A/N: Hey, thanks for reading! I was going to wait to upload this, but I didn't feel like waiting any longer. I had a few issues with Chapters 4 and 5 because I somehow managed to switch how I was narrating the story from third-person to first! So if you find any errors please let me know. Happy reading and don't forget to review!

Chapter 4

Ash's POV

Ash kept Mary-Lynette's hand safely in his as her father led them all towards the gymnasium for the dinner and celebration. As they were walking, he suddenly felt her hand go limp in his. Panicked, Ash put his arm around her waist just in time to catch her and keep her from falling over. He gently lowered to the ground, all the while shouting at her mentally.

Mary-Lynette! Mare? C'mon Mare! What's wrong?

There was no answer. Ash began screaming louder at her, pulling at the silver chord between them. Trying to pull her back. Suddenly, he eyes blinked open and she squinted as she looked at the group of people gathered around her. Ash heard sighs of relief echoing around him as he also let out a breath that he wasn't aware he was holding, relieved that his soulmate was alright.

Ash heard Mary-Lynette's father start speaking to her, asking her what happened.

"I-I'm not sure," she began. "Everything went black, and then I woke up and you guys were all crowded around me." And I could hear your voice calling my name through it all, she added mentally through the soulmate link.

"Are you okay then?" her father pried.

"Ya. I think so. My head feels kinda foggy, but it'll be fine," she replied casually. Noticing that she was trying to get up, Ash offered her his hand. Mary-Lynette took it with a grateful smile, and he pulled her up, putting his arm around her waist to help support her.

"Thanks," she said quietly to him. Ash was so tempted to probe her in regards to her fainting spell, but something stopped him. Maybe it would be best to just let her tell me when she's ready. I mean, she certainly looked embarrassed by the whole ordeal. Everything, from her flushed face as they walked towards the building, to her quiet thank you and silent attitude emanated embarrassment to the umpteenth degree.

Mary-Lynette's POV

As Mary-Lynette entered the gym with both her immediate and extended family, she was taken aback by the general splendor of it all. Ribbons and balloons and other sparkling decorations adorned the once boring walls. Ash squeezed her waist, sensing her amazement. Her father led the group over to a table seated towards the front of the area near the stage. As Mary-Lynette looked, she saw a little place card in the center of the table stating "Mary-Lynette Carter and guests".

"Guess this would be for us," she said redundantly, feeling remarkably stupid at that moment. I mean, first I faint, now I'm acting like a complete idiot by stating the obvious. Geez! Having Ash around must have been making me more nervous than I originally thought. Or maybe it's the way Dad keeps eyeing him up.. Whatever it was, she was feeling self-conscious.

Once everyone was seated at the table, Mary-Lynette took another look around the gymnasium. She couldn't get over how, well, different it looked. Her classmates who were more oriented towards this sort of thing had done an amazing job with the decorations! Lost in it all, she almost didn't hear my father say my name.

"Mary-Lynette," he announced grandly, "I just want to let you know again how proud of you we are! Graduation is a big milestone, and I'm so happy for you!" he went on to praise her and her accomplishments more before Claudine finally managed to make him be quiet.

"Honey, you're embarrassing her!" she chided gently. My father reluctantly admitted that she had a point, and stopped with the praise. It wasn't that she didn't appreciate my father's good opinion; it was just that sometimes he went a little over-the-top.

After a short time, the food was brought out to each table. Surprisingly, Mary-Lynette still wasn't totally sure if the Redferns could eat human food, but it was disappearing off their plates. She figured they were either eating it, or hiding it somewhere. Finally, after the plates were cleared, the music started. Ash stood up – with straight posture for once, she noted – and took her hand.

"May I have this dance?" he asked, bringing his lips to her hand for a brief second.

"You may," she replied, playing along with the façade.

Mary-Lynette smiled as Ash led her towards the center of the dance floor, placing his right hand on her hip and keeping her right in his left. He then proceeded to lead his soulmate in a slow circle, his eyes never leaving hers. Mary-Lynette also spent some of the night with her closest friends, reminiscing about their senior year and laughing at themselves and how they had acted throughout high school. However, most of the night they danced. Oh wow. What a cliché I'm becoming. First the whole gallant prince comes just at the right time, then the dancing in the middle of the dance floor, the remembering with friends, then the dancing the night away. I'm pretty sure some girls would kill to be me at that moment – dancing with the most handsome boy I've ever seen in my dress that looks like the stars I adore..