[kiasusam]

Over Teren’s shoulder, I watched Hot Ben causally put his stake back in his pocket. I had the feeling he was always armed with one now. Twisting, I watched my sister eyeing where the big vampire had gone. She was fine with Teren, and fine with the tiny, unassuming blonde vampire, but that big guy had freaked her out. I could smell the fear on her.

As Ben moved to walk to his car, presumably to follow us, I blurred over to him, stopping him. He paused and blinked at me suddenly standing in front of him. I rarely moved blindingly fast in front of him. I was just glad I hadn’t tripped along the way. Putting my hands on his chest, I searched his blue eyes. “Teren and I can handle this.” He immediately began shaking his head and objecting. I shook mine more forcefully and dug my fingers into his skin. “No, please…take Ashley home.”

I said that quietly, and glanced over his shoulder at my brave, scarred sister. She was determined to see this through with me, no matter how much the whole thing terrified her. Ben looked over at her too, his body slumping as he did. Ben had always been very gracious around my sister, never looking down on her deformity; never treating her any differently than he did any other friend. His eyes took in her slight frame, shaking slightly as she stood with her hands clutching her elbows, locking her arms around her body. Her eyes flicked over to mine then, and she smiled slightly - it was a forced one.

Hot Ben glanced over at Teren, who nodded, having heard that entire conversation, and then turned back to me. “Alright, Em.” Surprisingly, his arms came around my girth to wrap me in a swift hug. In my ear he whispered, “Be careful…both of you.”

We stepped apart and I nodded at him, tears in my eyes again. He stepped back from me and nodded, his chiseled face determined. I had the feeling he would take his assignment with ferocious seriousness, protecting Ashley from every bad thing in the city, maybe even staying by her side all night, just in case. For the millionth time, I could have kissed Hot Ben.

Teren held out his hand for me as I heard Starla sigh in exasperation, and mutter that we were all worse than her pampered, Princess of a sister. Ignoring her, I took Teren’s hand. His cool fingers giving me strength, I walked up to the car. Ashley walked up as well, as she noted that it was time to go again. I gently put my hand on her shoulder as she moved to open the door.

“No, Ash. Not this time.”

She sputtered and shook her head at me and I dropped Teren’s hand to grab her shoulders. “I love you, Ashley, and I know you love me. You don’t need to do this to prove it to me.” She shook her head and started to say she wasn’t, when I interrupted her. “I know, and if I were in your shoes, you’d have to pry me away.” I pulled back, my fingers going to her wet cheeks. I stroked the roughness of her scars, ignoring the odd feeling skin.

“This is something Teren and I need to do together, alone.” I leaned in close, resting my head on hers. “I love you, but I can’t have you there with me. I need to know you’re safe…” My voice trailed away as emotion cut it off. I felt Teren’s hand come up to my shoulder and I suddenly had a greater respect for him always wanting to keep me away, to keep me safe. Having someone you love in danger was harder than having yourself in danger.

Ashley started to cry in earnest, but eventually nodded. I pulled away from her, wiping my own cheeks. Telling her I loved her, I kissed her forehead. As Teren and I got into the car, I watched Hot Ben come up to her and put his arms around her comfortingly. She twisted and held him tight. He stroked her back and watched us through the window, his jaw clenched as he nodded at Teren again.

Starla started the car and snorted as she pulled away. “God,” she muttered. “Overdramatic lot, aren’t you? You’d think I was driving the two of you to certain death.” She started to laugh as she pulled out into the street and Teren and I gave each other uneasy glances in the backseat.

Once it was clear we weren’t staying in the city, Teren leaned forward in his seat to talk to Starla. Clutching my hand tight, he said, “Where are you taking us?”

Starla popped a bubble and looked at him in the rearview mirror. “L.A.,” she said casually.

Teren nodded and sat back in his seat, his cool side edging right up to mine. Starla reached in her purse on the passenger’s seat, dug out her bug-like sunglasses, and turned the radio up. Some pop hit boomed through her speakers and I figured she was discouraging us from asking any farther questions.

I sighed and leaned into Teren, happy that at least, for once, we were doing this little adventure together. Teren sighed as well and kissed my head before leaning his cheek on it. A twin nudged against a sore spot and I adjusted in my seat to get comfortable. Los Angeles? That was several hours from San Francisco. I settled in for a long drive, grateful that once the sun set, Halina would blaze her way to us. She wouldn’t have time to run back to the ranch, but Teren and I could find somewhere for her to hide. It would just be nice to have our “muscle” with us.

After a few silent miles, Teren shifted to look at me. I pulled away from his side and looked up at him. The afternoon sunlight streamed through the windows and highlighted his eyes that matched this sunny Californian spring day. “You smell like paint.” A corner of his lip lifted after he said that.

I smiled and subconsciously rubbed my belly. “Ashley and I were working on the nursery. You should see it…it’s beautiful.” My eyes watered at that. I wasn’t sure why. Maybe the thrill of preparing to see my babies, or maybe the fear that I may never meet them.

His hand came up to cup my cheek and his thumb grazed over the surface. I could hear his skin sliding across mine, even over the music, and I could smell some sort of grease, lingering on his fingers. “You smell like…the underside of a car.”

Starla snorted at that and popped another bubble. Teren ignored her, smiling down at me. “It’s chain grease. I went home and got my bike this morning.” He dropped his hand from my face and looked down. “I just needed to work off some energy.”