I stepped up my pace, not wanting to give in to the urge to turn around and look.

I do not care. I do not care. I do not care.

I walked up to stand behind Anya. She looked up at me and nodded and I did the same in acknowledgement.

I stepped into the centre, the cries of delight spreading a smile on my face. I walked straight to Jasmine and found her fast asleep. I leaned in and pressed a kiss to her forehead, my hair falling like a curtain around us. I leaned back, rubbing my thumb against her plump cheek before heading toward blue eyed William, who recognised me immediately.

Smiling at him, I picked him up, bouncing him lightly on my hip.

"Hey, stranger." A male voice said.

The term was so human that I turned around surprised. I met blue and white eyes that were more blue than white.

He was Anya's cousin. I'd met him the first time I'd come to Infant Care.

"Blue, hey." I said, remembering the nickname I'd given him. He smiled brightly at me, stepping towards me.

"You remembered." He said.

"You seem surprised," I said, looking back at William, who suddenly reached out towards Blue.

Blue stepped closer and took the child from me. William stared at Blue, with stars with his eyes.

I chuckled, "I think you have a fan." I observed.

Blue smiled at William, then looked back at me, his expression turning serious and leaned a little closer, "Did you fight with him?" He asked.

I could almost feel myself stiffen at the mention of him.

I shrugged in response.

Blue's eyes slipped to see something behind me.

"Do not look now, but he is introducing Kila to the new girl." He said.

Kila?

I peeked over my shoulder inconspicuously and anger and jealousy churned in my stomach. I turned back and shrugged, because if I opened my mouth I was scared I would cry.

I took a deep breath.

He was introducing the dark haired, maroon eyed child he had me meet the last time we came here, to some other girl. Clearly, this was some kind of routine. I also happened to notice the girl was human.

"Good news, Kila is not impressed." Blue said.

I couldn't help the smirk that came then.

"At least she's got taste." I said.

Blue's eyes snapped to mine.

"Lover's quarrel?" He asked.

I snorted, "Hardly." I said.

"Want to play a game?" He asked.

"What kind of game?" I asked, my eyes narrowing.

"A game where we get to piss Rafe off." He said.

I shook my head, no.

"I don't play those kind of games." I said.

Blue's eyes raised and his voice dropped lower, "So what kind of games do you play?" He asked.

Did he just...?

"Did you just hit on me?" I asked.

Blue smirked. "I've been working on some lines."

I snickered.

"I have even got the 'bedroom eyes' thing down pat."

His English was so much more like ours than it was like the C'Riel's.

"Show me." I said.

And show me, he did.

He dropped his eyes, his lashes lifting slowly and he let me face the whole brunt of his gaze; his eyes burning into mine.

Holy shit.

He looked between the both of my eyes, his smouldering would've burnt me to crisp if I hadn't pressed my hands onto my own eyes.

"Good Lord, turn it off!" I said.

Blue laughed and I chanced a peek.

I dropped my hands and stared at him. He wiggled his eyebrows at me.

"So what did you think?" He asked.

"Give me a minute, I can't seem to remember how to talk." I said, holding up a finger.

He chuckled.

"Where did you learn that?" I asked, because that was ridiculous!

"You two are supposed to be working." Anya said, stepping up to us. And for the first time in a long time, she didn't sound pissed off.

I turned to her, "Have you seen your cousin do the bedroom eyes?"

"The what?" Anya asked the same time when another voice said, "Does he do it well?"

I turned around and met light brown eyes of the new girl, who had come towards us, leaving Rafe and Kila to their alone time.

I recognised the girl. She was the one who had asked Rafe his name and commented that it was the name of one of the Angels of God.

Of course he chose someone who thought highly of him, the egoistical Narcissist.

"Me saying he does it well, is the understatement of the year." I confessed.

Blue laughed, "Was it really that good?" He asked.

"It was brilliant! I was tempted to swoon." I admitted.

"But you didn't. Guess I need to fine tune it a little more." Blue mused.

Fine tune it?

"Ovaries." I said then made a blasting motion with my hands.

Blue burst out laughing.

"Seriously was it that good?" The girl asked, I nodded vigorously.

"What are we even talking about?" Anya asked.

"He'll show you." I said, ushering her and the new girl to come closer.

When he unleashed the "Kraken", the new girl was gasping and gushed out compliments.

"I think the fact that you're holding a kid adds to the appeal." I mused.

Anya turned around with the flattest look in the world.

"What did I just witness?" She asked.

And the fact that it had no effect on her because, they were cousins—and that she had no clue what he had even done, paired with her expression sent me into a fit of giggles.

"You've got work to do, my friend." I told Blue, who pouted at me, ignoring the new girl who was still talking to him at 10 miles an hour.

I turned around and came face to face with the bane of my existence. Who was still carrying Kila.

Our eyes met. His, a cool amber and mine probably a boiling green.

"What do you suggest?" Blue asked, coming to stand next to me.

I didn't unlatch my angry gaze from Rafe for another few seconds. When I thought I'd spat in his food and strangled him enough times in my head, I turned to Blue.

"About what?" I asked.

"How do I improve?" He asked, his smile flirty.

I wagged a finger at him, "You, my friend, are going to get me in trouble." I said,

"Only in the best kind of trouble." He promised me.

Kila, who had been hugging Rafe, her back to me, turned around at the sound of my voice.

Letting out a sound of recognition, she leaned towards me. I smiled at her, taking her into my arms.

"Hi, sweet girl." I said, when she hugged me.

Then I pressed my flat palm to the top of her head, listing it and dropping it once and asked, "Have you grown taller?"

She understood what I was saying because of the gesture I'd made and smiled shyly.

I pecked her nose, walking away from Rafe, like he didn't exist.

"Anya," I called and she turned from where she was standing next to the new girl. She looked almost relieved to be called away.

"Can I take her out? For a bit?"

"No." A familiar voice from behind said. I grit my teeth.

"Anya?" I asked again, tilting my head.

"I will accompany you, that way there should be no issue." Anya said after taking a few seconds to consider my request.

I smiled, "Perfect."

"You will not take her out."

His voice was low. Authoritative.

I stilled. Shut my eyes for a few minutes, trying to get my instinctive reaction—which was to lash out at him—under control. I turned around slowly and met his eyes, without flinching.

I smiled my most fake sweet smile at him, "And why is that?" I asked him.

His eyes narrowed at me and he crossed his arms, spreading his legs. Defensive pose strikes again.

Asshole.

"That is an order." He said.

I slipped my eyes to Anya who looked back at me with a blank expression.

"The benefit of having known him well," I murmured to her, "is in knowing where his weaknesses lie."

Anya's brows furrowed.

"Can you ask Kila if she'd like to go out for sometime?" I asked Anya.

Anya's brows raised in understanding of what I was going to do, seeming impressed. She quickly asked Kila if she wanted to go out and the little girl's eyes brightened. She curled one hand around my neck and turned her head, training her eyes to the exit of the room. She wasn't jumping like the other kids would have, but I could understand that this reaction, for her, was a big deal.

And it was most definitely a yes.

Check mate, sucker. I thought as I met Rafe's eyes.

Say no now. I dared him with my eyes, tilting my chin up a little.

His lips twisted into a sardonic smirk and he said with his eyes, Well played.

I held up my middle finger, rubbing my temple with it. Blue started snickering but quietened when Rafe threw him a look.

I looked Rafe up and down, letting him know how unimpressed with him I was and turned on my heel and walked out.

I walked with Kila in my arms and Anya beside me. Kila reached out every few seconds to touch a trunk or a flower, or a leaf with one hand. The other arm always remaining curled around my neck.

"I know.." Anya started and I looked at her.

She met my eyes and cleared her throat.

"I know I have not handled your...relationship with Rafe well." She started.

I shrugged, "I don't blame you."

She shook her head, "No, I saw the way you were with Jill. You did not behave with her the way I did with you." She said.

Who the hell was Jill?

Oh, new girl.

I shrugged, "Not her fault."

"I know that...now." She said and looked down, before looking back at me.

"I would like to try to be different..if you will let me."

I nodded, "Sure." I said, smiling at her.

She smiled back, tentatively.

We continued walking in silence.

As we headed towards the entrance of the centre, she said something that surprised me.

"He has never looked at anyone the way he looks at you. Not even me."

I stopped her just before we could enter and asked her if she could do me a favour.

"Could you maybe find out how Ryx is?" I asked.

At her curious look, I continued, "He wasn't doing too well the last time I'd heard."

Anya nodded and we stepped in. Rafe was having everyone put the children back to bed and leave. Our allotted time was over. The next set of care takers were on their way.

I placed Kila back in her little crib, and pressed a kiss to my index and pressed that index to her lips.

"Until next time, sweet girl." I whispered, winking at her.

She smiled up at me, then opened her mouth to murmur something. I leaned in closer when I couldn't hear her. She pressed a small hand to her chest and whispered something.

"Sweety, I can't-"

"Kila," she said, except her voice was so raspy it came out as Keeeela. I didn't let my expression mirror my shock.

Her vocal cords were ruined.

I pressed a hand to my own chest.

"Amour." I whispered.

She pressed a hand over mine, her little brows furrowing in concentration, "'More." She said.

I smiled, "Close enough." I said winking.

Really fast movement had my hair blowing into my face and heat swamping my back.

Rafe leaned right over me to reach Kila and said something in his own language.

Her brows furrowed, she swallowed, and said, "Kila." again.

Rafe dragged in a deep breath, looking down at me. I was about to snap at him to move away, because he was pressed up against me, but my voice died in my throat when I saw the look in his eyes.

He was... happy.

I ducked out from underneath his arm, moving to the side of her crib while he stood in the front.

He asked Kila something again and she nodded slowly.

He straightened, snapping orders at the C'Riel behind him.

He looked at me then and said, "You, stay."

"Woof." I muttered, but he'd already started walking away, directing the others to do...Lord knows what.

Kila just smiled at me tentatively and I smiled down at her.

"'More—" She rasped out my name, her brows furrowing a little when her voice broke at the end.

I leaned in, gently rubbing at her throat with my index.

"Rest your throat sweetheart," I said, smiling at her.

Both Kila and I watched Rafe and another C'Riel, who had entered minutes after the others had left, speak in low tones and not ten minutes later Rafe's mother and father stride into the centre. I want to watch what they do, but I get distracted when Kila catches hold of my hands that are resting on the top of her little crib and uses it as leverage to stand up.

I smile down at her gently, letting her find her own balance. She wasn't young enough that she couldn't stand on her own, but I could tell her developmental milestones had slowed down. Possibly due to some kind of trauma—something that most likely had to do with her mother's death. I remember Rafe mentioning it before.

She then shifted her hold to tighten her fingers around the suit near my stomach, letting the other hand go and she turned a little, trying to stand with just one hand holding on to something.

I felt the four of them come stand near the crib, watching the child.

Kila tried letting go of my suit and she fell almost immediately on her back. Rafe's mother rushed forward as if to help, but I shook my head, stopping her from coming forward. She stilled, her eyes narrowing at me.

"She's a child," she accused.

I nodded my head at her. "A very strong one, don't you agree?" I asked, raising my brows at her.

She nodded her head, slowly.

"Then, let's let her know that." I said.

Kila looked up at me with humiliated eyes, her chin trembling. I saw Rafe come to stand on the opposite side of the crib. Both of us were leaning forward such that his breath fanned my cheeks.

I ran a thumb against her cheek, brushing aside a small tear.

"Try again," I told her. She looked to Rafe, not sure what I was saying and he translated for her.

Kila looked at me again and I smiled at her, resting my chin on my hand, my elbow resting on the edge of her crib.

She looked at Rafe, who was also smiling down at her, he murmured something to her again and she looked down, her little fists clenching. She then put one hand on my arm and another on Rafe's, pulling herself up to her feet.

She slowly let go of the hold she had on me and wobbled, I almost physically had to restrain myself from catching hold of her. But I knew it wouldn't help her. She had to do this on her own.

Rafe murmured something again to her, dropping his head lower. Kila listened to him, then looked at me, her little index finger lifting to point at me.

"'More?" She rasped and the adults behind us gasped. She threw them a wary look, but was distracted when Rafe murmured something in return while nodding his head slowly. When I felt his eyes on me I looked to him.

They were like lava. Boiling, with heat.

I looked away immediately.

This time when she let go of Rafe, she stood for a few seconds, before she fell again, not used to the action.

She tried again, only to fail.

Her eyes filled with tears again and she looked up at me and Rafe.

I said, "Again." the same time he said something too. We looked at each other then, and I had a feeling we had said the same thing, but in different languages.

When our eyes met, I felt all the emotions I had buried deep, boil up to the surface, filling every dark corner in my soul, burning me up. Turning me inside out.

When Kila caught hold of us again and stood, her face set in determination, little beads of sweat dropping from her forehead at the strain, we looked away from each other to watch her.

This time when she stood and slowly let go of her hold on me, I held up one finger. She immediately looked up at me. I held up my hands at her shoulders, palms facing each other and fingers pointing at her, showing her the width of her shoulders and dropped them down to the bottom of her crib near where her feet were.

Her feet were closer together than the distance I was showing her with my hands.

She looked up at me, and I tapped my hand on the spot I wanted her feet to be at. She slowly spread her stance, her face a little red from all the effort.

By matching the width of her stance to the width of her shoulders, she had a greater chance in balancing herself.

When she looked up at me again, I nodded, letting her know it was okay to let go.

She let go, and this time, she stood for a whole minute, before her feet started shaking from the effort.

This time, when she was about to fall, I caught her and picked her into my arms.

She beamed at me and I grinned back.

"Good work, darling girl." I murmured, rubbing her legs that were shivering a little from all the strain.

She rested her temple against my neck, her breath coming out faster than usual.

"She only fell because her feet could not take her weight anymore," Rafe's mother said.

I looked at her, "Yes. She did good," I murmured as Kila's eyes closed, the fingers of one hand curling around mine, that was holding her against me.

I looked down at her feet and said, "Her feet are shivering from the strain," I said.

The C'Riel I had never seen before said, "I expect it would. I will have some oils prepared to help her muscles become stronger." Then he looked at both me and Rafe, "That was good work, both of you." He said, nodding and heading away.

Was he a doctor then?

I let out a slow breath, realising that the task had not just been hard for her, but also for me. The instinct to help children was so strong, that we make them fear the fall by holding them up all the time, rather than let them learn that they possess the ability to rise from the fall.

A throat cleared and I looked at Rafe's father.

"You did good," he told me, then looked at his son, "Both of you."

I felt Rafe look at me, but I ignored him. When Rafe's mother came closer, I gave her a tired smile.

"It is quite curious how much we can learn from those younger than us, is it not?" She asked, with a small smile.

Somehow I felt she wasn't just talking about Kila. I just nodded in agreement anyway.

A young lady, who I assume was a nurse, headed in our direction, holding a small yellow liquid in a vial. She instructed me to place Kila back into the crib.

I followed suit, gently prying her grasp on my hand free, catching her head in my other hand so it didn't fall. Kila was out cold, not even disturbed when the nurse started to massage some oil onto her little legs. I turned, rubbing at my eyes and stifling a yawn.

"You look tired," Rafe's mother said, "How are you going back?" She asked.

I blinked. That was right. How was I going back? The Hover was gone with the others.

"She will come with me," Rafe said.

I turned to throw him an incredulous look.

"I most certainly will not." I said.

He turned his dark gaze at me, and I turned away to meet his father's eyes.

"In fact, I would like to request not having a schedule that coincides with his."

His mother looked visibly shocked, while his father's expression turned speculative.

"If you are to help Kila, you will have to work together from now on," he said.

"Then just Infant Care schedules need not change. Every other duty, I would like changed so that it does not coincide with his." I said. Gosh, I was pissed.

"You could have come to me with this, directly." Rafe said in a low voice, from beside me, turning to face me while I stood facing his father. Rafe's father's eyes went to his son and he seemed to be finding something amusing.

I didn't look at him, "I do not know you well enough to approach you with my issues."

"And you know my father well enough for it?" Rafe asked, gesturing in the direction of his father.

I turned my head then and looked at Rafe, locking away every secret desire so that my eyes betrayed only what was left—anger.

"I am willing to go to any length to avoid you. If asking your father was the measure that would get me there, I am willing to take it."

Rafe's expression cooled instead of becoming angry and that fuelled my fury.

"I find this quite hard to believe, given you still wear the ear pieces I made."

Rafe's mother and father's expression morphed into shock when they turned to look at me.

I easily removed both the earrings and held them out to him. When he didn't take it, I placed them on the square edge of Kila's crib.

I was nobody's option. I would fight if I had to.

I looked back at his father, expectantly.

He nodded slowly, his eyes taking in his son, before flitting back to meet mine.

"You will receive your new schedule this evening." He said.

I was about to thank him and ask for a ride, when he continued, "But, you will ride with him back to your Resting Station. I need to know you can maintain a cordial relationship, at least for the sake of the child."

I felt my jaw tighten, but I kept quiet.

I could not talk my way out of this one. And if it is for Kila, then I would grit and bare through it.

I nodded at him.

"If you could allow us a few minutes." Rafe's father asked.

I nodded again, tossing a still sleeping Kila a last glance, before stepping around them and heading out of the centre.

I stood leaning against the wall near the entrance, fuming.

When they came out a few minutes later, both his parents had very curious expressions when they looked at me. I refused to meet their son's eyes, even when he walked right up to me.

"If you move, I can get on to the Hover." Rafe said.

I looked at him and he looked pointedly behind me. I looked behind me and realised I was standing right in front of a Hover Motorbike.

How had I not noticed it?

I moved forward, away from his path. And mercifully, my thoughts strayed. I thought of the night of the bonfire, I thought of Rey and Ren.

I thought of how they'd glared at each other. Then, just like everything I thought of, my thoughts came right back to Rafe.

They had glared at each other, just as we did, often.

Rafe shot the Hover past me, braked suddenly a few feet before me and revved the engine, as if indicating I should get on. My eyes narrowed. He revved again.

I walked to him, then right past him. I wasn't some animal.

He sped past me and stopped right in front of me. I glared at him, while he looked at me, still revving the engine.

I couldn't stop myself from admiring his stance from the front, which I was seeing for the first time. Attraction so strong, dug its claws into me that I couldn't breathe for a few seconds. His hair was tousled, his jaw strong, the sun light lightening the colour of his eyes. His strong thighs straddling the Hover, one long leg stretched out to rest his foot on the ground, holding the bike stable.

He revved again.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Is that signal that I should get on?" I asked, fluttering my lashes at him, with a a fake smile.

His lips twitched and it pissed me off more that he found humour in a situation that was shredding at my heart.

I started to step around him, when he said, "Get on, Hills."

I scowled at his back and got on to the Hover. I kept a good safe distance between us, like I would if Ace was riding the Hover. Rafe turned his head a little to the left, as if expecting something. He was still revving the goddamned Hover.

"What?" I asked, annoyed when he continued to hold the stance.

This time when he revved, he let the vehicle jerk forward once before stopping it again. The sudden motion of the Hover caused me to slip along the seat, my whole body aligning itself against his, my hands catching hold of his hips.

I saw the smirk that lit his face as he turned to face forward again and he sped away.

My jaw dropped.

How mature.

I let go of his hips and moved back again, putting distance between us.

When I did this, he braked suddenly. I went right back where I was, but only pressed closer this time, my breath rushing out of me at the impact.

"Rafe." I growled out.

"I can do this all day." He said in response, turning to the side again to look at me.

I gritted my teeth. I was tempted to say that Jill would not be okay with this, but then he would think I care, so I shut up, imagining a hundred different horrible ways I could kill him.

"Heard you had asked about Ryx." He said.

It wasn't a question, so I kept quiet. He turned his head slightly, his eyes narrowing when I didn't respond.

"You did not ask a question." I said.

He looked back forward and jerked the Hover onto its front, so that we were just short of ninety degrees into the air.

I sucked in a large breath, and bit my lips to keep from screaming, my hands wrapping around him, so that I didn't fall off. I shut my eyes, burying my head against his back, hoping I don't die.

He just did a front wheelie.

He dropped the Hover back down, but my heart still galloped. Adrenaline and shock having me frozen in place.

"Ace rides much better than you." I said, sounding breathless, when he sped forward again.

I felt Rafe snort, the sound reverberating through me. I let go of my possibly circulation seizing hold around his waist and brought my hands back to wrap them around themselves.

He jerked the Hover forward again and I slammed into him. Again.

"I swear to God, if you do that again, I will strangle you from behind. I don't care if I die in the process," I snapped at him.

His shoulders shook.

We were quiet for sometime, before he said.

"Shifting schedules to avoid me?" He asked, turning his head so that I knew he was smiling, "I am honoured to know that I have such an effect on you."

I patted his shoulder patronisingly, "If that makes you feel better about yourself, then yes."

This time when he picked up the pace on the Hover, I was ready for it.

"For someone who stated to not like playing games, you play them really well." He stated.

"I'm not playing any games." I growled out.

"Where did Ace take you?" He asked then, his voice low, angry.

"I'm surprised Mr. Stalker Extraordinaire doesn't know this already." I commented, airily.

"I have a few more tricks I can do on this Hover, would you like to see?" He asked.

I rolled my eyes.

"He took me to one of your...training centres, I guess you can call it. Lots of half naked men. It was amazing." I said.

"Was it?" He murmured, his voice dangerously low.

We were going really fast, if I wasn't so angry and intent on not letting my feelings show I would probably be really scared.

"Anything else enlightening happen?" He asked, his back muscles flexing against me.

"We did have a conversation," I mused.

"About what, precisely?" He said, his voice skating on angry.

"Sexual arousal." I said.

He stopped the Hover that had been moving at break-neck speed, but I was already so pressed up against him, I didn't move an inch, except press harder against him.

I looked up and saw that we'd come. In record time. I let my heart and body settle down for a few seconds, before hopping off the Hover.

Rafe's eyes were dark as they considered me.

"He told you about ethrés." He said.

I hummed in response, flexing my fingers, that had cramped from holding them so tightly into a fist.

"And?" He coaxed.

"Aaaaand," I trailed, tilting my head, "I wondered why Ace didn't take off his suit because I was curious what his marks looked like."

Four seconds later, Rafe was in my face, his eyes so dark, I couldn't identify his pupil.

His hands lifted to wrap around my neck, his thumb pushing at my jaw, tilting my face up.

"You will wish to see no other's marks but mine." He growled out.

I stayed silent, realising that talking back to him now would enrage him further and he would probably break the Hover in two. I imagined him look like a cartoon character picking up the Hover and slamming it down on the floor a few times and my lips twitched at the mental image.

He tilted his head, "What do you find amusing?" His voice was low, smooth and rough at the same time and I stilled realising at that moment just how easily he could hurt me.

"I was just thinking that the Hover's life is going to be in danger."

When he continued tilting his head, I pulled at his wrist, moving away from him and said, "I can wish to see whoever I want. You have no say in that."

I turned and started to walk away when he said, "You did not stay that night."

I turned around incredulous.

"You left me there. What was I supposed to do? Wait for your arrival like some...entranced damsel?" I asked.

Amber started creeping into his eyes again and he said, "That would have been nice, yes."

I laughed out, "Then I guess you never knew me."

I left then.

But my neck and jaw prickled from where he'd touched me.

His hot and cold behaviour was only making me more angry. I would not put up with it.

I was not someone's toy.

I was not someone's option.

____________________________________

Bam bam bam. Whatcha think?