A/N:

Look it's a fast update! I guess I'm just in the mood this week, that's all. I can promise you that things start to get interesting now. I'll try to keep up this rate of updates but no promises. Anyways, here's a new chapter that I truly hope you enjoy - because this chapter was definitely one of my favorites to write. I'm really crossing my fingers for some reviews this time - they would really be appreciated.

Eva sat on the cot in the emergency room, leg crossed underneath her as she waited. She watched Stiles as he spoke with his dad a few feet away from her, her eyes lingering on his gestures – he probably was trying to hold off his dad coming to ask her about what had happened, even when Eva knew he was curious to know exactly what happened as well.

But she'd lied and said she didn't know. She knew exactly what happened – but she didn't know if anyone would actually believe her. She knew she had to have more faith in Stiles' capability of accepting occurrences like that, but she didn't. Eva's eyes drifted to the ground as her mind vaguely recalled what happened with brief details, but only one thing stood out in her memory, one she knew would probably stand out too to anyone had it been them.

She remembered how the exact mirror copy of her was lying on the hood of that car, and how it…she opened her eyes to reveal the pair of crimson balls that struck terror into Eva.

She looked up when she saw Stiles walk back towards her with his dad, "Eva," The Sheriff started apologetically, "I have to take your testament."

"It's okay." Eva smiled a bit at him, before she took a deep breath, "I walked out in the middle of the street to look for either Stiles or Derek, I couldn't remember who was picking me up that day, and the car just came out of nowhere." Eva mumbled before she looked up at met his gaze, "Derek pushed me out of the way and the thing went up in flames." Eva finished.

"The nurse at Eichen said you saw the driver. You walked up to the car." The Sheriff commented, and Eva felt Stiles' gaze bore into her, but she couldn't dare turn to him, keeping her gaze locked with the Sheriff's as her lips fell slack. She blinked furiously, then nodded, "Y-yeah, I wanted to see if she was okay."

"She?" The Sheriff frowned, before he shook his head slowly, "The driver was a male."

Eva pulled her brows into a frown before she started shaking her head, then she closed her eyes. "Right…he was a male." Eva lied before she opened her eyes again, "Did he…did you identify who he was?" Eva whispered, "Did he have a family?"

"Eva-" Stiles started when he saw where the conversation was going, "No, this is my fault." Eva interrupted him, finally allowing herself to look at him, "I need to know." She muttered solemnly before she turned to Stiles' dad again. The man let his gaze drop to the floor before he eventually heaved a sigh, "He's a widower and he had a son in Eichen House. When I checked, the boy had hung himself that same day."

"In the stairwell." Eva finished for him as her gaze drifted to the ground, before she took a deep breath to try and register that had just happened.

"That's all I need for now." The Sheriff said in finalizing tone, before he flickered his eyes to Eva's figure, an expression of sympathy crossing his face as he glanced sideways at Stiles again, then eventually sighed as he left. Stiles moved to sit down beside Eva, "You didn't tell me you saw what happened in Eichen House." He mumbled, and Eva glanced sideways at him before she shook her head slowly, knowing all too well that she had to explain everything else along with that, and explain why she had been going downstairs to begin with – and she had a feeling Stiles wouldn't like what he might hear, "It's not important."

Stiles stared at her, his eyes narrowing as he felt the sting of her lie turn his concern into frustration, and he breathed out heavily through his nose as he turned to look ahead, "If you're trying to keep me from worrying about you by not telling me, Eva, you're doing a pretty horrible job at it." He whispered, his voice holding a surprising amount of anger that made Eva turn to look at him, holding no expression on her face. But Stiles didn't look at her, instead, he just got up, "You know what, if you don't want to tell me, fine." Stiles breathed out, "I…I have to help my dad with something."

Eva's lips remained pursed as she stared at him still – and was surprised when Stiles actually glanced over his shoulder once, then heaved a sigh as he almost reluctantly pressed his lips to the top of her head, "I'm glad you're okay." He muttered, his eyes flickering downwards to meet her gaze briefly, "I am." He told her again before he turned and left. Eva watched him walk away, and while she expected to feel some sort of pain, she didn't. She felt guilty for lying, for being so secretive when the original reason they'd gotten so close with each other was the fact they were so bluntly honest to begin with. But she also felt relief – because with Stiles away from all of this, Eva felt it would be less complicated to figure out, or at least she hoped so.

She looked up when she saw her dad walk in, and smiled sadly when he rushed towards her and wrapped his arms around her, "God, are you okay?" He whispered, and Eva sighed as she nodded against his chest. "I'm fine, Dad. It was just an accident." She explained and smiled up at him as he brushed her hair out of her face, "You need to be more careful, Eva. You're all I have now." He breathed out, and Eva nodded slowly as she reached out to take his hands, "I'm really fine." Eva assured him, before she glanced sideways when a doctor approached them with the results of her scan and stole her father away to fill him in.

Eva's eyes drifted away, flickering across the emergency room, before she sighed heavily and looked down, wrapped her arms around herself. All that happened that day made no sense and there were two people dead. Eva had a feeling, a hunch, that somehow they both might be connected aside from the fact that it was a kid and his father who died. Just thinking about it made Eva's head begin to spin, and winced as she closed her eyes.

"You should rest when you get home." Eva opened her eyes to see Mrs. McCall standing in front of her with a kind expression, one that made Eva both yearn for her own mother but still feel overwhelmed with joy to have someone who could still look at her like that. Eva had never actually taken up Scott on his offer to call his mom whenever, even though she wanted to more often than she thought she will. However, she couldn't help but let the corners of her lips twitch into a weak attempt of a smile. "I definitely will."

"Where's Stiles?" Melissa asked, and Eva felt the momentary joy fleet from her as sighed, "He left."

Melissa frowned, somewhat astonished Stiles had left, before she moved to sit down beside Eva, "Did something happen between the two of you?" She tilted her head when Eva glanced sideways at her, "You know you can tell me anything, sweetheart."

"That's it." Eva muttered as she looked up, turning to face Melissa, "I know I can tell you anything. I know I can tell him anything. I'm just…not." Eva frowned again as she peered t Melissa, her wide hazel hues pleading for help. Melissa pursed her lips as she reached to brush Eva's hair back, "You've been through a lot, Eva. You have the right to be somewhat closed off. You do go to sessions, right?" Eva nodded, and Melissa smiled, "Then it'll come to you. You just give yourself some time. And I know it's hard with all the….not so ordinary things happening in this town, but it'll come to you."

"But he's going through so much because of me. I can see it every time I look at him. It's like he thinks I will drop dead any minute, and…it just kind of bothers me that he thinks I'm so fragile." Eva explained, "But I can't help but feel it's my fault. He gets worse whenever I do and I don't want that for him. I don't want my falls to be his falls as well."

Melissa breathed out a sigh, "When you got…attacked," Melissa lifted both brows then continued, "Stiles wouldn't leave the hospital. We eventually forced him to so he could change into fresh clothes and shower. Do you know what he said to me when I finally got him to leave?"

Eva shook her slowly, and Melissa smiled as she placed her hand over Eva's, "He said he wanted to be in his best for when you woke up. For a kid like Stiles, being the best is a big deal." Melissa pointed out, "But he wanted to be that for you. He was willing to go through all the effort and all the torment to just be there for you. I'm pretty sure that boy would walk on nails for you." Eva laughed a little and looked down just as Melissa tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear, "You'll meet him half way. The best couples aren't the ones that are perfect for each other, they're the ones that work hard and meet each other halfway. You're kids but you're all so grown up. You'll be fine." Melissa finally finished, and Eva looked up at her.

"You're a really good mom." Eva pointed out with a small smile, and Melissa let out a small chuckle, "I try, but it's good to hear that every once in a while." Melissa chuckled before she leaned closer to wrap her arms around Eva and hug her, "Just give it some time." Melissa mumbled as she pulled out away, "Thank you." Eva smiled a little as she watched Melissa get up and leave. Just as she did, her thoughts drifted back to the echoes and the screams and her clone self that didn't turn out to be a clone after all.

A day later, a Saturday evening, Stiles was pacing around his room, his mind in a thousand different places at once, "She keeps lying to me!" He exclaimed as he turned to Scott, who was sitting at the edge of Stiles' bed, his eyes following his friend's movement. "She keeps lying and hiding things." Stiles groaned, "She looked me in the eye and said she had no idea what had happened, that it all happened so quickly…And she just…keeps getting herself in situations like these." Stiles stopped pacing by his wall, now with new cases and photos hung on it, "I don't know if I can go through this anymore."

When Stiles turned to Scott, he saw a small smile on his lips, "What are you smiling at?"

"I remembered the time I thought I'd killed Allison, I remembered how worried I was about her." Scott pointed out, and Stiles heaved out a sigh, "Really, Scott, I tell you my girlfriend is driving me crazy and you reminisce the day you thought you killed your ex?"

"No, it's not that." Scott shook his head, before he took a deep breath, "Look, will you calm down? You know she needs time, what happened with her is not something to be underrated."

"I know, or I think I know, at least!" Stiles threw his arms in the air, frustrated, "We don't even talk about her sessions, Scott. I don't know if she's getting better. I sure don't know if she's getting anywhere!" Stiles sighed as he leaned against the wall, covering his face with his hands, before he rubbed his face in frustration and sighed, tilting his head towards the ceiling.

"Maybe you should think of something else, for now. Leave that for when you're calmer, alright?" Scott suggested, and Stiles eventually agreed, before he turned to his desk again and picked up the file he'd managed to camscan and print from his dad's office. "Are we still going to try and catch Malia's scent today?"

Stiles glanced sideways at Scott and shrugged, "I don't know. My dad is supposed to call us so we'd meet him up there." Stiles mumbled as he went through the case file of the car crash that ended the life of the two Tates and left one missing. Of course, that's when his dad had told him all about the impeachment case, and about how it's been going on for months now. He was upset at first that he'd not figured out something was wrong with his dad, and then he realized the only reason that happened was his recent shuffle of attention – and how he'd thrown himself completely for Eva, and he almost felt relieved she wasn't involving him with whatever was wrong with her.

Stiles felt horrible almost immediately for thinking what he'd just thought and he looked up at Scott, "Do you really think you might actually pick up a scent? " He quickly changed the subject, part of him still horrified he'd allowed himself to think that, and another part completely alarmed at how the former part was so small.

"I don't know, I mean, I'll try." Scott muttered, "Ever since I'd managed to get control of all of this, I think I'm actually capable of a lot more than I even know." Scott mumbled, "I just…I remember what Deucalion had said, and…" Scott eventually shrugged when he realized he was rambling on, "I'll try." He reassured his best friend with a smile. Stiles frowned as he tilted his head, heeding his friends concern to mind and trying to make a mental note to talk to him about it later.

Stiles' phone buzzed against his desk, and the boy quickly picked it up when he saw his dad's ID flashing on the screen. After a curt call, he hung up and turned to Scott, "It's show time." Stiles muttered, and Scott quickly got up, following Stiles out of the room.

Stiles swung the door open only to be surprised by Eva standing there, her hand held up almost to press against the doorbell. "Hi!" She exclaimed, and blinked a little as she smiled. Stiles couldn't help but smile as well as he stepped back, almost letting her in. "I was just about to leave now." Stiles muttered as he glanced back at Scott, then he turned to Eva and frowned. Eva's smile had fallen by the time and she'd started chewing on her lower lip as she wringed her hands together, "I wanted to talk to you."

Stiles heaved a sigh and shook his head, "I really have to go. We're helping my dad with something." Stiles explained, and Eva nodded slowly in understanding, "Of course." She mumbled as she stepped back. "Shouldn't you be resting?" Stiles pointed out, "Look, we'll talk, for sure. But just go home and rest now." Stiles told her as he exited the house and locked the door as Scott left. Again, just like yesterday, Stiles had leaned forward and pressed a small kiss to her forehead. "We'll talk." He tried to smile, before he swayed his hand in a weak attempt of a wave, then he hurried towards the jeep. Scott glanced sideways at Eva, frowned as he tilted his head, "He'll be fine. He's just really worried about the thing with his dad." Scott explained, "It's good to see you, Eva." Scott smiled before he hurried after Stiles to climb on his dirt bike, and Eva watched as they both left.

Stiles was disappointed as he drove back home – he'd really thought he could help his father with this case, and he'd seen the disappointment on Scott's face which made Stiles feel even worse. In addition to that, Stiles fessed up about the case his father was pressing against the Beacon Hills Police Department, one that will probably put his father out of a job, and watched all the somewhat conviction he'd given his friend to try and form a relationship with his father dwindle away. The day pretty much sucked for Stiles right now.

As he parked the jeep in front of the house, he wasn't sure whether seeing Eva sitting on the steps was going to make his day get better or worse. He was concerned, however, because he was gone for over three hours, and he had a very strong feeling she hadn't left or gone anywhere. Stiles got out of the car and headed towards her, watching as she stood up and greeted him with a small smile. "Did you not leave?" Stiles frowned as he glanced around, and Eva quickly held up her hands, "Stiles, please." She started, "I just want to talk. I've…done some thinking." Eva mumbled, "I'm going to tell you what I feel." She said with defiance, and Stiles took a deep breath, somewhat relieved.

"Okay." He nodded slowly as he stepped past her to open the door and hold it open for her. Eva smiled a bit before she walked in – and they both just automatically moved to his room, their private little space to talk. He took a deep breath as he closed the door then turned to her, waiting patiently as he watched her fiddle around with her fingers nervously. Stiles tilted his head, frowning, noticing that new habit on her only now. He stepped forward and placed his hand over her own. Eva looked up and met his gaze, before she frowned, "I hate lying to you." Eva started, and Stiles had to hide his disappointment when she'd admitted she really had been lying, "It's just…Lots of things don't make sense to me. But only one thing does, right now, and that's how much you're hurting because of me and it isn't fair."

Stiles felt the need to interrupt her, the conversation sounding all too familiar, "You're right, it's not fair. It's not fair that I care about you so much and you keep pushing me away. Do you know how hard that was for me with Lydia? And she didn't actually care about me at the time. But you…" Stiles sighed, "We have something. I don't just like you anymore. It's more than that."

"Yes, I know," Eva pressed as she stepped away, "Stiles, I swear I'm not pushing you away, I just…I want to protect you…and I want to be able to be the girl you want to be with."

"But you are!" Stiles exclaimed, feeling appalled she'd actually thought otherwise. "What happened to you doesn't change the fact that I…You're just you, Eva. No matter what happens. No matter what you lose or what you gain, you're that girl. Sure you've changed, but I did too!" Stiles gushed out, and Eva sighed, "You don't get to protect me when you're the one who needs to be protected." He finally breathed out, and Eva turned to look up at him, "I'm not fragile, Stiles. I'm not…going to snap if I don't have you around. I need you, I do, but your constant hovering…it's just suffocating me."

"I have to hover!" Stiles started, his voice rising over the tone of frustration to actual anger, "If you haven't noticed, Eva, you were stabbed to death by demon ninjas! Then you almost drowned! Then you almost got ran over by a car and blown up in an explosion in the same day! How the hell do you not expect me to hover? Do you even know how much I care about you? Do you even care what would happen to me, for once, if something actually happens to you?!"

Eva had run out of words – not because she had nothing to say, but because something Stiles had said left her speechless, "Stabbed to death?" She whispered, and Stiles' expression relaxed from anger to anguish as his eyes welled up, "Yeah, to death." He muttered, his eyes holding her gaze, "You died, Eva. Your heart actually stopped beating. You stopped breathing. Your eyes were open but you couldn't see me and you were in my arms." Stiles' voice had cracked towards the end of that sentence before he turned away, "I saw the life go out of you. I saw it." Stiles whispered with a broken voice, and Eva watched the tears trickle down the one cheek she could see.

Eva remained speechless, in her head there was a battle – a battle between curiosity, guilt, and just…pain. "I can remember it way too well for trying to forget it, and just when I almost put it behind, something happens to you. And it's killing me." Stiles eventually sighed and sniffled, before he quickly wiped away his tears with the sleeve of his shirt and he turned back to her, "It kills me to think that I might lose you."

"If I'm causing you so much pain," Eva whispered after a long moment of silence, "Then what's the point of us anymore?" She breathed out as she blinked away the tears in her own eyes, "We were supposed to be each other's comfort, not each other's pain. And…I...I can't live with myself if I'm causing you pain like this. Because…the pain of losing someone is just not something you should go through so much in your life, Stiles. You're too….important." Eva eventually let her gaze drift to the ground.

Stiles stood a few feet from her, "I'm not important." He quickly argued, almost wishing he could take back what he said. His heart jumped to the back of his throat and he felt like he might throw up when he realized where her words would be taking them.

"No, no, you are." Eva whispered, her voice holding the pain Stiles knew he felt right now. "You're important to your dad, Scott, everyone else." Eva muttered before she looked up at Stiles, "To me." She sniffled once, "And I can't be the cause of your pain."

"Breaking up with me won't change the fact that I will still care about you." Stiles gushed out as he stepped towards her, "I will still be worried."

"But if I stay away." Eva started as she closed her eyes, "If I stay away I won't have to worry about causing you pain, or lying to you, and I might actually figure out everything…And…maybe if I do that-"

Eva's words were cut off when Stiles had pressed his lips down against hers, his hands moving to hold her face. Eva's hands moved to hold onto Stiles' wrists, and she closed her eyes, immediately melting into the kiss as their lips slotted together, fitting together almost like puzzle pieces. When Stiles' pulled away, he pressed his forehead against Eva's, still holding her face close as he breathed against her lips. "Just because you make me miserable sometimes doesn't mean I'm letting you go that easy, Eva Davis."

Eva fluttered her eyes open to meet his gaze, and she blinked slowly as he held her gaze. His thumbs moved over the apples of her cheeks, "Stop trying to do the right thing and start doing what feels right." Stiles muttered, before he pulled away, still holding her face gently, "Does breaking up with you feel like the right thing to do?" He asked, his voice holding slight hope as he tilted his head. Eva's eyes flickered from his lips to his eyes, and she shook her head slowly. Stiles pressed his lips into a weak smile, "Then we'll figure it out."

This time, he leaned down slowly, his lips brushing against hers lightly before he leaned in closer to close the distance between them. Eva stretched onto the tips of her toes to meet him halfway, her arms moving to wrap around his neck as his fingertips traveled down her sides in a feathery touch. Their bodies were pressed against each other, and Stiles struggled to hold back a moan – he could barely remember the last time he and Eva had been this close before.

The kiss got deeper when Eva's hand went through Stiles' hair, tugging at his unkempt hairs as she nipped at his upper lip. It wasn't long before Stiles had daringly let the tip of his tongue tease her lips and attempt to find a breach until he did. His hands now moved underneath the hem of her shirt, his thumbs rubbing against the little exposed skin he'd had his hands on there, before his hands moved over the curves of her waist and down to back of her thighs.

Stiles hoisted Eva up, or at least he tried to, staggering at first but still hell bent on carrying her. He laughed sheepishly against her lips before he hoisted her up again so she could finally wrap her legs around his waist and lock her feet at the small of his back. Stiles stumbled slowly towards the bed until he felt his knees at the edge, and he gently eased Eva down. He hovered above her momentarily once they'd pulled away, and his thumb brushed underneath her eyes to wipe away what was left of the wetness from her tears, "You're not fragile." He whispered, his eyes flickering across her face, taking in every details – her slightly glassy eyes, her swollen lips, her hair splayed on the mattress underneath her, "You're the strongest person I've ever met and I'd be damned if I let you go. Cause I'm the fragile one, and I'm the one who needs you." Stiles muttered and tilted his head, smiling a bit when he saw her lips stretch into a smile, "God, I've missed seeing you smile."

"You're an idiot." Eva pointed out, and Stiles couldn't help but chuckle, "I know." He mumbled as he leaned down to press his lips to hers – but it barely had the chance to go anywhere because Scott barged in, "Stiles, we have to- Woah!" Scott quickly pulled his hand over his eyes, "I'm…sorry…I should have realized that was what I heard…" Scott breathed out as Stiles quickly scrambled off Eva and pulled her to sit up, "What the hell did you think it was, Scott?" Stiles complained as he adjusted his clothes and looked down at his jeans, feeling the crimson tint rise to his face.

"I...I thought you were just watching one of those sappy movies you watched when you were upset!" Scott shrugged, and Stiles quickly shushed him, his eyes flickering down to Eva, who pressed her lips together, her face torn between actually blushing or bursting into laughter. "Can you just, not, Scott?" Stiles muttered, before he took a deep breath, "You can look at us now."

Scott put his palm down and flickered his gaze between Stiles, and Eva who was sitting at the edge of the bed. "I just wanted to…You know what, nevermind." Scott shook his head, and Stiles looked down at Eva, before he turned to Scott again, "Dude, what is it? You said we had to do something. What is it?" Stiles asked, and Scott took a deep breath before he held up his flashlight.

"I was going to say we have to go to where the Tates crashed their car." Scott breathed out, "That…we should go find a body. A dead body."