Crossing Boundaries

Nathan's Home

"Hi Nathan, welcome home," Sang called out from the kitchen. The house was filled with the smells of cooking dinner, but Nathan was preoccupied with how he was going to break the news of the new sleeping arrangements to her. He wasn't happy with the situation, none of them were; but he knew things were starting to get out of hand, especially after Sang woke up from being drugged. Victor had revealed some rather alarming news about both himself and North being in love with Sang and how the only way this would work is if they were all in love with her and she with them. Ridiculous. Nathan might love and care for his family very much, but there was no way something like this would work. Sang wouldn't so much as look at them anymore if this absurd plan of theirs was revealed to her. He couldn't even believe his ears when Victor had told him that it was Mr. Blackbourne who'd initiated it.

Nathan sighed and combed his fingers through his hair; he would have to talk to Mr. Blackbourne sooner or later but at the moment he didn't want to think about it. Maybe it was a good thing that Mr. Blackbourne had told them to back off from Sang for a while, maybe then the boys would see what a crazy plan this was and Sang wouldn't be forced in deeper.

"Hi honey," Sang said in a happy voice, "dinner is almost finished. Oh, are you the only one tonight?" Sang glanced behind Nathan to see if he had brought anyone else with him.

"Yeah, I think most of them have gone home for a well deserved sleep," replied Nathan. The boys have been on and off doing surveillance on Mr. Crowley and Mr. Hendricks hoping to get a glimpse as to who their third person might be.

Nathan finally sniffed the air, "this smells good, what's for dinner?"

"I've tried something new, bouillabaisse, it's a French seafood soup," Sang replied, stirring the simmering pot on the stove. "I might have made too much though. We can freeze the rest or take it to school tomorrow."

"Sounds good...umm...let me go wash up a bit, I'll be down soon." Nathan slipped upstairs quickly. It was a little awkward standing there, not being able to go up to Sang for a kiss or a cuddle.

Sang watched as Nathan took off. She became a little puzzled. Hmm, Nathan usually greeted her with a kiss. But it was as if he didn't know what to do anymore. Sang shrugged it off, maybe he was tired as well.

After dinner, while Nathan cleared the table, Sang went upstairs for a shower. She sank under the water happily. Tomorrow was Friday and she was hoping to spend some quality time with her boys over the weekend. It was always difficult to see them often outside of school during the week.

After she had finished dressing, she exited the bedroom and found Nathan standing there with a grave look in his face.

"We need to talk," this was all Nathan said before he took Sang's hands and lead her back into the bedroom. Sang instantly became wary and nervous. From the books she had read, these words never spelled good news. She carefully sat herself on the bed and her hand fluttered up to her neck. Nathan saw this and immediately reassured her, "Peanut, don't worry. This is not supposed to be a bad news. In fact, this will be a good surprise for you."

"Okay, then why are you giving me that look, as if someone had died?" Sang asked, looking confused.

Nathan paced round the room, looking thoughtful. He ignored Sang's comment "Well, as you know I had to go to a meeting with the boys."

"I know," frowned Sang. They said it was Academy business so she had let it go. But if she was being honest, it hurt her that they were still hiding so much from her even after she proved herself to be trustworthy and loyal.

"Since we are living together, Mr. Blackbourne has decided you should get your own room here. He said it isn't appropriate for a male and a female teen to sleep together on the same bed."

Sang's eyebrows went up at this. Why now? They have always had this arrangement from the beginning. Someone always slept with her on the bed.

Sang's fingers went up to her mouth, "But Honey, I've always slept with one of you and Mr. Blackbourne has never said anything."

"I know, Peanut. But I guess because it's become official, Mr. Blackbourne has stated it so. Who knows why Mr. Blackbourne does the things he does." Nathan felt bad for lying to her, but he didn't want to worry Sang.

"I guess that's nice...to...to have my own room," Sang mumbled looking down, but she didn't look happy. She looked nervous and a little disappointed.

Nathan sat down next to her and lifted her chin up, "Sang, I know something is bothering you. I can sense it. What is it?"

"It's nothing, Honey. I'm happy, really. It's so nice that all of you are looking out for me." Sang gave him a weak smile and captured his fingers with her own and squeezed it.

Nathan let it go for now. He smiled at her, "don't worry, you are going to love your new room. Some of the boys are going to come around on Saturday and we are going to have a redecorating party."

Sang got an excited glint in her eyes, "let me guess, Gabriel is going to play interior decorator?"

"You guessed it," Nathan smirked, "it'll be fine. We'll have a lot of fun. Your room will look great and you can put anything you like in it."

Sang leaned her head against Nathan's chest. Nathan stiffened a little but figured friends would do this all the time. "I can't wait to see all of you together," sighed Sang, closing her eyes contentedly.

That night, Sang slept fitfully. She didn't understand it. She kept tossing and turning and couldn't get comfortable at all. She wondered why until something clicked in her brain. She wasn't in Nathan's arms. He promptly moved to the other side of the bed and had turned his back to her. Sang pushed herself up on her hands and stared at him with a strange look on her face.

"Honey?" She called out.

"Mhm...?" Nathan sleepily mumbled.

Sang opened her mouth and shut it again. "Never mind, goodnight." Sang settled herself down and closed her eyes. She fell asleep with her troubled thoughts going round in her head.