Episode 7 — Two Worlds

Astrid stood in the garden, staring at the moon.

"So how has it been?" Dimitri asks walking up to her. "Finally living with your family again?"

"It’s nice," Astrid says without facing him. "It’s a bit boring but it means to be with them, I don't mind.

"You sound different."

"What do you mean?"

"Well," Dimitri stands beside her, "back home you just stay quiet, you speak to prove a point, but here, you think of what you say as if you're lost for words."

"That's because I am." she admits, "Finally seeing them again not thinking that I need to leave again, it’s a simple joy."

"And what about Damien?" he asks, "Is he as happy as you are?"

Astrid smiles shaking her head, "He isn't much of a talker, he hasn't changed a bit actually, he tells me if he's worried, or if I'm being stubborn or stupid."

"That's not an answer."

Astrid remembers her dream and frowned, "I can't really say..."

Dimitri reaches for her shoulder, "Angel-" But Astrid moved away, surprised. "Angel, I'm-"

"Call me Astrid, brother," she says. "I'm home, remember?"

"Yes, of course." Dimitri nods.

"I should go inside. I have a long day tomorrow.”

"And Astrid?" Astrid faced him, "I am sorry."

Astrid grins, "Thanks, I appreciate that. Good night."

"I see, thanks Ash, good night." Derek hangs up then turns to Damien who was in front of the fireplace, reading. "You could stop sulking, Ash said she's already in her room and the Russian boy is with Father Johan."

"And that should concern me why?"

"You've been staring at that page all evening."

"That's because I'm thinking."

"Thinking of what?"

"He touched her." Damien says, "And the way he looked at me, it was as if he was taunting me, like telling me he can save Astrid and I can't."

Derek grins, "Are you jealous, Damien?"

"No, I'm not." He says with a glare.

"Dude, you've painted her face so many times in canvases, you wished for her to come home, the messages you left for the security cameras and the fact you waited for nine years, as your so-called promise,” making air quotes as he rants, “you have the right to be jealous!"

"Why should I be?"

"Cause you're in love with her!" Derek says exasperated.

Damien stifles a laugh at his childhood friend before tossing the book on the table and leans back on the seat. Those were the exact words he didn't want to hear.

"You do know that you are in love with her, don't you?"

"Yeah," Damien groans, “I'm just too scared to admit. She's my best friend. I can't-"

"You never saw her as a sister," Derek points out, "Jared and I do, but you never did, and everyone in the school is already talking how you two acts like lovers-."

Then Damien stood up and shook his head, "No we're best friend, that's all there is."

"Then why were you so mad to see her with Dimitri?"

"You heard what he said! He was me for the past nine years. I don't think I want that rubbed on my face."

"I don't think that was his intention. If it was, Astrid had nothing to do with it." Derek said. "She loves you too much to hurt you."

Does she love me?

With that said Damien left for his room, lost in his thoughts. He locks his door and took a deep breath finally relieved to be away from Derek scrutiny, he stands by the window and stared at the moon.

"I'm home..." he remembers Astrid say, "If it would make you happy..."

"You're in love with her!"

Damien sighed, this time he flops down his bed. Out of habit, he turns to the photo on his side table, it was during the gallery opening, beside him was his painting of Astrid in Honolulu.

Then his phone rang, he glanced at the clock, 1130. Who could be calling me at this hour?

He picked up the receiver, "Hello?" no answer, "Hello?"

"I can't sleep."

"I'm sorry?" Damien asks, surprised.

"I said I can't sleep." The girl says again. He frowns thinking it could be just a drunk girl trying to get a night with him, so he prepares a speech in his mind to permanently make the caller stop.

"You didn't talk to me the whole day, I've been really good, haven't I?"

All thoughts gone, he realizes who it was on the other line.

Damien smiles, "Yes you have, angel." She doesn't answer, "Angel?"

"I like it when you call me angel," Astrid says. "You make me sound innocent."

"That's because you are," Damien said, "you’re my angel."

"Always?"

"Always." Damien repeats, "Anyway, you should sleep Astrid, I know you're tired."

"Ok, I'll see you tomorrow?"

"I'll pick you up for school."

"That sounds nice," Astrid said, "Oh, Damien?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry about Dimitri," Damien frowns. "He helped me a lot back in Russia. I hope you would be a little patient with him."

"If it’s that important to you, then I will," he says, trying to convince himself as well.

"Thank you," she said, "I'll see you tomorrow Damien, good night."

"Good night angel."

He hangs up and glanced at the photo of him with his painting of Astrid on his side table. 

Does it even matter if she loves me now? he thought, I can always make her fall for me, right?

The next day, Damien arrives at the Matthews' he steps out of his car and entered the house.

"Good morning, Young Master Cayce." Albert greets.

"Good morning Albert." Damien greets, "Are the twins up?"

"The Young Master already left for training, the Young Miss-"

"Is right here." They look up the stairs and saw her on her way down. Damien stares at her with a smile, "Good morning."

"Good Morning, you look nice with your hair down," Albert says.

"I know, you always tell me." Astrid rolls her eyes, amused. Then she faced Damien, "Good morning."

"Someone woke up on the right side of the bed." Damien teases.

"Yeah, well, the ball is tonight, I need to enjoy today while I can."

"Then let's start the day with breakfast," Albert said. "I'll go prepare it for you."

"Thank you."

"So where's your friend?" Damien asked.

"Probably out running." she said, "He does his runs later than I do."

"You seem to know him a lot," Damien says.

"He was my only friend in Russia." she said, "And if he wasn't Father Charles' heir he would have never given me a second look."

"I find that impossible."

"Why?"

He faced her, Because Albert is right, you are beautiful."

Astrid felt her cheek heat up. "Thank you."

"Anyway, c'mon..." he takes her hand, "Albert's probably waiting for us."

They walked hand in hand to the dining room as they talk and laughed.

"Ah, there you are!" They saw Father Johan at the head of the table, Dimitri on his left. "Come join us."

"Good morning grandfather," Astrid says.

"Good morning Father Johan." Damien greets, he pulls out a chair for Astrid on Father Johan's right-hand eyeing Dimitri who had a smirk on his face.

"Already on your way to school?" Father Johan asks.

"Yes." Astrid sets a napkin on her lap.

"Well, there's no need to rush. There are no classes today since everyone's preparing for the ball." Father Johan says excitedly. "So maybe you can show Dimitri around the academy."

"But-"

"It'll be a pleasure," Damien says.

"Damien-"

"Thank you, Young Master Cayce." Dimitri cuts in.

"Please call me Damien."

"Of course, thank you, Damien." Dimitri glances at Astrid.

"Now, what is this I hear that you are refusing to fight" Father Johan turns to Astrid.

 And they stayed there for an hour talking with Father Johan. 

"So where are we going?" Dimitri asks.

"At the academy, the others are waiting for us," Damien says, opening the door for Astrid at the passenger seat.

"Thank you." Astrid steps into the car, Damien smiles as he closed the door. Then Astrid felt Dimitri slid in at the back.

"This would be fun," he says.

"Shut up." Astrid snaps.

"Aw, did I ruin a date, princess?"

"Shut up or I'll be the one collecting your bounty."

Damien finally opened the door and steps inside. "Everybody ready?"

"Yup!" Dimitri sits back.

"Not quite." Damien sighed, he leans toward Astrid, his face a few inches away from her face. Damien reached for Astrid's seatbelt and locked it. "Seatbelt."

"Thanks." Astrid whispers, blushing.

Dimitri frowned and glares out the window. Damien caught sight of him on his rearview mirror and smiled.

Fifteen minutes later they finally reached the academy and sees the others waiting for them at the parking lot.

"About time." Collin steps up. "What took you?"

"Sorry guys." Damien grins. "Father Johan had breakfast with us, and..." he glances over his shoulder just as Dimitri steps out.

"What is he doing here?" Derek asks, not hiding an inch of displeasure.

"Grandfather wants us to tour him," Astrid says, tipping her head as thanks to the valet.

"Good morning." Dimitri greets the others.

"Hello Dimitri, I believe we haven't met yet." Jared steps up and stretched out his hand, "I am Jared Johnson, and this is my brother, Derek."

"Hey..." Derek shook hands with Dimitri.

"I am Collin Matthews." Collin lent out his hand for a shake. "and my fiancée, Allana Jacobson."

"Good morning Dimitri." Allana greets.

"Good morning, Miss Allana," Dimitri says.

"So, how was your first day at NSA?" Derek asks.

"It was very interesting; Father Johan didn't mention a fighting curriculum."

"He never does." They all said under their breath.

"Seeing what you did to those boys who attacked Astrid and Damien, I say, you are quite a fighter," Collin says.

"Yes, well, I need to be." he glanced at Astrid, "Back at Russia, we're required to protect our home and our families."

"We do that here too you know," Derek says, not trusting Dimitri. "We even get territorial."

"Well, good thing that we're on the same side then," Dimitri says.

"That's for us to decide." Derek glares at him.

"That's enough Derek." Damien says, "So where do you want to go first, Dimitri?"

"Anywhere where Miss Astrid would be."

"Why am I not surprise?" Jared mumbles, amused. 

Damien glanced at Astrid who turned to him with a frown. Damien smiled her way, saying it's ok.

"Then we'll be together pretty much the whole day," Damien said. Astrid smiled and gave a nod.

"Great!" Allana grabs Astrid's hand, "C'mon Astrid, let's check out the ballroom."

The two girls ran off, giggling.

"I thought Astrid didn't like the idea of a ball?" Collin asks.

"She's probably just going along with Allana." Ash grins. "C'mon, before those two get in trouble."

They followed the girls.

"It's surprising that you can join us today, Ash," Damien said.

"Yeah, well, I haven't spent time with Astrid since she arrived." Ash said, 'I hope you don't mind me tagging along."

Damien glanced at Dimitri. "That's what seems to be everyone's plan is today, isn't it?"

"Speaking of plans." Collin says, "I'm planning to visit home tomorrow and Allana wants to go to the villa, do you guys want to come?"

"We'd love to." Derek says, "About time, it's been getting boring here."

"We better ask for grandfather's permission first," Damien says, "you know how he is with Astrid."

"I'm pretty sure he'll agree seeing it is the Jacobson's villa we'll be going to," Jared said.

"Besides, he'll probably be sending guards for everyone," Collin said, "And I already gave a heads-up regarding Dimitri."

"Me, Master Collin?" Dimitri asked, surprised.

"Father Johan mentioned of your arrival last night as well, and I offered you may join us." he glanced at him, "I don't think it would be safe for NSA if we leave you here."

"Besides, you are one of us now." Ash said, "You should come."

"It is an honor," Dimitri said.

"STOP IT!"

They all looked ahead and saw Astrid surrounded by boys pushing her around, as Allana kicked another guy aside.

"Leave her alone!"

Then one guy grabbed Allana by the neck and pushed her up the locker.

"Allana..." Collin was about to run to them, but Dimitri stops him, "Let me go, Dimitri! Allana-"

"Astrid will take care of her," Dimitri says.

"She hasn't fought once-"

"Because none of you were in trouble." Dimitri cuts in, "She fights to protect you."

They all looked back and the guy pinned Allana on the locker.

"Leave her alone!" Allana shouts again, Astrid could hear Allana, but the boys got her trapped.

"Shut up!" he hears a boy shout, shoving Allana up the locker and slapped her.

At that moment Astrid saw red.

"Leave her out of this..." Astrid tries to run to Allana but a boy grabbed her by the waist and pushed her back toward another guy, who grabbed her wrist and pinned it back.

"You are not going anywhere," he says as he ran his hand all over her.

"I said leave her alone!" Astrid tossed her head back, hitting the boy on the face, making him let go of her, then she kicks the one in front of her, he hits the lockers and fall on the floor. 

Another boy grabs her from behind, she easily escapes his hold, swings and hits his cheek with her elbow, she turns and sees a boy about to punch her, but she caught his fist and kicked him in the gut, twisted his arm, and dropped him on the floor. 

Another guy attacks from behind, but she does a sweep and the moment the boy falls on the ground, back first, she hits him on the chest, knocking the air out of him. She looks up and saw the guy who had Allana pinned on the wall and was about to use Allana as a shield.

Astrid made a quick move and maneuvered behind him, grabbed his head with both hands, ready to snap it off.

"Astrid!" she froze, breathing hard and tightens her hold on the boy.

"Let her go or I'll snap your neck off your body," Astrid shouts.

The guy was scared, but he knew she can still kill him if he let goes.

"I will kill you with no hesitation if you don't let go."

The boy finally let goes. But Astrid doesn't let go of him.

"Angel calms down," Dimitri calls out.

"Give me a reason." Astrid says, "He hurt Allana, he deserves to die!"

"No!" Dimitri says, "Then you'll taint your home with blood."

"My home is better off without the likes of him," Astrid says, tightening her hold.

"That's not for you to decide." Astrid still doesn't let go.

"Astrid," Damien calls her by her name, "Allana's safe, you don't have to do this."

"I promise he will be punished." Ash adds, "Now come on, let him go."

Astrid took a deep breath and slowly let go, then she turned to the others.

"I knew you weren't a wuss," Derek says with a proud smile.

Astrid smiles and walks toward them. Suddenly the boy grabs a dagger underneath his coat.

"You bitch!"

"Astrid!"

Damien grabs Astrid and pulls her to him, he turns around shielding her from the boy.

"Damien!" Astrid watched as Damien fought off the pain, Astrid glares at the guy but she felt Damien's hand tighten its hold.

"Don't," Damien hissed, "It’s not worth it."

"Leave or I swear I will skin you alive." Astrid glares at the boy unable to get out of Damien’s hold.

The boy runs off leaving his unconscious friends.

"Damien are you ok?" Jared kneels beside him.

"Yeah," he says through gritted teeth, "just a bit of sting."

"Let's get you to the clinic." Ash looks at Astrid, "Don't go running after the guy now, ok? He's probably already scared to death."

Astrid stood in the clinic, watching the nurse patching Damien's wound.

"There! Now, I'm sure you won't be able to lie on your back for a while, so be sure to clean it regularly, so it'll close up."

"Thank you." Damien says, facing the nurse, "Will that be all?"

"Well,"' the nurse says, "you can tell that pretty lady to stop worrying."

Damien turns to Astrid and smiled, "That'll be like asking for a miracle."

The others stifle a laugh, but Astrid remained still.

"Here's a new uniform." Collin hands him the clothes.

"Thank you." Damien says, he stood up and Astrid ran his eyes down his body, his six-pack now out for everyone to see, then he turns around and she sees the wound until he pulled his uniform up and start to button it up, he faced her again, "If you're going to stare at me the whole day, might as well take a picture."

Astrid stared at him directly in the eyes. They were waiting for a witty remark, but none came. Instead, she stepped out of the room and stood outside the hall.

I failed... she thought, Damien's hurt because of me...

"You tried..." she hears Dimitri say behind her. "He'd probably be upset if you kill the boy."

Astrid shook her head, "I'd rather deal with that than see him hurt."

"He pulls you away to save you-"

"That defeats my purpose-"

"You aren't a guard Astrid!" Dimitri snaps, he looks around and shrugged, calming himself. "Did you even consider the fact that you are somebody sister, daughter, or friend?" he shouts- whispers at her.

Astrid stares at him surprised.

"You try so much to protect them, but it's you who's hurting them the most!" he steps up. "You have good friends and good family, I can see that now, they need you more than your protection."

"I'm the reason they're in trouble, I'm just paying for my mistakes."

"Did they told you to do so?" Dimitri asked, "Your life is hard and you're making it harder."

Astrid doesn't answer. Dimitri stepped away and leaned on the wall across from her. Then the door opened, and Astrid looked up and saw the others step out.

"There you are." Allana said, "Father Johan is calling for us."

"Why?" Astrid asks.

"We're not sure, but he sounds mad."

"I'm canceling the ball until Damien is all healed."

"You don't need to do that Father Johan," Damien says. "I'm-"

"No." He hits the top of his table, 'That stunt today was extremely dangerous, I decided to cool things down for a while."

"What do you mean?" Ash asks.

"I've approved your weekend trip to the Jacobson's Villa," he said. “You'll be leaving in an hour."

"So soon?" Jared asks.

"For longer vacation." Father Johan says, "You'll be coming home Sunday night."

"Hm, two nights and two days?" Derek thinks over. "Not bad."

"Thank you, grandfather." Collin bows.

"But since this is a sudden decision, you'll have to go without guards and servants." he said, "You'll need to lie low."

"No guards?" Ash asked and glances at Astrid.

"You're on your own." Father Johan says, "Consider this a test, we'll see how you do outside the walls of NSA and out to find yourself."

"This gets better every minute." Derek excitedly says with a clap of the hand, "I'm in."

"Me too," Allana says, and the others agreed as well, except for Astrid.

"Astrid?" Ash looks at her, "Your decision."

She looks around seeing them looking hopeful, but she already had a decision. Damien stared at her and knew what she was thinking.

"Everyone's going." Damien said, "Don't you want to join us?"

Astrid just stares at him, not answering still.

"C'mon Astrid, this will be our first vacation." Allana urges.

"That's right," Derek agrees, "Besides, NSA will just bore you."

Astrid glances at Dimitri who raised a brow and tips his head.

"I'll go start packing." she turns around and leaves the office.

In her room, she closed the door behind her and looked up the wall where her blades were hanging. She stands in front of it, remembering how she just decided to never use them again.

"If it will suit you," Astrid turns and saw Ash by the door. "you can bring it along."

Astrid sighed and shook her head, "I don't need it."

"I'm sure you don't," Ash says. "Master Schick said you were good, but I didn’t know you were that good."

"Apparently, not good enough." Astrid mumbles.

"You fought five guys in thirty seconds, that's really good."

"And yet Damien got hurt-"

"Minor wound, he'll live."

"That's not the point-"

"And I don't care." Ash cuts in, "We get into fights every day, and even being one of the best we do get bruised and scarred."

Astrid stares at him, speechless.

"You were gone for nine years, Astrid." he says, "We took care of each other, as we promised. Let us, at least, take care of you." He reached out her hand, “I never want to lose you again Astrid."

Astrid takes his hand. "Never again, I promised."

"Good." he pulls her in her arms and kissed her on the forehead, "I'll see you downstairs."

Astrid nods and Ash left, then she looked up at her blades again.

Half an hour of the plane ride and two-hour drive later, they finally arrived at the Jacobson’s rest house.

“Ahh, fresh air,” Derek says stepping out of Damien’s car.

“C’mon inside,” Allana unlocks the front door and enters the rest house.

Damien turns off the engine and glances at Astrid who was staring at the house.

“You ok?”

Astrid took a deep breath, “I don’t know, just…”

“It’ll be fine.” Damien assures her, “You’d have so much fun you wouldn’t notice until we’re back on the plane to NSA.”

She gives him a look before forcing a nod, agreeing.

They finally step out of the car and into the house. They stood by the door and look around and saw the place was covered with cloths and dust.

"Well, this place sure looks different without maids," Jared says.

"We should get settled in so we can start fixing and cleaning," Allana says.

"Hm," Collin looks out the window. "I don't think we'll have any problems with security."

"I'll see into that." Dimitri says, "Where's the security room?"

"Basement, first door on the right," Allana says over her shoulder.

Dimitri walks to the security room, the gang turned to Astrid."

"Security's specialty." Astrid says, "If he has everything he needs, not even a fly can get through those doors."

"That's comforting." Derek sighed. "Anyway, might as well go change."

"We'll meet back here in fifteen minutes." Ash reminds.

They walked up the stairs as if they were back at the Sanctuary.

"I'll bring you to your room," Damien whispers taking one of her bags from and walked up the stairs.

"I have a room here?" Astrid asks.

"Well, you are a Jacobson," Damien grins, “we use to come here when we were younger, it was the safest summer vacation place for us. So we all got a room here, Jared and Derek have the second floor, and practically converted half of it to a game room.” He chuckles, “You can just imagine Allana’s anger when she first saw their room filled with electronic games.”

Astrid laughs as they finally reached the fourth floor.

“The third floor is for Collin and Allana, you don’t want to know what goes on there.” He glanced at the single double door in the center of the hall. 

Astrid rolls her eyes, amused and embarrassed of what Damien meant to say.

“Finally…” he stops in front of a double door and opened them showing a crescent-shaped room, with half of the room covered with window, "It has the best view of the sea."

He was right, it was beautiful. Like something only someone can paint.

"This use to be your mom's room," Damien adds setting her bag on top of the bed. "Ash got the one above yours."

Astrid turns to him, "And you?"

He grins and blushed, "Right across yours." Astrid glances at the door and saw a door similar to hers across her room, "I don't want to get you kidnapped under my watch."

Astrid chuckles.

"Anyway, you should change it." Damien says, "Ash hates to dust, he'll want the house cleaned by lunch."

"Ok." She says.

Damien leaves and closed the doors behind him. Astrid drops her bag hand carry bag by the foot of the bed. She took off her jacket and strapped off the belt that holds her belt. Her daggers and guns were in her bag.

She hanged the blades on the post of her bed. She pulled off her shirt and slipped unto black shorts, a grey razorback, and sneakers. Then she pulled back her hair and tied it up, the end reaching her waist.

She checked on her reflection, frowning remembering how she looked like before assassin duty. Her thoughts of her bloody memory got cut short by a knock on the door.

"Angel?" she smiles and opened the door. "Hey, you-"

Damien stares at her, his eyes ran down her body, and grins in approval. 

"Damien?"

Damien blushes, "I have to disagree with Albert." She raised her brow, questioned, "You still are beautiful with your hair up."

It was Astrid turns to blush, "Thank you."

Damien smiles, "Anyway, let's go, there's a lot to do downstairs. Ash wants all hands-on deck." he reached for her hand and intertwined his fingers with hers. 

Astrid smiles and looks him over, seeing him dress down in khaki shorts and a plain white shirt under a plaid shirt and white sneakers. He glances over his shoulder and sees Astrid staring at him making him chuckle and squeezed her hand.

“There you are.”

Collin and Ash stood in the middle of the room talking, while Derek stood at the bottom of the stairs eating beef jerky.

"Hey, what's up?" Damien looks around.

"Electrical problems." Ash shrugged, "Dimitri and Jared are already checking on it."

"We have another problem." Allana steps into view from the dining area, "There's no food."

"We’ll take care of things here." Ash says, “You two can go grocery shopping.”

"You sure?" Damien asks.

"Yeah." Allana said, "Go on. Astrid should see the town anyways."

“We can do that once we all got things fixed here,” Astrid says.

“Astrid’s right, we’ll go grab us some lunch as well,” Damien says picking up his keys from the bowl by the main door.

“Alright, be sure to stay on the main road though, alright? Dimitri has security around the house set up but not the whole city.”

“He can do that?” Derek asks.

“As I said, he’s good at that kind of stuff,” Astrid says following Damien out the door.

"And over there, that's the town hall." Damien points at a small white building.

 Astrid nods and remains quiet. "Just tell me if I'm beginning to be talkative."

She turns to him and forced a smile. "Sorry, I'm not much of a companion, am I?"

"Only when you're sulking," he admits. She looks down her hand and didn't answer, Damien sighs. "Angel, you did what you had to do and so did I."

"I should have been more careful. If only I finished him off-"

"I'd be more upset with you if you did that," Damien says.

"So you are upset?" Astrid glanced at him.

He sighs and parks, before stepping out he faces Astrid and looked her straight in the eyes.

"I'm upset that you are upset." he says, "You're upset because I saved you, a normal girl would be flattered or thankful if a guy saves them, but you aren't. Instead, you're thinking of killing the guy."

Astrid stares at his smiles, "I am thankful Damien, very much. No one had ever seen the need to protect me as you do. I like to be a damsel in distress as much as being the heroine, but not if it means you'd get hurt.” She reaches for his face, "I can't imagine what I'll do if I lose you, Damien, especially if it’s because of me."

Damien stares at her surprised; her eyes were teary and worried. She was almost scared, he felt her run her hand down his cheek, he reached for her hand and held it in place, glancing at her lips, then back at her eyes.

"You won't lose me," he whispers, pulling her hand away to kiss her palm. "You'll never lose me in any way. I'll be beside you at your every whim, my angel." With his free hand, he reached for her face and wiped away her tears, "I promise."

Astrid smiles in recognition, feeling better now.

"C'mon, the gangs' probably hungry," Damien says, Astrid gave a weak nod and pulls her hand away.

Damien steps out of the car and met Astrid in front of the car. He took her hand, then ran his free hand around her waist and pulled her close to him as they stepped inside the grocery.

"Good afternoon, welcome- oh, hey Damien." the girl at the counter perks up seeing Damien.

"Hey, Andy." Damien tips his head in greeting, still holding Astrid close to him. The girl, Andy, looks at her from head to toe then back and raised a brow.

"Didn't know you already on vacation." she says still as perky as before, "You and the boys picked up some dates along the road I see."

"We're just here for the weekend, and no we didn't." Damien looks down at Astrid and smiled, "This little lady right here is Ash's sister. Astrid. Astrid meets Andy."

"Hey..." Astrid extended her hand.

“Yeah, hi…” Andy cuts in and completely brushing off Astrid’s hand by continues pricing the items on the counter.

"She's Aunt Hannah's daughter, she came home from abroad and we're showing her around," Damien adds, giving the girl a look.

"Dandy," Andy says, bored. 

Astrid frowns, realizing that this girl was like Lila.

"But, if you want to go see the town, there's a town ball tonight." she hands him a flier, "There's already a handful of tourists, you guys should come, you can bring your lady friend too I guess.”

Damien reads through the flier, "Oh, wow, and a town fair over the weekend, as well." Damien smiles at the girl, "Thanks Andy, I'll tell the boys."

"Great," she gives him a seductive smile, "I'll see you tonight then."

"See you." Damien grabs an old cart, without letting go of Astrid's hand. They start to walk around taking what they need and want.

"Wow, it'll be the first time I'll be attending a town fair," Damien says. "Want to go?"

"I don't know." Astrid says, a bit angry, "I thought you'd be going with a counter girl."

"What?"

"That girl totally brushed me off." Astrid says, "You introduce me, and she brushed me off and refer to me as your lady friend."

"That's how Andy is, she isn't good with girls, Allana hates her too."

Astrid let go of his hand and faced him, "She isn't good with girls, meaning she's great with guys?" she asks, annoyed. "Is that based on experience, Damien? Does that really supposed to make me feel better?"

Damien gave her a look, and grinned, "Are you jealous, angel?"

"Maybe I am, what is it to you?" she walks away, "She's not good with girls, seriously!"

Damien grins hearing her and runs after her and took her hand making her face him.

"Stop being silly Astrid." he says, "You made me jealous with Dimitri."

"What? When?"

"You protecting him saying that you owe him gratitude, telling me to be patient with him, letting him touch you when we could barely do."

"What are you talking about Damien?" Astrid has her hands on her hip, glaring at him.

"That you're making me jealous through Dimitri!" Damien says, getting annoyed as well.

"Are you crazy? That isn't true and you know it."

"Do I really, Astrid?" Damien snaps, "You've been lost for nine years with no communications, then you come back looking all ladylike and scared to be touched. Then Dimitri comes saving and touching you as if it’s the most normal thing for you." she frowns, "I've seen you flinched and move away, even from Ash!"

Astrid stares at him with disbelief, "But I never moved or flinched away from you." this surprised Damien, "I know I do it with Derek, with Ash and even Dad but never with you Damien!" tears began to form in her eyes again, "I killed those men who tried to rape me cause I thought I'll disgust you! I'm scared that's why I push them away. They trigger memories- fear! That I'm trying to suppress and you’re telling me how I made you jealous with Dimitri saving me? Is that why you saved me? To get even with him. To show him who the better man is?" She looks at him with disappointment, "If you want to know, Dimitri had been jealous of you even before you knew I'm alive."

With that said Astrid turns to leave and Damien just watched her, surprised. He shrugged and looked around.

"You should go after her." Andy says, "She looked really upset."

"It'll be better if we calm down first," Damien said. "I don't want to push my luck today."

After 15 minutes Damien finished the groceries and was at the counter. Then he heard the thunder rumble.

"Hm, that rain might ruin tonight's bonfire plan," Andy says. 

Damien sees lightning struck nearby followed by another loud thunder. He frowned remembering Astrid afraid of the dark and thunder.

"Hey, Andy, can you set this all up? I'll be back." He says tossing cash on the counter and runs out of the store and looked around. 

"Astrid!" the rain began to pour, and another lightning broke across the sky followed by a rumble of loud thunder. He ran down the street, looking around. "Astrid!

Another lightning lit the sky, and a crashing boom of thunder followed he had checked every store that she could be, but no luck.

"ASTRID!" he shouted in the middle of the street, more worried than ever. 

He began to run back to the grocery hoping that she's already there, waiting, but she wasn't. He stood outside, looking around.

"Damien come inside!" Andy calls out, "It pouring hard, look for her when-"

"No, she hates, cold and thunder," Damien says, "she'll be scared to death by the dark."

He frantically checks again, but to no avail, he had decided to call in the others, when his eyes caught the small church's door open. He ran to it and he saw a trail of water leading to the altar. Thunder rolled again outside and he heard a whimper underneath the priest’s table.

He walks around the table, knelt down, and saw Astrid rolls into a ball, her eyes shut close, her hands over her ears.

"Astrid..." Damien called, "Astrid I'm here." She looked up at him, still crying.

"C'mon let's go home." Lightning struck and she closed her eyes in fear. "Astrid it's ok, I'm here..."

He held out his hand, Astrid stared at it, hesitant. Suddenly thunder rolled and Astrid moved toward Damien, hiding her face on his chest, surprising Damien. 

He stares at her and then wraps her in his arms, relieved. "Calm down angel... calm down..." he whispers.

He and Astrid sat there in silence as he ran his arms over her arms and her back to keep her hot. Finally, he just pulled her to him and wraps his arms around him and made her lean on him.

With his legs both on her side, his arms around her Astrid grew comfortable and despite her soaked clothes, his body heat was somewhat helping her.

"I wasn't jealous because he touched you." Damien broke the silence, "He was me for the last nine years and that scared me; scared that you might not need me anymore." He held her closer to him as if she will disappear the more, he divulges his feelings. 

"I love you, angel, more than I should, and I can't help it." Astrid finally looked up at him, surprised, he looks down at her and smiled, "Every day, you make me fall in love with you more. How you laugh and pout, when you’re being stubborn or when you give in to what others want. When you cry or you’re scared, even when you throw tantrum, I fall deeper in love with you. That's why I'm jealous." he studied her face as if memorizing every inch of it, the change of reaction when she tells her again, "I love you, Astrid Matthews, being with you is enough for me, I could never ask for more. There could never be a happier or more contented man in the world than me being able to finally say this."

"Damien..."

"The mere fact that I know you care for me is enough, angel," Damien says, but to his surprise, she shook her head.

"I never really thought about it that way." she says, "I missed all of you, but it was you who I was always longing to see. Your little antics with the cameras fueled that want. It wasn't my promise that made me come home, it’s the fact that I know you will be waiting with the others." she paused, "I never really understood why I constantly want to please you even when I was in Russia. That's what this is..." she looks up at him straight in the eyes, "You made me fall in love with you with all those antics, how you were so gentle, how you reassure me that there is still someone who is waiting for me." she smiles at him. "I love you, Damien... I love you the same way you love me..."

Damien smiled, "Well, aren't I the lucky one?" he reached for her face and pulled her toward him and kissed her softly. 

He felt her kiss him back, making him smile, he ran his tongue at her bottom lip, and she opened her lips for him. Astrid closed her eyes, remembering the moment, how perfect the kiss was, and how his lips felt so soft and how his tongue played with hers. 

Soon they parted, Damien rested his forehead on hers and stared at her.

"I'm glad I waited for you." He says.

"So did I." Astrid smiled, then she sat up. "The gang! They're probably hungry and-"

Thunder boomed outside again, and she dove unto Damien's chest and hid her face there, making Damien laugh.

"Calm down, angel." He takes her hand, "Let's wait for this downpour to pass and the thunder to lessen."

"But the gang-"

"Will just have to wait," he says. "Like we did." Astrid smiles and snuggles closer to him. "You seem to like where you are anyway." he teases.

Astrid nudges him playfully and closed her eyes, as Damien wraps his arms around her and held her closer to him.

"They're here!" Allana says.

"Finally, I’m hungry." Derek ran outside to help Damien and Astrid with the groceries. "You took your time."

"Sorry, got caught in the rain," Damien says, opening the door for Astrid. She steps out all red and smiling, "Go change, I'll see you upstairs." Astrid nods, pulling Damien’s plaid shirt nearer.

"C'mon, I'll prepare you a hot bath," Allana says to Astrid from the front step.

"Hey, Derek, a little help here?" Derek follows Astrid with a look then turns back to Damien, who was unloading the trunk of groceries and lunch.

"What's with Astrid," he asks walking to him.

Damien faced him with a smile, handing him two paper bags and two bagfuls of food.

“In love..."

Derek's eyes widened. "You told her?!"

Damien chuckles balancing two paper bags in his arms and two plastic bags of lunch and close the trunk door, pressed the alarm, and locked the doors as he walks pass Derek. 

"I kissed her." He whispers at him.

"You what?!" Derek shouts, almost dropping the groceries. But he tightened his hold and ran after him into the house, "Are you crazy? She could have killed you."

"But she didn't." Damien smiles at him, "We're in love."

Derek blocks his way, "And Ash? He'll kill you-"

"That's why you should stay quiet until I tell him." Damien walks pass him again going to the kitchen.

"Tell who what?" they looked up and saw Ash, Collin, and Jared inside the kitchen drinking juice.

"That your sister is scared of lightning and thunder," Damien says.

"What?" Ash asks, amused, "No, way."

"She is." Damien put the bags on the counter, "Scared the hell out of her and hid at the chapel."

"Seriously?" Jared asks.

"It started when my grandfather locked her up.” They turned around and saw Dimitri. "When she visited you guys, well, it wasn't actually allowed, and she was punished. Father locked her in a dungeon, no light, no bed- cold, wet, and stormy night."

"She's scared of the dark and hates the cold, didn't you know that?" Collin asks.

"You should understand that she is the best fighter in the Duchovny house," Dimitri explained, they frowned hearing the same place, Khyle mentioned. "What she's scared of is a weakness, therefore must be kept a secret. Even her identity."

"Well, she's home now." Damien says, "I'd appreciate it if you'd stop seeing her as if she's invincible." he glares at him. "Especially since you don't seem to know anything about her."

"And you do?"

"I know what I need to know." Damien says, "It doesn't matter, at the end of the day, she's still the little girl we grew up with.”

"The crybaby," Jared says.

"The princess," Derek adds.

"The one who we need to protect." Ash says, "No matter how good or strong a fighter she is, she'll always be my baby sister."

Dimitri stares at them, questioned.

"Young Duchovny," Collin steps in, "Astrid made herself strong to protect the family. We made ourselves strong to protect her. To tell us that we need not worry just causes us to worry more."

"She's an assassin!" Dimitri shouts. "The richest and deadliest assassin in Russia! She had killed hundreds- probably thousands of men with her bare hands, now tell me if she still needs protecting."

They all stared at him, they were surprised at this revelation, yes, but this is Astrid they are speaking of.

"What do you expect from us, Dimitri?" Jared asks, "That we turn our back on her? That will just push her back to that hell she was in."

"That hell was our home!"

"A place where she doesn't belong," Collin said.

"But is part of!"

Derek stifles a laugh, sarcasm present, "It’s part of her but it isn't her."

Dimitri stares at them in disbelief still.

"We'll say it again," Ash said. "She's home, my sister's heart is in the right place, she might be the strongest and the deadliest, maybe she's more stubborn and short in patience, but things remain the same, we will protect her always."

"Even from bounty hunters?" They looked at Dimitri, "She's on top of the list of bounty hunters, not me. I escaped home to find her."

"And you didn't bother telling us?" Derek stands up, getting angrier.

"Angel-" he shook his head, "Astrid would do protocol and clean this up and kill the player."

"Player?"' Jared asks. 

“The one who’s paying for her death,” Dimitri says.

“And who’s the player?” Jared asks again, Dimitri looks away. "Dimitri, tell-"

"My father." he answers, "He bore grudge on Astrid when she left and chose a clean life."

"I chose to stay with my family." They turned and saw Astrid and Allana standing halfway the stairs. "That was my purpose of fighting in the first place."

"I know, I understand, father doesn't." he shrugs, "you should have killed him when you had the chance."

"I'd like to give him a chance to become a better father to you." Astrid sighs and made her way down the stairs, "How much?"

"500."

"Hm, kind of small-"

"Billion."

"Oh," she paused and shrugged, "that's more like it, I guess." then she walked up to the table and set a gun on the table in front of Dimitri, "are you a friend or a hunter?"

Dimitri reached for the gun.

"Astrid!" the others called out, but Dimitri pushed the gun back to her.

"I'm a friend," he said. "I'm glad to know you are armed."

"It was to protect you, but I guess it’s to protect me now. I do have some sense of self-preservation, you know." then she glanced at Damien, "More so now."

She crosses her arms and faced Dimitri again, "But, Dimitri, you know our laws, a life for a life."

"And it would be father's if he harms anyone."

"And yours if you betray me." Dimitri gave a nod. Then Astrid faced Damien. "Go change before you catch a cold. You guys go wait at the receiving area, Dimitri and I will fix lunch.”

They exchanged a look and filed out of the kitchen and made their way to the receiving room.

Damien stares at her angry and worried, as he hesitantly leaves.

"Damien could have killed you, Dimitri." He hears his name and stopped. "He should have."

"I know."

"But I'm glad he didn't," she says, "Or else no one will help them against the hunters." by now, Damien wants to go back inside to slap some sense into her. Until he heard her, "I love him, Dimitri, he's my life... They all are. Their pain and death are mine. I will tell them about my past when I'm ready."

"I'm sorry," Dimitri said and Astrid sighed in response.

"Anyway, help me out here," Astrid says, "Damien's probably waiting for me."

Damien quietly sighed and went upstairs.

He stayed under the shower for minutes, trying to understand everything Dimitri said. Astrid killing hundreds- probably thousands- of people, her being the number one assassin in Russia, being sought by bounty hunters. 

Everything was just out of his control now, he sighs and stepped out the bathroom with a towel around his waist and into his walk-in closet, he puts on some boxers and jeans. then he stepped out to his room, drying his hair.

"Are you mad?"

He looks toward the bed and saw Astrid sitting in the middle, looking worried.

"Should I be?" she shrugs and doesn't answer. He instantly regretted snapping at her, he too shrugs and joined her in bed, "I'm just scared."

"You don't need to be." she quickly says, "I'll protect you and-"

"No." he shook his head and took her hand. "I'm afraid to lose you."

She stares at him for a while, smiles, and reaches for his face. "Now that I know you love me, I'll never hurt you like that, love. You'll never lose me in any way."

"Angel-"

"Trust me on this one, Damien." she pleads.

He sighed and forced a nod; she smiles again brushed her nose on his.

"I love you so much, Damien, with my whole life," she whispers. " I know you have questions-"

"Angel," he stops her, "there’s nothing about you that will change what my heart and mind are telling me. I always loved you and will continue to love you, until my last breath." He glancing down her lips and gave her a light kiss.

"You are my life, my love, and my best friend. You are my better half and no one else. Someday, I will marry you and I promise, when that time comes, I'll make you the happiest woman in the world."

"Hearing you say that," Astrid whispers, "I already am."

He stifles a laugh and kissed her, just like the kiss in the chapel. Astrid starts to kiss back and like before he asked for entrance by running his tongue in between her lips. Astrid instantly opens for him and Damien pushes her back and laid her in bed as he moved on top of her not breaking the kiss.

He ran his hand down her body, touching every exposed skin, he heard her moan through the kiss, making him smile. He reached for her leg and hooked it over his waist and start to brush himself against her.

Astrid ran her hands through his chest, down his body, and around his waist pulling him closer, one hand snaked around his neck and through his hair, Damien gave a low moan.

But before they went too far, Damien pulls away from the kiss and looked at her, his eyes filled with love and adoration for her, that the thought of letting her go, physically and emotionally, was painful.

She gave him one of her sexy smiles and kissed him on the nose when she noticed him staring at her.

“I can get used to this.” She whispers making him laugh. He ran his hand over her body again, stopping between her legs a few inches away from her center.

"I will have you, angel, I promise I'll make you forget what those bastards did."

She smiled and nodded. Then her stomach rumbles, making Damien laugh.

"For now let's have lunch." he steals a quick kiss and stood up, helping Astrid out of bed as well.