Life was straight chaos for a week. It was as if something had picked up my life and turned it upside down on its head and watched the resulting events with amusement. My father's wedding was in a couple of days, I wondered if he truly had proposed to her only three weeks ago. Though, even if he did, my father was one of the only people I knew who could manage to plan and execute a wedding or any other event in under a month. The wedding was going to be held in the backyard, and I could hear Clawd, Deuce, and a handful of their friends help Clawrk build a raised platform that would be part of the alter during the day, and at night it would be converted into the dance floor.

There was no reason why we couldn't have the wedding outside; we were far enough away from anybody to worry about disturbing them. Plus, my father had made sure that we had plenty of alcoholic beverages, it was a good thing they hadn't planned for a venue, or else we'd have to worry about everyone getting home safe.

What was truly stressful to me, however was since I was the maid of honour, Samantha and I had to spend so much time together. Picking out color themes, choosing flowers for the bridesmaids, all that. On top of the stress from being forced to help her marry my father, I had to make sure Valentine was kept busy and away from Clawd, make sure that Clawd was busy and away from Valentine. I had to make sure that both of them were busy and not bothering me, because they wouldn't give me space if I didn't. Besides that, Clawdeen and Gory didn't get along at all, and I had to have Bram on constant watch to separate Gory from Clawdeen if things got to tense.

My patience was slowly beginning to snap, but I kept it together. I had dealt with worse stress than this; I had been through wars, for crying out loud! Yet, I swore this wedding would be the death of me. My Uncle had been hooking me up to a blood IV at night, and after Valentine attacked me, I knew I needed it, but I couldn't think long about it before getting nauseous.

I had managed to escape from the planning and was holed up in the library, pouring over my Uncles' notes of other Monsters. Every handful of moments Clawd or Valentine would come in to see what I was doing. I never hid my research from Clawd, pointing at a page in the book and excitedly telling him all about something new I found. He always listened attentively, leaning down and reading along with me. He'd tell me how things were going, and would wipe some sweat from his forehead. After a hesitant kiss to my forehead, or a brush of fingers against my shoulder, arm, or cheek, he would head back out to help.

When Valentine came to visit, I'd suddenly remember that I needed to grab something from the other room. Or I would tell him that my father had asked for him. I kept finding excuses to get him out of the room. Fearing that he would bite me again. I knew eventually, I'd have to tell my father about it, but I didn't want to interfere with his happiness. Right now, he seemed fairly over the moon about this wedding, which was very surprising.

The research did take my mind off of everything else that was going on in my life. No wonder Uncle Vlad loved his research. If I could, I would go off into the world, documenting Monsters, and writing a book about my experiences. That would be glorious. Perhaps I should write a book about my experiences in Salem?

I giggled at the thought and scribbled a little note in a pink journal I had brought into the library to write interesting facts down into.

When the door opened for the umpteenth time, I was ready to snap and I twisted around in my chair. The words 'I would prefer to be alone right now,' on my lips, but they died when I saw who it was. Deuce took a step back and held a hand up. "Whoa there, just coming by with some coffee, don't look like you want to kill me," he stepped forwards with a tray; two coffees were placed in them. I smiled sheepishly.

"Sorry, Clawd and Valentine are getting on my nerves," I apologized taking the coffee when he handed it to me. "If you are sticking around, you should probably stone them," I muttered as I turned back around and stared at the books in front of me. He took a sip of his coffee and tossed the tray into the garbage. "That should go in the recycling," I suggested, but he just snorted and walked around the library looking at the books.

"What are you even doing in here? Everyone is prepping the house for the wedding that is happening in, what, two days? Yet, here you are, locked up in the library surrounded by books about slayers," he picked up a book and read it briefly. "You don't seem to be the best maid of honour right now," he sat down on the table, picking up a book and idly glancing over the cover. I leaned back and sighed.

"I'm just concerned," I admitted to him, "Have you ever felt like you needed to do something, but felt powerless to do anything?" I asked him, fiddling with a paper, and then picked up the coffee and wrapped my hands around it. Deuce nodded and took off his hand, placing it on the table. The snakes hissed happily, writhing about on his head at being freed. He reached up, and one curled itself around his hand. Obviously he wasn't concerned about Samantha walking into the room at all. I wondered how the others felt in the area, having to hide who they were because a normie lived on the block.

"When my parents were getting a divorce," he answered staring at the floor, "I know the there is a side to it that I didn't know or see, but my mother one day brought home the paperwork and they had a huge fight. There wasn't anything I could do, even if I wanted to stop it. Neither has ever told me what they fought about, but my mother refuses to let me see him. Still, both my parents are alive and are not immediately threatened by any Monster Hunters or anything of the sort."

I reached over and squeezed his arm gently, and I knew that there were no words that I could say to him that would make him feel any better.

"Why are you so interested in monster slayers?" he asked, and sipped his own coffee.

"I think that there is a Monster Hunter after my father," I muttered, "but I have no proof besides pure speculation. Uncle Vlad brought the subject up, and I just want to know, you know?"

He nodded, and jumped off the table, "Who, where, what , and why?" he asked, "I mean, Clawd is much better at sniffing out clues about these things, but I'm not exactly a fan of building things out of wood."

I laughed, and shook my head, "its okay, Deuce, I need a break from my break, and anyways, I'm more interested in something else right now though. Like, why you haven't been sitting with us at lunch," he rubbed his neck and looked at the roof. A smile on his face and he chuckled.

"Wondered when someone was going to ask me about that," He muttered then looked at me, "Cleo-"

"Don't tell me, you and her are together now?" I turned the chair towards him and clasped my hands on the arms. Ready for the gossip of the century. He raised his eyebrow and laughed.

"I just feel bad for her, you know? She used to be friends with everyone on this cul-de-sac, but then after making a few mistakes she just screwed herself over. I don't think the others realize that she misses their friendship, and...Well, I think we were all wrong to be so judgemental," he glanced at me, his sunglasses masking the emotion in his eyes. I looked at the floor and bit my lip.

"I can't speak for everyone," I started cautiously, "but I am willing to give her another chance. After she apologizes to Blue, and Clawdeen. My mother used to tell me 'Never ask for forgiveness, show them that you are worthy of their forgiveness, since you are not the one wronged.'"

Deuce's eyebrows rose slightly, but then nodded. "You're awesome, Lala. I'll let Cleo know next time I see her."

I leaned on my elbow, cupping my chin in my hand. "Are you seeing her a lot?"

"You're worse than Cupid," Deuce grumbled, no venom in his voice. He tossed the book he was holding onto the table.

"So, you do like her?" I interrogated, and knew from the change of his heart rate that it was true. I grinned and clapped my hands together. This was great gossip! Oh! I paused, watching him intently as he withered under my gaze. Clawd had only just broken up with Cleo, and Deuce was Clawd's best friend. Was that the reason why he wasn't admitting that he liked the Egyptian? It was different with me and Clawd, I reasoned, we hadn't actually made any steps to being a couple. Kisses to cheeks, foreheads. Flirting, and standing a bit closer than normal. Cleo and Clawd's breakup was mutual, and Clawd wasn't diving into a best friend's ex situation. Deuce was.

"Clawd and Cleo's breakup was mutual," I informed Deuce, wondering if he knew that. From his face he did. "That means Cleo is free to go after. You should still talk to Clawd about it, of course, but if you truly like Cleo. Go for it! It'd be totes romantic!"

"How would it be romantic?" Deuce asked, snorting. He had picked up a few different items on the table beside him and placed them back down, unable to focus on anything. He was getting nervous with the conversation. I had seen him do it during Home Ec if he was getting uncomfortable, or stressed. He'd pick up an ingredient just to set it down again unable to decide what part of the recipe to start with first.

I waved a hand dismissively, "Just think about it, silly! Cleo is a socialite. She lives to be the centre of attention; a romantic gesture for her is to make her the talk of the school. Clawd's best friend dating his ex, is just the kind of gossip that would spread like lightning. I'm sure Clawd would be okay with it, just talk to him."

Deuce nodded his head slowly, as if working himself up to do it. With an explosive sigh, he jumped off the table. "Draculaura, her dad didn't like Clawd when they were dating, how could he like me any better? I'm not super smart or super athletic like Clawd. I'm not stupid, but I'm more into sports that include skates than with balls."

"Whose affection are you trying to win?" I questioned, standing up and poking him in the chest. "Cleo's? Or her father's? The only one you have to prove your worth to be Cleo."

Deuce's expression was blank, his sunglasses masking the emotion in his face. He shook his head, "I guess I can talk to Clawd about it…but guys aren't like girls, we can't just bring up this sort of thing up."

I giggled, "Just ask him to talk, and then ask him if it would be cool if you were to ask Cleo out. Don't talk about feelings, or anything. Just be direct! Like Abbey would be."

He laughed, "Okay, but I wouldn't be taking advice about love from Abbey. She's a bit too direct for me."

I joined his laughter, and I heard his name being called from the front of the house. "Speaking of Clawd, you're being summoned."

With a sigh, he concealed his snakes with a hat once again. "Thanks, again" he nodded to me, "and good luck figuring out whether a Monster Hunter truly is after your father. Just don't wear yourself out about it."

I waved, making no promises, as he exited the library.

A/N: This chapter is purely character development! I really like Deuce and his relationship with Cleo, so I wanted to start exploring it before we get into the action heavy sections of this story.

Also! One of the new webisodes had Gory in it, and we actually got a bit of character devleopment for her! Which is a breathe of fresh air.

Don't forget to drop a review down below :D