A/N: This chapter is a little stupid. Before everything gets darker again some fluff. Hope it's not to... goofy. It's a little short but I wanted to cut it here.

Chapter 9 (It's NOT a) Date Jitters

Lauren paced nervously through the kitchen mumbling some incoherent things in her not existing beard. Sometimes shaking her head at something.

As funny as it was at first to watch, but after doing that for already two straight hours Dyson was on the edge. She was making him nervous with her mumbling and pacing and gesturing oh and don't forget the redressing. She must have worn about 10 outfits in the last hour which was remarkable because the girl didn't have a lot of clothes at the moment.. He put down his newspaper, he was trying to read for the last hours without any progress and fixed the blonde girl with his eyes. Clearing his throat Lauren stopped in mid stride looking at the wolf.

"Date jitters?" He asked. Maybe if he could help her she would finally stop her annoying behavior. He wasn't sure if he was actually comfortable talking about that topic. Never was a counselor and usually nobody asked him for advice, especially not a girl. A young one. He hoped that he wouldn't mess this up or make it worse.

"It's NOT a date. How many times do I have to tell you that? We are just... erm... friends. Good friends" She blushed and he couldn't help but grin. Why shouldn't he have some fun at least?

"Yeah of course. That explains why you are carving a path in my floor or are looking every few seconds on your phone. Oh and the change of clothes? Why should I be thinking that you are having a date?" he mocked.

"I'm not used to interact with people my age, okay? Did you know that I asked for her business card the first time we met? I'm a complete moron concerning interpersonal relationships. She is my first real friend. What if I mess up? I can't lose her..." Dysons features softened at the worried look of the blonde. She was really anxious but he wondered why? The girl was a little nerdy and sometimes awkward, but she was insanely smart, caring and good company despite everything that had happened to her. He had to admit he rather dealt with date jitters Lauren than the devastated Lauren that was haunted with nightmares and locked herself up from anyone.

He got up standing now in front of the blonde. Making sure it was ok he put gentle hand on the girls shoulder. Rena was definitely rubbing of on him. Lauren flinched a little at his touch and he felt how her breath jumped for a second but she surprisingly let him touch her. It was a first since he brought her in.

"You won't mess up. I'm sure. She wouldn't be coming over if she doesn't like you or think you are strange."

"But..." Lauren started.

"No but little one" Lauren rolled her eyes at the little one comment. "You are texting for hours each day, do you really think that you could do something that would drive her away?"

"I could kiss her..." the blonde whispered.

"Oh and here I thought you are not having a date... so why would that be bad?"

Lauren blushed immediately. "You... You heard me? Oh gooooood" she dug her face in her hand.

"I'm a wolf. My senses are first class." He grinned. "I hear every whisper, I hear you giggling while you read her texts and I do smell the pheromones you are sending out whenever you are thinking about her. Deny it as much as you want but my nose knows that you want to mate with..." before he could finish a pillow was hitting him directly in his face catching him of balance. Landing with a loud thud on his ass he couldn't help but laugh.

A beat red Lauren glared daggers at him.

"I.. I'm not I... argh. Keep your superpower nose out of my stuff. LITERALLY. God you sound like stalker."

"Hey it's not entirely my fault. You are BLINDING me with your scent sometimes. Keep them under control and I'll be quiet." Another pillow hit him.

"You!" another pillow "ARE!" a stuffed teddy. "UNBELIEVABLE!" A rubber duck hit him squeaking. A rubber duck? He looked disbelieving at the yellow 'animal' He couldn't remember that he had one. "Did you just throw a duck at me?"

"Erm... No?"

"Is that your way to tell me that you give a flying duck at what I think?" he grinned.

"That pun... that is beyond horrible." Lauren snickered but eventually started to laugh. Dyson soon chimed in. He couldn't remember the last time he had been this silly. What was that girl doing to him? What would his pack think? His friends back home?

After minutes full of laughing they slowly calmed down. "At least I don't have to remind you of protection. The chances that she could get you pregnant are very slim" he grinned. "Except she would turn out to be a Succubus, theeeeen I'd start to worry. But I highly doubt that"

Laurens smile immediately vanished. Dyson could have kicked himself. Stupid, he was so stupid. Why did he had to mention a Succubus?

"Oh god Lauren I'm sorry"

"It's... It's ok..." the blonde said but her voice was wavering. He saw her fighting the tears that were about to fall. Her eyes darkened, displaying images of the night. She was frantically shaking her head as she could shake of the horrible memories by moving hard enough.

Whispers of the night echoed in her ears, sending chills through her spine. The voice, the breathing of her father was crawling under her skin. Pressing her hands against her ears was futile. The sounds didn't stop. The screams and sighs hit her like a hammer. Her vision became a blur and all she saw was her father. Pressing against her, touching, moaning. His maniac smile, his look when he choked her, when he stabbed her. The hatred and confusion twinkling in his glowing blue eyes.

When she felt a hand grasping her shoulder she lashed out hitting Dyson square in the face. A yelp of pain escaped the wolfs lips.

"Lori?" Hearing the commotion Ivy had stepped into the room watching wide eyed the scene. Without thinking she ran up to her sister and touched her bare arm. Dyson saw the pulse roaming the blondes body. Lauren's heavy breathing calmed down at the touch of her sister and sank to her knees. Sobbing she enclosed her younger sibling in a tight hug until a blackness overtook her senses.

When Lauren gained conscious she woke up in the lap of Rena. The redhead was lovingly stroking her hair. The warmth of her power engulfing her, clearing the fog of painful memories in her head. It took her a moment to recall what had happened.

Ivy was lying sleeping in her arms while Dyson sat in the chair in front of her. His face full of worry and guilt. When he saw in her opened eyes he rushed to her side. He had a black eye and Lauren slowly remembered that she was the cause of this.

"Hey" Renas voice was soft. "How are you?"

"Relaxed... so... so strange..." the blonde mumbled.

"I'm so sorry Lauren. I haven't thought about what I said." She saw the guilt reflecting in his eyes.

"It's ok...I'm sorry about your eye..."

"No don't be..." He rushed to the kitchen and came back only seconds later with a glass of white liquid in his hand. Sitting up Lauren accepted the glass and gratefully drank.

"You and your milk... Ever thought about marrying it?" she quipped.

He smiled that she seemed to recover. "Well I did ask her once but she said she wasn't looking for something serious..."

-.-

"And you take good care of her. I warn you if anything happens..."

"Don't worry sweetie. I'm still with him. You just have fun with your date" she winked.

"It's NOT a date."

"Say it often enough and maybe you'll believe it yourself"

"DyDy I don't wanna go. I wanna see Bo. Can't we stay?" Ivy begged.

"You don't want to go with us see a movie? I'm gonna show you my house isn't that nice too?We can have a pajama party"

"But.. but..."

"Come on munchkin. Let them have some privacy"

The little girl pouted but eventually accepted knowing that resistance was futile.

"Have fun guys" Lauren said smiling and soon after they were gone and her calmness with them. Chewing on her bottom lip she tried to keep her nervousness in check but her mind was already considering to change her outfit.

Luckily she hadn't any time for that when she heard a knock at the door. Opening the door a wide smile greeted her. "Hi" Bo said.

"H..Ho..He... Hi" she stuttered. Smooth start Lauren...