Disclaimer: I own nothing, Mead does.

We were out shopping, I had convinced Lissa that I'd stay another night or two if she'd come with me to pick out my new furniture. The thought alone of shopping had her nearly crack, but she held out long enough for me to give her my promise not to leave. So with Lissas' help, I pulled on a pair of sweatpants, a tanktop and a pair of sneakers. And since Mason, as well, had stayed the night we jumped into our cars and were off. We've been out for about 3 hours now and my legs were starting to tire.

I leaned against a long tan couch that shaped into an "L", "I think I like this one." I sighed as the weight lessened for my legs.

"Are you sure?" Lissa asked, "We could go check some other places out if you want."

I shook my head, "It's only a couch Liss, it works for me." I looked over to a sales person a few feet away and nodded to him.

"How can I help you?" He asked once he made his way over.

I fell back first onto the couch, sighing in contentment that I wasn't standing anymore. It was actually a very comfortable piece, and definately not something ugly. Lissa smiled at me, shaking her head a bit at me, then looked to the salesman. "We'll take this one, thank you."

"Okay, and is there anything else I can help you with today?"

I got up from where I laid, looking around thoughtfully. Lissa looked at me with a knowing smirk, she knew I wasn't leaving this store with only one thing. I looked at the man. "Got a piece of paper on you? I'm sure you'll want to write this all down."

He took a pen out of this pocket and held up his clipboard. I started walking down the aisle, pointing as I spoke, "I'd like this, this whole set right here, two of these, and the lamp on it." I looked to him.

"Is that all?"

I chuckled, "No. Sorry." I started walking and pointing again, "This, and that over there, with these and...Hm...Liss, what do you think about this piece?" I asked about a glass dining room table, "I mean, I really like it...but...Hmmm." I looked to the group that consisted of Lissa, Christian, Mason, Dimitri, and the saleman. Dimitri and Mason looked a bit shocked that I was buying so much while Lissa looked thoughtful and Christian just looked bored. Shopping was never his thing of course. I sat down in a kitchen tables' chair, my legs getting progressively more sore as we continued. "I'm a one stop shopper." I explained to Mason and Dimitri.

Lissa started tapping her chin with a pointer finger, a hand on her hip, she nodded her head. Speaking slowly she said, "Yeah. If you really don't like it, then it could very well be used as something other then a dining table. It's not huge or anything, so maybe a patio piece?"

"Alright, so this thing then, of course with the chairs." I stood up and everyone followed me.

xo

After I had picked out a dozen more things and paid for everything, we headed out to our respectable cars. Planning on going to lunch, then to my new house to put my new items away. Though, the men wouldn't allow me to give the saleman my address, because of a possible 'leak', they'll be dropping it all off at Lissas'. We'll have to get a couple trucks and load, drive and unload everything there ourselves.

We drove to a little chinese place, nothing fancy, a small building that's barely noticeable. A handful of staff, a parking lot only big enough for ten small cars is what made up this place. It's the same restuarant my family and I had first ate at when we came here. We didn't have alot of money, looking for a cheap place to eat, and this place looked promising. It was, it was also the best resturant around; I would've married the chef if he wasn't 47. And already married. And if he wasn't a she.

Once we parked, Lissa got out of the front seat and moved it to help me out. She and I lightly entwinged our arms, walking through the door with the men following behind us. "Hey Sarah, can we get a table for five?" I asked once we reached the 28 year old standing at the register. Sarah was half American and half Chinese, with a Calli girl accent. Short cropped black hair, a body to die for, and about 5' 3", this girl was stunning. We made it a traditional thing to come here once a week, and with Sarah being Sarah, it wasn't hard to quickly befriend her. She was really a good friend of ours.

"Oh my god Rose!" She rushed over to us, grabbing my face and looking me over. "Are you okay? I heard what happened, I'm so so sorry I've been so busy lately with college that I haven't had a moment of free time. Oh god, look at your hands. Oh jeez Rose, Sweetie, what-" Her eyes watered, "I was so worried." She sniffed, "I'm so sorry I haven't come by, I should have. I should have called or something."

When she was finished with her rant I said, "Don't worry, I'm fine." I laughed at her look, "As fine as I can be?" I asked, she shook her head. I smiled, "I am though, everything's okay. And I understand, we were just as busy with everything going on. I knew you would've been worried, I could've called you too, but I hadn't. So we're both to blame okay?"

"I'm just glad your not-" She stopped herself, but we all knew what she was thinking. The same thing everyone else has been the last few days; Dead. "Here, come on. Let's get you guys to your table huh?"

She looked at everyone, her gaze lingering on Mason and Dimitri a moment longer, she gave me a look to which I laughed and shook my head 'no' to. She smiled to herself and Lissa and I laughed loudly, taking a seat together at the far back corner at a table, since the tables only hold 4 each Christian dragged another table and connected the two. He took a seat across from Lissa, and Mason across from me, leaving Dimitri a bit on his own. I turned my seat to the corner so I could look at everyone, keeping Dimitri from becoming the fifth wheel. Lissa raised an eyebrown at me, I shrugged.

"So what's it today everyone?" Sarah asked handing Christian, Dimitri and Mason menus, "The usual for you two?"

I smiled and nodded as Lissa said "Yes, thank you." The men choose quickly and Sarah went off to give Mei our orders.

"So, last night I listened to Tanners' song, the one you sang in." Lissa started, looking at me.

"Yeah? How was it?"

"It was perfect, I was thinking about adding it to your next concert."

"That's awesome!" I laughed excitedly, "Tanners's gonna love it!"

Christian laughed teasingly, "Just don't go passing out on us again okay?"

I rolled my eyes, "Yeah, I'll see what I can do."

Our drinks and meals arrived and I held up my glass of Coke, "To Tanner, he may not be here right now, but nonetheless, to his amazing new, and first, song. Let's hope to hear more from him soon."

Everyone held up their glasses smiling, "Cheers." Then we dug into the awesome Chinese infront of us, me stealing bits and pieces from Lissa and Masons' plates and Lissa swatted at me while Mason mock glared at me. I was glad they, Dimitri and Mason, seemed to be comfortable with us, as my family and I were with them.

"So from here we get my stuff and go to the new house?" I asked, making sure of our plans.

"Yeah, if you're not too tired." Lissa answered.

"I'm not, I'll be fine."

"You can't stress your body out Rose, we can always move everything tomorrow." Dimitri interjected.

I shook my head, "No need, I want to get it done and over with anyways."

"So long as you don't help we can go today."

I felt my eyes widen, "Um. I'll help as much as I can thanks alot. It is my stuff we're lugging around here." Why does he think he can order me around? I doubt I can even be much help anyways, my hands hurt from just holding my chopsticks, so what made him think I was gonna be lifting anything heavy?

"No you won't be. You can supervise." Christian said, giving me a look that said I will not be of much help this afternoon, no matter what I say. I huffed.

"Rose, really, it'll be easy and I don't need to worry about your health because you want to be stubborn." Lissas' voice was quiet, she wasn't being mean.

I sighed lightly, I hated being helpless and they weren't helping the feeling. But I didn't argue further. I don't think I was going to get anywhere. I started pushing my food around, thinking of something I could do. "How about this, I won't be lifting anything too big but at least let me help with the smaller things. Lamps, coffee tables, some boxes maybe."

Lissa gave me an exasperated looked, "As long as you don't hurt yourself and you're able."

I smiled triumphantly and started eating along with everyone else. The meal was amazing, as always, and we all chatted about Tanners' song and when we can get it out to the public. We decided that the next time I want to record sometihng we can put a chair in the studio for me to sit at. Lissa and I spoke about how we'd arrange my home in detail until everyone had finished and we headed out the door to our cars.

Christian helped me into the car as Lissa made sure that Dimitri and Mason had the right direction - for the fifth time. I watched as the two men nodded their heads, Lissa pointed randomly in the air as to which way they had to go, Dimitri said something to Lissa, Mason smiled and Lissa turned to our car smiling. Once Christian shut her door and came around to his own seat I asked, "Are we set now? You don't want to draw them a map or anything else?"

Lissa laughed lightly, "They have a GPS and will drive behind us the whole way."

"God knows what'll happen if they don't." Christian teased, addressing Lissas' control freak side.

"Oh shut up and drive." She scowled, a smile playing at her lips.

"Yes ma'am."

He started the car and we left the little restuarant behind us. It didn't take long to get to the truck rental, and once we had Christian hopped out. "I'll go get a truck," He looked between us, "Two trucks. You drive this to the house and we load up, we can do the same up to Roses'. Sound good?"

Lissa was already getting out of the car and moving her seat to let me out. "Sounds fine to me." She pecked his cheek as she got into her new seat, reajusting it. She looked over at me, "Are you okay?"

I sat with a foot out the car, struggling with the seat belt again. "I think-"

She reached over, already realizing I couldn't put that much pressure into my hands, clipped my belt and flopped back in her seat. I gave her a sheepish smile in thanks as Christian pulled next to us with a UHaul truck, another one behind him.

"We're all ready to head over if two are." He called over to us.

Lissa turned the ignition on as a reply.

It was easy to get to her house from the truck rental, traffic was light and the day felt peaceful. Once we had made it, Christian and Dimitri parked the trucks infront of the garage. Lissa helped me out of the car and everyone set off to what needed to be done.

The men grabbed the larger things, like the couches and chairs, and Lissa and I got the smaller things, like side tables and lamps. Well. I tried, a shooting pain would go through my hands and arms everytime I picked something up. So I kept dropping things every few seconds.

"You know if you keep doing that, you'll end up breaking everything." Christian said as he and Mason lugged the "L" couch to the truck.

"Well what else am I suppose to do?" I huffed as I picked up the wooden shelf off the floor, Lissa waiting patiently with the other side of it in the air.

"Relax maybe?" He questioned.

"Not really my cup of soup. Shit." I said as I dropped the shelf for the third time.

Once we finally got the shelf into the truck Lissa found something else that she could move and I sat on a lone chair, my legs were feeling like jelly and my hands throbbed. I didn't want to pass out again, and figured sitting down for 5 minutes wouldn't be such a bad idea.

I watched everyone worked around me, Dimitri and Mason moving the computer stand, Christian carrying some dining chairs under his arms, Lissa doing the same heading over to the truck. Looking around the garage I realized we were done, besides a few smaller things, and the chair I sat on. I rolled my head back, closing my eyes, I took a deep breath.

It's a strange feeling to be worn out so quickly.

"Whoa!" I nearly fell off the chair as it was lifted a few inches into the air.

I looked over to see Christian and Mason laughing on either side of me as they carried the chair toward the truck. Lissa was trying to hide her self with her hands, her shoulders shaking. Dimitri was over by the truck, arms crossed looking all business, that is expect the wide grin sprayed across his face.

"What are you guys doing?" I tried keeping myself from tipping over.

"Lissa said not to wake you." Christian said. Had I really started fallen asleep so quickly?

"But this chair here was the last thing that needed to be loaded up." Mason went on.

"So you were going to load me in the back of the truck?" I accused, trying to surpress my smile.

Christian smiled widely at me, "No. Of course not. We were just gonna...uh..." He seemed to choke, unable to think of a valid reason.

"We wanted to put the chair into the truck. Seeing as you had worn yourself out, we wanted to let you rest saying as how much you need it, so we were just going to set this couch here over there." Mason removed one hand from under the couch and pointed to a space just big enough for the couch. I feared for a second he'd drop me, but he seemed fine holding the chair with only one arm. The spot he pointed to is one where I wouldn't have to climb anything to get out, but it was still enough room to close that door with me in the chair.

"And then we were gonna relax and wait until you woke up." He finished, covering Christians' lie perfectly.

I scoffed, "What a load of crap."

They laid the chair in it's spot, and Mason helped me to stand. "Atleast I tried." He said smiling.

I rolled my eyes and looked to Lissa, "I can't believe you were going to let them do that."

Her face turned bright red, "I'm sorry I really wouldn't have let them!" She stammered quickly.

Laughing I said, "Come on Liss, I'm only joking. Let's get going before it gets too dark."

The guys went to the trucks, Mason driving with us since there was no reason to take his car. He helped me into the car and we were off with Lissa in the drivers seat.

We drove for about thirty minutes in silence, turning every which way. I watched as the city slowly faded behind us, more and more trees surrounded us and I started wondering how far away this place was to have such a beautiful scenier. We continued to drive even as the trees grew closer together and no more houses were in site. Ten minutes later we turned into the rocky driveway and I stared at the house that stood infront of us. It was bigger then the pictures, more beautiful, twice as amazing.

"Wow." My voice was low.

Christian nodded, "You can say that again. Tasha really got you something special this time." I jumped, not realizing he was already by Lissas' door.

"For as far out it is." I looked at Lissa, "It's amazing, yes, but jeez it's so far away from the world." She nodded in agreement, looking around the area that consisted of trees and bushes. "Well let's go check out the house huh?"

xXx

Surprised I'm still alive? Yeah so am I.

Nothing much in the chapter, more of a filler, but it all needed to happen. I'm trying to start writing again, sorry ya'll for being MIA for nearly a year.

Tif

xo