I am SO sorry I haven't updated at all recently! I have been so busy with school and I just haven't had time to do anything. I will do my best to update more often but I can't make any promises. Anyways, I hope you all like this chapter! Please please review!

I watched Mara as her features twisted into a look of pure hatred at the mention of Jude's name. Then a hint of realization flashed through her eyes.

"It's not just me," she said, I could hear her heart beginning to faster against her chest. "He was wearing a watch, the same one you saw in your—in your—" she stumbled upon her words as she tried to figure out how to describe what I can see. I could tell she came up with something but she couldn't bring herself to say it. I sighed, if only we were just a normal couple that lived normal lives we would never had to be in this situation. But I still couldn't bring myself to wish I never had this "power" or whatever you call it. Without it I very well could have been dead by now and have never met Mara. I wouldn't give that up for anything in the world…

Mara's voice snapped me out my thought. "He had the same watch as Lassiter. The same one" she said meeting my eyes, making sure I understood. "What are the chances?"

She was right. But what would Jude want with Joseph? What did he even want with Mara? None of it made sense. I wish I had a better answer but all I could say was, "You think he took Joseph."

She nodded, looking up at me through her lashes.

I met her gaze. "I won't let him hurt your family either Mara."

She took a deep breath and looked away. "I can't even tell my parents to be careful. They'll think I'm just being like my grandmother."

I pulled my eyebrows together as she turned back to face me. What did she mean being like her grandmother? What is her grandmother like?

"She committed suicide."

"What? When?"

"I was a baby" she said. "My mom told me yesterday; she's even more worried about me because we have a 'family history of mental illness'"

Well that's just great. Her own family wouldn't even believe her. In that moment I realized that I truly was the only one she could trust. The only one who could keep her and her family safe. I would not let her down.

"I'm going to have some people watch your house." I said, making sure to hide my worry. I knew I would protect her but there was always that shred of doubt. If she knew that, I would destroy the small amount of hope she has now. I couldn't do that to her.

To my surprise, she looked even more frustrated. "My parents would probably notice, don't you think?"

"Not these men. They're with a private security firm and they're very, very good. My father uses them."

She raised her eyebrows at me. "Why does your father need private security?"

"Death threats and such. The usual."

Her confusion was evident on her face. "Doesn't he work in biotech?"

A small smile played at the edges of my lips as I remembered some of the reasons people had for hating my father. "A euphemism for 'playing God,' according to the religious and environmental groups that hate his subsidiaries. And you've seen our house. He doesn't exactly maintain a low profile."

"Won't he notice?"

I shrugged. "They don't all work for my father, so I doubt it. What's more, he wouldn't care."

She shook her head in disbelief. "It's amazing."

I hope to God she doesn't mean my father. "What?"

"Your freedom."

I almost laughed. Little did she know, freedom could be nice at times but it always comes with a price. I would easily take having my mother back over the empty mansion I live in now. Mara didn't understand how lucky she was. Just being around her family made me crave that closeness. Her parents may keep her closer than most but they love her more than anything, even if she can't see that now.

"Your parents care about you," She knew what else I meant but I wouldn't dare say it. Her apology was written all over her face. Ashamed, she looked down at the ground. Before she could look up though, I fell back onto her bed.

Her mouth opened and then closed again when she saw I had pulled away. I didn't want her pity. I didn't want anyone's pity. Before I could get it I returned to the subject of Jude. ""If we can find out where he lives—"

She moved over to where I was before, leaning back against her desk and said, "What where is he living?" He's legally dead. It's not like he could just get a job and rent an apartment."

I raised my eyebrows at her. Could she really be that naive?

"What?"

Wasn't it obvious? "It's Miami."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning there's no shortage of methods by which to acquire money and housing without a social security number. But I do wonder…" Going home would be a stretch wouldn't it? I never knew him so I wouldn't know… But it could be a possibility.

"You wonder…"

"Might he have gone back to his parents? After the collapse?" I said, staring at her ceiling.

"You think they know he's alive?" she said incredulously.

I shook my head. The more I thought about it the more unlikely it seemed. "If they did, they'd have told others by now, and we'd have heard."

"Daniel said his hands were cut off." She said quietly, looking down.

"He told me."

"It doesn't make any sense. How did he survive? How is that possible?"

Oh, how I wished I had an answer to all of her questions. She sounded so scared. I bit on my thumbnail as I tried to think it through with no success. "How is any of this possible?" I said under my breath.

I continued to stare up at her ceiling when I felt Mara carefully edge her way onto the bed next to me. I could feel her body just inches away from me but she wouldn't move any closer. I felt like a wall was coming up between us. I wished more than anything it wasn't but I couldn't deny the obvious.

Mara broke the silence first whispering, "You think he's like us?"

As much as I didn't want it to be true, it was highly probable. "That, or the remains they found weren't his."

She shook her head. "Wouldn't they do DNA testing?"

I narrowed my eyes. "Only if they had a reason to believe it wasn't him. Regardless, records can be fabricated and lab rats can be bought." But why would they go to the trouble? I couldn't put my finger one it but something was not right.

It seemed like Mara was thinking the same thing as she started to say, "Why would—?"

Her question was cut off by Daniel calling out our names from the kitchen.

"Be right there!" Mara called back immediately.

I swung my legs off her bed and stood up. "I don't know, but we aren't going to find out in your bedroom."

"And I'm not allowed to go anywhere without a babysitter." She said bitterly."So you're on your own."

Fuck. I didn't think about that.

I shook my head and then looked over at her. "I'm not leaving you any more than I have to. Not like this."

She looked disappointed as she tentatively said, "So… How long are you staying?"

The corners of my lips turned up into a smile as I said, "How long do you want me?"

Before she could reply though, Daniel called our names again.

"Alas," I said glancing at the door. "I'm afraid that's my cue. Your father wanted to spend your first night back as a family."

She sighed. So she did want me to stay.

I turned back to face her and said, "But your mother knows all about my cold and empty home life, and she's taken pity on the motherless urchin you see before you."

"Well, you are quite pitiful," she said as a smile crept upon her face. I wish I could see her smile more. It was like a light lit up inside of her that was so beautiful it hurt.

"I told her my enormous mansion will be terribly lonely this week in particular, so I expect I'll be here quite a lot. Unless you object?" He said raising his eyebrows at me.

She was quick to answer, "I don't."

"Then I'll see you tomorrow," I said as I made my way to the door. "And I shall formulate a plan to work on your father as well."

"My dad?" she said, confused.

I smiled and said, "We bonded in the hospital a bit, but I think he enjoys playing a benighted father; ' I was a teenage boy once too, I remember what it was like,' et cetera."

Realization spread across her face as she said, "You like them,"

I raised my eyebrows up at her in question.

"Like, as people."

"As opposed to… furniture?"

"They're my parents."

"That is my understanding, yes."

She made a face. "It's weird."

Her expression was amusing. Why was it so bad I liked her parents? "What is, exactly?"

"I don't know," she said, struggling to find the right words. "Knowing that you've, like, talked to them without me there?"

"Well, if you're worried about your mother showing me your most embarrassing childhood pictures, don't be."

She looked relieved.

"I've already seen them." I said, smiling.

There goes that relief.

"I'm a particular fan of your fifth-grade haircut,"

"Shut up."

"Make me."

"Grow up."

"Never." I said deviously. A smile appeared on her face, mirroring mine.

"They'll relax, you know," I said "They'll get complacent. As long as you keep improving."

She raised her eyebrows at me. "Is that your way of telling me to keep my shit together?"

I couldn't stand it any longer. I closed the distance between us, leaning down and grazing my lips against her ear. She closed her eyes as I whispered, "It's my way of telling you that I can't bear to look at my bed without seeing you in it, so do try to avoid a lockdown."

I leaned back and watched as she opened her eyes. Her slightly dazed expression brought a smile to my face as she breathed, "I'll get right on that."

I smiled even wider and said, "You'd better." And walked out the door.