Stiles had disappeared. The nogitsune is winning. Her thoughts were racing like bees in a hive. Hurrying about, dancing around each other, not quite making any sense. Aria clutches her head as she sits on her bed.

"Hey."

She glances up to see Scott in her doorway. "Aren't you supposed to be out looking?" She breathes, her head pounding.

"I was worried about you."

Aria stands up abruptly, "Don't do that. Don't worry about me. Worry about Stiles. Stiles needs you a lot more than I do." Aria grabs him by the shoulders, turning him around and sending him out the door, "Don't come back until you've found Stiles."

A few hours pass and Aria's phone rings. She lunges for it, answering it quickly. "Dad!" She breathes into the phone, "Did you find him?"

"Uh, yeah, I did. Aria, listen.."

"Is he okay?" Aria interrupts, "I can start a hot bath right now-"

"Aria, hot baths aren't going to help, it's not a fever. There's something inside him, Aria. He had me take him to.. to a mental hospital."

Aria freezes, "A mental hospital? H-How are we supposed to help him if he's there?" She asks, her breath getting raspy.

"He doesn't want to hurt anyone."

Aria closes her eyes, holding the bridge of her nose, "Dad, I'm scared."

"I am, too, Aria. I'll be home in an hour, get some sleep." He pauses for a beat, "I love you."

"I love you too." Aria says, then proceeding to hang up the phone. She tosses herself down on her bed, then sees a text from Lydia.

Are you okay?

Aria texts back quickly, Not at all.

I'll be over in twenty minutes.

That was how Lydia and Aria ended up sitting on Aria's bed, splurging on Chinese food and watching Just My Luck, which Aria happily proclaimed one of the best chick flicks of all time.

"If I know something, I know the group, and I know they always win. So don't worry about Stiles." Lydia says when the movie is over, "They'll find a way, they always do." She says with a chipper tone.

Aria eats more of her fried rice, "I don't doubt them. I don't doubt the nogitsune either. This.. this thing.. doesn't seem like it'll go down without a fight. What if someone gets hurt?"

Lydia sets her white rice down, looking at Aria, "Are you worried about Stiles or you?"

Aria's answer is her silence.

"Aria, are you scared of the nogitsune hurting you?" Lydia presses, "Aria, look at me. Be honest."

"Yes." Aria answers hoarsely, "I'm terrified."

"Why? Why are you scared?"

"The nogitsune, it feeds off of strife. What would happen if the host were to experience mass amounts of strife, Lydia?" Aria asks, "I think about it all the time now..."

Lydia shakes her head, "We would never let that happen. Ever. You are not going to die, I promise. I promise you that, Aria."

Aria looks down at her Chinese food, setting it on her bedside table, "We don't stand a chance, Lydia."

"They'll find a way." Lydia reassures, putting her hand on Aria's knee, "They always do."

Aria nods, but she doesn't believe her. Lydia leaves an hour or so after Aria's Dad gets home. Aria's Dad shoots a questioning look towards Aria while Lydia is leaving, but she only shrugs.

"Are you okay?" Her Dad asks.

"Yeah, I'm fine." She lies easily.

Her Dad sets a hand on her shoulder, "It's okay to not be okay."

The words strike a cord with her. That was what her Dad had said to her Mom when he caught her in the middle of one of her fits. Her Mom had sobbed and laid her head on his chest while he stroked her hair. He saw Aria and told her to hurry back to her room and never tell Stiles.

"I know." Aria smiles, "I know it's okay. I'm just really tired, so I'm going to go to bed." She gestures towards the stairs, "Goodnight, Dad."

"Goodnight."

She opens the bedroom door and hears someone moving about in her room. She doesn't bother to care as she shoves the door open. She sees Derek standing against the wall, his hands behind his back.

"I'm getting a lot of visitors tonight." Aria hiccups, shutting the door quietly behind her.

Derek strides across the room, "I wanted to make sure you were okay." He kisses her on the forehead, "I didn't think you'd want to be alone tonight."

Aria stands on her tip toes, hugging him, "For once, you're actually right." Breathing in his minty cologne scent.

When she opens her eyes, she can feel Derek's arms wrapped around her waist, she closes her eyes again, taking in a deep breath. The feel of his strong arms around her waist almost made her forget, almost. She can feel his breath on her neck and it's driving her into a frenzy. Being a werewolf is hard.

"You smell like vanilla." Derek murmurs against her skin.

"I try my best." Aria responds lazily.

"Your dad isn't home." Derek points out.

"Is that a proposition?" Aria asks, her eyes still closed, because opening them would be admitting defeat.

"Observation." Derek notes lazily, snuggling closer with her.

Aria lightly chuckles, "Didn't take you for a cuddler."

"You look like you need it."

"I could use it." Aria admits, opening her eyes - finally succumbing to defeat, "We have an entire day ahead of us." She says dreamily, "Another day." She sighs, "I'm getting tired of waking up."

Derek lightly kisses her earlobe, "We'll help him, Aria, don't worry."

Aria closes her eyes again, "I can't not worry. It's not in my hardware."

"I'm fully aware of that, you are going to be perfectly fine - so will Stiles, so don't sweat it." Derek kisses her again, "We'll keep you safe. Do you doubt them?"

Aria groans, "No."

"I'll keep you safe, if that's what you're worried about."

"I'm not doubting you."

"Then who are you doubting?"

"Me."

Derek releases her, sitting up, "Is there something you want to tell me?"

Aria groans again, putting her face in her pillow, "How about we go back to bed instead? We're werewolves, we don't wake up until at least noon." She mutters, feeling her heart speeding up. Then she sighs heavily, sitting up, admitting defeat for the third time that day, "I think the nogitsune is going to try to kill me."

Derek furrows his eyebrows, "The nogitsune has no reason to kill you. We're not taking you into battle with us."

"I don't want anyone to battle anyone." Aria says stubbornly, sticking out her lower lip.

"We don't have a choice."

"We never do." Aria looks over at him with sad eyes. She scratches the back of her neck and gets out of her bed, "There's also something I need to tell you."

"There's always something." Derek scratches his jaw.

"Don't be mad."

"No promises."

Aria nervously scratches her cheek, "So, Issac might have kissed me. Ya know, depending on your definition of kissed-"

Derek suddenly springs out of bed, charging for the door, Aria quickly grabs him. Spinning him back around, he growls in her face, "I'm going to fucking kill him."

"No, nope nope nope! You are not going to kill him! He's just.. kind of in love with me - NO, - wait, but he'll grow out of it - promise, don't worry. It's like a pair of shoes, won't fit forever." Aria starts joking idly, "Don't freak out. You trust me, right?"

"I trust you, but I do not trust him." Derek growls, pacing around her room, "This is fucking great."

"You're really bad at not being mad." Aria points out. She grabs his hand to stop him pacing, "I picked you, remember? Not to sound like a cheesy 90s movie, but you kind of won."

Derek's heart rate significantly declines after she says that, she can see him visibly calming. "I'm sorry."

Aria nods, "Thank you."

Derek leaves shortly after Aria takes five minutes to explain to him how killing Issac would not be in anyone's favor. She goes into the bathroom and looks into the mirror, her red eyes glare back at her. The sight is so unsettling she has to step away for a moment.

She goes downstairs and she sees Deucalion.

"I've really had enough of you lately." Aria announces, slowly descending down the staircase.

Deucalion places his hands delicately on the top of his cane, "Aria, I came to let you know that I'm leaving Beacon Hills for the time being. I came here to extend an offer for you to come with me."

Aria hits the bottom step, "What made you think I'd take that offer?"

"I've heard a quick rehash of the events underway in Mystic Falls. I fear that you're in great danger, danger not even your brigade can handle. Aria, you're in grave danger, I extend this offer as not only an opportunity but as a way to save your life." Deucalion explains.

"Save my life? I can take care of myself now, remember?"

Deucalion looks away from her, "Not this time, Aria."

"Is this a prophecy?"

"Observation." He corrects.

Aria nods, "I'll still have to kindly decline your offer, I don't run from anything."

Deucalion looks down, "That will be your downfall." He turns around and walks towards the door, "I'll mourn you." He says quietly before he leaves.

Aria stares after him, feeling more unsure than ever before.