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"Well," Ana leaned her back against the kitchen counter. "I certainly was not expecting that."

"And neither was I." I replied after taking a sip of water.

"Michael, my darling." Ana's eyes darted to him. "Obviously, there is something you are missing. Is there nothing, absolutely nothing you can think of?"

I turned to Michael. He didn't reply because he was in deep thought. John leaned his head against my shoulder. "When will this end? These damn rogues are pissing me off now."

I patted John's forehead. "Soon, I hope." I turned my gaze to Ana. "Will Katherine be... finished soon?"

Anastasia inhaled deeply. "Well, Katherine is very unhappy about what happened. And from when I checked on her this morning, I could hear her going through her stages. It's like a prolonged dream. She should be waking up this evening."

"Hear?"

"Yes, it's like a hall of whispers in my ears. Very annoying." She sighed.

John lifted his head and I started to shrug my coat off. "Did you not see what happened with my brother?"

"I'm sorry, darling I didn't."

"It's not your fault. It's none of your fault but my own."

"Evie, you can't blame yourself. You weren't there. None of us were expecting it. It was the only night John wasn't watching him."

I looked to John.

His eyes widened. "I- I needed to feed."

I unwrapped Michael's scarf from my neck. "I'm not blaming you John. I just want this over as much you all do."

I leaned forward and rested my head on my hand. "Where's Sam?" I didn't get an answer. Instead I got a poke to the neck. I jumped a little and whipped my gaze to John. "What was-?"

His blank eyes flittered to Michael. "You tell me."

"It's none of your business is it?" Michael surprised me by saying in a deadly voice.

I blinked. "What-?"

"You're right it isn't my business... Evie," John smiled at me. "Did Michael-"

"Jonathan." Anastasia warned.

"-bite you?" He finished.

Oh. My cheeks started to warm. "I- is it that prominent?"

Ana shook her head. "It's invisible to the naked eye. Michael's blood did that. But to John, it's like a red light in the dark. I barely noticed so don't worry about human's seeing it, poppet."

I nodded my head and suddenly became aware of the awkward silence. Why it was awkward was beyond me.

There was a distant door opening and closing and I practically fell from my chair to go see who it was. "Sam!"

He gave me a sceptical look. "Hello,"

"Let's go for a walk." I begged him with my eyes to say yes.

"Um... Oka-" Before he could finish, I grabbed his arm and led him to the door. "What are you doing? Stop pulling!"

As soon as we were out of the house I took his gloved hand and started tugging him along. "Come on, Samuel."

"What's wrong with you? What's going on in there? Why are you still pulling me?!" 

As soon as we were a fair distance from the house I let out a sigh and let go of his hand. And then I shivered because I forgot my coat. "Nothing. I just need a walk."

He wrapped his arms around my shoulders. "What's up buttercup?"

I smiled. "Nothing. I guess I'm still a bit overwhelmed with all of this."

"Well... Your brother did almost..."

"Thank you, Sam for reminding me." I mumbled. "I think I'll just carry on blaming myself for this. No need to make me feel better." 

"I'm sorry. We all are. Katherine is blaming herself."

I looked toward him. "She shouldn't. It's not her fault."

"It's not yours either."

"Yes, it is." I sighed. "People have to stop saying it isn't."

"Oh, Evie." 

I stepped to the side as a young man with his chocolate Labrador walked past. "Hello, Sam."

"Afternoon, Pete."

I smiled politely as he walked past and stopped at a corner. "Look--"

"Nope, I'm not going to listen to you blame yourself anymore. Come on, let's get you something to cheer you up? Like a candy bar."

I raised a brow. "Just because I'm younger than you, it doesn't mean I can be cheered up with..." Sam was giving me 'seriously' look. "Fine, let's get me some chocolate."

Samuel and I walked to the shop five minutes later. Okay, so a Snickers bar did hit the spot. 

"See?" He said before we opened the door to his house. "What did I tell you?"

"Yeah, whatever." I mumbled.

We walked through the hall, through the living room and into the kitchen to find that Michael and John hadn't moved from their spots. Anastasia was humming something as she started rummaging through the fridge. Something had changed slightly in here because John looked like an unhappy father and Michael looked like recently scolded child.

"Are you staying for dinner, dear?" Ana turned to me.

I was about to answer sure, but Michael said, "We need to get going."

"Katherine should be out this evening. You should stay until then." Ana said. For some reason I felt there wasn't any argument in her voice. Not even Michael tried to protest because he probably knew that he couldn't win.

"Okay." I said. "I'd love to." 

I started helping Ana make dinner. I chopped up the vegetable and potatoes while she made her Spanish roast lamb. 

Michael and John had disappeared while Sam hung around to taste whatever was cooked first. An hour and forty five minutes later, I sat opposite Sam as Ana served the delicious meal. I glanced down at his covered hands with a frown. It was sad he had to keep his hands covered so he wouldn't touch anyone.

Ana must have noticed me staring because she said, "Samuel will learn how to control it in time, Evangeline."

Sam smiled at me. "Yeah. I'll be able to shake someone's hand politely without learning about their entire life in time."

"Oh, Samuel," Ana said as she sat down next to me. 

He took a mouthful of lamb. "It's true!" 

"You'd think my brother would learn respect."

My eyes were the only pair that watched Katherine waltz into the kitchen. She looked the same, sounded the same... Nothing was different.

"Your dinner is on the side." Ana told her.

Her brown eyes looked at me only briefly before she grabbed her plate and sat opposite her grandmother. I couldn't help but watch her as we all ate. She didn't look at me once.

Anastasia and Sam left the table once they finished. Sam picked up my empty plate with a smile. "We'll just be leaving."

I watched their backs exit the kitchen and put my full attention onto Kate. "Katherine-"

"How's your brother?"

"He's fine now. Kate-"

"How are you?" She interrupted without looking me in the eye.

"I'm better. But Kate, I just wanted you to know that what happened isn't your fault."

The corner of her eye twitched. "And it's far from your fault, honey. Even when I wasn't here I could see you blaming yourself. You don't have to listen to anyone else but I'm telling you to listen to me when I say that your brother being attacked wasn't your fault. Actually, whoever was wandering outside the house when we were together after you told Michael is the one you should blame. I am working ten times as hard to find these vampires and so is my mother and gran," She picked up my hand and brushed her thumb across my knuckles. "So this week will be good for you. It'll help you."

I tilted my head to the side. "This week? What do you mean?"

"You'll find out. But when you do, I need you to call me so I can explain."

I shook my head sharply. "You're not making any sense, Kate." Like she ever does.

"When do I ever?" She finally showed her smile. "Come on, Michael is falling asleep on the couch go wake him up." She stood up and stretched. "I'm going to bed. I'm tired. Call me Monday at 5.57pm."

I laughed slightly. "5.57pm?"

"That's when you call me. Gosh, Eve I thought you'd know this by now. I know almost everything." Katherine winked before walking out. I was glad she was feeling better. And her little speech made me feel better. 

I walked into the living room and smiled softly at the back of Michael's head. Ana was leisurely sitting on an arm chair with a hard back book in hand. She started smiling at the page and I knew it was because she could see what I was about to do. If Michael was actually sleeping then he wouldn't suspect anything. 

I tiptoed to the back of his chair and lifted my hand. Last time I tried this, he'd caught me out. Not this time. 

I was grinning like a maniac when I started to lift my hand. I swung my hand toward the side of his head and groaned when he caught it. 

"You never learn." He said in a rich, deep voice. "Especially not even a whole 24-hours after-"

"Come on, Michael!" I interrupted quickly. "Let's go."

He didn't release my hand as he stood up and circled the couch. "Okay, okay. Goodnight Ana."
Her eyes darted up and she grinned. "Goodnight you two. Evie, have a good week with your... Friend."

I raised a brow. "Thank you."

Michael drove us back in less than half hour. I was absolutely beat and I wanted to go straight to bed. But the next words that came out of Michael's mouth had me thinking otherwise.

"So, I have an idea."

I dropped my coat and the black plastic bag onto the couch. "Go ahead."

"Well, it requires your co-operation and of course your parents patience."

I raised a brow and watched him saunter toward me. "What are you getting at here?"

"It's Saturday evening..." He finally stopped in front of me. "Let's say you stay here this weekend."

"I always stay..." His hand went into my hair and carefully pulled my hair band out. "Oh."

"You can drive home on Monday."

"But... Wasn't it you that said my parents needed me?" I shut my eyes as his hand started running through my hair.

"They can survive without you for now. But I don't think I can." 

"Michael..." He took my hand in his and started pulling me toward the stairs. "Oh, come on."

"We're cutting off all electrical devises. You need this more than I do," I slapped his back. "I'm joking. But what you do need is a whole weekend without any thoughts or worries about your brother. Not on anyone else but each other."

"I can't turn off my phone my mom might call about Aaron." I said as we walked upstairs. "And don't forget Chelsea's flight comes in on Monday mid-afternoon."

"You'll be back by then. And okay, we'll keep your phone on silent." He led me down the hall. "Of course, I'm going to set rules." He smiled just before pushing his door open and taking both of my hands to guide me in. 

"Rules? Like what exactly? 'At no point should we have clothes on?'" I laughed.

A smirk played on his lips. "That's a good rule. I think I'll put that to motion," 

"It gets cold at night, Michael that can't be a rule!" He slid his arms around my waist. 

"Think about how hot it'll be in here soon," His eyes had turned to liquid persuasion. Oh hell. "Come on, Evie. Be bad for once... Well, twice in your life including that time you ran off to Rhode Island." He chuckled. "I think this'll be good, you're going back to your parents for Christmas and New Year. You won't be coming over as much until after your friend goes."

I placed my hands on his shoulders. "That's not true."

"No, it is."

I narrowed my eyes. "Why are you so certain?"

"Because your father also had a talk with me back at the hospital. I'm not allowed to say but you'll find out Monday."

"That's what Kate said."

"Well, listen to me when I say wait then." He surprised me by sliding his hands underneath my t-shirt and pulling it over my head. The pit of my stomach started to warm in excitement although I was so tired...

"Oh Michael, I'm tired." I smiled. 

"Has it come to that already? I thought this wouldn't happen until... Until... Oh, the horror!" He held a palm to his forehead. "Oh, the inhumanity!"

I rolled my eyes. "Lie with me for a while as a compromise," I grabbed the belt loop on his jeans and yanked him forward. 

"I'd lie with you forever." He said in a soft voice. 

"Although that was really corny," I watched him pulled of his shirt. "That was the cutest thing you've ever said to me."

His head popped out and his grin was one of a Cheshire cat. "But I would." He kicked off his jeans so he was left in his boxers and lay on the bed.

I kicked off my shoes and slid my leggings off to join him. "Forever in what way?

His large hands gripped my waist to pull me to his chest. "What do you mean?"

I trailed my fingers across his chest and sighed. "Never mind."

He pressed his lips to my forehead. "No, tell me."

I started chewing on my bottom lip.

"Evie,"

"When you say forever... do you mean... forever?" I wondered.

The silence told me I know I shouldn't have said anything. To be honest, I wasn't entirely sure what I was asking. We hadn't gone onto that subject properly and I don't think now – or anytime in the near future – was the right time to talk about it. At least not yet.

"Actually Michael," I started. "Don't answer my question. I don't think right now, what with everything going on, is the right time to talk about it."

"So you don't want to talk about it?"

"Do you honestly want to?" I asked him seriously.

"No, I don't." He replied bluntly.

"Alright then we won't. Do you wish you hadn't said it now?" I tried to tease to make the subject less apprehensive.

I felt his chest vibrate underneath my palm as he hummed. "No, I don't. Because I meant what I said." He tilted my head up by my chin.

He pressed his lips to mine lightly at first until I slid my tongue past his lips to meet his. I think kissing him will never lose its appeal. His lips were always somehow sweeter than the last kiss, his hands were always finding new ways to make me shiver and make my body even more sensitive or alert to his touch.

I felt his smile on my lips before I pulled back to look at it. "What?"

"Nothing... I was just feeling the exact same way."

I laughed. "Oh yeah. I forgot we were..."

He licked his lips. "You know what?"

"What?"

"I'll think I'll take up your compromise."

"What do you mean?"

He cuddled up to me. There was nowhere our skin wasn't touching. My eyes shut as I held him to me.

"I think I just want you to fall asleep in my arms tonight."

"Isn't that what I do every night, Mr. Reeves?" I teased.

He chuckled quietly. "Miss.O'Shea, I don't think there is any other way for me to survive the night without you in my arms."

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