I would rather die than let you fill your heart with darkness -- Spring 1999

I sighed and looked at her.  "In my family, to be a werewolf is the greatest honor -- well, to the men it is.  My father views me as weak and unable to do a bloody thing because I am just a human," I attempted to make it clear to Lucy.  I just was not sure if I could make it clear to someone like her -- she was too innocent and always thought the best of people to see the darkest side of who I was and what I grew up with.

I could not believe that was the way his family viewed lycanthropy.  It made sense I suppose.  That was why Greyback went after Dad and all those other children.  I bit my lip slightly.  "Ayden, I'm sorry," I said sincerely, putting a hand on his arm to comfort him.  "Dad and Will... they view it as what it is... a curse, a burden... even though Mum and I try to make them see that it's not necessarily a bad thing.  But we never say it's the greatest honor by any means."

I nodded, glad that she understood.  I was not sure why I refused to tell her at first, because she would be the one person who would sort of understand what I was going on about.  "Yeah... it sucks," I said, understating it completely.

"Understatement of the century, Ayden," I said, nudging him slighlty.  I really wanted to get him to smile, though I was not entirely sure if I would succeed in that or not.

I could not help but laugh a little bit.  "Alright," I said slowly.  "I will try to lighten up a little bit.  I know where you're going with this..."

I smiled. " Good... it's about time you realize that it's my ultimate goal to make you smile and be happy," I said to him, nudging him playfully.

I rolled my eyes at her.  "You are so bossy sometimes, Lucy," I said to her, though I did not mind.  I needed it sometimes... and this was definitely one of those t imes.

ALl I did was grin at him.  "And you need that sometimes, Ayden," I pointed out ot him.

It was impossible to stay upset or angry with Lucy when she flashed me that smile.  "No, I don't need someone as bossy as you," I countered, though I knew this was a lost battle already.

I knew that I had won.  "Mmhmm," I said sardonically.  "That's why you have that look on her face."  I grinned at him, knowing exactly what was going on and that I was definitely winning.  I liked winning.

I sighed, shaking my head.  "Really... I don't," I said.  There was no way I was going to be able to keep this up.  She was going ot realize she won and hold it over my head.

I laughed at him.  "and just concede already," I said to him, hitting his arm playfully.  "You know I've won."

"That doesn't mean that I want to admit it," I pointed out to her, smiling slightly in spite of myself.

I smirked.  "Come on... just admit it and I'll leave you alone," I said to him simply.

I sighed, shaking my head.  "Lucy... things are never that easy with you," I informed her as if she needed to be told that.  "I know better than to even believe that."