~~*~~The Fall Fest~~*~~

"What!"

"He crashed on his Ducati."

"Is he alright," she asked worried.

"He's still unconscious. We better get over to the hospital."

-- --- --

"I'm afraid Mr. Parry has yet to gain consciousness. We're going to have to keep him under strict observation," the doctor informed them before leaving them out in the hall. Only one person was allowed in the room at a time. Caleb went in first while Reid, Tyler and Ashlyn waited outside.

"What's taking so long," Ashlyn asked.

"Calm down Lyn," Tyler said. "Pogue's going to be fine and when Caleb comes out you can go in and see for yourself.

"How's Kate," Reid asked Ashlyn.

"I checked in on her. She's stable but they can't be sure of anything yet," Ashlyn said softly.

Tyler wrapped his arms around her," Everything is going to be okay sis, just wait and see."

"I hope so," she whispered. Caleb came out looking worn and tired out. "How is he?"

"He's talking now but he won't be out of here for awhile."

"I'm going to go see him."

"It was Chase," Caleb told the boys after Ashlyn was out of earshot. "He attacked Pogue."

"That son of a-," Reid growled.

"Reid, that isn't going to help Pogue right now, we need to think of a way to fight against him. He's already ascended and we don't stand a chance against him."

"Does Lyn know that all this was Chase," Tyler asked.

"She does know," a voice from behind them answered.

"Lyn," Tyler whispered.

"We have got to stop him."

"I know," Caleb told her, "but it's me he wants and I'm going to face him…alone."

"And what happens if you can't win? What happens when he comes after Pogue, then Reid, Tyler, and then me?"

"It won't come to that," Caleb promised. "I won't let it."

"Caleb," Everyone turned to see Sarah walking in through the hospital doors.

"What are you doing here," Caleb asked.

"I came to see Kate. She is my friend," she snapped.

"So why are you here in front of Pogue's room," Reid put in.

"I came here to talk to Caleb," she said sending him a glare, "alone actually.

"Whatever you have to talk about you say it in front of all of us," Tyler told her.

"Guys, it's fine," Caleb told them. He and Sarah moved down the hall and around the corner for some privacy. Ashlyn watched Caleb with Sarah following right behind, clinging to him.

-- --- --

"Alright Sarah, what do you want?"

"Come on baby, please don't be mad. I want us to work," Sarah pleaded.

"Well I don't and I'm seeing someone else right now," he told her.

"What's so special about her," Sarah sneered.

"Everything and I love her…always have always will, you got that Sarah?"

"Fine," she yelled. "I hope you and that slut have a great life together!"

"Don't you ever talk about Ash like that again," he growled. It took all of the self control Caleb had to not snapped and use on Sarah for calling Ashlyn a slut but he some how managed. Caleb left Sarah standing there speechless and headed back over to Ashlyn and the boys.

Caleb gave Ashlyn a small smile and kissed her on her cheek, "Sorry about that."

"It's okay," she said returning his smile with her own.

"Guys, I think we should go and get some sleep. The fall fest is tomorrow and it's not going to help us if we're too exhausted to fight," Tyler said.

"Baby boy's right," Reid admitted.

"What about Pouge," Ashlyn asked.

"I think he's safe from Chase for now. His little accident was a warning for me," Caleb answered.

"Right," Ashlyn took one last look through the large glass windows of the hospital room to make sure Pouge was safe, "let's go."

-- --- --

Ashlyn stared up at the ceiling of her room; even in complete darkness she could make out the shadows of various things and furniture. It was two am but she couldn't sleep, nightmares of Caleb and Chase kept on running through her mind. A quiet knock on her door pulled her from her thoughts.

"Come in," she whispered already knowing who it was.

"Hey," Caleb came in and sat on the edge of her bed, "you're not asleep yet."

"Nightmares," she explained. "You?"

"The same," he said softy. "You don't have to be afraid you know."

"Afraid of what?"

"Tomorrow night and what's going to happen to me during the fall fest."

"I am not afraid," she protested. "I just think it's stupid of you to go alone without the boys or me." Damn him! I'm worse than an open book with him!

Caleb lay down next to Ashlyn and moved her head so it was resting on his chest. He unconsciously began running his fingers through her hair. "Tomorrow's the big fall fest dance," Caleb said.

"Now you're just trying to change the subject."

"No," he denied. "Now, I'm trying to make you smile." Ashlyn forced a small chuckle from her lips.

"Are you trying to ask me out to the fall fest," she laughed.

"Will you be my date?"

"Of course," she leaned in and kissed his lips.

-- --- --

Ashlyn finished putting the final touches to her makeup before leaving her room in search of her twin. Her stilettos made a sharp tap as she walked towards Caleb's room. She had put on a red A-line taffeta gown. It was perfect; hugging her in all the right places and showing off her figure.

When she got to Caleb's room, Ashlyn went in without knocking and found Tyler fixing his tie in front of the mirror. "Well don't you look handsome," she teased him.

"Thanks," he blushed.

"So who's your date," she asked. "You never told me."

"Well-," he let out.

"Let me guess," she smirked, "Reid's your date, isn't he."

"At least until he finds someone at the dance," he sighed.

"Why didn't you ask anyone out?"

"There wasn't anyone I wanted to take," he denied. "I'd rather go with my friends."

"Tyler, be honest with me, don't you ever get tired of being the third wheel," she asked. "You deserved someone to care and to care about you more than anyone I know."

"It's fine. I deal with it but sometimes it is kinda awkward."

"Well then I can fix that," she squealed.

"What are you doing," he asked when she pulled out her cell phone from her purse.

"Getting you a date," she answered before putting the device to her ear. A few minuets later she hung up and smiled at her brother. "She'll meet us in front of the school."

"Who," he asked suspiciously.

"A certain blond you've been staring at all through Economics this year," she smirked.

"Reid told you, didn't he," he exclaimed.

"Relax; I know for a fact that she's in to you."

"And just how do you know that," his eyes narrowed.

"Well, I kinda, sort of asked her if she liked you," Ashlyn muttered hoping he didn't her. She was wrong.

"You did what!"

"Oh, come on Ty," she pleaded.

"I can find my own date Ashlyn," he snapped. Tyler's eyed softened when he was his sister's worried face. "Thanks," he admitted. "I would have asked her out on my own eventually but it would have been too late to take her to the dance."

"Your welcome," she smiled.

"Wait Lyn, there's something else I need to tell you," Tyler whispered.

"What Ty?"

"Mom and dad know you're here in Ipswich."

"What! That's impossible. I was so careful," she yelled. "I never left the house!"

"But you did use," he explained. "Dad felt you using. He knew it wasn't one of us so he tracked your records and found out you had bought a plane ticket to Ipswich. I overheard him telling mom."

"Damnit, what are we going to do," she asked on the verge of tears. "I have to leave. I have to leave right now."

"No, you can't do that," he said grabbing her wrist. "Caleb needs you and if you leave him now there's no way he'll stand a chance against Chase. You're his everything. He's going to fall apart and die without you and you know you'll be the same without him."

"But Tyler," she sobbed.

"No, listen. They haven't done anything yet so I think its best just to put this aside and deal with it when the time comes."

"You're right," she said wiping her tears. "Does Reid know?"

"No," he answered.

"Good, lets keep it that way," she sighed. "And Caleb definitely can't find out."

"Right, now let's go find your date."

Caleb was waiting downstairs with his mother and Reid. All of boys had decided to go with the tradition black tuxedos. Caleb was picking at a piece of lint on his jacket when his mother elbowed his ribs. He looked up and saw her point her head towards the staircase. There at the top stood the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. He must have walked up to the stairs because he felt the banister under his hand. He watched her gracefully descend the steps, her hips swaying just slightly. When she didn't go any further, Caleb held out his hand. Ashlyn walked up to him and he kissed her gloved hand.

"Wow, you look so beautiful."

"Thank you," she blushed.

"You look stunning, my dear," Evelyn smiled at her.

"Thanks. Should we be going," she asked.

"Reid and Tyler are going to take you to the dance in the hummer," Caleb told her.

"What! What about you. I thought we were going together?"

"This is safer and I'll meet you there. Please just this once, do as I say," he begged.

"No," she protested. "I go with you or I don't go at all."

"Just take her Caleb," Tyler said.

"Yeah, Chase isn't going to try anything in public especially before you ascend and we can follow behind in the hummer," Reid suggested.

"Fine," he agreed. "But at the first sign of trouble Ashlyn leaves with you guys to some place safe, alright," he asked her.

"Fine," she caved in. After Evelyn saw them off the group headed to Spencer in their respective vehicles. There was only an hour left until his ascending and Caleb wanted to spend as much time with Ashlyn as he could in case he never got another chance. Only time could tell what the future held.

Hey everyone. I finally got back

from Canada Sunday. It was a really great trip. And now, here's the

first on all of the updates I owe you guys.

xoxo

Kris Knight