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Michael's hands gingerly landed on my shoulders after he walked into the bathroom. "Evie?"

I turned my head to the side. "Yeah?"

"Are you okay?"

I nodded.

"Are you lying to me?"

"Yes." I muttered. "I'm sorry, it's just..."

He wrapped his arms around my waist and rested his chin on my shoulder to stare at us through the mirror. His green eyes scanned my face completely. I wonder if he knew just how beautiful he really was. His cute tangled hair and his 'Come to bed' eyes.

"John and I will be fine."

I shook my head. "I know..."

He laughed and I watched that smile I loved so much light up his face. I turned around from the mirror and faced him. "You're lying to me again? I thought you'd know by now that John and I do know what we're doing."

"What if there is--?"

"Evie," He scolded playfully. His hand stroked my cheek before saying, "Finish getting ready."

I rolled my eyes and watched him walk out of the bathroom. I showered and put on a pair of jeans, a grey t-shirt and a dark blue hoodie. By the time I finished it was six-thirty in the evening and Michael was downstairs on the phone to, I'm guessing, John.

He turned around after he hung up. "Ready?"

I nodded. "How long is the drive?"

"About half hour." 

I took a deep breath before walking out to his car and relaxing into it. After twenty minutes I knew we were growing closer.

"Are you scared?"

I shook my head. "No, not really."

"You should be,"

"And why's that?"

"Because Grandmother Anastasia is a scary woman." Michael winked at me and pushed the gas pedal down when the light turned green. "Unfortunately, it is through these circumstances."

"Of course." I mumbled. "If you and John were not going to look for a third scent, I'd of like to meet her on a different occasion. Like a casual dinner. Not for her to keep me locked up all night while you go out."

"Well, John seems to think you'll go out after unsuccessfully trying to find that vampire. To be honest I agree with him. You should stay here until we get back."

We drove down a nice road and stopped on a cul-de-sac. Sam's car was parked outside a nice two story house.

The rest of the week had gone by with no specific events to date. Attacks happened, work happened, Michael not daring to give me anything other than a kiss. 

Have I been deprived of his intimate touch? I'm not even going to lie, I have. And he knows it. We snuggle at night, we hug and hold each other but as soon as we kiss or go slightly, just by a tad, further he'd stop me. And there wasn't a reason that needed to be said. 

"You alright?"

I blinked to realise that we were parked in the drive, the car already turned off and the light in the hallway had been turned on. 

"Yes. Just thinking about this week." I mumbled.

He chuckled. "What about it?"

"How it has been uneventful. How today is Saturday and nothing has happened."

"The night it still young." He kissed the side of my head before unclipping both of our seat belts and stepping out of the car. He walked to my side before I could get out and helped me out. "Anastasia is a wonderful woman. Her great-granddaughter, Kate and Sam's mother, is here as well."

"And their father?"

He smiled softly. "He doesn't like to get involved in the witch stuff. He isn't one himself but he knows about the family. He preferred if it were kept separate from their household."

"So this is Anastasia's place?" I looked at it again. It looked too big for her to live in all by herself. How old was this woman if she were in her, I assume, twenties when she met Michael and John? She had a family when they met in the thirties.

"She must be..." I whispered to myself.

"She's one hundred and eleven." 

I gasped. 

"But don't worry. She looks great for her age. She's no frail old soul." He winked. "I'm only a year older than her." He chuckled to himself.

The door opened just as we stepped onto the mat. Katherine smiled at us widely. My hand slipped into Michael's nervously and he squeezed.

"Welcome to my grandmother's humble abode!" She yelled. 

I wrinkled my nose. "Why do you shout?"

She shrugged. "I thought it was better to shout. Come in! I want you to meet my mom before you meet nana." She smiled wider somehow and curled her fingers around my wrist. I gripped Michael's hand tightly as we walked through the long hallway. The living room TV was on as we stepped in. Sam was sitting on the couch with his legs up. 

There was a shout from the kitchen in a completely different language and Sam's reply was. "Mom! My feet weren't on the couch!" As he swung them off.

I chuckled. "What...?"

"Mom's Spanish. Where'd you think I get my olive skin tone? The sun? Ha! I've got Mediterranean blood in me babe."

"And why am I only hearing about this now?" I asked.

"You never asked." She shrugged. She raised her hand to her eyebrow and started playing with the ball of her piercing. 

"Don't mind her," 

I turned to watch a beautiful medium height woman walking into the living room with her hands on her hips. She looked almost exactly like Kate. Her long brown hair, her night brown eyes, the olive toned skin, and the way she stood. But the wrinkles on the side of her eyes differentiated them. 

"She never really tells anyone. Don't take it too personally, honey cup."

Kate rolled her eyes. "No one asks."

The woman's eyes landed on me brightly. "And this is the infamous Evangeline?"

I looked up at Michael and smiled at his grinning face. 

"And there are those dimples Michael has been raving about. Well, he was raving about them a few months ago when he first met you. We haven't seen him in a while." She hit her hand to his arm with a loving smile.

"I haven't had time. This one takes too much of my time now days." He squeezed my hand again.

"Well, it's nice to finally meet you, Evie." 

I held out my hand politely but she sighed. "We hug in this house."

I giggled when she pulled me from Michael and hugged me. "You have our Michael smitten."

I smiled. "It's nice to meet you too Mrs. Philips."

"Oh, darling no! Never call me that again! My name is Susan." She patted my back before pulling away. "Go in the kitchen and meet my great grandmother before she loses her mind with anxiety."

I laughed nervously as I let my hand slip back into Michael's. "Okay."

Michael was slightly ahead of me as we walked through the arch into the kitchen. A woman had her back to us but when I say woman I mean someone that looks to be the age of forty or fifty. I glanced around the corner waiting for her to walk out.

"Ana." Michael said.

I turned to look behind me and jumped a little when Kate and her mother were standing there staring at me with a similar knowing look. I swung around to see the woman turn. 

Obviously I couldn't contain my gasp. For a woman that was supposed to be one hundred and eleven years old... She looked pretty damn good. 

She looked like a slightly older version of Katherine's mom. 

However her eyes were a bright gold. Her eyes never left Michael; they were loving eyes. I tilted my head curiously. 

"Michael, my darling." She put down the plate she had in her hand and opened her arms. 

Michael let go of my hand to embrace her. I watched curiously as he said something and she let out a throaty chuckle. It wasn't the sort of love I shared with Michael. No, this was motherly. The way she pulled away and stroked his face like my mother would do. The way she looked at him from head to toe as if half expecting her son to be covered in cuts and bruises.

"Where ever have you been, boy? Like I have to ask." 

I smiled when she answered her own question. She gave off one of those electric happy vibes. She was probably a handful when she was younger.

Before he could even answer, she nudged him to the side with a slight bump of the hip and looked directly at me. I started chewing on my bottom lip anxiously.

She came forward with a mischievous smile. A smile I knew all too well. 

"Oh, darling, chewing your lip is a bad habit." She tutted as she stopped in front of me. "You know what your mother says about that."

I blinked. "I-uh..." I stumbled.

She picked up my hand but not before asking, "May I?"

I nodded and watched as she opened my palm. She literally only glanced at it for a second before smiling and dropping it. "You're a beautiful young lady, Evangeline. And Michael, and yes Michael, is lucky to have you." She grinned at me before saying, "Michael, my darling, when is my Jonathan getting here? I miss him, dearly."

"He's waiting for me outside. I'll need to leave now."

She sighed in despair. "Such a shame, what's happening. Isn't it?" Her golden eyes turned to me.

"Yes. It is." I replied.

"And more of a shame how my granddaughters cannot see them."

Katherine and her mother glanced at each other. "The real problem is the fact YOU cannot see them," Susan said seriously. 

Anastasia waved it away like it was an everyday thing. "No matter. We will find them."

Michael's hand rested on the small of my back. "I'll be going. Ana, I'll be back before Evie even considers trying to leave the house. Not that she can." He smiled mischievously. I narrowed my eyes in question but he only shook his head and nudged me to walk out of the kitchen.

I walked with him to the front door and stopped him by grabbing onto the front of his shirt. "Promise me something?" I pulled on his shirt so he came forward and pressed my lips onto his. I could feel the slight smile on his lips as I pecked twice. "Be safe. And--"

"Don't die." He finished for me and wrapped his arms around my waist. "I promise. Like I always do."

I let go of his shirt to rest my hands on his chest. He captured his lips in mine and allowed himself to skim his tongue along my bottom lip. I deepened it letting our tongues and lips move together in a rhythm I'm so addicted and familiar with. Our bodies pressed together as if the world would immediately implode if we separated.

And yet, he pulled away first and sighed. "You know we can't--"

"Yeah, I do." I looked into his eyes and noticed how his pupils pulsed only a little bit. "Go. The sooner you get it done the better."

He pecked my cheek before walking out of the front door. I watched John wiggle his fingers at me and Michael slap his hand. Although John is older than Michael, he was so immature... that is, when the situation wasn't too serious.

I shut the door and walked back into the living room. Sam looked up at me and smiled. He patted the seat beside him and I gracefully joined him. 

"You know all three women probably were watching you mack one on Mike right?"

I frowned as I fiddled with my fingers. "I hope not. That would be an invasion--"

"Of all privacy?" He finished. "You're in a house with four witches, three of which can see most of the future and another that touches to gain information. Privacy is not a word in this household." He laughed.

"Awesome." I mumbled.

**

I walked groggily into the dark kitchen to grab a bottle of water. Sam and I had watched a few movies, he'd kept my mind off the fact Michael had gone out looking for another rogue. Kate, her mom and grandmother had disappeared and when I'd asked where they went, Sam just said they were in the basement. 

Sam and I had fallen asleep on the couch after finishing a movie of my choice, good old, "Pretty Woman." I'd been waking up on and off since I'd fallen asleep. 

And now judging the by electric clock on the cooker it was almost one-thirty in the morning. 

I took a few gulps and placed the bottle on the table before deciding to walk around a bit. I was slightly surprised Michael was still out. We'd gotten to the house around seven. I just prayed that he was okay. I stopped in the back dining room where the side door was. I glanced out and then turned around to see if anyone was around. Maybe I could go out for a minute. 

Just a minute.

They wouldn't know. 

The back door was unlocked so I slid it to the side. The snow from the other night hadn't settled but it'd been on and off all week. 

I went to step outside when I stopped abruptly like I'd hit a brick wall. I took a steadying breath and tried again but my body just involuntarily stopped. I pushed on the brick wall with all my might but to no avail.

Oh, sneaky. 

That's why Michael said I couldn't leave the house even if I wanted to. Witches. 

I scowled at the door as I slid it back into place. I wonder if this was Kate's spell. Wouldn't surprise me if it was. 

I was walking through the dark kitchen when the light switched on. I jumped and let out a startled gasp when Ana smiled from her seat at the kitchen table.

"Hello dear,"

I smiled cautiously. "Hi, Anastasia."

"Please, call me Ana." She pulled out the seat beside her with a beautiful smile. "Sit with me, dear. There is no surprise that you're up."

"There isn't?" I mumbled as I sat down.

"Of course. You're worried about him."

I looked down at my hands. "I thought they'd be back by now."

She smiled softly. "I can't see them. So I assume they've found them?"

My heart jumped into my throat briefly. "Oh."

"I'm not sure if I'm correct, though. So please don't worry too much. Michael and John know how to handle it."

"I know..." I suppose it's the right thing if they found them. But then something in the back of my mind was saying what if there were three of them? Michael and John would barely stand a chance.

I sighed and smiled tightly at Ana. She was staring at me like she was examining my every move, emotion and thought. 

Then she suddenly said, "Were you trying to go outside?"

"Uh..."

"Couldn't you go out?"

I scowled inwardly. "No. I'm sorry."

"Oh, don't be sorry."

"Was it Katherine? It wouldn't surprise me if it was."

"No, honey, it was me."

I stared at her incredulously. "Oh..."

"John knew you would try." She said with a familiar smirk. "Don't worry. When Michael gets back, you can leave."

"I didn't--"

"You don't have to explain yourself to me," She grabbed my hand. "I know you only mean well. You want to help."

"I do it's just... It's hard." I frowned. "I can't defend myself against a rogue can I?"

"But is he?"

"Is who what?"

"The vampire you've been seeing. Is he a rogue?"

I stared at her. "How do you know? Can you see us?"

She shook her head. "I cannot see you, no. John told me everything over the phone."

I scowled. "I'm gonna beat him up."

"Oh, that's not necessary." She laughed. "I won't tell Michael. I know you're not supposed to let him know. And technically I am not supposed to know."

I nodded. And then sighed. Maybe I could convince her to let me see him again. Find out more about him. If this vampire was under orders then maybe he had to follow me wherever I went.

 "I want to see him again, Ana."

She smiled. "I'm aware. As soon as your train of thoughts went to the vampire, everything I saw of you disappeared." She slid her hand out of mine and crossed her arms on the table. "In truth, I love things like this; however, I can't let you go out. I'm sorry, dear."

That means he must be out there. I nodded in understanding. "It's fine. It was worth a shot."

"Everything is always worth a shot. But anyway, I really want to know about you my dear. Tell me why you came to Burnaby."

My mind was momentarily distracted as I explained to Ana why my family had moved from New York. She asked questions and I answered them. She asked me why Michael and I always seem to be arguing or are in constant disagreements. I only laughed and said I could be stubborn and she must know that he has the 'I'm always right' attitude.

"You truly adore him?" She asked.

I smiled softly. "I do. I love him with my whole heart."

"And you trust him?"

I nodded. "With more than my life."

"You're good for him, Evangeline. And he's good for you too even if you don't realise it." Ana's smile was one I'd seen rarely on Katherine. One that wasn't where she knew everything about the future.

I heard footsteps from the hall, then the living room and then the kitchen. Michael and John walked in looking dirty, tired and slightly angry. Two angry probably snappy vampires? Great.

I was going to stand up but Ana's hand landing on mine stopped me.

"Well?" She said without turning her gaze from me.

"We chased two all the way to the American border." John answered. "They went over to Washington in a heartbeat. Both of them. The scents are the same we didn't find a third, Evie."

That didn't make any sense...

Wasn't that other vampire here watching...? 

"Did you see either of them?" Ana asked her stare still on me.

They shook their heads. "No."

"Why are you guys dirty?" I asked.

John's angry gaze turned to Michael. Michael surprised me when he growled a little at John.

"Boys." Ana finally turned to them both with scolding eyes and a commanding voice.

John glanced at Ana before looking at me. "I got close enough to one but they dodged left and then Michael being the idiot he is was chasing the same one, dodged with them and managed to hit me. We fell over."

Michael opened his mouth with a snarl but Ana stood up. 

"You did what you can." She said over him. "Now, Jonathan, I want you to go. Michael, take Evie home. Not your home but her dorm. I don't think you should be around her. Both of your tempers put together would be supernova."

Neither of them argued. John left without another word and Michael stood there staring off into space. 

Ana walked me to the door after Michael left the house to start the car. "My darling, I know exactly what you were thinking earlier." Referring to how many vampires they chased and who. "And we will find out what is going on. Okay?"

I nodded before she engulfed me into a hug. "If you're thinking about going home with Michael despite my request then I hope you have a good plan in how to calm him down. And if anyone could do it you can."

I sighed. "I'll think of something. And can I ask you something before I go?"

"Anything, honey."

"How do you look so young?" 

She giggled. "Oh, those are secrets a woman of my age cannot tell. Except I am a, excuse my terminology, a badass witch." She winked.

We laughed together and I knew for a fact that Anastasia was a wonderful woman. I knew she would be. Why Michael said she could be scary was beyond me.

There wasn't any persuasion on my part needed for him to take me back to his house. He just did it anyway. The half hour drive from Anastasia's was completely silent. The radio wasn't even on. It was just the sound of the engine filling the silence. Michael got out of the car before me and walked straight into the house. 

I got out of the car thinking of ways to calm him down. The sky was still pitch black and I was thanking God it was Saturday... Well, it's Sunday now. But I was happy I didn't have to wake up early in the morning. 

I slammed the door shut and groaned. I hoped this was easy. I zipped up my jacket as the wind blew around me. I glanced at the moving trees briefly before walking toward the door. As I walked in, I heard the shower working upstairs and decided on changing