I woke up in the middle of the night and stared up at the cloudy sky. I needed to move. I rose from the mattress, silently to not bother Che. I started running. I ran so fast, pushed myself so hard, my lungs felt like collapsing when I finally returned to the house. I couldn't run as much as I wanted since my arm was broken and still hurt like hell.

The forest around the mansion was big and fenced in. It was obvious it belonged to the house, and I was not complaining. I needed space. I felt claustrophobic, but less so when I had been running. I actually felt okay right now, despite the pain.

I shook out the pain in my arm as I walked up the stairs and plopped down on the mattress again. Che turned around, put his arms around me and pulled me close to his chest. I could feel the heat of his body against mine, and it crawled under my skin, heating up my aching bones.

"Where did you go?" he murmured very sleepily.

"I just needed to move a bit. Go back to sleep." I wiggled a little closer to him. He pressed me closer yet and kissed the back of my neck.

"I'm cold though," he whispered and ran his hand under my shirt. "And you're so warm." His hand ran down, and I closed my eyes, loving the feel of him touching me.

"You getting warmer?" I breathed.

"It's definitely working," Che chuckled and pressed himself at me. I pushed back, and he exhaled loudly. "I've missed you so much." He gently pulled on my shoulder, so I ended up on my back. He kissed me and slowly slid down between my legs.

"I've missed you too," I said pretty pathetically.

Che stopped and raised himself a bit so he could see me. I think his expression mirrored mine pretty well. Pained. He stroked his thumb over my cheek, over the ugly 'F' scar. He dipped down and softly pressed his lips to mine.

I moved under him and made him jerk his hips. I moved again, and Che did too. I honestly don't know how long we just lied there, but it was almost better than anything I had ever experienced. I had my arms around him and kept pressing him closer to me, and we kept kissing. I just wanted him to be closer. I started pulling on his shirt, and he pulled it off himself.

He raised himself, so he was sitting on his knees, me following him and pulled my shirt off me. His mouth left mine and slowly worked himself down my throat. I tipped my head up and buried my fingers in his hair. The mix of his hot breath, soft lips and tongue made me almost lose my mind. I couldn't stop myself from groaning, and I was purring really loudly too.

He slowly pulled on my sweats and briefs. I pulled his trousers off too. He pushed me down again, and I pulled him with me.

I wrapped my legs around his waist as he slid his hand under my lower back, pulling the lower half of my body up from the mattress. He pushed himself inside of me while trying to bite down a groan. I couldn't really move, but Che didn't seem to mind. His hips were slowly rolling back and forth, while he was looking down at me. We were both breathing really loudly, panting really, while we just kept looking at each other.

I raised myself up on my elbows and kissed him. He pushed me back down again, settling on top of me. He smiled before he kissed me, his free hand running over my ribs. I dug my fingers into his back while my entire body started pulsing. Che kept going, but not for long. He muttered something under his breath and pressed me to him.

"I love you," he whispered and lied down next to me, before putting his head on my chest, his arm around me and his leg on top of mine. I had my arm around him too and let my hand travel up in his hair.

"I love you too," I murmured and sighed contently. "Can we just stay here? And not leave? Ever?"

Che nuzzled his nose on my chest before kissing it. "That sounds good."

We had both dozed off again, but then I jerked awake, awoken by another nightmare, I couldn't remember a thing of. Che circled his arms around me and waited until my breathing got under control before he asked what he always asked.

"Nightmare or memory?"

"Nightmare."

"New or old?"

"I don't know... I can't remember it..." I took another deep breath, inhaling his scent. He always smelled of fresh air and a bit of smoke. It reminded me of freedom.

"When did that start?"

"In the cage."

Che nodded and stroked me over my head. I closed my eyes and just let him. I loved it when he did it.

"I'm sure it will pass, now when you're out," he said softly.

"I hope," I muttered back.

"Come on." He kissed me and got me to lie back down. He kept his arms around me, not giving me a choice. I really needed this. This was what I had missed the most in the cage. Him. Just holding me close and protecting me.

His relaxed breath lulled me back to sleep, and I didn't wake up before the sun was shining its pale rays right in my face.

We stayed in the house for two more days and then it was time to leave. We were going to Ottowa this time, to meet up with Ailis and Cal.

My dad had summoned me before we left. I hadn't spoken to him really since they had picked me and Birdie up from the gas station, so I knew this was coming. He probably wanted to know what had happened.

I knocked softly on the door to his room, a faint 'come in' sounding from behind it. I opened it and closed it behind me. A suitcase was on his bed, a few shirts spread across the room. He was standing in front of the window, looking out, his back turned to me.

"You wanted to see me?" I said with a bit of a shaky voice.

He motioned me to come join him. He wasn't wearing a blazer for once.

My father looked nothing like Nat and me. He had a harder face, stronger jaw. His eyes were further apart, and his hair was completely black and frizzy. Nicely cut and very short. Just a dark shadow on his head. He was tall too, much bigger than me and Cal. About the same height as Che, maybe, but a bit smaller. His shoulders weren't as wide, and of course, he wasn't as muscular. He was lean.

"Yes," he said and glanced down at me. "I'm glad to have you back, Nathan."

"I'm glad to be back."

"It's needless to say, you can't leave without an escort anymore, right?" He slowly blinked, looking so very relaxed at me. I could fell the tension leave my body too.

"Right."

"I won't lose you again. I know, you'd prefer not to be watched over, but that's how it's going to be. For all three of you. Che, Nathalia and you."

"I understand."

"I knew you would. There's never any trouble with you, is there?" He turned towards me. I knew he was referring to Nat and Birdie.

"Aidan's not a... A bad guy, Dad."

"Do not try to protect the American," he snapped, rage rising to the surface.

"But he's not. He's most of the reason, I'm not going completely mental out her-" Before I knew it, he had his hand around my throat, and my back hit the wall, hard.

"Do not continue to lecture me about my prisoner, when I've told you to stop!" he growled. I looked wide-eyed up at him. I had my hands around his wrist, but I didn't try to remove his hand. I was so... Surprised. He never seemed like a violent man before.

"I expect you to do as you're told, do you understand? If I want your opinion, I'll ask for it. Otherwise, I want you to keep your mouth shut!" He clenched his grip around my throat, cutting off my air supply. I tried to put a little effort into removing his hand, but he just clenched harder, before releasing me. I coughed and tried to pull air down my lungs. My dad moved back to the window and looked out, his cold and calm demeanour back in place.

"Don't cross me again. You can go now."

I coughed again and hurried out. I didn't understand. I had seen us as equals, and I thought he felt the same way... I thought that was why he wanted me to take over after him. I rubbed my throat and shook my head. He must have just been on edge from all the shit going down. He was just stressed. He wasn't like this under normal circumstances, right?