AN: Hello everyone! So for those of you who ignored my earlier update I will catch you up. I was reading this fic over again and really wanted to start it up again. I know I said that I was not going to write fanfiction anymore, but my life has gotten considerably less busy, so I'm starting this fic up again. Thanks to all of you who read this before I stopped and are coming back to read this fic of mine. Enjoy!

Ethan's POV

It just didn't make sense, but then much wouldn't when you go against physics. I tossed another stone into the lake, watching it as it sunk below my vision. I would need to go home soon. Mum would be worried. She was doing so much better ever since we freed Sera and now she has been worrying more about me than I was about her. I hated to worry her, but as much as I tried to hide it, she knows how much I've been suffering.

When Rochelle had first died, she had let me grieve without interference. I don't remember what happened the month immediately after the battle, but everyone tells me that it was bad. According to them, I was comatose and refused to eat. I really scared Mum.

By the second month, school was back in session. I went through life by just blindly going through the motions. I got up, went to school, trained with Arkarian—although there was really nothing to train for anymore—came back home. At lunch, I sat alone. The others tried to cheer me up and comfort me, but I wouldn't have it. It was my fault she died and no one could convince me otherwise.

After the third month, my parent had had enough and let Isabel kidnap me to a movie night at Arkarian's with the rest of our group. Every time after that they pushed me out the door when one of my friends wanted me to do something with them.

I've been getting better, or at least I thought I was. I was gradually thinking of Rochelle less and less and when I did think of her, it was about the good times, however few they were. The guilt was gradually becoming less with time and the dreams about the battle were going away.

And now, when I was starting to allow myself to heal, she's back. How dare she! Doesn't she realize how much it hurts? I thought, as I tossed another stone into the lake as anger boiled up inside of me. But that wasn't right either. Matt was the one who had her brought back. It should be Matt that I'm mad at, not Rochelle. She didn't have any choice in the matter.

Which brought my thoughts around full circle. What to do with Rochelle? If Marduke was able to attack Rochelle through her sleep, how was one suppose to protect her? I can't allow him to kill her again. That would be about the worst thing to happen right now, to get her back only to lose her again to death by the same person. It won't happen, I won't allow it.

You have to get near her to protect her. A cold, cynical part of my mind sneered. Another stone flies into the lake. This was getting him no where fast.

Rochelle's POV

I yawned as I padded down one of the numerous hallways. I had no idea why I was so tired. I guess coming back from the dead can take it out of you. After I finished breakfast, I unexpectedly explored the chambers when I got lost on the way back to my room and by the time I found said room, I was exhausted and had to lay down. When I finally woke up from my "nap" my clock read 4:15 PM.

I found Arkarian in one of the many training rooms. I didn't say anything, just joined him in the exercises. I had to take it slower than I would have preferred to go because, go figure, I was sore and out of shape. Laying in a hole six feet under doesn't help with one's exercise program. I highly discourage any personal trainer from suggesting it.

It wasn't long after that Isabel joined us. From the way Arkarian's face lit up, you would have thought that he was a little kid in a candy store. Isabel practically tackled him and they stumbled until they found their way behind a screen that did absolutely nothing to hide what they were doing. "Yeah, that's it. Go behind the see-through, paper-thin screen of privacy," I called with a grin. Neither one answered but there was a laugh and a groan that came from behind me.

I turned to see Matt and Neriah coming through the door holding hands. Neriah dropped his hand and ran to hug me. "Hey Rochelle!"

"Hey."She released me and took Matt's hand again. We all look back to the engaged couple still greeting each other. Matt grimaced, "I don't get why they have to do that."

"Because they're in love."

"Same with Neriah and me, but you don't see us trying to find the nearest wedding chapel."

"They're not looking for a chapel. They're having a ceremony."

"It's just, they aren't going to age, so what's the rush?"

"Shut up, Matt,"Isabel said as she and Arkarian stepped out from behind the screen. Matt glowered at his sister, whose hair was slightly mussed, but kept quiet. Neriah gave a little laugh and hugged Arkarian "hello."Isabel looked to me and gave an apologetic, "I tried to get Ethan to come, but he ran off before school ended."

"It's fine, Isabel."

"What do you mean, 'It's fine'? He has a chance to have you back, and he's off busy moping."

"Just let it go, Isabel."

"No, it's not."One look at her face says that I won't be able to convince her without a little work.

"Just leave him alone, Isabel. His life got turned upside down with me coming back. I'm not sure it was the best thing for him." I directed a pointed look at Matt, who just looked away. Isabel wasn't convinced. "Think about what would happen if Arkarian died." Her eyes grew sad and I knew I had her. "Then a year later, he was brought back to life."She could understand, if just a little bit, I could see it on her face. "Exactly, so just let Ethan be. We don't even know how long this is going to stick." She gave a reluctant nod.

After that we all moved to another room and took our seats on the antique stools Arkarian had made all those years ago. The conversation was light, mainly about school and the wedding. Neriah was going to be the Maid of Honor and Ethan was to be the Best Man. Isabel wanted me to be a bridesmaid. I told her we would see.

Then it dawned on me. If Lathenia was back, the battle against time was going to start again and we were without the means of going back in time. "Arkarian, do you have the sphere up and running? The one that detected the portals?"

"No, why?"

"I just realized that we can't be sure she is staying quiet if we aren't monitoring the past for portals. Lathenia is bound to start her tricks again. We don't have a way to travel back in time to stop her from succeeding."

Everyone stared. "We'll just have to re-build the Citadel," Matt said.

I shake my head. "How? We stole it away from Lathenia. We don't have any plans. Plus, didn't you guys use most of the remain to build a temple?" All three of them nod.

We're all quiet for a long while before Arkarian says, "We'll find a way. In the mean time, Rochelle is right. I'll turn the equipment back on and monitor the past for any sign of Lathenia's meddling."

"Neriah and I will alert the Tribunal," Matt offers. We all nod in agreement and I try to stifle yet another yawn.

The conversation lapsed back into the light small talk from before. It was about the time that I was ready to excuse myself to go take another "nap" when Ethan poked his head in. "May I speak with you?" he asked. I nodded and followed him out the door. To my surprise he didn't head outside, but instead continued further into the mountain. We ended up in front of the door to my room...or maybe it was another room, they all looked the same. "Do you mind if we talk in here?"

"Of course not." He opened the door and I noticed that it was in fact my room. I walked over and sat down on the bed. Ethan followed and sat in the same spot he had the night before.

We were quiet for a while before Ethan cleared his throat and began. "I can't keep you safe. I can hardly ask you to not sleep, but if he can come through your dreams, there is no way to protect you."

"We're talking about Marduke, right?" He nodded and continued to stare hard at his hands. "You don't need to protect me, Ethan. I'm a big girl and can take care of myself. My death wasn't your fault."He frowned at me. "Sorry, I haven't gotten my control back on my skills and you were being open."

He was quiet again and I stayed out of his head. While he though of what to say next, I looked down at my hands. I haven't hurt anything with them, but the currents were still running underneath them. I needed to see if I could get a new pair of those gloves that look like skin from Arkarian.

"It was because of me that you died. You jumped in front of the poison arrow—one of my poison arrows that I should have kept with me. He wouldn't have killed you if I had kept them with me. Isabel couldn't heal you because you didn't have a heart beat. You weren't breathing. Matt couldn't do anything because he said it wasn't possible. They said that Immortals powers only dealt with the living."He fell silent as the unspoken question hung in the air.

I tentatively put a hand on top of one of his and gave it a little squeeze. He looked up, shocked. "I don't know how Dartemis did it, neither does Matt, for that matter. It's done, all we can do is keep moving forward and sees if it sticks. If you don't want to be near me until we know for sure that this thing is for real, I understand."

He takes my hand in his. The move is touching and comforting. "I want to stay with you..."

"But you're afraid to get hurt again?" I finish for him and he nods.

Another silence, and then, "I just started to allow myself to move on."I placed a hand on his wet cheek. I caused him so much pain. His thoughts were wide open and so loud it was hard not to over hear some of them. "It was my fault."

"No, it wasn't. It was prophesied that I would die. We were given several hints along the way." He was shaking his head and took my hand off his cheek. I didn't show how it hurt me especially when he held onto it.

"It doesn't matter. I'm going to be with you while I can and do everything I can to protect you from Marduke."

I watch him for a while, "Alright, but if this doesn't work out and things go back to the way they are suppose to be, you have to promise me not to blame yourself. You have to promise me that you will allow yourself to move on. I'm dead and you should be able to move on and live life without me holding you back."

Ethan grew silent and his eyes were sad. The room was silent for a long time again until I heard a muffled "Say yes, Ethan." I huffed and quietly went to the door. When I opened it in one quick motion, Isabel, Neriah, and Matt fell in and Arkarian was standing on the other side with an embarrassed look. "May I help you?"

The three on the floor scrambled to get up while Arkarian cleared his throat. "Isabel and Neriah wanted to say goodbye."

"So they knocked with their ears?"Isabel and Neriah gave embarrassed smile and hugged me goodbye and went to do the same to Ethan.

"You are going to be in school tomorrow, right?" Isabel asked him as she pulled back. He rolled his eyes and gave her an aggravated "Yes, Isabel." Satisfied, they left.

"Some privacy, huh?"I said as I sat back down.

He gives a small smile and nods. "She's been on my case for months. I'm not all that surprised that they were eavesdropping, especially since Isabel was hammering me all day about talking to you."

"I tried to convince her to leave you alone, probably won't work though."

He shook his head, "No, probably not." He looked around at all the shopping bags that were laying around the room that I hadn't gotten to putting away yet because of my "nap." "Would you like some help putting your stuff away?"

"I love your help, but you should probably be heading home. Your mum will be worried and I feel like I'm about to collapse here soon."Both of us glanced at the clock, which was leaning more towards seven now.

"You're right. Maybe I can help you tomorrow?"I nodded. "Ok, I'll see you tomorrow then." I smiled and waved goodbye. I laid down as soon as he left. "Oh and Rochelle." I sat up to see him peeking his head back in. "I promise to try."

"Try what?"

"Everything." My sleep hazy mind took a while to understand what he was talking about, but when I realized that he was answering my earlier conditions, I smiled. At least he would try, that was all that I could ask.

Thanks again for reading. Review and tell me what you think. I promise to try and make the next chapter less serious, but in my defense, I needed to fix the rift between Ethan and Rochelle so it needed to be slightly serious. Anywho, review, review, review and I will update within a week.