-1Disclaimer The ideas are my own … although I do get help every once in a while. Obviously the 'Sons of Ipswich' are not my own but if they were … Holy Crap!

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Awakening to a New Life

9:32 AM

Do You Believe in Magic sounded from somewhere in the expansive room. Reid groaned in frustration. He cracked an eye open looking for the offensive piece of technology. He, unstably, hoisted himself up on his forearm to be able to see better. The noise was now gone and the sight before him was far more interesting. Before the couch he had slept on were a very 'comfy' Pogue, Tyler and Tori. They had been watching movies last night and after they had finished watching those, they had moved on to board games. Board games were fine but Reid's idea of combining those with beer, made the night all the more fun. They had played and drank until the high hours of the morning. Last thing he remembered was Pogue using the back of one of the couches as a makeshift bike. It had started a laughing fit that had drained their energy and led them to fall asleep all around the room. Reid looked around and found Caleb on the other couch and Jenna on the bed at the back of the room. The three on the floor were something of a sight for sore eyes or in this case sleepy eyes. Tori was sandwiched between the two brunettes. Tyler was at her back, his entire front molded to every inch of Tori's back; Pogue had his legs twined with hers, while his right arm was under Tori's head and his left hand held hers. It was a compromising position and if it weren't for him knowing these weren't together he would have been amused. Well, more amused. He looked to Caleb. He was fast asleep with a goofy grin on his face.

Reid decided waking him for this was a good idea. "Caleb … Caleb … CALEB!"

"Wa …?" Caleb groaned as he awoke.

Reid chose to ignore the lost look on Caleb's face and simply responded. "Take a look at this. Our brothers are getting a little frisky with our new friend here."

"They do look comfy with each other, don't they? We should take a picture." Reid's frown just caused Caleb to feel rather out of place. "What?! It could be useful later. Oh never mind."

"Wanna wake them up?"

Caleb's grin at Reid's suggestion was purely sinister. "Yeah. Wake Tyler first. I want to see his face."

"Tyler. Tyler your late for class!" Reid tried in a rather chaotic rush.

"Ugh! I'm not that naïve dumb ass. Just let me sleep some more." Tyler growled from his place on the floor.

Tyler snuggled closer to the body next to him and inhaled the sweet smell of cinnamon. He tensed immediately. His eyes shot open the moment Caleb's voice reached his ears. "He does look mighty relaxed Reid. We should let him sleep."

"Oh Geeze." Tyler whined.

Reid couldn't let Tyler go through more embarrassment. "Calm down. We just fell asleep and you three were just looking too comfortable down there."

Tyler released Tori and scooted back away from her. He got a good look at her and the images of what they looked like laying there didn't stay at bay. He was upset. He'd really liked her - she was the first girl he could make lurid comments and have her honestly laugh without being horrified. She was cool.

"Pogue's next. Ready Reid?" Caleb asked.

The only answer Caleb received was an evil laugh form Reid. "Pogue - man? Does Kate like having threesomes?"

"Reid, it was a long night. Can I just sleep for four more hours before you ask me idiotic questions?" Pogue answered gruffly.

Reid couldn't take his excitement anymore. He needed Pogue to freak out … now. "Well, I was just asking so that I know what to expect once Tori wakes up in your arms and you start explaining."

That did it. Pogue's eyes snapped open when he realized that the heaviness on his right arm was the beautiful brunette who was asleep beside him. He began panicking when Caleb interjected. "Nothing happened except for a lot of beer and board games in between."

Pogue's relief was evident on his face. "Ok. So, how do I get up without her noticing? I don't want to make her more nervous than she will be, once she realizes she slept here."

"You could move away from her, but she'll probably notice the lack of heat." Tyler explained calmly. Of course he was calm now, he wasn't the one stuck with the sleeping girl.

Reid's interest was sparked by Tyler's confident words. "And how would you know Baby Boy?"

"Fine don't listen."

Caleb felt for the boy but he had more pressing matters to get to. "My mother keeps calling and telling me we have to call her back. Now. Apparently, your mom wants to talk to you too. So we need to find a way of getting you up and keeping her asleep."

Reid turned to the boys with a slight smirk on his face. "We could …".

"No" all the other bys answered in unison.

Reid had no other choice but to glare at the other boys and move without their consent. "Fine". Reid moved to lay on the carpeted floor behind Tori.

"Give her here. You need to go - Tyler is sufficiently traumatized and Caleb has to go with you. It's ok. I'll stay and if she wakes up I'll pass the 'bad - bad Reid' card." Reid answered in a matter of fact kind of way.

The guys looked at him like he were a stranger that had just kissed them. They knew Reid was a good guy with a bad reputation, a reputation he unfortunately liked to keep up, but around them he was just Reid. They ultimately left the room knowing that arguing with Reid would do no good. Pogue passed her to Reid and the moment he did he was freed from Tori's grasp. Instead of Tori clutching at Pogue, she turned to Reid. She seemed contempt where she was, the soft sigh that she released might have been a clue to that.

Reid held her. Reid Garwin held a girl with no desire to gain anything out of it. Her petite body was cradled by his arms. Her auburn hair draped almost erotically across the floor. He could see her chest rise and fall with every sweet breath she took and with every breath her breast would graze his naked chest. Her face held innocence and peace, the kind of peace he wished he could posses. From her delicate chin to her temple, her skin was as smooth as petals … a sweet caramel color. Softness was so overrated for the look of her skin. Her eyes were closed, but he knew they were a light brown. Her eyes seemed to change color when she was emotional, but usually they were brown. His gaze went lower to find her lips. They were gorgeous. Plump enough but not to big. He could remember her smile. The ones directed to everyone but him. For him she would just smirk and no more. Before he realized what he was doing he reached over and with his thumb, traced a path over her cheekbone. It was exactly what he'd thought it be like. Soft like silk.

"That's it?" Tori whispered. She had startled Reid. Tori's eyes slowly opened to show Reid a sight he had never been delighted in. He never let a girl wake up next to him. But this was something he couldn't have imagined. Tori's eyes, a silky honey color, opened to show him a glassy almost sensual look. He liked it, a lot more than he should have. His hand didn't listen to reason. It kept touching her skin gently. Like it knew that if it stopped, Reid would burst apart. Reid just had to say something smart - 'Think moron'. "Couldn't keep my hands to myself … Good morning."

"Ha! Yeah. Good Morning, in deed." Tori answered with sarcasm dripping from every word.

Reid scowled at her tone. "What's with the sarcasm?"

"What are you doing here?" Tori asked in a lighter tone.

"I was caressing you, but not anymore. What does it look like I'm doing?"

"I mean down here." Tori responded with a slight smile on her face. "You slept on the couch".

The doubt was visible on Reid's face. "Funny you would remember".

She couldn't believe her ears … Reid Garwin was doubting she would remember the night before. "I can hold my liquor better than most. So?".

"Felt like feeling what you were like. Saw my chance and I took it".

Oh that was one comment Tori was not willing to over look. "Funny how Tyler, Caleb and Pogue had to leave before you began your exploration".

That worked enough for Tori. The look that was plastered on his face was unlike anything she had ever seen. Reid's voice snapped her out of her daze. "You were supposed to be asleep." Reid said in a rather hostile tone. Tori was not having any of that. He needed to calm down.

"Yeah well you guys weren't at all quiet, were you?" Tori countered.

Reid seemed to calm a bit by her words. He gruffly answered her. "Guess not".

Tori had to give it to him. He had the guilt factor down to an art. He was having her feel bad and she hadn't even done anything. "You should learn some stealth. It could be helpful in the future."

Reid couldn't believe her. She had played them like fools. "You let us go through all that 'if you move she wakes up' stuff, being fully awake and well?"

"What? It was funny. Oh don't look at me like I'm the devil. It was!"

"Whatever." Reid answered gruffly.

Before any time passed, Tori was upright and heading for the door. "Well I've got work. So I'll see ya' later Blondie".

"Yeah later." but only the empty room was left to hear him. Tori was long gone.

'Blondie' was left on his back thinking of a rather peculiar girl with brown eyes. He thought back to the night they had all spent together. She had been an active movie watcher, screaming out at certain action scenes. They had moved on to board games and the beer had been COMPLETELY her idea, even if he had been the one to get them, to her surprise. The drinking had been fun but the loss of inhibitions was far better for the group. They had made jokes that would make Sherrilyn Kenyon blush. 'She was cute when she laughed.' Reid liked her laughter. The way her face would light up and how she would hide her face whenever she couldn't take anymore giggles. "What the fuck?" she isn't cute. She's annoying and irritating … nothing more. But inside he knew she was more.

Reid left the room in search of the guys. He needed a shot of Testosterone … fast.

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Back in Caleb's Room

Reid had entered the moment Caleb was on the phone. He didn't know how much he had missed but it didn't seem much.

"Good morning mother."

"Darling. I've been calling all morning. Where were you?"

"We fell asleep in Reid's room. You know, last night."

"That's nice. How's Victoria?"

"She's good. Still sleeping."

"Was she with you boys last night?"

"Yeah. We hung out, watched movies and stuff."

"Stuff, huh?" Caleb laughed at his mothers' tone. Evelyn Danvers could be stiff at times but she was always his mother. Forever his mother first.

"Yeah. I'm guessing you're calling about Victoria. What are we doing?"

At that moment Reid snapped out of the daze his thoughts had put him in. His face wore a mask of confusion and anger. Tyler noticed something wrong and tried to talk to him. Tyler got shoved. Once Caleb finished his phone call and Pogue called his mother, they decided to shower and meet up at Reid's room since it was the largest.

Front Desk

"OMG. Where did you go? I woke up and everybody was gone. The boys came back but you disappeared. And, what are you doing here, today is your day off." Jenna attacked Tori the moment she saw her enter the Inn's lobby.

Tori couldn't believe Jenna. "Well, I slept with two brunette and got groped … well not groped, but touched, by a very amusing blond, so I figured I'd go to my room take a nice shower and do something. Work is all I have."

Jenna was aghast by all the information she was receiving from Tori. She had to get all the information down before she misunderstood something and blew up without any reason. "You fell asleep with Tyler - Pogue or Caleb and Reid 'touched' you. And now you're working?"

"Yeah. Pogue and Tyler were very nice about it this morning. Reid … Reid was Reid."

Jenna had to answer Tori with as little attitude as possible. Even though she wanted to slap her for being so stupid. "Ok. But the front desk is mine, so I guess you can help me, ok?"

Tori smirked. "Anything you say boss lady."

"Funny - ha ha. Well, I need you to check the Formann's for me and tell the guys my mom needs to speak with them in the kitchen."

Tori dashed down the hall. She didn't need any further instructions. "Ok. Be back soon."

"Oh! The guys are still in Reid's room." Ok. So she needed that piece of information.

"All of them?"

Jenna answered her with a jolly laugh fit for any old maiden. It didn't matter to her that she wasn't old or a maiden, she was Jenna all the same. "Yeah. Caleb's mom called in hysterics early this morning because we didn't pick up her calls. Mom said it was pretty funny."

"Ok then."

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Reid's Room

The boys stood around Reid's room. They had split up to take showers and get ready for the day. Now they were back and eager to hear what Caleb had to say.

Tyler was the first to speak. "Ok, we're all here. What's going on?"

Pogue joined Tyler in his questioning. "Yeah, what's this all about 'cause my mom has never been that happy without a reason."

Caleb had to give the boys credit. They were very observant when they needed to be. He took a deep breath and started the explanation. "Apparently our mothers got together and proposed a plan. One that I, personally, don't know will work".

"Cut to the point, please." Reid wasn't having any of Caleb's stalling.

"If she agrees … the 'Sons of Ipswich' will have a new sister".

Three sets of eyes snapped to Caleb's face. They searched him for a sign of a joke; there was none. And they were no longer alone. Tori braced herself against the wall outside the room. She had done it to scare the guys. Now she was intrigued yet confused. 'Sons of Ipswich'? New sister? Huh?'

"You heard me right. If she agrees, she can come with us. She'll be adopted so no legal issues come up later on. She'll go to school with us. Since our mother's are so persuasive they got her admitted immediately. Scholarship and all that in place".

Tyler couldn't believe it. Hell, none of the boys could believe it. "She'll be with us. Forever?"

"Not forever, but as long as she wants."

Pogue was shaking his head. He knew Victoria. Ok, so he didn't know her but he knew enough. He knew she wouldn't come the easy way. She would put up a fight. "Tori won't come unless you explain everything. I don't even know if she trusts us."

' TORI! Hold on … wa? They want me to come with them. To live and study and God knows what else. Uh-uh. I dunno about that.'

"So let me get this straight. She'd be our adoptive sister, who would live where? There are four houses so …" Poor Tyler couldn't wrap his head around the situation. How would any of this sound to Tori. She'd probably laugh in their faces. He hoped not but still … you could never tell.

Caleb stepped in to help them understand. "She would pick. She would choose what she wants to do. Mom just said she has to go to school and the rest is up to her."

Pogue had a pensive look on his face. "She could find her sister later on."

"She could write her music." Caleb said with a slight smile.

"Be herself without being afraid." Tyler was smiling now.

Reid had been quiet through all that time. He had a pensive look on his face and his thoughts came out in a whisper. "She'd be free."

'Free.' Tori couldn't even think of that. Freedom wasn't for her. Could it?

"That sounds good to me." Tyler couldn't hold back his smile. He would be happy with a sister. Tori was real cool and she would be a great sister. They were already closer to her than to any other girl they had ever met … he could definitely see her with them.

Caleb had to pitch in the rest of the conversation. "We all have to agree first. We agree to protect her and help her while she lets us and let her go when she decides to go."

Pogue was so excited. He would have a sister. The only girl he had ever shared his real thoughts with and now she could be his sister. She was nice and she seemed to be a girl that could fit in with them. They were close … closer than they should be after five days. "What will it be boys? I say yes."

Tyler grinned and answered. "Yes".

Caleb shook his head and his grin was nothing short of mischievous. "Help me lord if she turns out to be like Reid."

"Hey!"

"Yes." Caleb answered in as confident a voice as he could muster beyond his laughter.

They all looked to Reid. An odd, almost searching look appeared on his face followed by one of surprise and understanding. Reid walked slowly forward and leaned on the right side of the door frame. He reached outside toward the other side of the wall behind him. He slipped his hand into Tori's. Startled, she held on to it immediately. Reid gently pulled her into the room until she was facing him. She stood there with watery eyes and a hopeful look on her face. He brushed away a stray tear from her cheek.

"Yes."

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That's one down for the count. I'm so excited over this chapter. It's got all the stuff I love and some tears in it too. OK! Enjoy the rest.

Later …….