Disclaimer: Twilight is the property of Stephenie Meyer
You'll notice that the chapters this week are alternate POVs of the same incident. I just wanted to re-establish how the twins see things differently. There are differences in the narration, but the dialogue between the twins themselves is mostly the same.
I'd like to dedicate this chapter to Noble, Fadewind, Bibika94, BellaNessieCullen, Alexsandra, Alphabloodwolf, and Lsb123
I heard knocking and that awoke me. I opened my eyes and checked the time. It was four in the morning and I wished to sleep longer. I decided to ignore the knocking until I realised it was coming from above and a flashlight shone in my eyes. I blinked and looked up to my skylight, there was somebody up there. It took only a moment longer for me to realise who it was.
Tony what are you doing on the roof? I demanded.
Come up here. He said.
What? Why? I hissed, wondering what could possibly be so important at silly o'clock in the morning.
Will you just trust me Sis? He asked solemnly.
Very well. I said with a sigh and slid out of bed.
Come on. Jump through the skylight. He stated as he opened it.
What! I exclaimed.
You know you can do it Eliza, and I'll catch you anyway. This way no one will know you're leaving. Mostly Alec won't know you're leaving and try to follow. He explained.
Why? Where are we going? I asked.
Just come on and I'll show you. Tony stated as he reached his arms down into my room.
Can I dress first? I asked.
I got some clothes for you. He stated and this was the truth. Let's just make a break for it now. I want to spend time with you without having to share you with Mal or Alec or even Billie for that matter. We haven't had any time together since you've been back.
That is true, but did you have to call on me at such an ungodly hour? I asked as I leaped up and caught hold of his hands.
Ungodly? He asked as he pulled me outside. I'm usually in work now.
Yes. I agreed as I settled on the lower roof as Tony closed and locked the skylight. I forget that at times.
Let's get out of here and then we can talk. Tony said, taking my hand.
Should I at least let Mother know I'm leaving? I asked.
Mom knows. She suggested I grab you this early. Tony replied, and I suddenly saw her reason for me to sleep alone. Now let's go in case Alec hears us.
But what about Mal? I asked, feeling somewhat stubborn in that moment, having been conspired against in such a way.
You spend all your time with him and he'll have you when you go back to Riverside. Prue has spent more time with you than I have. Tony said sadly.
I had to calculate a moment, but there was no denying it, I had spent more time with everyone else than Tony.
"Yes you're right." I said aloud.
Tony put his finger to his lips then guided me to the edge of the roof.
We must jump off? I asked, feeling my heart catch in my throat.
Quickest way to ground level. It's only two stories here, we'll be fine. Tony assured me. I've done it before.
When? I demanded for I had never known him to jump from the roof.
That time I was chasing Alec. Now come on, just don't think about it. Tony stated and he backed us from the edge before we took a running jump.
We landed silently on the grass and I felt elated as Tony led me into the trees.
You can dress at the Stables, and we'll head out in my truck. He explained as we ran through the trees.
And thus we escape the risk of Alec following? I surmised.
Exactly. Tony said as he smiled at me. Come on, the sooner we leave the area the better.
Of course. I agreed. But will we not disturb Prue and Grace?
Nah. They're away at a spa for a couple of days for some sister bonding. Thought I'd take advantage and spend some time with you. Tony stated.
It will be nice to spend time together regardless, but could we not stay at the Stables. I asked, not feeling up to travelling so early in the morning when it was not for hunting.
Well we could, but then we won't be able to go to the Res. Tony remarked.
We're going to the Res? I asked in astonishment.
Yeah. If we leave in the next hour we'll be there by seven. He replied. We can have breakfast with Uncle Hunter then head out into the woods. Run the places we used to as kids.
That sounds wonderful. I observed. Although it would have been nice to share it with Billie.
And we will in the summer, but I think it's up to Mom and Dad to take her to the Res her first time.
Yes. I agreed as we came upon the Stables and Tony let us in through the back door.
"There's a bathroom through there." He said, pointing down a small corridor at the side of stairs decorated with lights and roses. "There's some of your clothes in there. Dad liberated them from the laundry."
"I will be prompt." I stated as I made my way along the short corridor and into the small bathroom that was merely a downstairs toilet.
What Father had liberated for me was shorts and t-shirt and clean underwear. I suppose it was something I would wear on the Res. Suppose? It was what I would have chosen myself and without hesitating further I changed, washing as best I could in the sink.
Luckily Father had thought to pack my hoody and shoes and socks. This was not something I would choose to run the forest, but it would feel better when we were travelling. Besides it was winter and if we did happen to be pulled over by the police how would I explain being dressed only in shorts and t-shirt. At least this way we could claim to be going out to jog.
I returned to the kitchen where Tony greeted me with a smile and a thermal mug.
"Thought you could do with a hot drink on the road." He stated.
"Thanks." I replied as I took a sip, waiting for it to be bad and preparing myself to pretend it was good. However I was surprised because it was good. "Your coffee making has improved." I stated.
"My cooking has too Sis." Tony said as he put his arm about my shoulder and led me out to his truck. "I'll make you something at Hunter's, as long as it's not pancakes."
"What's wrong with pancakes?" I asked as I climbed into his truck.
"Last time I made them I burnt them." He stated.
"I think that has more to do with Grace distracting you." I said with a giggle as I caught the scenario in his mind.
"Well yeah, but I vowed never to make pancakes again because I don't want to cause fires." Tony stated.
"Then what do you plan to make me brother?" I asked.
"Oh I'll raid Hunter's fridge when we get there." Tony said thoughtfully.
I laughed.
"We are being the proverbial free-loading niece and nephew." I chortled.
"Come on, it's about time we treated Uncle Hunter to our own brand of troublesome twosome." Tony observed.
"Yes. It's a good job he loves us." I remarked with a chuckle.
"You know what, it's been ages since we've pulled some proper twin crap." Tony mused.
"It has brother. Years in fact." I realised. "I don't think we've done anything of the sort since we were children."
"No. I think it was the last time everyone was still kids." Tony remarked.
"We were thirteen." I stated. "It was the summer we were last free."
"The summer Tammie died." Tony said sadly.
"Yes. That was the last time we could act like children." I stated.
"It was hard to do it after that." Tony said sadly. "It was like a marker of the end of our childhood."
"You can't go back to being a carefree child once you've been hailed a war hero." I remarked. "Believe me I tried."
"You didn't really like school the second time around?" Tony asked in astonishment.
"No. I spent most of the time comparing them to my old friends and finding them completely different and I did not like that." I stated. "You know I have grown closer to Dove in the short time I have known her than I ever did with anyone in the four years I attended Forks."
"Dove is your roommate right?" Tony guessed.
"Yes. Although I now realise you can never meet her." I said as the thought occurred to me.
"Why?"
"Because I said you were my twin and everyone now knows that you are Grace's childhood sweetheart, the inspiration for Brody. It would seem weird if you are twenty eight and I am eighteen." I observed.
"Well I don't have to meet her." Tony stated. "After all you might never see her again after college."
"That's true. But I do like her. I would like to keep in contact with her." I replied. "Would that be possible?"
"Maybe with e-mail, but after ten, twenty years it won't be right. I mean, anyone will start wondering after that amount of time. Unless she's blind, and then all you need to do is disguise your voice." Tony remarked.
"She's not blind." I stated.
"Then you can't carry your friendship on beyond college. Sorry." He said sadly.
"You have nothing to apologise for Brother." I assured him and tapped his hand. "I knew this was the case, I was hoping you could offer me a solution."
"Turn her into a vampire and hope she doesn't hate you afterwards." Tony observed.
"That is not an option." I said firmly. "I would not do that to Simon, and I had designs upon him, I would not subject Dove to that just to have a friend."
"Unless she was dying."
"Well that would be different, although I would not be able to help her in that way." I stated.
"You're not venomous." Tony remarked.
"Exactly."
"I used to worry about being venomous, but if I hadn't been, Grace would have died." Tony stated.
"How close was she to dying?" I asked softly.
"The blood was pumping out of her…Can we not talk about this while I'm driving?" Tony pleaded. "I don't want to run us off the road."
"Of course. Let us talk of other things." I said, searching for a subject. "Do you still enjoy working at the store?"
"That's another complicated area." Tony said hesitantly.
"Why?"
"I don't think I should tell you about that, it's not really my business." He stated.
"If it's upsetting you then it is my business." I said firmly.
"Then it's another thing we'll discuss later."
"Very well. What would you like to discuss right now?" I asked.
"How about you and Mal?" Tony suggested.
"What about Mal and I?" I asked guardedly.
"Well you've only given me bits of the story, and all out of sequence. Why don't you tell me the story from the start."
"You want me to tell you everything?" I asked aghast.
"Well you can edit out the naughty bits, I really am not that interested in your love life, but I do want to know if you're really happy." Tony explained.
"Yes." I agreed. "And perhaps this is another subject we should leave until later."
"Maybe we should leave all the personal stuff until we're out running, and just talk about trivial stuff for the time being." Tony suggested.
"That seems for the best." I agreed.
"Yeah. So you seen any good movies lately?" He asked.
"A few good movies, however I much prefer the terrible ones." I said with a grin as I recalled those times with Mal.
"Why?" Tony asked with a frown.
"Because Mal and I slate them afterwards, or if we happen to be watching a DVD we run our own commentary." I explained.
"Sounds fun." Tony observed.
"It is." I said with a wistful smile. "Although we did walk out of a movie once."
"Which one?"
"Leeks of Doom."
"That one with Simon?" Tony asked, sounding shocked.
"Yes."
"Why did you walk out on Simon?" Tony demanded, and it was a strange way to word it.
"The official reason is that Mal found Simon's attempt at a Welsh accent and the actual language to be so appalling it was offensive." I replied.
"So what's the real reason?" Tony prompted.
"What do you think?" I asked.
"I don't know. I mean, it depends how he walked out. Did he just say it was a bad movie you wanna go home? Did he just get up and storm out?" Tony reasoned.
"He broke the projector with his telekinesis." I stated.
"Oh. So he was jealous." Tony said without further consideration.
"How did you come so readily to that conclusion?" I asked. "It took a while for me to contemplate that was the reason."
"Yeah, but I bet you were still convincing yourself that Mal didn't like you in that way and there had to be a million different reasons that he did it other than the fact that you were fawning over Simon." Tony stated.
"I was not fawning over Simon." I snapped. "Besides we have drifted onto personal topics again."
"Yeah. How about we just discuss Billie instead." Tony suggested.
"What should we discuss about her?"
"You took her to Olympia shopping right?" He asked.
"Yes I did." I replied, although I was unsure of his reason for asking.
"And you bumped into Gloria and Devon." Tony stated.
"Billie's little friend, yes. She was most excited to see him again." I replied.
"Yeah." Tony said a little sadly.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"Isn't fate cruel sometimes?" He observed.
"What do you mean?"
"Well there's Devon, he would make a good best friend for Billie, and Billie would be good for him, maybe bring him out of his shell a little. But that ain't gonna happen because Billie can't have anything to do with him."
"Poor Billie." I remarked. "And she has not got what we had."
"A ready made best friend?" Tony asked.
"Yes. We had each other to grow up with, but Billie, she will be lonely." I said feeling sad for my sister's childhood.
"Unless we can convince Nahuel to stay." Tony said brightly.
"I doubt it. He pines for home and doesn't trust my judgement because I stopped Alec's execution." I said bitterly.
"The trouble with Nahuel is that he doesn't look beyond his own family group. You got that gift to see beyond the solution to the later results. If you'd let Jane kill Alec he would have been out of your life for good, so that would have aided you on a personal level. But you could see how it would affect Jane, and how that would then affect us all. You were thinking of everyone, and not just yourself. Hopefully Nahuel will come to see that in time."
"But that doesn't solve the problem of keeping Maurice here for Billie to play with." I stated.
"I could always alpha him." Tony offered.
"That would be extremely wrong and Nahuel would have cause to take against our family forever if you were to do that." I chastised.
"Yeah." Tony agreed with a sigh.
"Besides, I think you are becoming too fond of using your alpha voice to solve your problems." I said primly, although I was working toward some good-natured teasing.
"I don't know what you mean." Tony said defensively.
"I know you Alphaed Prue." I said with a grin.
"No I didn't." Tony protested.
"Yes you did." I replied.
"No." Tony said, shaking his head.
"Tony, I know the signs of a person who's been put under the alpha command. Prue was in the middle of telling me that I couldn't disturb you because you were most likely busy with Grace and that she had disturbed you already. Of course she could not finish that sentence, but I managed to glean that she walked in on you and Grace." I stated.
Tony let out a growl, and then took a calming breath.
"It's getting personal again." He observed.
"Yes. We will talk of it later." I promised with a grin.
"Why don't you tell me instead what it's like to live in all that sun?" Tony asked, changing the subject.
"It is a lot dryer than living in all this rain." I observed. "And you can sit outside most days and not have to worry about wet patches because nothing ever truly dries out."
"Are you gonna make California your home?" He asked and he sounded a little worried that I would.
"No. It's too sunny for my liking." I replied and Tony chuckled.
I looked out of the window to get my bearings and noted that we were passing Port Angeles.
"You're driving awfully fast." I observed.
"Nah. The times just going quick." Tony said with a shrug, and he was right, for it was now five o'clock and we had been travelling for nigh on an hour.
"You are correct." I observed.
"Yeah. So what's the food like in California?"
"It is much the same for I tend to cook my own food there too." I stated.
"How about when you eat out?"
"We tend to opt for take-away, but when I do eat out I adore this little Italian place, the pizza there is delicious, and the pasta cooked to perfection. You would like their bolognaise very much."
"Oh man, I wish we could go there right now." Tony stated.
"They do not serve before five in the afternoon, we would be twelve hours too early." I said with a grin.
"Very funny." Tony said dryly. "But seriously Eliza, I really would like to try some of that, especially if you think it's good."
"I'm glad to hear you value my opinion so much." I stated.
"Of course I do, you're my big sister." Tony said with a grin.
I laughed, and then frowned.
"When did you start referring to me as your big sister?" I asked.
"Since I got a little one. Anyway, you've always acted like a big sister, looking out for me, making sure I have everything I need for whatever we happened to be doing. Bossing me around." Tony teased.
"I do not boss you around!" I exclaimed. "I merely make suggestions that will guide you onto a more beneficial path in life. The path I happen to think is the right one and I will not stop advising you until you step on it."
Tony chuckled at my words.
"So bossing me then." He said happily.
"Yes. I will admit it. My name is Elizabeth Black and I am a boss-oholic." I declared.
"That's funny, but it kind of makes you sound like someone who can't get enough of her boss."
I reviewed the sentence and had to agree with Tony.
"Yes, yes you're right. It does seem that way. I suppose what I should have said was, I am Elizabeth Black and I am bossy and proud of the fact." I said solemnly. "Now sit up straight, adjust your seatbelt to the correct angle and keep to the centre of the lane."
"Good one Sis." Tony said as he ruffled my hair.
"And keep both hands on the steering wheel at all times, apart from when you need to shift gear." I continued.
"Ok. Hands on the steering wheel." Tony said as he placed his hands on the steering wheel and looked straight ahead out onto the road.
He remained fully focused on his driving for five minuets before I could hold it back no longer and began to laugh out loud. I will admit there was a slightly hysterical edge, but it had been so long since I had been in Tony's company, truly in his company with our bond being reaffirmed, that it was a relief that we could interact as we always had. I laughed until I coughed.
"You need some water?" Tony asked in concern.
"No." I said, still sounding amused, but I had managed to calm my laughter. "I am fine now. I merely laughed too much."
"And they say laughter's the best medicine."
"Obviously they're wrong." I observed. "Although I do feel much better now. This was a good idea Tony, I am glad you suggested we spend the day to ourselves."
"We need this." Tony said. "Mom knew we needed this."
"It was Mother who suggested it?" I asked, hoping he'd elaborate on the information he had given me earlier.
"Only what I was already thinking." Tony said with a shrug. "She just made sure you were alone so I could nab you this morning."
"Mother could have told me that was her intention. I would have found another reason to sleep alone." I stated.
"Well that's something else we'll have to discuss later, cause look, we're here." Tony announced.
"The La Push border." I sighed, and rolled down the window letting in the morning air.
I breathed it in deeply, taking in the scent of pine and the salt of the ocean. I could hear the crash of the waves over the rumble of the engine. I would have appreciated a touch more light in order to view the shine of ocean in the breaks of the dark trees.
"It will be delightful to return here in the summer again." I mused.
"Yeah. And this year it'll be even better. I'll have Grace, you'll have Mal…"
"Alec will be hovering in every shadow." I said sadly.
"But that's the beauty of the Res." Tony observed. "No vamps allowed. Alec won't be able to follow you here."
"There is that advantage." I mused.
"Yep, good old La Push." Tony stated as he pulled up outside Hunter's house, which was empty.
"Should we be worried?" I asked.
"Nah. It's still a little dark. He's probably still out at the border." Tony replied.
"Are you sure?"
"I can phase and find out if you want me to." He offered.
"It would put my mind to rest." I stated.
"Then come cover me. If there is something to be frightened of out there, I want you to fight with me." Tony stated.
"A tag team as in the days of old?" I inquired.
"Exactly."
"Very well." I said as I opened the door and got out of the truck.
I met Tony at the front of the truck and took his hand for a moment while we calibrated our minds. Before we broke apart and moved silently around the side of the house to where our old clubhouse stood, over grown once more with weeds. It wasn't much but it would give Tony the cover he needed to change.
Tony went behind the clubhouse while I stopped by its side, looking out into the trees. I strained my senses making sure that there was nobody sneaking up on us while Tony changed. I knew when he was a wolf; there was always a different feel to his mind. It was not a big change; merely the feel was slightly different.
I felt Tony's relief and waited patiently while he changed back and dressed. I was not in a panic now for I knew Uncle Hunter was safe. If he had not been then Tony would not be changing back and we would be hurtling through the trees attempting a rescue.
Tony reappeared with his sneakers and jacket in his hands.
"Hunter's still out on patrol. He said he'll be about two hours so we should go ahead and eat. If we head out before he gets back we have to remember to pull the door closed." Tony stated.
"As if I would." I said in mock offence, relieved that there was no emergency where Uncle Hunter was concerned.
"It was probably aimed at me." Tony said with a chuckle. "Come on, let's get inside, we don't want to disturb the neighbours."
"Are you really going to cook me breakfast Brother?" I asked as we stepped through the front door.
"Well let's see what Hunter's got there first." Tony replied.
"Yes. We may find that the fridge is full of nothing but beer and steaks." I mused.
"What makes you say that?"
"He is a bachelor." I replied.
"You think that's the only thing guys have in their fridge, beer and steaks?" Tony questioned.
"Not really. I was being facetious." I remarked.
"Good. So let's see what our uncle has to eat." Tony said as he swung open the door.
"I was right." I crowed, "There it is, the beer and steaks."
"Yeah, but there's also salad and all the health crap you like." Tony said, pointing at the greenery.
"But judging by the colour it has been here a while and he hasn't touched it." I countered.
"At least he bought it." Tony stated.
"I would wager that Tina bought it and Hunter accepted it grudgingly." I replied.
"How do you know it's Tina, there's lots of women in the pack now." Tony observed.
"Yes, but Tina is the only one who could risk telling our uncle what to do."
"That's true." Tony conceded. "So are we gonna choose something to eat or refrigerate the whole kitchen?"
"It's not my place to choose. I thought you were going to prepare breakfast." I stated.
"Ok. Well go sit down and I'll see what's here." Tony said, clapping his hands together before he rummaged in the fridge.
I went to sit at the little kitchen table and noted how pristine everything was. Hunter kept his house clean, but was this the result of hardly being here? Was this evidence of a house almost unlived in? That would be understandable since I could not imagine living all by myself. Poor Uncle Hunter.
"Liza?" Tony said his hand on my shoulder, and I looked up at my brother feeling sad.
"We must find Uncle Hunter's imprint." I stated.
"How do you suggest we do that?" Tony asked as he sat opposite me.
"I have no idea, but I do not like to see him unhappy." I replied.
"I know what you mean." Tony said sadly. "But how are we supposed to do it? We won't know his imprint until he sees her."
"Then we must make sure he comes into contact with all the women we know." I said firmly.
"And how do you propose we do that?" He asked.
"I could ask him to help me move back to college. There will be an abundant of girls he could meet." I stated.
"Plus your roommate so if it turns out to be her you can tell her everything?" Tony mused.
"That would be a bonus, but that is not why I do it." I replied.
"I know, you just want Hunter to be happy." He said, tapping my hand. "But he won't go with you."
"Why not?"
"He wouldn't leave the Res for that long." Tony said glumly.
"You're right. He has compensated for a lack of a companion by becoming permanently attached to his duties here." I stated, feeling we had reached an impasse.
"It was a good idea. Hunter needs to fish in different waters cause he's exhausted the supply here." Tony observed. "I guess I'd better start on breakfast. You want steak?"
"Most amusing. Bacon will suffice." I stated.
"Just bacon? I can do you some sausages and stuff as well." Tony prompted.
"Surprise me."
"Oakey-dokey." Tony said, rising to his feet and going back to the fridge.
We chatted about Tony's newfound ability in the kitchen as he prepared breakfast, and then we dined on sausage, bacon and beans. I had to admit that Tony was rather accomplished at this breakfast at least.
Once we'd finished eating I washed and Tony wiped the dishes. With everything back in order for when Hunter returned, Tony and I headed out to run.
We had agreed on the lake. It would give us a clean run out to there, and then we would have a nice walk around it. This would give us chance to talk. We ran until we reached the lake, and then slowed to a walk on the shore.
"You know, this is the first time we've ever come up here in the winter." Tony observed.
"Yes, but still it's beautiful." I stated as I regarded the panorama of the frost-touched lake and the snow capped mountains in the distance.
"Yeah, but I wouldn't fancy swimming in there today. Even with our higher tolerance to cold I wouldn't want to try that water when it's like this." Tony said with a mock shiver.
"With that I would have to agree Brother." I replied. "Look, there are places where it is frozen."
"Yeah." Tony agreed.
"Now that we have finished stalling shall we start on our conversation?" I prompted.
"I thought we'd ease in gently." Tony stated.
"Yes, but our conversation needs to be somewhere in the vicinity of what we wish to discuss." I observed.
"But starting with the weather is always a good precursor." Tony argued.
"Of course, but let us dispense with the careful treading. I think first we must discus my un-twin-like behaviour when I was mad with Mother. Regardless of my feelings toward her, I should not have blamed you for siding with Mother. You were behaving more rationally than I. Even when I realised I was being silly I did not relent and contact you."
"You stand by your convictions, there's nothing wrong with that." Tony stated.
"There is when my foolish conviction separates me from those I love." I said sadly.
"Talking of that, don't you think you should have sorted out your relationship status with Mal?" Tony asked.
"How do you know of that?" I demanded.
"Because it was what came to your mind when you were talking about your foolish convictions. Sorry for reading it." Tony apologised and I realised he was telling the truth and my annoyance had stemmed from the suspicion that perhaps Mother had told him that I'd been unable to declare Mal my boyfriend.
"No need to apologise." I said softly. "I have grown too accustomed to having my mind completely to myself of late. I forgot how much we truly share when we're together. It makes communication so much easier."
"It does. Plus having another mind to use is also good. I could have used you a few months back when I was trying to figure out how Grace became a dhampir." Tony said in a joking way.
"Do you have any theories now?" I asked.
"I'm not any closer now than I was then."
"You put your blood to her wound." I stated as one idea cam to me. "Do you think that exacted some change that partially protected her from the venom. After all, there must be something in our blood that makes us vampire, yet alive at the same time."
"Do you think Carlisle ever did research into that?" Tony asked hopefully.
"I have no idea." I admitted. "Perhaps you should ask him."
"Yeah." Tony said with a sigh.
"Was it truly terrible?" I asked, and took his hand.
Tony looked at me for a moment, then stopped and closed his eyes. He sank down onto a rock and I sat beside him.
"It was terrible Eliza. I thought she was dead. Blood was everywhere. It was just running out of her. It was…" He sobbed and I got a picture from his mind that made me shiver.
"Oh Tony, I should have been there for you." I cried as I hugged him.
"I doubt you would have been there at the time. I mean I was…" Tony trailed off a little embarrassed.
"It happened just after your first time." I whispered.
"It was the next morning. I woke up, needed to pee and that's when Olwen attracted me, as I was heading back to Grace." He replied.
"She got into the house? But the flashes I had were outside. You very vividly recalling the red of her blood against the white virgin snow." I said with a frown.
"Because I was outside." Tony stated.
"There are several bathrooms in the Stables, there is no need to go outside to use the outhouse." I observed.
"It's the closest if you sleep in the barn." Tony mumbled.
"Why were you sleeping in the barn? … Oh!" I gasped as I caught the reason in his mind. "As if that scene was difficult to read before." I muttered.
"Sorry." Tony said with a smile.
"It is my fault for prying too far." I replied, "At least you had fun."
"Yeah." Tony said wistfully.
"What is it like?" I asked before I thought better of it.
"What's what like?" Tony asked.
"Making love."
"It's…" Tony trailed off for a moment. "It's hard to explain, and anyway, I'm a guy, it's gonna feel different for you. And everyone experiences it differently anyway."
"Then what is it like to just let yourself go in that way?"
"Scary at first, but the pay off is so sweet you wonder what you were afraid of." Tony stated. "And you trust Mal right?"
"I do." I agreed.
"Then what's so bad about letting yourself go? You want him, and you trust him, so you won't be making a mistake giving yourself over to him so completely."
"I think, had Mal and I reached the point we are now at in college, I would know him by now. But I cannot know him at Tregarran. At least not for my first time when I know not what to expect. Besides, Mother has made me promise not to entertain him in any way until I can look her in the eye and declare him my boyfriend." I explained.
"Why couldn't you?" Tony asked.
"Because I haven't discussed our status yet." I stated, certain we had already covered this.
"But you are together now." Tony said. "Everything in your mind tells me that. You want to have sex with him for Christ sake! And you can't tell Mom he's your boyfriend?"
"Because it would be wrong without discussing it with Mal first. We haven't spoken of whether we are actually an item now." I explained.
"But you make out with him at every chance you get." Tony exclaimed.
"There's a difference between making out with somebody and going steady." I observed.
"If anyone else said that I'd have to agree, but that's not you Sis, you have to know where you're going." Tony stated.
"But with Mal I often don't, and although it is scary, I also find it fascinating." I explained.
"I'm glad he can make you feel like that." Tony stated. "But don't you think he wants to be with you too? I'm sure he'd like to make things official, but is waiting for you to ask him first."
"What exactly have you been discussing with him?" I asked, feeling suddenly suspicious.
"I asked him why he hadn't told you his feelings when it was so clear in his mind that he's in love with you. But he's already done that now so I'm not betraying him by telling you." Tony stated.
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" I asked.
"Because I was sticking my nose in enough even discussing you with Mal, and that was accidental." Tony protested. "I'd only gone to chat to him so I knew him better, but it was hard to talk about anything else when you were so present in his mind."
I had to think on that a moment, then had no choice but to agree.
"I would have accused you of meddling and possibly abusing your powers if you had volunteered the information to me." I conceded. "I am contrary like that."
We were silent for a moment, and then Tony rose to his feet and beckoned for me to continue walking with him. I stood and followed.
"Why don't you tell me about Dove." He suggested. "You obviously consider her a close friend or you wouldn't have mentioned her."
"I do. She may be an annoying Hollywood brat at times, but she's very protective of those she considers friends." I stated.
"She's a Hollywood brat?"
"Yes. She grew up around the rich and famous. When she ditched school she would spend her days around film sets."
"Her mother is Fatima Marlow!" Tony exclaimed. "Oh my god!"
"Yes. Something I would advise against mentioning if you ever meet her." I warned.
"Why? They don't get on?" Tony inquired.
"They get along fine, but Dove wishes to lead a quiet life whilst in college and doesn't wish to be seen as gaining favours off the back of her mother's fame."
"I guess that makes sense." Tony replied. "I'd hate to always be pestered just because Mom and Dad were famous."
"It is bad enough with those in the supernatural community recognising you, I should hate to be famous in the human world." I stated as I remembered Jericho Bronson of the San Jose Earthquakes.
"Well I haven't found it too bad so far." Tony said with a grin.
"Someone actually asked you for an autograph simply for being the inspiration for Brody?" I asked in astonishment.
"Yep." Tony replied.
"How strange." I remarked.
"It was. We left not long after in case the group of girls decided to stalk us." He confided.
"And you have Dannan to thank for your sudden fame." I said warily.
"Yeah. But it was bound to come out sooner or later." Tony said with a shrug. "It wouldn't take people long to think I might be the inspiration, even if it was never confirmed. And it might be worse that way anyway."
"I suppose what people could make up could be worse than the truth of the matter." I conceded.
"Yeah. Anyway, it meant that we had to leave Seattle earlier than we planned, so we had to think of ways to extend our time away from Prue. We went hunting and then we went to visit Eloise and there wasn't any need cause when we got back to the Stables Prue was out with you anyway." Tony said in a cheery way, and I realised that he'd quickly covered something in his conversation.
"Why did you visit Eloise?" I asked, picking out the thing he was trying to bury.
"It's nothing to do with me." Tony said sadly.
"It is hurting you, what ever the knowledge is. Please confide in me brother, I wish to put your mind at ease." I said softly.
"But you can't really sort it out." Tony stated.
"I can lend an impartial ear." I countered.
"Ok." Tony said and took a breath. "Well, did you know Eloise is pregnant?"
"No. How wonderful." I gushed. "Is Bob the father?"
"Yeah. But Eloise wants to get rid." Tony said darkly.
"Oh my god! Why?" I demanded.
"Because she's not ready for baby." Tony stated.
"She should have thought of that before having unprotected sex." I said firmly.
"Yeah. Anyway, she should at least give Bob the chance to have his say, but she's taking the stance that it's her body and she'll do whatever the hell she likes. Even if that means lying to Bob and telling him it's too late cause she's already had an abortion." Tony explained.
"What? That is unacceptable. I am all in favour of her choosing, but she should not tell Bob it's final when it's not."
"Yeah. And she's annoyed now cause Grace and me, oh and Shelly, know that she's still pregnant but she has an appointment for sometime in the week." Tony continued.
"And now you're left with the dilemma of whether to tell Bob or not." I realised.
"Yeah. Cause if I tell him he has a window to convince her not to, but then what if I'm just giving him false hope? I don't want him to get all excited only to be crushed again. He was such a state on Christmas Eve. I've never seen him like that." Tony said sadly, and he was truly worried about his friend.
I stopped and hugged Tony tightly.
"You should have told me this was bothering you." I stated.
"Well I only found out on Christmas Eve, and I didn't want to ruin Christmas." He replied.
I nodded my head, while I thought for a moment. Then I stepped away from him and started walking again.
"I think you should tell Bob." I said firmly.
"But that's meddling." Tony protested.
"Yes. But he has the right to know that his child is not yet gone. He has a right to fight for his child's life. Even if she does not want the child herself, could she not act as a surrogate?" I suggested.
"She's worried about being tied to Olympic Pines and is ready to move to Tacoma to work with Johno." Tony said in a mocking voice.
"She has been planning that for at least two years now, ever since Johno set up his practice and is yet to move. Besides, what would Johno think to learn of her behaviour in this matter? Would he want to be placed in the position where he seems to be choosing between his friends?"
"I think he'd hate it as much as me." Tony stated.
"My point is that nine months will make no difference."
"I think she's frightened that she'll actually grow to want the baby and she'll be stuck here working as Ferguson's dogsbody for the rest of her life." Tony observed.
"Ferguson can't live forever, and he will have to retire at some point." I stated. "After all the experience Eloise will have gained in that time she would make a natural successor."
"Eloise is thinking of now, not the future." Tony said sadly.
"If I knew that Eloise would not take offence that you have discussed this with me I would go and have words with her." I said firmly.
"Please don't." Tony pleaded.
"I won't." I promised. "I know you would not want me to."
Tony looked sad and I decided to change the subject.
"So Shelly was there. How is she these days?" I asked joyfully.
"She's good I guess. I didn't really have chance to ask her about her life, we were so focused on not discussing Eloise abortion. Although we did discuss Simon."
"How did Simon come into it?" I asked with a frown.
"Because Grace mentioned that Prue tried to hit on your boyfriend and Shelly thought she was talking about Simon. Did you know she's his cousin?" Tony said quickly.
"Yes. Simon told me." I stated.
"He did?"
"Yes. Simon and I confided a lot in each other, even if I had to edit out the supernatural elements."
"Well Shelly still has contact with him. She was a little pissed that you found someone else. She thought you weren't being fair to Simon, cause even though he's the new Hollywood play boy king, he isn't in a serious relationship yet. Apparently he didn't even sleep with anyone until two or three years ago."
"He did not?" I asked, that length of time seeming somewhat significant.
"No."
"Then I wonder…" I broke off, unable to finish that sentence.
"Your friend Dove slept with him?" Tony asked solemnly.
"Yes." I replied.
"Does she know about you?"
"How can I tell her? As far as she is concerned I am eighteen years of age. I can hardly claim that I am his high school sweetheart. His Baby Doll, the princess he still speaks to in his sleep." I said feeling like a right bitch to have cast my eye on another without freeing him first.
"You didn't know you'd meet Mal and fall in love." Tony said, putting his arm around my shoulder. "And you let him go."
"Not entirely. Not enough for him to have a serious relationship." I stated.
"Well maybe he hasn't met someone he wants to be serious with. Or he's enjoying having his pick of the Hollywood smorgasbord before he decides to opt for a full course meal." Tony suggested.
"And perhaps he is biding his time, not allowing himself to fall in love, because he is awaiting my return." I said sadly.
"Would it help if I told you to get over yourself, you're not all that?" Tony asked.
I smiled.
"Thank you Brother."
"My pleasure Sis." Pulling me closer into his side for a moment and I laughed as I regained my footing.
"However, do you think I should perhaps tell him of my new situation?" I asked, feeling worried.
"You haven't been in contact for years, if you do it now just to tell him you're with someone else it would be like rubbing his nose in it. Anyway, I'm sure Shelly will tell him." Tony stated.
"Yes. But I feel it should come from me." I replied.
"I think it's something you really have to think about and not act too rashly. It might hurt more coming from you."
"Just as it may hurt him to hear it from someone else. Should I not at least set him free?" I countered.
"Have you got any contact details for him?" Tony asked.
"No." I replied, "But I am sure I could find a way to communicate with him."
"How? Write to his agent?"
"If that is what is required." I stated.
"Well, like I said, be sure you're doing the right thing before you break his heart."
"I will think through all the pros and cons." I promised. "But what if I have to break his heart to allow him to find happiness?"
"I really have no ideas to help you here Sis." Tony said, holding up his hands.
"I can ask nothing more than what you have already offered me." I assured him. "There is no easy solution and it requires thought on my part."
"Yeah." Tony said sounding a little thoughtful. "You know we're supposed to be bonding, and that's more than just talking."
"What do you suggest?"
"Tag your it." Tony said, touching my shoulder then running off. This was most unfair of course, as I had no hope in catching up with him.
Tony was not running as fast as he could and I caught him within a minuet. I tapped his shoulder then run on ahead of him laughing. I am of course slower than Tony, but he allowed me to run ahead for a while until he caught me.
I laughed and then froze as I looked ahead.
"Tony, am I mistaken in thinking I can see a house up ahead?" I asked.
"It's a house alright." Tony observed.
"There has never been one there before has there?" I inquired. "It is hard to be sure, for I have never travelled this far along the shore."
"There shouldn't be a house here." Tony stated. "Anyway, you remember our history lessons as kids, what era would you say that house is from?"
"Iron age Europe." I stated.
"Yeah, it's Celtic." Tony said, sounding a little preoccupied.
"Does it mean something to you?" I asked.
Tony did not reply so I strode toward the house determined to investigate it.
No Liza don't! Tony declared his arms about my waist as he pulled me from the ground so I could not move closer.
Do you have an idea of what this house might be? I asked, my eyes focused on the house.
I think I might have an idea. Tony said, and as we watched a woman emerged from the house and went to the little lean-to where firewood was stock piled. Suddenly she froze and she turned to look at us as Tony placed me back on the floor and suddenly he was on guard and protective of me.
"Stone Man, you are here." The woman said with a frown, and she was speaking in Trailax, the ancient dead language of our Aunt Marlin. "But that is not your Grace."
"This is my sister." Tony said.
"Your sister?"
"Yes." I replied, taking Tony's hand but ensuring that I looked equal to him. "I am Liza Black, Tony's twin sister."
The woman looked at me in shock.
"You speak my language Stone Woman." She observed.
"I told you Liza can speak Trailax, and much better than me." Tony said a little irritably.
"I have a knack for languages that Tony doesn't possess." I stated. "Who are you?"
"I am the warrior who brings the fury of winter." She said.
"Do you have a shorter name?" I prompted.
"Olwen."
"Oh, like the maiden from the legend? Wherever she trod white flowers grew." I remarked.
"You know of her?" Olwen asked in amazement.
"Yes."
"Are you the story keeper of your tribe?"
"No. I have heard of it on my travels." I explained.
"You are a traveller?" Olwen asked.
"When I want to be." I replied, and then I remembered that Tony had mentioned Olwen in relation to something important.
"You are the one who shot Grace." I stated.
"I did not mean to. She was a living human, I never would have touched the gun if I knew it would hurt her in such a bad way. I am the slayer of Stone Men, not people." She said fiercely, and I believed her.
"Not all vampires are bad." I stated, and then I caught something in Tony's mind. "Although I see Tony has told you this."
"You only just heard that." Olwen remarked. "You are linked."
"I told you I could read minds." Tony said gruffly. "Liza and me have always been linked."
"Even in our mother's womb we could speak to each other." I added.
"You remember before you were brought into this world?" Olwen asked in amazement.
"Most dhampir do." I replied.
"It means half vampire." Tony said shortly before Olwen could open her mouth. "And now we have to go."
"Yes we do." I said, as Tony's urgency frightened me somewhat. "We must return home this night. Tony has his Grace to return to, I have my Mal."
"Then you must go, I will not keep you." Olwen stated.
"Did you really build this house?" I asked for I could not help myself.
"Yes. More people would have helped, but I think I did it well." She replied.
"I would not know where to start." I remarked. "And we must be gone now." I added from Tony's insistence in my mind.
We said our goodbyes to Olwen before turning and running back along the shore of the lake. It was clear we would not talk of our encounter with Olwen until we were back at the Res, and now Tony was keen to return to the Res and better still be on the road for home. Given that Olwen had very nearly ripped Grace away from him after he was just able to be with her I did not blame him wanting to be away from Olwen. Therefore I decided not to question or reprimand him for his behaviour. I would let the matter drop unless Tony chose to speak of it.
We were back on Quileute territory when Tony suddenly slowed to a walk.
"Look, I'm sorry I was so rude, but I hate talking to Olwen." He said.
"Given that she technically killed Grace, regardless of whether it was an accident, it is understandable you'd feel animosity toward Olwen." I stated.
"Yeah. And because it hurts Grace every time she jumps out on me." Tony continued.
"How often has she jumped out on you?" I asked.
"More times than I'm comfortable with. If it weren't for the fact that she's from the past and all confused about our times, I'd say she was stalking me." Tony said, sounding perturbed by the thought as opposed to conceited.
"You must tell Mother so she may deal with her." I stated. "If I were staying at Tregarran I would offer my services and take her off your hands. She needs guidance in this modern time, but it should not be you."
"I've tried telling her that." Tony said in annoyed tones.
"But have you thought of introducing someone else to her?" I asked.
"To tell you the truth I don't know why she needs to bug me about it. She's got a relative who's been looking out for her and can speak Trailax so Olwen isn't completely on her own." Tony explained.
"Yes, and she told you her relative is bad with Trailax and knows practically nothing of the supernatural world. She merely wishes to know about the Quileute. Perhaps if you had told her she would have let you be by now." I observed.
"Whenever she jumped out on me I was in a rush." Tony said. "And I don't think that would be the case. She'd find something else to ask me about and with everything I answer she'll have ten more questions. I can't live with that."
"If only we knew who her relative was. Perhaps you could tell her everything Olwen may need to know about the supernatural and that way Olwen need never bug you again." I stated.
"I would if I knew who the relative was, but Olwen just keeps referring to her as Kyelax and I don't think that's her real name." Tony observed.
"And that name is so distinctive that had someone introduced themselves as such you'd recall them immediately."
"Yeah. But I really don't know where to start." Tony said mournfully.
"Perhaps we can draw up a list of suspects and narrow them down once we're back at Tregarran. Perhaps we can go into town and investigate." I suggested.
"To tell you the truth Liza, I can't be bothered. It's not like I owe Olwen anything. I've helped her out more than I should given Grace's feelings towards her. Besides I can't eat into your time for something like that. I've kept you out all day today, I'm sure Mal would like to spend the day with you. Maybe I…"
"You don't have to offer that, really." I stated, cutting him off.
"I don't mind Sis. Grace ain't back until Tuesday anyway. So if you want, I'll take Alec off your hands for tomorrow." Tony offered.
"Thank you for the offer Tony, but I could not inflict that upon you when it is my punishment for being so rash." I replied. "Besides, Alec would do everything to put paid to such an idea because I would be alone with Mal for such a long time."
"I guess." Tony conceded.
"Besides, we have not had our picnic with Billie. Perhaps we should do that tomorrow." I suggested.
"Yeah. Maybe if the weather is dry tomorrow we could finish off the fort together."
"Billie would like that." I said with a smile. "She told me that you were renovating your fort for her."
"She was real excited when I showed it to her. I had to get a big box from the store she could use in the mean time." Tony stated.
"She told me about that too. Why didn't you offer her the use of the secrets fort?"
"Because that's our place and it wouldn't be right to hand it over to Billie without your consent." Tony explained.
"Thank you for your consideration, but maybe we should hand it on to Billie, make her part of our bond completely."
"Well it has always been special to us, but would Billie get its significance?" Tony asked.
"Billie seems to understand a lot." I observed. "I'm sure she would glean the significance of our fort."
"Yeah. But how do you tell a kid that we didn't get Mom and Dad when we were her age because of the bad vamps? I don't want her to feel bad that she's got Mom and Dad when we didn't have them. You know what Billie's like, she hates for anyone to be sad and would feel bad that she can't change our past." Tony stated.
"Yes she would." I said with a sad sigh. "Perhaps instead it is time to put the secrets fort to bed in acknowledgment that our futures are more certain than they have ever been and hope we shall never need use it again?"
"Yeah. Why not?" Tony said with a smile, and then he sighed. "Well we'd better call on Uncle Hunter before we head home."
"I wonder if he is in this time." I mused as the house came into view.
"He's home." Tony stated, and we made our way about the house and entered via the front door.
"Hi guys, do you want some fried fish?" Uncle Hunter called from the kitchen as soon as we entered.
"That would be marvellous." I stated as Tony and I entered the kitchen.
"Yeah I'm starved." Tony observed.
"You must be bottomless pits given that you almost empty my fridge this morning." Hunter stated.
"Sorry." I said softly.
"Ah I don't care, I just wish you'd got rid of the veg as well. I'd bought extra in ready for Christmas thinking you'd all be coming up here, and then we were in Tregarran. I thought Tobias might be offended if I turned up with a load of veg. As if I was questioning his generosity." Hunter explained.
"Father would not have found offence." I assured him.
"Nah. He would have found some way to feed them to Billie." Tony added.
"I wish I'd thought of that." Hunter said. "Never mind, we got a lot of veg accompaniments to the fish."
"I will eat whatever you put on my plate." I said brightly.
"Well I hope you brought your appetite." Hunter observed. "Sit down."
Tony and I sat at the table and Hunter placed big plates full of food in front of us.
"Still feel up to the challenge?" Hunter asked as he sat down with his own big plate.
"This is it." Tony said with a grin and Hunter chuckled before we started eating the fish and vegetables.
There was a lot of food, but I was able to eat everything on my plate. It was only polite after Hunter had gone to great lengths to cook for us. Besides the food was truly good, Hunter having employed the Clearwaters' old family recipe. That was one thing you could count on with Uncle Hunter, his fish was always superb and undoubtedly he had caught the fish himself.
I was close to full by the time I had finished, but in a satisfied way and I complimented Hunter on his meal, as did Tony.
"Thanks kids, that makes my day. And it's nice to have company for dinner." He observed.
"Do you never consider having members of the pack to dinner?" I asked.
"Tina comes by now and again, not so often since she met Nobu but I can't blame her for that. I know I'd want to spend as much time as I can with my imprint when I meet her." Hunter sighed. "It's why I don't like to ask the others along. I don't want to make them feel like they have to oblige their Alpha when they got their families to eat with. I take enough of their time running every night."
"You don't have them running every night." Tony protested.
"I know, but I take up enough of their time. There's nothing worse than a boss who wants to hang with you after work."
"That does not mean you have to be alone." I said firmly. "Have you thought of asking Grandmother and Grandfather to come home?"
"They're having so much fun travelling." Hunter stated.
"But they would not have as much fun if they knew how unhappy you are."
"That's why I'm not going to tell them." Hunter said firmly. "And neither will you two. Or Essie or anyone. I'm just in a down patch at the moment and I'll come out of it soon."
"You need company Uncle Hunter, that is very clear. Perhaps you should consider extending a hand of friendship to Prue." I suggested. "She will be company and she won't expect anything long term if you lay down the full intentions of any relationship beforehand."
"I wouldn't be able to live here with Prue and not grow attached." Hunter stated sadly. "Anyway, what do I tell her about why I got to go out every night?"
"You could say you work nights." Tony stated. "Or maybe Grace and me could come visit you and bring Prue along for the ride."
"I'll think about it." Hunter said intensely.
"Think hard about it Uncle Hunter." I stated as I hugged him. "Now I will wash these dishes for you." I added and kissed his cheek. "If it were not for the fact that I am the parole officer for Alec and must see him every day I would come stay with you until I return to college."
"I know you would kid." Hunter replied, tapping my shoulder. "But I wouldn't want you to give up your time with Essie until you have to return to school."
"I would do it and Mother would agree that it is for the best. Perhaps she would visit with Billie too." I mused.
"What about Tobias?" Hunter asked.
"Father could stay up at the House, or perhaps Rose Cottage." I replied.
"That's rose tinted Liza, and I'm too much of a realist to see things that way anymore." Hunter said sadly.
I went to counter him.
Liza just lay off him and do the dishes if you want to. Or we could just leave now. Whatever, Hunter doesn't need you nagging at him. He knows how lonely he is, but he copes by not thinking about it. Tony warned me.
"I will wash the dishes and Tony can wipe." I stated. "It's the least we can do in return for this fabulous meal you provided for us."
"Thanks to the both of you. I really appreciate you coming here." He said with a smile.
"Who else would we go to when we need to get back to ourselves?" Tony asked.
"Glad to be of service." Hunter said with a salute and he looked tired.
"Have you slept today?" I asked.
"I had an hour, maybe, earlier."
"It is but two in the afternoon." I said, checking my watch. "Go and sleep for four hours. Tony and I will take care of the dishes and stay here until you awake."
"No Liza." Hunter said, shaking his head.
"Yes Hunter. Now up off that chair." I stated, pulling at his arm until he stood. "And into bed."
Without waiting for him to argue again I took his hand and pulled him along to his room. He grumbled all the way, but I would not allow him to back out. Hunter needed rest and it was clear he was not getting that.
"Into bed and I will bring you my famous sleepy-by drink." I stated.
"You're not gonna lace it with sleeping pills are you?" He asked suspiciously.
"Of course not. It is all natural ingredients." I stated, feeling somewhat offended by the suggestion.
"Ok. Bring your drink. Nurse me, whatever." Hunter said, sounding irritable.
"Uncle Hunter, you need sleep and I will see that you get it."
"I wouldn't bother arguing." Tony said from the door. "You won't win. Not when Liza's in little mother mode."
"Little mother mode?" I demanded.
"You know what I mean." Tony said with a wave of his hand. "Anyway, didn't you want to make that drink?"
"Yes." I replied and pushed past Tony and went back to the kitchen as I contemplated what he had meant by me being a little mother.
I could not fathom its meaning as I prepared the drink for Hunter. Did it mean I was overbearing? Was Tony making fun of me? Had I any recollection of him referring to me as thus in the past?
If truth be told I dared not ask the questions for fear of the answers. I tried not to think of them as I carried the drink through to Hunter's room where Tony was still talking to him.
"Drink this and then settle down." I stated as I placed the cup on his bedside cabinet. "I will check on you in ten minuets."
Hunter groaned but acquiesce and I watched him pick up the mug before I ushered Tony from the room. Then I left Tony in the hallway to do as he pleased as I returned to the kitchen in order to wash and possibly wipe the dishes. Tony was standing next to me with tea towel in hand ready to wipe the dishes by the time I had run hot water into the bowl.
"It's from when we were kids." Tony stated. "You always used to look out for me, making sure I ate right, giving me advice in social situations. At those times you acted more like a mother. That's where little mother comes from. It's a compliment not a criticism. You want to take care of us, and that's good."
"Thank you for explaining." I replied. "I had all manner of questions going through my head and it is good to know not one of them are true."
"I think it's good you're making Hunter get some rest, and I only said the little mother thing to stop him arguing. I thought it would save us time." Tony continued.
"I should have realised before jumping to conclusions." I said solemnly.
"Yeah, cause last time you jumped to conclusions I ended up not seeing you for months on end." Tony joked and I laughed sadly.
"Did you feel lost in that time?" I asked in a whisper. "As if you were missing a limb?"
"Yeah. I wasn't whole." Tony replied.
"Do you think it will be the same when I return to Riverside?"
"I think that as long as we keep in contact we'll be ok. I think that maybe because in your mind you didn't want anything to do with me it was making our separation feel deeper. We were still connected over that distance, that's how I could find you in my spirit form, but for a couple of months you blocked the connection." Tony theorised.
"And that connection must be strong, for however much I wished to ignore our bond your distress was enough to break through." I stated.
"Yeah." Tony agreed and we were silent for a minuet.
"I will go check on Hunter." I stated as I placed the washcloth back in its place.
"I'll be in the living room once I've finished up here." Tony replied.
I nodded and made my way back to Hunter's room. When I entered it was clear that he was still awake.
"You really should sleep Uncle Hunter." I said softly and I pulled the chair closer to his bed and sat in it before taking his hand. "I will stay with you until you drop off."
"I'm really not that tired." He stated, before yawning widely.
"When was the last time you slept?" I asked. "You were on patrol Christmas Eve and travelled down early Christmas morning. You dozed a little but Billie kept you awake most of the day, and Prue kept you awake most of the night. I doubt you slept much yesterday before going on patrol and you intend to patrol again tonight. Therefore I advise you to find your rest this day before you wear yourself out."
"You're not gonna let up until I do are you?" He asked wearily.
"No." I said firmly and stroked his forehead as if he was a toddler. "I could sing a lullaby if that would help."
"No. It's ok." Hunter replied as he tapped my hand. "I'll go to sleep now. You go sit with Tony." He added, before turning from me and curling up into the blankets.
"Then make sure you sleep." I said firmly before I left the room, closing the door behind me.
I made my way to the living room where Tony was sat on the old sofa flicking through the channels. I sat beside him and sighed sadly.
You can't make him go to sleep if he doesn't want to. Tony observed.
I know. But I am worried for his health if he continues to avoid sleep in this way. I stated.
It's only the last few days and that's because of travelling. He usually gets enough sleep. Tony stated.
Are you sure? I asked, wondering if he was humouring me.
Yes. I read it from him.
Very well, but he can use this opportunity to catch up on his sleep.
"So what are we gonna watch?" Tony asked aloud.
"Are there any good films on?"
We spent the next few hours watching television until six when I went to rouse Hunter as promised. He awoke immediately and I had my suspicions that he had merely been feigning sleep, however he seemed refreshed.
"That sleep did me a world of good." He stated.
"I'm glad. I should hate for you to exhaust yourself. Everyone would be most sad."
"Yeah. I'll remember that next time I'm being stubborn. Well I guess I should come see you and Tony off if you want to get back to Tregarran in a comfortable time."
"Yes. We will leave now. I have made you some sandwiches before you go out on patrol. They are in the fridge."
"Thanks kid." Hunter said with a smile. "Now do you think you could clear the room so I can get up?"
"Of course."
I went to wait in the living room with Tony until Hunter appeared and we exchanged goodbyes.
There was no need to talk on the way back. We listened to music instead, singing along to the songs we liked best, one or the other complaining when a song came on that we had differing views about.
Although I had enjoyed my day with Tony, it was nice to finally arrive home. Tony took me to Tregarran in the car, for Mother had suggested he eat supper with us. Despite the big breakfast and the big dinner I was famished. I welcomed any food at that point.
Come up to the dining room. Mother informed us as Tony parked the car.
We made our way up to the dining room from the garage.
"Liza! Tony!" Billie crowed as soon as we walked through the door. "You are here for supper."
"Yes we are." I said and picked her up to hug her.
"Where have you been?" She demanded.
"Out. We had a lot to discuss." I replied as I met Mal's eyes for a moment and he gave me a half smile. "And now we are very hungry. What's for supper?"
"Chicken." Billie replied before wriggling out of my arms and going to greet Tony.
I then walked over to Mal and sat down beside him.
"Welcome back." He said.
"Thank you." I replied, wanting so much to describe my day to him, but unable to with everyone present.
Mal went to take my hand, looked up at Mother, and then placed his hands on top of the table. I felt saddened by this, and when I looked at Mother she looked concerned and a little guilty. I tried not to wonder too much over her look merely tucked into the meal that Father placed in front of me.
I was going to volunteer to wash the dishes but Father beat me to it, electing Tony and Billie to help him.
I want to speak to you. Mother thought, and she got up and left the room.
I followed her, as did Malachite, into the little room I used to practice my dancing in. Mother looked between us and gestured for us to sit.
"Look Lamb, I'm sorry about what I told you yesterday." She stated. "I shouldn't have stuck my nose in like that. I just thought that if I gave you that little rule it would push you into discussing your status. I guess I was wrong."
I tapped Mother's hand in comfort as I was unsure what to say.
"So just ignore what I said yesterday and just go about your relationship in your own way and at your own pace. I'd prepared myself for this, but obviously not enough to have this reaction. I should have listened to Tobias. He told me not to meddle, but I did and instead of getting you to label your relationship I've put the brakes on it. If you want to make out, well I can't tell you not to." She finished.
"Thank you Mother." I said softly.
Mother nodded, and then gave us a smile.
"You two had better go check on Alec, and then I guess you got some chatting to do. So I'll just go put Billie to bed and leave you both to it." She said, before rising to her feet and leaving the room.
I turned to Mal, wondering what he would say. Would he be angry? I thought at first that he might be due to the look he gave me, but that soon dissolved into a smile and he pulled me to him, hugging me tight.
"I've missed you today." He said.
"I've missed you too." I replied.
"What time did you sneak out?" He asked.
"Four o'clock." I stated.
"Then you must be exhausted." He observed, kissed my hair.
"Not really, I have been up for longer." I said, running my hand along his shoulder.
"Well, I was thinking more of using it as an excuse to have an early night." He whispered into my ear and I giggled.
"Behave Malachite." I chastised playfully as I rose to my feet. "Just because Mother has lifted her ban it doesn't give us permission to go over the top." I added as I took his hand and pulled him to his feet.
"What is over the top?" He asked as he placed his hand to my cheek.
"I have no idea." I whispered as I tilted my face toward him.
"Well let me know when we get there." He whispered in return before placing his lips to mine.
I wrapped my arms about his neck, keeping his face to mine for a very long moment while we kissed. Then I pulled away and gave him a sad smile.
"Before we go further I must do my duty." I said gravely.
"Let's go check on Alec then you can tell me all about your day." He stated.
"That would be delightful." I replied, hugging him about the waist.
Mal hugged my head and kissed it before stepping away and taking my hand.
"What stairs shall we take?" He asked.
"The south." I decided. "The dining room is but next door."
"Then south it is." Mal stated and we stepped back into the dining room that was now spotless before ascending the stairs.
After a brief confrontation with Alec, Mal and I went to change into our nightclothes before settling down to watch a DVD on Mal's laptop for Alec still had use of mine. I cannot recall the film; it was on in the background as I told Mal everything about my day of bonding with Tony.
"I wish I'd got to say goodbye though." Mal said, stroking my shoulder with his pinkie finger as we both lay on our sides facing each other. "Prepared myself for your absence rather than just waking up to it this morning."
"If I had known before Tony kidnapped me I would have told you." I stated, brushing his nose with mine.
"Maybe I should kidnap you tomorrow. Take you somewhere we can be alone." He stated as he nuzzled at my neck.
"You'll have me to your self every other weekend when we return to Riverside." I whispered, as I placed my arms about him and rolled onto my back, pulling Mal with me. "It would be every weekend were it not for your extra lesson."
"Damn it." Mal growled playfully, his lips brushing my skin delightfully.
"We could always head out to the cabin every other Saturday after your lesson." I suggested and Mal lifted his head to look at me.
"And what about laundry day?" He asked.
"We'll have to find another day to do it." I observed before kissing him. "Shall we settle down for the night now?"
"Depends on what you mean by settling down." Mal replied.
"Oh you'll see." I whispered and kissed his cheek before moving into bed.
Malachite showed off his powers once more, using them to shut down his laptop and to turn off the light. I reached for him in the darkness and drew him closer to me and we made out for a while before finally settling down to sleep.
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Gemma x