When Gabby reached the top of the stairs, she walked into the first door on the left. Without bothering to knock, she slipped silently inside. Edge lie asleep on his bed. Gabrielle shed her long jacket and pulled her boots off. She got up on the bed, crawling up to the sleeping man. Gabby kneeled over him with one leg on either side of his body. She lightly brushed a strand of sunshine yellow hair away from his sleeping face. In an instant, Edge’s hands flew from his side and grabbed her wrists. He quickly flipped her so that he was pinning her to the bed beneath him. "Good evening dear," Gabby said as she giggled childishly. Edge glared down at her. "What’s wrong? Have I done something?"

"Yes, you have done something. So stop laughing." Gabrielle stopped. "Where have you been? You nearly gave me a heart attack last night. Don’t you ever disappear like that again, or it’ll be the last thing you do. I love you to death, Gabrielle." At the mention of her full name, she cringed slightly. She hated it when he called her that. "I don’t want to see you gone. So please, don’t you ever do that to me again." Gabby looked at him, genuinely sorry. "Oh, don’t give me that look." Gabby smiled. "There...now that’s better."

"Can I make it all better?" she asked him.

"Only you can," he told her, his mouth comming to a close around hers.

* * *

"I’m leaving now!" Jeff called on his way out the door. Matt grunted his response, letting Jeff know he heard him. Jeff walked down a dirt path behind the house. He jogged for about a mile and a half before he reached a tall tree. The trunk of the tree was at least 5 feet in diameter. He reached his hands up and grasped a branch, pulling himself up into the tree. He pulled himself up into another branch of the tree and climbed into the tree. The center was hollowed out and Jeff fell 8 feet to the bottom. He landed in a croutch and stood up. He looked into the branches of the tree. The roof was at least 12 feet over his head. He sat down in a large chair, one very similar to a recliner, only Jeff fashioned it himself, dragging big pillows to the tree to pull apart and put back together to pad the chair. Jeff had spent many days in this chair, thinking, writing. Here he was again, pain filling his heart and mind.

* * *

Christian blinked, allowing his eyes to adjust to the darkness of the club. There was a sea of people out on the dance floor, jumping around to the music of the band. He strained to see what band it was. He couldn’t recognize their music. Usually, Christian could tell you what band it was by just hearing one song. He sat at the counter of the bar, putting his ID on the table. The bartender bushed it back to him. "Hey Chris. You already know you don’t need ID here. What’s up man?" It was Joshua, Christian’s friend from school. Christian knew what Joshua was, and he could tell because the windows were always shaded and the lights never burned to brightly, excpet near the stage. Christian was thankful for that.

"Nothing Josh. What’s new with you?" Josh shrugged.

"Nothing. What’ll it be for you tonight? The usual?" Christian nodded. Christian turned to watch the band. His eyes fell to rest on the guitarist. She had shoulder-length, curly red hair and bright blue eyes. Christian reached behind him and grabbed his drink, a glass of Chartruse. When he looked back to the band, they were just finishing their song. They put down their instruments and were taking a break.

"So, how’s Kalika?" Christian questioned Joshua.

"Why don’t you ask her yourself?" The tall red head came over and sat on the stool next to Christian’s. Christian wrapped his arms around her in a hug.

"Hey you," Christian purred. Joshua rolled his eyes.

"Hey Chrissy," Kalika purred back. The three started laughing. "How have you been?"

"The same, the same." Joshua and Christian glanced at each other. They shared a secret. Kalika was the only one of the three of them that was not a predator, not an undead being. They kept this secret hidden from her so she would not be afraid of them. Joshua took everything that concerned his sister’s safety into his own hands. Anyone who harmed her would never be the same again. They would be sorry that they ever touched her. "Your band has gotten much better since last I heard them."

"You think so? We’ve been working real hard to improve our skills."

"Yeah....and you guys actually look like a band now. What with the theme you have going and all." Christian was inferring to the way she was dressed. Kalika was outfitted in tight black velvet pants. She wore a short black tank-top and over that, she wore a long-sleeved blue mesh shirt. "Very impressive. How you manage to look better and better I will never understand. You never cease to amaze me, Kali."

"I try my hardest Chris. Josh, can I have some water?" Josh handed her a bottle or water. "I have to go play again. You staying here for a little while Chris?" He nodded. "Good, then you can watch me. I’ll make sure of it." With that said, Kalilka gave him a kiss on his cheek and headed back towards the stage. She sat on the edge, swinging her legs up onto the stage. She walked over to her guitar and slung it over her shoulder. The lead singer called out the next song. Before they started to play, Kalika spoke up. "I would like to dedicate this song to my brother Josh and my best friend Christian." Christian looked at Josh a moment. The two looked up at Kalika. Josh’s eyes were full of love for his sister, and Christian’s eyes were full of pride in her.