Zoe gave Teddy little reaction besides the reflexive, slight narrow of her eyes that vanished quickly and the tension that took hold of her shoulders. She didn't want to admit that Teddy's sudden sent a surge of hormones, emotional and sexual, though her entire body. Her breath quicken, though, giving away the affect of his words. It was the first thing he had said to her, face to face, in three months. How could she not be a little flustered by it?

"You shouldn't be here," Zoe said, trying to bury the butterflies in her stomach with some artificial anger.

Zoe could tell by the look in Teddy's eyes that he wasn't listening to her, which was only verified when he opened his mouth and whispered, "can I kiss you?"

The butterflies anxiously rattled in Zoe's stomach but she ignored them as she gawked at Teddy in shock. Was that why he was here? To beg for her? As if he hadn't been doing that enough by blowing up her phone? Did he come all the way to Los Angeles just to harass her into being with him? Had he gone crazy? Did he really think walking into the belly of the beast would make her throw herself into Teddy's arms again? Because this sure as hell was the absolute last place Zoe ever wanted to see him.

The idea made Zoe fill with so much rage that she decided to slam her door shut and completely ignore all the happy fluttering happening inside her and warming her cheeks. Teddy was too quick though, and grabbed the door and the doorframe with a strong, unmoving grip. He even wedged his foot against the door to anchor his strength and his weight because nothing was going to get in the way of him and the love of his life.

"No! I'm sorry!" Teddy blurted as he caught the door. Zoe still hid partially behind the door,kept her eyes down, held a tight frown on her delicate face. "I'm sorry, Zo. I just got excited. I won't do it again."

Teddy mentally cursed himself and his stupid mouth. He wasn't thinking about anything besides how much fun it was to have her by his side everyday and how amazing it felt to finally have her in his arms. He got too caught up in his feelings and it was pushing her away. He just missed her so much he didn't know how to handle this sudden reunion. After months of being apart, he still wasn't prepared for this.

"I asked you why you're here," Zoe quietly reminded. Neither of them moved, stuck in a stalemate with Teddy's body wedged in the door and Zoe pressing against it.

"This is my job. I had to show up to work at some point." Teddy joked, hoping it would lighten the mood.

It didn't. It only reminded Zoe that Teddy was under her mother's command. He had to march in line with all of the other robots, whether either of them liked it. The reminder only made Zoe push on the door harder and grunt with frustration when it didn't move. Maybe he really had been working out in the last few months. She could've sworn she wasn't this weak against him when they were wrestling.

"Please, Zoe!" Teddy begged with strained muscles. She really was pushing with all her might, which meant she must really hate the fact that he was here right now. "Zo, just talk to me! You can't shut me out forever!"

Zoe let go of the door and stepped away from it with a defeated sob. Teddy held on to the door and gently heaved as he watched Zoe drop her head into her hands. Her damp, golden locks fell in front of her face, blocking his view of her, but he could tell she was crying by the broken sobs that she was trying to hide and the shake of her shoulders. He didn't move, too afraid that she would feel cornered since he was already in her house against her wishes.

"Zoe, please... You know I hate seeing you cry." Teddy's voice was soft and desperate, just like the cold heart in his chest.

"So does my mother." Zoe wiped away her tears with her arms but they kept falling. "I can't seem to shut her out either. I can't cry, I can't escape, I can't-"

"Zoe, I'm not-"

"Don't interrupt me!" Zoe yelled as she whipped around to glare at Teddy through eyes looked with hot tears. She was shaking like it was below freezing, she could feel it, and Teddy could see it. It made him worry. "Don't be her, Teddy. I can handle anything, but I can't handle two of her."

Teddy slowly put his hands up beside his head and slowly took a single step into her room, shut the door behind him with his foot, and lowered himself to his knees. He never let his eyes stray from Zoe's as he moved. He wanted her to be able to read the sincerity and the intention behind his actions.he wanted her to know that he was submitting to her, surrendering himself to her, so she felt more in control of the situation he forced on her.

"I'm not her, Zo. I could never be a quarter of what that woman is and I am truly sorry if I have ever made you think I was. I only ever tried to protect you and take care of you," Teddy explained in a soft and calm manner.

"She says the same thing everyday," Zoe argued with stubborn defiance.

"We don't mean the same thing when we say it. She wants you to be her show pony, I just want you to love me..."

Teddy's words rattled Zoe's insides all over again. Now he was talking about love, as if her brain was full of enough shit already. It was all too overwhelming. The tears wouldn't stop, the shaking wouldn't stop, her mind just wouldn't stop. There was too much to think about—too much to process—and too many demons in her head that were stopping her from thinking for herself. Without Teddy here, she could try to act like he didn't exist and push through everyday like a normal person.

But now Teddy was here and she was being confronted with everything that she had pushed away for the past three months.

"Okay, okay, okay..." Zoe heavily panted as she ran her hands through her hair. She was nearly hyperventilating but trying to function despite it. "Please, please, please, Teddy... Please tell me you are not here for me. Please tell me you did not throw yourself into Hell just for me. Please Teddy, I can't handle that."

A charming smirk pulled at the corner of Teddy's lips but there was still a glint of sadness in his eyes. "You really can't stand the sight of me that much? You really do hate me?"

"Of course not, you idiot!" Zoe stomped up to Teddy and slapped his shoulder, doing it again and then giving him a frustrated push when tears filled her eyes again. Teddy didn't move from the place on his knees as he stared hopefully up at Zoe. "It's because I still love you that I don't want to see you! Is that what you wanted to hear? That I still love you? Are you happy now?"

"In three whole months, Zoe-" Teddy placed his hands on Zoe's hips, resisting the urge to pull her against him and never let go. "Nothing has made me happier. And I'm sorry for being that selfish, but it's the truth and I won't lie to you."

"You're not suppose to be here, Teddy. You're suppose to be in Ohio. That's where you belong. You shouldn't be here because bad things happen here and I don't want them to happen to you. I don't want you to be bad. You being here only pushes you toward the bad side in my head. And I should hate you for being here. I do hate you for being here. But then you say you love me and you miss me and it's so confusing because I don't know what's real or fake, good or bad..." Zoe's voice broke but she swallowed her sobs the best she could. "My head is swirling and I was doing so good not thinking about it when you weren't here."

"I know, I know. This isn't easy for you, Zoe. I'm sorry. I really am."

Teddy couldn't help himself any longer. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her into him, resting his head on her stomach and nuzzling against her. Zoe kept her hands on Teddy's shoulders and fought every sob that tried to escape, though her tears were harder to contain. Teddy could still feel a few hiccups and sobs erupt through Zoe but he didn't acknowledge them, only held her tighter.

Nothing felt better than having Zoe with him again, Teddy had to admit. Her sobs and her tears pained him like nothing had since she left, but a small part of him was jumping with joy at the feeling of Zoe in his arms. He could feel her skin, he could smell her familiar scent, could soak in her warmth. For months, Teddy was deprived of the one human being he needed, so he was happily taking in every ounce of her that she would grant him right now.

"You didn't come here to take me back, right? This isn't some foolish, romantic gesture that's about to get you beat half to death, right?" Zoe whispered, her words followed by a sniffle.

"I know better, Zoe. I know that would only push you further away and I'd only suffer more," Teddy admitted.

"Then, you're here for Ezra, aren't you..?" Zoe asked.

Zoe hadn't forced Teddy off of her yet and he was counting that as a win for now. He wouldn't let her go until she pushed him away. "Yes."

"You know, he's going to die..?"

"I know."

"Is it going to be you that does it?"

Teddy gulped and shrugged. "I have no idea, but it's not in the plans so far. I am just here for the satisfaction of his death." Zoe pushed away now and Teddy reluctantly let go of her. Her red, glistening face contorted in pure shock and appall, so Teddy slowly stood once more so he could explain himself properly. "Ezra bought my sister out of sex trafficking and has been abusing her since I was thirteen. Then he went after the love of my life and tried to take her from me too. I want him dead, I can't and won't lie to you about that."

Zoe huffed in disbelief and started walking, pacing, simply because she was too anxious to stand still. For months, Zoe had been trying to decide how she felt about Teddy. Was he a bad guy that chose her mother over her and wants to kill people for a living? Or was he a good guy trapped in a life of crime because she accidentally forced his hand?

Arguments could be made for both sides. Zoe overheard the stories about Teddy causing Brian's death and even stabbing that guy that broke into the house. He was dangerous and he was ruthless. If he were nothing less of an angel, he wouldn't be down this road. But yet again, he was only going down this road because he was trying to protect the people he loved and because Zoe walked into his life and brought all of this evil with her. It wasnt all his fault, Zoe knew that, but she couldn't ignore the things he did by choice either.

"What does Carmen think about this?" Zoe asked as she wiped her face with her wrists and arms, trying to compose herself and erase all of the weakness she just let pour out of her. "She's already divorced. Officially. I know Kenneth brought her the papers."

Teddy shrugged, watching Zoe's every move. "Carmen thinks he deserves it but she doesn't want anything to do with it. She doesn't want me here either but I can't let anymore of this pass me by when Ezra was suppose to be my problem."

"You really don't care what anybody wants for you, do you? Carmen, Howl, me. You don't care that we want you just as safe and happy as you claim you want everyone else to be." There was so much anger swirling in Zoe's watery, brown eyes and it made Teddy feel so defeated.

"I care, Zoe, but I can't let others take care of me. That's not how who I am. I am happier taking care of you and my family than I am doing anything else." Teddy took a few steps towards Zoe but she visibly stiffened and all of her body language revealed just how alert and cautious she was, so Teddy stopped. He had to treat her like a skittish animal again, which made his guts stir. "You don't have to worry about my safety either, Zoe. These guys—Rin's guys—are unexpectedly nice people. I've been making a good impression with them, and with Rin. I'm not the enemy here. I'm not in danger."

"You're forgetting about the guns," Zoe argued. "What happens when you go out hunting Ezra tomorrow night? What happens if he's prepared? What about all of your missions after that? You would be surprised how often people get shot and killed in my daily life, Teddy. And then, what if you enjoy it? All the executions? What if, deep down, you're her?"

"I know this work is dangerous. I know." Teddy took another step forward and Zoe didn't falter this time. "But as long as you're with me on this, I will be as careful and as good as possible. Tell me not to punch and I won't. Tell me not to shoot and I won't. Tell me to duck or run and I will." Teddy took another cautious step. "I'm not here for Rin or to be Rin. I'm here for you. Always have been, always will be. You're the one that really has all the power over me, Zoe, not Rin. If you want me to be good, I'll be good."

Zoe could feel her cheeks warm at those declarations. For some reason, she really liked to hear him say all that. Maybe it was because she was scared her mother had stolen him away from her that it gave Zoe so much relief. Zoe still wasn't sure how much of Teddy's words were his truth but she liked the sound of them. She liked that he would give her power in a moment of crisis. After all, if Zoe didn't want Teddy involved in the dangerous stuff and ordered him to stay in the background of the chaos, that would give her a lot more trust in him.

It also took Zoe's mind off of a lot of things. If he was giving her the control, she didn't have to worry about all of his intentions and whether they were good or bad. It didn't matter if he did want to shoot somebody because she could tell him not to. He would just have to listen, and that part made her brain turn to mush, because she didn't know what she would do if he didn't listen after everything he was saying right now. Frankly, Zoe wasn't sure she could handle anymore back and forth.

Figuring out what was real and fake was what was driving her mad, so Teddy had to be telling the truth, or her sanity would snap.

"What if I told you to go home?" Zoe asked, looking up at Teddy through her eyelashes since he was so close to her now.

"I wasn't ordered to stay. Wasn't even ordered to come here. I could listen to you." Teddy said.

"But you won't?"

"Not this time." Zoe sighed and tried to drop her head into her hands but Teddy caught her wrists and then her face, gently tilting her head up so he could properly look into her eyes. "Just this once, Zoe. I have to be here for this and I have to follow Rin's orders, but then you can be the boss of me."

There were too many thoughts swirling in Zoe's head, she was becoming faint. Or maybe it was because she had just cried her eyes out during a minor mental breakdown.

"It's more than just Ezra, Teddy," Zoe whispered. "I know you killed that guy on our ski trip."

Teddy sighed, his eyes closing with frustration. "It was a test.. I had to.. I had to protect you."

"You killed somebody.."

"So did he," Teddy blurted in his defense. He didn't want to come off as defensive but he didn't feel bad for Brian's death. Zoe could see the lack of remorse in Teddy's eyes though, and it made her gulp. His bad side was showing. Zoe didn't want his bad side. "He raped and murdered his girlfriend before Rin found him, Zoe. She sent him after you and I protected you. Not a single part of me feels bad about that."

"And you understand why that scares me, don't you? Can't you see why I don't want to be anywhere near you?" The look on Zoe's face and in her beautiful, life changing gaze made Teddy feel shame creep into his guts all over again. "Protecting the people you love is one thing, but having no remorse for the people you kill—or repeatedly stab—is another. You're a killer, whether they deserved it or not, and I don't want to be in love with a killer."

"I would never hurt you, Zoe."

"That's not the point!" Zoe pushed away from Teddy and took a few deep breaths to keep the demons at bay the best she could before she fell into another spell. "When I fell in love with you, you were just some normal high school boy, from Ohio, who loved his family and was just damaged enough to make more room for all the love he could carry inside him."

"And you're saying I'm not him anymore?"

"Exactly. You're not in Ohio, you're here. You're not just a high school boy, you're one of my mothers killers. You care about your family, but to an extent that it makes you dangerous. And you don't fill your damaged parts with love, you fill it with darkness." Zoe said and shrugged, looking more defeated than Teddy had ever seen. "And that's not what I want because it's everything I've tried not to be for as long as I can remember."

"I can be better, Zoe. I told you three months ago that I would be anything that you wanted me to be. I just need one more exception and then you can have full control. Okay?" Teddy asked, sincerity lying deep and full in his eyes.

Silence lingered between them as Zoe considered this offer. Part of her believed that Teddy didn't deserve a second chance but part of her was also dying to have him again. She needed him. She craved him. It just seemed too risky. Teddy could promise Zoe control but that didn't mean she would have it. Rin was the one in control. She always would be. Even if Zoe took control over Teddy, he'd just be punished for disobeying. Then none of it would even matter.

Why was Teddy even bothering to give her control? She left him. He should be pissed off at her. They should be arguing right now. Why was he basically begging her for forgiveness when he spent so much time wishing she would leave him alone?

"What's your end goal with all of this? Why are you here begging for someone that keeps rejecting you?" Zoe asked, a clear frown on her face.

Teddy laughed, amused by such a question. "You, of all people, are asking me that? Don't you realize you're the one that chased me around until I fell for you? I'm only returning the favor."

The overly cautious and paranoid side of Zoe, the side filled with never ending emotional trauma, was scared of Teddy's answer. He was returning the favor? Did that mean he was going to make her fall for him all over again just so he could laugh in her face and tease her about how easy it was and how stupid and gullible she was? Was all of this payback for what she had been doing to him over the past few months? He just wanted to torment her like she had torments him? Give her a taste of her own medicine just for the revenge?

It all made perfect sense, until Teddy smiled.

The expression was so pure, so soft, so full of love that it washed away every bad thought in Zoe's head. Teddy very, very rarely smiled, but when he did, there was a perfect combination of rugged, mature, masculine handsomeness and endearing, playful, boyish charm. The expression on his gorgeous features just turned Zoe's mind to mush. All she could think about was his face and how in love with it, and the man behind it, she was. He wasn't bad. He could never be bad. Not when he made her feel this good.

"I just... need time to think.." Zoe ran her fingers through her hair to brush the damp strands out of her face. Her face was hot with embarrassment but Zoe tried to ignore it.

"What is there to think about that hasn't already been considered during our last three months apart?" Teddy laughed, which earned him a glare from Zoe. At her reaction, Teddy wiped his smile away and ducked his head. "Sorry, Zo.. I just really missed you.. a lot.. I might be a little too anxious for my own good."

Zoe carefully studied Teddy, soaking in the expression on his face and the posture of his body. He looked defeated and uncomfortable. Zoe almost felt guilty, because she missed him too. A lot. She knew how he felt and she wished it wasn't her that was making him feel that way. It was just so complicated, although, the part of her that craved him was trying to convince Zoe that it wasn't complicated at all.

Why did a hug or a kiss or sex have to be complicated? She still loved him and he obviously still loved her. It wasn't like their feelings towards each other were complicated.

It was just.. everything else that was picking at her sanity. And in order to maintain said sanity, Zoe knew she had to keep some distance until real and fake, good and bad, were clear to her once again.

"I won't push you, because that probably wouldn't help, even if I do really wanna kiss you again. It took time for me to take a leap of faith with you so I will just have to wait and give you time before you take that leap of faith with me.." Teddy started toward Zoe's door and stopped to look back at her when his hand grabbed the doorknob. "Can you at least.. answer one question for me?"

"Maybe.." Zoe reluctantly shrugged.

"You will come home again, right? Back to me? Back to your family and your friends?"

Zoe dropped her gaze to her feet as her arms crossed over her chest. She could feel her stomach stir and her heart race in her chest at Teddy's words, because all she wanted to do was go home, but it wasn't that simple. Just because she went home, didn't mean everything would be magically fixed and they could return to their everyday lives. The silence in the room was weighing on Teddy more and more as Zoe battled herself. He wanted her to come home so badly, it physically hurt. He couldn't imagine going home without her after finally seeing her again and hearing that she still loved him.

"I don't know yet..." Zoe muttered. The guilt of her answer made her chest feel tight, but anyway she looked at it, the answer just wasn't there. She just didn't know.

"I love you, Zoe..." Teddy whispered and Zoe's eyes raised to meet his from across the room. "I'm sorry, but I do... I love you more than I've ever loved anything or anybody. And I'm not the only one. Carmen loves you, the babies love you, as do your friends. We need you home again..."

Zoe gulped but didn't say a word. The guilt was eating away at her even more. She loved and missed everyone too. It wasn't like she was abandoning them because she got bored. She wanted to go home. She just didn't know how to return to that life after everything had become so fucked.

When Teddy didn't get anything out of Zoe, he flashed her a solemn smile and walked out of her room without looking back again. He knew he would run back to her and kiss her if he did so he just had to run before he did something stupid. But once the door was shut behind him, Teddy leaned against the door, let his forehead rest against it, and gave a long, defeated sigh. With Teddy gone, Zoe dropped her head into her hands again and fought the urge to burst into even more tears.

It had been so long since they saw each other and their first reunion since left both of them even more distraught than before. Being apart, being together, it didn't matter. Everything hurt.

-

Teddy looked just like them. Zoe was disappointed in herself that she didn't see it sooner. The leather jacket, broad frame, scarred face, hard exterior that was hiding pain and misery behind those dark eyes. He blended right in.

Zoe tried not to make too much eye contact, if any at all, but her mother was keeping Teddy close by. For some reason, Rin wanted Abe by her side this morning and she also wanted Teddy to shadow him since it was his first time with the entire crew. Teddy said nothing as he joined Abe and the rest. Rin picked two men from the Hives as well, and then excused the rest. There were about thirty people in the house but she apparently had a few men out on other missions so she had more than fifty henchmen, for sure.

The only plans that anybody but Kenneth really knew about was their plans to kill Ezra tonight, but until then, everybody was really just along for the ride. It seemed Rin wanted to go to the Sensation offices first thing this morning and nobody gave protest. Teddy was beyond uncomfortable since this was all very far out of his comfort zone. He tried to sit still and remain as composed as possible but it was a struggle.

More than he'd like to admit, his eyes glanced repeatedly and lingered heavily on Zoe. He just kept looking and admiring and soaking in the little glimpses of comfort that he could get from her. Having her close in this foreign territory gave Teddy some sense of familiarity that he clung to in order to stay calm. And she was so beautiful that she became a necessary distraction. Her slightly curled blonde locks, her painted lips, shimmery eyeshadow that made her eyes sparkle, and little dress that hugged her figure taunted Teddy.

Zoe could feel Teddy's gaze on her but she didn't look at him. She avoided eye contact at all cost. Everybody in this mini limo was facing inward, towards each other, so it wasn't hard to catch someone's stare. Zoe wished she could make that point to Teddy and remind him to stop being so obvious in front of everybody. Either he didn't realize he was staring or he didn't care because Zoe could definitely feel it and see it out of the corner of her eye.

"We'll be arriving at the office in four minutes and I have a task for you, Teddy. And Zoe, I suppose." Rin suddenly said, breaking the tense silence in the car. All eyes landed on her as she looked at Teddy. "Care to make a scene for the tabloids?"

"Make a scene..?" Zoe reluctantly asked. She already hated where this was going.

"Yes. The media knows who you are, Teddy. They've seen you and my daughter getting involved with one another. And now that your relationship has evolved to such intimidate heights, I think it's only appropriate we do something productive with it." Rin explained.

Zoe cringed as she ducked her head and Teddy's eyes widened before they snapped to Zoe. She was still avoiding his stare and he was desperately trying to meet her gaze. He wanted to ask how Rin knew about the intimacies of their relationship, but that was less important. He was more concerned about the fact that Rin wanted to milk it. This sounded bad. Especially since Zoe and Teddy has ended their intimate relationship as soon as it started. Whatever Rin was thinking about was going to be uncomfortable.

"What are you suggesting?" Abe curiously asked.

"I'm going to get out of the car first, everybody will follow, Teddy last in line, and you'll help Zoe out of the car. There will be paparazzi but not many so take your time getting out of the car and hold hands all the way to the door. The lobby is surrounded by glass and people on the street can see you so remember to keep the lovey-dovey act up until we've reached the elevator." Rin casually commanded.

"You want us to act like a couple?" Teddy asked with pinched eyebrows and narrowed eyes.

"Precisely." Rin nodded once. "Although, I don't suppose it will be much of an act at all..

"I thought boys, and boys on camera, were off limits for Zoe.." Abe chimed, trying to sound more curious than challenging.

"Boys we have no control of and do nothing but cause trouble, of course. But Teddy is one of ours and he brings a certain quality to the table that we can use for our benefit." Rin said to Abe before her eyes shifted to Teddy again. "Be a perfect gentleman, Teddy. That is your task."

Zoe wasn't opposing, but Teddy knew it was because it wouldn't matter even if she did. She simply stared at her mother and nodded once in understanding when their eyes met. Teddy was conflicted, though. He knew this was something that Zoe would despise with all her heart. There was no doubt in Teddy's mind that Zoe would hate to show off their relationship in front of paparazzi just because her mother said so. He could only imagine how much worse it was since they weren't... together.

Zoe didn't know what she wanted yet, and in the meantime, Teddy understood that all of their intimacy would be put on pause. That's what would make her comfortable until she made up her mind and Teddy could respect that, even if he was dying to hold her and kiss her again. But all of this was exactly what Zoe was running from. Her mother's demands that they couldn't refuse, the intimacy she was avoiding, their unbalanced relationship shoved in the face of the public.

Even if it was forced and uncomfortable, Teddy would still go along with this task, despite their mutual distaste do it. This was a chance to dote on Zoe, take care of her, and even get to touch her. When that thought popped into Teddy's head, he gave no protest. It was selfish of him to be on board with this task when he knew Zoe hated it but he didn't care enough to switch sides. Because, selfishly, he wanted their intimacy back, even if it was only for a moment and only for pictures.

It was yet another moment where Teddy chose Rin's demands over Zoe's feelings and Teddy wasn't blind to it this time. He felt guilty and dirty and low but he wasn't going to pass up an opportunity to be close to the love of his life again. Even if she hated him now, he could apologize later. That's what Teddy had to tell himself in order to ease some of the guilt. This was temporary. The pain and anger and guilt was all temporary until Teddy earned his place and Zoe's heart.

Still, Teddy couldn't understand why Rin would suddenly want them to play couple for the cameras after she beat him for touching Zoe the first time. Was this some kind of punishment for them crossing the line into intimacy? Did she know they were longing for each other and just wanted to rub it in their faces? That all certainly sounded like something Rin would do.

"Look alive." Rin said as she slid her sunglasses on her face and waited as one of her Hives opened the door and stepped out to guide her out of the car as well.

Teddy and Zoe stayed seated as the rest of the car evacuated. Teddy could hear the busy sounds of Los Angeles and the chattering of a few paparazzi who were trying to get pictures of Rin as she strutted confidently to the front door of the building. There wasn't much time to brace himself so Teddy simply took a deep breath and as he stepped out of the car. The air smelled different here. Teddy noticed that when he landed here. It was odd and strangely as overwhelming as the noises here.

Teddy spotted three paparazzi following Rin towards the building when he was out of the car, but there was one lonesome man and his camera waiting near the car to see who else was getting out. The second he saw Teddy, he moved forward and lifted his camera to his face to snap a few pictures. Teddy cringed and turned with his head ducked as Zoe began to crawl out of the car. Before she got far, Teddy offered his help with an extended hand and Zoe accepted it with a smile that shocked Teddy's system.

She wasn't this cheery a millisecond ago.

The complete shift of Zoe's aura gave Teddy pause as she found her footing on the sidewalk. He marveled at her, struck by her charming smile as she looked at the paparazzi snapping pictures of her. She hadn't let go of Teddy's hand yet and that pulled Teddy from his trance. He had to walk her into the building and act like an affectionate couple. That was his task and Zoe was playing along. He couldn't get caught up in that smile of hers.

Pulling Zoe into his side, Teddy started towards the door. Zoe didn't protest his closeness, despite his expectations, but did duck her head to let her blonde locks block her face. The other paparazzi caught sight of Teddy and Zoe now that Rin was inside and rushed to ambush them with cameras. Teddy raised a protective arm in front of them and held Zoe closer, although, he felt a small push of defiance that caused his grip to loosen. She was not enjoying this but the cameras couldn't tell otherwise.

"Teddy Morgan, correct? Coming to L.A. all the way from Ohio to escort the famous Zoe Yang through her life of riches. Must be crazy. How do you feel?" One of the paparazzi asked and Teddy could tell he was being filmed, not just captured in photos.

Teddy gave no response and quickened their steps towards the building. Zoe raised her head only to smile and wave at a camera when one of the paparazzi guys wouldn't let up on his requests for a smile. Teddy grimaced but tried not to scowl too hard in the face of cameras. He didn't want unpleasant photos of Zoe and some scowling asshole all over the internet. For her sake, he would attempt to save face, despite his overwhelming discomfort.

"Can we assume you've won her heart, Teddy? From high school fights to loving embraces, it's obvious there's a burning flame between you two." Another paparazzi sounded with amusement in his voice. "Is it young love? The kind Taylor Swift sings about? A Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez love story?"

Teddy bit his tongue, attempting to soak in whatever comfort he could get from Zoe's closeness in this situation, which was so very foreign to him. Zoe could almost feel his anxiety rising as he realized just how chaotic this environment was but she did not move to comfort him. He wasn't suited for this lifestyle, yet this is what he barreled into so ignorantly. He was a simple boy from a simple town. This big city, the crazed paparazzi, the fake show of intimacy, it wasn't for him. He was in over his head and he had nobody to blame but himself.

Zoe wished she could convince herself of that, at least, but she couldn't shake the amount of guilt and responsibility she felt over it all. He was only here because of her, which was ironic since this was the very last place she wanted him to be.

Rin smiled as she watched her daughter and her lover scramble towards the door like flustered amateurs. The look on Teddy's face and the possessiveness radiating off of him as he held Zoe against him was beyond amusing. Not to mention, Zoe looked absolutely miserable. She never hid her face from cameras. Rin tried to drill it into her head that it made her look unprofessional and dimmed the brightness of Zoe's bubbly persona. She grew up in this lifestyle. To cower from the spotlight would be dishonorable.

But Zoe felt so incredibly vulnerable right now that she had completely forgotten about her training and tried to hide. Maybe after she saw the photos of her cowering and frowning, she would realize that Rin was right to train her the way she did. Rin could only hope. Every step of this little experiment was meant to be a lesson, and she prayed that she raised a daughter smart enough to learn what was being taught. After all, she had strayed farther from the path than Rin would have ever expected. This experiment was meant to correct Zoe's direction.

Zoe let a boy penetrate her. She claimed she did not want this lifestyle ingrained in him. She had even convinced herself that it was her mother's fault that Teddy took her offer. Zoe was corrupted by all of these things. The daughter Rin knew had changed, without her guidance, and it had led her astray. Rin blamed herself for letting any of it begin to fester and pollute her daughter in the first place. Now it was time to take responsibility for Zoe's downfall and correct it before it was too late.

"This is what you want..." Abe said, a light tone to his voice that Rin was very familiar with. It was the voice of realization. She glanced at him to see he was watching the young ones scurry passed the paparazzi. "You want them miserable together, in this world, because you know it will drive a wedge between them. You're doing this on purpose. You have a plan."

Rin's amused smirk broadened. "Making them realize that their love—in this world—will not hold is definitely a perk. But you must look at the bigger picture, Abe. There is no love to hold when it does not exist, which means it must be crushed into oblivion."

Abe's chest was instantly flooded with sorrow at Rin's words. He understood now. Rin had only shared her plans with Kenneth but Be had overheard a few things and there was a plan that was being hinted at that didn't involve Ezra, which meant Rin had more things on her mind. It wasn't until Abe saw this that he realized what Rin's secret plans were. That's why she was happy Teddy had showed up. That's why she was so excited to have him close to Zoe, even though it contradicted everything she believed in.

Teddy would listen to Rin's commands, and because Zoe did not want her in her grasp, she would lose respect for him every time he obeyed. And she could not blame her mother because it was Teddy who took the pin and Teddy who obeyed. And while Teddy yearned for Zoe, his shame would overtake it and he would distance himself so he no longer felt pain at her scowl. And he could not blame Rin because this is the life he chose.

Zoe and Teddy would fall out of love for each other in this environment, since they wanted and belonged in vastly different worlds, and Rin would walk away without blood on her hands. That was the secret ingredient to her cruelty and it excited her with every opportunity that rose.

Abe knew all of this because he had went through something similar. Rin spoiled him and his spirit and it caused him to lose his wife after trying so hard to protect her. And it was never Rin's fault because she always gave her victims choice that put the blame on their conscience, not hers. Abe and many others lives had been destroyed by her cruel methods, and now Teddy was next.

This was almost too perfect for her wickedness.

Abe was beginning to wish that Teddy hadn't so foolishly volunteered to come here. It shouldn't matter because they were only business partners and either of them could die at the drop of a hat, but Abe didn't want to watch Rin crush a boy so full of life and potential.

"I'm sorry.." Teddy whispered once they stepped inside, his arm still tight around Zoe's shoulders.

"It's fine.. This is your job and I am not selfish enough to watch you get beaten because you failed to hold my hand." Zoe quietly muttered but would not meet Teddy's eyes. She looked over his shoulder at the paparazzi pressing their cameras against her glass and separated from Teddy to take his hand in hers. "Shows not over yet.."

Before Teddy could ask, Zoe skipped towards the elevator, where her mother and the others waited. Teddy kept up with her with a curious stare glued to her golden locks. When she stopped and turned near the others, her eyes shifted briefly towards the paparazzi and a bright smile spread across her face. Teddy did not move a muscle as Zoe snaked her arms around his middle and locked her fingers behind his back, keeping them close as she stared up at him with sparkling eyes and an even brighter smile.

"Very good." Rin praised, her eyes locked on the elevator as they listened to it descend. She didn't want to make direct eye contact with the young ones and taint the pictures with her commanding glare. "Cameras can still see you, Teddy. Be close, be loving. Don't make it look one sided."

Teddy glanced towards the windows that looked out to the busy streets and was disappointed that Rin was right. The men and their cameras were still pressed against the windows to snap pictures. Teddy grimaced at them but felt his mood lighten when his eyes fell to Zoe. She was so close, holding him in a playful embrace, and the falsehood of her loving gaze almost fooled him. She did not want to be doing this but she did it anyways and she did it for him, so he didn't get scolded. He couldn't do this without her and her selfless heart.

They were in front of cameras and had to put on an act, an excuse Teddy used to justify his actions when he caressed Zoe's face and planted a gentle, lingering kiss to her forehead. Zoe's fake smile faltered as her eyes closed. Teddy's affections were not forced like hers were, she could feel it in the tenderness of his caress and the long linger of his lips. It made Zoe's heart clench in her chest as her lungs pushed void of air. Teddy could feel Zoe tense, heard her sorrowful sigh, and moved his hand to cup the back of her head so he could close the rest of the space between them hold her against him.

"I am sorry, Zoe. I wish I could show you how much I love you without being told to, because I would without hesitation." Teddy whispered in Zoe's ear as he stroked her hair.

"Then you need to leave here before you're commanded to do something that you can't come back from." Zoe said stiffly into his chest, her arms tightening around his frame. She liked hugging him, even if this was the worse possible scenario to do it in.

"You're talking about Ezra?" Zoe nodded. "I'm not here to get involved, Zoe. I'm only a bystander. You don't have to worry."

"What if she tells you to do something ?" Zoe whispered, careful not to alert her mother to their conversation.

"We will cross that bridge when we come to it."

That wasn't very reassuring, Zoe thought. He had told her he would die for her and he did everything for her and she was the boss, not Rin... but he didn't declare such a commitment that time. Why couldn't he reassure her that he would at least hesitate or look to her for guidance when that moment came? It's not like Zoe actually wanted control over Teddy and his choices, because she didn't want him to be her robot, but he couldn't be Rin's either.

Over analyzing every single word he promised was giving Zoe a headache. The stress of it all was exactly why she ran. But then he followed her.

What Hell.

Zoe raised her head to meet Teddy's eyes and she offered the sweetest, most loving stare and smile. She looked in loved, smitten, content despite this worlds cruelty. The expression faltered though, and Teddy could tell she was unhappy with his answer. He understood. She wanted him to be good and he promised her control. If Rin ordered him to do something objectively bad once in the face of Ezra, which isn't completely unlikely, both of those things would go right out the window.

And then any trust in Teddy that Zoe had left would vanish into thin air. Zoe was drowning in this world, trapped in it's cruelty, and the only respite she had ever found was in Teddy. As much as he hated it, he knew what it meant for her to lose that small glimpse of hope and salvation if he messed up during this trip.

As if granted mercy by the gods, the elevator chimed and the silver doors opened. Zoe let go of Teddy but still caught his hand to lead him into the elevator with the rest. Her fingers were interlaced with his and she held on to his arm with her other, as if she could not get close enough. That was until the silver doors slid shut and the elevator ascended. Zoe's forced smile vanished, as did he fingers from his and her hand from his arm. Teddy looked down at her as her affections disappeared and felt his heart sink into his stomach.

This was Hell.

"I see you being very useful around here, Teddy Morgan." Rin said in the silent, crowded elevator. Even with her back to him, he could hear the satisfied smirk in her voice.

Teddy's eyes found Abe's, who was leaning against one of the walls of the elevator with his hands in the pockets of his jacket. He held Teddy's stare but he did not give him the look of approval that Teddy expected. Abe wanted him to be useful and Teddy was proving himself to be every chance he got. So it confused Teddy when he didn't get anything from Abe. If anything, his expression was tainted with a sorrow that he could not fight, which made Teddy gulp and his fists clench at his sides.

Once the elevator doors opened again, Rin walked out with Kenneth and Zoe while everyone else remained still. Teddy had his eyes glued to the blonde and his body followed hers before his brain comprehended the situation. Abe caught his arm though, and stopped him before he left the elevator. Teddy frowned at Abe and looked to Zoe just as she looked over her shoulder at him. Her expression was unreadable as her eyes looked him up and down.

Teddy didn't speak until the elevator doors closed again and one of the Hives pressed the button for one of the lowest levels of the building. "We're leaving?"

"Mm." Abe confirmed with a grunt, still unmoving from his causal lean against the elevator wall.

Teddy was tense. He missed Zoe. Every single muscle in his body wanted to hold her again, and if he couldn't do that, he had to at least be in her presence to ease his cravings. She was his only source of comfort in this foreign world and he wasn't ready to leave her side yet.

"I'm suppose to be useful." Teddy argued. "I should be with her, where I can be useful. I need to be with Zoe."

Abe's eyes averted from Teddy's and he still looked solemn. "Rin will ask for you again when she needs you. For now, I advise you work on separating your work from your romantic life because, given your circumstances, you won't be granted the luxury of having both. I think it is the only way you're going to maintain your sanity."

"I can have both. I will have both." Teddy stated as he watched the numbers above the door lit up as they descended the building. "I won't give up on that."

"Sanity, Morgan.." Abe firmly reminded. "Think with your head, not your heart. You'll end up dead otherwise."

"We'll see.." Teddy muttered bitterly to himself.

The battle between Teddy's heart and his head was constant. Every hour of everyday, he chose a side. Sometimes he was firm on his belief that he deserved to live in the opportunity Rin gave him, so he could grow strong, protect his family, and ruin his enemies. That was logical to him. His goal had always been to take revenge on Ezra for all that he had done to his sister. Why would he give all of this up when it was handed to him so easily?

And sometimes, his heart told him to take Zoe and run home to his family so he could continue down the familiar path they were on. Him and Zoe could go to school everyday, fall even more in love than they already were, and then take care of his niece and nephew alongside Carmen. And eventually, Bailey and Malik would get too old and Teddy and Zoe could raise their own. It would be a simple life. One he felt Zoe was asking him for and, of course, he wanted so badly to give her as well.

Teddy was too conflicted to pick either side and constantly wondered how he could have both. He would have both, eventually. Revenge, power, love, peace. It was possible that Teddy could take care of the business he needed to and then let Zoe take the reins, like he promised, but he had to have a backup plan if that didn't work. He considered why Howl had warned him about. Maybe Zoe could be his lover behind closed doors, like whenever they returned to Ohio, while they kept their relationship professional in the public eye.

If only Rin would allow that. She seemed to have other plans. She was flaunting Teddy and Zoe's intimate relationship in front of paparazzi. Teddy didn't know why yet but he would figure it out. He would figure out what Rin wanted, figure out what Zoe wanted, and find a happy medium that wouldn't jeopardize his goals. He would use his head, like Abe insisted, in order to follow what his heart wanted.

A happy medium...

-

Every time Zoe saw Teddy among the others, she could feel her heart drop into her stomach. He blended in so easily. In a foyer full of leather jackets and black jeans, Teddy was camouflaged. The only difference between him and the others was how intensely he stared at her. Everyone else looked at Rin but Teddy kept his eyes glued to Zoe. It should have comforted her to know that she had all of his attention instead of her mother, but it didn't. He was still here, walking with invisible chains around his ankles.

"Cerberus, each of you in a car. Pick two of your strongest." Rin called as she stood between the grand staircases with Zoe.

Without any further orders, Kenneth went to Rin's side and pointed out the dark skinned woman—Beau was her name—and Darrius, who Teddy didn't know but looked competent just by his indifferent expression and walk. They were both quick to move through the crowd and take their spots beside Kenneth. Abe stepped forward, his eyes lingering on Teddy before he called for his two choices—Julius and Wilford. They glanced at Teddy as well, which made him realize that everybody in this foyer were stealing glances at him.

Finnegan growled as Julius and Wilford passed, obviously jealous that he wasn't picked and oblivious to the staring directed towards Teddy. Abe warned Teddy all the time to work on his poker face so he actively tried to remain indifferent as the third Cerberus member, Declan, called for his two trusted mates. This process was making less and less sense as Teddy thought about it.

Why did so many people need to come along when they were just going to execute Ezra? It took one bullet to do the job. And why the hell was Teddy still standing around when he came here to play along and make sure Ezra was dealt with properly? He was disappointing Zoe every second that he was here just so he could see this through. He wouldn't let that go to waste.

"Mine are with me, as well." Rin said with a lighter tone as she reached her skinny fingers up to comb a few silver strands back. "Boys, go collect the cars."

Teddy turned when he heard footsteps and watched as multiple men from the back of the pack left on Rin's command. He could recognize them now and knew they were all Rin's Hives. They were eager to obey and the disgust of it made Teddy's lip twitch. He wanted to climb the ladder, but if he ever turned into one of those assholes, he hoped Abe would off him before it got too bad.

"And everybody, welcome aboard Teddy Morgan." Rin gently clapped her hands, a dark smirk crawling upon her features when Teddy's eyes met her dead ones. Slowly, others joined her in the applause and kept their eyes trained on Teddy. "If he is able to keep up and follow orders tonight, he will be a full fledged member of the team. He's basically our little prodigy and I know many of us are very excited for him to join us."

Teddy looked around at the crowd staring at him and clapping with blank expressions on their faces and then looked to Zoe, who was staring at everything except for the people in this room. He could tell by the shifting of her mouth that she was chewing on the inside of her cheeks and lips as she fought to remain as still and composed as possible. She didn't like this one bit and Teddy was hardly fond of all the attention. He was starting to forget what his comfort zone used to be around all of this.

"Teddy, come join us." Rin said and pushed at Zoe's cheek with her finger, turning her face away and signaling for her to move. Zoe sighed and took a step away from her mother to leave room for Teddy.

Reluctantly, Teddy moved through the pack to stand beside Rin. As much as Teddy craved to climb the ladder, the idea still worried him. He was strong and he was smart, but he didn't have a plan. He didn't know what tomorrow would bring him or what he should even expect this world to throw at him. Teddy's only goals were to watch Ezra die and win Zoe back, which were contradictory in every way. He had no idea what the hell he was doing.

"This shouldn't take any longer than two or three hours. Everyone here knows the drill if we don't return by then. Everyone on the away team, you know the drill if anything goes wrong. Otherwise, we have a plan so let's stick to it." Rin said and stepped forward to lead the way towards the door.

The pack of henchmen split like the Red Sea as Rin sauntered through and everyone who was standing beside Rin followed in her wake. Zoe hung back so Teddy did as well, wondering what he should say or do as a farewell. There were so many people in the room so he didn't want to show her too much affection. Besides, she probably wouldn't welcome too much affection right now, given how opposed she was to Teddy's involvement in all of this.

"Zoe, I just-" Teddy whispered as he turned to her.

Before he could say anything, Zoe followed behind everybody and strutted through the foyer with unwavering confidence. Teddy was instantly struck by the realization that Zoe was coming with and was sent into a panic. He hurried to fall into her footsteps but she wouldn't look at him.

"You're coming with? To an execution?" Teddy asked her.

"My mother requested I come but I want to know how you handle this so I agreed." Zoe glanced up at Zoe, entrapping him in her big, brown eyes that he was also so captivated by. "I want to know what your limits are."

"I told you I'm not going to do anything, Zoe. I'm just suppose to be a shadow." Teddy sighed. "I'm not sick."

"I've heard the stories," Zoe retorted. "The fight with Brian and the assassin you repeatedly stabbed. How am I suppose to know you won't join in on the fun when you see your greatest enemy on his knees?"

"Is this a test? To see if I'm good or bad?" Teddy asked, offended by the idea that Zoe distrusted him so much that she had to watch over him like this.

Zoe froze a single step outside of the house at Teddy's question, her blood instantly boiling to the point where her vision went red. She turned to Teddy with overflowing anger in her eyes and clenched her fists to keep from attempting to smack him again. It was dark but the lights all around the house made Teddy glow.

"Don't compare me to my mother, Teddy. I'm not testing you. If you want to be cruel to him or even take his life, do it and don't worry about me. If you decide this life of endless cruelty isn't who you are, congratulations, you just learned something new. Maybe it won't matter which one you choose because it isn't about you, it's about what I think is right for me," Zoe spat with quiet but boiling vigor.

"I want to be right for you." Teddy's shoulders fell as he stared down at his love. "And I'm not comparing you to your mother, Zoe. That's not what I meant. Just tell me what the right thing to do is so I can have you again."

"It's too late to do the right thing, Teddy. None of us are doing the right thing here. I'm not even an innocent party here, I can acknowledge that. But that doesn't mean two wrongs make anything right... Between us, especially." Zoe said as her anger simmered.

Staring up at Teddy like this made her want to cry but she held back the tears. Two halves of herself were tearing her apart as one begged her to bury herself in Teddy's arms as the other screamed at her to run for the hills. If there was a right answer, Zoe would give it to him and he would listen. She knew that. But there was no right answer. Whether Teddy participated in all of this or took her hand and ran, it didn't matter. Zoe was just waiting for her heart to decide what it wanted and whether all of this getting in between her and Teddy even mattered or not.

"Kids! Keep up!" Rin shouted from the line of Sensation trucks in front of the house. "I want everybody in line tonight! No lallygagging!"

Zoe and Teddy held each other's stare for a moment longer before Zoe dropped her gaze and turned to continue walking. Teddy reached desperately for Zoe's hand but their fingers barely grazed before Zoe tore her hand away and quickened her steps. Teddy's eyes closed and a heavy sigh of pure defeat fall off his chest. This was one of those moments he just wanted to run away with Zoe. Take her hand and leave everything behind.

But that moment didn't last long, because once he was reminded that Ezra had to be dealt with, that took full priority. He had to take care of Ezra before he worried about what he was going to do with Zoe. That goal wouldn't change.