Chapter 7

Apparently before they actually took the fight to 'them' they needed to get more information. So back to the motel room it was. Annie got the distinct feeling Jeremy only took her with them because there would be no one there to babysit her at home. That was mostly due to the fact that Jeremy's plan involved her playing look out in the parking lot while everyone else got to bombard the room. Clay and Elena were to go in through the front while Nick and Jeremy would enter through the adjoining room. If the Mutts were there Jeremy wanted them taken alive. Once again he looked to Clay at that, as he was known to jump the gun on things like that.

"I'll try," Clay responded to Jeremy's pointed look. When Jeremy's eyebrow rose and his eyes narrowed in disapproval Clay added, "I'll try hard."

Annie admittedly pouted a little as the four of them crossed the lot towards the stairs. Leaning against the brick wall she turned her attention to the parking lot, forcing her eyes to keep making a loop for anything suspicious. If her only job was lookout she was at least going to do it thoroughly. At the sound of a gunshot Annie forgot all about her lookout duty and sprinted towards the stairs. No one from the pack had been carrying a gun and images of each one of them bleeding from a gunshot wound flashed through her head, making her run faster. She made it to the Mutt's room in seconds to find a giant hole in the door, but no blood. Everyone looked to be okay. None of that mattered though when Annie realized what they were all staring at.

"It's Pete's," Elena murmured as she picked up the object from the shot glass. It was Pete's missing finger, with the skeleton ring still on it. He never took that ring off. It had been a birthday present from Annie.

With her hand to her mouth Annie fought back the urge to vomit. As she paced, trying to make the sick feeling in her stomach go away, and avoided looking anywhere close to Pete's dismembered finger her eyes caught the message on the wall: 'I'm coming for my scrapbook bitch.' At least this time it didn't have anything to do with her. Elena was the 'bitch' this Mutt was referring to.

"Let him try," Elena growled. She wouldn't mind if he did come, then she wouldn't have to try and find him.

"We should go before someone comes," Jeremy stated, herding the group towards the door. The whole town had probably heard the gunshot, and with Annie no longer at the lookout post the sooner they left the better. Nobody wanted to get caught there and have to try and explain the room, the door, or the finger.

They reconvened in the basement once they arrived home. Yet another pack meeting. Annie couldn't remember the last time they had so many of them. The Mutt's scrapbook was on the table and the boys were flipping through it while Elena and Annie sat quietly by the cage. Annie had her back against the wall and her head between her knees, still trying to get the image of Pete's finger out of her head. When Nick pointed out another page of the book where a girl was skinned by the Mutt she didn't have to try too hard to remove the image of Pete's finger. Now a new, even more horrifying image was stuck there. Noticing the nauseated look on Annie's face Jeremy put an end to them going through the scrapbook.

"The rate they're able to drop dead bodies on us they can't be far. Marsten showed up pretty quickly after Nick called him at the bar. So I say we search between here and Syracuse." Elena spoke for the first time since they arrived at the pack house.

"I am not sending anybody blindly out chasing after Marsten and Cain. We need to be strategic about this. I sent word through Logan to Daniel Santos that I'm willing to talk." Annie looked up at Jeremy's last words. Daniel Santos wanted to speak to Jeremy? To come back to Stonehaven? The idea didn't sit well with Annie. He had always given her the creeps.

"Santos doesn't talk as much as lie," Nick laughed humorously at the idea of talking to Santos.

"He wants to trade information he has for reinstatement into the pack." Jeremy announced what seemed to be news to everyone. Annie couldn't help but think how similar that bargain was to the one Marsten had tried to swing. Only Marsten wanted land, not in the pack. It only raised her suspicions more. Santos shouldn't be trusted. Before she could voice any of those thoughts, Jeremy spoke, seeming to pluck them from her head. "And I know he cannot be trusted. But I am at least willing to hear what he has to say."

"The last member of the Santos family that walked through our doors tried to kill you." Clay reminded Jeremy.

"Our backs are up against a wall here. I need something to smoke Marsten and his crew out." At Jeremy's words Elena's anger skyrocketed as she demanded to be allowed to lure the Mutt out. After all, she was the bitch he wanted. Annie knew it wouldn't work. If Jeremy wouldn't let Annie be the bait earlier, he sure as Hell wasn't going to let Elena be the bait this time. If he did, she'd cry hypocrite.

"No, we will find him together." As Annie had expected Jeremy declined Elena's offer to be bait. Apparently Elena hadn't expected that response if her storming out of the room was any indication.

Feeling a sisterly duty Annie followed behind her, though she wasn't quite sure what she was going to say. Maybe venting with Annie about the inequalities of being the only female werewolves in the pack would be enough. In the end not much venting took place as it seemed just when Annie found Elena in the kitchen the sound of a siren came from out front. Sharing a look both Annie and Elena made a run for the front windows. The Sheriff and Deputy as well as a few other cops were outside talking to Clay and Jeremy.

"What's going on?" Annie's question was rhetorical, but Elena still responded. Elena had forgotten about her and Clay's run in with one of the hunters—one who had been on their property when they found the boy—the last time they were in town. He had mentioned that Braxton went to Stonehaven to have it out with Clay and hadn't been seen since. Now it seemed the Sheriff had found Braxton's truck by the Danver's property with blood on the seats. They were looking at Clay as a possible suspect.

"Damn it. This is my fault. I never went looking for Blue and I never went to town to do PR." Annie cursed, shaking her head at her own stupidity. She had been so focused on the emails and helping track the Mutt from the rave.

"You can't be responsible for the whole town Annie. It's not your fault the stupid dog ran away." Nick spoke from behind the girls, startling them both. They had been too focused on what was happening outside they hadn't noticed him approaching.

"He's right Annie, this is Marsten's doing. I know it. He must have heard Braxton running his mouth off in town, nabbed him and then dumped his truck." Elena insisted, pulling Annie away from the window. Annie didn't resist, following Elena to the couch and sitting nearest to Nick perched on the arm.

"And hung it on us." Nick added darkly.

"Not us, on Clay," Elena corrected as Clay and Jeremy entered the room together. That must mean the Sheriff was gone.

"There's a very real possibility that Braxton's body is out there. The Mutt's wouldn't leave him alive to tell the truth." Clay grumbled in reply to Elena's comment. Annie couldn't help but feel sorry for Clay. Clay was someone easy for them to pin it on, that she understood, but it almost seemed personal; pinning Braxton's death on him.

"Which is why we are allowing the police onto our property, and which is why we will help them look." Jeremy declared with authority. "If Braxton is here this is the best chance for us to mitigate the situation when the body is found."

"So why not stall them?" Nick challenged. "Let me rip out there and see what's what."

"Not with Deputy Dipshit keeping watch," Clay responded in a degrading tone that mathed the degrading name he gave the Deputy.

"I could try to distract him," Annie suggested, resulting in all eyes on her. "He thinks I'm pretty," she added somewhat lamely.

"Flirting with the law as a distraction is too risky. If we do anything to draw any more suspicion, the police are going to get a search warrant for this house. And the last thing we need is anybody poking around in here. So we will help them." At those last orders Jeremy left the room to await the search party the Sheriff was to bring back.

"You were really going to flirt with the Deputy?" Nick asked, sending a sideways glance down at Annie.

"Only to help the pack out." Annie shrugged, not seeing what the big deal was.

"I guess it's slightly better than offering yourself up for bait," Nick relented with a smile. His smile disappeared at the sound of multiple cars pulling into their drive. The search party had arrived quicker than anticipated. Knowing Jeremy would want them out front, the group made their way to join him.

"No way!" One of the hunters yelled, pointing at the pack in an accusatory way. "No way!" He repeated, this time looking to the Sheriff.

"The Danvers' family have offered to help with the search," was the Sheriff's response to the hostility from the hunter.

"There is no way that he is going on this search." The hunter continued to refute, pointing directly at Clay that time.

"This town's been through a lot. I'm just trying to help." Clay didn't really help his case by sounding so insincere. He needed to take a few lessons on socializing.

"You want to help. Why don't you help by not making me look at your face?" The hunter retorted, obviously sensing Clay's insincerity. The Sherriff interrupted, sternly telling everyone to stand down. They had a long day ahead of them. Jeremy stepped in, once again playing referee to Clay and the townspeople, claiming he and Clay had some family business they could attend to inside. The Sheriff sent Jeremy a thankful look, knowing too well that he was only trying to help ease the tension.

As soon as Jeremy and Clay were gone, the Sheriff began giving instructions to the crowd, telling them to fan out and march the land in a grid formation. She wanted everyone to keep the person to either side of them in sight. As everyone started walking towards the woods the hunters caught up to Annie, Nick and Elena, claiming they wanted to keep their eyes on them, to make sure they don't tamper with any evidence they might find. Elena retorted she was thinking the same thing about the hunters. Annie only shook her head. No wonder the townspeople mistrusted them. Not only were the whole family loners, but most interactions between the town and the pack were hostile. Granted the hostility was on both ends, but still, it wouldn't hurt to play nice with the town sometimes.

Knowing she should stick close, if only to take Jeremy's role as referee, Annie was about to follow Nick when the Deputy came up beside her. He was asking her if she wanted to join him in the search, spread out the group a little more. A little taken by surprise it took her a moment until she agreed. The last thing the pack needed was for her to seem hostile as well and decline the offer. Before she went off Nick called out to her.

"Here, take this," shrugging out of his jean jacket and draping it over her shoulders. His fingers hesitated for a moment on her shoulders before he moved back. "It's chilly out." Smiling Annie thanked him, knowing just what he was doing. By offering her his jacket, and subtly lingering his touch, Nick was telling the Deputy she was off bounds. Just not in so many words.

"So is that guy family?" The Deputy asked once they had separated from Nick and Elena. "The one who gave you the jacket." Annie knew both Nick and Elena could still hear the conversation because Annie could still hear Nick if she concentrated. She had to be even more diplomatic in her answers with Nick listening in.

"No, he's a good friend of the family's." Annie corrected. The Deputy already knew this, having been there when Nick and Antonio introduced themselves to the Sheriff. He was just prying because this time Nick showed him a glimpse of how close the two were.

"What is he to you?" The Deputy pressed, looking to Annie even though they were supposed to be surveying the area for Braxton. Annie sensed he wasn't the only one looking at her. Nick's head was tilted ever so slightly in her direction. He was definitely listening.

"Our relationship's current status is undetermined." It was the truth. Nick and Annie had never put a definition to what they were doing together; though Annie was fairly certain it was more than just a fling. Anyways, it was the most diplomatic answer she could give, as she didn't want to completely isolate the Deputy when she was currently the only pack member that was still somewhat in his good graces. They could use the law on their side. Annie could see Nick stiffen slightly at her response. Luckily for her Elena's phone rang, distracting Nick.

It was Diane, begging Elena to be a step in for one of her sister's bridesmaids. It turned out one of them was sick and stuck out of the country. When Diane couldn't convince Elena, Phil took over the pleading. Hearing a man's voice over the phone definitely captured Nick's attention. Poor Elena, it seemed yet another pack member would soon be in on her secret.

"What?" Elena asked defensively once she had hung up and caught Nick looking at her.

"Couldn't help but listen," he answered. Elena instantly asked what he had heard. Annie assumed he had heard just about the whole conversation as she had and she was even further away.

"A man's voice. Telling you he loves you. Does Clay know?" Nick asked, even though he thought he knew the answer to that one. "Just Logan, Annie, Jeremy, and now you." At the mention of Annie's name Nick glanced over at her for a moment. Annie knew she would be hearing it from him about why she hadn't told him. Though it wasn't like he would tell her if Clay was seeing someone else and Clay didn't want anyone to know. That was a horrible example. Clay would never see anyone but Elena. Unlike Elena, who claimed she left Stonehaven and moved on.

Conversation stalled at that point, not just between Nick and Elena, but everyone. No one was talking. It was another quarter mile before anyone said a word. Annie heard Elena mention she caught the scent of Braxton and that he was dead, but she couldn't hear Nick's response. That was mainly due to the Deputy drawing her back into conversation, asking how long she would be home for. Her response was noncommittal. Before he could ask anything else Nick's voice carried to them, much louder than when he and Elena were communicating.

"You know, all of this just because your friend wanted to blame us for what's going down around here." His statement didn't track, Nick wasn't the one to fly off the handle at people. That was Clay's MO.

"My friend's missing you son of a bitch," the hunter fumed before throwing a punch which Nick dodged. After that all Hell broke loose as Nick tackled the hunter to the ground. They scuffled a bit, shoving and throwing punches—Nick was obviously not trying too hard. When Nick took a punch to the gut then several punches to the face Annie was certain he hadn't been trying. Nick wouldn't lose a fight to a human if he was trying. As soon as the Sheriff discovered the fight she rushed forward and broke it up, Annie and the Deputy right behind her. While the Sheriff announced the search was over and sent everyone back to their cars, Annie closed the distance between Nick and her to examine his injuries. He was bleeding from his lip and nose, but nothing looked to be broken.

"Nice one hero," the Deputy sneered. Nick was not in the mood to hear anything from the guy who had been blatantly trying to get with Annie. Even though it was clear she and Nick had something going on. Therefore he got immense satisfaction when the Sheriff yelled at the Deputy to 'go on' and Annie stayed to play nurse to his wounds.

"You did that on purpose?" Annie asked once the others were far enough ahead. Nick simply nodded. He didn't have to say why. Between what Elena had said and the smell of death in the air Annie knew it was a distraction to keep the police and everybody else from finding Braxton's body on Stonehaven land. "I figured." Pulling a tissue from her pocket Annie began dabbing at the blood until most of it was gone. "That's the best I can do before we get back to the house," she murmured. Before she could pull her hand away Nick caught it in his.

"Do you really not know where our relationship stands?" He asked, a serious look in his eyes.

"You heard that," Annie sighed. She knew he had, she just hoped it wouldn't come up, at least not until later. "Not to sound cold, but this probably isn't the best time to discuss our relationship. What with cops here searching for a dead body that Elena is currently getting rid of." Annie whispered the last part to ensure it wasn't overheard by any of the search party. "We should get back to the house. We don't want to give anyone a reason to accuse us of tampering with any evidence." Annie added before Nick could say anything else.

Nick was a bit tense when he nodded, leading the way back towards the house. He was angry with her. Annie quickly caught up to him, slipping her hand into his as a sort of apology. It was also a promise that they would talk about them later and that there was still a 'them' to talk about. Noticing the abrasion on his hand from where he punched the hunter, Annie brought their hands up to her lips so she could brush them across Nick's red knuckles. She knew it would heal in a matter of hours, but it was another way for her to assure him that she wasn't refuting their relationship. She just didn't know what to call it yet.

The Deputy turned to glare at Nick when Annie and him returned to the house. His glare only deepened when he noticed Nick's hand entwined with Annie's. Nick simply stared back challengingly while tightening his grip on Annie's hand. Clay took in Nick's injuries, having heard about the fight from the Sheriff. He wanted an explanation. Moving past the Deputy Nick motioned for Clay to follow them in the house. He couldn't explain his actions outside, where everyone could hear.

"She's moving the body," Nick stated once the three of them were inside. Even after being the one to mention there was a good chance Braxton's body was out there, Clay seemed a little surprised. He had clung onto a hope that perhaps the body wasn't on Stonehaven property. As Nick explained how he got his bloody lip, Annie went to retrieve the first aid kit from the kitchen. With superhuman healing powers it was even more important to disinfect the wounds before they closed over and locked an infection inside. While rummaging through the drawer Annie heard Jeremy join the others in the den. He wasn't alone. Daniel Santos was with him. Apparently today had been the date of the meeting. It made Annie hesitant to return to the den.

"Full house," Santos commented, taking in the inhabitants of the room. "Though I was hoping to see Elena as well. I would love to show her how my ear has healed since she took a bite." Turning his head Santos ran his fingers across the tip of his right ear where there was a jagged scar from teeth tearing through it.

"You lunged at her" Clay reminded him gruffly.

"The two of you showed up unannounced in my hotel room. The lights were out. I thought she was the hooker I ordered." Santos' voice was flat and snippy. It was a lie, and not even a good one at that. Worst was it seemed he didn't care if the pack thought it was a lie.

"As if you couldn't smell she was wolf." Nick snapped back, arms folded across his chest and a hostile look in his eye.

"An honest mistake. I see the error of my ways." Daniel responded. Before any more hostile remarks could be shared, Santos' attention was drawn across the room as Annie reluctantly made her way back with the first aid kit. A cruel smile formed as he took her in. "Little Annie, the Princess. It's nice to see you again. I must say, you're not so little anymore. You're all grown up." The look in Santos' eyes made Annie's stomach turn. It was a mix of predatory and yearning. Just like old times only creepier.

"I didn't think I'd see you on Stonehaven property again. In fact, I had almost counted on it." Annie replied coldly. She was staring down Santos in an attempt to show he wasn't effecting her, even though he was.

"Now Annie, let's not be rude." Daniel Santos chided her, like he had a right to talk down to her. As though she was nothing more than a kid that was speaking out of turn, interrupting the grown-ups.

"Right because you're the epitome of polite." Annie couldn't help but snap back, casing Nick to chuckle. Santos hadn't been expecting that, he seemed taken aback for a moment.

Jeremy interrupted the awkwardness, motioning for Santos to have a seat, while Nick mimicked the motion in a blatantly exaggerated and sardonic attempt at being civil. When Nick took a seat on the couch across from Santos, he pulled Annie down beside him, keeping his arm around her shoulders as he glared at Santos. Setting the first aid supplies to the side, Annie decided it would not be the best time to try and disinfect Nick's scrapes. It wasn't best to point out weak spots or injuries when in the company of pack enemies.

"Logan tells me you're interested in realigning with the pack." Jeremy started the conversation after the hostile greetings.

"When my family cleaved from the pack I was just a kid. I followed them, foolishly believing that Malcolm deserved the right to alpha instead of you. Placed myself on the wrong side of history. I want to make things right." Santos, who had leaned forward while talking, reclined back after that, propping his right foot on his left knee and seeming comfortable with his surroundings. If Annie was in his place she wouldn't be so relaxed. At least three of the room's occupants would like nothing better than to kick Santos' ass all the way back to wherever it had crawled out of.

"How so?" Jeremy asked for Santos to clarify, still listening to what he had to say. He was more patient than Annie at that moment.

"I'm here to talk about Karl Marsten. But I think Elena should be here for this as well. And I'd rather not start without her." There was a grumble around the room at that, as Clay's eyes blazed fire. Santos didn't seem bothered by the contempt of the room. In fact, he seemed spurred on by it. "I take it by the possessive arm around Annie, as well as her wearing your jacket, you've laid some sort of claim on her." Santos directed his statement to Nick with raised eyebrows and a slight smirk.

"What do you care Santos?" Nick barked back, tilting his head in challenge.

"Oh, I really don't. It just makes things more…interesting. That's all." Santos' chosen words got under both Nick and Clay's skin, as Clay demanded to know what that meant. Annie had a feeling Santos had no intention of explaining that statement. However, she never got the chance to be proven right or wrong as Elena entered the room. Daniel immediately stood to greet her. "Elena, how lovely to see you." He murmured in a more civilized tone than he had used thus far. It didn't cause any better reaction from Elena.

"Get to the point," She insisted, stopping beside Clay who had been leaning against Jeremy's desk.

"I was promised a fair trade. Information for pack status. I want your protection. It isn't safe out there for a lone wolf anymore." Santos stated after a moment, taking a seat when he finished.

"You're willing to risk retaliation to align with us?" Jeremy asked sounding doubtful.

"Marsten and Cain are building an army. They've turned two psychopathic killers, to counter the one that you have," Gesturing to Clay with his left hand, Santos sent an unsympathetic smile at Clay. "Just being honest," he added when Clay took a threatening step towards him. Annie was happy to see the smile had fallen from Santos' face.

"It isn't your strong suit." Clay grunted, crossing his arms.

"Neither is bringing information, apparently." Nick cut in, looking pointedly at Santos.

"Well, that's what I'm trying to tell you. That everything they're doing, is because of you, Clay." Santos looked directly at Clay, placing the full blame on his shoulders. Suspicious of how Santos had gotten that information, Jeremy asked if he'd been in contact with Marsten. He denied it, claiming to hear his information through the grapevine. It didn't feel right to Annie.

"What I hear is for the two years where Elena was your sidekick and the two of you policed the Mutts, she at least brought some humanity." Santos continued spinning his tale as he continued to look Clay directly in the eyes. "But you, on your own, brutal. Vindictive even. An individual Mutt stands no chance against you. They had no choice but to band together. And they're creating a psycho army to help in the process."

Clay insisted he didn't do anything to Marsten. Nothing to warrant his retaliation. Jeremy silenced him with a wave of his hand, turning his own questions to Santos. Like why they had killed Pete if it was Clay they were against. Of course Santos had another reason ready for that. It was to send Clay on a blind rage.

He then went into a chess analogy with Jeremy being the king, methodically moving one square at a time, Elena being the queen that could move anyway she chose, and Clay being the rook moving in rut of the same zig zag pattern. He started attacking Clay, saying he was impulsive and he made mistakes, looking to Elena to back him up by alluding to when Clay had bit her. He was on a roll, not anticipating and disruption, but that's exactly what he got.

"What about the emails?" Annie spoke up, interrupting Daniel's build up. "If this was all about Clay, why would Marsten and the Mutt's be targeting me as well?" It was a simple guess that Santos knew about the emails. It was also a little trap Annie set. If Santos played it like he knew about the emails as well, it would convince Annie that he was in with Marsten and Cain. You can only hear so much through the Mutt grapevine.

"You might be a pawn Annie." Santos bit out through gritted teeth, annoyed with being interjected. It took Annie a moment to realize he was back to his chess analogy. "But remember, pawns are the only pieces that can be promoted. If they cross to the opponent's side that is." He was baiting her, and making absolutely no sense in the process.

"That's enough," Jeremy stated, just as Nick muttered how Santos was still a slime ball. It seemed the two of them made a little more sense out of Santos' analogy than Annie had.

"Please, understand. What I said comes from good intentions. Those being, reinstatement to the pack." Santos pleaded in a slightly less hostile, more sincere tone.

"We will give that due consideration," Jeremy's answer was not the one Santos had hoped for, his frustration and disappointment showed on his face. "Nicholas, show him out."

Annie followed behind Nick until they reached the door. That's when Nick motioned for her to stay inside. Reluctantly she did as he asked, closing the door after him. From the den she could hear Clay and Elena talking and not fancying going back in and interrupting Annie made her way down the hall to the kitchen. Jeremy was just placing the teakettle on the stove when she slid into a seat at the table. The first aid kit she had left on the couch now sat on the table. Jeremy must have brought it with him.

"What did Santos mean? With the chess thing, calling me a pawn and that thing about promotion." Annie asked once Jeremy had taken the seat across from her.

"In chess, the pawn is often seen as a weaker piece. It can only attack and move in one direction. However, if the pawn reaches the other side of the chess board, the opponent's side, it can be promoted to any other piece." Jeremy explained the rules of the game, or at least the rules pertaining to pawns. Annie had never been a big chess fan. She was more of a checkers girl, less rules to learn.

"So how does Santos' comment relate? I'm more useful on the opponent's side?" Annie demanded, confused as to how the analogy fit for her and wanting to know what Jeremy and Nick had picked up on that she hadn't.

"I think the real comment he was making was to your uniqueness. The pawn is unique in that it can be promoted. It's a special ability that only the pawn has. You are unique in being the only female werewolf to be born. Perhaps he's even hinting that you may have a special ability. There are a million different ways to take the comment." Annie highly doubted she had any special ability. If anything she had less abilities than the other members of the pack. She wasn't as good of a tracker, she wasn't as big, and she didn't heal even half as fast. The only thing she was remotely better at was running. Running fast wasn't exactly a special ability.

"I don't trust him," Annie murmured, "no matter what analogies or information he brings. In fact, the more he brings, the less I trust him."

"I know," Jeremy nodded. "I don't trust him either."

The kettle on the stove interrupted the silence that had settled between them. It started whistling, startling Annie and making her jump in her seat. Jeremy only smiled at her skittishness as he went to remove the kettle from the stove. As he was moving it to the table, Elena arrived in the doorway. She had her duffle with her.

"The body's off the property in a grove, but someone will stumble over it in the next few days. It should buy you enough time to find Marsten." Elena informed him as she stepped into the room.

"What you did may have saved Clay. Probably saved all of us." Jeremy murmured, as he set the kettle on the table before stepping closer to Elena.

"Maybe, for now." Elena answered, taking a breath before continuing. "I have to go to a wedding, for the sister of the man that I love and trust. I used to think that I could trust Clay, but I was wrong." Jeremy looked at odds at those words. Annie knew why. She had been sworn to secrecy by Clay. Elena had needed to trust Jeremy in order to survive.

"Elena I think it's time that I—" Jeremy started to try and tell Elena, but she interrupted him.

"And then you taught me to trust again." It didn't look like Jeremy was going to try anymore. Not that day. Not after Elena had said that. "You're the closest thing I've ever had to a father. I came because you called. I can't say no when you call. So I'm asking you not to." Elena was whispering by the time she ended, looking close to tears. Jeremy simply nodded in acceptance as he watched Elena walk away.

"She'll come back," Annie whispered as she came to stand beside Jeremy, finding herself close to tears. "She can't just leave us forever. Right?" Her voice cracked at the end.

"I don't know Annie." Jeremy replied softly. "I don't know."

A/N I hope everyone enjoyed this update :) More to follow soon. Thanks again to all who reviewed/followed/favorite.

jk: In response to your guest review, thank you so much! To hear that you like my original character means a lot. I am also happy to hear that you are enjoying the fact I am following the story line. I mentioned before that I will take creative liberties with this story so who knows what will happen to Antonio here. Hope you keep reading and enjoying this story!

Rach

xoxo