"I know it's a lot to take in but we're family now and I want you to know that though we love Maggie, we have no intentions of taking her from you. You are the only human that we've ever told, the only one who knows about us. This is an unusual situation but a remarkable one. We want this to work easily and not have discord between you and Maggie over it. I'm sure, as a father myself, that you feel an array of things right now but above all else know that we'll never lie to you from this day forward and that Maggie is important to us and we'll protect her with our lives."

Dad looked at me. His eyes were guarded but his mind was filled and overflowing with thoughts. Scrambled. Some were angry, some were skeptical, some were down right hurt. I winced at the onslaught and he leaned forward a little towards me.

"Maggie." He swallowed hard, spoke softly. "Are you really going to sit there and tell me that you can read my thoughts?"

Twenty Seven I'd known it was coming. I'd known he wouldn't just believe us but it still hurt to see his disappointment. He thought I was gullible and naive. That I'd let them dupe me into believing this crazy scheme. He was scared for me. He was thinking that he needed to call the police again- for a restraining order this time. He was worried that they'd take me or I'd run away with them if he threw a fit so he tried to remain calm, for my sake.

"Think of something," I told him and winced again as he bombarded me. "Think one thing," I clarified quickly.

He sighed and pursed his lips, clearly not wanting to continue but humoring me, thinking he'd prove me wrong. He thought of the time he was teaching me to ride my bike and I crashed into the back of mom's car, scratching the b.u.mper in the process, but I also scratched my forehead. I still had a scar on my hairline.

She had been worried about the car, he had been worried about me.

"You always worried about me," I said softly remembering everything. "We should have seen the signs about mom back then. We should have realized something was wrong with her, that she wasn't happy. What kinda of mom cares more about her b.u.mper than her kid?"

Dad's jaw fell open and he looked at me with someone bordering fright.

"It's ok, dad."

He reigned in and his features were replaced with a flat expression. He never took his eyes from me. He lifted an eyebrow in contest and thought again some things to test me. He wasn't giving in that easy. His first thought.

What's my birthday?

"Dec 24th."

His eyes went wide but he kept going.

What's the capital of Georgia?

"Atlanta."

His face got even more determined.

What's two plus two?"

"Six." His brow lifted higher. "I'm kidding dad. It's four."

Who's the thirty second president?

"Come on, dad. I wouldn't know that answer even if you asked me out loud."

He covered his mouth and chin with his hand and continued to look at me. His eyes softened a little. I saw it happen before his thoughts. .h.i.t me. He believed me, how could he not after that demonstration, but that didn't mean he was thrilled about it. He blamed Caleb for doing this to me.

"So. This is your fault?" His eyes left me for the first time in five minutes and he turned his gaze to Caleb. He scowled furiously. "You knew this would happen, that she'd be a freak and you did it anyway?"

"Dad," I said sharply and he looked back at me. "This isn't his fault, he had no control-"

"But he knew what he was. He shouldn't have ever touched you if that was the case. You don't belong to this life. You're not like them and now, you'll never be the same." He shook his head and in his mind he decided he wouldn't go quietly into the night about this. He was gonna let me have it. "And now, look at you. Following his lead and listening to every little sweet nothing he says just because you think you're stuck with him for life? Well, I'll figure something out, to break or stop this...this imprint thing. You don't have to be a freak against your will-"

"I'm gonna stop you right there," I shouted. "Caleb and I imprinted. I know you were listening to Peter, I can see your thoughts, dad, so don't act like now you didn't hear him. You know that we didn't choose this, it happened to us. It's not something you can control. My abilities didn't come until a couple days ago, they've had nothing to do with Caleb and I up until now. And I'm not a freak and neither are they."

"Maggie." He leaned forward and grabbed my free hand. "They knew this would happen to you and they let it. You're a sweet, young, pretty girl and they just-"

"No. Stop."

"You don't even know him that well. You're not ready for-"

"Dad-" I cut in and jerked my hand away but he didn't stop.

"-something like this yet. You've barely graduated high school and now you're supposed to be someone's soul mate? I don't fully understand all of what ya'll are telling me, and I know that there's still things I haven't heard yet but-"

"Dad-"

"-I understand enough about relationships to know that you can't just base it on feelings and pressure-"

"You're not listening to me," I blurted loudly and he finally stopped his plight. "It's not about whether you think I'm a freak or gullible or naive or even if I'm ready. I love him, daddy."

He slumped in defeat and slid to kneel on the floor in front of the couch.

"I always knew you were serious when you called me daddy," he admitted and I went to the floor too, on my knees. He looked at me. "So, this is it? You're leaving me," he phrased it as a statement, not a question, like he knew my answer already.

"No, that's why I wanted to tell you. It's really rare for humans to imprint with Aces. They don't have to deal with this very often but they were willing to risk telling you, for my sake, so that I could keep you. You understand? I can't be without Caleb without it hurting me, and even if I could I wouldn't want to. But I want to be with you too."

He took a deep breath.

"It's not fair. It's not fair that I have to just take a backseat and watch someone else have you."

I laughed softly.

"That's what happens, dad. Did you think I'd never leave home? Never move out? Never go to college? Never get married?"

He cracked the first small smile.

"Yes. Yes I did think that."

Peter chuckled behind dad and it was like my dad realized then that we weren't alone. He looked over at Caleb for a long time. Then he smiled again and so did I reading his mind.

"It's mostly my fault, but my daughter hasn't been happy in a very long time, until now. I saw it but..." He shook his head. "I didn't want to believe it was over a boy. I can't deny that as much as I might not like how young she is, that she's happy with you."

Caleb nodded and looked down at our still intertwined hands.

"I'm sorry. I never wanted to take her away from you. I just want her to be happy."

"I know." Dad sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. Then he turned a forced smile on Peter. "So. Your whole family has these...abilities? You all get married for life? Everyone?"

"Yes," Peter answered, "but, like I said, Caleb and Maggie are the first to imprint in a very long time and Maggie's gift is rare and coveted. I'm not sure what it all means, I won't lie, but it's something good."

My dad looked back to me and blew a long breath.

"College now?"

"Well," Peter interrupted. "First things first. We need to make sure that the echoling is actually going to stop. That Marcus will stop."

"But I thought you said you took care of it?" dad asked.

"We did but we can't just call the police like humans can when we have a problem. The only way to truly take care of it is to kill him. I...will if I have to, but I'd rather not resort to that unless it comes to it."

Dad looked scandalized but kept his composure. In his mind he was wondering if he could ask someone to do that. Kill someone. Take a life. For me.

"Ok. What do we have to do?" dad asked with a new resolve.

"Well...I think if Caleb and Maggie get out of town for while it would be best while I monitor the Watson's. The further away from the echoling she is, the less chance he has of reaching her."

"But I thought you said if they slept-" Dad choked on the word and cleared his throat. "Slept together- were together at night, that he couldn't harm her."

"He can't but he's already tried a kidnap attempt here at your house once before."

"What!"

"It's alright. Maggie handled it, but I think it's just best if we send them away for a while."

"Maggie handled it? What does that mean?" my dad said and looked between us all.

"My family has many gifts, Jim. Maggie will attain many herself. Self defense being one of them. She fought the two of them off until Caleb was able to get to her."

"What? Get to her?"

"Yes."

"You saved her...twice?" Dad said and looked at Caleb with an awe I only hoped I would see and I felt my eyes water.

"It's was only fair," Caleb said and winked at me. "She saved me first."

"I can't believe this." Dad scrubbed his face with his hands and then fiddled with the top b.u.t.ton of his shirt. "All this time I resented you two spending so much time together and you were saving her... I really wish you had told me then, Maggie, at the beginning."

"I didn't have my ability then, dad. You never would have believed me."

"You're right." He laughed sadly. "I wouldn't have. Where are we sending these two?" my father conceded gruffly.

"Somewhere out west," Peter suggested.

"Arizona," I blurted.

I peeked back at Caleb and saw a grateful little smile. He knew I wanted to go there because Caleb wanted to go to school there. He'd never been and I wanted him to see it. He spoke to me and I could feel the love attached to the words in warmth and tingles.

I love you.

I know. I love you, too.

"Arizona, huh?" Dad tried to process everything. Me in Arizona, anywhere really, with my soul mate and not him and every scenario brought bad outcomes and pregnancies and shotguns or Vegas weddings. I couldn't help but laugh. He looked up at me and twisted his lips. "I forgot about your ability already," he muttered.

"Dad." I pulled from Caleb and went to hug dad around his neck. "I'm not going to do anything stupid." I pulled back to sit on my heels and look at him. "I know this isn't ideal but it wouldn't matter if I'd met Caleb now or at thirty. It would be the same for me, but, even with that, I know what I'm ready for and not ready for."

"You were always so smart," he chuckled then took a shuddering breath. "Look at me. If you run off and get married in some justice of the peace's office or make me a grandpa before I'm gray, I will not forgive you."

Everyone laughed again and I felt like bursting with happy tears.

"Deal, dad."

"Deal."

He hugged me tightly and then stood, pulling me with him and although in his mind he believed everything we'd said, he was still wrapping his thoughts around it all. He was ready for bed, to be alone and think.

"Ok." He looked between Caleb and I. "You knew, from the very beginning, from the first time you brought him here, that you were...were-" He sighed and gripped his neck. "Imprinted?" he finally got out and I nodded. He nodded back. "Ok. No more sneaking. No more lying. No more secrets."

"Yeah, dad," I said as Caleb said, "Yes, sir."

"Now, uh... How about you two sleep on the sofa tonight. I may be coming to terms with all this but I'm still your father."

"Ok, dad. That's fine," I said amused. I turned to Peter and reached up to hug him. "Thank you for coming for me." He hugged me tightly, just like my own father had.

You're family now and we love you. Wouldn't have it any other way.

I smiled through tears but held them back from falling to my cheeks. Caleb said goodbye to his father and then while dad and Peter were saying theirs, Caleb laced his fingers through mine. I looked at him and he was watching me with a smile.

Are you happy?

Yes. Thank you for this. He took it better than I thought. I know my dad's a little nuts but, he'll keep your secret- Our secret, I corrected He put his forehead to mine and rubbed my arm from elbow to wrist.

I know he will. I just want to you to be happy. Whatever that is.

You. Me. Alone. Arizona.