Teddy couldn't get that conversation out of his head. No matter where he was or what he was doing, it always lingered somewhere in his brain. It was hard to fall asleep and made him feel like shit once waking up. Thinking about Zoe made his stomach hurt and looking or talking to her made him feel even worse. How did everything turn out like this so suddenly? Everything was fine. They had finally settled into a comfortable, daily rhythm. Now everything was changing again.

"I don't feel so good today," Teddy admitted as he collapsed at the edge of Zoe's bed.

Zoe turned away from her closet, where she was packing a few of her things. "What's wrong, love? Is it because we're leaving today?"

"Part of it," Teddy muttered, looking down at his hands as he fidgeted. That nagging feeling in the back of his mind bit viciously at him, reminding him to be honest with Zoe and tell her what was going on. Teddy pushed that horrible feeling back and cleared his throat. "I don't like being away from you, but Rin is going to pull us apart anyways."

"Only for a little while at a time. We'll both be working and then see each other at night. Just like normal couples."

"We're not a normal couple."

Zoe chuckled as she strutted out of her closet with a pair of heels on hand. She tossed them into her suitcase, grabbed one half of it, and slammed the whole thing shut. "I suppose we aren't. Still, you're not gonna lose me. I promise. We'll see each other all the time."

Teddy sighed and watched Zoe struggle with her suitcase. She didn't have to pack everything, since they would only be working for the summer, but she still wanted to take a lot of clothes. Too many clothes. She had to sit on the suitcase just to get the zipper to close two inches. It still wasn't enough, but Teddy enjoyed watching her bounce on her suitcase to make it close. She looked so determined and helpless at the same time. She was adorable.

"Need help, babe?" Teddy asked with a smirk.

"Nope," Zoe instantly replied, turning over the sprawl on top of the suitcase and drag the zipper around it. "Don't worry about me. I got it."

"Looks like you do," Teddy teased.

Zoe huffed as she flipped her hair out of her face and climbed off her suitcase. "Anyways, try not to worry. That's what I'm doing. Every part of me is dreading the fact that you have to return to my mother with me, but... we'll be okay. You just have to remind yourself that we'll be okay. It's the only thing keeping me sane right now."

Teddy hesitated before asking, "are you scared of your mother, Zoe?"

Zoe gave a thoughtful pout as she crossed her arms and looked around her room. She eventually shrugged. "I'm scared of the things she's capable of. I'm scared of the things she might be willing to do to you. But I'm not scared for me."

"You're not? Even though she controls everything in your life and uses you for her own gain?"

Zoe awkwardly laughed and shrugged again. "I mean... I don't know. It's tough always doing what she says, but she's only as intense as she is because she loves me. She wants the best for me."

Teddy could feel a frown tugging at his features but tried not to show how upset he was by that sentiment. Even if he thought Zoe was wrong, he didn't want to insult her. He was only asking her about this because of Hiro's stupid guys. He wanted to know how Zoe felt. If she hated her mother, it would be much easier to get behind a plan to kill her. Unfortunately, it didn't look like Zoe did hate her. Not as much as she should anyways.

"You truly believe that she loves you?"

"Yeah," Zoe gulped. "She's my mom. I mean, I know it might not look like she loves me to some people, but I know her better than anyone else does. She's the one that raised me after all. She wouldn't go through all the trouble she does if she didn't love me."

It was on the tip on Teddy's tongue to point out the fact that, if Zoe truly knew Rin, she would know how much she loves manipulation. It's obvious to everyone else around her. Rin twists people's lives and she starts by putting their brains in a blender. Couldn't Zoe see that? Couldn't she see that all of her mother's maternal love was actually just carefully calculated manipulation? Rin didn't love Zoe like a daughter. She probably didn't love her at all. But how the hell do you tell that to someone so blind?

"Are you scared of her?" Zoe whispered.

Teddy looked up, met Zoe's gaze, and snorted a laugh. "It's like you said, Zo. She is capable of very bad things, but only because she's powerful. I'm not scared of her, I'm scared of the things she's capable of with the power she has at her disposal. What if she didn't have that power anymore?"

Zoe thought on that point for a moment. She eventually shrugged. "I can't really imagine that. My mother's power is her job and her job is her life. She wouldn't give it up so easily and she probably couldn't live without it."

Teddy nodded. "But lots of people would be free from your mother's shackles and they would be happy. You included."

"Me? Happy?" Zoe asked with a disbelieving laugh. "With my mother jobless or dead? I can't imagine I would be happy."

Teddy fought it to the best of his ability, but he couldn't help but frown. How? The woman was a menace. She was endlessly cruel, scarring her daughter for life, in ways Teddy couldn't even imagine. How could Zoe think kindly of her? Teddy understood that Zoe had been conditioned to believe in her mother's love, but the facts were all around her. Rin was poison. She was a virus, a plague. The people around Rin were suffering and it put a smile on her face. There was no way Zoe could feel any sort of love from a creature that wicked.

"Zoe," Teddy impatiently called, not bothering to mask how outraged he was. "You love Ohio because you are free here. You love me because I make you feel free. You can't possibly love the woman who has repeatedly hurt you, haunted your dreams, and stolen and ruined everything that's ever been yours."

Zoe was taken aback by Teddy's sudden, fiery passion. He wasn't this angry a moment ago. Zoe's distaste at his aggressive tone and ignorant words overshadowed the sudden shift though. Just like that, she was glaring at him, returning his anger tenfold. It annoyed her that Teddy had such an attitude about something that Zoe had been experiencing her whole life, as if she were stupid, when Teddy had only lived in this world for a few months now.

"She is not just a mean woman to me, Teddy. She is my mother," Zoe argued. "She is cruel, I know. She has hurt me, I know. Trust me, nobody understands the damage she has done more than me. That doesn't change the fact that I'm her blood and she would do anything for me."

"Anything but set you free and let you be happy."

Zoe stiffened, her spine straightening. Teddy had hit a nerve. He could tell by the pained look in her eyes.

Looking ashamed and unsure, Zoe said, "I'm not good at being free. The second I was free, I found you... and I ruined your life. A man died because I thought I could walk on my own. I ended up walking into the deep end and killing that man. I can't be free, Teddy, because it certainly won't make me happy. I'm a walking calamity without my mother."

Teddy stared at Zoe in the thick silence and tension that lingered around them. He stared directly into her soft, vulnerable, angry eyes. He could feel just how intensely she believed in her words. It was true that Zoe wasn't scared of her mother. She was scared of herself. That made Teddy's stomach churn. Rin really had mushed Zoe's poor, poor brain. Zoe was not to blame for the fact that Teddy was shackled to her evil mother for the rest of his life. That wasn't her fault. It was Rin's fault and it was his own. It was not her fault that Ezra died either. If she hadn't killed him, Teddy would've gotten to it someday anyways.

Rin had somehow managed to convince Zoe that she was helpless without her mother and Rin was wrong for that. Zoe was not an idiot, she was not a calamity, she was not to blame. It made sense that Rin would drill such a sentiment into Zoe's head though. She didn't need to put shackles on Zoe because she had convinced Zoe that staying by her mother's side was the right choice. It was fucked up on so many levels. Zoe would never be free if she was manipulated to think freedom was a sin.

"We have been free from your mother for a month now, baby," Teddy whispered, leaving his anger behind to gaze lovingly at his girlfriend. "Did anything bad happen? Did anybody get hurt?"

Zoe hesitated, nervously rubbing her arm. "N-No... but that doesn't mean—"

Teddy pushed off the edge of Zoe's bed and stalked toward his love. His approach made Zoe pause and gaze at him as he closed in on her. Teddy didn't stop until their bodies brushed and Zoe had to tilt her head up to look him in the eyes. Teddy gently grazed a finger under her tilted chin and dragged that finger to her lips, lovingly tracing her bottom lip.

"With me, Zoe, you're safe and you're happy and you're free. You can make your own choices, whether they end up being mistakes or blessings, and I will still love you to the bitter end. I promise you. Your mother only loves you when you choose the path that she expects of you, and that's only when she allows you a choice at all. That's not fair to you."

Zoe gulped. "Are you... trying to make me choose between you and my mother? Is that what you're looking for?"

"No. I wouldn't ask you to make a decision that cruel. I only want you to understand me when I make promises to you." Teddy reached in his pocket and pulled the small ring box from it. Zoe looked down at it, eyes widening and growing even more when he opens it. "I'm not just promising my undying love for you, Zoe. I'm also promising you a future. One that you'll want and choose for yourself. Whatever it is, it's yours, Zoe. That's my promise to you."

Zoe stared at the ring before her, completely and utterly stunned. It was so beautiful. It wasn't just a diamond propped up on a band. It was nothing she would've expected Teddy to pick out. There were two rings that formed crescents, made of white diamonds, on either side of the middle ring, which held a pink opal stone and smaller, soft blue diamonds on either side of it. It looked like a ring made for a fairytale princess. It was so cute yet elegant, playful but still luxurious.

Zoe was speechless. Literally. Her mouth just hung open as she stared at the ring that Teddy was presumably offering to her.

"A-Are you proposing?" Zoe finally asked, pointing at the ring as her wide eyes raised to Teddy's.

A smile spread across Teddy's face as he chuckled. He shook his head. "I want to very badly, but no. Not yet anyways. This is just a promise ring, so that you know, someday, I will propose. It would be foolish of me to promise a life with you now, when I don't know what tomorrow will bring, so I will wait until it's safe and then I will get down on one knee and devote my life to yours. That's my promise to you."

Zoe let out an astonished breath as she processed Teddy's words. That was smart of him, Zoe had to admit. They were in no position to be starting a life together. They were too young, for starters, and they were about to spend everyday fending for their lives. It was still very touching that Teddy had thought so far ahead. He was giving her this ring now, so that she knew he was hers in the future. That made Zoe's heart flutter and her stomach do somersaults. She truly did find her soulmate. There was no other reason why this all felt so right.

"O-Okay... I accept... or..." Zoe awkwardly cringed, reached for the ring, and then hugged her hands to her chest before she could touch it. "Do I make promises too? I don't really know how promise rings work."

Teddy chuckled at Zoe's adorable stammering. He took the rings from the box, return the box to his pocket, and took Zoe's right hand, so he could put the ring on her finger. "Truthfully, baby, I have no idea how this goes either. I just wanted to tell you I love you and give you a pretty ring. And I'm going to put this on your right hand so that your mother doesn't realize I want to marry you and then, well.... kill me."

A giddy smile stretched across Zoe's face as she watched Teddy wiggle the three rings onto her ring finger. He really had thought through all of this. The ring was too extravagant to go unnoticed, but maybe it's meaning would be lost to outsiders if it was sitting on the wrong hand. Besides, it wasn't a traditional engagement ring. It was far too... decorated. Teddy and Zoe would understand it's true meaning though. There was a whole lot of love and promises in this ring, more than anybody would understand.

Zoe played with the beautiful rings for a moment, smiling down at it like it was the sun itself. Teddy's chest warmed and his nerves calmed at the sight of her pleasure. She hadn't rejected him. She had accepted it and his promises without hesitation. His heart could calm down now. Zoe was his, now and forever, just like he was hers.

Zoe looked up from her ring and threw her arms around Teddy's neck, pulling him into a kiss. Teddy caught her by the waist and kissed her back. She kissed him deeper and slower than he expected, causing an aroused groan to growl up her chest. He lifted Zoe against him so she would wrap her legs around him. He lost himself in her painfully delicious kisses, gliding a hand down to cup her ass and hold her close. Zoe was his kryptonite. One touch of those lips and the whole world melted away.

"I love you," Zoe whispered, pressing her forehead to Teddy's.

"I love you too," Teddy whispered back.

"Are you ready?" Zoe asked.

Teddy didn't have to ask what she was referring to. He understood. It was time for them to leave their home. "No, but we should go."

Zoe nodded and slipped out of Teddy's arms. He took both of their suitcases and carried them downstairs after Zoe. She threw her backpack over her shoulders but Teddy took his, trying to take the load off of Zoe and carry as much as he could. They tried to yell for Carmen so they could say goodbye, but her and the babies were nowhere to be seen. Confused, they stepped into the garage and loaded their things into the larger of the two cars inside. They couldn't leave without saying their farewells, so Zoe called Carmen's phone.

A moment later, a phone rang in the distance. Teddy and Zoe exchanged confused looks before Teddy reached for the button that would open the garage door. As the garage door lifted, numerous people came into view. Bailey bent over to peek under the door and an uncontrollable giggle escaped her when she spotted Teddy and Zoe. Carmen was next in sight, then those standing behind her were revealed. Howl, Fisher, Vanessa, Abigail, Courtney, Laura, Jennie, Daniel, Selik, Joseph, and Chuck. They all smiled and waved when Teddy and Zoe spotted them.

Zoe gasped, her body moving forward without hesitation. She crashed into Carmen first, feeling watery eyed at the sight of so many people who wanted to say their farewells. She wasn't even upset at the sight of so many of her past friends. They had gotten along just fine at the beach party and none of them had said a word when Teddy and Zoe shared quick kisses or put their hands on each other's legs or shoulders. Zoe was actually happy that they still cared enough to say goodbye to her, since she would be gone for a whole summer. The more the merrier.

Teddy stuck to the people he knew while Zoe ran around the driveway, giving hugs and saying goodbye. Vanessa and Abigail both hugged him, which took him by surprise. He liked them, even if he didn't know them very well, but he didn't expect that they would like him too. It put a smile on his face when they said they would miss teasing him for how much he coddled Zoe. Teddy didn't really realize it but they had been teasing him a lot this past month. Maybe he was closer to people than he thought he was. That was a nice feeling.

Bailey clung to Teddy as Zoe made her rounds. He had to wipe a few of Bailey's tears but he could tell she was trying to be strong. She really didn't want them to leave for the summer, but Teddy promised he would call home all the time and talk to her. Malik tried to snuggle his uncle as well, but he seemed less concerned by Teddy's parting. He probably didn't understand how long Teddy would be away. He still wanted Teddy's attention though, and Teddy would soak up as much of Bailey and Malik's love as he could. He didn't want to leave them either, after all.

Zoe eventually returned to the babies and gave them extra hugs and kisses as Teddy returned to the car, sweeping a glance over Zoe's friends. His eyes landed on Chuck's and they silently stared at one another for a moment. Teddy didn't want any trouble, but he couldn't really tell if Chuck was looking for any. It wasn't until Chuck lifted two fingers to his forehead and gave a salute that Teddy relaxed. They had reached some kind of middle ground with one another. They were no longer arch enemies but certainly weren't friends.

Teddy tilted his chin at Chuck, giving a respectful nod at his gesture. Chuck nodded and turned to walk toward his car. Joseph, Selik, and Daniel followed. The girls all yelled their last farewells as they ran back to their cars. Zoe waved to them as she jogged back to the car. Teddy opened the door for her but she stopped herself before she climbed into the car. Teddy was about to ask her what was wrong before she looked at him, shocked, and then pointed down the driveway. It was Teddy's father. He was walking up the driveway, passed Zoe's retreating friends, his posture stiff and awkward.

Teddy closed the car door and stepped toward his father, both touched and curious by his presence. Carmen had reconciled her relationship with their father, but they still didn't see him too often. Carmen only visited him when he wanted to see the babies, which wasn't that often. He was clearly still uncomfortable but trying his best, just like now. Frankly, Teddy was too busy with his new girlfriend to worry about father/son bonding time.

Teddy and his father locked eyes and Roman forced his warmest smile. "I heard you were leaving for the summer. Going off to Los Angeles. That's a big place."

"Yeah..." Teddy gulped, staring awkwardly at his father. "Are you going to be alright?"

"Me?" Roman snickered. "I'll be fine here. I'm taking care of myself now, remember? I'm alright."

Teddy nodded, still feeling a bit uncertain. For five years, Teddy had watching his father spiral. Carmen had been handling their rent with her occasional checks, but Teddy still had to work to bring food home. Even though Teddy hadn't been living at home for a few months now, it still felt weird to leave his father behind. He hadn't been all that far away, after all, but now he would be. Roman had a job though, and he was trying his best to cope and grow. Teddy just had to tell himself that his father was okay without him, even though they had nothing but each other for five years.

Roman stepped toward his son, awkwardly reaching an arm around his shoulders and pulling him reluctantly into a hug. "You be careful out there, Teddy. And know that your mother is watching over you every step of the way."

Teddy took a deep, emotional breath and wrapped his arms around his father. He didn't smell like liquor or piss or vomit. He smelled like soap and cologne. Even his clothes were clean and neat. That put Teddy's heart at ease. His father would be okay without him. He was doing well so far. It was alright.

Roman broke away from Teddy, grabbed his shoulders, and gave him an even warmer smile than before. There was pride written all over his face. His eyes then shifted to Zoe, and he looked just as unsure of himself as before. They had only met twice and hadn't actually talked much when they did. The first time they met, Roman came to the house so he could ride with Carmen and the babies to go out for dinner. They had waved and introduced themselves but Roman was too captivated to say anything else.

Zoe was the one that had saved his daughter and her children and brought them home to him. She was the one that had made his son fall in love with her and then gave him a better home than he ever could. What could he say to her? There was too much. Where did he even start? The strange girl was like family, but he had never met her. Even now, he was unsure of what to say or do. It didn't help that her eyes were so big and soft and glued to his without a single hint of uncertainty.

"Zoe," Roman said, letting go of his son and stepping toward her. Zoe offered a kind smile. He nervously cleared his throat and reached to pat her head, which only made her smile broaden. "Thank you, Zoe. You have been a blessing to this family. There is nothing I could do to repay the debt I owe you."

Zoe closed the distance between them, wrapping her arms around Roman's wide middle and resting her cheek against him. He was too surprised to hug her back. "Take care of Carmen and the babies and yourself and all debt will be repaid. Meanwhile, I will take good care of your son."

Roman melted at Zoe's kindness, his eyes shifting from Teddy to Carmen, who both wore content smiles on their faces. Roman let out a sigh, rested an arm around Zoe's shoulders, and brought his other hand to stroke her soft hair. In only a matter of seconds, he felt like he had a second daughter. In a way, he kind of did. He had heard from Carmen just how in love Teddy and Zoe were. Zoe was family.

"Thank you again, from Eleanor and I both," Roman whispered to the little blonde.

Zoe looked up at him and flashed him another sweet smile. It warmed her heart to think Eleanor might be just as proud as Roman looked and sounded. She broke away from Roman and turned to Howl, Fisher, Carmen, and the babies. She smiled and waved at them all as she returned to the car.

"You two behave, alright?" Howl hollered. "Take care of each other! Watch each other's backs! Come home safely!"

"I promise!" Zoe yelled back. "I'll miss you guys!"

Teddy closed Zoe's door, planted a kiss on Carmen's cheek, and jogged around the car. Howl followed him to the other side with worry written across his face. Before Teddy opened the car door, he simply couldn't help himself and pulled Howl into a tight, meaningful embrace. Howl hugged him just as tightly, taking in a deep breath to calm himself.

"I mean it, Teddy. Be careful," Howl quietly warned.

"You worry too much," Teddy chuckled.

"My only brother is walking into the belly of the beast. Of course, I'm worried."

"I'll be okay." Teddy pulled back and patted Howl's shoulders, smiling at the sadness and fear etched across Howl's face. "I won't do anything stupid."

"You better not."

"You watch your back too, alright? You've dipped your toe in this shit and there's no way of knowing if Rin is coming for you, so just... watch out."

"Yeah, of course. I'll be fine."

Teddy separated from Howl and climbed into the car. Everyone gathered on one side of the driveway and Teddy carefully backed his way out of the garage and down the driveway. Zoe waved frantically at her family, blew as many kisses as she could, and tried not to burst out crying. Teddy smiled and waved as well, despite the pit in his stomach. They really were leaving. He had watched Zoe leave countless times, but he never imagined he would be going with her. It was as exciting as it was terrifying.

-

"Zoe, you have work tonight. There is a rack of dresses in your room that you can choose from and the event information is here," Rin explained, slapping a few papers on to her desk.

Zoe took them, looking at the invite on top. It was a formal party, so this was obviously a hosting gig. The invite was pretty but Zoe didn't give it much attention as she flipped through the other pages. There was a guest list and a map of the house and catering information. Everything that Zoe needed to know to thoroughly tend to the guests attending, she just needed to do a bit of light studying. Teddy was intrigued by all of the information in Zoe's hands. He didn't know so much went into hosting a single party.

"And Abe—" Obediently, at the command, Abe stepped forward. "You will spend the day at the gun range with Teddy. I want him well prepared for our pick up at the docks."

"No problem," Abe answered.

Both Teddy and Zoe reacted at the mention of guns. They turned to each other, wide eyed. Teddy with a gun hadn't really come to Zoe's mind. Ever. She hadn't prepared herself for the version of Teddy that carried around a firearm. That would be hard to adjust to. Teddy hadn't expected to be training with one so soon. Abe said he didn't get to until Rin decided he was ready. Apparently, it was already time. She wasn't going to waste a single minute with him here, untrained.

"That's all," Rin said with a wave of her hand as she lowered into her desk chair. "Zoe, meet me out front at eight, on the dot."

Zoe nodded, turning to leave with Abe, before she was stopped at the sound of Teddy's voice.

"Last time I was here," he began, gaining the attention of the entire room. Rin looked particularly impatient. "You wanted Zoe and I to be together when there were paparazzi waiting. Will that be the same this time around? Do I have to attend the party tonight as well, as her guard and/or boyfriend?"

There was a long pause that made Teddy's throat work. Zoe carefully looked between her mother and her boyfriend. She didn't expect Teddy to ask a question like that, completely unprompted, but she was also curious. It was clear that Rin was also disturbed by Teddy's unprompted questions. Teddy had a feeling that people didn't just ask questions around here. That put him in a bad position.

"No," Rin answered, her eyes turning cold. "Zoe has to work, Teddy. She will have no time for lovey dovey photos. When Zoe is working, you are to be nowhere in sight, and when you are working, she is to never leave your sight. Does that make sense to you?"

Teddy let Rin's words settle before he nodded. He wasn't stupid, so he couldn't wait too long to answer, but this environment was also completely foreign to him. He couldn't help but buffer. He wasn't a soldier or a robot. Receiving orders and being talked down to was not something he was used to and it forced his hesitation.

"Yes, I understand," Teddy said, trying to be the most receptive robot he could be.

Rin gave a single, satisfied nod and waved him off. Teddy turned and walked out of Rin's office with Zoe and Abe. They all walked down the hallway in tense silence. Teddy and Zoe didn't really know how to act around each other with henchmen looming everywhere. This was Zoe's home but it was also Teddy's place of employment. In time, they were sure they would find some kind of rhythm, but it was going to be a bit awkward until then.

Despite that, when it was time for Zoe to skip toward her room and Teddy and Abe to split off in another direction, Teddy reached for Zoe. He didn't say a word when she stopped and turned to him, curious but cautious. Teddy glanced quickly around the house as he reeled Zoe into his arms. There were a few people in the foyer and a single man sauntering in the opposite direction down a hallway. There weren't too many eyes though, so Teddy dared to grab the back of Zoe's neck and place a kiss on her forehead.

"I'll see you later. Good luck at work," Teddy whispered.

Zoe beamed happily up at her boyfriend, feeling all sorts of butterflies flutter in her chest and stomach. "I love you."

"Love you." Teddy smiled.

A hand slapped down on Teddy's shoulder and he was easily pried away from Zoe. Teddy stumbled away from her, looking to see Abe scowling at him as he forced him toward the door. Teddy frowned at Abe and wiggled his shoulder out of her grip. Before they left, Teddy glanced back at where he left Zoe. Another smile broke across his face when he noticed her peaking around a wall, trying to get one last glimpse of him before they had to separate. He was going to miss her and she was going to miss him.

Distance makes the heart grow fonder, Teddy reminded himself. It was all he could say to keep himself from sulking. He would see Zoe again soon. It wouldn't be long.

-

Practicing to shoot a gun wasn't as nerve wrecking as Teddy expected. He was a little nervous at first. Picking up the first gun felt like he was committing to something dirty and wrong. In a way, he was. He was accepting a dark, dangerous world and diving right in. But Teddy pushed that unsettling feeling down and proceeded with his training. He had to. This was his job now and Rin hired him to protect Zoe. That was the one job Teddy never wanted to fail.

Being in the shooting range made Teddy think a lot about Zoe. He remembered when she called him and told him that Rin tried to make her kill an intern during her gun training. She was riddled with guilt after that, yet still decided that she would take care of Ezra so that Teddy could be free of his agenda. Despite what she was going through, she was still looking out for Teddy and his future. The memory made Teddy reminisce on the moment he called Zoe a coward and claimed he was the only one looking out for his family.

What an ignorant ass.

And now you're contemplating murdering her mother.

Worse boyfriend ever.

Teddy pulled the trigger on his rifle again, but nothing happened. The silence pulled him from his thoughts and planted him back on earth. Teddy looked up from the scope, at the target ahead of him, and straightened his posture. He wasn't a bad shot. He was getting better, which was the only reason Abe dared to hand him a rifle. Abe claimed Teddy would never need to use one, but he wanted to know how well he could control the power of such a powerful weapon. The target ahead of Teddy was the silhouette of a man's head and chest and all of the holes were close enough for Teddy's satisfaction.

Abe, however, looked less impressed. "Bring that back to me and set a new one," he instructed to someone Teddy had only just met. His name was Jason Thompson, only been working a few months longer than Teddy, and wasn't trusted with a gun yet, only the targets.

Thompson jogged down the length of the empty range as Teddy pulled his earmuffs around his neck and handed the rifle back to one of the actual employees of this place. Abe calmly demanded another gun from one of the other employees and they both walked off, leaving Abe and Teddy to watch Thompson fumble with the stack of paper targets in his hand.

Teddy took a deep breath as his mind began to drift back to Zoe again. He couldn't imagine the fear and guilt that would haunt him if Abe suddenly told him to shoot Thompson right now, without mercy. That's what Rin did to Zoe with that poor intern. That woman had to have something seriously wrong with her to play with so many peoples lives like this was all a game for her to enjoy. She was demented.

"It seems ridiculous that Rin would want to train and arm an army of men who despise her," Teddy said. "Sounds like a death wish."

"Rin is a smart woman," Abe countered, his eyes on Thompson and his arms crossed over his chest. "She wouldn't arm people she doesn't trust. Scratch that. I don't believe she trusts any of us."

"Then why does she do all of this? Doesn't she fear someone will use the skills she forced on them to backstab her?"

"I've seen people try to backstab her, Morgan. They never make it passed her Hives. The only man that ever laid a hand on her had that hand chopped off and shoved down his throat before he was executed."

Teddy shivered at that very bloody and very disturbing visual.

"What if her Hives were outnumbered? She would be defenseless then."

"Outnumbered?" Abe scoffed. "That would require more bodies, which means more mouths and more ears. Anything overheard or deemed suspicious would be questioned and stopped immediately. Betrayal does not end with a slap on the wrist either, Morgan. We had three men plotting to kidnap Zoe, so they could demand money and freedom in return for Rin's daughter. They had that plan for a week before they were discovered and killed."

"They wanted to kidnap Zoe?" Teddy nearly exclaimed.

Teddy was instantly reminded of Takashi's words back at the beach party. He said he could use Zoe as a shield, but also as leverage. That must've been what the other men were thinking before they were killed. They wanted to use Zoe as leverage. Teddy didn't like the thought of that one bit. Rin hired all of these unwilling men and then let them live in the same house as her daughter. Teddy knew for a fact that some of the men lusted over her, but he hadn't even considered that they would want to hurt her to get back at Rin.

Why would she allow all of this to happen under her own roof? Why would she invite dangerous men into her home, where her most priced possession would be in constant danger?

"I don't like thinking of Zoe in danger," Teddy grumbled.

"That is precisely why Rin hired you. You are just as passionate as her when it comes to Zoe's safety," Abe said. He was momentarily distracted when Thompson handed him Teddy's most recent target sheet.

"Rin doesn't care about Zoe's safety. She had people kidnap her and gag her and stuff her in a box just for a game," Teddy retorted, feeling his blood boil. "Zoe needs to be saved from Rin. Everyone she torments needs to be saved. Even if it is dangerous and it takes an army, it should be done."

Abe looked up from the paper target in his hands, his eyes suspiciously narrowing as they bored mercilessly into Teddy's. The tense silence hung between them as they held each other gaze. Teddy didn't want to reveal too much, but with only his eyes, he tried to show Abe the sincerity and the strength behind the words he just spoke. It sounded foolish and dangerous, but Teddy believed in the things he was saying. It was that exact sincerity that sent a surge of worry through Abe's vein.

"Go look at the guns they're preparing," Abe said to Thompson, pressing the paper target to his chest. "Make sure they have weapons worth our time."

Without question, Thompson jogged away and disappeared out of sight and ear shot a moment later. Abe held Teddy's stare the entire time.

"You can't just spout shit about shit that you don't even understand, Morgan. You'll have your tongue ripped out of your mouth that way," Abe warned, his eyes as angry as they were worried.

"I'm saying all this to you because I trust you," Teddy retorted. "I know you don't want to work for Rin. I know what it did to your relationship and your family." Abe didn't say a word, but Teddy could hear him. He was right. Abe knew he was right, so he continued. "You want your freedom. There are other men chained to Rin that want their freedom. If they had the chance—"

"You mean Zoe," Abe interrupted, looking agitated. "Zoe wants her freedom and you are so consumed by her that you would risk your life, claiming you fight for the underdog, when all you care about is the girl."

"Zoe's not the one asking for her freedom. She even told me she doesn't want it. She's so scared of her mother, she can't even convince herself to run. Don't you see how painfully wrong that is?"

"Zoe doesn't want to be free but you want to die for her freedom? Are you insane? I thought you were smart."

"I am smart!" Teddy barked, unable to control his temper any longer. "I have been thinking about this for the past two days and it only makes sense! If we approach this strategically, it could work!"

Abe seemed confused for only a split second before his eyes widened. He didn't hesitate to grab Teddy by his jacket and throw him back against the stone wall behind them. Teddy grunted with the impact and reached to grab Abe's wrists, only pausing when he noticed the wild concern in Abe's eyes.

"Whatever you are thinking about, stop thinking about it now, before it gets you killed. I'm not going to entertain your ignorant fantasies of suicide. Get your head in the game. There are no shortcuts, no fast passes, no emergency exits. You play by the rules or you die. How many times do I have to explain this to you, Morgan?" Abe seethed.

"They came up with a plan, Abe," Teddy rasped. "I haven't heard all the details but the calculations check out. The numbers, the element of surprise, the leverage. Everything you could ever think of in order to win a war, we can have that."

Abe was silent, breathing hard, and staring daggers into his ignorant apprentice. "Who's they?"

"A few guys."

"Which guys."

"Abe—"

"Morgan!" Abe shouted between his gritted teeth. "Don't go around trusting everyone that wants Rin dead. Have you been listening to anything I've been telling you?"

"It could work!"

"It won't!"

"Trust me!"

Abe took a deep, stress-filled breath. "I don't want you to die, Morgan."

"Then help me," Teddy whispered. "Help me do this the right way, so nobody we care about ends up dead. I trust you, Abe. Can't you trust me?"

"It's a suicide mission."

"Only if we fail. You're smart, I'm smart, we can tip the scales in our favor. You've seen these plans fail. We just have to do the complete opposite and win." Abe went silent again, his frown faltering with concern. Teddy gritted his teeth and pushed against Abe's arm to separate them. "I need you for this, Abe. Don't you want to return to Bella?"

"Don't pull that shit with me, Morgan. You know Bella doesn't want me back. Try again."

"Fine... Don't do this for her, don't do it for your cousin, or the other henchmen. Do this for me." Teddy gulped, bashfully averting his eyes and flexing his fingers. "I want to do this, Abe. I know it's stupid and I know I could die, but I don't care. I just need help. I need your help."

Abe fell into his silence, wallowing into his uncertainty as he stared at Teddy. It was clearly all insanity. This unspoken thing Teddy was talking about—overtaking Rin—was absurd. Abe knew the kid was unique when Rin decided to recruit him. It was obvious. He was smart and he learned quick and he was ballsy. Abe expected a lot of Teddy, but Abe had never expected him to be this. And frankly, he didn't know what to do.

Thompson and the gun range employees returned before Abe made his decision. They laid a few guns on a table behind Abe and began naming them off and babbling specs that Teddy didn't really care about. Teddy and Abe broke from their tense staring to return their attention to the gun and their training.

"Here's the standard automatic you'll be using," Abe said as he picked up a pistol that looked like every gun Teddy had ever seen in a movie. "Disassemble it, reassemble it, fire it a couple dozen times. I'm gonna go get some air."

Teddy took the pistol from Abe, frowning at the distracted look on his face. As he turned and walk away, Teddy asked, "I said I trusted you, Abe."

A.k.a, I hope you're not leaving to make a call and rat me out.

"And I said—" Abe looked over his shoulder, looking irritated at Teddy's persistence. That wasn't new. "Fire the damn gun, Morgan. I didn't say anything else, did I?"

A.k.a, I'm not going to say a word.

At least, that's what Teddy was hearing. He trusted Abe because they had a good relationship. Abe was his mentor and had safely been guiding him since they met. Teddy respected him as his teacher, but at the same time, they could talk as easily as brothers. Abe wouldn't hurt him. Even if Abe wouldn't aid him in this plan, he at least wouldn't get in the way.

-

Zoe threw her bedroom door open, fumbling against it when the door swung further than she expected. She giggled to herself but slapped a hand over her mouth when she realized someone was asleep in her bed. It was Teddy. He was shirtless, laid on his back, and peacefully breathing in the dark silence of Zoe's room. Zoe very gently shut her door and tip toed across her room to get to Teddy.

"Teddy Bear..." Zoe whispered as she knelt beside her bed. She caressed his face and grazed her thumb over his eyelid and bottom lip. Teddy stirred at her touch. "Are you tired, my baby?"

"I don't know which I hate more. Being called a Teddy Bear or being cooed at like a baby," Teddy sleepily mumbled as he pried his eyes open.

"You love both," Zoe said with a giggle.

Teddy smiled and reached for Zoe, but she pecked his lips and jumped up before he could capture her. He sat up to lovingly watch Zoe skip across the room. His eyebrows furrowed when he licked his lips and tasted a tinge of alcohol. Tequila, maybe. He wasn't sure since he wasn't too familiar with liquor. It wasn't the type of liquor that mattered though, it was the fact that the liquor came from Zoe's lips. He didn't know Zoe drank. She could be such a goody-two-shoes, he didn't know she was an underage drinker.

"Did you drink tonight?" Teddy asked as he headed toward Zoe's closet, where she had disappeared. His question seemed to be answered when he walked into see Zoe struggling to get her own dress over her head. "Are you that wasted?"

"I'm not... wasted," Zoe argued as she struggled. She tried to pull the material off her head but it wouldn't move, and now she couldn't get her arms out of it either. "But I need your help."

Teddy sighed and grabbed Zoe's dress to pull it back down her half naked body. She huffed with frustration when her head was uncovered but still flashed Teddy a cheesy smile. He returned the affectionate gesture and turned her around to reach for the zipper of her dress. There was also a button behind the collar of her dress, which was probably why it was so hard for her to get the dress off. That and the fact that she was definitely a little drunk. The redness of her cheeks and chest was proof enough.

"You drank on the job? Isn't that a little unprofessional?" Teddy teased as Zoe wiggled out of her dress and walked around her closet, half naked, to find pajamas.

"The party was over by the time I drank anything. Elyse was drunk, but she's a fun drunk, so I might've stuck around a few minutes too long. Long enough for her to distract me from the margaritas I was downing." A giggle escaped Zoe as she threaded her arms into a camisole and pulled it over her head. "Elyse got me drunk at my sixteenth birthday party too. She's always sneakier than I remember."

Teddy snorted a laugh. He enjoyed watching Zoe drunkenly stumble around her closet and find clothes to clumsily slip onto her limbs. After the camisole, Zoe found a pair of pajama pants, and then the fluffy socks found their way on to her feet. Zoe already had her eyes closed as she stumbled back toward her bed. She was so drunk and tired, she couldn't even act like she was sober.

"Not so fast, baby," Teddy said as he caught Zoe by her arm. She pouted as she looked up at him. "You have way too much glitter on her face to go to bed."

"I'm tired," Zoe whined.

Teddy shook his head, unable to stop smiling, and guided Zoe toward her bathroom. Zoe stumbled over her own feet but Teddy kept her steady long enough to hoist her on to her bathroom counter. He searched for some kind of make up remover. He didn't really know what he was looking for—if it was in a bottle or a tube or something—until he found a pack of wipes. He pulled a wipe free and grabbed Zoe's chin before carefully dragging the wipe across her glittery eyelids.

Zoe squirmed and whined and swayed, but Teddy persisted. He tilted Zoe's face from side to side and gently wiped away as much make up as he could. He frowned when an entire line of eyelashes came loose, but after realizing they were fake, he carefully removed the over one and set them both on the counter. He strangely felt like he was taking care of a drunken party girl and also his fussy, toddler niece. It was cute but it was a hassle.

"I'm tired..." Zoe relentlessly whined as she leaned away from Teddy, nearly falling off the counter before Teddy grabbed her.

"You sound like Bailey when I tried to do her braids for the first time." Teddy smiled at the memory but Zoe simply groaned, letting her head lull as she attempted to succumb to sleep. "You know why I learned how to do Bailey's braids?"

"Mm?" Zoe hummed, curious but tired.

"A man broke into our house and tried to kill her mom. It scared me and made me feel... inadequate. If Carmen dies, Bailey and Malik will only have me—and their grandpa, I suppose, but he has to take care of himself before he can take care of a couple of kids," Teddy explained, mindlessly wiping Zoe's face. "I want to take care of them, just like I want to take care of you."

"It's not your job to take care of everyone," Zoe mumbled. "They'll be okay. I'll be okay."

"Family take care of each other, Zoe, even if that means sacrificing their lives or... other's lives," Teddy mumbled.

Zoe pried her eyes open to stare suspiciously at Teddy. The second her eyes were open though, she ended up swaying. "You shouldn't kill people for those you love."

"You killed Ezra for me."

"I did, and it was a bad thing. I just didn't want you to do bad things, because you're the good guy."

"And I'm suppose to believe you're the bad guy?"

"Mhm."

Teddy scoffed. "You and I are living in two very different worlds, baby. There's no way I'll believe you're bad."

Zoe sighed. "I got you into a bunch of school fights, it was my meddling that got Bailey and Malik thrown off a boat, it's because you're my boyfriend that my mother wants you as a slave, and let's not forget... I killed someone. My world crumbled around me and I have nobody to blame but myself."

Teddy frowned, balled up the make up wipe in his hand, and tossed it into a small trash can. "I hope that you'll someday realize how wrong you are about that, Zoe. You're not perfect but you're not bad either. You've been brainwashed to believe your free will makes you a danger to society and it's not true."

"It is true," Zoe mumbled, eyes closed and head sleepily tilted.

"It's not," Teddy emphasized. He grabbed Zoe's face between his palms and frowned at her when he realized she was so tired and so tipsy that she couldn't even open her eyes to look at him. He gently brushed her hair out of her face and lovingly whipstered, "It's okay, Zo... Leave it to me. I'll save you."

"You already have," Zoe whispered, her voice impossibly quiet.

Teddy smiled to himself as he caressed Zoe's face. He took a moment to admire her before gathering her in his arms, tucking her legs around his waist, and carrying her to bed. Zoe didn't let go of her as he climbed into her bed and threw the blankets over them. Even when he finally got comfortable and settled, Zoe only moved to nuzzle her face into the crook of his neck and took a deep, soothing breath. Teddy stroked her hair and closed his eyes, savoring the small moment they had while chaos waited to strike from the shadows.

So I've been binge watching The Vampire Diaries, for maybe the 5th time since watching the show as it aired. Pretty good after the awfully cringey first season, but isn't every first season of anything pretty bad?

Anyways, since I've been watching it literally all day everyday for like a week, I've been thinking about what this book would be like if there were vampires. I mean, Rin would make a lot more sense if she was a vampire. She wouldn't have to blackmail her henchmen, she could just compel them. Sounds like a hell of a lot less work. She would probably have a witchy sidekick too, just in case being a vampire didn't get enough work done. She would probably keep Hiro human, just so she could boss him around whenever she'd like.

I think Zoe would be a vampire too. I think it could make sense. I mean, Zoe hates herself for causing trouble already so imagine how much she would hate herself if she were a blood sucking predator... Wouldn't it be cute to see lil vamp Zoe crushing helplessly on the human sad boi at her human school? So cute.

And then, of course, Teddy finds out and freaks out but then he loves Zoe so much that Rin comes and compels him to work for her and Zoe can't uncompel him so she feels awful and then revenge plot and... well...

there's other stuff in the future that could work in the realms of vampires and whatnot but you haven't even gotten there in this reality so I won't spoil it. There's big stuff ahead. I'm just fantasizing about that big stuff being vamp related lol