Books are the carriers of civilization. Without books, history is silent, literature dumb, science crippled, thought and speculation at a standstill. Without books, the development of civilization would have been impossible. They are engines of change (as the poet said), windows on the world and lighthouses erected in the sea of time. They are companions, teachers, magicians, bankers of the treasures of the mind.
Books are humanity in print.
-Barbara Tuchman

My parents break the news to Lincoln.

After landing his dad in prison for the next five years, they decided to adopt Link even though his 18th birthday is four months away they wanted to get another son. I think they're trying to catch up to Uncle Calum and Aunt Jessie.

Asher's already 18, so there's not much they can do for him.

...besides the fact that all of his father's money was split three ways between Link's mother, who took off out of country and cut off all connections with her children the second she got it, Link's sister and Link himself.

And Lincoln being the loser, yet secretly awesome redhead that he is, split that with his best friend as a way to say thanks.

Though, I'm not really sure what he's thanking Asher for.

He's the nice guy.

No thanks are necessary.

Especially in the terms of $750,000 and a single penny -which is some sort of Lucky Penny inside joke between them.

At first Link turns pale, and looks back at me and Gold. Then he turns red, like he might explode. Eventually, when the room is deadly silent Lincoln smiles the most genuinely I've seen from him that prompts my dad to smile back. 

Mom wraps her arm around either of their necks and hugs them fiercely, for a second I'm sure that I see tears on Weasley's face but it's gone so fast that I'm not certain if I imagined it or not.

A more than loud and frankly quite malicious laugh breaks from my lips as I remember the strawberry party hat in my leather jacket's pocket. 

The camera in Asher's hands focuses me for a second -as we're planning to add this to our families home video's collection. 

The three people wrapped around each other disperse, my dad pulling away first. Before the redhead can stop me I'm shoving the hat over his head and tightening the strap on his chin, my wrist gets caught a second to late but by then I'm already grinning in victory.

"Come on Weasley, loosen up." I tease him, patting his chest once before stepping away. "You're my brother now."

"I am not your brother." Link says, appalled.

"Right." Mom, who has a peculiar air of sass now that she can officially view Lincoln as her child, scoffs. "Because that's not what these," She flaps her papers in Link's face. "Legal documentations say."

"You're part of the family now, son. Better get used to the crazy. And that one," Dad nods at me. "Always being around you, having your back, but being annoying as hell doing it."

"Hell's the right word." I smirk, looking back to Asher, who stopped recording sometime during my dad talking. "Wanna hop in here Gold?"

"Well Blue that depends." Asher's boyish grin catches me off guard -I have to stare at him for a second before it clicks why. He's almost, almost, smirking.

"O-on what?" I suddenly stammer, flushing without realizing I'm doing in front of three other people.

"Do I get a kiss out of it?"

"Should have just asked for one." Rolling my eyes I quickly walk over to the golden boy, giving him a peck like he said; not a fan of PDA.

But then the lapels of my jacket are grabbed by massive, cold hands and I'm kissed by the nice guy. A squeak leaves my lips, but I kiss him back without hesitation. Biting down I take his lower lip between my teeth, tugging while I pull away.

We haven't been kissing lately, not like I'd like to, simply because we've been surrounded by people...and parents. Which is not prime kissing conditions.

"Dad?" I grab Asher and practically pulling him out of his seat, but with the size of my boyfriend it's easy to tell that he let me. "I'm gonna, we're gonna -yeah. Stop giving me that look. I know you know. Weasley, let my brother know you're replacing him. And Mom, get good sleep."

I don't wait for them to respond and lead Asher outside of my mom's law firm, the place we decided best to have this conversation. Mostly because if Link wasn't pleased at all, Mom would have made him un-adopted and get him emancipation.

My parents are generous people, and I know after today my dad will tell Lincoln his own story of having a abusive father.

If there's one thing that would be beneficial for Weasley to have from this insane family is someone who understands.

Sometimes, that's more important than anything.

"Where are we, where are we going?" Asher asks, blushing slightly as I just continue to pull him over to my motorcycle. 

When we finally get there, I motion to my bite, biting on my lip because if I open my mouth to explain then I'd end up biting him. And now, I realize I have waited far too long to kiss Asher how I crave, how I need at this point. Because if I end up biting him I might as well just take him here on the sidewalk's concrete. 

"Are you just not gonna talk until, until I get on or? W-what's happening?" Seeing the fire in my eyes and feeling the hell fire from my skin, now blazing even hotter than normal as my emotions rise. "Oh I'm, I'm getting on?"

Controlling myself I nearly snarl at him, then stop myself.

Fuck, if I don't get this out with him it's going to be taken out fighting some poor bastard.

Why of all things, does my boyfriend have to be a virgin?

Tsk.

Virgins.

Climbing on, the nice guy settles. I follow his suit, tensing as his arms wrap around me to hold himself to the bike, thighs around mine. "Are you-"

I cut him off by revving the engine and taking off down the street.

"Is this going to be a thing? Because if it is I think I'd like to kno-"

Cutting Asher off before he can finish his sentence, hell before he finishes the word, I push him against the wall of his hallway -not being able to make it into his apartment.

Though I'm kissing the nice guy, there is nothing nice or sweet about how we're kissing.

Holding my lower back the golden boy somehow opens his door, leading me inside as we both stray of our jackets. 

I don't know if the door gets shut -simply because his hands are suddenly running up my waist and my hands hold onto his shoulders as I jump up, he doesn't even think about catching me. 

No hesitation.

Before I know it, I'm on his bed. He crashes slightly clumsily over me, I twist us around and bury my sharp teeth into his neck making Asher groan under me. 

"Eliza." He gasps, fingers digging into my thighs.

Pulling away satisfied I continue my attack on his colder skin until my shirt is pulled over my head followed by Asher's, as he sits up. Large hands hold my face and I'm kissed, slowing down our making out escaped as it's led by the nice guy.

"I have...a red shirt when it...comes to this." He manages to say against me, neither of us caring to stop.

"Don't care." I stubbornly reply, biting his bottom lip.

"But I'm completely...inexperienced."

"Don't care." My growl doesn't determine him in the slightest, trying to somehow persuade me into believing I don't want his love.

"I...won't know...what to do." The golden boy is still managing to kiss me, making me think otherwise.

Now annoyed at my boyfriend, I pull away with a glare. "It's human instinct, and you seem to be a fast learner when it comes to this stuff. I think you'll be just fine. Are you ready, or are we having this conversation for no reason?"

"I'm ready but-"

"No buts Gold." I snap, moving to place a kiss on his jaw. "Just kiss me back and take off your pants -only if you're honestly ready. I know I am."

Asher smiles, the action lighting up his features a little too well. "Ready it is then."

The next morning after we both woke up after our exhausted sex-made state, him before me as per usual, I discovered that he didn't realize a person could enjoy something that much.

And I didn't realize how sore I could be.

"Size definitely fucking matters." I grumble, grinning as I see the nice guy's expression. Being in a good mood he won't stop bouncing around the apartment like some crazed bunny, me watching him from the kitchen counter -too afraid to get up and walk in case my legs still don't function properly.

I feel something tickle my nose before sneezing, making me groan and roll my eyes at myself.

Asher is suddenly in front of me, startling me when I focus back into my surroundings. According to him, we're still not at the can-shower-together stage so he didn't hear me groaning and growling at myself in the shower.

"Did I hurt you?" My boyfriend's hands subconsciously clasp onto my thighs, pulling himself up to me. Real concern lerks in mint green eyes, making me have to control my amused smirk at this whole situation.

"No Gold," I sigh, moving my arms back to the counter so my hands stop massaging my stomach making it look like I'm in pain. "You didn't hurt me at all. I'm just sore."

God bless the nice guy, as he's obviously confused.

"You're not small by any means and I'm not necessarily the biggest person ever...meaning that when me and you do things like last night," Just by saying this, not even having to say sex as that would probably make his head explode, the golden boy turns red. "I really feel it after. Hence sore."

"Just sore?" Asher asks, I can practically see the tension building in him.

Unfortunately for him, I'm unable to stop my scoff. "Did you think you broke me or something?"

"You looked like you were in pain." He rushes to explain himself, Asher only flushing more. "And you are a very tiny...er...a small person, and it's easy to hurt tiny- -small- -people. I mean, I'm afraid to accidentally sit on you because I'd crush you. I mean, even your brother and Link hold back their strength when they're around you and Alexander is one of the most destructive guys I know."

"You didn't hurt me!" I scowl, growling as Asher begins to grin boyishly once again. "Why are you smiling now? Are you going to be this hyper for a while?"

"All week." Asher answers without hesitation. "This isn't going to wear off for a while, especially since there's no way you're going to stop flirting or kissing me."

Why is he so cute? And so much more sexier during sex than I thought he'd be.

I guess last night didn't only change his mind set.

My phone buzzes at the end of the counter, not waiting to reach over and grab it I raise a eyebrow the nice guy, who hands it to me with a smile.

Amazing, I'm dating a ray of literal sunshine now.

No regrets.

"The fuck do you want, Red?" Is how I choose to answer Lincoln's call.

"Well good fucking morning to you too, Elle." Link replies back, voice more annoyed than anything. "What the hell happened to Ash, he's not answering my calls and you two just took off yesterday. And I'm not your fucking brother now, don't start that shit again."

"For a strawberry you sure aren't as sweet as you could be about the fact we're now legally related. It's what from hell happened to Asher actually, he finally got laid." I say this so casually, even though I'm fan girling in my mind, that the nice guy in front of me sputters with a cough. "Why did you need him?"

"He what? Give the phone to him now Elle!" Lincoln shouts, making me wince.

"Jesus fuck Weasley, you didn't need to yell." Without waiting for a reply I hand it to him like asked, staring at Asher while the two friends converse so I can tell if it's bad news.

Nothing more than surprise so far.

Hanging up, my boyfriend grins, hands moving to the outside of my thighs. "Your dad wants to get a apartment for both me and Link to live in, closer to your house and school. Link is all for it, since his mom wants to sell his house anyway. I really like this place but...I don't like being alone so much, so moving in with Link would be good for me. So would being closer to you." He pauses. "Xavier--er, your dad, dad said I could take my time and decide. Help me decide?"

Biting my lip I hesitate, wanting to he selfish and declare he should move just to be closer to me--but decisions made with selfish logic never end well. "You should do what you think is right. If you don't think getting another apartment will be good for you, then it doesn't matter what pros there are. Don't move in, if that's how you feel. If you think it will be good for you, cons and all, then do it. Either way, if you don't and later feel like you want to then we'll figure it out and you know Link would let you move in. And if you move in and decide it's not for you, my dad still figure out how to get you back in here. A pro that probably didn't get mentioned is that there's a library slash book shop slash cafe right around the corner that is open 24-7. Just so you're aware."

"I'm doing it." The golden boy makes a split-second decision, still smiling at me though he's flushed. "I don't know how you were so alone, no friends anyway. For all those years. I would have gone insane with loneliness."

"Just because someone is alone doesn't mean they're lonely. Books, they're best at keeping people company. Plus, after I got back from being kidnapped the first time-" Which is a fucked up sentence in itself. "-the way I was able to start talking again was by starting to read out loud."

"I... I am not good at talking about my past. B-But you are. I don't know at what point that changes, so I try not to ask you questions... but, can I?" Asher admits, eyes widening as I smirk.

"Gold, you're probably the only person who can ask me a question and actually get an answer. Whatever you're curious about, especially after you got kidnapped just because you were around me. You deserve all of my truth at this point in our relationship." He still looks uncertain so I continue. "I'm good, Asher, I really am. I want to tell you, I just don't know how to begin. Ask me, ask me anything."

"Can I just-- I don't know, I want to know a lot."

Smirking at how nice he is, even when he really doesn't have to be. I'm not nice. "Then start asking."

"When you first got, got kidnapped, you were-"

"Twelve," I answer simply.

Mint green eyes darken into a forest and I know he's upset. "How long did he-"

"Did they." I correct. Asher pales from his flush, making me think this conversation isn't such a good idea.

"How long did they have you for?"

"Seven, almost seven months. I got kidnapped in late August at the graveyard when my mom was visiting her father. Mom's biological mother, my grandmother, was there. She was drunk, had to be in order to see her dead ex. Grace, that's her name. I escaped in February. By then, I was 13." Asher's jaw clenched and for once he doesn't look nice.

"How does Travis and the other one, the one who died," Who I killed. "How do they fit into it?"

"Travis was Grace's boyfriend, he's been sadistic all his life and was the one who suggested they hurt me rather than just have me. It was a way to hurt Mom, but never ever tell her that." He nods. "Trevor was Travis's twin. He was barely there but just happened to be the unfortunate fool in my way when I escaped."

"What happened that made you... that made you-"

"Kill him?" I supply, flexing my hand, the one with the scar. Asher, of course, notices this and puts his colder one over mine. "I broke a plate, one of the nicer ones she had in the house. At first, I was panicked, thought I was in deep shit, when I got a deep cut just picking it up. I realized it was a very very hard kind of razor-sharp porcelain. The happy couple was out drinking for the night, so I knew I didn't have to worry about them." Taking a breath, I remind myself to stay calm. 

Only twice before have I told another person this story, Dr. Tate 'Asshole' Anderson and my dad, so he could write an official report and play it to a judge, as I couldn't speak and he didn't want me blacking out on the witness stand.

"I had five broken ribs and a fractured wrist, both my ankles were sprained and my hip bones had been severely bruised, that didn't stop me from running. It did make me get caught though, before I even got out of the yard I got this," I move my hand out from under his and hold it up so he could actually see what it looks like. "Driving that plate shard through Trevor's heart. It's the only scar I have purposely given myself, and it was to kill a man. And Asher," I'm sure, just then, that I look completely and utterly feral. "I don't regret a single thing."

It's silent for a while, just him processing it.

"Your hips, the tally marks Dr. Anderson talked about, the ones I saw last night. The stuff Evan and Travis said. Were you...?" My boyfriend trails off, though I know what he's asking me.

Was I raped?

I hate it when I'm in such a good fucking mood and then I hear one simple thing that makes me think 'oh' and then I just get this empty feeling in my chest and nauseous and I want to just lay under a blanket until everything happens.

Today, that question is that one simple thing.

"Yes." My eyes shut on their own accord, lips raising into an invisible threat: Memories. "Six tally marks. One for the first of September, October, November, December, January, and February. And these," I motion to the words like 'whore' and 'unworthy' on my skin. "Are from Grace, a punishment for it. I wasn't the only one who didn't like what he did."

Seeing the way the nice guy is looking at me, I instantly throw up my defenses. "Don't do that. Don't pity me. I am not someone you get to feel sorry for. I am healed. I am strong and pitying me only takes that away. Feel bad for someone who needs it."

"I don't pity you." Asher sputters, accosted. "I was just thinking. Last night, when we were together-"

"You know you can say the word sex, right?" I interrupt.

"I know. But what we did was more than sex." He stays pale, telling me whatever he's thinking isn't okay. "Last night, did I remind you of him? PTSD is a... it can get bad sometimes, especially after something like that." It crushes how worried, how scared, my golden boy is.

"Oh." My heart clenches as I try to explain how Asher only hasn't just never reminded me of Travis, but he also made me forget him. "Gold, you're the only person who I've felt bare around-- like I've never gotten a single bad scar in my life."

Even around my dad, the devil for fuck's sake, I haven't felt that way. My parents are safe people, but my dad gets me to remember everything then heals me from it.

"We used to know each other, when we were little." I find myself blurting. "I met you in kindergarten. I would chase you around the playground and bite you every time you let me catch you. Once a little red-haired boy pushed me when I was catching you in 1st grade and I got bloody knees. That was Lincoln. In 2nd grade, we moved to where I live now and I switched schools. That's where I got Gold from, we used to be friends, I guess we were in different classes do the only time we saw each other was during recess. In fifth grade, I saw you again for a school fair. Link got first place and you already had this," I touch his neck, over his scar.

"We used to know each other. So no, I haven't been alone all my life. I had you."

"Holy shit." One of the few times I've heard him cuss. "I remember you. Why didn't I remember until now?"

"Um..." I go to explain myself, how I used to wear my hair up every day but now I keep it down. And how I also used to look very innocent and that's gone too. "Fucking fine, watch."

Pulling my hair up, I let myself relax, stop the nearly permanent smirk always at the corner of my mouth and remember how Asher looks when he finally gets a piece of lemon cake, to make me smile.

"...You. I-I, you, you look like you've never punched someone. I don't like it, you look fragile. You don't like being fragile." Asher confesses, surprising me.

Dropping my hair I shake my head slightly, the image of the golden boy go in place of the real one. With this conversation, it's hard to smile. "Anything else you want to know?"

"How long did it take you to heal?"

"I was almost 14 I was considered stable, 15 when I got released and when I started talking again. Anderson has been my doctor since day one, he's never pitied me." He calls me his purpose when we're alone, having never helped another person more than me. "In the hospital, I went to online school go finish 8th grade, I refused to miss out on high school so I'd go to school then straight back to the hospital. I have... coded." I'm careful not to say 'almost died'. "5 times. When I was 16 Travis's appeal came to court and I relapsed but was only non-verbal for three months. Last year, I had a nightmare after a party that was so bad I broke my own wrist when my dad was trying to wake me up. This was the first year I really didn't have any issues from the experience but then, of course, I got kidnapped again. So, I'm hoping when I'm 19 things change."

We lock eyes.

"I have faith in safe hands." Asher looks more than startled, and I can tell his mind is racing from all I've said.

"You always looked so unhappy being in the hospital, even that first time I was there with you and we were good it must suck living there."

"Nah." I grin, thinking about all the dumb fun stuff I've done there. "The hardest thing was PT and speech therapy. When I got my voice back I'd go down to the nursery and read to them, when one would cry I sang. I'd find secret passage ways, I'd go to the roof and watch the clouds. I learned languages and how to play guitar. Xander would come and draw things from whatever book I was reading and we'd play soccer until one of us would lose it. I could do a lot of things, and when I couldn't books we're always, always enough. Before you anyway." I wink and he flushes.

"You know we're already dating, right? You don't need to keep flirting with me." The nice guy says-- an easy way to turn the conversation light.

"Good luck convincing me of that." I snort, eyeing Asher thoughtfully. "And with what you've been hiding I doubt you'll ever get me to stop hitting on you."

"With what I- oh." Though he blushes, the golden boy also leans down and kisses me. "You're adorable."

"I am not," I growl, moving forward to put more force into the kiss. "I'm dangerous."
"Dangerously beautiful."

This causes me to giggle madly, causing us to have to stop kissing.

Pity how sore I am, because otherwise I'd probably jump Asher once again. Still, I am thinking about it.

Apparently, Wolf's are hard to please.

"Do you want me to pound that box down?" Asher asks Link, after a week of planning, packing and moving, the two friends are finally done and just disposing off all the boxes. So many fucking boxes.

"Wish you'd pound me down." I mutter, and suddenly hear the redhead's laughter though what I said goes unnoticed to the nice guy. My cheeks flame up, not used to anyone hearing what I'm saying unless I want them to.

Especially when it comes to my sexual innuendos.

"What?" My golden boy frowns, looking between us. "What did I miss?"

"Don't worry," Lincoln muses, smirking. "You were there for it the first time."

Smirking back I high five him, much to Asher's confusion. "Seriously Gold, you're not missing much." As Link said, he's already been there.

Anderson is getting married, apparently someone could stand that asshole long enough to live with him and surprise, surprise, I was asked to be one of his Groomsmen. Or Groomswoman, rather.

I don't get a speech or anything significant, but apparently the good doctor wanted his 'purpose' there, even if that purpose is me.

I've never met the bride, but apparently she hasn't even given the thought of me in her wedding a bad look.

Dr. Tate only gave me two instructions: Behave. Show off my good work.

Meaning, don't hide and make sure that the Moon, out of any mark on my body, is showing.

When that moon was still raw and trying to heal, I had a fractured wrist under it. Any straining would cause me to bleed and I also got a infection that almost made me loose function of my wrist. He couldn't put a cast on me, because then I might as well just cut off my hand, and he couldn't wrap the wound the normal way without putting me in extreme way.

That asshole invented a whole new way of healing major skin wounds for trauma victims, just to heal me.

He was also there, along with my dad, when I got my first tattoo at fifteen -the stack of books on my right ankle.

Lincoln fucking Lewis noticed Ron Weasley's wand behind my ear and won't stop teasing me about it. I'm avoiding him until he gets over it and I can begin to pretend to hate him again, and vise versa, which also means I haven't been to their apartment in a month.

"How about this one?" I ask Asher, stepping out of the changing area to show the dress. 

The other Groomsmen are wearing dark blue suits and brown ties. This matches his dark brown suit and blue tie, all of them wearing fancy brown shoes. The bride is, obviously, in white -though I'm sure that whole virginity ship has sailed. Her shoes are light blue, and so is her veil and nails. 

It's a theme -I'm supposed to match.

I've already tried on at least six blue dresses, Asher shaking his head at three of them and saying "Eh." to the others, and cringing at a brown dress.

This dress is a dark blue one. It has a empire waist along with a Queen Anne neckline and a thin layer of a similar, but lighter, color of blue lace hugging it. It falls inches above my knees, so it covers modesty which falls under the Behave rule. I wrapped a thin brown belt around my waist, tightening it a surprising amount before it felt snug.

I already know I'm wearing dark brown wedges, brown lace covering the top of the foot, and I know this dress would look better with them the other other ones that I picked out to try.

Surprisingly, I also feel good in this dress, which isn't something that happens often.

Asher's eyes widen as he scans me, nodding enthusiastically a second later. "Yes. Yes, that one."

"You sure? I really don't want that asshole to be disappointed in me." I say, then smirk. "Then again, I'm actually going so he can't expect too much from me." The nice guy playfully glares but his boyish grin a second later gives him away.

"You might get in trouble for looking better than the bride, but that's about it. Remember, behave." Asher saying this makes me have to fight down a blush and, of course, he knows this but says nothing. "Buy this one Munchkin, you look good in it."

I laugh, having forgotten he even called me that. "Okay, I will. But if Anderson has any complaints you're the one dealing with it." Calling this over my shoulder as I step behind the changing curtain and can still sense Asher's surprise.

"I'm going?" The golden boy asks, disbelief marking his tone.

"Yeah, obviously. I know you own nice clothes and you're my boyfriend. I'm not going to a wedding alone. Plus that way when me and Anderson start insulting each other, you can stop us."

"And it's this Saturday?" I hum in reply, Asher makes a noise of disbelief. "And when were you going to tell me this?"

Now only in my bra and underwear, I pop my head through the curtain, grinning. "On Saturday."

"You're such a last-minute person, Eliza. You're lucky I love you." Asher huffs, pulling out his phone as a chime rings out, no doubt about to text Lincoln.

Sometimes I swear if we weren't a couple, they would be.

Bromances.

Tsk.

"What are you grumbling about now? Not me, hopefully."

"Nope." I giggle, knowing I can't stay mad at him for long. "Your strawberry."

"Of course, I should have known." His teasing voice comes out, I bite my lip to drop any unholy emotional tangents. "You love to hate him."

I'm the Devil's daughter, so of course, I still have to say something. "Not the only thing I love." Walking out, fully clothed, I wiggle my eyebrows and glance at his hips. "If you know what I mean."

Asher covers himself, seemingly violated by my feral smirk. "I wish I didn't."

"Aw, and leave you so disappointed after all this teasing? How dare I." Walking up to him I lean in, arms on either side of his chair. "Of course I need to now and make your wish come true."

I pull away abruptly, the second he thought I was going to kiss him, his closed eyes fly open.

My boyfriend pouts slightly, hands coming up to grab my side so I couldn't pull away completely."I was kidding," Asher says, mint eyes shining in fake sadness. "I love your love."

"Cheesy, Gold, real cheesy." I can't stop myself from growling or lowering to scrap my sharp teeth against his neck. "But I love it. You're mine, and now you're stuck with me."

"Wolfs." My boyfriend curses using my name. "So possessive."

"Territorial," I say, having found a better word.

"So you're getting that dress?" Asher, who is smiling if course, changes the topic.

"Yep. Seems okay."

"More than okay..." He unintentionally looks at me flirtatiously, I'm more than tempted to start something.

But I don't.

Normally that kind of stuff happens after a wedding.

"Are you mad I look better than you at your own wedding?" I ask Anderson, smirking after the introductions took place. 

His bride is gorgeous and seems like an amazing person, her name May even though she was born in the middle of winter. She could easily be a just as great January, but apparently its a family name.

"Better than me?" The good doctor scoffs loudly, running a hand down his face. For this occasion, he's cleanly shaven. "I wasn't aware that I looked like I got ran over by a train today."

"Not only run over but also dragged a mile. Don't worry, asshole." I clasp his shoulder, actually taller than it in my wedges. "I'm sure May won't care."

"Thanks." Dr. Tate says dryly, eyes moving to something behind me. "My Groomsmen look like they want to eat you alive."

Glancing over my shoulder I notice the group of men staring at me, as the only woman in the room and Asher in the corner keeping May's five year old sun- -who is the flower boy- -occupied. I don't feel threatened, more amused.

Anderson wouldn't ever be around men who are bad enough to make me feel threatened, he wouldn't have men who treat women like dirt as his Groomsmen.

Still, the fact that they're starting at me makes my smirk wide and causes me to flash my canines at them. Three out of four back down at that, knowing that I came with another man and that I'm probably insane with the conversation me and the groom have had -that and the scars.

But one is still brave enough to face the Devil's daughter and flirt.

"I feel like the 'fell from heaven' pick up won't be successful." The man says, he has to be in his early twenties. He has hazel eyes and curly chestnut hair, and is moderately handsome. I know that most girls would literally jump at he chance of being with him, but I have Asher. He's around 6'0, just a inch shorter than Anderson. "Will it?"

"Hmm," I look back to Asher, who's helping the little guy fix his tie and bite my lip to stop myself from smiling fully. "I doubt anything you do will be successful."

Taking this well the man shrugs, still looking at me the same way. "That's okay, this isn't my day anyway. I'm the best man, Tate's brother, Nathan. But you can call me Nate."

Shaking his hand I smirk further, recognizing more and more of the good doctor in his younger brother. "I'm Diabla-" Just by hearing this word Anderson snaps his head over to me and glares, I wink at him but instantly correct myself. Behave, right. "-but you can call me Wolf."

"Wolf?" Nate says, surprised more than he was at Diabla. "You're the miracle girl."

Frowning, I glance back to Dr. Tate and pull my hand away. "Miracle girl? What does that mean?"

"That's what my brother calls you. His miracle, or purpose or whatever. Says you've gone through more than most people do in five lifetimes, and that you're his best patient. He invented that brace for you. Says by all means you're supposed to be dead by now. It's fascinating, really!" My glance turns into a glare, but Nate just grins wider. "I never thought I'd get to meet you, and you're more beautiful then he ever mentioned. He talks more about how nice you've healed. Too nice for your own good."

"He's funny like that." I mutter, pausing for a second before shouting "Asshole!" into the air making Anderson stop his conversation, hold up a finger before walking over to me. This also get's Asher's attention. "Why'd you call me the miracle girl."

Not surprised by that question the asshole merely snorts, "Because it'd take a miracle to get someone as grotesque as you to pop into existence."

"I wouldn't call my mother getting laid a miracle by any means." I say, making Nate sputter and his brother to roll his eyes. "Seriously? Miracle."

"Save this for later Wolf," Anderson smiles, and he practically glows with happiness -and slight nervousness. He's not the type for cold feet, and if he was I'd drag him to the altar myself. "I'm getting married."

Rolling my eyes, I look back to my boyfriend, who smiles boyishly at me causing my heart to go in overdrive.

"And I would hope the next one I'm at is yours."

This, of all things, gets me to blush.

"Man, she's taken?" Nate groans, stuffing his hands into his suit pockets.

Arms slide around my shoulders, holding me against a colder body. Icy hands squeeze me slightly while the nice guy kisses my temple. "Happily. I'd apologize for a loss, seeing as that I know first hand how big of a catch she is...but I'm un-apologetically in love."

Growling at him, for saying something that would purposely make me blush more, I bury my face into my hands. "Gold," I whine. "Stop it."

"I can't, this was planned." Asher drops me from his hold, turning to stand in front of me. From my peripheral vision I see Anderson give him a head nod and a thumbs up.

What's going on.

"Liza, don't freak out and bite me when I say this," The other guys in the room laugh at this, probably connecting my last name to 'bite.' I know, however, my golden boy is being quite literal. "But this..."

Suddenly, right in front of my eyes is a ring- -a ring with a small diamond rose on it, the symbol I use for my family besides a moon. In every generation that we can trace back, a girl in the Carter line has had Rose in her name and passes it onto the next generation. My mom only has one tattoo, a tiny rose on her middle finger. This is a engagement type ring, a ring people propose with- -and I gasp.

"This isn't what you think. I'm not asking you to marry me yet, this is simply a promise. Be mine, forever." The nice guy asks, mint green consuming me.

"Fucking yes." I grab his suit lapels, pulling him smack into me as I press our lips together. "Forever."

Asher grins and I swear, though I've seen it a thousand times, it's the best thing I have ever seen in my life. "Forever it is then."

"Elle." Link slams Asher's door open, making me pull the sheet tighter to me while Asher stays asleep, naked under his many blankets. 

"It's pure luck you didn't just see anything that scarred you for life." I snarl, death-glaring at the redhead who thought it was okay to just up and barge into his best friends (soundproof) room after knowing I spent the night. Especially since I warned him in advance...well threatened him in advance. "Get out."

"No. Ash, wake the fuck up. We need to have a little chat with your future fiancee." Asher groans, hand moving so he can clutch onto my bare side. I guess last night really did tire him out. "Asher Silas Hart."

This get his awake, but sleepily so, as the golden boy raises his head and rests his chin on my sheet-covered thigh to look at his best friend.

"I don't think you realize we're naked." I grumble, causing Asher to stiffen against me. "Lincoln Loser Lewis get your ass out of this room. We'll talk, but let me get dressed first."

"Nope. You got a sheet, there's a walk in closet there with your bag in there and Asher has a blanket and can go in there with you. I'll give you five minutes," Link states, checking his clock before glancing back up at me. "You wanted me to be your brother, so here I am, being annoying as fuck just like your real one."

Giving Lincoln a look I decide just to go with it. "This must be important if you'd risk seeing me naked." Link nods, agreeing. "Fine, I'll play your game. But if I find out you woke me up like this for no reason, there'll be hell to pay. Got that Weasley?"

"Whatever Elle."

True to his words, we talk five minutes later.

The redhead has some demands from me: I have to stop getting into fights, or put myself in danger now that Asher expects me to last long enough to be his forever. Also, I'm not allowed to go to a bar without one of the two friends there with me. And I can't be around Evan when he's smoking, as Asher got freaked out when he first saw me and my cousin interact it wasn't under good terms, without telling me the nice guy gets anxiety around him. Obviously, the cigarettes don't help.

"Can you remember all that Wolf?" Lincoln asks, but I know it's more of a warning. 

Remember, or else.

"I'll try to and Weasley?" I smack his chest, getting the redhead's annoyance to shoot up. Link glares down at me, but it's clearly fake. A common trend. "I want you to remember something, even in situations where you don't think someone needs help. Don't prove me wrong when I say this, even if it's about myself."

"What's that?" Lincoln, who instantly looks alarmed but curious at my words.

"You're the protector, especially of those who can't protect themselves. So, I'll keep myself safe so you don't have to, okay?" I say, my smirk growing. "No more danger." The redhead nods.

And my boyfriend couldn't agree more.

The End

JK