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Lacy here with our next update for Effie. I decided that our power couple does need some time away from their hosting pack. Not because of Felipe, or what he did, but because it's almost time for Effie to go home. Without Derek. Read on!

Disclaimer: I own Effie and the names within Cora's pack.

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Effie looked out at the rising sun as she packed her bag. It was a week before she would be returning to Beacon Hills and she and Derek were taking a last minute hike for a few days, just to have some time alone.

It was hard for her to think, in a single week, she'd be going back home, without Derek. Sure, she knew he'd be safe with Cora and her pack. And that the siblings needed time together to reconnect after all they'd been through. But for Effie, it felt like leaving part of herself behind. Which, she supposed, in a way it was. They were mates, after all. Bound together through their shifter halves and Effie's magic.

"Stop thinking about it." Derek murmured as he came up behind her. He slid his arms around her waist, hugging her tightly. "It'll just make the time feel like it's going by faster. Don't rush our time away."

"I know," Effie whispered. "Just weird to think we're gonna be so far apart, willingly this time."

"It's not forever." Derek reminded. "And I'll come back sooner if you need me."

"No," Effie turned in his arms. "No, I'll be okay until you come home." she smiled. "Let's go before Cora comes up with a reason to keep us here."

Derek snorted. "Not if she values her life."

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It had been several hours since Effie and Derek left the Otero pack and they were surrounded by trees on all sides. The animals of the area were all quiet, only the birds chirping high in the trees. Given the were-coyote that was prowling around the pack, the two had headed in the opposite direction, not wanting to upset the shifter. According to Derek, they were following a map from Ralph, but he refused to let Effie look at it.

"Derek-"

"We're nearly there, Effie." Derek repeated. "Couple hundred more yards." he heard Effie grumbling under her breath, but ignored it. "Ralph promised it was worth the walk."

"Wait," Effie stopped. "This isn't where he and Cora had their bonding ceremony, right?"

Derek snorted. "No, I asked about that. He said he didn't want that area tainted by the emotions of his future brother-in-law."

Effie grinned. "It's where they're going to do the mating ceremony, too, huh?"

"I don't want to talk about it." Derek grunted.

Effie laughed, linking their arms. "Come on, Sourwolf."

"Really?"

"Shh," Effie ignored him. "I hear water."

Only a few minutes later, the pair broke through the trees and saw why Ralph had sent them there.

Before them was a small lake with bright green grass surrounding it. Built up on the grass was a canopy made of logs and large ferns. And the water Effie heard wasn't just the lake. It was the modestly sized waterfall pouring down into the lake.

"It's gorgeous." Effie breathed. Looking up, she saw a gap in the trees, revealing the brilliant blue sky. The two worked silently, setting up their sleeping bags and pillows under the canopy. When Derek went to gather some wood for a fire, Effie pulled her boots and socks off and dipped her toes in the water. Closing her eyes, she listened to the wind blow through the trees, the water splash against the rocks and even the small fish swimming below the surface. She'd forgotten in her time away from Beacon Hills just how peaceful the forest could be. Sure, there were more sounds than at home, but it still felt right to be surrounded by trees and the animals and creatures that lived in and around them.

For the first time since leaving Beacon Hills, Effie found herself truly missing home. Maybe not all the people, but the town itself.

"Hey," Derek joined her. "Where are you?"

Effie smiled. "Home." she looked at Derek. "This place reminds me of Beacon Hills. The sounds and trees."

Derek looked around, nodding. "Yeah, it really does feel like home." Silence fell as the two just sat, absorbing the nature around them.

"Derek," Effie's voice was a whisper caught on the wind. If it hadn't been blowing in Derek's direction, he wasn't sure he'd have heard it.

"What is it?" Derek asked.

"I'm scared to go home without you."

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Okay, I know that's a terrible place to end it, and I was going to make it longer with smut, but this chapter has been two weeks coming and this is as far as I could get without it feeling forced. And I really wanted to make sure I was able to update this week. Next week will be longer, and this shorter piece will elongate the story by one more chapter. For now, let me know what you think, flame policy stands and thanks for reading.

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