Great! Now I had shaken her up even more. Her voice seemed overly loud as she screamed at me. My head began to pound. Not just from her voice, but from the beating I had received. She stood up slowly and made her way towards me. Her hands shook as she cupped my jaw on both sides of my face. Her eyes searching mine trying to figure out what had happened.

"I was going to get you a surprise when I got jumped. They took my wallet and then beat me!" Her grey-green eyes seemed to get darker, which darkened her face. Her eyebrows knit together in an angry V. She dropped her hands, grabbed my hand, and pulled me to the bathroom. I hated lying, but I had to. I didn't get jumped, I got beat up when I tried to kill Bear. She sat me down on the toilet after closing the lid. Then grabbing a washrag, got it wet, and wiped the blood off my face then she took a piece of toilet paper and shoved it gently up my nostril. Gross, I know. Then, telling me to stay put, she left. She came back with another washrag, four ice cubes in it. She sat on a plastic stool in front of me and held it to my eye which caused me to wince because it was so cold.

"Sorry." She softly said. I grabbed her other hand in mine and ran my thumb over her silky skin. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I just stared at the wall behind her. I didn't deserve her. I was a fucking murderer, she was just an innocent cellist, a lamb. I groaned at the mere thought of the day/if she finds out who I am. Devin must have thought she was hurting me for she withdrew her hand and looked at me, worry slicing through her face.

"It's okay. Thank you" She smiled and we just stayed like that, staring at each other. You may be asking yourself why I didn't clean myself up before going in. Well, I didn't because I wouldn't have known how to explain the puffy eye and or the cracked lip. So I came up with the story and went from there to see what would happen. And now I wish that I had cleaned myself up. I hated the kindness she showed me. I didn't deserve it at all.

"You should go lie down."

"Yeah, I suppose I should." I stood up, but my head began to swim. I felt her grab me around the waist as my legs started to give out. She propelled me down the hallway to the bedroom, I stumbled slightly, but she never faltered, even under my weight. We made it to the bed just as darkness overcame me.

(*)-Devin

He passed out just as I got him on the bed. I rubbed my pulsing toes that I had stubbed when he had tripped. I laid a cool cloth over his pale face and put a woolen blanket over him. I wondered to myself about who would have had the nerve to do this to someone. How could a-a human being do this to a random stranger? Ugh it made me so mad.

I know that I had let out a few curse words, but I couldn't help it, he had scared the living daylights of me when he came in like that. I grabbed some books and a water bottle, then as gently as I could, I climbed up on the bed. Putting the pillow where feet normally go so that I could see the minute he wakes up. I wanted to text my sister and tell her everything, but I didn't want her to become a worry wart so I didn't. Instead I opened up the book and lost myself in the story.

(*)-Thomas

Images bounced around my head. Images of Tori, flashes of conversations we had. Images of my dad holding my almost dead mother in his arms. Her last words to me before she died. Blades words about having to stalk Devin. His words of praise. Bear and all the things he's had me do. Then Devin's face filled my head. And her voice like thunder

"WHY ARE YOU LYING TO ME?" I sat up. My vision was blurry. A voice said

"Are you okay?" My vision cleared and I saw Devin staring at me, her eyes wide and filled with concern. She held a book in her hands. Something began to wet my pants, looking down there was a washcloth across my legs. I picked it up and put it on the nightstand.

"I think I'm okay now. If you don't mind, I'd like to take a shower,"

"Of course." She gathered her things and left so that I could use the shower in here so that I wouldn't have to move very far. Once the door was closed, I ripped off my shirt and looked at my left side by my ribs. An ugly bruise had already formed, my eye wouldn't be opening anytime soon. I took the rest of my clothes off and got in the shower. I turned on the water, first to cool me down and then hot to warm me up. Getting out, I changed into a black t-shirt and grey sweatpants. I toweled off my hair to where it wasn't dripping everywhere. Going out of the room, I found Devin at the kitchen table painting, when she looked up and saw me, she hid the painting from me.

"It's a surprise, so you can't see it." I nodded my head. "You wanna watch a movie?" Again I nodded. My mouth wasn't quite working, after the dreams that I had had.

We walked into the living room together, I sat down and turned on the TV while she put in Pirates of the Caribbean. Then she disappeared back into the kitchen, I heard a beeping sound and then a motor whirring. She was using the microwave. I skipped the previews and went directly to the movie, she came back in and set two steaming mugs of cocoa on the coffee table. Six marshmallows floated at the top in each. I realized that she was just standing there with her head down, her left hand on her right arm. She was waiting for my command to sot, so I patted the cushion next to me, but instead she sat on the farthest one. I leaned over and pulled her closer. She scooted down and snuggled into me, right into the bruised rib, but practice had me not jolt in pain, what she didn't see was the grimace on my face. We sat like this for a long time. Soon I got tired of sitting upright, so I laid sideways with my back against the cushions, then I had her lay against me. Her head by my chest. We fit together perfectly, like a puzzle piece. Better than Tori and I had. But Tori had been taller than Devin.

(*)-Devin

I felt like a little kid cuddling with my dad. Thomas was bigger than me so I fitted quite nicely into the space he provided. I don't know when, but at some point we had both fallen asleep. When I had opened my eyes, I was shocked that I had fallen asleep. The movie was over and the screen was blue. I shifted slightly so I could see Thomas. He was fast asleep, his eye black and blue, it should be iced again, I thought. His lip had a crack in it, but it seemed to be healing already. He looked so peaceful, but that peacefulness was shattered when I realized I had to pee. BADLY. His arm was around my tummy, I would have to lift it to be able to get off. I tried distracting myself, but then the unbearable pain of having a full bladder hit like a wrecking ball, and I knew I would have an accident if I didn't go now.

As lightly as she could, she moved the coffee table and then put her legs up to her chest, lifting his arm, Devin dropped it behind herself. Then, counted to three and rolled onto the carpeted floor with a solid thump. She waited with bated breath but nothing happened. From there, army crawled to the hallway. Then tiptoed the rest of the way. Shutting the door as quickly and quietly as she could, Devin was finally able to relieve herself. Ahhh much better. After flushing, she hoped that it hadn't woken him up. She looked at herself in the mirror, her eyes were puffy from crying but other than that she looked fine. She had french braided her hair before the whole shooting,, but it was frizzy on top and by her temples. Going out to the living room, he was still sleeping, but he had moved to his tummy. She put a gray fuzzy blanket over him. Then she went into the kitchen to finish painting so that she could get it fancily wrapped. Glancing at the clock, it was only 11:30, they still had the whole day to look forward to. But she was glad that he was sleeping, lately, it had seemed like he hadn't been.

After she was done, she switched to making her sisters wedding gift. It was an oil painting of her and Diego when all three of them had gone to see some flower gardens. He had illegally picked one and put it into her hair. An hour and a half had gone by when I heard noise from the living room, and then he emerged with a dazed look on his face.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to fall asleep on you."

"That's okay, we were both asleep. I have an idea for lunch, do you mind if I make lunch today?"

"No, not at all."

"Thanks!" I went into motion, cleaning my stuff off the table and then getting the pots out.

(*)-Thomas

A smile formed on my lips as I watched her clean up her stuff and then open the cupboards up like she owned the place. It came to my realization that I was falling in love with her. But it couldn't happen, she was a mission, not someone I can love. A frown replaced my smile instantly as I thought some more. She was something bigger than what Blade was telling me. I was only supposed to keep an eye on her and protect her. I needed to remove these feelings before they got the best of me. But she filled the emptiness of losing Tori. I'll just think of her as a friend for now until Blade is done with her.

"Alright, so I saw that there was shrimp in your freezer, so I'm going to make pasta and put the shrimp in there. Sounds good?" She looked at me, but I must have still been frowning for it quickly went away. "It sounds gross doesn't it? I'm sorry I should have asked-" I put a hand up to stop her

"It sounds amazing, I'll leave you to it." Her smile came back once more as she put some water in the pot and then put it on the stove to heat it up. I went into the living room to distance myself from her and so that I could get my beating heart back to normal and for the butterflies to calm down. Wow was I stupid for saying that no one could replace Tori, this woman had done it, replaced her. It took me forever now to come up with a memory of Tori, but maybe that was for the best, because what came with the memories was anger and pain because Blade had killed her and for that he would NEVER be forgiven. I will play his little charade until I'm no longer needed, then I WILL KILL him if it's the last thing I do. The pencil I had been holding cracked in two, I hadn't realized I had been squeezing it as hard as I was.

I sighed and picked up a new pencil. I was drafting Devin's Christmas card. I now toyed with not giving her the present I got her. But my mind kept telling me to give to her. So now I just have to come up with the best way to say, ugh I can't even say it now, to-to tell her: I love you without being creepy, cheesy or too fast. Smells soon emitted from the kitchen, I could hear her humming as she cooked. I would have to come up with plans so that I wouldn't be here all the time. Soon my problems were fixed with a text from blade stating that he needed to meet with me. Perfect, after lunch, I'd go meet with him, then maybe drive into town and walk around? Even with all these thoughts about maybe falling in love with Devin, I didn't know if I was ready for someone new, and I had to remind myself that she was just a mission, a random person. Heck I still didn't know much about her, but that was for the best. Soon she called for lunch. I stuffed my card under the cushion of the couch, hopefully, it won't get bent. Going into the kitchen, she has placed the noodles and shrimp in a serving bowl in the middle. One bowl is at the head and the other is on the right side. Two glasses filled with cloudy water sit at the top of the bowl. She motions for me to sit at the head which I do. As I sit, a timer goes off, she grabs an oven mitten, opens the oven and pulls out a pan with french bread. Some look like they have garlic on them, others are plain. She set them on the table and then sat down herself.

"You take what you want first."

"Okay. Are you feeling better?" I asked her. I mean that's what a friend would do. So why wouldn't I do it?

"Yes, I am much better. Are you?"

"Mmmm. I had a good nurse." I smiled at her and then stopped there I was flirting again. Ugh. It was so easy with her. I grabbed a heap of the noodles and two pieces of bread. She took a little helping and a piece of bread.

"I hope she wasn't too touchy." She replied with a laugh and raised her eyebrow at me.

"She wasn't." I replied with a half-smile.

"Good. Oh and the water isn't poisoned, I squeezed some lemon juice in there."

"Oh good, I was a bit worried." I replied taking a small sip just in case. She rolled her eyes and took a bite of noodles. We ate peacefully making small talk. I had eaten most of the noodles but she didn't mind.

"So what do you want to do now?" She asked me.

"Um well actually I have to run a quick errand."

"NO! You should be resting." She said earnestly.

" I'll be okay. I still want to get that surprise for you." I replied with a pout.

"Well alright, but if you don't come back for let's say in three hours I'm going after you."

"I promise it won't take that long. And if it seems like it's going to take longer I'll text. Okay?'

"Okay." He left her to clean up the kitchen. He felt wrong about leaving her to do that. But that was a woman's job right? To cook, clean, and take care of their man? I mean that's what every guy thinks, is it wrong though? Eh, what the hell, it shouldn't matter if they do it or not, just as long as they know they are loved and will be taken care of. Thomas was a little nervous about seeing what Blade wanted, he hadn't seen Blade in a while. He hoped that Bear hadn't told him about trying to kill him, but he would tell him the truth. After all Blade should know that Bear threatens his little pet. I arrived at his warehouse, my heart beating what seemed a thousand beats a minute. I walked to the door, I was about to knock when it opened and I was met with Blade face to face. I swallowed the lump that had formed as he took me in. That's when I remembered my messed up face.

"They really did a number on you didn't they? Well come on in, we have lots to discuss." He moved aside and let me come in. At the door, one of his maids handed me a beer and a cigarette. It was sure odd but I took it anyway. Why was I getting the special treatment? If he had heard what I had tried to do, wouldn't he be more concerned with punished me for trying to kills his son? I tried not to let my nervousness show, but by the time we made it to his sitting area, I was sweating like a pig.

"W-w-what did you need me for Blade?" I said trying to control my voice.

"A little nervous there Tommy?" Tommy? What the hell. He's never called me that.

"Um yes sir. I am."

"Well don't be. I know you think I should be mad at you for trying to kill my son, but I'm not. He was in the wrong. Not you."

"Well actually sir I um, how come you're not mad?"

"Because he's messing with dau-my project. And if he does it one more time he will not get to see another day."

"Oh."

"Yep, I made a little threat myself. I told him that if he tries to hurt you or Devin one more time, Jovani will have her life ended so fast he won't be able to stop me until the deed is done." My eyes widened at this. Blade had scared me in the past, but now he really scared me. His eyes were wild and his voice boomed. I gulped and willed my heart to slow down.

"Oh, I see." But instead of sounding masculine, he sounded like a mouse. This caused Blade to laugh,

"You need to lighten up Tommy."

"I'm trying sir." Thomas laughed nervously.

"Now, I called you here because, for the entire month of December, that means Christmas time through New Year, you won't have to do any jobs for me. Alright?"

"Um su- NO I want to work for you!" Thomas stood up quickly. Blade chuckled and shrugged his shoulders.

"And why would you want to? I'm giving you the deal of a lifetime."

"I-I um." He sat down defeated."I was just making sure you were for real." He shrugged helplessly Blade boomed out a laugh something Thomas wasn't used to. Blade clapped a hand on his shoulder

"Of course I am son. The other question I have is, how is everything going with Devin? I know you guys moved in."

"It's going well sir. She came up with the idea of moving in together. I thought it-" Blade cut Thomas off before he could finish.

"That's a great idea. That way you can really make sure she's safe and get to know her. You have been doing that right?"

"Of- of course sir. I've been learning a lot about her."

"Very good. Uh have you had any feelings towards her?"

"Whatttt? Of course not. That would be wrong." I responded quickly.

"You know Tommy, if you do have feelings for her, it would be alright. Because in the future I'm going to need you to do something for me. You're going to have to have all her trust in you."

"Um no, I didn't know that was alright."

"Well now you know. From now until I tell you otherwise. I want you to form a romantic relationship with her alright?"

"Yes sir. I will make it my mission to do it."

"Wonderful." Blade responded smiling and clasping his hands in front of him. "Now, get going, I've decided your time off starts today."

"Thank you sir." Thomas shook his hand and walked himself out to his car. He snuffed out his cigarette and stuck his beer in the cupholder. What had he gotten himself into now? He was hoping to have a little space. A light bulb dinged in his head, he could pretend that he had to go back to work. No, that would seem odd, she wouldn't believe it. Oh well, he was just going to have to face her and his feelings. He got into his car and drove to the store to figure out what surprise to get her, of course, he had to come up with that lie. Geez how pathetic. He went to the art section and there he found the perfect gift. He had noticed that some of her paints were drying out so he got her a new paint set, not thinking about how he was going to explain how he bought it. The one he picked had some bonus colors with it for only $20.00. He left the store and went to the cafe to get them some coffee. It was now 1:30 Damn was time flying today. After getting the coffee's he took the back roads to get back to the house, the backroads always took longer because you could only go 30 miles per hour.

He finally arrived at the house. He put the target bag aorund his arm and grabbed the coffees. He took the elevator instead of the stars becuase he didn't want to spill them everywhere. He knocked on the door with his elbow, he heard her say

"I'm coming!" Then the sound pf footfalls and the lock unlatching then her face, her beautifu face. He walked in, she closed the door and locked it.

"Everything go okay here?"

"Yep! I did a bit of scrubbing. There was a lot of dust. And I swiffered the floors." She beamed at me and I couldn't help but smile back knowing that I was free to love her.

"Here, I brought you some coffee." I handed it to her, suprise lighing her features.

"Oh! Thank you!" She blew on it and then took a sip. "MM delicious. It's hazelnut right?"

"Yeah, it's a hazelnut cappuccino."

"Well, I love it! You wanna try some?"

"Sure." I tried it, it was good but not something I would drink again. "It's okay!"

"So what do you want to do??

"Well, thefor the rest of the day let's watch movies, stuff our face, make treats!"

"OO I live it!" She replied cla[ing/ We set to work making a timeline of what we wanted to and when. WIth that done, we took out the ingrediantes for fugr cake. The rest of the night went beautifully. We were heading to bed when she stopped me.

"Thomas?"

"Yeah?"

"Just for tonight, ou-could I maybe sleep with you?" It took me off guard. SHe wore a blackcamie and sky bue pajama shorts and yello socks. SHe looked so cute. She had her left foot behind her right and her right hand on her left arm. THe hars that had come loose were a halo around her head. She kept her face down.

"Um sure. I don't see why not." Her head snapped up and she smiled. I held out my hand and brought her into the room. I closed the door, she turned off the lights and a moment later a lamp turned on.

"It was too bright in here." She simply said. But I think it was so that I wouldn't see her reddening cheeks, like mine, were doing. I was suddenly nervous that she wanted to share the bed, why had she wanted to? Whatever the reason, I was honored that she had gotten the courage to ask. I suddenly felt weird in only my boxers, but I got over it and went by her. She sat on the bed and crawled over to the other side. Then she pulled the blankets back and I climbed in, she turned her back towards me so I turned out the light and put my back to her too. Suddenly cold hands wrapped around my neck, her breath tickled my ear. I rolled over, I could see she was propped up on her elbows.

"You okay?" I asked moving my hand to tuck a piece of hair behind her ear. She replied with an

"MMM" And then rested her head on my chest. I put my arm around her shoulders and that is the last thing I remember before I fell asleep.