Just finished reading Stealing Phoenix- so thought I'd include a bit of Phee/Yves in here for you all. Enjoy- and thanks for the great feedback so far! Please let me know what you think of this chapter.

-xx-

I wasn't sure what time it was when I woke up. The hotel room was dark and silent. I frowned, my head throbbing. I rolled over to find myself looking at Zed, his dark eyes filled with worry. He was still dressed, dark rings under his eyes.

'What happened?' I whispered, my voice hoarse.

'How are you feeling?' Zed brushed a loose strand of hair away from my eyes.

'Confused and my head is killing me.'

'Here.' He handed me some aspirin and a glass of water.

'What happened last night?'

'What do you remember?'

'You coming back from the bathroom, I finished my cocktail and then I didn't feel so good.'

'I think someone spiked your drink.' He frowned. 'When I was in the bathroom. Was the bar busy?'

'Not really.' I thought back to the night before. 'There were two girls and a guy there.'

'Well someone must have spiked your drink. Maybe the bartender was in on it. I don't like the sound of this.' He sighed. 'Maybe we should get a flight back today.'

'No.' I replied. 'That'll cost loads.'

'I'd rather keep you safe, Sky.'

'We're leaving early tomorrow. We could just stay at the hotel?'

'Fine. We'll stay, but we're staying in here together where I can keep things under control. I'm so sorry I let you down last night.' He looked mortified and it was breaking my heart.

'You didn't.'

He looked away from me and his shoulders sank. 'Yes, I did.'

Zed hardly spoke the rest of the day. Guilt surrounded him, even when he was looking at the beautiful view out of the window. Even after walking around in a towel once I'd had my shower, he still wouldn't look at me. I felt awful. Later that afternoon, when Zed was showering, my phone rang.

'Hello?' I answered my phone without even checking Caller ID.

'Sky! Oh my god, are you okay?! I am so sorry I haven't called lately! And then Yves was talking to Vick earlier and he filled me in. I'm such a crap friend.' My good friend, and also Yves Benedict's soulfinder, Phoenix (Phee) was on the other end of the line, freaking out.

'I'm fine, it's not your fault. You were meant to be enjoying your stay in Paris with Yves.'

'It's not okay. Something awful could have happened. You've already been through so much.'

'So have you.' I replied, now feeling guilty. We'd had to save her in London from the gang she grew up in; they were using her to get to Yves and things went up in smoke, literally.

'How are you feeling?'

'Confused, upset. What hurts the most is that Zed is blaming himself and has hardly spoken to me all day.' I sighed into the phone. 'I shouldn't be moaning- how is Paris?'

'We flew back this morning. Yves and I wanted to be back for you when you got home.'

I groaned, having ruined Yves' surprise romantic getaway for the two of them.

'We were coming home Tuesday anyway.' Phoenix reassured me. 'The weather forecast is looking shit too... sorry language. Yves just gave me a disapproving look.'

'It's okay.' I laughed.

'But if you do need anything, just let us know? We can come and get you if you need to? And we can tell Zed to stop being an ass and get on with it.'

'We'll be back tomorrow.' I replied. 'Will you be around?'

'Of course. How many times have you been there for me? I owe you.'

'Stay safe, Sky.'

'You too.'

I put my phone into my rucksack and started packing away all of my clothes, including the souvenirs from the last week. Zed came out from the bathroom, looking miserable.

'The guys just gave me a bollocking.' He groaned, holding his head. 'Sorry, I mean they just had a go at me.'

'Oh.' I replied, giving him the cold shoulder he'd been giving me for most of the day.

'I'm sorry.' He whispered, his voice sincere. His eyes looked into my soul and I knew that he meant it. 'It isn't your fault.'

'Damn right it isn't!' I cried, throwing a flip-flop at his head.

He flinched as it hit him. 'I deserved that.'

'I felt bad enough without you making me feel worse. I feel stupid for letting this thing happen in the damn first place.'

'I wasn't mad at you, I was mad at me.' He looked down. 'None of this is your fault.'

'If I wasn't so damn scared I'd be out of that door right now, you hear me?'

'Please don't Sky.'

The tears came out before I could stop them. I tried to suck them back in but they kept on going, my chest convulsing the whole time. Zed tried to put his arm around me but I shrugged him off. I stood up and walked into the bathroom, slamming the door behind me.

'Sky.' He pleaded from the other side of the white wooden door.

'If you're going to shut me out, then I will do the same to you.'

That night Zed slept on the sofa in our hotel room, though I know that both of us hardly slept. I spent hours tossing and turning, and crying; why did I have to be so weak? I was always underestimated because of my height, and now I was proving the fact that I was a wimp. The plane ride back felt longer than it was, sitting in silence. Zed sat beside me, his hand on my leg for most of the way, but he didn't know what to say.

I faked a smile when Saul and Karla dropped me back at the house I shared with Simon and Sally.

'Did you have a lovely time?' Sally grinned, taking the suitcase out of my hands.

'Yes.' I smiled, for most of it.

'You look exhausted.' Simon said, looking concerned.

'I'm just really tired.' I replied. 'I need some rest.'

'Okay sweetie.' Sally didn't question it. She kissed my forehead and let me escape to my bedroom.

I woke up a few hours later- feeling slightly more normal, until I remembered my argument with Zed; did soulfinders argue? We never had argued like this and it scared me. Was it possible to fall out of love with your soulfinder? My stomach churned. There was a knock at my door and then it opened slowly.

'Phee!' I ran to hug one of my best friends, one of the only people who understood how I felt and this crazy savant/soulfinder business.

Phoenix hugged me awkwardly; she'd never been much of a hug person, except when it came to Yves of course. 'Pleased to see me?'

'Yes. I need someone I can talk to who won't go crazy.'

'You're right. I know crazy, I've done crazy. I wouldn't bat an eyelid.' She shrugged, reminding me of her thieving past. 'What's up? Zed still being weird?'

I nodded. 'We had a big argument. Have you ever argued with Yves?'

She laughed. 'All the time. We're both strong characters. You remember the first few days we spent together? There were lots of arguments.'

'Can it stop you being someone's soulfinder?' My eyebrows furrowed with worry.

'No.' She smiled and gently patted my shoulder. 'Is this what this is all about? Sky, Yves and I argued a lot. Sometimes we still do. But in the end, we can't keep away from each other and it hurts too much to be apart. We always make up.'

'I should apologise.'

'You apologise? He was the one in the wrong!' She shook her head. 'Let him come to you! In the meantime, what did you get up to in California? Got any photos?'

I spent the rest of the evening updating Phoenix on the past few weeks; the trip to California, prom, graduation- so many photos to share since she'd been away. In return, she shared her news and photos as well. Then she revealed something I wasn't expecting.

'Yves and I are having a baby!' I'd never seen her look as happy as she did in that moment. Her whole face shone just like the diamond wedding ring on her finger.

'I am SO happy for you!' I replied. 'When is it due?'

'I'm not sure yet, seriously early days. We were going to wait to see what happens.' She smiled. 'I just needed to tell someone! We have our first scan tomorrow and then we're having a party to announce it to everyone. Will you come?'

'Of course.' I replied.

'Hopefully douchebag will apologise by then.' She laughed, making me laugh at her choice of British slang. 'I'm sure he will, Sky. You and Zed always gave me hope with this soulfinder malarkey. You're perfect together and an obvious match. I noticed that from the very beginning.' She looked down at my hand. 'Something you need to tell me?'

'Crap.' I cursed. My promise ring from Zed was still on my wedding ring finger. 'Long story. '

I laid in bed that night, flicking through the photos from our spontaneous break to California. Until that night, everything had been great and we'd had the time of our lives. You could tell just how happy we were from the photographs.

Sky.

Yes?

Open your window please, it's freezing.

I threw on my dressing gown and opened the curtains and my bedroom window.

'What are you doing here so late?' I whispered. Sally and Simon had said goodnight ages ago.

'Can I come in?' His muscular arms were wrapped around his toned and very tanned body. The air was cool for summer.

'Okay.' I stepped out of the way, cautiously, and let him climb into my room. Luckily, he landed quietly on the carpet. I closed the window behind him.

'I haven't slept in nearly forty-eight hours. I needed to make things right.' He sighed and took my hands in his. 'I'm so sorry, Sky. I was a complete dick.'

'A little bit, yeah.' I didn't argue.

'I shouldn't have taken it out on you and I shouldn't have shut you out. We're both stressed and confused and scared, I know that. I'm supposed to hold us together, keep us going, and I let down my guard.' He kissed my right hand. 'I won't ever do that again. It's really hurt me pushing you away, and I know it's hurt you. I spoke to Phee.'

'I thought you'd fall out of love with me or something.' I shrugged. 'I know nothing about how this soulfinder business works.'

'I'm never going to fall out of love with you.' His hand grazed my cheek. 'Believe it or not, you're stuck with me forever. If you'll take me back, of course. I'm sorry I was a jerk.'

'Douchebag.' I corrected him.

'What?'

'That's what Phee called you.' I smiled.

'Oh, right. Well I'm sorry for being a douchebag, jerk or whatever. I promise I won't ever hurt you again.' He kissed my forehead.

'I'll hold you to that.'

'Fine by me.' And he pulled me into his arms where I belonged.