Sorry it's been a while guys- I'm a teacher and I had to grade all of the kids in my class for the last term, so I've had a busy week with lots of good and bad things going down. I now have two weeks off though, so lots more chapters coming your way!

-xx-

When I woke up, I found myself lying across Zed's comfy bed. I looked over and found him sat beside me, squeezing my hand. Then I realised we weren't alone; the rest of the Benedict family, and soulfinders, were stood in the room, looks of concern on their faces.

'How are you feeling?' Karla asked me.

'Okay.' I replied with a shrug.

'You bumped your head, but I think I've sorted that.' Xav said, sliding his arm around Crystal's waist.

'Thanks.' I sat up in the bed, embarrassed to have passed out in front of so many people.

'Don't be embarrassed.' Zed whispered, stroking my hand. I frowned at him for reading my mind when my walls were looking pretty weak.

'So what did I miss?'

'Not much.' Victor shrugged.

'Are you keeping things from me?'

'No, actually he's not.' Phoenix confirmed; after all, we had kept a lot from her back in London when she was in trouble.

I sighed with relief. 'So we know I was tracked down. What now?'

'We just keep watch.' Victor replied. 'They may already be in Wrickenridge or they may have gone back to wherever they came from.'

'They?'

'Zack and his brother. They both escaped prison, so our guess is that they are both involved.' Saul replied, calmly.

'But they could lay low for a while. What about when Sky and I go off to college at the end of August?' Zed was angry, I could tell by the colours surrounding him.

'I've seen trouble in Wrickenridge.' Karla's eyes glazed over. 'I'm sure it will be before the end of summer vacation.'

'So anytime in the next six weeks?'

'Yes.'

'But whenever it happens, we will be here waiting. They won't lay a finger on you.' Victor added, his voice full of confidence. 'We will all stay around here for as long as we can.'

'What about our baby?' Yves placed his hand protectively on Phee's stomach.

'No one will hurt our baby.' Phee smiled at him. 'But we do need to stay and help keep everyone safe.'

'I'm not sure.'

'Yves, I would throw myself in front of Phee to protect her and your baby. No one is going to get hurt because of me.' I replied, finally including myself in the conversation.

Zed's hand tensed beside me.

I looked at him, my gaze steady. 'No one is going to get hurt because of me.'

Zed was pretty quiet that night. Everyone soon headed off to bed, and my boyfriend was staring at the movie on the television without taking in what was happening; his thoughts were elsewhere. I'd had enough of this in Los Angeles, and I sure as well wasn't going to let him cut me out again.

I slipped off to the bathroom and changed out of my party dress, feeling glad I'd worn matching underwear today. My underwear was also from Victoria's Secret; it was sexy, but classy and didn't look like I was trying too hard. A simple black lace bra and lace hot pants. I threw Zed's bathrobe on over the top, quickly tied it up, and tiptoed back to the room, past Will and Victor sleeping on the couches.

Zed was still sat staring at the television screen when I returned to his bedroom.

'You okay?' I asked, casually, letting my blonde ringlets fall loose down my bath-robe-covered back.

No response. I closed his bedroom door and stood next to him, his eyes still burning a hole in the screen. I untied the robe and let it fall to the floor. Nothing.

I walked over and turned off the TV screen. Zed blinked and his eyes looked over my body.

'Sorry, honey, I'm pretty tired and was just going to put my pyjamas on ready for bed.' I smiled, innocently, walking away from him.

I ran my fingers through my hair and looked over my shoulder; he was still watching me- right where I wanted him. I picked up my pyjama top.

'No.' He whispered.

'No what? You seemed pretty busy with the TV there.' I smirked.

'Don't put your pyjamas on.' His voice was still quiet, though this time it sounded coarse.

'Why?' I walked over to him, stopping in front of him.

'Because you look sexy as hell.' He grabbed the back of my legs and pulled me on top of him, so that I was straddling him. His hands brushed against my skin and he passionately kissed my lips.

Mission accomplished.

The next day, we were woken up by a knock on the door.

'Lovebirds, breakfast is nearly ready!' Xav's voice teased from the hallway.

I stretched and tried to get out of bed, only to be pulled back by my naked boyfriend.

'Where do you think you're going, hmmm?' He mumbled against my bare shoulder, before kissing it.

'To tuck it to your mum's delicious breakfast.' I turned around and kissed him lightly on the lips.

'I'd rather tuck into you.' He gently nibbled my bottom lip before kissing it.

There was another knock on the door.

'Guys, it's actually ready this time.' Yves called. 'And Phee is eating for two now, remember?She's got a thing for pancakes at the moment.'

Zed kissed me again, but I soon pulled away when my stomach growled.

'Seriously, I need to eat something. You wore me out last night.' I smiled, kissing his nose.

'Well it's your own fault for walking around dressed like that.' He whispered.

'Well if you don't let me eat, I'll never be wearing something like that again.'

'Fair point.' He kissed my forehead and released me from his arms. 'I'd suggest you put some clothes on, though.'

'Same to you.' I winked at him and got out of bed, aware that he was watching me get dressed.

Breakfast was like feeding time at the zoo; food was flying about, thanks to telepathy, and the seven Benedict sons were wolfing down the food, along with Phee. I was glad I'd got up when I had. Karla dished me out some scrambled eggs and bacon, whilst I grabbed some of her homemade pancakes. Delicious.

'How are you feeling?' Karla asked with a sweet smile. I just hoped that no one had heard what we had been up to the previous night.

'Much better, thank you.' I returned the smile, feeling slightly nervous. 'This looks delicious.'

'It is!' Phee replied with a mouthful. She quickly swallowed when Diamond gave her a look. 'Sorry.'

'I don't think we can blame your manners right now.' Crystal winked at her.

'So, what's the plan for today?' Zed asked, pulling me onto his lap after I'd placed my food down onto the table.

'Well we were thinking of heading out into the white water.' Saul grinned. He loved his watersports, as did his sons. I shuddered at the memory of how awful my first white water rafting experience was.

'But,' Karla added, 'Us ladies aren't very good at our watersports.'

'I know.' Her husband replied, kissing her cheek. 'Which is why I have a plan for you ladies.'

He handed Karla a piece of paper and she squealed with delight.

'What is it?' I asked, swallowing my mouthful of syrup pancakes.

'Saul has treated us to a spa day!' Karla grinned.

'Well, dad and I thought we would treat you ladies.' Yves smiled. 'You all deserve it.'

'You paid for it?' Phee asked her husband with a frown.

He shrugged. 'It's not like you can go out for cocktails is it? Besides, you know how much we have in our savings. It cost less than half of what I earn in a day.'

'Thank you honey, that's very thoughtful.' Karla embraced her second-youngest son with a smile.

'Thank you Yves!' The rest of us chorused, feeling a little excited.

'What time do we need to go?' I asked, looking at my watch.

'As soon as you've finished eating.' Yves replied. 'Just remember to keep in touch.'

An hour later, we arrived at Lakewood Springs Spa Hotel. As I drove my car up the long, gravel driveway, the beautiful white pillared building came into view, as did the flower-filled gardens surrounding it.

'Wow.' We all chorused, mouths wide open.

'Who'd have ever thought I'd be coming to somewhere like this without having to steal anything.' Phee shook her head in disbelief.

I parked the car and we all headed towards reception. We walked through the double doors into a large room with white marble floors and waterfalls on the walls. There was a grand staircase at the back of the room, leading off to more luxuries. Karla checked us all in, whilst we sat on the plush white leather sofas.

'Right girls,' Mrs Benedict smiled, 'we have to head through to the locker room and change into our bathing suits and robes. Then we have some time before our first treatments.'

'Treatments as well?!' Diamond squealed, turning to Phee. 'Wow, your husband is pretty great.'

'He is.' Phee smiled, rubbing her little baby bump.

The locker room contained huge pine lockers, each with their own mirror on the outside. Inside was a huge white fluffy robe and white slippers for each of us, as well as some shower gel, shampoo and an Egyptian cotton towel for the end of the day. I felt like royalty or a celebrity; it was perfect.

'Check us out!' Crystal grinned, tieing her robe over her red strapless bikini.

'This day is going to be awesome!' I smiled, though I couldn't help feeling as if something was going to go wrong.