There was only one room in this house that Dakota refused to go into. This was the library. She didn’t know why...she was just afraid. "What are we watching anyway?" "A horror movie, what else. Do you really have to ask that gorgeous?" Jeff asked her. "I thought that maybe for some reason you would get a comedy so I wouldn’t need a distraction during the bloody gory parts," she replied, smiling at him. "Yeah...that’s why I get them...I enjoy distractions as much as you do." Dakota hated horrors, but she had no choice since she was in a room with four boys. The brothers came in and sat on the floor and Matt sat on the couch. Dakota decided that she would sit in Jeff’s lap. She made herself comfortable and Jeff smiled. "Comfortable yet?" "No." "Well hurry up." Gangrel walked in a few minutes after the movie had begun. He sat down with his boys and watched the film. It wasn’t as scary as she thought it would be, but during the scary parts, she buried herself in Jeff’s shoulder. Dakota was awake throughout the first movie. Matt had stretched out on the couch. Jeff and the boys were still awake, but Dakota had fallen asleep by the beginning of the third movie. When the third movie was over, Dakota was still asleep. Jeff had his arms around Dakota and she was snuggled close to him. Christian went into the study and got a blanket. Jeff wanted to move, but Gangrel and the boys told him not to move or he would wake Dakota. Edge came over and picked her up gently. She moaned softly but stopped when Edge stood. She opened her eyes and looked up at Edge. "Shh. Go back to sleep princess." Dakota leaned her head on his chest and let the rhythmic breathing of his heart hum her to sleep.

Dakota was awake before anybody. The sun was coming up over the horizon and Dakota was the first to see it. She quickly pulled on her jacket and dropped off her balcony window. She walked silently in the woods until she came to her secret place. This was her hideaway; a place she went to when she needed to clear her mind. She slipped her legs into the tire swing and sat staring at the early morning sun. She felt a disturbance at the house and realized it was Gangrel starting to awaken. He called out to her. DAKOTA, WHERE ARE YOU? NO NEED TO WORRY SIRE, I AM IN MY PLACE OF THINKING. I NEED TO CLEAR MY HEAD. JUST MAKE SURE THAT YOU’RE HOME BY NOON, OTHERWISE I’M SENDING EDGE OUT AFTER YOU. SIRE, CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION? GO AHEAD MY CHILD. IS TODAY JEFFREY’S BIRTHDAY? I NEED TO KNOW...I WANNA THROW A PARTY. DEAR CHILD, IT IS. WHAT COMPELS YOU TO THROW A PARTY FOR HIM? I LOVE HIM, AND I WOULD DO IT FOR ANY ONE OF YOU GUYS. DAKOTA, YOU ARE TOO KIND TO US. IT IS, IF YOU NEED HELP, JUST CLEAR YOUR MIND AND REACH OUT FOR ONE OF US, I’M ENABLING YOU TO DO THAT FOR THE TIME BEING. YES SIRE, I THANK YOU. Dakota swung her feet and thought. She was confused. Should she go after what she could not have? Or should she take what was given to her. She knew that Jeff had a soul mate, they all did. Dakota just did not know whom hers or Jeff’s was. It was so confusing. She got out of the swing and started walking back towards the house. MATT? ARE YOU THERE? DAKOTA? IS THAT YOU? OF COURSE I’M HERE. WHAT’S UP? MATT...I WANT TO THROW A PARTY FOR YOUR BROTHER, BUT I NEED EVERYBODYS HELP. I HAVE TO GO SHOPPING TO GET THE STUFF...COME WITH ME? SURE...BUT WHO IS GOING TO KEEP JEFF DISTRACTED? EDGE? OR MAYBE CHRISTIAN. COULD YOU ASK THEM FOR ME? I’M ON MY WAY BACK TO THE HOUSE...WE DON’T HAVE MUCH TIME...BE READY WHEN I GET THERE. IF YOU SAY SO CODY. THANKS MATT...LOVE YA LOTS! Dakota broke off the connection. If only she could hear Matt’s thoughts at the moment. She ran back home.

When she arrived, Jeff was heading off on his bike. She slipped on the back of Matt’s bike and the two rode into town. Dakota dragged Matt into a clothing store first. She picked out her outfit for the night and then went to the party store. She got streamers and other funny looking party things. Before they went home, they stopped at the movie store. Matt dropped off the tapes while Dakota picked out a good movie for them to watch later. Bags in one hand, Matt’s hand in the other, the two headed out to Matt’s bike and headed home. When they returned, Jeff was still out. The sun was at high noon. Dakota set up streamers and balloons throughout the house. She wrapped Jeff’s gifts from Matt, Edge, and Christian and placed them on the living room table. By the time she was done setting up, the sun was almost setting. Dakota ran up the stairs and changed into her new outfit. It was a pair of tight, black velvet pants and a black spaghetti-strap tank top. She pulled a dark blue mesh see-through shirt on over it. She brushed her medium length blonde hair. She pulled it back in a loose braid. She pulled her black boots on and laced them. She stood out on the balcony to watch the sun go down.