After the news about Europe practically blooming with fairies, we decided to cut our trip short and go home the next morning. The entire time John drove I was checking and getting all the information I could find. So far there wasn't much, no interactions except for the attacks done by the more aggressive  Fae. Looks like going into the office would be my best option for getting the best information.

Stopping at Johns place first, to check on his cat. The neighbor had been taking care of her for him and he also wanted to let let her know he was back and leave a note.

When we were leaving his place, we were stopped by an older woman that I was guessing was his neighbor.

"Oh, hello. You must be the girl John always talks about!" His neighbor exclaimed. She seemed to be in her 60's and was quite sweet to me.

When she said that I looked at John, "Oh really what does he say about me?" with a curious smile I looked back at her.

"Oh let's see it's mostly about how beautiful, smart and funny you are. I know that you guys work together and you always tease him at work. Not that he actually minds by the way he talks." She laughed with a knowing smile.

I awkwardly laughed,"Well at least its been good things." I moved some hair the wind blew into my face and she gasped.

"Oh Johnny, my boy! You did it! You asked her and she said yes! Oh my gosh! Welcome to the family!"

She gave me a hug and I gave John a look of 'what the fuck does she mean by that?!'

He mouthed, 'That's my mother.'

⊙.☉    .... -_- ....

'oh we're discussing this later you A$$'

...

After that extremely awkward situation that left me frazzled and embarrassed, John quickly introduced us more formally. He asked why she wasn't playing poker and she waved her hand in annoyance about the club closing due to Fae sightings on the property. He nodded, apologized and said that we needed to get back to my home and we were just quickly stopping by.

' We'd be back soon'....

.....In the car.....

*Dead Silence*

...We arrive at my place and I quickly get out and go inside....

*slams my office door shut*

'I can't believe he put me on the spot like that! No warning, nothing.'

"I can have my neighbor watch my cat." I murmur mockingly.

I grab my tape and wrap my knuckles and have a go at my punching bag in the corner for anger inducing situations. I'm steadily punching the bag and kicking it the whole time cynically talking out loud to myself about everything I've been mad about lately. Forcing the words with each hit on the bag.

"Stupid BLOOMING FAERIES gifting me A CURSE."

"DAMN flashBACKS."

"WATCHING my loved ones DIE."

"He FALLS in Love WITH ME and HIDES it."

"SARAH has CANCER  and is going to WASTE AWAY."

"MAKES me FALL in LOVE with HIM."

"PROPOSES in a PUBLIC PLACE."

"BUYS ME a BEAUTIFUL ring."

"TOLD me its his NEIGHBOR NOT his MOTHER."

"SHE KNEW that he was GOING to PROPOSE!"

"HOW will she TAKE THE NEWS that I WON'T die and she'll NEVER HAVE GRANDCHILDREN"

"KNOWS that if I CAN'T FIX this CURSE I WILL have to WATCH HIM DIE."

I begin to sob on the last one and grab the bag to keep me up. I feel hands on my shoulders gently and timidly to ask me if its okay to touch me.

I didn't even hear the door open so who knows what all he heard but I don't care about that right now. I shrug off his hands and turn around.

"You could have said something before hand that your neighbor is your mother."  I started to take the tape off my hands, I hadn't noticed my knuckles were busted and bleeding through the tape.

John grabs my hands and takes the tape off himself, "Yeah I could have but the topic never seemed right to bring up and she's normally not at home at this time. She meets with her friends for cocktails and poker, but because of the concern over Fae sightings they cancelled it and I didn't know until we arrived."

By the time he took the tape off of my hands they were completely healed. It seemed like the only thing this cursed gift couldn't heal was emotional hurt.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you she was my neighbor. I originally was going to and thought you would think it was weird or you wouldn't come over. I shouldn't have done that. Now about the rest of what's made you mad." He looks distressed, like he's preparing for the pain that might come.

"Do you ..." he collects himself, "...regret it? Saying yes?" He's expecting the worst outcome.  Because that's all he's ever seen me do is end things.

"It?" My face is completely monotone and expressionless as I am still trying to calm down my anger. I know any reaction that is misunderstood right now could make or break this man and me.

'Do I end this now? Do I still go with my original decision and give it a chance and hope the Fae will be able to help me?'

A little voice sounds off in my head.

....'when he asked you, he asked you to promise him' .....

I stare into his eyes that are becoming red as I see his emotions being crushed by my silence.

'I can't dismantle this man and live with myself'

...'I made a promise by saying yes, I do not break my promises.'....

I sigh and wrap my arms around him, pulling him close and kissing him very softly and sweetly.

"Never." I whisper in between our lips parting.

The intensity that was building under his skin relaxes as his tongue enters into my mouth as if he could consume my reassuring word that way.

"You know couples fight and argue and can be mad at each other, John. However, I agreed to the  promise you asked to keep you around. It's been one day and I mean I know I've gone through some men in 24 hours but not ones that I have ever even considered enough to care about. I do more than just care about you, John, I, Mary Lirael Douglas, L O V E Y O U."

....'Am I really that unpredictable?'....

*thinks of all the boy toys I've tossed that he knows of*...

~_~ ... 'damn, I'm I guess I have been an unpredictable garden tool'

*mental facepalm*

*author breaks the 4th wall*Again* (ha ha ha, yeah garden tool I'm keeping that in there, please continue reading)

....silence is golden they say, but this silence does not make me feel the same way gold would....

"Sin, Is Lirael really your middle name? I always thought it was like Lynn, Lydia, Luanna or something like that." He looked faraway and oblivious to the seriousness of the situation as he inquired.

.....'REALLY? From all that my middle name is what captured your attention.'.....

My mouth parted in wonderment at that. He glanced at me and saw my expression and cracked a smile.

"You make it too easy to mess with you sometimes, did you know that?" He grins sheepishly as I smack his arm.

"Ass, trying to be serious and you're playing with me. Fuc#er" I pushed him away a little and stuck my tongue out at him as he laughed some more.

"I'm sorry, Sin, I know otherwise everything that's been bothering you, wouldn't be bothering you. I had to ask to squash the seed of doubt I had. I have seen men practically crawling on the ground begging for you to give them another chance. There's also the one that we got you a restraining order on and a permanent ban from coming on the property at work who had to go through counseling that's always stuck out in my mind."

....*wah...WAh.....WWWAAAAHHH....*

'OF COURSE HE REMEMBERS THAT, DANIEL PUNCHED THROUGH HIS CAR WINDOW CAUSE HE THOUGHT WE WERE FOOLING AROUND. WHEN AT THAT TIME WE WERE NOT'

Sarcasm began to fill my face, oozing out of my smile, "Well at least you understand them now, I can't help it that I know my value and they came up short. I can do things very well, but I never promised anyone that I was going to be nice about it." My body language became cocky and I started building a mental wall to protect my heart. I stepped back from him ready to start laying the mortar in my mind.

"Oh Mary, hey, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have used those examples of you. They were just the ones that popped out of my mouth first without thinking. You know I don't care about them or what went on between you and them. I only care about what happens between me and you." he pulled me back and looked at me.  "I am sorry. It was not right of me to make fun at this moment. I was wrong."

*SHOCK* 'Did he just admit out loud he was wrong?'

"Well, at least you know well enough when to admit it when you're wrong. You're still an ass-hat." I pouted slightly.

"Ass-hat?!" Comically he looked at me like really? That's what you're going to call me?

We both busted up laughing when my phone started ringing. It was Mollies number.

"Hello? Moll?"

"No, it's me Cass."

"Oh, hey Cass. Is everything alright?"

"You said you'd come visit me in a couple of days, it's been a week. I got to show you my new clothes and what we're doing to my room. Mark even said I could have my own fort built outside that has a secret entrance to get in and out of my room!"

I look at John as he hears part of the conversation going on. He seems bummed knowing that I don't take him to meet my friends and I've never mentioned names to either. An idea comes to mind to placate the seed of doubt in him.

"Really Cass? That's great, I tell you what. Give me about around two hours and We'll come visit for a little tonight. Tell Moll for me kid. We'll see you soon. Okay Bye." I grin at John and a bright warm smile is returned.

****On Cass's side of the phone.

"MOLLIE! SHE'S GOING TO COME VISIT ME! She said give her two hours and that 'we'd be there'" Cass exclaimed happily.

"Oh that's wonderful Cass! Hmmm... 'We'd be'" Mollie sauntered off to the kitchen to prepare a light dinner and pick out some wine mumbling the second sentence that seemed to make her puzzled almost.

Cass suddenly pauses when it dawns on him what she said too, "We'd? Who's this WE?"

***Back to La Casa de Sin***

After some reassuring intimate moments and emotions have calmed down, I start preparing for our visit to Alpine.

"Don't worry I'll drive I know you've been driving all day. By the way, did you grab my bags out of the car? I have some stuff for Cass in one." I start to get a little anxious, I haven't taken anyone to meet the people I consider family for a very long time. Well other then Cass but that's a different circumstance.

"Yes, they are on your bed. I'm going to clean out my car really quick. We taking mine or yours there?" He asks about to head outside.

"Mine. Let's take the one in the small garage though." I smirk at him.

His eyebrow flick tells me he knows and he is excited for this ride. Even if it's me who's driving her.

Before he heads down he says quietly, "Sin, Thank you. "

I hear his steps down the stairs and out of the house and wonder what that thank you was actually for?