Dedication: This chapter is dedicated to Night-Alice for her support and spectacular ideas! This chapter probably wouldn't be what it is without you! :D

Mary-Lynette was in a state of disbelief. Surely she couldn't have heard her soulmate correctly. Did he just say they were leaving? When? Why?

Ash, what's going on? she asked sleepily, reaching out to touch his mind. He was already standing by her window. Wait. Window? Why the window?

Ash stepped away from his position, and strode towards her silently.

I can't have you this close to my mother. I just can't. I'm scared something bad is going to happen to you if you are. We need to leave. Before she finds me. EIther that, or lead her away from here. Away from your family.

Mary-Lynette was confused. Her soulmate was talking nonsense. Leave? Why? His mother wouldn't hurt her while Ash was around, would she? She couldn't be sure. Maybe Ash was right. Maybe leaving was the best option. But what about her family?

What if she goes after my family after we leave?

My sisters will make sure that it doesn't happen. Jade will protect Mark with her life, and I'm sure she'll do the same for your father and Claudine.

But how can you be sure?

Ash sat down on the bed beside Mary-Lynette and put his hands on either side of her face, holding her still so he could gaze into her deeply beautiful eyes.

Mary-Lynette, my one and only, would I tell you something that would only hurt you in the end? I don't think so. Please just trust me. This is the only way I can make sure that you're safe.

Mary-Lynette shook her head angrily, despite Ash's hands. He let them fall.

What?

I can't do this, Ash. You can go, but I'm staying here. With my family. Where I belong.

Mary-Lynette could not believe she had just told her soulmate to leave - again. He had only been back for a few days. She wouldn't be able to bear not being with him.

I know you don't mean that. Ash interrupted her thoughts.

I'm sorry. I don't want you to leave. But Ash, you have to understand. Family sticks together.

Ya? Well I'm your family now too! Ash was almost yelling now. All I wanna do is keep you safe! Is that too hard to ask?

Y'know Ash, it just might be. Mary-Lynette was close to tears. She was torn between her soulmate and her family. She quickly made up her mind though.

Ash, I'm staying here.

Ash just looked at Mary-Lynette with sad eyes. They were a dark grey, and they seemed to pierce her soul like a shard of glass. She felt her heart break. She couldn't bear to see him so sad.

Ash- she began.

He just shook his head.

No, I see how this is. I really didn't want it to come to this you know. I really was hoping you would just come with me. But know. My soulmate has to be just as stubborn as I am. Figures. I'm not letting you die Mary-Lynette. You're coming with me whether you like it or not.

Mary-Lynette was frightened. He soulmate's voice was silky and seductive and dangerous. She had never heard it in such a combination before. She was stiff with fear as his piercing eyes penetrated her soul once more. This time though, they were angry and determined.

Before she could figure out what was going on, Ash had picked her up, keeping one hand firmly over her mouth. He headed towards the window, and stepped outside onto the dark, cold roof.

Soulmate in his arms, Ash stood for a moment on the roof. The cold wind whipped Mary-Lynette's hair to one side, and bit skin like frost. Keeping his hand over Mary-Lynette's mouth so she couldn't scream, Ash held her close. He was going to save her. One way or another. She was going to live. Nothing would be able to keep them apart. Not his mother; not a disease; nothing. He was going to save his soulmate if it was the last thing he did.

As he stood there thinking, Mary-Lynette managed to subtly remove his hand from her mouth.

"Ash-" she said quietly before his hand flinched, cutting her off. At her look of disapproval mixed with sorrow, Ash quickly moved his hand away from her mouth.

"Could you put me down, please?" The please was forced sounding. Almost like she was struggling to not scream at him.

Ash hesitated. If he put her down, she might run. Then what would he do? Chase her obviously. But what if she got hurt? The roof was short and somewhat steep. Not the safest place in the world. Add the wind to that and you had a disaster waiting to happen.

"Please?" The way she looked at him; those eyes were so filled with sorrow and despair that he couldn't say no. Taking her hand, Ash gently placed Mary-Lynette on the roof beside him.

"What." his voice was colder than the blowing wind.

"You know we can't leave." Ash started to protest, and she placed a hand over his mouth, signalling for him to be quiet. "Like I was saying before, if we leave, my family will be in danger. At least let them come with us."

The way Mary-Lynette looked at Ash just then nearly broke his heart. Her eyes alone were filled with so much sorrow that a whale could have drowned in it. Tears were welling up within them, threatening to spill over any moment. Her whole body showed her despair. Deep inside, she knew that no matter what she did or said, Ash would get his way. He always had and always would. From stories she had heard, living on the island he had been able to get anything he wanted. In fact, the Redfern family was more or less like royalty there! So whether she liked it or not, Mary-Lynette knew that she'd probably be leaving Briar Creek that night. The only question was whether she'd get to bring her family or not.

Looking down at his soulmate, Ash realized that she had a slight point. He mentally shook himself. He couldn't afford to lose her! Taking Mary-Lynette's family would mean more people to essentially smuggle to Las Vegas. More people who would disappear from Briar Creek without explanation. More chances of getting caught. More chances of his Mary-Lynette dying. He couldn't risk it.

"Mary-Lynette," he started, "I don't think we can bring them with us. If we have too many people, it will be harder to sneak away without my mother catching us."

Mary-Lynette just looked more depressed than before. "We have to though!" she pleaded desperately.

"I know you believe that our fates lie in the stars, but sometimes we have to take fate into our own hands. For example, instead of letting "fate" take your life, I'm changing you and I'm going to get you to Circle Daybreak so my mother can't harm you."

She looked at him doubtfully. "Really? Well then, I say we take fate into our own hands and bring my family too!"

Ash was defeated. He couldn't refuse his soulmate. Still, he would rather not have to bring along three extra people. Humans even! Granted, Mary-Lynette was human, but that was different. She was him soulmate.

"Well what's your brilliant plan to get them out of here then?"

"Ummmm…" Mary-Lynette was at a loss for words.

"That would be what I thought."

Mary-Lynette looked down sullenly. As the wind picked up, she gave a slight shiver. Ash's expression immediately softened. Putting his arm around her waist, he pulled her closed.

"How about we discuss it in the morning?" He suggested. As much as it hurt him to say it, he knew that giving Mary-Lynette another day to think things through would help her realize the logic behind running away. As much as he wanted to just take her and run, he didn't want to force her to leave her family.

Mary-Lynette rested her head against her cat-like soulmate's chest, breathing in his warm scent. Her hands on his chest as well, she began to cry softly. Sliding her arms up, she wrapped them around Ash's neck. His arms snaked around her waist, tightening to pull her closer yet. As she sobbed silently into his chest, Ash buried his face in the crook of her neck. Slowly, he found tears forming in his eyes. He couldn't bear losing Mary-Lynette. He just couldn't. It would kill him inside. Pulling away, Mary-Lynette looked up at Ash.

"Are you - crying?" she asked, wiping the tears from his cheeks.

He simply nodded, looking slightly ashamed. Mary-Lynette threw her arms around his neck again, pulling him close. He kissed the top of her head, thankful that he had her near him. He had missed her so much while he was away. There were times when he almost gave back and got down on his knees to beg for her forgiveness. Nevertheless, he had barely made it through. All that mattered now was that they were together.

Pulling away again, Ash kissed Mary-Lynette's forehead. Then he kissed the tip of her nose. Finally, he touched his lips to hers. When they separated, Mary-Lynette looked directly into Ash's eyes.

"So does this mean we're staying?"

"This means we'll talk about it in the morning."

With that, Ash pulled Mary-Lynette back inside her room, closing the window behind them.

A/N: Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Once again, thanks to Night-Alice for giving me ideas for this chapter :)

Special thanks to:

mj-a4evaxx: Thank you! Hope you enjoyed this chapter :)

smilinggalxoxo: Awww thanks! I hope this holds you over until the next chapter

Night-Alice: Haha that's good. Hope you liked chapter 15

Rose: Haha Probably not! It's a good thing they didn't get caught!

Please keep reviewing! They inspire me and put a smile on my face when I find them!

So what was your favourite part? Your least favourite? I'm not overly great at writing relationship/romantic-type stuff as I have never really done any of it, so let me know how I did. Any thoughts in general? Criticism is welcome.

Happy Writing!