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Lacy here with our next chapter. I know I left the last one on a cliff-hanger. Effie confronting her fears, even after everything she's been through, is still one of the harder things for me to write. And I think that's shown in the last two chapters. But I've worked my way through it and I'm hoping this chapter will be a good second to last for the story. Can't really say much other than Derek and Effie talk. So, read on.
Disclaimer: I own Effie.
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Derek looked at Effie, watching as she folded in on herself after her confession filled the air.
"Why?" Derek asked the simple question. He wouldn't ask what she meant or tell her there was nothing to fear. Not until he knew why she was afraid.
Effie sighed, her fingers gripping the rock she sat on. "Back when the Nogitsune had Stiles and Mr. McCall had locked you and Chris up, I told Dad," she swallowed. "I told him I sometimes wished you and Peter had never come back into our lives. That the supernatural had stayed a story instead of proving to be real." she felt the sting her words caused through the mate bond. "I know better, now. I know this is always how things were meant to go and as dangerous and heartbreaking as its been, I wouldn't change a moment of it. But at the same time, I wouldn't change it because you've been there for everything. Even when we were of different opinions, you were still there." she looked at Derek. "I'm not saying I expect the world to go to hell the moment we're separated, but I am scared of the chance it could happen and having to face it without you."
Reacting without thinking, Derek pulled Effie into his arms and held her as she shook with her fear. He would be lying if he said he wasn't afraid of that, too. He told Effie as much.
"Any time we're apart, whether it's intentional or not, I'm terrified I'll come home and you'll be gone." Derek admitted. "Willingly or because someone took you from me."
"How do you deal with it?" Effie asked.
"Our bond." Derek answered simply. "Even before we were mated, even before we started dating, we had a bond. At least, I think we did."
"We did." Effie said softly.
Derek smiled, kissing her head. "That's how I dealt with the fear. That little feeling, in the way back of my mind at first, and something I fought at first. It helped, so much more than I thought it would."
"It's helped me, too." Effie admitted. "I used to think it was just because I was attracted to you, that's why you being around or on my mind was helpful. But I realized around the time Peter came back that it was so much more than that."
"Hold on to that," Derek said. "The entire time we're separated, hold on to that bond. And I'll do the same."
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This story is determined to kill me before it's finished. Which is hilarious, since it's got one chapter left. But apparently it's meant to have short, little nugget chapters. Which is fine, I mean, as long as I'm getting the story across and it fills in the blanks for Effie before the next season. Either way, let me know what you think, flame policy stands and thanks so much for reading.
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