Stephano's declaration stunned the three of us. Beth and I looked back and forth between Stephano and Ann. Ann's shock cleared first and she laughed.

"Are you crazy?" She asked between bouts of laughter.

His eyes narrowed on her.

"That's crazy." She guffawed. "I'm-" her laughter turned to a sob.

I took a few study steps backwards. This was too much for me. I wanted to get out of there. 

But Beth was moving forward towards her sister. She reached out and Ann moved into her arms. They seemed to collapse into each other. Their bodies folded as they sank to the carpeted floor.

"Ssshh. It's okay. Ssshh." Beth murmmered stroking the back of Ann's head as the woman sobbed.

I wondered if this was how women reacted to marriage proposals in this era. I was willing to concede that Stephano's proposal was unorthodox.  But it was no cause for tears.

"I've got you." Beth assured her weeping, clinging sister.

I looked over at Stephano. His face was pinched. His posture was ridged. His hands were shoved in the pockets of his jeans.

"Are you okay?" I whispered loud enough for only him to hear.

With out taking his eyes off my mate and her sister he jerked his head in a nod. It didn't appear convincing.

"Oh, honey. It's okay." Beth tightened her hold around Ann's shoulders. She released her and started patting her back gently.

"I think-" Ann gasped, "I'm going crazy." She gave a laughing sob.

"You're not going crazy." Beth assured her.

Ann pulled and looked in Beth's eyes. "Yes. Y-yes I am." She flung out her arms and wrapped then around Beth. "Tell them to go. Please. Tell them." She begged in her ear.

Stephano heard the whispered plea as I did. His posture slumped slightly.

Beth turned to us. Apology was written on her face. "Could you give us some time? We'll be okay." She said looking pleadingly at us.

Stephano turned and exited the room. I nodded to Beth and Ann. I followed my brother out of the room. I closed the door lighly behind me. 

Stephano hadn't gone far. He stood just feet from Ann's bedroom door.

He had both hands on the wall. His head rested between them.

Before I could decide if I wanted to quesion him Ann started speaking.

"I'm going crazy, Beth. I-I know it. I've been wanting to end things with Kevin for months now, but just couldn't. Last week when he came to Alex he shook my hand. It- it was being shocked." Ann said and wept.

"Kevin came to see Alex? He shocked you? I don't understand." Beth replied.

"No. No. The big one. The vampire. Stephano." She sniffles. "I don't understand either. That's why I didn't go home. Kevin is there I couldn't face him. Things haven't been right for either of us but he knows me. He'd know and I - I'd be..." She hickuped. She was speaking so fast some of the word had ran together. Even when my brain separated them they made little since.

"Ann, slow down, sis. You're not making since." Beth's tone was soft and I could hear a soothing patting sound.

Ann hickuped again. "I want the vampire." She stated like it was the end of the world.

Stephano jerked around to face the door. I caught his hand before he could go charging in the room. He looked at me. I shook my head.

Beth giggled.

"It's not funny!" Ann warned vehemently.

"I'm sorry, sissy. But what's the big deal? He is cute." Beth said.

I raged. She was mine. Mine. She shouldn't be thinking any one else was good looking. I moved forward but now it was Stephano that held my wrist. He was grinning at me. I growled.

Calm down she doesn't mean it like that.  He informed me over the link.

That may be true but I wanted to go in there and stake my claim. I wanted her to want me so much that she forgot the existence of everyone else. I wanted her full attention on me and me alone. I wanted her to want me to the point of being unable to see any other.

"You don't understand. I wanted jump him right there in the entry hall."

Beth gasped on more giggles.

"Stop laughing." Ann demanded.

"Then don't say things like 'jump him'," Beth said still laughing.

Ann gave an exasperated sigh. "I don't even know him, Beth. After the hotel incident it makes me feel like a scanchy tramp." The loathing was back in Ann's voice.

"Oh, Ann. I'm sorry." Beth told her. There was a pause before Beth continued speaking. "You're not a tramp. You made a mistake. That's all. But being attracted to Stephano doesn't make you a tramp."

I looked over at Stephano. I couldn't figure out what he was thinking.

"I- I almost said yes, Beth. Whe- when he- he said marry him." She laughed with trepidation.

"Oh." Beth said simply.

Stephano huffed. "They make it sound like it'd be a fate worse then death." He complained.

I didn't comment.

"Do you think that, you know, you could be mates?" Beth asked uncertainly.

"We're not like you and Alex. Alex is part Were. I- I don't think Stephano is."

I could see Stephano's reaction to the turn in the conversation.

His eyes widened as if he hadn't concitered the possibility.

"Jeremy said vampires mate too. I mean he said it was rare but it happens sometimes."

There was a long pause.

"Wouldn't he know?"

"I don't know. Alex and I didn't. We just felt this... this intense need. I couldn't fight it, Ann. I wanted to but I couldn't. Everytime I'm around her I want in her arms. I feel panicked and safe at the same time. I love her but at first I didn't know it." Beth confided.

I felt my heart swell. At the same time I felt wrong for listening to a private conversation.

"May- maybe you should, you know, give him a chance." Beth adviced.

"I don't know. I have to end things with Kevin. Really end things." She sighed and I thought again that I had heard more sighs in the past few weeks then I had in the past century.

"Are you going to tell him about the baby?"

"No. It's not his. It's mine." There was a possessive cast to her voice. "I'll break it off tomorrow. I think it would be best if I move out. I wanted to buy my own place for years. If I move he'll know it's for real this time." I heard what I assumed was a drawer close. There was a slide and then a light thunk.

"What are you going to tell Stephano?"

"Nothing." She huffed. "I don't know. I can't marry him." She laughed. "I actually think I want too." She said.

"Let's go down stairs. We can figure out the details later."

Stephano and I fled downstairs, not wanting to be caught listening.