CJ was at the cabin and almost ready; she just needed to wrap her gift for Sebastian. She and Peter had an interesting experience; she'd never gone to the families of the homeless before. True, she was rich but she never used her money work for herself. Her hair was in a small ponytail; a fancy scarf was wrapped around her head. [Don't really KNOW the man, but he DID save my life. Hope he likes my present, though.] She thought. She heard muffled voices and went to investigate.

Everyone was outside; she scanned for familiar faces, and panicked when all went silent.

[Uh...they're all LOOKIN' at me!] She thought.

Elise wanted to make her feel welcome, but she backed away when Valerie approached CJ. Keith was also at her side; Heidi and Bryce were on his other end, along with Will.

He stood in front of his cousin, his back facing her. "Valerie, Keith, this is my cousin, Cicely." He said and stood beside her.

"Cicely, may I present Valerie Chambers, and Keith Nie. The only present Commanding Officiates at the moment." He said. They both bowed their heads in respect and joined the rest of the party. The Officials approached her carefully.

[Whoa! Oh, man! They're gonna try to kill me too? No fair! Stupid veers--man I really HATE this town!] She thought, and backed away too far; so much she backed into someone.

"Well, if it isn't the Problem Starter himself." Keith said, CJ turned around, and jerked away.

"Your Officiate-nesses." Peter said with a dramatic bow, he patted CJ on her head. "Uh, hi...Girlie." he said, and nodded at Will.

"Peter Talbot, William King, Heidi and Bryce Rutledge, do you swear to insure Cicely Dixon's safety? As long as she remains in your Sanctuary?" Keith and Valerie asked

All parties nodded their heads in assurance. The Officiates looked to everyone else, and demeanors were changed straightaway; the party goers had the posture of soldiers.

"Everyone here is a witness to this affair! The constituent, Cicely Dixon is now a part of the Sanctuary. Until she no longer requires our aid. Our third member is absent, however--" Valerie and Keith lifted their hands. "The Officiates have been vocal." They said together.

Everyone replied by saying. "One to begin, one to continue, and one to thrive. Judgment has been made vocal." Instantly, everyone was partying once more. Her cousins and Will had vanished. Peter stood next to CJ, but she was riddled with confusion.

"So, questions? Comments?" He pressed

"Uh, try a lot of both. First, what just happened, and why were my cousins and WILL involved? Oh! And let's not forget YOU."

"Well since we're tied, I'm sorta involved in your life now. Your cousins are your family so they're also involved. And Will is, our mole so he's extremely involved. We're a part of your SANCTUARY." He replied, he didn't like CJ's expression. "Don't give me that STUPID face. Since your accident, you've been put in our care. Since it was a Veer-Related Hit. It's OUR job to keep you safe." He pointed towards Keith and Valerie. "Those were two of the Commanding Officiates--they MAKE and enforce the Veer and Hu-man rules."

"Huh! Okay, so you guys are my...protectors?" she asked, Peter simply nodded.

"Well, THAT sucks, I mean in YOUR case." 

   Tense was arguing in Spanish with Sebastian; the guest of honor had finally arrived. She stopped when everyone started cheering, she smiled and handed him the first gift.

"Compliments of Hevin...and in the future try not to make us wait so long. I've heard that's rude." She said.

Sebastian walked over to his guests and sat on a picnic table, everyone else was in their seats.

CJ approached him first, she was nervous about her gift; being that she didn't really know him.

"CJ! I'm glad you came.I heard you're in Sanctuary." He said

"Uh, yeah happy birthday, Mr. Talbot." She said, he laughed loudly.

[Why does EVERYBODY keep laughin' at me?] She thought, and made a face.

"Oh! It's nothing personal, I'm just pleased with your upbringing...but you don't have to be so formal. Sebastian will do, or Talbot is what my close friends and FAKE children call me." He said, everyone laughed at his joke. He opened his gift, and stared at her.

"Look, we've only met TWICE. So I didn't know your likes or dislikes, dreams, or hobbies, or your favorite color! Everyone's got one mine's...g-gold." CJ was embarrassed; Sebastian began to smile at her.

"Well, since you're a Constituent...you'll have your chance!" He opened his gift "Ah! A stationary set, and a box of cigars!" He smiled.

"I could smell it on your clothes...it's distinctive."

"I'll try harder to hide it, and the stationary set? I love it! Red, my favorite color." He said and wiggled his mustache, CJ smiled at that.

    Everyone else handed him his and her gifts. Cake was being served along with refreshments, and entertainment. a sudden silence crept over the guest as Abbie descended the stairs with a guest.

"Relax, everyone." She said gracefully. "Please, I just wanted to do my part and drop off my gift." She said, she pulled a small box out of Jillian's purse. Hortensia was nervous and stayed  beside Devin.

"Everyone, this is Jillian. Jillian Metto." The woman said introduced

"It's a pleasure for you all to meet me."

Sebastian was very angry. "Enough, Abbie! You and your friend have to go."

She looked at Cicely, and then at her sister. Bailey stared in confusion and sadness.

"Bailey, what's wrong with this picture?"

Bailey sighed. "She's a constituent. So, you can't do anything to her."

She noticed Peter, Elise, Nate, William, and Piper staying close to CJ.

Abbie scowled. "I see. So, it's a Skelt party?"

William and Peter both pointed their guns at her. CJ moved and stayed close to Nate.

Peter glared at Abigail. "Call her that again--I dare you."

Jillian gave a polite smile and lunged for him. Valerie's eyes shifted into a glowing emerald green. Jillian was instantly thrown backward and into the kitchen of the cabin. Abigail slowly placed the gift on the railing and headed back inside.

She stopped on a staircase. "What you're all doing is pointless. You can't fight the inevitable. Happy birthday, Talbot. Fair warning--things might not be so peaceful the next time."

Everyone watched quietly as Abigail headed back inside. CJ stared at Peter in astonishment, he avoided her gaze and headed toward Sebastian.

    Hours had passed and the party had lasted all day. It was now nighttime. CJ and the others were ready to go home. She said her goodbyes as guests begin to enter their vehicles. She finished cleaning up and accidentally bumped into Peter. He was silent and handed her a pile of folded tablecloths. They have not spoken to each other since he saved her from Abigail and Jillian. CJ tried hard to think of words to say and finally spoke.

"Um, thank you very much."

He looked at her strangely. "Y-You're welcome. But, they're just covers for a table."

"No! I mean...thank you. You saved my life. Again."

He chuckled. "Oh, that. No problem, Girlie. Those cloths go in the bottom of the linen closet, in the hallway." He turned to walk away, but she touched his arm. He stopped and looked at her.

He sighed. "Look, I haven't been the nicest person lately. Putting it honestly--I was a jerk. So...can you forgive me?"

She took a deep breath. "On two conditions. Tell me everything you know about changers, and call me CJ."

"Okay, but I prefer Cicely. It's a timeless and unique name, it's pretty much perfect for you."

He smiled at her gently, she blushed and playfully punched his chest. She kept her hand rested there, he absentmindedly moved closer to her. He placed his hand on her forearm. A honking HORN startled them and he bashfully pulled away. They turned to look and see. It was a large yellow school bus.

"Oh! Your ride's here."

CJ was shocked and overwhelmed. "I'm goin' home...in that?"

He nodded and took the sheets from her hands.

"I'll see you around."

She couldn't help but giggle. "Promise?"

Peter chuckled. His smile was enchanting to her. "That's a promise, CJ."

He walked away and stopped, he turned around and watched her enter the large tank with Liam, Devin, Anne, Elise, and Hortensia.

CJ was on her way home, she was on a school bus; her driver was a Veer, Antoinette D'Winter specifically. Her new members of Sanctuary were riding along as well, minus the Talbot Family. The point was to make it seem like they were High School students, and what was better than to go home on a school bus?

[She LOOKS like a teenager...she can't pass off for an adult.] She thought.

She jerked, when she felt a tap on her shoulder from behind, it was Devin.

"With us, appearances can be... deceivin'." He told her.

"I get that your not exactly hu-man but--" CJ said.

"Annie! Show the green what I mean!" he yelled

"Any requests?" Anne asked.

"Ooh! How about...Valerie, maybe?" Elise said

"Comin' up Little Lisa!" She said and pulled over.

"Now.... try not to freak, or I'll YANK out your tongue." She said with a smile

"Uh Y-You're jokin'...right?" CJ asked.

"'Course! I don't know how to do it....yet." She said, CJ moved closer to the window, everyone laughed.

"Relax, chica! She's harmless!" Tense said.

"Hmm.... Valerie Chambers, let's see--" She said, and closed her eyes. "British accent, Con-serve lookin', random braids. Got her!" She announced and took a deep breath.

CJ watched as Anne's dark hair began to lighten.

   Her eyes had gone from brown to blue. Anne's colorful strands had brightened into messy blonde locks, and two braids began to sprout, and her body had thickened and elongated. Her young face had instantly stretched into that of a matured woman's, and her clothes had gone from colorful and fun, to dark and sophisticated; her flats were instantly heels.

Anne cracked her neck and stood up, she walked toward CJ.

"Whoa!" She marveled

"Other than my enormo boobs, I think I came pretty close, don't you?" Anne expressed with Valerie's voice, she noticed CJ expression, and gripped her shoulders.

"Hey! No freaking out, remember?" She instructed, CJ nodded

"Good." She said, and was embraced by Liam

"Nice job, my lovely." He said and kissed her on her cheek; they were finally the same height.

"You know, you just kissed another woman, right?" She asked, and he grabbed her hand.

"Yes, but, it doesn't count if you give consent." He said with a smile

"Shut up, Ve-loc!" She giggled and pushed him back into his seat. She walked back to the front, and she closed her eyes.

"Okay, CJ I'm gonna change back. Anne D'Winters, gothic, with brown eyes and hair. Amazing fashion sense, Radikal--no accent. Done!" She said, and breathed again. CJ stared as Anne's light hair turned dark. Her colorful strands had returned. The two braids had dissolved, her eyes had gone from green to brown, and her body had condensed and thinned.

The mature woman's face before her had faded into someone younger. Her clothes were once again colorful and fun. She cracked her neck again and stood up.

"Impressive, no?" She expressed with a pose.

"Very. At least you changed back, not like the last time." Devin replied

Everyone laughed loudly at his joke. Anne chuckled embarrassingly and went back into the driver's seat. She buckled up and started the engine. Hortensia watched CJ closely, she smiled at her amusingly. "So, you and Peter, huh?"

"W-What? No."

"Please! I saw you two gazing lovingly into each other's eyes. Everybody did."

CJ suddenly felt self-conscious.

"Don't feel bad, I think it's great. Peter could probably use somebody like you in his life. You seem like a pretty good hu-man. So you'd be really good for him."

"Well, thanks. But...he's not my type."

She scoffed in disbelief.

"Save that line for somebody else. You guys are sooo diggin' on each other, and everybody knows it."

CJ looked around, everybody nodded in agreement.

"Yo, just be careful, alright? Veer and hu-man relationships are usually unstable and dangerous. Especially when it comes to Eternal Ties." Devin commented

"What's that mean?" CJ asked

"It means that Peter will protect you no matter what. It also means that he will always have the urge to be by your side. He won't be able to help it, or say no." Liam replied

"But, I don't wanna control him!"

"Unfortunately--he'll be able to control you too, luv."

She felt disappointed and discouraged.

"I feel bad for you. Of all people to be tied with...Peter would be the worst." Anne interjected

"Why?"

He's incorrigible. Stubborn, always makin' jokes, spontaneous and he's annoying." Tense added

CJ chuckled in disbelief. "Isn't spontaneity a good thing, Tense?"

"Did I say that? My bad, I meant reckless."

Anne chuckled and turned onto a neighborhood. CJ nodded , but still is silent. Her eyes remain focused on the window.