A Saturday should be a day of relaxation.

Should be.

It's the one time I've decided to cook and David can't pass up the opportunity to hassle me. He also throws in the occasional obscene comment. I, of course, eat it up. It's the perfect Saturday morning until...

"Whoa! Eva." David says, causing me to turn.

I'm befuddled to see Eva entering the room in underwear. Eva walks over and takes a cereal box and milk and sitting beside David. I can tell that David is trying not to meet eye contact. Eva is oblivious as she fixes herself cereal.

"Eva, what—whatcha doing?" I ask.

Eva stares up at me, "Huh?" She asks.

I gesture towards her and she looks down. Her cheeks darken as she looks back up to me.

"Oh, come on! You've seen this before."

I jerk my head towards David, "He hasn't." I frown.

"Seriously? Are you two tethered?" She asks. I continue to stare at her and she sighs, "Fine but I'm taking my cereal, you can't cook and you're burning whatever you're cooking."

She stands and leaves. We both watch and my eyes fall on David. When his gaze finds me, he flashes an uneasy smile.

"The food—"

I continue to glare at him and he goes silent. I angrily turn back to the burning food and turn the stove off. I mumble for him to clean it up as I exit the room.

-

Charlotte's Mother, the school's principal, heard about my 'generosity' and 'empathy' for Micah.

She quickly offered me a new job, an easier one. Though Charlotte's mother wasn't fully aware of the supernatural, Charlotte told her about my stress and she explains that she want me to be a guidance counselor. The hours are flexible, the money still sucks and it is considerably less stress.

Of course I object.

The bell rings and I quickly find the first trashcan to throw up in. As I'm finishing and wiping my mouth, I have to lean on the desk. I see Eva standing at the door. I roll my eyes and cross my shoulder.

"I'm sorry." Eva says as she enters the room, "I'm not used to cohabitating yet."

I nod, "It's alright." I say softly.

Eva runs her hands into her pockets and rocks on her heels, "So, pregnancy sucks?" She asks.

"I'm not even sure I am pregnant." I frown, "I haven't felt, seen or smelled a baby. It could just be a fluke or the spell being a bitch. I have to remember to kick Porter in the balls."

Eva laughs, "I think Charlotte would have something to say about that."

"Why did you come back? Why did you leave?"

Eva sighs, "I knew this question was coming. Which do you want to know first?"

"Why leave?"

"Can you blame me? You left. I was brought back from the dead after years of being a vampire. I felt alive. I needed to not be here, in the middle of a war of supernaturals. This place wasn't the same without you. It wasn't home anymore."

"Why come back?"

Eva chuckles, "Honestly? It's not something I can explain. I felt a pull. I came to see you a few times but I couldn't get past the feeling that coming back would suck both of us back into a life neither one of us wants. And then—"

"And then you heard I was pregnant and moving back here."

"Maybe. I missed you and Charlotte. I always thought I'd relish the chance to leave. I left. I drank, I partied, I learned and I loved. Now, I need to be honest. You've been my best friend since we were small, through every single thing we've come to across. My world doesn't revolve around you and I can live without you but I don't want to."

"Ditto."

Eva looks forward. The silence between us isn't nervous and it isn't bad. It's two friends realizing that we 'work'. She's been a huge part of my life for so long. A couple of calls, texts and Skypes weren't enough.

"I'm sorry about walking around your house half-naked. It was disrespectful."

"I overreacted. It's just a weird situation. I'm not mad at you—"

Eva laughs.

"Not anymore."

"You're a smart person but when it comes to love, you're not the brightest bulb. David loves you. He stares at you when you're not looking. He thinks it's funny that you can't cook. Face it, he's your biggest fan and also he thinks you're a piece of meat."

"Yeah, he digs this pregnancy thing." I shift uncomfortably and meet her gaze, "I'm afraid. I'm scared to fall back into that life, this life. I'm afraid that being a Dad will change me into that person I saw. I'm afraid that David is going to die. I'm afraid of so many things, so many things that might happen to me. Might happen to anyone I love."

"I love it when you're vulnerable, when you're honest." She says putting her arms around my shoulders and pulling me close, "You're cautious. You're strong. You care about your friends. The thing is, and you never really understood, that we choose to follow you because of all those things. You've always inspired me to be better. You made me feel special."

"You are."

"Yeah, I know that now." Eva nods, "I think I'll be a wonderful Aunt. Charlotte is buying shirts."

"I know this is going to go against everything you know about me, but I'm glad I don't have to do this alone. Any of it."

"That's what I came to talk to you about. Charlotte and I have been talking and we think we should go into business together."

I regard her with amusement. I chuckle and ask, "What kind of business?"

"Supernatural Private Investigators."

My first response is to tell her no. Hell no. Never. But it's honestly the best offer I see. With my 'flexible schedule', I'd be able to do it. It's also a good idea in this town. I thought that teaching and coming to town to guide others would be my calling.

The two best options for doing that have just fallen into my lap.

"I'm in."

-

David and Parker walk into a bar...

Best set up for a joke. Unfortunately for the two, this won't be a joking matter. The two friends find themselves in Byars again. They agree that it feels like old times, even if they've grown apart.

David and Parker's friendship started to deteriorate two years ago, after Perry and Parker drove the darkness out of Endor. Their friendship had endured everything from a rivalry for girls to splitting off to college. The one thing neither of them accounted for was the destiny of Perry and the destruction he leaves.

The two drink and drink before there is even a hint of a conversation between them. When they are finally done with their beers, the two look at each other before looking back at their beers.

"He's death and destruction, you know."

David nods.

"He's going to get you killed."

David stares at him.

Parker sighs, "He's also the one person that could make you walk away from me. We've been best friends for more than twenty years."

David takes a drink of the beer, "You know what you didn't mention. He's brave and selfless. He's saved your life and mine more times than I can think of. He fought like Hell to be better. Is it that you hate him for being the one that made me grow up, or is it because he's all those things that you think you aren't?"

"Don't psycho-analyze me."

David chuckles, "I love him. He's a Wonder-Witch and he loves me. Do you remember what you told me?" He asks.

"He makes you better." Parker nods.

David sits his beer down, "I love you. You're my bro. Even if you hate me or Perry, I'll always love you."

"I don't hate either of you. In fact, I love both of you. I just don't know if loving the both of you is worth risking everything I've built here."

"Everything you built is because he risked himself, that I risked myself. We all risked a lot and lost a lot. Park, we left this place and found peace. But sometimes, no matter how much you deserve it, you can't find it. You have to make it."

"I miss you, ya dick."

"You and half the women in this town."

The two of them laugh. There's another bout of silence as the finish off their perspective drinks.

-

Porter calls me shortly after work.

Apparently, my childhood home needs a bit of repairs. Penny has kept the place up really well but there are just some things that she admits to not caring about. The lawn is pristine, thanks to Porter and the occasional gardener.

We work for around two hours on the piping before either of us realize we haven't eaten. Penny calls us over to eat. Peyton quickly runs into my lap, eating off my plate. I notice that Penny and Porter are smiling at me.

"What?" I ask.

"You're a natural." Penny smiles, "You're going to be a great father, you know?"

"Please. Being a brother and a father are wholly different." I smile down at Peyton, "I'm not too sure about this."

"And there it is." Porter groans, "You go up against vampires and werewolves and the occasional witch, but this type of thing scares you?"

"Can we take a minute to remember that you're the reason this is happening. My nipples really hurt!" I stare at him, "Thank you."

The both of them stare at me with a bewildered expression. They expect me to say something different, something less shocking. I'm almost shocked myself. I sigh.

"I could be chewing you out right no but you were right."

I catch the nervous glances between Penny and Porter. Peyton is blissfully unaware of this conversation. Though I've told her that she's going to have a little cousin, this topic is lost even to me.

"Thanks? Is this a trick? Are you going to verbally ambush me?" Porter asks.

I shake my head, "My life was going great. I wish I had more time to just be married but I needed something to kick-start this strength. Let's face it, I was not made to be a happily content married man. I don't want that. It's boring. I love David. I loved our life but that wasn't our life." I smile, "I don't miss the loss and I don't miss the heartache but I think this is how I found me."

"I'm happy for you, I am, but this—doesn't sound like you?"

"Not the old me, no. I wasn't happy to be in the thick of it for so long. So, yeah, I've faced monsters and demons an, God, human beings, but there's only one thing I've been afraid of: Life."

"You...are so much more aware than you used to be." Porter smirks, "It's scary. It's okay to be scared. I'd be worried if you weren't. But Per, this is life. I want to run something by you guys."

I try not to let my eyes wander from him but they unconsciously drift to my mother's before they return to Porter's.

"I've been dating Charlotte for two years and I think—well, I know—I want—"

"He wants to propose. Saw the ring. It's beautiful, show her the damn ring!" I blurt. They both stare at me and I feel very embarrassed. I chuckle nervously, "Pregnancy hormones...plus I've been waiting on you to pop the question for a few months now."

"I agree." Penny nods.

"MOM!" Porter stares at her before taking a deep breath, "You're right. I do so love our family meetings."

"Take the plunge. I could always bewitch you...it'd be payback."

"Exactly how many months are we into this mystical pregnancy?" He asks, "Just want to know when I can start strangling you again."

I'm about to reply when my phone beeps. I look down to see a picture of David and I splayed across the screen and I smile. I quickly excuse myself from the table and move into the living room.

"Hi." I say an uncontrollable smile widening on my face. A moment goes by before I realize that no one is answering. I can hear breathing. I frown, fear running the length of my body, "David?"

"Hello?"

I know the voice. It's familiar yet foreign enough that I have to think about it. I squint my eyes, as if trying to see something.

"I didn't know. You have to believe me...I didn't know."

"Micah, hey, Micah! What are you doing with David's phone? Where is—"

"She asked me to do this. She tricked me into doing this."

My stomach sinks and nausea hits me like a mack truck. I stare forward, my whole body shaking. I can literally feel myself losing control.

"Micah...where are you?"

"Your house."

The phone falls from my hands and I move towards the door. My Mother and Porter move quickly behind me, asking questions I can't possibly answer. I can't hear anything. I can't feel anything.

It's not rage.

-

I barely stop the car before throwing myself out of it.

Micah's voice was panicked and shocked. It wasn't full of malice. That's the part that scares me.

As I enter the house, the lights are on. I call out for David and a small, terrified voice calls out to me. It's got to be Micah's. I turn the corner and move into the living. To my horror, David is laying in a pool of blood on the floor. My eyes find Micah, who is huddled in the corner. There's a large, serrated knife lying beside David.

"I didn't—She lied." Micah repeats.

I ignore Micah and move to David, bending down in the blood. I can see a deep gash on his chest and more blood seeping out. I press my hand against the wound, trying to apply pressure. I hear Micah sniffling and look to him.

"Call an ambulance! Now!"

Micah snaps out of his daze and pulls his phone out. I can't honestly hear him. I keep apply pressure. As I continue to pump his chest until a gasp leaves his mouth and he jolts to a sitting position.

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