Chloe's POV

The blackness slowly began to disappear and in the distance I could hear a familiar voice. It was a shock and a comfort to me, so I followed it right into another type of darkness. I knew this darkness was different because I could actually feel my eyes blink perfectly. The only source of light was a candle on the bedside table beside my head. At the foot of the bed was Aunt Lauren, recalling a time with my mom. She was crying.

"I remember when she came home with you from the hospital," she choked. "She was so happy to be a mom. Countless nights with no sleep, never any time to bathe or eat, but she never once complained."

I listened to my aunt talk about my mom and it brought painful tears to my eyes. Not a day went by where I didn't think of her and to hear Aunt Lauren remember the good times with her made my heart hurt all the more. That's when I realized that not talking to Aunt Lauren, she might as well be gone too. What I said to her about Derek was true, but that shouldn't be an excuse to cut her off. Especially after what happened with Tori.

Which reminds me...

"How long have I been here?" I asked in a groggy voice.

Aunt Lauren stopped speaking and rushed to my side, her face full of excitement. "My God, Chloe, you're alright."

I smiled.

She pulled me in to a hug, firm to show her relief but gentle enough not to hurt me. "You have no idea how terrified I've been, darling."

"Is that why she always looked so tired?" I asked

Aunt Lauren pulled back looking confused, and then realized what I meant. She smiled. "She always looked exhausted, but she always had you on her mind. It's a wonder she made it to work every day." Her smile dropped. "Or how she did it on her own."

I knew what she meant. My dad was hardly ever around because he was too busy travelling around the world on business trips. But since I never believed that my dad wanted kids to begin with, I forgave him anyway. My dad may not have ever wanted me, but at least I had people who did.

I sat up, feeling a soft pain in my chest. I looked down to see a faint mark on my shirt, but beyond that there was nothing.

"How long have I been out?" I asked.

Aunt Lauren frowned. "All day."

"Wow."

"Ruth's magic is highly effective." She teared up again. "A lot more effective than what I couldn't have done."

I reached out and took her hand. "It isn't your fault, Aunt Lauren."

She nodded.

"No," I said more firmly. "I'm not sure what happened myself, but the outcome had nothing to do with you. I promise."

"Oh, darling, I want so much to believe you."

I frowned.

She sniffed. "I helped those awful people mess with your genes, Chloe. I am no better than any of them."

"But you're a survivor just like the rest of us." That made her smile a bit. "That's got to count for something."

She shook her head, wiped her tear-stained cheeks and forced a smile. "Derek's been sitting outside the door all day."

Derek? I can't say I'm all that surprised. Derek and I have pretty much felt the need to be beside one another since our last fight with Dr. Davidoff at the hospital. Now just thinking about him had me anxious to see him right away, but I didn't want Aunt Lauren to feel like I was choosing my love life over her.

"You're in love, Chloe."

I looked at Aunt Lauren and she was smiling weakly at me.

"It's okay if you want to see Derek."

I shook my head. "No. Stay for a while."

Without another word, she got up from her seat and made her way towards the close bedroom door. She turned the handle and poked her head out into the hallway. And for whatever reason, she opened the door fully and actually stepped out this time, looking up both ends of the hallways. Perhaps Derek wasn't there right now. She turned around and held up a finger to signal me to wait a minute before she disappeared down the hall and down the stairs, judging by the way the way her footsteps disappeared.

I allowed the light from the hallway to illuminate a little bit of the room I was in. All I could remember about what happened was sparks shooting out from Tori's hands, zapping the room to life, the deafening sound of the wind coming from behind me, and her glaring at me before...before -

"Hey." The voice that seemed to make my skin crawl sounded from the doorway. I didn't need to look to see who it was.

"Hi," I murmured.

Cole strutted into the room and plopped down on the bed beside me. I scooted over a little with what little energy I had at the moment. Thankfully, there was no pain in my chest from the attack, but I hardly had enough energy to function physically.

"How are you feeling?" he asked me.

I turned my head to look at him. "You actually care?"

He frowned. "Am I not allowed?"

"Well, the last time my heart felt like it was going to burst from my chest, you were the one responsible."

"That was a joke, Chloe," he said sounding a little offended. "I never tried to kill me."

He was right. Our first encounter with each other alone in the dark woods, Cole had turned into his wolf self and scared me enough that I swear my chest burst from the impact my heart made with it. When I was with Derek back in that park when we met Liam and Ramon, I wasn't nearly as terrified of them as I was when I saw that grey wolf approach me while I was alone.

"You space out a lot, don't you?" Cole's voice sounded.

"What?"

He chuckled. "I just apologized and you missed it."

I shook my head and relaxed my head against the pillow, staring up at the dark ceiling. I watched as Cole adjusted himself to lying on his side facing towards me. Oh God, where was Derek when I needed him? I didn't want Cole here right now, and I appreciated his apology. But what I really wanted to hear was my boyfriend's breathing as he held me in his arms, comforting me.

"What are you doing in here?" a familiar growl came from the door. I wanted to smile when I heard Derek's voice, but at the same time I was afraid of what might happen.

Cole turned around and smirked. "I was keeping Chloe company." He stood up. "Since her boyfriend disappeared."

Derek filled the doorway and I noticed as his fists kept opening and closing in frustration. All I wanted to do was run to him and embrace him with everything I had, but I couldn't bring myself to.

"Get out," Derek warned.

Cole shook his head. "No need to get so wound up, Derek. I didn't touch her."

Derek remained silent as he watched Cole leave the room and disappear down the hall. In that moment, I looked right into Derek's piercing green eyes and I quickly broke down. I immediately hid my face, ashamed. I heard his heavy footfalls cross the room and felt the bed shift under his weight. I didn't even hear him close the door because the room had become very dark again with the candle burning on the side table.

Derek wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled against him, burying his face in my hair. We stayed like this until I no longer had any tears left to cry. By this time I had rolled over to face him, but buried my face in his chest that radiated warmth.

"Chloe, please don't cry," he whispered to me.

"I c-can't h-help it," I sobbed.

"Look at me." I looked up at met his eyes. "Nothing that has happened so far has ever changed how I feel about you."

"Derek -"

"Listen to me, Chloe," he cut me off. "What happened with Tori scared me to death. I honestly thought I lost you and I died a thousand deaths before I heard Ruth say that she could help you."

Hearing him say that made my heart flutter like crazy. I knew Derek had strong feelings for me, but I never knew how much of a great deal I meant to him until he said so. I have never felt so wanted by someone before and it was a wonderful feeling.

"Derek, I -"

"I love you, Chloe."

I froze for a moment. I was frozen with intense emotion that I could hardly function mentally to comprehend what my boyfriend had just said.

"I know we've only known each other a short time and been together an even shorter time." He took a deep breath before he continued. "But from the moment I first saw you at Lyle House, my world changed completely. You stood up to me, which no one has ever done, you challenge me, and you've shown me that no matter what, there is love for me."

Tears formed in my eyes again. Not like the painful ones earlier, but tears of happiness. Ever since I met Derek I always thought he was some jerk who got off on making people feel small - so to speak. But deep down he had a heart capable of accepting as much love as he gives to the people who deserve it.

"I...I..."

He sighed. "You don't have -"

"I love you, too," I finally blurted.

Derek's eyes widened before a small smile appeared on his face. I was ready to follow that up with something else, but he beat me to it by kissing me hard. These. These were the moments I cherished the most with Derek Souza.