"Don't be mad at me, I was just trying to help." Lyssa rested her head on Bex's chest.

The two were laying in Bex's room at night, as they usually did. Bex's was running her fingers through Lyssa's now short black hair. It was late at night. Bex refused to say a word to Lyssa for the rest of the day and the next after the incident. Even going as far as to keep her thoughts concealed although she could do nothing to hide her emotions of betrayal and anger. But mostly she felt fear.

Still, Bex was a sucker at heart and couldn't deny Lyssa entrance to her room at night. So the two cuddled up as usual, even though Bex was still mad.

"How long are you going to ignore me?" Lyssa asked.

Bex sighed.

"Don't do that to me again, okay." She finally said.

"Never, I promise." Lyssa nuzzled her head deeper into Bex's chest.

"The way that made me feel..."

"I know, I can feel it too. I'm sorry. I was just trying to be helpful. You have to admit the slayer has a point. You need to be able to do it, in case I can't protect you."

"That scares me, I don't want to think about that. I don't want to be the one that ends someone else's life. No. I can't do that." Bex felt her eyes water.

Lyssa moved so that she could wrap her arms around Bex. Bex sniffled into her chest.

"Then I'll always be there to protect you, no matter what. I'll never put you in that position. I promise. You'll never have to do it. I'll do everything in my power to save you from that. I swear it." Lyssa said.

"I love you," Bex said.

"I love you undyingly," Lyssa said to get Bex to laugh.

It worked and Bex chuckled into her.

"Just get some rest, my sweet Rebecca. I'll be here to protect you, I promise."

"Okay, I'm sorry I've been ignoring you, I just..."

"I know. Sleep. You will see me again at school tomorrow."

Bex nuzzled into Lyssa and closed her eyes.

Her sleep was restless. Ever since Lacy and McKinley attacked them a couple of months ago she has been having reoccurring nightmares. Usually always the same situation, the two vampires come back when she is alone to kill her. Always the same outcome of Lyssa coming to save her and gets killed. This night was a bit different, however. She tossed and turned in her bed, with Lyssa no longer by her side the nightmare began. As usual, she was alone and the two vampires came for her.

This time however she fought them off. She raised a stake to their chest ready to kill them. Her eyes were cold and Bex could not recognize herself. As the dream played out and she plunged the stake into the chest of a vampire, that vampire turned into Lyssa.

Bex shot up in bed with a yelp. She was breathing heavy and her eyes darted around the room. She sighed when her alarm started going off for her usual morning training and exercise. She reached for her phone and turned it off. Then she ran her hands down her face which was slightly damp in sweat.

She forced herself out of bed and padded across the hall to the restroom. As usual, she got ready and then walked outside to go for her morning jog. From the window of the house, Bex's mother eyed her. She was perplexed with her daughters change in behavior over the past couple of months. She didn't quite know what to make of it. On the one hand, she was happy Bex was making positive changes in her life, on another, she felt like her daughter was becoming more and more of a stranger to her.

Bex used to be the life of the family, always loud and up to something. Now the family life was quiet. Bex kept to herself, always locking herself in her room. Always staying out late and getting up early. Always having whispered conversations over the phone. The family just wasn't the same. Bex was hiding something from her, she knew that much, but she didn't know what. She kept expecting her daughter to come talk to her, much like she always did in the past. Bex was never shy about sharing her problems with her family members, but that all changed when she met Lyssa. Now the girl hardly ever talks to them.

"Come lay back down, she's fine." The dad said.

"I'm worried about her. This isn't normal Jeff. Ever since the mugging, she's been, off. I'm just worried about her." The mom moved to lay back down.

"I know, but she will come to us when she's ready. You have to give her space, what happened to her was traumatic, you need to let her make sense of it on her own. If you try and force her it could just push her farther away. Just be patient." He rubbed his wife's arm as he pulled her into his arms.

"It's that Lyssa girl, I know it is. Everything was fine until she showed up. Now Rebecca is like a stranger to me. I just want my daughter back."

"She's at that age, remember Nathan did that too. You just have to give these teenagers some space. If you try and get up in there business they will lash out. Just be patient. Rebecca is resilient and smart we just have to trust her."

She sighed and stared at the bedside clock with read 5:43 Am.

Around 6:30 the family started to get up and go about their own morning routines. Bex's mom was in the kitchen making breakfast, her eyes kept glancing towards the front door as she waited for her daughter to walk through. Only a few short minutes later Bex came in all sweaty.

"Woo, it's cold out today. Morning mom!" Bex called as she ran up to her room.

The mother sighed.

After Bex showered and changed and got her stuff ready she met her dad at the table and waited for breakfast.

"Hey Dad, um... I was wondering if maybe I could possibly... you know, spend the night with Lyssa tomorrow?" Bex averted her eyes.

"Absolutely not!" Her mother butted in.

"But mom! Lyssa and have a date night planned, she is going to take me to the movies. The movie gets out late, I would just rather go sleep at her house than make her take me home." Bex pouted.

"Rebecca, I said no and that's final. Besides, don't you see Lyssa every day? Aren't you tired of her yet?" Her mother almost pleaded.

The dad cleared his throat and shot a warning look to his wife.

"That's fine Rebecca, just remember what we talked about." He said sternly.

"Yes! Thanks Dad, you're the best." Bex cheered.

"Jeff, a word please." The mom grit her teeth.

He sighed and got up and walked over to the kitchen.

"We talked about this." He said.

"No, we did not! Rebecca is sleeping with that girl, need I remind you of what happened the last time those two were together, our daughter wound up in a hospital! Every time Lyssa is around our daughter is the one that gets hurt. That girl is bad news. I don't like her."

"If we tell her no, what do you honestly think will happen? She will sneak out anyways and be forced to hide from us. This way builds trust, builds respect, and it lays boundaries. I got this, just trust me. You may not like Lyssa, quite frankly I'm not liking the idea of her that much either, but our daughter loves her and if you keep her away, it will only drive a wedge between you and Rebecca. Is that what you want?" he eyed her.

She sighed.

Bex fidgeted at the table. She could overhear her parents talking about her and Lyssa. She frowned. It was still early but she didn't want to hear anymore, so she grabbed her backpack and just walked out the door and made her way to school. She could eat breakfast at school.

She sighed into the cold morning air, her breath materializing before her.

"What a nightmare," Bex said out loud to herself.

She walked up the steps one at a time to the school. There was a section of the steps that was tapped off where Lacy had broken a few by slamming Lyssa into them. She always eyed that section when she went into school. The school had yet to fix it.

She walked over to the food lines and got some breakfast before walking over to the table. Only Darci was there, and she was also eating breakfast.

"Morning," Bex smiled at her.

"Hey, morning, what are you doing here so early?"

"Parents are a nightmare. So to avoid that awkward situation I came here."

"What are they on about now? I swear your parents crack me up, I wish I had parents like yours." Darci chuckled.

"I heard them talking, about Lyssa. They don't like her... My mom tried to stop me from going on a date with Lyssa tomorrow. I mean that is the closest I've ever seen her and my dad argue. I mean they never argue, but that was pretty close as to what I imagine what them arguing would be like."

"That's rough. Why don't they like Lyssa?"

Bex gave her that look, that said really, you really need to ask?

Darci giggled.

"Sure she's rough around the edges, but I can tell Lyssa must be a big softy by how gentle she is with you," Darci said.

"If you only knew, that girl is the opposite of a softy. I swear she is a slave driver."

Darci laughed.

"She is! She is always making me do stuff, you know she wants me to learn proper manners! Like, take manner classes from her, like for real."

"Oh my god, that's so cute." Darci laughed.

Bex smiled at her.

"Yeah, I guess so. She can be pretty adorable sometimes." Bex blushed and smiled just thinking about it.

"Well I am glad you are happy with her, I'm sure your parents will come around. I mean they are always so supportive of everything you do, I wish my mom was like that."

"How are things at home? You doing okay?"

"Yeah, just hanging in there. She has a new boyfriend, he's actually nice this time."

"If you ever need anything, Darci, you know you can always come to me."

"I know." Darci smiled at her.

Mike walked up to the table and sat down.

"Hey Bex, you're here early."

"Yeah, long story, ready for tryouts today?"

"You bet! I'm pumped, I was born for the wrestling team."

"That's what you said about the tennis team." Darci pointed out.

"Hush, don't get me down. I can do this."

They both giggled at him.

Slowly but surely the table filled up as usual. Bex kept eyeing the entrance waiting for Lyssa. She looked at the clock on her phone, Lyssa should have been there already. She tried to focus and feel Lyssa, but she got nothing.

She began to shake her leg in worry. Joan eyed her.

"Everything okay?" Joan asked.

"Emm Hmm." Bex nodded.

Joan also looked towards the entrance than at the empty seat next to Bex. She frowned.

'Lyssa where are you?' Bex thought.

"I'm coming! Sorry, running late.' Lyssa quickly sent back.

Bex huffed in annoyance.

Lyssa walked in just as the bell rang. Monroe and his buddies walked by her on their way to class making funny faces at her. Lyssa made one back that caused them to laugh. Bex walked over to her.

"Where were you? I didn't feel anything." Bex pouted.

"Sorry, I slept in. The longer I go without feeding the harder it is to wake up."

"Do you need to feed? You could have just said something." Bex frowned at her.

"But I just fed from you a couple of days ago."

"So." Bex shrugged.

"Rebecca I don't want to hurt you."

Bex sighed.

"I can take it for a few more days, trust me, I'm fine," Lyssa said.

"Fine, but if you need me just say so."

"I will, thank you, my love." Lyssa kissed her on the cheek before quickly walking off to her own class.

Bex blushed and quickly walked into her own class.

After school Bex walked to Joan's house. Joan's brother was outside sharpening some stakes.

"Still dating the vampire?" he asked as Bex walked into the house.

"Still a jerk?" Bex ignored him and walked over to Joan's room.

The door was open and Joan was sitting on her bed doing homework.

"Hey." Bex walked in and sat next to her.

"You still mad at me?" Joan asked.

"No, just, don't do that again, okay?"

"Okay." Joan smiled at her.

"So what's on today's training agenda?"

"I figured you could use a break. We can just do homework or something." Joan said.

"Sounds like heaven." Bex pulled her homework out of her backpack.

"So... What are you doing tomorrow?" Joan asked her.

"I'm going on a date with Lyssa, why?"

"Nothing, never mind." Joan sighed.

Bex rolled her eyes and got to work.

After that Bex walked home and went straight to her room per usual, ignoring her parents and siblings. She shut and locked the door before she walked over to the bed and plopped down with a sigh.

She felt like she had only closed her eyes for a second but in those few seconds, she fell asleep. Her dream came fast and unwelcomed. She was running, two speeding vampires chasing her, taunting her, teasing her. She tripped and fell and they were on her in a flash. Bex screamed in her dream as Lacy picked her up by the throat. McKinley was behind her and he stabbed a knife into her back.

'Lyssa, lyssa help me!' Bex cried out to her.

Lyssa came charging in, just as she always did. McKinley and Lyssa quickly tackled each other. Bex watched as he beat Lyssa to a pulp before going for the final blow. The maniacal laugh of Lacy caused her to shoot up in bed.

She took her breaths in big gulps.

"What? What is it? Are you okay?" Lyssa was next to her already.

Bex whimpered before tackling Lyssa into a hug.

"Rebecca, what happened?" Lyssa held her.

Bex made defiant whimper noises as she clung to Lyssa, her arms wrapped all the way around her neck. She buried her head into Lyssa's collar bone. Lyssa could feel Bex taking quick breaths and her hot tears falling onto her cold skin.

"Shh, There, there, Rebecca. I am here and all is well." Lyssa assured her.

Bex forced herself to calm down, but she didn't let go of Lyssa.

"The nightmare again?" Lyssa asked.

"Yes," Bex admitted.

"They can't hurt you, I won't let them."

"It's not me I'm afraid for. It's you."

"Me? I can protect myself I assure you."

"I'm just scared."

"I know." Lyssa rubbed her back.

"Will you stay with me tonight?" Bex asked.

"Of course, I'll stay with you all night."

Bex smiled into Lyssa's skin.

"Will you turn into a cat and let me cuddle you?"

"Now you're pushing it." Lyssa pushed Bex off.

Bex giggled.

"I was just kidding unless you want to, then you know, I would not be opposed to that."

"Whatever will I do with you?" Lyssa pushed Bex down onto the bed.

Bex giggled and smiled up at her.

Lyssa leaned down and kissed her. Bex closed her eyes and deepened the kiss. Lyssa pulled away softly and then kissed Bex once on the cheek.

"Sleep, my love," Lyssa said.

"No fair, I want to make out." Bex pouted.

"But you need sleep, real nice peaceful sleep. Come, I shall help you."

Bex pouted but pulled Lyssa into her arms and let Lyssa rest her head on her chest. Then Lyssa just to humor Bex, turned into a black cat and curled up to rest on Bex's chest.

Bex giggled and pet the cat.

"You make a cute kitty."

The cat looked at her with an expression that said you are lucky I love you. It made Bex laugh, she had never seen such an expressive cat. She pet the cat slowly and closed her eyes to sleep. The cat began to purr and also closed its eyes.