Last year had started out like any other year. I was in the middle of a bitch fit with my parents, protesting any way I could about what we are. Jordan was missing. We'd just moved house, again. I'd finally graduated from the Academy and wanted a normal life.

It didn't happen.

This year had started out, better. I was happy. I had little to no worries or problems. For the first time in years I wasn't in battle against the people who had created me, I knew my brother wasn't being held captive by a psychotic werewolf alpha and I was able to live a normal life.

It didn't last.

Life is a funny thing. All we can do is live it. Every day is something to be grateful for, no matter how hard it may be because like all things, nothing is permanent. After all, we're all dying - it's just when that varies. Something inside of me was happy to go, but there was more of me wanting to stay. It was harder than I thought it would be, even after talking to Reece. 

I stood beside my sobbing parents, watching Cain, or Darius, whatever the hell his name actually is, try to bring me back. Jordan sat on the ground in defeat, bloodied and beaten with his head resting on his knees with his arms covering his head. Alfie was being held back by Vaaron and Paytah. I couldn't hear what they were saying, it was like I was underwater and could barely make out the hum of their words. He wanted to try and fix me, and they wouldn't let him.

Then there was Logan. My Logan. The Logan I spent more time hating than loving. The Logan that waited practically a year for me to give him a chance. He made me want to be someone worthy of being loved by him. For all his flaws, I had more and he didn't care - he still waited for me, still loved me.

Darius was chanting, his hands glowing with golden light and taking a step closer, I could feel the pull to him. That wasn't all I could feel though. The light was here now; still calling to me. All around, shimmering silver figures stood up. The paddock was alive with the dead, all granted access to whatever it was that waited through the portal. Some tried talking to the living, confused or trying to pass on their messages that it was okay. Others found one another, lovers and friends reunited to take the next step in their journey, together.

No one fought to stop them from leaving.

I was no more important than anyone else of my kind, yet here I had a group of people who thought otherwise. Logan would hurt for a while, but I'm positive he'd end up meeting someone new, a nice, tolerable Tracker and he'd find happiness. My parents would grieve and keep going, just like Jordan. This was the life we were destined to live. The fact we all had so much time together was impressive. I could try and justify any way I wanted, but I knew it was all bullshit. Reece had been right, why was I even thinking about it?

I don't want Logan to move on because I'd died. No, if that was going to happen it would be because we had broken up and hate each other - like normal exes. I don't want my parents ridden with the guilt so many others had because their kid died before them. I don't want Jordan to live with my ghost, always questioning what he could have done better or for Zane to blame himself for not being strong enough to stop it.

I bent down in front of Darius, looking at him closely. He had a lot of explaining to do and that alone was worth going back for. All of this, was technically his fault and considering how quickly he ended it, what took him so long?

He was going to wish he had just let me die and I closed my eyes, no longer refusing to obey the command of his magic I felt myself being pulled back into my body. It wasn’t Darius that was wishing he’d left me to die; it was me. Everything hurt so much I was positive something else had happened and I was now going to hell. Good bye warm and fuzzy feelings, hello pain and torture.

Through the sheer agony that had me fighting for release, I felt something on my arm, no my hand. Trying to anchor myself, and hoping it would help ease the cramping tension that had control of every fibre of my being I held onto it.

"Her hand. She grabbed me!" Logan yells.

"What?" Mum gasps. "Elise, oh sweet heart, can you hear me?"

You'd have to be deaf not to.

The cramping stops and the aching evens out as the coldness sinks in. 

"Give her some space. She will be disorientated and sensitive to light as well as sound." Darius tells them. No shit.

"Bunny, if you can hear me, can you squeeze my hand again?" Logan whispers; though it's loud enough.

I oblige.

A shiver runs through me as I'm semi lifted. My lower body feels like it's made of lead, and I focus on trying to move my feet with no luck. It doesn't matter though, because in that moment, I feel safe. Tingling, short, sharp stabs of pain that feel like my conscious is literally reconnecting to my brain again and each breath feels like it's for the first time. My whole insides feel fresh, yet bitter, like drinking orange juice after brushing your teeth. It's bizarre, and finally I open my eyes.

Logan is holding me, his body smothering me with warmth as piece by piece, nerves start to wake up. I can move my feet, my legs, and my arms; which I wrap around him. It hurts, but I do it. My parents swarm us, until Alfie pushes them all out of the way and puts himself between me and the world.

"Don't!" Darius commands, making him stop. "She has to heal on her own."

I look up at Aflie as he turns to look at me, his frown clear and looking down, I scream. It's not pretty. That Warlock had cut me up good and now the semi-healed gaping hole in my stomach acts as a reminder of how close I had really come to the end. Yet the more I stare at it, it's glowing just like Darius's hands.

"I can fix that, but the rest will take time. Months even. If he tries to do anything to you, or anyone else, you have to stop it. I'm different to other supernatural, our magic will mix and end up doing more harm than good." He lectures, I fade in and out of darkness, but get the general idea.

No magical medicine.

No Alfie spit, and definitely no Alfie blood.

I gag from the thought.

"Can, can I take aspirin?" Or Morphine.

 "Yes, human remedies will help ease your suffering." He nods.

I lean against Alfie, unable to stay upright while my parents are now sobbing with relief not fear and Jordan climbs over Alfie's body to sit beside me.

"You're okay?"

I don't dare look down again as Darius, I mean Cain's, magic does its thing. "Yeah."

V is now standing by Logan, the pair of them wearing identical masks of worry. I'm in no position to start a fight, but looking at Cain, I glare at him. He picks up on it instantly and shakes his head, the message clear; not now.

“Come on, let’s go.” Cain orders.

Paytah watches him closely, standing quietly with another of his kind as everyone finds it in themselves to start walking. With Alfie’s careful assistance, as well as the help from V, Jordan and Logan, I got up. Walking, wasn’t as easy as I remember it being and without a word Paytah moves swiftly to take over the situation. His arm is behind my back, while another lifts my knees and scoops me up with a surprisingly gentle touch. I can’t force my arms to bend around his neck, so I’m cradled against the bulk of his torso trusting him to hold me.

Talk about damsel in distress.

“You’ve been waiting for this haven’t you?” I tease, feeling as in control of the situation as a baby facing off against a lion.

Logan has the courage to look amused as he walks beside us; limping.

Paytah growls, though I think it’s supposed to be intended as a laugh. “It is unusual to see you so, submissive. I like it. Had your mate been killed in battle, I would offer to be your companion. I would ensure you were always fed and never let you witness such war again. We will be in my realm, safe and each night I would-”

“And that’s enough!” Logan interrupts, much louder than necessary causing everyone to look in our direction at the back of the pack.

V laughs and we keep going.

“I apologise. I offended your mate.” Paytah whispers, looking at Logan cautiously.

Before I can answer, we stop and looking around, our group has caught up with the bulk of the other survivors. I nudge Paytah’s arm and he turns, letting me look over the space. Like the young witch had been doing earlier, trolls now walked with them, collecting the bodies as clean up began. Everyone climbed over the fence and no one spoke as we neared the oval.

I was struggling to keep my eyes open, sleep called while my body still repaired itself and the ache I was left dealing with seemed to weaken as I let my eyes stay shut.

“Drink.” A croaky old voice demanded, and I must have passed out as we were now in a line inside the gym.

Paytah barely disturbed me as he accepted the cup and raised it to his lips. Seeing me awake, he smiled. “Sleep little one.”

I caught sight of the cauldron, of my parents sticking close to us and the fae handing out the small plastic cups of water before I did as he said.

“Go, dawn will be here soon and they I will have to leave.” V has his, listen to me, voice on and this time when I look around, I’m in one of the bedrooms of the Academy. “Hello darling girl.”

“What’s going on?”

“Turns out your parents’ house is unfit for residency, but don’t worry, we got your pet out and have been put in rooms here.” He still looks worried.

“Where is everyone else?”

“Well, some of those light fae creatures made up a brew for everyone to help with the healing. We need it now more than ever as anyone else with ambition could come along and you’d all be too exhausted to stop them. Your parents are now asleep. Your brother and Christopher were getting their once over by the doctor last I saw them. I just sent your Tracker to shower, see the doctor and I believe he was going to be seeing about getting a second helping of the fairy juice.”

V got up and went to the desk in the corner. When he came back to me, he had a bottle of water and motioning for my hand, he dropped two tiny white pills on it. “Aspirin. It’s all you’re allowed to take. It might help?”

I don’t argue.

“Cain, what about him?” I ask once I was done.

He doesn’t answer. “Should we take off your boots?”

“Where is he?” I groan, struggling to sit up.

Like an over caring parent, V squats beside the bed and unties the shoelaces. Dirt, blood and who knows what else covers the black leather. He drops them straight into the bin by the desk.

“V, come on.” I go to slip off the jumper, but stop as not a single part of me appreciates that movement.

“He vanished. He was there, and pointed us in the direction of the gym and then he was gone.” He sighed. “May I?”

I nod, and he leans over me, taking the base of the shirt and tears upwards. It all slides off with ease, like a cardigan that had been put on backwards. The bloody hole and the weeping, healing mess of my abdomen is now red flesh, more like a burn than a stab wound. I don’t care right now if he sees me in my sports bra, my bikini shows more, and it feels good to have it all taken off.

“He isn’t a vampire.” V tells me.

“No. He does a good job of pretending though.” I agree.

Instantly V has more water for me and I take it greedily.

“I don’t know even where to start in trying to process everything.” Without meaning to, I start to cry.

“Then don’t, not yet.” He says softly, sitting beside me, he is careful in how he hugs me against his side.

That’s how Logan finds us when he returns, and V leaves without a word to go down to the basement levels where the sun won’t be able to hurt him. Logan doesn’t ask why I’m crying, he doesn’t say anything; just holds me until I’m done.

“What happened to your neck?” I finally break the silence.

“Broke it.” My mouth drops, and I lean in closer to see the bruising that has already started to fade. “My landing from Drac’s little display was less than graceful. I think he may have done it on purpose actually, I had no control over myself and yeah.” He makes a crack sound and bends his head to the side.

“But, you’re okay?” I need to hear him say yes.

Guilt tore me up inside. While I was carrying on with Drac and then at home with Alfie; healing, Logan was out there dying. I just assumed he’d been kept away so he’d run off to join the others.

“Yes Bunny, I’m okay.” He hesitates, “I think I died. I’m not sure. I remember about two seconds of landing and a flicker of pain, before Cain is there, snapping his fingers in my face telling me to wake up.”

“What?” Now I really was speechless.

“I’m pretty sure he isn’t just a vampire.” Logan blows the whole thing off like it’s not a big deal at all.

He saved Logan.

He saved me.

I owed him in such a way I doubt I could ever actually repay him and thoughts of giving him a beating disappeared. Instead I launched myself Logan, making myself scream out in pain as quick upper body movement wasn’t possible right now. I didn’t care, I just held him as tight as I could for as long as I could. What if Cain hadn’t helped him?

He’d be dead and I’d be; I don’t know what I’d be like if I lost him.

Stuck on that thought, I’m vaguely aware of his arm going around my back before it feels like I’m being hit by lightning. He got us to stand, giving me a second to catch my breath. All thoughts leave me as he picks me up, not as easily as Paytah, but no one could move anything like the werewolf can.

He sets me down on cold tiles and I catch sight of myself in the bathroom mirror. It’s not pretty. From where I’ve been crying, tiny stripes cover my cheeks and the blue shade of my eyes is greyer; not that it matters with how bloodshot they are. Dirt, mud, vampire ashes and monster goo has my hair looking like I’d use rotting hairspray to hold it together, with my ponytail stiff with the dried blood and stuff.

Scratches I don’t even remember getting are all over my neck and arms, and when Logan finishes undressing me to get in the shower, I know where each one of them are as the warm water feels like get salt in the wound. Even so, Logan is slow, careful and gentle as he makes me resemble a human again, but he can’t wash away everything. I can’t even have any of that fairy water stuff to help get rid of my injuries quicker, or that crap they have at the hospital. I’m as mortal as mortal can be. That also means the nastier ones will probably leave scars and I have no idea what that means for my stomach either.

Logan finds a stool, letting me sit while he washes my hair. There isn’t anything to enjoy in this; I hope we never shower together like this again and my skin is wrinkled by the time he wraps me up in the towel. His kindness makes me start crying all over again, and the reality of the night must hit him too. As we stand there in the bathroom with him holding me, I feel his breathing change, and looking up, his eyes are brimming with unshed tears.

“Come on, we can’t stand here all day.” Logan sighed heavily, dutifully helping me dress with the clothes he had bought in when he returned. I would have loved to have argued that we could, but I was getting cold and my legs hurt.

“Logan?” I ask softly, my voice sounding as weak as I felt.

“Yeah?”

I just hold onto him again, until he carefully guides me back to bed and once I’m comfortable, he climbs in around me.

“I thought I’d lost you again.” He whispers against my hair, causing a memory to flood my mind. The white room, Alistair and Reece enter my mind like a hazy old movie. Reece told me I wouldn’t remember, but I did.

All of it.

“It will take more than that to get rid of me.” I lie, not willing to tell him how close of a reality that had been. He smiles and his thumb rubs little circles around and around on the top of my hand. “I’m so tired.”

“Then go to sleep Bunny, you’re safe now.” 

I believed him.

                                                                -x-

We slept all day. Well I did, only waking late in the afternoon when Logan got up, but even then I didn’t move. I felt like I’d been hit by a bus. Then that bus reversed over me to do it again and for laughs, kept going until I was nothing more than a broken squished frog. That part could have been a dream, but either way, admitting I was awake and letting that pain register in my mind was a bad idea.

V always said we take the little things for granted. Sunshine, or just watching the sun rise; having quicker healing abilities than normal people and a giant snake demon that usually fixed me up within hours. If this is how civilians felt after accidents, I’m surprised they don’t just sit at home in bubble wrap. I’d hurt before, but this was different. I’d worked out too hard, felt stiff and drained. Been beaten to a pulp, but had a nap and bounced back. Nearly died, been stabbed and even drained of nearly all my blood; no biggie.

Logan had gone, I heard him a while ago. He’d told me he would be back soon, but I actually had no idea how long that had been. Five minutes, ten, an hour?

Every breath felt like I was dying all over again. Attempting to stand had me screaming out in agony, which set Alfie off as he tried to help me as best he could, mumbling over and over that he mustn’t help Elise. I tried to keep it together for his sake and with the use of his tail like a crutch, before he gave up and lifted me with more care a snake should be able to possess. After going to the toilet, I found a new toothbrush and even my gums felt bruised as I tried to freshen up. I wasn’t willing to give showering a go and a ninety year old with arthritis could move easier than I could as I shuffled my way back into the bedroom.

I didn’t even care that Huntington was sitting on the end of the bed as I entered.

“Portia.” I greeted in one breath.

“Ms Huntington, Elise.” She corrected. “Can I help?”

I held my hand up, signalling I was fine, to then nearly fall over. Thankfully Alfie was there and leaning against him I took a break.

“You’re looking…” Her voice trailed off and daring to look at her, that frown said enough.

“Like shit?”

“I was going to say, sore.” I managed a nod. “I wish there was something I could do for you.”

She gets up, straightening out her pink skirt, before adjusting her suit jacket. She was in full Huntington form now, with her crisp white blouse and pearl necklace, she looked the part of strict blue-blood grandmother with all the regal charm of royalty. Her grey hair had been styled into the usual curled bob, yet her eyes were void of anything resembling human; just black endless orbs. It got my attention.

“Your battle is not with Cain.”

“He has some explaining to do!” I found it in me to argue.

“Explaining, yes, I believe that is fair. Do not fight him, you will not win.” It sounds like a warning.

"Where is he?"

"Around. His power, is it not unlimited. Last night took its toll on him as much as it did on you. You know what he did for Logan?" I nod. "What he did for the pair of you was beyond his means. Sending the Warlocks back to where they belong was trying enough. For too long he remained dormant. He had he exercised his power a little more, it would not have ruined him like this."

"You know him, obviously. He was only a few miles away at the bar for all these years."

"I do. I have known him since I was a girl, younger than you." She smiles, clearly remembering something she doesn't want to share. "It was a different time. A different world. He was a different person."

"Cain didn't look Darius did he?" I ask.

"No and even the man I first met looked nothing like Cain. It has been too long since I have seen who he really is." She speaks like a lovestruck teen and I want to know more. I want to know all of it, but I know I never will.

Her eyes turned back to normal and she smiled in that way that made me wish she could be my Grandmother. Really, she was the closest thing I had to one. “Logan and Zane won’t remember who I am, or what I possess.”

“Why? What about me?”

“You are being trusted to keep your silence.”

The door opens and Logan comes in with Jordan.

“Should you be up?” My brother scolds, instantly starting to try and usher me back to bed.

“Back it off Jord.” I didn’t want to move.

With Alfie supporting most of my weight, I’d found a position that worked.

“I got some pain killers, did you want them?” He held up the box.

“I’ll see you later Elise. There will be a gathering in the gymnasium building at seven. I understand if you don’t attend.” Huntington smiled at Jordan and Logan before leaving.

After I’d been given the pain killers, water and a basic cheese sandwich, Jordan went to find our parents to see if they were up yet. If they were anything like Logan and Jordan, I was positive they’d be fine; especially since Alfie had ‘fixed’ them as well as the cup of fairy water they’d been given earlier.

“Did you want to go?” Logan was busy giving Alfie attention while I focused on not throwing up the sandwich.

“Yeah. Wanna get me naked so I can take a shower?”

“I always want to get you naked!” He smirked, disappearing into the bathroom to get the shower on before he and Alfie helped me.

Mum and Dad came just as Logan helped me slide my feet into a pair of ballet flats. I was dressed for comfort with soft leggings and an oversized t-shirt, so when Mum commented that I looked like I’d shrunk in size, I blamed my all black ensemble on it.

My stomach was still red, and peeling like sunburn, but at least it was turning out to be semi-normal again. I’d been worried I’d be left with a hole of sunken muscles, but everything was healing well enough. They also had a wheel chair with them, which helped my invalid status and wheeling me through the corridors, I ended up in front of a doctor.

He did scans, and an x-ray, and thanks to the fae he now had on staff, the processing took barely a couple of minutes. While he prattled on in doctor’s talk, I looked around the curtain to find the ward of twenty completely occupied. Strange. I expected it to much more chaotic than this.

“Two broken ribs that should be further along than what they are, and one of your lungs is showing signs of puncture. It’s strange it’s not affecting you more. I can give you a shot-“

“No!” My posse all said at the same time, startling me and the doctor.

“No?” He asked.

“She had a witch do something to her, and we were told that if any other kind of magic were to be used, it would react badly. Because this saved her life, she has to heal naturally.” Mum explained.

Everyone discussed this with the doctor, who was completely enthralled at the short and inaccurate retelling of what Cain did. I half fell asleep, until Alfie and Jordan woke me up enough to stand. The doctor did a once over of my abdomen, apologising every time he poked an overly sensitive spot, which was really, everywhere and since he couldn’t boost my healing, he treated me like he would anyone not one of us.

For the most part, whatever Cain did to heal me, focused more on what the Warlock did. My organs seemed to be immune to the injuries around them thanks to that magic, and while the healing was slow, it was happening. One of my ankles was strapped, the wrist Dracula broke was put into an elasticated brace for support and rather than doing the same for my chest, he said it was better for my lungs if it was left to its own devices; though he did give me breathing exercises to make sure everything kept working as it should.

He gave me an injection of morphine to help take the edge of my pain and told me to ice my body when I can to help reduce to the swelling. Apparently I was lucky to be alive.

The doctor had no idea.

“I know you don’t have an appetite, but try to eat. You’re not dehydrated, and your vitals are all doing okay. I would say it should only take a week or two to heal up, but if you’re body isn’t responding like it normally would and with no additional help, you could be looking at a month, maybe two if you don’t rest.” He lectured.

“We’ll make sure she does.” Mum told him.

We left and started towards the gymnasium. The people we passed had minor bruising, a few had cuts that had started to scab over, but the most part, the survivors were nearly back to normal.

“Are you sure you want to come?” Dad asked, the volume of the chatter from inside the room spilling out into the corridor.

“Yeah, it’s fine.” I smiled, squeezing his hand where it rested on my shoulder.

V and Paytah came over as soon as we went inside and finding us a place to sit, well for everyone else to sit since I bought my own chair, we were against the back wall. Everyone was sullen, yet the joy at still being alive was hard to miss. A few had their arms in slings, others used crutches and some were in wheel chairs too. The supernatural help we had grouped together, and for now, there was total unity amongst all of us.

I had never seen an assembly like this before and from the opposite end of the room, Huntington stood up at the podium and got all of our attention.

“Good evening all. I have no words that will even begin to express my joy at seeing you here this evening. May we start with a minute of silence, to remember all of those who are not as fortunate.” An eerie feeling took over the once bustling room, a few shattered the quiet with lengthy sobs and the occasional cough. Logan gripped my hand and all around me, my friends leant on each other for comfort.

“Thank you. It is with a heavy heart and much regret that I am first to inform you that our President, Ronaldo Vinci is no longer with us.”

The crowd broke into a murmur of shocked whispers, and I covered my mouth to stop myself from doing the same as my eyes ached with fresh, hot tears. Ron had died?

Huntington gave us a moment to process the news and after looking around the rows of people, I knew Julios wasn’t here. Had he died too?

“The Council suffered great losses on all accounts,” She began to read out names of Council members, most of which had missed out on last night due to Drac and his minions taking them out in the last few months. “In light of these events, the remaining members were to vote on their representation until such a time as the Council can be gathered and a suitable, permanent replacement can be found. It is the first time in over a hundred years, an act of this nature has ever occurred, and hopefully it will never be repeated. I welcome our Acting President to the stand, Ailin.”

The Kasha demon stepped up from the front row. Turning to the crowd she bowed and the silence was deafening. The Kasha’s place on the Council wasn’t hidden, and Ailin had been around for ever. For someone not of the Hunters, Trackers or Slayers to take the place of our President was unbelievable. I nudged Logan and he helped me to stand, confused as to what I was doing.

Everyone looked at one another, no one seemed to know whether or not they liked this change in leadership and Ailin kept her head held high, not affected by their reaction. I guess she and the Council would be expecting it.

I clapped.

The sound echoed through the building nearly everyone turned to look at me. A few cringed as they saw the state I was in, but mostly a murmur of support went through the crowd. Ailin met my gaze and smiled, nodding her head slightly and my family stood and clapped too. Then the vampires, the werewolves and the shifters that knew me. I saw Oz and he smiled, I returned it until I thought about receiving one of his crushing bear hugs right now and focused back on Ailin. Her place as our leader showed a sign of huge trust and change. The Council were smart, and in the chaos that this fight left us with, it was a step in the direction of total unity amongst all factions.

Finally everyone joined in, and after another minute, we all stopped.

“Thank you, all of you. I know I may not be what you were expecting. Ron,” she looked over at me and smiled, “was a dear, dear friend of mine, long before he stepped into the role of President! What defines us, is how we rise after falling and I will do all I can to ensure Ronaldo as well as all our warriors, are remembered for the sacrifice to keep the Treaty and it's values in place!”

I must have fallen asleep, as the sound of everyone clapping their approval on their own accord woke me up as she stepped down. I tried to focus, I just didn’t have it in me to do it, especially when Huntington kept talking about current arrangements at the Academy, thanked a few people and I don’t remember much after that, at least until we hit the cafeteria. A roast dinner was put down in front of me. It was weird just to sit there, eating dinner, after last night. Looking at everyone around me, there was a mixture of relief, sadness and guilt. When others died and you survive, there is always guilt. It’s human nature.

I ate, forced it all to stay in my stomach and while everyone reminisced about Ron, I didn't just think about him. I thought about all of them. I thought about the Van Helsings too, they hadn't turned up to the meeting. The feelings of loss, grief, anger, everything - it all swirled around my mind like storm clouds on the horizon, promising to unleash its fury on me as it crept closer. It had been easier last time to just walk away. Forget it all.

Looking at Chris, he smiled, nodded and talked when appropriate, but I could see he wasn't actually there. He must have felt me looking at him and as our eyes met, I knew he was thinking of Jodie. Zane's half sister, and his girlfriend didn't make it last year. Her name joined the others who had died fighting to close the portal. He half smiled, his eyes dull and bloodshot. That fairy water couldn't heal everything.

"Elise, don't beat yourself up." Jordan whispered at me, and looking at him, it was like he could read my mind. "None of this, is your fault.You can't blame yourself."

All of this had been in motion for a long time, and he was right. It wasn't my fault, but I was here when others weren't.

"I know." I finished eating my dinner as that alone would soothe his worries over me.

I was pushed back to my room by Logan with Alfie. I’d just got into bed when there was a knock on the door and the small room was suddenly packed with Ailin entering. It wasn’t just her though, Zane too.

“Oh Zane!” I sat up, still feeling a little better thanks to the morphine and got up to hug him.

“Hey sunshine.” He assessed me as I moved, so when he did hold me, his arms missed the worst areas. “Big night huh?”

For Zane, I could try and appear better than what I was, but I blame the pain meds because I couldn’t stop myself from crying all over again. Two thousand and twelve, year of the emotional wreck.

“I’m so glad you’re okay!” I sobbed against his shirt.

“Feelings mutual.” He soothed.

Everyone emptied out and I filled Zane in on what happened after I got Alfie to take him away. When I was done he was quiet for a long time, and I hadn’t held anything back. Not even about my little trip back to the white room or chat with Reece.

“I was meant to tell you something kid, I harassed two nurses when I got out of surgery and nearly tore my stitches trying to get something to write it down.” Zane sighed.

“Yeah?”

“I don’t remember what it was.” He frowned, causing wrinkles to appear around his eyes. He looked tired and old. I didn’t tell him that though.

“If it’s important, I’m sure you will.” I smiled, “I can try and get Alfie to check it out. He can do his little mind thing?”

“Maybe, just not tonight. You look like you’re about to pass out.”

“So do you!” He nods, not disagreeing with me. “What a pair we make.”

“Unlike you, I can go see the good doctor for something to fix me up a bit quicker.” Zane teases.

“Rub it in, jerk.”

We hug and he leaves. Logan must have been waiting outside the door as I’ve barely laid down when he is back.

“You okay?”

“Yeah, you?”

“Yeah. Did you want some time to yourself?” He hesitates by the door. “I don’t want to crowd you.”

“Stay with me?” I offer.

He’s there in an instant, slipping off his shoes and taking off his shirt. Curling up against him, his skin is warm and feeling his arms around me, all the bad stuff just goes away; at least for now.

“Logan?”

“Yeah?” He answers, already half asleep.

“I love you.”

“I love you too Bunny.” Logan’s chest expands before he lets out a deep sigh and the pressure of his lips is briefly on my forehead. “Now go to sleep.”

I do what he says with no arguments.

-      __________

Ok so… this was a bit of a filler chapter. Getting to the final countdown now! :)