"W-what?" I was staring at him in shock, tears gathering in my eyes as I thought of what he'd just told me. The butterflies in my stomach were turning completely wild, this time joined by a rapidly beating heart and an impulse to kiss him again. Bringing our lips close, I deepened the kiss, wanting to transmit how I felt to him. That I knew in my heart that I felt the same but that my head had a hard time believing it. That I was still afraid of love even with all the proof I'd been given that it was good. Hoping he understood that I couldn't say it back, I poured everything into the kiss.

When we finally pulled away, he had a dazed expression on his face, one that I probably matched in my own features. Once we both remembered what we were talking about, he seemed to inspect me, looking into my eyes as if he were searching for the meaning of my soul. Uncomfortable, I thought of closing my eyes, but instead gazed back into his, taking the opportunity to gauge his emotions too. I still felt helpless when I allowed people to see how I felt, like they could use it against me. But I wanted him to see now, needed it, because he had to understand that I loved him with all my soul, yet couldn't say it back.

He looked hopeful but saddened at the same time – and I was afraid both the latter and the former had been caused by my reaction to his words. The green flecks in his eyes that I could only sometimes see were clearly visible tonight, so making a fast decision I decided to ignore all the feelings revolving around in my chest, I just lost myself in his gaze.

"You know, you look beautiful in that dress." Glad he'd changed the conversation away from complicated feelings I still hadn't had a chance to sort out, I blushed bright red. We'd been together for a long time now, but it still made my mind go half-crazy whenever he complimented me. "Absolutely breathtaking." The intensity in his eyes made tears rise to my eyes once again. He was looking at me as if there wasn't anything else in the world worth looking away for.

"Thanks. You don't look half bad either." He knew that that translated from Petal to English meant I thought he looked handsome. Very handsome in fact, the green button-up shirt making the green flecks in his eyes stand out more than they usually did. I was just wearing a plain blue dress, but I felt pretty, Sky had even told me that it went with my eyes. I didn't really believe her, considering my eyes were murky and not at all as pretty as she suggested the dress made them, but I was willing to go with her insight. I wanted to feel like I had worth for once. And even with the impending doom of going downstairs, I still felt like I could rule the world tonight. With Gray by my side, and all negative thoughts pushed to the back of my mind, I could do anything. Except that was only in theory, in reality I could barely even take a step towards that door without feeling faint. I wanted to be strong, but there were so many implications to that word.

"It'd be a shame if you let it go to waste. I want to show you off to my brothers." Deciding I needed to lighten the mood, I made a quick choice to make a joke. I needed to see a smile on his face, for the sadness to be whipped away. I didn't even want to think that I'd made him feel sad because of my inability to confront my own feelings.

"Vince will be jealous…" I teased him, giggling before I could stop myself. The image of Gray's five year old brother telling Gray to back off was too funny to ignore. He'd done it before, claiming he was stealing me and having me all to himself.

"You know what I meant."

"Yeah, I do. You're not going to drop this, are you?"

"Nope." I was about to tell him that he should, and to just go downstairs and enjoy Christmas, but then I saw what he was hiding under a bright smile a teasing glint of his eyes. His brows were slightly pulled together and the grin looked strained. He truly wanted me to spend Christmas with him. Maybe the sadness I'd gotten a short glimpse of before hadn't been caused by me not returning the 'I love you' but rather by the fact that he wouldn't be able to spend Christmas with me. And I could understand where he was coming from – I didn't really want to spend it alone either. But Gray had the rest of his family, why was he disappointed at not having my company?

I then remembered that we were in my bedroom, whilst loud voices were still heard through the floorboards. He could surely hear them too, if he'd wanted to spend it with his family he would've left and done so already. Was this what people described as teenagers being turned silly by love? This irrational feeling to cut out everyone else because they weren't that one special person?

"Look, if you don't really want to go, we can always just stay here-"

"No!" It was obvious by his expression that he didn't want that either. And then it struck me, as if it'd been staring at me in the face for the past ten minutes. He wasn't being turned stupid by overwhelming hormones. No, he considered me part of his family. And family were supposed to be together in Christmas. "I can do this, I just need a little moral support." We weren't family like all the rest of the Benedicts that were tied by blood, but that didn't matter. We were a different kind of family, joined by a soulfinder bond and love instead – and that was much more powerful than blood, if my father was anything to go by.

"You sure?"

"Definitely." So taking his hand, I walked determinedly out of my safe haven. Precautions and social anxiety be damned. Gray wanted me by his side and that was that. I was going to be the girlfriend he showed off to his family, and the one who gave him his present in front of everyone else with a smile on her face. In fact, the smile wasn't going to be wiped off any time soon.

"Um… Hey." Once we go to the living room door, Gray did a quick job of shutting everyone up so that he could introduce me to them. I supposed that when living with such a large family, making people shut up came as second nature. I just shrunk further into his side, looking at the floor to avoid everyone's curious gazes. "I just wanted to present you to Maisee."

"Nice to meet you all." Finally ripping my eyes away from the ground, I forced myself to look quickly around the room. I didn't want to seem like the shy girl that can't deal with new people – even if that was who I was.

After the quick introduction, the room descended into chaos once again. Children were squealing and laughing as they played tag around the room, whilst the adults let out loud guffaws of laughter every couple of minutes. Everyone was obviously having a lot of fun. And then there was me. Gray had left my side after a while to go say hi to his aunts and uncles, so I'd been left in a corner of the room, trying to camouflage with the wall paper.

"Mais, sweetheart, you should go out there and enjoy yourself." Startled at the voice, I turned to see Sky there, clad in a beautiful dress that accentuated every curve in her body.

"I dunno." Grimacing at my awkward answer, I attempted to cover it up. I couldn't let Sky believe that I hated her family or anything of the sort. They weren't the problem - I was. "I just feel like you guys are so tight, and I'm intruding."

"Don't be silly, you're family now." She then leaned over to whisper in my ear, a small smile taking over her features. "Not to mention the... bond you share with my eldest son." Winking at me, she took my hand, dragging me out to the middle of the room. I felt uncomfortable there, in the centre of the crowd with everyone casting surreptitious glances over at me. But I noticed them, burning holes into my back and making me cross my arms.

"Sky-"

"Don't. Come on, they're just curious. Enjoy yourself!" Forcing me to unfold my arms, she twirled me to the beat of the music. My limbs felt too long, my feet too big and my body too awkward for this, but soon I'd forgotten all about it, simply allowing myself to enjoy it. And perhaps the fact that we were both dancing awfully is what allowed me to appreciate it so much - had I been focused on the dance moves I would've gotten nowhere. And suddenly people were joining us, what used to be soft background music being cranked up until it reverberated against the walls.

And with a loudly beating heart pounding to the music, and Sky smiling at me, I finally felt like I was on top of the world.

"I'm so glad you've joined our family." She shouted over the music.

"Me too." And for once, I completely meant it.

Hi :)

So this is the new chapter, early as promised :) Also it had a bit of Sky, which a guest suggested. Sorry if it isn't enough, but I promise to make one up to the brim with Sky and Zed soon :D

Long chapter! Tbh I think it's a miracle this chapter is up at all - thank the Easter holidays for that ;) But yeah, do you guys reckon we can get it up to 97? Fingers crossed, huh? Completely optional, as per usual, you know the drill :)

Bye bye!