"So, you're telling me that he's been working with you two- behind my back- since my first surge?" I questioned, glaring at the two teens sitting across me in the Diamond's living room. They fidgeted in discomfort under the intensity of my stare, their eyes flickering from one another to the carpeted floor. "And you didn't think it's fair to let me know, Shane?"

"We weren't allowed to," a blonde girl uttered under her breath, her lips in a tight line and turned down to a frown. I fixed my attention on her; sea blue eyes, waist-length blonde hair and light pink lips- basically my definition of a typical blonde female. However, if it wasn't for the alarming resemblance to Alexander Diamond or the sudden gust of wind that nearly destroyed the windows prior to her speaking, I would have never guessed that she's the infamous Allie Diamond that James had been meeting up with. "I mean, James refused to cooperate with Alexander unless all of us left you out of it. If you even caught a whiff of the progress on the cure, he'll turn on us and hand us over to the cops; family or not."

A clap of thunder followed, and the blonde's sea blue eyes turned a shade darker. She slowly rose from her seat, words hovering at the tip of her tongue, but was pulled back to her place by my lover's lookalike, who sat next to her silently from the beginning.

"Do you think we liked watching James suffer for your sake?" she growled, unhappy with the way she was being held. She threw a glare in her brother's direction before looking back at me, a strong feeling of dislike apparent in her stare. "I have never met my own brother for years and, when I do, he's gambling with death for some blonde boy he's been with for only a few months. Do you think that's fair, Kendall? Huh?"

I grit my teeth and narrowed my eyes. "Hey! You're blonde, too! And, unlike you guys, I had no idea about this!" I retorted, throwing my hands in the air defiantly as I stared at the younger girl. "If I did, I would've stopped James from-"

"It doesn't matter!" Shane, finally deciding that he has heard enough, screamed. His eyes shone a dangerous shade of red. His grip around his sister's arm tightened visibly, causing the younger blonde to flinch and whine, trying to wriggle her way out. "You guys can keep on arguing but keep in your god forsaken minds that James is upstairs struggling for control. I don't know about you two but I'm curious to know why his powers returned. He was cured weeks ago!"

"You guys sure love making a ruckus," a strained voice chuckled, revealing a dishevelled brunette as he limped into the living room. All of us gaped at his appearance; the paleness of his skin brought out the dark bags that hung under his drooped eyelids, his eyes bloodshot as though he hadn't gotten a wink of sleep and his arm casually wrapped around his abdomen while the other was flattened against the wall. "I can hear you guys clearly from my room and I'm pretty sure I didn't call the two of you over so you can pick a fight with my boyfriend."

I held my breath at the mere sight of him; his bare torso was covered with scars, his physique seemingly smaller than before and his legs shaking to support his weight. He looked weak, vulnerable, like the slightest push would cause him to crumble. "James, you shouldn't be out of bed," I said, frowning when he wrapped his arms around my waist, using me as his pillar. He nuzzled his face into my shoulder and squeezed me softly, just enough to cause my body to feel the ache after being pinned under him a few hours ago. "James!"

"It's not their fault, love," he whispered, his arms loosened as he caressed my sides gently. He completely ignored my demand that he get some rest, instead opting to stand up for his siblings. "I volunteered. I didn't want Dad experimenting on you again. I can't bear knowing I'm letting you suffer for our kind's sake, and all because I'm too much of a coward to step up. I just wanted you safe, Kendall."

"You should have told me," I reasoned, running my fingers through his messy bed hair, a feeble attempt to make them straight. "I was worried. I thought you cheated on me! I could have helped you or gone in your pl-"

"That's exactly why I didn't let you know." James stared at me calmly, one hand lovingly stroking my cheek. "I knew you'd try to go in my place and I didn't want that. So, I made all of them keep their mouths shut in return for using my body."

"B-But, you still should've told me!" I objected, winding my arms around his chest loosely while I stared into my lover's hazel eyes. "Do you know how petrified I was when I came home to you writhing on the floor like fish out of water? Do you know how afraid I was when I heard your bones breaking and crunching while your body took on a bigger form? Mind you, you nearly crushed me as well!"

"I thought I was losing you for real this time! I mean, I've been worried ever since I saw the scars that you clearly weren't treating well, but what happened just now was the ice breaker." I was growling now, big, fat tears rolling down my cheeks. But I couldn't bring myself to care. "Sneaking out, getting hurt and nearly dying. Am I worth-!"

Fingers as cold as winter cupped my chin, jerking my head up. My vision was blurred by the tears that were still pooling on the slits of my eyes but I was able to make out the shape of my boyfriend's nose leaning down to me. With a soft whine, my eyelids fell shut, pushing the tears out, as I felt his lips being gently pressed onto mine. Once. Twice. Thrice.

Then, he pulled back and whispered, "Don't you dare finish that sentence. I'm sorry I made you worry, Kendall, but you have to see this situation through my eyes, my perspective. I did it all for you! When you first discovered your powers, you wanted out and I knew then that I would've sacrifice the entire world just to make that happen; to get you back to normal without your powers to interrupt your daily routine. When Shane brought up the offer- which, I swear, was meant for you, not me-, I contemplated accepting it. I couldn't bring myself to trust Alexander's letter, much less to give it to you for evaluation."

"I decided to go in your place to see if it was legit and go through the excruciating ordeal on the experimenting table again so you won't have to do it. When it was over, I told Shane to give me a few weeks to see if the plan we had was permanent or if it would just serve as a temporary remedy. I didn't expect my elements to come back to me at full force and nearly shatter my bones in the process," James explained, resting his forehead against mine as he wiped the wet tracks on my cheeks with his thumb. He placed a chaste kiss on my lips again. "I'm sorry, baby."

"You st-still-"

"I know. I'm sorry."

"Those scars-"

"They'll heal."

"But-"

"It's okay, Kendall," James murmured, pressing his lips against my forehead. "Don't think about it. It was a mistake, not telling you, and I'm so sorry. I'm sorry, love."

"And we'll be leaving now," a similar voice intervened. "Before either Allie or I puke from all this fluffy romance shit going on. Come find me when you're presentable, James. Dad would want to see you."

"And yes, Kendall's invited. It's not like it's a bloody secret anymore," Allie continued. I spotted the female blonde scowling as she walked out from the corner of my eye, muttering under her breath about how dumb this whole situation was.

Shane just shook his head at his baby sister's antics.

Footsteps moved away from the living room, followed by the front door slamming shut. As the silence filled the room, James pushed me until the back of my knees collided with the couch. I stumbled backwards, my fingers caught in the waistband of his pants, which in turn caused him to fall with me.

Both of us groaned; me from the pain of being crushed again by my slightly muscular boyfriend and James from getting his scars brushed against an uneven surface. The pretty boy froze above me, his eyes widened as one of his hands gripped my fingers which were pressed against his crotch.

"By the w- OH MY GOD MY VIRGIN EYES!"

A/N: Hi! So, it's been a while, eh? I'm gonna call this a filler chapter bc I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE THIS WAS GOING xD

But, uh, to explain my absence... I kinda dun goofed. Long story cut short, I confessed to this guy I've had a crush on & had a fic or two dedicated to. BUT, I might have told him I didn't expect anything ... LIES, but I was afraid of being rejected so I rejected myself. xD I got depressed over it for a few days, wouldn't stop moping around the house, the usual shizz.

I'm back on track now, though. So, no more upset kiddo here!

Btw, if you haven't read the oneshots I posted in the week ( I THINK?! ), then you guys would be unaware of the fact that I'M BACK ON TUMBLR NOW! :D

Well, kinda. I'm checking it more often & got my page reconstructed & whatnot.

The link is in my bio so do me a huge huge huge favor & follow me! You guys can spam the hell out of my messages there & submit whatever you guys wanna show me there.

PLUS, I have a challenge for you guys. Or .. a favour to ask. In the previous chapter, I said James & Kendall's suits had a flame/lightning design on the collar. I'm gonna ask you guys to draw out a design, IN ANY WAY! & send them to me, through twitter or tumblr! I'll post them.

I'm gonna work on mine in a bit & see how it turns out bc I'm not an artist, I suck at drawing xD

REVIEWS!

winterschild11 - Well ... We'll see! :p

ms simmons - yeaaah xD

itsallguchicauseyolo - I think I drowned my teachers in my awesomeness! :p But, I know what you mean. Two elemental-ish demons getting it on? MMMMMMMHMMMM :p Maybe I should make a scene with that. & PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF EVERYTHING I LIVE FOR, do NOT smash your phone screen! xD

annabellex2 - Thank you! Hehehe :D

EagleAce11 - Hi, thanks! It just means that James' body grew bc his powers were taking over. Like back in Blood Eyes, when he lost control of himself bc Kendall got tested on. (:

Chey21 - heheh! :P I'm on semester break now so THANK GOD xD

I think it's time I re-read Blood Eyes & Electrike bfr I make a ridiculous mistake. xD