I have no idea where I am or how long I have been here; all I know is that I love the peace and quiet around me. A part of me wants to stay here forever, to forget about something I can't seem to remember. The other part of me wants to get out of here and remember what I apparently forgot. Sometimes I am more aware of my surroundings than other times, and it is in those moments I feel the strong need to open my eyes, but for some reason my body and mind are not on the same page. Sometimes when I am more aware of my surroundings I feel something next to me, sometimes on both sides. Besides the peace and quiet I enjoy here, I also enjoy the soft, gentle voice I hear from time to time. I can't make out what the voice is telling me, but just listening to it makes me want to open my eyes. The male voices I hear every now and then don't upset me or my other half, and for some reason I know that those two voices belong to someone I know. I feel a bit sad every time when I don't sense anything around me, but it never lasts long. I know that whoever is with me from time to time will eventually return to my side, talking to me about whatever it is they need to tell me. This time it is just the soft, gentle voice that I hear, and I feel the need to open my eyes even more. I try to concentrate on what the voice is saying, but I can't pull myself out of this darkness I am in. Just before I get engulfed by the darkness, I feel someone placing a kiss on my face, and I want to hold on to the feeling it gives me—a feeling of belonging, a feeling of home. The next time the darkness retreats a little, I hear the two male voices; they sound very happy and excited. Somehow that doesn't make sense to me; I feel as if they should sound sad or angry, and I try to figure out why I feel this way. I drift in and out of the darkness, and sometimes I can feel that I am not alone, but whoever it is doesn't speak to me. Again the darkness retreats, and I realize it has been a while since I heard any voices. Did they give up on me? Did they decide it wasn't worth their time anymore? As those questions run through my mind, I hear an unfamiliar voice speak, and my other half is roaring menacingly in my head; neither one of us liking another male near the soft, gentle voice. I sigh in relief as I hear the soft, gentle voice again, and I can tell whoever was there has left. My heart skips a beat when I feel lips on my face again, and I try really hard to open my eyes. I finally give up when I sense that I am alone again, and I surrender myself to the darkness once more. Josy Every day it is the same routine; I wake up between Ivan and Malik, and as Malik is getting dressed I cuddle with Ivan a few more minutes. We eat breakfast in Romano's room, and they tell him what they will be doing in school. I just sit there and listen to them talking, commenting if it is necessary, and then we say our goodbyes to him.Another week has passed, and Ivan's birthday is getting closer. When Conan had asked him what he wanted for his birthday, his answer had brought tears to my eyes. "For Uncle Mano to wake up," had been his reply to Conan's question, and that night I had to explain to Ivan that it was impossible to determine when he would wake up; I even told him there was a chance that Romano would never wake up again. He had thrown himself on his Uncle's chest, screaming at him to wake up, and instead of pulling him away I allowed him some time to vent his anger. I have been talking with Ivan and Malik about Romano's condition every day, and both of them understand that his situation is unique, that there are no definitive answers to their questions. Every night after I put them in their bed, I sit down next to Romano and I tell him about my day, about how they are doing in school. Every night I ask him to wake up for the sake of Ivan and Malik, and every night I kiss him on his forehead before I turn in for the night. I can't give up hope; I need him to wake up for the boys. Today there is no school for the boys; they have the day off because today at midnight the Days of the Full Moon start. This year we will have a party to start the Days of the Full Moon, and everyone is helping to set it up in the hidden territory. Ivan and Malik volunteered to help with the decorations. "Alice, can I ask you something?" I ask as I walk into her office; she looks up at me as I sit down. "Is it possible for someone to find their fated Mate if they are unconscious or vice versa?" I ask. "I mean, if Romano's Mate is here and he or she finds him, will he be able to tell when he wakes up?" Alice looks at me for a moment. "I don't know, Josy. As a Doctor I would say probably not, but as a Wolf I would say definitely. I don't know if someone has to be conscious or not, but I do know that you don't have to be awake. I am not sure if that helps at all," she answers with a smile on her face. I don't know if this information helps either; I don't even know why I asked her the question in the first place. "Thanks anyway, Alice. I was just wondering about it; we all want to find our fated Mate, and I think Romano feels the same. Then of course my mind ran away from me, and I started to think how screwed up things would be if he couldn't feel it, while his Mate could," I say. "Oh, that would really be screwed up. Let's just hope that if his Mate finds him, he will know when he wakes up, or that neither of them will find out until he is awake," Alice responds, and I have to agree with her. I really hope that he will be awake during the next Days of the Full Moon and that he will be lucky enough to find his fated Mate. Alpha Lakota closed the diner and motel for the night, and border patrol has been divided into shorter shifts to allow everyone to join the party at some point. I decide to check on Romano before dinner, and as I walk into his room my eyes land on his backpack; I had only taken out the clothes when the boys got here. I decide to take out whatever is still in there, and after I have placed the little clothing that was still in there in the dresser, I take out the smaller bag that is still inside. Something tells me that Romano wouldn't want me to look inside, and without opening it I place it in the drawer of his nightstand. Ivan and Malik walk in with Argos right behind them, and after I get a hug from them they run into Romano's room telling him what they have been doing all day. "No change in his situation?" Argos asks, and I shake my head as I watch the boys. "For them I really hope he wakes up soon, but something tells me that it would be better for him if he stays this way just a little longer," I whisper. I don't know why I feel this way, and I even talked to Jazzy about it, but neither of us could figure out where that feeling came from. "Your instincts have never steered you wrong, Josy. If you feel this is the best for Romano, then I hope he will stay unconscious a little longer," Argos responds, and I know that he is right. Fifteen minutes later I am heading down the stairs with two very excited young boys in front of me, and I make a small video of them chatting as we walk into the dining room. I have been taking pictures of them ever since they got here; it is my way of making sure that Romano can see how their time here has been. He might be unable to be here now for them, but I know he would like to know what they did while he was unconscious. Mylana does the same during school hours, and she sends them to me with a description of what they are doing. I got a new tablet for Romano and placed all the pictures and videos on it—his own digital album. I doubt Ivan and Malik will manage to stay awake until midnight, but I promised them they could stay up as late as they wanted, and I know they will do everything they can to make it until midnight. It is almost midnight when I find both of them fast asleep; Ivan is on Lakota's lap and Malik is on Lance's lap. "Looks like I need to get those two to bed," I say after I have taken a picture of the scene, and Lakota and Lance both get up to follow me up the stairs to my Quarters. After they have placed the boys on their bed, Lakota asks if I am coming back down with them. "No, I will stay with the boys. My Mate isn't down there, so there is no need for me to go back," I answer. I tuck the boys in after I have put them in their PJs, and I kiss them goodnight before I walk out of their room. I place the pictures and videos onto the tablet, and I decide to take a shower before I say goodnight to Romano. I change into my PJs, and as I walk out of the bathroom I dry my hair a little more, pulling it into a messy bun on top of my head. Chai is getting restless, and I ask her what is going on; I nearly fall flat on my ass when I hear her say, "Mate." I sniff the air and there it is, the scent of my Mate. I know exactly where I can find him, and I don't waste time as I walk into his room. I crawl into bed next to him, and his scent lulls me to sleep fast.