanov?"

"Ivashkov." I corrected. "He's very protective of Jill, so he's around a lot."

He finally looked up. "How unfortunate."

The look on his face made me fear that I had said something too telling. I swallowed and willed the blush to leave my cheeks. "Yes. It's proven quite easy to put the fear at bay while I must. I just keep my nose to the work and know that such close proximity won't last long. Have you heard of any leads on their side?"

"None. At least not anything promising."

I nodded. "Well, if that's all, I have an early flight in the morning." I stood tentatively.

"Right. Goodnight. I'm leaving for an assignment myself tomorrow. Trying to get prepared." He indicated the founder in front of him. "I probably won't see you in the morning. Keep to your good work, Sydney." He looked back down and went back to his studying.

I left without another word. Zoe was in her room studying. Carly was out with her boyfriend. The house was quiet. I went to where Mom sat in the living room. She read a book in one corner of the couch with her legs curled underneath her. She looked up and smiled as I settled on the other end.

"I'm going to miss you." She said softly.

"And I'll miss you, Momma." I curled into her side. I hadn't called her that since I was tiny, but I needed to. I needed her. Never in my life have I felt so unready to leave home. I'd been prepared for the inevitability all my life. I wanted to go back and fight harder so I could stay home and all this complication with Adrian would never have happened.

My phone started ringing. I took it out and looked at the display, "Adrian" it read.

"Is that the guy?" Mom asked, her eyes going from the phone to my face.

"Maybe." I smiled and ignored the call. "Mom, why did you marry Dad?"

"Because I loved him, of course." She said with a chuckle.

"No, I mean, because you're not like him. How did you even meet? You've never told me."

She smiled at the memory, "It was on one of his assignments. His car messed up and he ended up in my dad's shop. I was struck at first by his perfect looks. And then I noticed the tattoo on his cheek." She brushed my cheek that held the lily tattoo she was talking about. "I was fascinated by that. But he was evasive about it when I asked." She looked a little ashamed. "I looked under his hood with my dad and I loosened a bolt. It wasn't anything major, but it would mess the car up again. And when it did, he came running back to us." She giggled. "And that was it. We were both hooked."

"Even after you found out about the Alchemists?"

"Yeah. I thought it was a good organization the way he described it. I thought it as necessary. But he's never here." She smoothed a hand over my hair. "And they took you away from me far too soon."

"What would happen if I…?" I moved away. "Never mind."

"No, sweetie, what is it?"

"The guy…" I looked down at my phone, the text tone sounded. "He's different. Very different. And I don't think Dad will like it much if it goes any farther and he finds out."

She whispered, "He's one of them, isn't he?"

I bit my lip and looked away. Her approval was more important to me in that moment than my father's had been in all my life. Then I felt her arms wrap around me and all the fear melted away as I returned her embrace.

"It'll be okay." She said to me as she rocked me back and forth in her arms.

"I'll have to leave the organization." I said against her shoulder.

"Change from the inside." She reminded me.

"There aren't enough people that would want to, Mom." I looked at her. "Could I really come to work with you?"

"Yes."

"What about Dad? And everyone else?"

"We'll deal with them."

I let go and stepped away. "I can't do this. Not really. It's a nice dream, but there's no way out. Not easily."

"I'll support you in everything, Sydney. You know that." She assured me.

"Yes." I looked down at the phone. "It's getting late and I have an early flight."

"Tell him I say hi. And that he should call me so I can get to know him."

"It's not that serious, Mom."

"Of course it's not." She winked and then yawned. "I guess I should go to bed too. I'm the one driving you." She kissed my forehead.

We walked together out of the living room. She paused outside my dad's office door and knocked.

"Yes?" He called, sounding irritated.

She made a motion for me to wait as she called, "Going to bed, dear."

"All right." He said shortly.

She looked like she wanted to say more, but didn't. She wrapped an arm around my shoulders and we walked up to my bedroom together. She kissed my forehead once more and then pulled me into a hug.

"Get plenty of sleep. I'll make pancakes in the morning."

"That sounds good. Thank you."

"Zoe is coming with us, remember?"

"Yes, I remember."

"Well, that is if your father doesn't decide he needs her along to shadow him on this latest trip.

"Has he been doing that a lot?"

"Not a whole lot." She shrugged. "It just feels like you all over again."

"I'm sorry."

She put her hands on my cheeks. "It is not your fault, Sydney. Don't ever think for a minute that I blame any of this on you."

"I know." I said softly. I wrapped my arms around her. "Goodnight, Mom."

"Goodnight."

I went into my room and looked at the text I'd ignored while talking to my mom. "Call when you can."

"Hello, beautiful." He said when he answered.

"Hi, Adrian." I said. I wonder if he could hear the relief in my voice. I liked hearing him talk. I missed him more than I realized. I really wished I could run to him the next day at the airport like they do in the movies. But I knew it was useless. "What's going on?"

"I just wanted to talk to you. Tell you goodnight."

"You'll see me tomorrow." I said, changing as I talked. "I don't see the big deal." Though I actually did.

"I miss you, Sage. It's what people do, you know, when they…like someone."

"You were going to say that other 'l' word weren't you?" I lay on my back on the bed.

"I was about to. Then we'd both freak out and I wouldn't be able to kiss you again for a while."

"You're pretty smart, you know that?" I teased.

"I do what I can."

"I can just picture that adorable cocky grin on your face right now."

"Did you just call me adorable?"

"I think I did."

"Then I guess I'm obligated to tell you that I think you are the hottest woman I've ever met."

"Yes, that's definitely an obligation when you're dating someone." My breath caught right after I said it. Why had I said it? What would his reaction be?

"Yeah, dating. Which would require not making out on my couch and actually doing stuff together."

"You want to stop the make-out sessions?" I challenged kindly.

"No, I don't. But I'd like to cook with you again. Just us. And then we can cuddle on the couch and watch TV."

"I like the sound of that. We should plan it for next week."

"Yeah, let's do it." He sounded enthusiastic.

"I'll have to make up an excuse."

"I'll help you come up with one." He paused. "I like you, Sydney."

"I like you too, Adrian."

"I'll see you tomorrow."

"I forgot to thank you the last time we talked. For the gelato. That was sweet."

"I wanted to do it."

I fought a yawn. "I'm tired. I'll see you." I hung up a moment later and rolled onto my side. I fell asleep quickly.