I awoke in a very comfortable and very familiar position.

I could feel the nearly perfect coolness of Nico's skin where it touched mine.

A coolness that I was starting to associate with comfort more than the warmth that a blanket gave.

I could also feel the gentle tug against my head, telling me that Nico was messing with my hair.

Something that he's begun to do a lot lately.

Something that I had grown to like.

I slowly fluttered open my eyes, being met with Nico's chest.

He must have joined me after I fell asleep because I don't remember him laying with me.

But I was very glad he did. That peaceful sleep was much needed.

And the fact that I was in his arms probably made it that much better.

I inhaled as I stretched out my arms, legs, and back.

"Goodmorning sunshine," Nico spoke quietly.

I groaned a bit as my stretch came to an end.

I used the arm that somehow ended up around Nico to pull me closer to his body, my own not yet accepting that I was awake.

"Goodmorning," I replied groggily.

Wait... was it even morning?

I fell asleep during the morning so...

I used my other arm to push myself up so I could see the window past Nico's body.

My eyes gaped once I noticed that it was completely dark outside.

"Holy crap what time is it?" I asked.

How long was I asleep.

Nico chuckled quietly, the hand that was messing with my hair now grazing down my back.

"Almost nine I think." He replied casually.

I was asleep for nearly 12 hours...

My head turned towards Nico.

I remembered that he looked a little tired too when I came in, but that tired look was gone from his eyes now.

He must've gotten some sleep too.

But I doubt that he slept as long as I did.

"Have you been laying here with me the whole time?" I wondered.

To my surprise, he nodded.

"How long have you been awake?"

The corner of his mouth quirked upwards.

"It doesn't matter," He responded, now pushing himself up by his elbow, "Do you feel better?" he asked, changing the subject.

I decided to just accept that.

"Yeah, I really needed that" I stretched my arms above my head, glancing back at the window, "except now I'm not gonna be able to get any sleep tonight,"

Nico pushed himself into a sitting position, still facing me.

"Nah don't worry about that," he began, " I'm taking you somewhere later tonight."

Oh yeah!

The excitement that had been sitting in the back of my mind ever since he told me he was going to take me somewhere back before I left resurfaced.

I didn't even try to hide the smile that it caused.

"Where are we going?" I asked eagerly.

He seemed amused by my excitement.

"Its a surprise," He replied smugly, "But I'm sure you're going to like it."

I pursed out my lips in sarcastic disappointment in his decision to keep it a secret, quickly following with a look of accepted defeat.

"Alright, I'll trust you then," I admitted.

I could tell he enjoyed my answer.

"Good. We'll leave in about an hour and a half. I'll go call to reserve a limo." He said as he began to leave the bed.

Sweet. Ill have enough time to shower and make myself look presentable.

I was about to make my own move to leave the bed, but a realization caused me to pause.

Did I actually just use sarcasm with him?

I don't think I've ever done something like that with him, or anyone in a while for that matter.

It didn't even cross my mind either until now, like I was already comfortable with it.

Maybe I was. Nico didn't even seem to care.

In fact, he actually seemed to like it.

I turned towards him, watching him as he made his phone call.

His hair was messy and his loose clothes were wrinkled from all that time spent in the bed.

To think that a couple of months ago I was completely terrified of him almost didn't feel believable at this point.

To think that I used to believe that one simple mistake was going to lead to some sort of punishment, or that I was only a blood bag to him.

Now all of those thoughts just seem absolutely ridiculous.

I guess I've just become very comfortable around him... close to him.

I tried to not let my mind wander on that fact for too long.

I was becoming very close to him, but that didn't necessarily mean anything...

A sigh escaped my lips as I stood from the bed, and headed towards the bathroom.

"Oh Yeah," Nico spoke up, now finished with his very quick phone call, "I talked to Xander and he told me to tell you that he was sorry for drinking from you."

I stopped almost immediately, my brows drawing together in shock and confusion.

That didn't sound like Xander at all.

"Really?" I asked.

"Yeah, I was surprised too, but he was actually pretty genuine. Well, as genuine as Xander can get." He finished, the last part of his sentence growing quieter.

Huh.

I thought back to what Doe had said about Xander.

Maybe seeing what she did for me finally made him confess to that.

Looking back on that event was weird. I remembered fearing for my life multiple times that night, but now... I don't know... I had a lot of mixed feelings

"Oh... Is Doe okay?" I asked.

Nico nodded as he organized an old-looking book to the corner of his desk.

"Xander said that she claimed she was fine, but I told him id help her out with anything if she needed it."

Good.

I still felt like something needed to be done to make up for her actions, but with the help of Nico, I guess it will happen eventually.

An odd look crossed over Nico's face, almost looking like disapproval.

"Can I see his bitemark?" He finally asked.

My hand instinctively placed over the spot on my hip where he had bit me.

I hadn't actually looked at it in a while.

Nico came closer to me as I lifted the hoodie enough to see it.

The wound had scared over but was still fairly visible.

Nico kneeled down to get a better look at it.

I heard a hum of disproval as he looked it over.

His eyes narrowed a bit as he thought about something.

It was quiet for a minute before he apparently concluded something as stood back up.

"What?" I asked him.

"I think I know something that will make that fade faster." He told.

I looked down at the scar before returning my gaze to Nico.

"There's no way to fully get rid of it is there?"

Nico shook his head.

"No, despite what the medical industry has tried, scars for humans stay there. I could have done something the night it happened to have prevented it from scarring, but I wasn't thinking straight. Not to mention that Xanders bites are sloppy to begin with."

I answered with a quiet "Oh".

I didn't really mind its presence anymore. It was in a place that was easy to cover up and it only held memories at this point.

"I guess I'll just have to bite you there so you don't have to associate that mark with Xander," Nico said, a smirk showing proudly on his face.

I don't know why that made me blush wildly but it did, automatically making me pull the hoodie back over the mark and whip my head to the floor

I knew that he wasn't serious so why was I reacting like this?

Was it because of what happened the last time he bit me?

Nico laughed, apparently very much enjoying my reaction.

"I'm kidding," he began, his smirk still evident as he tucked his fingers under my jaw to make me look at him, "Now go get ready. We're gonna have fun tonight," He finished, his voice now smoother and more serious.

With that he drew his hand back and turned towards his desk, leaving me just standing there.

Holy crap...

I quickly walked into the bathroom, gently closing the door behind me.

My back quickly found the door as I leaned against it.

What the heck was that?

Regardless of my rushing questions, I was still smiling.

That was the first time he's ever joked with me...

And despite the heat on my face, I liked that fact.

But his smirk...

That smirk just made me feel something.

Maybe it was the fact that he wore it so well.

Not that he didn't wear everything well, but that was different.

I pushed myself off of the door, quickly removing my clothes in an act to stop dwelling on the subject.

I felt like my face was going to melt if I thought about it much longer.

With that goal set in my mind, I hopped into the shower.