Author's Note: I know I haven't done one of these through the entire story but I never thought of anything to say. I have something now. Thanks for all the hits and the couple reviews. They really helped energize me to keep going. It's almost over and I hate to say that. I really enjoyed this story. Hope you did too.

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Paisley waited impatiently as the phone rang and rang. They were fairly confident their new addition to the group was exactly what they needed and she was doing well. Their plan was going well. She had infiltrated the school and sought out the humans who were associating with vampires. Caysen had found out from the council who they were. Brad had started stockpiling stakes, daggers, and weapons to bring down vampires. They were ready to go and felt their newest addition was ready to go as well.

If they could get a hold of her.

After Caysen forced her to go running in the woods with weights strapped everywhere, they thought she was going to quit. She had been strong and endured most of it, but she was winded when they returned. Caysen said when he took her to work she had relaxed in his truck to no avail. She had been quieter than normal. They figured it was due to the fact that she was shoving all the pressure into the back of her mind as a precaution so she could help. It could help or be a hindrance.

Finally the other end caught. "Hey, Parker, it's Paisley. Brad said we should have another practice session tonight about six. How does that sound?"

There was a slight pause on the other end. "I can't tonight. I have to work. Matt asked me to work until close again."

"Oh, ok. What about this afternoon at three?"

"I'm going to find a place to paint. After yesterday I need a break."

"Parker, we can't take one day off. You're new to this so we have to build up your strength."

"I hurt all over. There is no way I'm going to be able to do anything today."

"And you can paint?"

"The decent thing about painting is I can stop and start again as many times as I need to. It's not going anywhere."

"Paisley, let her have the day off. She needs it. I doubt she can handle everything at one time," Caysen said.

Paisley looked at him. He had been a little off since the day they met Parker and she had no idea what was going on through his head. But she agreed with him.

"Fine, Parker. Take the day off, but tomorrow we train viciously to get you in shape."

"Sounds fine to me."

Paisley hung up and threw her phone across the room with a shriek. "What the hell's your problem, Caysen? You say she can have a day off when she doesn't need one?"

"She hasn't been brought up with this like we have. She needs time to build up her muscles," he replied.

"All the more reason for her to train even more." She stopped and looked at him closely. "Oh, my God. You've fallen for her. How can you think about your lower portion when we're training her to kill vampire?"

"It just happened okay? I didn't know it would be like this with someone new."

"You didn't think."

Caysen turned around. "Would you shove a cork in it already? It doesn't matter anyway. Once we kill these vampires, we're gone. There's no room for her in this."

"Unless she decides to come with us," Brad said as he walked in the room. "All you have to do is tell her how you feel and beg her to come with us. If she says no, we at least have a vampire hunter in the area just in case."

They all looked at one another as the thought hit them.

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"So you lied to them?" Klaus asked from the backseat of the Trail Blazer.

McKenna glanced in the rearview mirror. They were headed to a little place she found the other day running. It was just off the Wickery Bridge maybe a mile away from the river. It was far enough in the trees that no one would see them from the road. Luckily her car was fitted to be an off road vehicle.

"I didn't lie. I simply omitted some things," she replied.

Klaus smiled. "You lied."

"I manipulated the truth."

"You. Lied." She glared at him through the mirror. He made a face that said he won. "Don't worry. I haven't said anything to anyone else, especially Kol."

"Is he still upset with me?"

"No, he's going on about his daily life. Flirting with women, making crude jokes. He's back to Kol," Elijah said. He watched as she turned off the road half a mile from Wickery Bridge. "Where are we going?"

"Do you remember that day you found me by the river?"

"Very vividly. You had those flowers in your hair."

McKenna smiled. He had asked many times for her to do it again in the week since it had happened. "Yes, that would be the day. Before I went to the river, I went walking in the woods. I found this little glade, for lack of a better term, about a mile away from the river. There's a car trail so it works for me to carry everything in."

"Is that where we're going?" Klaus asked.

"For the beginning. Then I want to go back to the river. It's the easiest spot to get a good painting and I like it."

"Is the clearing the place where we're working on your omega ability?" Elijah asked.

She didn't answer as she put the SUV into park and climbed from the driver's seat. The men followed as she walked into the woods looking up. She was scoping the area and feeling with her emotions. The men watched her carefully, making sure no one came charging through the brush at her.

There was a growl and they both turned their eyes towards her. A big black bear with two cubs came ambling from the trees. When the mother saw her, she rose up on her hind legs and began her warning. McKenna didn't move as she faced the bear. It looked like hit or miss as the bear came forward growling even more.

Then a surprising thing happened. The cubs came running up to her, making circles around her legs before rising up on the little hind legs and clawing at her. McKenna put her hand on their heads just as their mother got in her face.

"McKenna," Elijah said slowly.

She waved him off gently as she tilted her head down. Mama Bear sniffed her softly, pressing her nose into the soft skin of McKenna's neck. The girl didn't move. Finally the bear put her head in the girl's hands.

McKenna smiled and looked back at the men. They were surprised as much as she was but it helped. She sat down and the cubs crawled all over her. Mama Bear lay on the ground behind her and gave her a back rest. When the men came forward, she growled.

"I don't think she likes us," Klaus said.

"She's a mother. What do you expect?" McKenna replied as she ran her hands through the thick fur under her. "I can respect that. Mothers should protect their young, not harm them. A bear is the perfect example of that. Elijah, get my sketch book please."

He did as she asked. They remained there for what seemed like hours, McKenna sketching and the men watching intently at the reaction between human and animal. She worked calmly and quickly, making sure all the colors were right. The cubs played around her as the mother slept behind her, making a very comfortable pillow.

When the sun was setting she ruffled the mama bear's fur and stood up. "Thank you for your patience. If you need anything, call for me." The bear huffed out a breath as she stood up and shook herself to get the roughage out.

McKenna turned and went back to the men. They didn't say a word as they followed her to the car and got in. She put it in reverse and headed back towards Wickery Bridge.

"That was some power play there," Klaus said.

"All I did was make her feel safe around me. I didn't do anything else," she replied.

"What did you mean when you said you would come if she called?" Elijah asked.

"I'm not sure. All I know is that I'll know if and when something happens. It's something weird I know." Then something hit her. "Is there any way we can draw the hunters to that glad the night they go after you?"

"There's a fair possibility, yes. Why?"

Klaus leaned forward in his seat. "Do you have a plan coming together in that pretty little head of yours?"

"Yes, but it involves talking to more animals than bears and deer."

"We'll make sure we get them there."

She nodded.

Soon they were at the bridge, hidden from view of the road. McKenna accepted the help Elijah offered when he pulled her art supplies out of the hatch. She set up immediately. When she looked up, Klaus and Elijah were laying in the grass watching the river flow.

"The perfect shot," she muttered to herself.

"Excuse me?" Elijah said as he turned around at the sound of her voice.

She shook her head. "Nothing. Just go back to what you were doing."

She began her work, first starting with the river then adding the far bank. She added the bank they were reclining on and then started on them. Klaus was at an angle so she could pull his profile perfectly. Elijah was the hardest part. He was turned away from her. That is until he turned over and showed his profile.

They were talking amicably, which meant they had at least made up enough to talk civilly to each other. It made it easier to pose the picture. Her hand worked quickly and steadily, making every stroke deep and accounted for. Within an hour, she was putting on the finishing touches.

"Elijah, have you ever realized McKenna gets a line right in the middle of her brow when she's focused on something?" she heard Klaus ask. Looking up she noticed he was facing her.

"I've noticed that on several occasions, Niklaus. I like to watch her paint when she allows me," Elijah replied. He stayed turned towards the river as if he knew she was watching him. After a few moments, he stood and dusted off his pants. "It's getting late. We need to get back so McKenna can go to work."

McKenna sighed and began to pack up. As she was doing so, she turned around and saw a wolf standing by the river. It was drinking water as it looked at them. It was skittish. She handed Klaus her freshly cleaned palate and walked over to it closely. It looked at her as fight or flight kicked in.

"Shh. It's okay. I'm not going to hurt you," she whispered as she reached out her hand. Cautiously it sniffed her hand then licked it. Finally it allowed her to rub its fur. "That's a good boy. I'm not going to hurt you and neither are my friends. You'll be fine." With a final lick to her face, he bounded off into the woods. "Well, I have a new friend."

"And that's good, but we need to get you back so you can go to work," Elijah said. He took her hand when she held it out to him and led her back to the car.

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"Hey, Matt. Sorry I'm late," McKenna said as she rushed into the grill fifteen after six. "I got sidetracked painting and lost track of time."

Matt smiled and shook his head. "Don't worry about it. I'd rather you do what you love doing and be late instead of being late for something stupid."

McKenna laughed. As she wrapped her apron around her waist, she looked around. Everything had been moved around leaving open the pit area. Black slabs had been brought in and set up all over. "What's going on?"

"Elijah didn't tell you?"

"Tell me what?"

"He called me last night and asked if I could set up the grill for an art showing. He wanted your art to be the one shown." McKenna stared at him in shock and surprise. "He really didn't tell you?"

"No, he said he called you to help him with a surprise."

Matt's face fell. "Oh."

"Wait. This was the surprise? He was having an art show in my honor as a surprise for me?"

"Yeah, sorry for ruining it."

She shook her head. "Don't be. I'm gonna get to work."

"It's this Friday night, just so you know."

"Thanks for the warning." She turned around and ran right into Caysen. "Geez, dude. Don't scare me like that."

Caysen smiled. "Sorry. I forget I can walk softly at times."

"What's up? Are you here for dinner?"

"Yes and no. Yes, for dinner, but only if it's with you."

McKenna tripped as the words left his mouth. "What?"

"I want you to have dinner with me?"

"Why?" He looked at her. "Oh, wow."

He looked at the floor. "Yeah, sorry. It's a little forward. And the no is because we're planning on attacking this Friday night."

"Friday?"

"Yeah. Is there a problem?"

"Matt's throwing an art gala in my honor. All my artwork is going to be on display for the entire town."

Caysen smiled. "We'll do it after the art show. And congratulations."

"Thanks. Now I need to get to work."

He watched as she walked away to bus tables. When she was out of earshot, he dialed a number on his phone. "Hey, it's me. Parker is involved with the vampires. She's going to be a problem but I can handle her."