Ash was strangely quiet on the trip to Briar Creek. Mary Lynette kept glancing at him trying to gauge his mood. Pushing her sunglasses back in place, she looked up in the rearview mirror. Rowan and Kestrel were asleep in the two captain's chairs behind Ash and herself. However she could not see Jade and Mark, but they were probably sleeping too. After a moment's thought, she was glad she couldn't see them.
Ash's silence worried her.She tried to concentrate on driving while Ash stared out the window. She knew what he was probably thinking. the wish he'd made had come true. He was human and for all anyone knew, it could be permanent. His silence hurt and she didn't really know how to reach him. She couldn't empathize or really sympahtize. She'd never been put in a situation quite like his.
Ash tried again to reach out to Mary Lynnette mentally only to meet again with failure. Resigning himself to be human a wile longer, he began to accept what he could possibly have to face for the rest of his life. He was human. The first made human of all the people in the world, he was so favored as to have three lovely gifts in one lifetime. The dreamwalker bit he could live without. Having a soulmate, that was a double edged sword. He loved mary Lynnette, but she was human and that was forbidden in his world, but what world did he belong to now? To add to the list of major catastrophes he'd suffered of late was the less than desirable title of human---and insult to one who was born into a powerful family of lamia.
Having to learn about being human was more difficult than he had imagined. Of all he'd learned in two days time, human food was indeed his favorite subject. For one whose major food source was blood, though he could tolerate the human diet, human cuisine was pure art.
"Typical male." Mary Lynnette told him when he made the comment that he liked bacon and wanted to know when they were going to stop for more food, "always thinking about your stomach."
What a variety of foods they had invented. Some were certainly better than others. He'd quickly found out he hated licorice. It was more offensive than garlic, which he found tasted better than it smelled. Italian food was heavenly, he decided. Chocolate was devine. Tea tasted better with sugar, lemon, and ice. He didn't care for McDonald's food, well, fast food in general, though Mary Lynnette seemed to have a fondness for something called chicken nuggets which sounded anything but appetizing to him.
Nuggets of which part of the chicken, he wondered?
He fiddled with the lid on his chocolate shake, mentally scrolling through the small injustices he'd encountered. Paper cuts hurt. Sunlight was annoying even to his human eyes. Mary Lynnette's suitcases were heavy. Mark was an even bigger asshole than Ash had originally thought. Just stupid every day things that vampires took for granted because they were immortal.
What really hurt was that, though he was worried, Thierry, as well as Circle DayBreak in general, had pretty much shrugged him off. He understood they needed to search for the fifth wild power who seemed to be more powerful than the four combined. But did they have to act like he had sprouted an extra arm?
Perhaps the biggest, brightest spot of the day was Mary Lynnette who was absolutely glowing. Would she still be so radiant if his powers returned?
"What are you thinking about?" Mary Lynnette, finally asked, to break the uneasy silence that surrounded them for what seemed like an eternity.
"I'm just noticing how different things look from your perspective." He hesitated then added, "and wondering how you manage to carry those suitcases?"
Mary Lynnette snorted, her eyes twinkling, "I had a feeling that was coming." Then she looked solemn; "Do you miss being a vampire?"
"I think I would feel better about this if I'd known it was going to happen. I don't like surprises." He dropped his cup into the bag at his feet; Mary Lynnette noticed the silver bracelet she had given him hanging around his wrist. "However, I'm adjusting."
The van came to a stop in Mary Lynnette's driveway and everyone climbed out. Mark shoved Ash to the side "I'll get the bags, don't want you to hurt yourself." He was trying to be nice, but Ash didn't see it that way.
"I can help." He sounded like an insistent two-year-old determined to 'help' whether or not someone needed the 'help.'
"No Ash." Mary Lynnette grabbed him by the wrist. "You'll hurt your shoulder again, besides, I need you inside."
A mischievous grin lit his eyes. "Don't you think that might hurt my shoulder?"
Mary Lynnette waved her finger under his nose, "Naughty thoughts Mister Redfern. No, I need you to help me get supper ready. You need to learn to cook anyway."
Four heads swiveled in their direction. "I'll go get pizza," Mark said.
***
Mary Lynnette pointed out the things Ash would need to make what she called "The easiest, fastest food to make outside of heating something in the microwave."
Following her directions, Ash grabbed a pot out of the drawer under the stove. It slipped out of his hands landing with a thud on his foot. Mary Lynnette bit back laughter until she was sure only his pride was hurt.
"It isn't funny!" Ash snapped as he hopped around on one foot, holding his injured foot with both hands.
"Rinse the pot out and put some water on to boil."
Ash turned the hot water on and stuck the pot under the stream of water. He reached in with his hand to swish the water around. "Damn it." He shook his scalded, insulted fingers. "I thought you said this was an easy thing to make?"
"It is, this is just the first time you've cooked. There are always hazards the first time you do anything."
He shot her a secret 'later' smile, she blushed a deep crimson then shoved a box of spaghetti noodles and a jar of sauce at him.
"I thought you were hungry."
"I am, I just didn't say for what, though." He returned evenly enjoying her flustered expression.
"Cook, Ash." Mary Lynnette said, leaving for a few minutes before she forgot what they were supposed to be doing. She sagged heavily against the wall outside the kitchen fanning herself. Just the look on his face, that smile, and one carefully worded sentence had made her feel overheated. Raking nervous fingers through her hair, Mary Lynnette took a deep breath, exhaled slowly "Bit off more than you can chew, Mare." She muttered. A crash followed by a lot of swearing in the kitchen reminded her that her student was not the most adept at handling himself when it came to cooking.
Trying not to laugh, she stepped into the kitchen and burst into hysterical laughter. Ash was covered head to toe with flour. "What on earth were you doing?" She asked grabbing a hand towel and swiping at the flour on his face.
"Looking through the cabinets so I'd know where everything was. Wouldn't it be a good idea to put this stuff in some kind of container?" He motioned toward the empty flour bag, "It's dangerous." His hair poofed when he reached up to pat the flour out of it.
"It's the Pillsbury dough boy." Mary Lynnette howled in hysterical laughter.
"Very funny."
***
Mark gaped at the table. Ash had actually done a pretty good job setting it. The spaghetti, garlic bread, and salad looked good too. Ash's only comment to the praise he received was, "At least I can boil water now."
That evening he joined Mary Lynnette on the porch swing to watch the sky with her.
"There's supposed to be a meteor shower tonight." Mary Lynnette said, curling up against Ash while being careful not to hurt his shoulder.
"Wouldn't we be able to see it better from the hill?"
She nodded, "Yeah, but I haven't gone back since I killed Jeremy up there."
Silence and darkness enshrouded them. Crickets chirped in unison and an owl hooted an eery greeting in the distance. Deer quietly grazed in the yard. Despite being rendered human, the soulmate thing hummed like a living thing between them. Heat and electricity tingled through their bodies where they touched. Ash shifted a little trying desperately to ignore the persistent urge to kiss Mary Lynnette until they had witnessed the meteor shower.
"Can you see anything?" Ash asked, trying to break the uncomfortable silence
"No." Mare wiggled till she found a more comfortable position. Wooden swings were not the best place to snuggle both decided.
"Would you feel better if I went with you?"
"Ash, you can't see in the dark anymore. You won't be able to protect me."
Ash snorted, "Like you need protection, you've battled more werewolves than I have." He was quiet for a moment wondering if she realized what he had just told her. When she didn't acknowledge his revelation he felt a small measure of relief that she'd missed it.
"I'll go get my telescope, binoculars for you, and blanket."
"And a flashlight!" Ash called after her. Those words sounded especially funny coming from his mouth. He had never needed a flashlight in his life. Another injustice was added to his list.
***
Mary Lynnette fingered the tiny circular pill case she kept hidden in her purse feeling rather glad she had started taking them a few months before Ash was supposed to come back. Rowan told her he couldn't get her pregnant since he was a vampire still she went ahead with her plan just in case. Feeling sort of glad that she had started taking them, because now that he was human...well better safe than sorry.
She dropped the case back into her purse resigning herself to the possibility that Ash might be a human forever. She thought for a moment, wondering if he had decided to quit aging. He did look a little older but she wasn't sure if that was from taking on responsibilities in Circle Daybreak, or because he was still growing older.
She stopped in front of the mirror and touched the place where he had bit her the night Jeremy attacked them. She had wanted him to make her a vampire and then backed out after Jeremy's death. Little did Ash know, she thought with a wry smile, she had changed her mind again? Eternity didn't look so bad with him at her side, besides who would make him behave once she was gone? And there was no guarantee she would come back like the old souls did if she chose to remain human.
She heard the door downstairs open, "Mare! The show is starting! Hurry up!"
In less than five minutes, they were lying in the meadow, instead of going to the hill, with binoculars and a telescope. Ash looked at the instruments and after an awkward moment figured out which end to look through and how to adjust the lenses. As the meteors increased in size and number, he tossed the binoculars to the side.
"I don't think we need those now."
Bright red and yellow flaming streaks against a black satin backdrop filled the night sky. There seemed to be hundreds of them.
"Wow." Mary Lynnette said, awestruck at the size and number of meteors.
Ash grasped her hand, rubbing the delicate bones lightly with his thumb sending shivers through Mary Lynnette.
The meteors lit up the sky for a few minutes more, then their numbers dwindled until there was only one or two stragglers here and there.
Mary Lynnette rolled on her side and raised up on one elbow. Her body felt liquid and hot where his body touched hers.
"Tell me the truth, are you sure you're okay with this human thing?"
Ash framed her face with his hands, "You worry too much." Shoving the wayward strands of hair from her face, he smiled, "I'm fine as long as you're here ohterwise I'm terrified." he pressed a finger to her lips, "Please don't tell anyone that."
She shook her head as his hands slipped around to the back of her head, his fingers lacing through her hair. He plied slight pressure to the nape of her neck pulling her down to him. Mary Lynnette placed a firm, reassuring kiss on his lips.
"I won't tell."
Another meteor shot through the sky. It's flames sparkled bright gold in Ash's eyes and Mary Lynnette thought she'd never seen anything so beautiful.
She kissed him again, slowly, savoring each little move his mouth made. It might not be vampire, but it was still soft, warm, sensual and decidedly masculine. Ash slid his good arm down and crushed her to him.
"Mare," his voice was little more than a whisper, "you sure you want to do this?" He asked, slipping his hand under her shirt tracing tiny circles over her spine.
Her nose touched his, "Yes, if you're sure we're not going to hurt your shoulder."
"I think I'll live."
***
Mary Lynnette's eyes popped open. She was lying on Ash's chest listening to his heartbeat her hair spread out like a fan over him. Ash's arm was wrapped protectively around her waist, the cool silver of his bracelet pressing into the small of her back.. At some point in time they had returned to the sanctuary of her room. Now she remembered, mosquitoes were not the best bed buddies. She leaned over Ash toward the nightstand to check the time. He stirred, his hand drifting down ward. A wicked smile lit her face.
"Do you ever tire?"
"Mmmm, no."
A noise came from the kitchen and they both froze.
"Stay right here Ash." She whispered, all she needed was for him to fall down the steps or something stupid like that. Then it would be her fault for getting him hurt all over again.
"But. . . " He started to sit up but Mary Lynnette shoved him back against the pillows.
"That sounds like Claudine." She said, pulling her night gown over her head.
Ash pulled the sheets over his head, "Busted." He stage whispered.
Ignoring him, Mary Lynnette walked toward the door remembering to sidestep the footstool that was sitting in the middle of the floor, barely breathing, her heart pounding. How was she going to explain Ash's presence in her room to Claudine? Especially since he couldn't go out the window or make Claudine forget she saw him. Carefully shutting the door behind her and she started toward the stairs. Someone tapped on her shoulder and she screamed.
