~Jem's POV~

I awoke in the dark suddenly to a loud bang. My eyes shot open just as the door slammed into the wall, and there was Kemo. Even in the darkness I could see his cruel smile.

"Rise and shine, brat," he mocked, beginning to step towards me. He felt just as big as he did when I was a child. Another goon backed him, guarding the door.

I scrambled, tangling myself in the fine sheets as much as I was freeing myself. Kemo reached for me just as I clumsily fell off the other side. I quickly slid under the bed. It was wide and just low enough. I immediately centered myself, touching my head to the wall and drawing in my legs. I frantically tried to think of what to do next, and it was a familiar feeling.

His face immediately reappeared, finding me. "Goddammit," he muttered. In one swift motion, he shoved the bed over, knocking over my side table. I heard the lamp crash and with his gained ground, he grabbed me before I could move. Kemo pulled me by my leg and I did my best to fight, grabbing the base boards. This only caused the bed to drag with me and I promptly lost my grip.

With me out he promptly shifted his hold, grabbing me by the hair. With a freed hand he snatched my sheet, yanking it from my bed. As he did, I lifted my hands, trying to dig my nails into his hands and make him release me. This only agitated him.

"Stop that, you little shit!" he spat as he drew me up and tossed me on the bed. Immediately he had me covered with the sheet up to my shoulders, pressing it to the bed to pin me.

He used his proximity to intimidate me. "It's time for a homecoming."

"No, please!" I cried.

"The time has passed for pleases," he returned. Kemo glanced at his hand. "I think the little princess cut me," he noted to the second goon.

"I've never known a princess to act like that," the other responded condescendingly.

With that Kemo gathered me up, sure to keep the blanket tight around me as he threw me over his shoulder.

I still struggled and cried as he carried me down the corridor. I could now hear Avery desperately calling to me and pounding on his barricaded door. I twisted to see where we were going, and in the darkness I saw a hint of gold shine through a white sheet of hair...

"NO!" I cried. My eyes shot open. Suddenly it was calm, silent and still. The only thing that disturbed the peace were my gasps. A dream. Oh my god it was only a dream. But I was still terrified.

I quickly slid from bed, going straight to Avery.

"Avery?" I called, knocking as I opened the door. He sat up slowly, supporting himself with his elbows.

"What is it, Jemmie?" he asked groggily.

Once I saw him I let go of the breath I had carried with me from my room. He was safe. Everything was how it was. "Nothing," I said, starting to close the door. I didn't want to bother him. "Bad dream."

"What was it?" he pressed, not letting me leave so quickly.

I didn't look back at him, but paused. "He came here, with his goons, and they took me..." I hoped he asked no more of it.

"I thought you said that boy made sure you were safe here?" he questioned, more trying to comfort me.

"He did, it was just a bad dream. Go back to sleep and I'll do the same," I said as I closed the door.

But I didn't sleep. I laid awake for hours until it was time to rise.

When I went to breakfast, Avery knew. "You didn't sleep," he accused, placing my food before me. "Your fairness will always give it away," he mentioned before turning, and he left it at that.

That day in science Seto took a second glance at me as he sat down, but turned his eyes away still, never allowing them to linger too long. I felt a paramount relief when I saw him walk in. I had been hoping for him since the nightmare.

"You don't look well," he mentioned quietly, not looking at me.

"I didn't sleep well," I replied at the same decibel. "I dreamt Max came with his goons and they dragged me from my bed."

His eyes flickered to the side and his head turned ever so slightly. I turned my head to look up at him, and then the teacher began.

Seto turned away at this. After that I didn't hear another word and thought he had moved on. Later, just as we were rising from Language Arts, he said just loud enough for me to hear, "Don't go to lunch, follow me."

I looked right at him, checking that this was what was really happening. Though he spoke, he showed no sign of interaction. Normal for him.

I did as he said and followed him. His long legs gave him a head start, and he did not easily allow me to catch up with him. I followed, trying not to seem as though I was rushing or following him. Seto went against the crowd. My eyes darted from him to them. They occasionally would glance at him, but would turn away quickly, not wanting a confrontation with him. Their forcible return to their business made me go unnoticed. Finally, we crossed through them and reached a side door.

Seto pushed it open and went through. Though for the first time, he paused, holding the door by the tips of his fingers as he looked back at me, waiting.

I quickly stepped through the doors, finally caught up.

Without a word he led me around the corner. The school had a fair amount of brush on this side, covering the high foundation of the school. Seto pushed back a branch, revealing it was hollow behind the foliage. He looked back to me, waiting again.

I stepped into the well-lit shadows and he followed, releasing the branch. Though it was mostly shrubbery, a tree encased us from overhead. "How do you know about this place?" I asked.

"I once saw a bully chase a small kid here before I took care of him. He can't chase much anymore," he replied flatly.

"I didn't know you to interfere with such matters," I replied.

"I have no tolerance for bullies. Besides, the idiot will likely still be here when Mokuba comes to high school. I took care of any problems in advance."

I turned back to him, this a small reminder to the extents of his protection. He pressed on.

"You dreamt Pegasus came and took you? From the accommodations I provided?"

"Yeah-" I began.

He immediately cut me off. "Why? Do you not feel safe? Did something happen?" he challenged darkly.

"No, I feel safe. It's just that... that's my worst nightmare," I answered.

He looked at me a moment before turning and dropping to one knee, opening his briefcase before his laptop. "You don't have to be. Pegasus can't outsmart me. He can't steal you." His eyes scanned the code rapidly appearing on his screen, which then flashed to footage of the outside hallway, then stats. "The security is in order, nothing has been tampered with."

I went to him, allowing myself to fall to the ground. I curled my legs beside me, leaning on an arm and resting on my hip so my body could face him. I tilted my head, my eyes on him. "Steal me?" I echoed. His attention went from the screen to me as he left the computer, only turning his eyes to me. "Am I a prize?" I asked simply.

Slowly, Seto turned, pivoting his body until he faced me. He had moved that much further away, his back resting against the tree. One knee dropped and the other raised for him to rest his forearm upon. Seto glared at me, saying nothing.

However, I followed, moving to close the gap between us. I shifted next to him, also resting against the tree. From there his shoulder was only too tempting. I rested my head on it and closed my eyes. "It's ok if I am, so long as you win."

All Seto gave me was, "I always win."

I hummed, but I was half asleep already. I quickly caught myself, beginning to rise. "Sorry, you probably want to wor-"

"Don't move," he commanded vehemently, perhaps faster and more forceful than he intended, though I wasn't sure Seto ever made mistakes. I didn't dwell on it, and allowed my head to again rest on his shoulder. "I can work from here," he added, pulling the computer on his lap.

I finally felt serene again, knowing that I was perhaps doomed to fall asleep here and being more ok with it than I would have been before. I felt his arm come to rest on my legs and welcomed it. I was happy, enough that I moved again, only turning my head to tenderly kiss his shoulder before I returned it to rest. I felt him turn to look at me ever so slightly, then return to his work.

I lay alone, cuddled in my bed. It was what I had always known. I had always preferred the solitude, but now I felt an absence. And I knew it was him. I thought more about what he had said about taking precautions.

I knew what he meant, this had come up in my dreaded health class recently. I thought again of the pamphlets we had been given on birth control. They were tenuous and meant to hold the hands of small-brained teenagers, leaving me underwhelmed. I needed details. My collection was too dated to give me any real information and I didn't trust the internet. I could go to a book store, but the selection would be limited and again, people would be ambitious about helping me. I would start at the library.

I arose, touching my feet to the wood of my bedroom floor before going to find Avery. He was in the kitchen waiting for me. I caught his attention. "Prepare breakfast, I'm going to shower." I turned to leave.

"Jemmie, you know it's Saturday, right?" he called after me, noting the hour.

"I do. I'm going to the library," I replied.

"Will I ever see you again?" he called louder.

I raised my voice for once as I reached my room. "Maybe."

A warm breeze pushed my hair off my shoulder as I walked. The air was clean and crisp, and I felt I got more out of every breath.

The streets were still alive on Saturday morning, more so than I expected at least. I passed a farmers' market I thought Avery may enjoy and made a mental note to mention it to him later. Anywhere that served brunch was bustling. I passed many people enjoying their breakfast on the sidewalk, taking advantage of the outdoor tables pulled out by the late-spring sun.

I saw the library ahead and began thinking of my quest again. I had once memorized the Dewey Decimal classes, for I enjoyed libraries, but hated to ask for help (even if that help was finding a computer). Besides, if I searched on a computer I would need to sort through all the ethical, societal, historical, psychological, and cultural views on the matter that I didn't need, not to mention self-help books.

I decided to start in the early 570s, then perhaps move on to the 618s if need be. I had never been to this library before. It was a cavernous, old building. I had to search through several rooms before I caught a hint of what I needed. From there it was a simple path of numbers.

I found the section and slowed, turning the corner. I reached out to touch the books, softly running a finger over them as I read the titles. I pulled a couple of books with promising titles and settled on the floor.

The first book was formatted more like a textbook and on human reproduction, breaking it down to molecules for me to better understand. It walked me through it from beginning to end, but never went in to any sort of intervention. The second I searched no further than the publication date. I continued this for a good two hours, caught up in words I wasn't searching for. Starting to feel a bit of exhaustion, I moved on to the 618s. It was there that I found just the book I needed. It was newer and broke a number of birth control methods down to the science I needed.

I finished with the last one and bit my lip. It was time to make my decision. I was informed. I probably knew more about it than Jude now. Though I knew what I wanted to go with I felt anxious about the next steps, but I knew since I opened my eyes under that tree that I wanted this. It was time to find a doctor and make the call.

Next Chapter: Unseen

She sighed. "How much is it this time?...Jeez, that's a lot more than usual, Jude, what the hell did you do?...Wait, he's been accused of WHAT?!" she roared. My eyes shot up to her, never hearing her like this before. I felt the muscles in her back tense as she straightened up. She turned her head to the side and I saw her mouth open in shock and disgust. "Jude Cecil, I cannot believe this," she spat.