Hey guys. Sorry I haven't updated in a couple days but hopefully the chapter (especially the ending) makes up for it! I know the girls are a little harsh but I think they probably will be when she comes back in the real GG5 too don't you think? Do you guys think the format of this chapter is easier to read? Am I staying in character enough? Let me know! And pleeeaase review.

XOXOXOX

Disclaimer: Ally Carter owns the Gallagher Girls series plus all the characters, that lucky duck!

Zach and I stared at eachother, frozen, while the knocking continued. The way it was going I could tell my room mates were pissed.

"What do you want to do?" He asked. I thought for a minute and decided. They might hurt me, but I loved them and I knew even though I had made them really angry and worried, they were my sisters and they loved me too. I gave him a half smile.

"Well I really don't want them breaking down your door so we're gonna have to open it. If you grab Bex I can deal with Macey and Liz, do whatever you have to do to restrain her, but don't hurt her ok?" He gave me a smile and nodded. He got up to go answer the door but there was one more thing I needed to say before our time alone was completely disrupted. "And Zach?" He turned around to look at me. "Thanks for everything. You're the best."

Zach smiled a big smile this time and I stood up and followed him to the door. I nodded and he unlocked it. The second to door opened a fraction of an inch, it was knocked the rest of the way open and a figure flew in. Zach grabbed Bex before she could reach me and I was grateful because I had never seen Bex Baxter as angry as she was in that moment.

"Let go of me! Zach! Let me GO!" She was grunting and stuggling but even though Bex could kick anyone at Gallaghers' butt, Zach was (technically) a trained asassin. He could take her, he had 4 inches and at least 50 pounds on her and she was angry which meant she was more vulnerable to mistakes so while Zach had her busy, I dealt with Macey and Liz.

"Guys I'm so, so sorry." I started. Liz was frozen halfway between me and the door, staring at me with wide, betrayed eyes while Macey stood beside her, glaring. "I know I should've told you I was leaving but you would've tried to stop me or join me. I couldn't let you stop me because I needed answers and I needed to get them myself. I couldn't let you come with me because I had to protect you guys. I had to protect you from them. I know it's stupid and I'm the one that they're after but they would use any of you to get to me and you know it. The Circle doesn't really care about who they hurt, minus Zach, and I just knew that if I took you girls with me something bad would happen. I know you don't understand-"

It was then that Macey cut me off. Zach and Bex were still stuggling in the background but I could tell they were both listening to me.

"I do understand. Don't you get that Cammie? The feeling that the world is resting on your shoulders, the need to protect people around you because you're the one causing them pain, the instinct that no where is safe? I felt all of that before. Before the Circle was after you, we thought they were after me, remember that? I ran, but you came after me and brought me home because this is where I was supposed to be. Where I belonged. Well I don't know anyone who belongs here as much as you do and you left. Was it worth it? Was your little trip worth making Liz cry everyday? Was it worth making your mom feel like she'd lost you dad all over again? Was it worth having Zach fight Bex just now, even though they love eachother like family? You know he would do anything for you. You took advantage of that when you came back and went to him first. Yeah I understand how you were feeling but I don't understand how you thought it would be ok to leave us for 2 months thinking you were DEAD!" She screamed the last word and stormed out of the room.

By the time she was finished tears were running down my face. Bex and Zach had stopped fighting. Bex was looking at the ground but Zach was looking at me. When he saw I was crying he came over and hugged me to his chest, stroking my hair. I heard Bex mumble something about going to check on Macey but I knew when she squeezed my hand on the way out that with her I was on my way to forgiveness. Liz made her way over to the bed and sat down, putting her head between her knees. I knew this is what she usually did to calm herself down and keep from crying and s ince I didn't want to see her cry I turned my face into Zachs shirt and tried to inhale as much of his scent as possible to calm myself down. When I stopped crying and my breeathing returned to normal he leaned down and whispered to me.

"She's just angry. She'll forgive you, so will Bex and I think Liz already has. Even I know she says things she doesn't mean when she's upset. It's just hard for her because hse doesn't let many people see beyond the cover and then you, one of the people she does, hurt her so the anger is just her defense mechanism. Don't worry Gallagher Girl. Everything will be ok." I smiled and wondered to myself when Zach had gone soft. Don't get me wrong, I loved seeing this side of him, it was just a weird thing to experiance aftter years of cryptic non-answers and smirks.

"Since when do you understand my friends better than I do?" I asked jokingly.

"Macey and I are more alike than you'd think." Was all he said. I smiled again and turned my head upwards he was about to lean in and kiss me when we heard Lizs' timid voice. I'd almost forgotten she was there.

"Zach can I talk to Cammie? Just us? Sorry to kick you out of your room." Zach looked over to her and smiled, Liz always had been his favourite of my friends.

"Course Lizzie. Go easy on her okay? Macey already yelled enough for all of us." And with that he kissed me on the cheek and left.

"Liz I'm sorry I made you cry." She nodded and walked over to me.

"It's ok Cam. I forgive you as long as you promise not to do it again." I thought I over and nodded. She gave a relieved sigh. "Thank God. You had us worried sick." And with that she barreled into me, giving me one of her hugs that could squeeze the life out of you. After about 10 minutes, she pulled back and gave me a knowing smile. "So since when do you and Zach act like a real couple instead of the disfunctional mess your relationship usually is?" I blushed and then didn't now wether or not to be insulted but I just let it go.

"I don't know. He's been really good to me since I got back and I feel so lucky to have him around. I think I sorta love him. Which could be a problem considering his mother is trying to kill me. But he's proven time and time again that I can trust him so I'm going to." Liz had a huge grin on her face.

"That's good because trust me he loves you too. You should've seen him when you left he was even more paniced than your mom." I smiled but my mood was dimmed at the thought of my mom. I really had to go see her soon before someone else told her I was here. I decided I would talk to Liz until Zach came back and then I would drag him with to her office. I felt pathetic that I wanted him to go with me but he was my rock right now and I really needed him there. And then Liz asked the one question I didn't want to hear.

"So did you find anything?" I sighed.

"I don't know." And then I launched into the story of how I woke up and couldn't remember a thing. Lizs' eyes widened and she was up in a flash.

"I'm going to go work on a memory restoring formula! Come find me later ok? We'll run some tests! Later Cam, love ya!" And with that she was off. I sighed and looked around the room, feeling tired once again. I grabbed a long t-shirt that was hung over the door to the bathroom and changed into it, figuring Zach wouldn't mind. After that I layed down in the bed and fell asleep.

Later I felt the bed move and rolled over to see Zach sitting on the side of it. A look at the clock revealed I had been sleeping for a while. Zach smirked at me wearing his shirt and I rolled my eyes.

"Hey. It's late. You sleeping here?" I gave a sleepy nod and noticed he had pyjamas on already (well, guy pjs which translated into pj pants and a t-shirt). I pulled him down so he climbed into bed with me, pecked my lips and wrapped an arm around me. We both fell asleep quickly.

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