There was a dead silence all around the breakfast table; no one dared to speak. After the upsetting news about CJ's death, and Peter's power up in the Under Lab; no one knew what to say. Anne laid her head on Liam's shoulder, Devin stared down at his shoes, Elise rested her hands in her lap, Nate stared into the kitchen, Tense kept her focus on her hair, Heidi sat on the couch with Bryce, Bailey swiveled in the kitchen chair, and Sebastian played with his oatmeal.

The silence was too much to handle for Elise.

Say something!

[Huh? Who said--?]

Talk, Elise! A voice responded, which caused her to pound on the table uncontrollably. So much so, that it broke in half.

"Oh! T-Talbot I'm so--" She put her hands over her mouth, tears had fallen

"It's alright, Elise. Calm down." Sebastian soothed

"N-No. I won't calm down! Something has to be done about CJ! Peter's been gone for days. Aren't you at least worried about him!? A-And Heidi, she's pregnant and depressed! We're probably upsetting her with all of our emotions. We shouldn't just--! We shouldn't just wallow around here all of the time, you know? Someone could suggest something to save CJ. Let's just go out and catch Byron ourselves! Let's just get--! L-Let's get some momentum, please." She avoided their eyes and sat back down, Bailey walked over.

"Don't forget about my big sis. She had a big hand in this too." She smiled deviously. "But, look at you--so confident. I'm impressed, really."

Sebastian shot his daughter a warning look.

"I have a plan. But, I don't know if it will work."

Liam gave her a gentle smile. "Not all ideas are bad ones. Let's hear it, luv."

She took a deep breath. "Okay. Since we're all still CJ's Sanctuary, I think that we should go to Elkenah. We can talk to Valerie, and let Byron and Charles be judged by the Officiates."

Sebastian sighed. "That would be great if they were easy to capture. But I understand where you're coming from. What happened to CJ was unfair and illegal, there should be a law against it somewhere."

Devin nodded. "Yeah, to inject someone without their consent...that's just evil and inhumane."

"You guys make good arguments." Bailey added. "So, I'm gonna go get Peter."

Hortensia rolled her eyes. "You know how he is--he could be anywhere."

"He's with CJ." She said blankly

Nate stood to his feet. "So, what's the plan?"

"I'll go to Elkenah." Sebastian stated. "I'll need Bryce and Heidi to come too."

The couple nodded in agreement.

"Great idea, considering the latest news." Heidi corrected

"Uh, what news?" Tense expressed suspiciously.

"Anybody heard of Cassidy Arellus? Her story's been scanning all over the Media. She's a biology teacher in Caverbourne, and she wants to create an Education Center." Heidi explained

"A school? That's not bad. " Tense pressed

"The bad part... is that the school is for Changers."

Anne was shocked. "V-Veers?"

Heidi nodded, Sebastian looked at Bailey.

"This will have to wait until next month...but we need Peter." Bailey nodded and grabbed her jacket. She darted out the door.

The scientist looked at the rest of his children. "Now, I know that I haven't trained any of you for this. But, do you think that you can handle it? This woman will need our protection. Caverbourne is in Hu-man Territory, so there could be hordes of Rangers."

"No worries, mate. We got this." Liam expressed

                                                            ~~~~

     Peter was pacing back and forth. He had planned on speaking to her in person, but he didn't know if anyone was home. He walked around to the back and saw a second-story window. He hoped that it is her bedroom, he noticed a small rock. Peter threw it at the window. Nothing happened, so he grabbed another and did the same thing again.

"Wow." He sighed with annoyance at the sound of her voice.

"Get lost, Bailes."

She chuckled. "Figures you'd be here."

He stopped and glared at her. "And what the hell is that supposed to mean?"

She rolled her eyes. "It means that you're tied, Dummy. So, it's only natural that you want to be with her. Just like she wants to be with you."

He chuckled anxiously. "W-What? That's funny--you're funny."

"I'm serious. Why else would you be out here throwin' rocks at her window, like some strung out Love Junkie?"

He rolled his eyes and dropped the pebble. He placed his hands in his pockets. "What are you doin' here, anyway?"

"Talbot sent me. We got a situation on our hands. But first, I'm gonna help you out here...Arturo."

He glares. "Hey! Hey! Nobody calls me that."

She chuckled. "So, you gonna keep stalkin' her house? Or are you gonna ring the doorbell?" She expressed

"I--" He sighed in surrender. "Neither, l-let's go."

     A month later, CJ was sitting on Peter's bed. She watched him as he paces back and forth, she looked away and bit her lower lip whenever he made eye contact with her. It has been two months since she had received his message on her HC Receiver, and three months since she saw his face. After the news of her death, William had held her tightly in his arms as she cried. The lights had then flickered in the Underlab and then had begun to spark. She screamed and ran home. She had sworn to never enter the Cabin ever again, until this very day. She didn't want to be here, but she needed answers. She sighs with frustration from the silence.

"Look--"

"I'm sorry! I-I'm sorry." He interrupted

He'd been missing for months and she felt lonely without him, not that she'd admit it to him. The itchy casts on her hands were no help either. The boy sat down next to her, but kept his eyes forward.

"I didn't like seeing you in pain, so I left. I felt responsible for what happened--and I couldn't face you."

She is shocked by his confession. "T-Thank you for tellin' me that. I really needed to hear it."

"It's the least I could do for you...since you hate me."

The girl looked at him, but he remained forward. "Never said I hated you. At least, not out loud anyway."

He looked at her and smirked confidently.

"So, am I...your favorite person?" He asked playfully

She chuckled, so did he. He looked down at her injured hand.

"How's the cast?"

She closed her eyes, for fear of blushing. "It doesn't hurt m-much."

A knock on the door alerted them, she pulled away and moved by the window. Devin peeked his head inside. He was surprised to see her.

"Oh. CJ, you're actually here."

She nodded and waved awkwardly.

Devin focused on Peter. "Yo. Talbot, Heidi, and Bryce are leaving for Elkenah right now. We need to be on the road in a little bit."

"Uh, yeah. Gimme a minute, okay?"

The pathis nodded and closed the door. Peter stood and pulled a green backpack from under his bed.

"Field trip?" She asked

"More like a mission." He responded

He approached her in uncertainty, she felt anxious. She spoke before his soft voice made her knees weak.

"Um, you should get going--they're probably waitin' on you. I-I have to go anyway."

She moved passed him and hurried to the door. She grabbed the door knob, his voice stopped her.

"Oh! Tense is gonna stay in town. Can't let all of your Sanctuary disappear, you know?"

He chuckled embarrassingly, she turned to face him. Her eyes didn't meet his, her hand was still on the handle.

"Uh, be careful...okay?"

He put on his confident bravado routine. "Did you forget? I'm a fast healer."

CJ gave him a weak smile and left. Peter felt bad, he knew not to joke about stuff like that. Especially in her delicate situation.

[I'm such and idiot!] He thought to himself and punched his wall.