"Lysandra…"

A booming sound went through the stadium but this time it wasn't the crowd cheering, it was thunder. The bottom of the rain cloud fell out and all the neat little people, sheep all of them sheep, ran for cover. The football game of course was put on hold for the "princes and princesses" of high school. Heather slowly walked to the awnings to rejoin her friends. "Pussys" she mumbled, running her hand through her dripping black hair. A little water wasn't going to hurt anyone. She didn't even know why she hung out with these people. Oh wait, her parents made tons of money, and she was so "lucky" to be born beautiful.

"Oh my god," Chastity said. "You’re soaked. Why didn't you run?"

"Cause I’m wearing blue jeans and a T-shirt, a black T-shirt, and I didn't spend hours on my hair for a stupid ball game." That I don't even wanna be at, she thought to herself.

When the rain didn't let up she said, "I’m going home." The latest boyfriend of the month spoke up, "Hey we're are still going to the spring dance right?"

"I guess," she said not really caring, her green eyes drifting elsewhere.

He didn't even kiss her goodbye as she left. He just turned and started talking up her friends. She had no problem getting a boy friend it was keeping them. She almost wished she wasn't in the in crowd. The other kids that hung out under the tree on the picnic tables, that was her. But she wasn’t "allowed" to associate with them. Her parents found her odd already cause she didn't wear white and yellow and pink. Oh well, they still bought her clothes, even her dress for the dance, which her mom HATED, so she guessed they didn't care too much. As long as they weren’t ostracised from "society".

She unlocked her new Chevy Blazer, which her parents thought should be a sports car and red instead of black, and climbed in. Damn, she was gonna get fussed at about getting the leather soaked. Oh well, she didn't want leather seats ANYWAY. As she drove home the radio, set to the best rock station, had blasted Metallica. After the song they announced Metallica will be at the downtown arena, you can pick up tickets for..." the station staticed out. Damn red lights. At least she knew how she could find out.

The next day she walked over to "the table" first thing and received death stares from her "friends" and the other group.

"Hey guys. I was wondering if any of you were going to the Metallica concert next..."

"Quit harassing us BITCH! You think you can come over here and make fun of us?" one of the guys in the group stood up yelling.

"No really, I wanna go and I wanna know how..."

"FUCK OFF BITCH!" he yelled and took a few more threatening steps toward her. She looked over at a girl sitting on the other side of the tree. She was in her English class, Gabby, that was her name, if she could only get to her, she seemed nice enough. But bozo was in her way.

"FINE FUCK IT!" she yelled back. "I WON'T GO TO THE DAMN CONCERT!" She knew that suited them just fine, but it made her feel better to yell. No one yelled in her house. Nothing was a tragedy; you could buy your way out of anything. She trudged back to her group. Amber walked up to meet her.

"You know you're treading dangerous ground right?"

"You think I REALLY give a fuck about being blown off by YOU guys?" She turned and went to class, current boyfriend Brett right on her heels.

"What?" she said spinning around.

"Don't blow this, you do want a date for the dance right."

"Sure," she said smiling sweetly, "and if you wants something you THINK you are gonna need to use after the dance you better leave before I smush it." He winced and walked away as she stormed to English.

Gabby sat in thought for a second, then moved from her spot behind the tree to stand in front of Justin, who had just lost it with one of the popular girls.

"You didn't have to be so mean." She told him quietly, hands on her hips.

"Why? That bitch just wants money or something from us. She needs to go back with her own kind." Gabby sighed quietly, looking over at Heather who was stomping into the school.

"You don't even know her, Justin. Just be a little nicer, she only wanted to know - "

"Fuck you too." He spat, turning and slamming his board on the ground, and speeding away down the driveway.

When Heather arrived there was a note on her desk. "Metallica, arena, the 30^th, 8pm, tickets on sell sat @10am, phone or on site, $25 a piece. G." She looked up and saw Gabby at her desk. She recognised the writing from being paired up to do peer checks on paper, excellent writer Gabby was. She simply wrote "thanks" on a piece of the note tore it off and dropped it on Gabby's notebook as she went to sharpen her pencil.

Heather and Brett stood outside the dance getting air. His buddies walked out and he started for the truck.

"Where are you going?"

"With them, sorry."

"WELL THEN YOU CAN STAY WITH THEM, fuck if you think I'M ever going anywhere with you AGAIN."

She ran up to her car in her gothic style black dress and drove for the hills. Half way through them her car died. "WHAT THE FUCK? THIS THINGS BRAND NEW!!!! " She got out and started walking...

Heather ran through the woods in the pouring rain trying to get to the house as soon as possible. Her car had broken down and of course she was wearing a dress, and it was raining, and freezing AND in front of the old mansion on Castle Hill rumoured to be haunted. Not that she believed in ghosts, axe murderers, but not ghosts. She finally made it to the large old house and knocked on the thick wooden door. She didn't think anyone lived there after all until the door slowly creaked open. Standing in front of her was a tall man with long blonde wavy hair wearing all black. At first she started to back away but then saw the loneliness in his eyes and how they brightened when he saw her. "Can I help you?" he asked almost excitedly.

"Um, my car broke down on the road in front of your house, I was wondering if you had a phone," she said shivering.

He looked down sadly, "I’m afraid not miss. But if you want, you can come in until the storm lets up. You must be freezing."

She figured she might as well since at this point he knew she was stranded and could kill her anyway. "Thank you," she smiled and walked in.

"What’s your name?"

"Heather, what's yours?"

"Adam." he said softly. She wondered why he seamed so sad, then thought about the fact it seemed he lived here all alone, and someone so young too. And she knew NO ONE ever came up here. He must have wanted to jump for joy when he heard someone knock on the door. "Why don't you sit in front of the fire and I’ll get you something dry to wear."

"That would be nice thank you."

"Would you like anything to drink?"

"Hot chocolate?"

He nodded and disappeared. A few minutes later he came back with a mug and a large T-shirt. "I’ll go in the hall while you change."

How polite, she thought. Maybe he WON'T kill me. She changed quickly. "You can come back now," she called.

He walked in and picked up her wet dress and laid it over a chair by the fireplace to dry. "Please sit anywhere," he said sitting on the couch. She sat down beside him seeing as the couch was the closest thing to the fire. "So what on earth were you doing up here by yourself?"

She jumped at the nearness of his voice though he spoke very softly almost shyly. "Oh, well I was going to a spring dance, and my boyfriend dumped me for his friends, so I just dumped him. I didn't want to come home early and my mom ask a million questions so I took the... um...scenic route."

"Oh, I can't imagine any guy choosing his friends over someone as beautiful as you." She blushed but managed a weak thank you. They sat there talking and he realised the rain wasn't going to let up. "Well, you are welcome to stay here for the night, but I only have my bedroom furnished for sleeping. The rest are storage and other things."

The thought of sleeping in the same bed with this man was not something she dreaded. She thought a moment. "Well, I guess if you had any harmful intentions toward me it wouldn’t matter where I stayed would it?" she asked.

"I supposed not. But I could never hurt you, Lysandra." He brushed a strand of black hair from her face and she jumped back.

"Lysandra? Whose Lysandra??"

"I...I didn't mean to..." a tear slowly fell down his cheek. "She was my fiancée, a very long time ago."

A very long time ago? Those words struck her as strange. He couldn't even be thirty years old. "Adam, what happened?"

"She was killed, I managed to ...survive."

"I’m so sorry."

"You, you just look like her. And the more I talk to you the more you seem like her. Forgive me please. I know I sound crazy."

"No, you sound like you were very much in love."

"If I could only have one more night with her, I would fix what went wrong."

"What went wrong?"

He shook his head. "I don't want to talk about it please. Let's just go on to bed."

She nodded and followed him to his room. As they lay in the bed she suddenly asked. "You say I look like her?"

"Yes, almost identical."

She sighed and kissed him. "And you want one more night with her?" He nodded.

"Would it help if you had a night with me?"

"I can't ask..."

"You didn't, I offered."

"Please," he said pulling her against him. She allowed him to pin her beneath him as he kissed her. She knew he must have been in love with Lysandra and she knew he was thinking about her cause he was so gentle as he made love to her. She tried to urge him on faster and he picked up on the hint. When they finished and he pulled her into his arms she felt him nibble on her neck and suck lightly. She moaned in pleasure thinking he was going to have another round with her to make his night worth it but then she felt light headed and dizzy. The room started going black and she grabbed him tighter. She felt something wet drip on her lips and something press against them, "Drink." he whispered. She obeyed knowing she was going to die and nothing could hurt her now anyway. Suddenly everything cleared and she realised she was holding onto his wrist drinking from it. She pushed him away and he smiled sadly. "I love you."

"What?" she said shocked.

"I’ve been waiting for you to come back. And not you’re here, to stay with me forever."

"Who am I?"

"My one love."

"What's my name?" she asked testing him.

"Heather. But you are my one love, you must be, cause you look and sound like her, you do EVERYTHING like her."

He pulled her into his arms rubbing her temple lightly like her mother had when she was small to put her to sleep. "How do you know..."

"Like I said, you’re her."

Tears fell down her cheeks as she fell asleep knowing she was to be here forever, and in the forever, be someone else.

Gabby walked into the school, past her usual crowd and past the ‘popular’ crowd who rustled and exchanged whispers as she passed. She quickly scanned them and noticed Heather wasn’t among their ranks, as she usually was. Shaking her head, Gabby didn’t notice Amber, one of Heather’s ‘friends’ starting to follow her until she opened her locker. Amber stood behind her, hands on her hips angrily.

"What did you do with Heather?" Gabby shrugged and slammed her locker shut, turning to face Amber.

"Why, where is she?"

"That’s what I’m asking you. You and your freak friends probably offed her in some fucked up ceremony last night. She was talking to you last we saw. So where is she?" Amber demanded, trying to look intimidating.

"Listen, I didn’t do anything to her. She’s probably just sleeping at home or something. Your guess is as good as mine. Lemme know when she turns up." Gabby told her coldly, worry seeping into her mind as she pushed past Amber, who was still calling after her.

Heather awoke early the next evening just as the sun was going down. Quietly sliding out of bed, she glanced over at Adam who was still sound asleep. She wanted to get out of there and find someone to help her, but there weren't very many people she could trust. She found her dress dry and warm in the living room and quickly slipped it on. Running back down the hill through the woods to her car, It amazingly started with one try, which didn't surprise her after all she had been through in one night. She drove to a phone booth and grabbed a phone book. She knew Gabby’s last name and general area she lived in, not the ritziest but the houses were so cute. She quickly found it and sped over to Gabby’s house, knocking on the door and praying she wasn't out with friends. Gabby swung the door open quickly and stood in shock. Heather was standing there pale and shivering. It scared her a little especially since she was still wearing her Semi-formal dress.

"Oh, my god, come in." She opened the door wider and allowed Heather to step in. Grabbing a blanket for her, Gabby wrapped it around Heather's shoulders as they sat on the couch. "Are you okay?" Heather shook her head and a tear fell down her cheek.

"You won't believe what happened."

"I may, tell me."

"They’re real. Vampires."

"What?"

"Yeah, that’s what lives in the house in Castle Hill. A vampire, he changed me." Gabby looked at her shocked and then saw she was dead serious.

"Oh my god."

"Do you know anything about them?"

"Well, I know the legends, but they are all different. I always thought that’s all they were, legends."

"He said I was going to stay with him. What will he do to me?"

"Okay, my theory, since you wouldn't be in a thrall..." Gabby saw the confused look. "If they take a lot of blood but it doesn't kill you, you follow them, have a need for them, but since he changed you that can't be it. Did he do a ritual?" She shook her head.

"I don't think so. I mean we like slept together and then he bit me and fed me from his wrist. I blacked out a minute but I could still hear everything."

"Okay then it’s doubtful. Here’s all I can think of: it's the sire thing. He’s your sire and until he is destroyed you will return to him. You may leave him for years if you go, but you will go back to find him. Brothers and sisters seek each other and children seek their sires."

Tears fell again. "I don't wanna be there. I mean he’s really attractive but I’m just scared. He didn't ask me or anything. I don't know anything about what I am." Gabby put her arms around her.

"Let me get you some other clothes to take with you, and then you better go. He’ll be waking up soon I’m sure."

"No, I don't want to take anything from you. That's your things, just don't tell anyone. I’ll go now."

"Don't be afraid to come back. You can come to be anytime. And I’m sorry about my so called friends."

Heather shook her head. "Don't worry about it. Mine weren’t great either."

Gabby watched her leave the long black gothic dress swirling around her. She really was more like them. Gabby sighed as Heather walked out. Something told her this wouldn't be the last time they saw each other.

Adam sat in the darkened living room waiting for Heather. Her scent was still in the air. Even her scent was familiar to him. He wasn't worried that she had left him. The bond between sire and child was too strong to be broken at this point in time. She needed him, or she'd be lost in the world of the night. Without him, she was nothing. When the door opened and Heather crept in, he was still sitting quietly in darkness.

"Where were you?" He asked her softly as she tried to pass not knowing he was there. Heather jumped and froze.

"I went out…" She told him timidly.

"Come here…I thought I'd lost you…" Adam told her, blatantly lying as he beckoned her near. She, not knowing what else to do, complied and stood in front of him. He pulled her down to rest on his lap. "Don't ever leave, please. Not alone."

"Okay…"Heather answered meekly, trying to fight off the sudden urge to sleep.

"Are you tired?" He asked, pulling her closer. She nodded and blinked, but found her eyes too heavy to keep open. "Shh, its okay. Just sleep." He told her soothingly, stroking her hair. The guilt of leaving him was her last feeling as her eyes drifted shut, and slept, thinking of Adam and how perfect he must be.

Adam looked down at her sleeping in his lap. He almost stood to carry her to the bed then changed his mind. He had a great sense of deja vu and was enjoying it. He remembered holding Lysandra this way sometimes as she slept. A tear threatened to fall from his eyes but he slowly reached up to brush it away. He couldn’t believe this was a second chance. Even though he knew it wasn't Lysandra reincarnated, it was the next best thing. He leaned his head back against the chair and closed his eyes breathing in her scent actually glad he wasn't alone. He had shunned people and vampires; he had made himself a world inside the mansion. He figured if he couldn't be with her he should be alone for as long as his existence lasted. Killing his sire, and running away from everyone he knew was the hardest, because you learn to be alone and enjoy it. But he realised now that he hadn't enjoyed it; he had feared not being alone. Now he was experiencing joy, the most joy he had experienced in ages. He just hoped she would want to stay, cause if she didn't, he was going to have to be careful.

She woke up about 30 minutes later to see him staring at her.

"Hi sweet heart," he said affectionately stroking her hair.

"I’m hungry," she said trying to stand up. He let her go and stared at her. "Well? I can't exactly do this on my OWN!"

He sighed and stood up going to the kitchen returning a few minutes later with a goblet full of thick red liquid. She grimaced as he handed it to her.

"We don't hunt?" she asked postponing the inevitable. He shook his head.

"I try not to, sometimes I have to, you can't go forever without feeding. That's why I drank so fast from you, it had been a long time. I know I must have scared you." She just stared at the glass and started to drink a sip but couldn't get the idea of it being blood out of her head and almost gagged before she tasted it.

"Here," he said holding out his hand for the glass. She handed it back and he took a small sip then pulled her against him setting the glass on a table. Leaning down he kissed her letting some of the blood drip into her mouth before pulling away and handing her the glass back. She drank greedily before looking up shocked at herself. He smiled. "Just don't think about what it is. You’ll get used to it." She started to go upstairs. "Where are you going?" She kept walking up stairs. "You cant hide from me," he said softly as not to scare her.

"I can damn sure try to avoid you."

He looked down sadly almost making her regret her words but she only walked upstairs to their room.

Gabby sat amidst the piles of books in her room, a look of intense concentration on her face. Ever since she had seen Heather two months ago and her small belief in the undead had been confirmed, she had thrown herself into almost never ending research. A barrage of books and documentaries consumed her time, and almost nothing new had turned up. Everyone she talked to who claimed to be experts on the subject provided no insight, and only made her feel more hopeless. Something Heather had told her had struck a cord, and now it was Gabby's personal mission in life to find out all she could, even if she never saw Heather again. The notes she had been able to gather were kept in a small spiral notebook that was beginning to get worn and tattered. Not a day when by that she didn’t' look at the notes, try to piece together something new, or simply rewrite them out for clarity and her own sanity. It was all the same. Vampires couldn't be in direct sunlight, the fed off of blood, lived forever and were definitely dead. It was nothing she hadn't heard before.

The clock beside her said 2:34 in bright red numbers, and she should have been asleep but something wouldn't allow it. It was almost as if today was going to be different, like there would be a breakthrough in the work Gabby forced herself to do every day. In 6 hours there would be the dread of school. But for now, she had a small glimmering of hope as she switched on the computer, intent on a scour of every vampire resource anyone had ever published on the Internet. Sure enough, within minutes, she read something new, something about mortals being shunned from vampire communes, and how if they knew vampires truly did exist, there were two paths. Her eyes darted over the glowing red text twice, then again with fear rising in her mind. There was death at the hands of a vampire, or the promise of a vampiric existence for the mortal. Rubbing her hand over her forehead, she wondered why none of that had happened for her yet. Reading on, the creed of vampires towards mortals was true. A bible verse she remembered someone spiting at her once, but this one was changed to suit its purpose. "Thou shalt not suffer a mortal to live."

Adam sat straight up in the bed being awakened once again from the bloody nightmare. He looked to the place next to him on the bed...empty. No, wait, shouldn't be empty. "Lysandra! Lysandra!" he called panicking without thinking. It was happening to him again. The sheets next to him where his hand rested were still warm.

Heather heard him calling from the bathroom where she was brushing her long black hair. She turned and walked to the doorway glaring at him. As soon as he saw her his face softened, almost became sorrowful. "I’m sorry," he whispered. "It was the dream."

"THE dream, THE dream. You do realise I don't know what the hell THE dream is...and I’m really starting to hate it."

"It’s about when she died..."

"Well since you won't talk about that..." she started angrily.

He held up a hand to silence her. "Stop," he said softly. She looked at him sitting up in the bed, black sheets pooling around his waist, his hair falling around his face, looking at her sadly. He held out a hand to her and she dropped the brush and walked over to him. Pulling her into his lap he sighed. "I’ll tell you. It’s only fair to you." He looked into her eyes feeling like he was telling someone the story of their own demise. "She was killed by my sire, a female. She wanted me and knew I would change Lysandra to be with me if I had the chance. She killed her in front of me while two of her friends kept me from interfering. Then she changed me. It was the most terrifying thing I have ever seen. She screamed and cried for me to help her. I couldn’t, I was helpless. The vampires holding me had broken me in two before letting me go. So I watched her die and fall lifeless into a pool of blood. I don't really remember what it was like being changed. I was numb from what had happened. Lysandra has haunted my dreams ever since. They start out beautiful. I see her how she was the first time we were together. Then I see terror in her eyes, and blood, more blood than could have ever been, and hear her scream as everything turns red…" He trailed off quietly, looking down.

Heather felt sorry at that moment for everything. Anything she could have done to hurt him she wanted forgiveness for. She reached out and brushed the tears from his face kissing his cheeks and pouting lips. After a moment of staring at her he whispered, "And now I have a second chance."

She stood up quickly storming toward the door. She stopped halfway and turned back to him. "DAMNNIT! I AM NOT LYSANDRA! I WILL NEVER BE HER! I CAN NEVER BE HER! WHY CAN'T YOU SEE THAT!? You know I guess I am doomed. When I was alive I had to play the part of someone else and I am still having to play that part now that I’m DEAD!" She saw him flinch at the last word. "YES DEAD! You know you didn't accomplish anything. WE are DEAD. Now I don't even get a release from living a lie in eternity."

He stood up quickly running to her and kneeling in front of her. He grabbed her hands and looked up into her eyes pleading. "You don't understand. That's not what I have a second chance at. I realise what this really is now. It's not a second chance with her. It’s a second chance at love. You were meant to be here. That’s why everything happened like it did. If you hadn’t looked almost identical to her, I wouldn’t have changed you and I wouldn’t have been able to fall in love with you." She looked at him confused. "Yes, I love you. I know I thought you were just like her that first night, but I swear she was never this much trouble, or this feisty. I can't lose you. I swear I’ll find some way to kill myself if I do."

Tears filled her eyes and she fell to her knees and buried her face in his shoulder sobbing quietly. She finally looked up. "I have a confession." She paused choosing her words. "I know I hated you. I mean, you took my life and didn’t ASK. I couldn’t just be like oh great thanks. But I found out why, and what kind of person you are. You are incredible, sweet and caring. And you have tried so hard to make me happy. And actually you have, because I have fallen in love with you. I just thought you were in love with HER, not ME."

"So you want to stay with me?" he asked confused, not expecting a confession of love from her.

She nodded. "I don’t know what I would do without you. I’m glad you caused my car to breakdown."

"What?!"

"You didn’t think I KNEW? Ya know in the past few months I have figured something's out. I know you are reading my mind, and that you were making me think things, and you can make me sleep." He looked shocked. "But I know why. You wanted to convince me. And you have."

He kissed her softly. "So you’re staying? You’ll never leave?"

"Shhhh," she cooed as if she was talking to a panicky child. "I’m here and I’m yours, forever."

"Forever’s a long time." he said seriously.

"It won't be long enough with you." she answered folding herself into his lap.

Heather awoke the next night in his arms in their bed, and for once everything felt fine. She looked up at him, and found he was already awake.

"Sleep well?" His voice warmed over her and she closed her eyes, wanting it to speak to her again. She nodded. "Good. I didn't want to wake you up…but…" He trailed off with a reluctant tone, and Heather sat up, regarding him with concern.

"What? Did something happen?" Adam took her hand and patted it reassuringly.

"No, nothing happened, I was just thinking."

"Careful doing that." She told him with a gleeful smile.

"I'm being serious Heather. I just want to know where you went that night you left." Heather looked down and began to explain.

"I just went to see this girl I knew…she was a friend of mine, and I just thought I'd tell her - "

"Tell her what? Heather…you didn't tell her we were vampires, did you?" He asked her carefully and slowly.

"Adam, I told her - wait, what does it matter? "

"It matters because we're vampires, they're humans. We don't mingle." He told her harshly, his eyes turning dark with anger. "What did you tell her?" Nervously, she fumbled for an answer.

"I just said that I was - "

He suddenly raised his hand to halt her speech, and put a finger to his lips, nodding towards the open bedroom door, his angry expression lost and forgotten. Faint creaks were heard ascending the stairs, and Adam motioned for her to stay. Heather nodded, and watched as he stealthily and quietly walked into the hall. Silence engulfed the house for a moment. All footsteps had ceased, and Heather heard a hushed greeting, and rose knowing there was no danger.

"Christian…what are you doing here?" Heather looked at the situation with confusion. Who was Christian, and why was he there? He stood across from Adam, his eyes growing wide as Heather approached.

"Adam…is that…my god…" He trailed off, cocking his head and staring at her intently.

"No, its not." Adam put out a hand, and Heather drew closer to him, grasping it. "Heather, this is Christian…we had the same sire." He spoke the last part grimly, as if it was a curse. Christian still regarded her with open shock. She sighed, and looked up at Adam.

"He knew her, I'm guessing?" Christian shook his head and took a step forward.

"No, but after he was turned, we were close. Like brothers. I knew how much he loved her and…" Christian broke off, shaking his head again.

"I know, I look just like her." Heather returned darkly. Christian shook his head again almost at a loss for words.

"You don't just look like her, its like she's reincarnated."

"Trust me," Adam said quickly. "I thought the same thing, but you'll find out she's not as soon as you piss her off." He gave Christian a warning glance to drop the subject. Which he did but did not quit staring. "So, what are you doing here?" Christian glanced back at Adam.

"Nice to see you too."

"Its not that I'm not glad, just surprised."

"I heard there was another vampire living with you. Since you had sworn to live alone, I figured I should see for myself. I sure didn't expect to find her."

"I didn't either." Adam replied sadly. "Why don't we sit in the living room?" When they reached the foyer Adam and Heather stopped short seeing a female vampire standing there. Adam had thought he sense another presence but hadn't been sure. Christian walked over to her and put an arm around her shoulders.

"Speaking of surprises." Adam questioned.

"This is Ash." Ash only nodded in greeting as Christian followed Heather and Adam into the living room, catching up on their lives.

The week that followed was happy for the four of them. Adam and Christian grew close again and marvelled at Heather and Ash, who were already like sisters. Despite all the perfection between Heather and Adam, she knew what was in the back of his mind. He wanted to know what had transpired the night she went away. He wanted to know what she had said. Heather dreaded the truth, and having to tell it to him. It was partly his reaction that worried her, but more so how he would act upon it. After an evening of noticeable tenseness, he finally asked what she didn't want to answer.

"You know, you never told me what you said to that girl…" Adam said thoughtfully, looking at Heather in his arms on the couch. She let out a sharp nervous laugh.

"That's funny, I thought I told you before Christian and Ash got here." Adam shook his head.

"No, you were about to tell me, but then I heard Christian in the hall…and we haven't talked about it since."

"Oh. I could have sworn I told you…" She smiled and shrugged, leaning back against his chest and closing her eyes, keeping silent. A moment later, he inquired again.

"Heather…please tell me. I mean, its not like we're going to have to kill the girl…" Sighing and sitting up, she turned to face him.

"Look Adam, I told her about me…about us." Too long of a silence drifted between them until Adam stood up and walked to the fireplace.

"You just told her you were living with me though, right? I mean, you wouldn't have told her we were vampires…" He asked worriedly and spoke quickly.

"I…I told her we were together…" She paused as Adam let out a sigh of relief. "And I told her what I was, and what you were, and what happened…" His eyes narrowed at her as he took a sharp breath.

"Why?" He demanded forcefully, walking over to her. "Why would you tell anyone? Shouldn't it just be a given that if someone makes you into the living dead, you keep your mouth shut?" His voice rose angrily and loudly, and he stood over her almost menacingly. "Who is she Heather? Can you tell me that, or do you have to keep that from me too?" Looking down to avoid his penetrating gaze, she started to speak quietly.

"You've got to understand…I was confused, I needed someone to talk to…I'd burnt all my bridges with my old friends and I thought Gabby'd really understand me and maybe knew a bit about this."

"What about me? You couldn't talk to me about this?"

"She told me more than you ever did." Heather returned harshly, looking up with almost tearful eyes. "And she understood me more than you ever could."

"How can you say that…you never even came to me and asked, you just left! Maybe if you had have asked…" He started to argue, but just sighed helplessly and took his place beside Heather on the couch. "I'm sorry, I don't want to argue with you anymore, okay? But…this Gabby…we need to do something about her. You see that, don't you?" She nodded swiftly.

"Just…please don't kill her. She knows what we are, she knows about vampires…and I know there's only one other thing you can do…" She trailed off almost sadly, as Adam put a hand around her shoulder and drew her closer.

"Don’t worry, she's not going to die. We'll figure something out."

Gabby awoke calmly though the rhythm of her heartbeat grew faster as she saw the stranger standing over her. His blonde hair was tied out of his face, but she could still tell it would be silky to the touch. His eyes of stormy blue stared into hers, but they looked almost unnatural. She knew what he was.

"You've come for me?" She asked him quietly, and he nodded in response, sitting down on the edge of her bed.

"Do you want it?" His hand brushed her cheek and she was entranced by the softness of his touch.

"Yes…I do." She felt a small twinge of nervousness as he smiled warmly and nodded again.

"Don't worry, Gabby, it's not going to hurt. You'll be fine…do you trust me?"

"I - I don't know…" She stammered, "I don't know you…"

"Do you have any reason not to trust me?" She shook her head slowly, and he smiled again, leaning forward and weaving his hand into her head. "And I'll be gentle." He assured, leaning his head down further, stopping short just over her mouth letting their breaths mingle. It seemed like forever until his lips grazed hers and even then it didn't seem to be enough. He shifted his body on top of hers, and even though Gabby knew it was just to distract her from what was really happening, she wasn't going to let that stop anything. He quickly pulled off her black t shirt, the only clothing she wore, before removing his own clothes as necessary, and reaching down between her legs, stroking her delicately. She moaned quietly, arching her body up against his, for some reason trusting him completely now. However, she didn't know if it was of her own will that she trusted him or his mind controlling her. That small bit of confusion didn't lessen the pleasure any when he exceedingly slowly inched himself inside of her, kissing her violently to quiet her. As he sensed her climax approaching, he tore his mouth away from hers and went for her throat, sucking on the skin before breaking it with his sharpened teeth and drinking as her body writhed in pleasure under his.

In the back of her mind, she knew what was happening, that she was begin killed only to be reborn as his child, even though she didn’t have the faintest clue who he was. There was no pain when she blacked out and he pulled away from her neck, pulling out of her, looking at her for a second. Gabby's already pale skin was paler and she had a peaceful calm expression on her face because she had knowledge of what was happening to her. Dragging his fangs across his wrist, he placed it over her mouth letting the blood drip slowly until her lips twitched with acceptance and her eyes flared open. Driven by bloodlust, she snatched his wrist with her hands, pressing it close to her mouth, drinking greedily until he wretched it away. Closing her eyes, Gabby let an odd pleasurable feeling over take her as his blood made her body new and alive again. When a calm wave closed over her, she looked up to see the man still on top of her, staring with concern.

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah…" Gabby whispered in answer, aware of the subtle changes in her voice as it reverberated around her small dark room. "Your name…you never told me." She stated in sudden realisation.

"Oh, I'm Christian." He told her, "We should be leaving now. You might want to bring some clothes or CD's or something." She nodded absently, and squirmed beneath his penetrating gaze and his body still covering hers.

"Okay…" She responded, wishing his lips would touch hers again, begging with her eyes. She was sure she saw a certain amount of desire in him before he almost reluctantly rolled off, allowing them both to rise and get dressed, while Gabby shoved a few items of clothing into a small bag, along with various notebooks. "Where are we going?" She questioned, turning around to face Christian who was seated on her bed.

"You're going to our place…that is, Heather and Adam, and me and Ash." At the insinuation of female companion with him, she blushed and turned away, her mind racing. He's with someone else, she thought, and he just fucked me? Sighing, she didn’t as for an explanation as she wove her hand through his and pulled him up, leading him through he house and outside, wanting her new life to begin quickly.

Heather sat in the living room in Adam’s lap talking to Ash. "You are really going to love Gabby. You to baby" she said turning to look up at Adam.

Ash smiled. "You’re nervous. You keep saying that. Like you are trying convince us."

"Maybe I’m trying to convince myself. She has a good understanding of us though. It's amazing. And she said she was going to research AFTER that too. She may now be the most knowledgeable human now."

Adam laughed pulling her tight against him. "You better quit hyping her up or we may be disappointed."

Heather just snuggled back against him closing her eyes. Ash smiled. She wanted to have that. They were meant to be. They were bonded. Hell she didn't even KNOW her sire. She didn't have that bond with anyone. The key in the door brought her out of her thoughts in time to see Heather scramble off Adams lap and run to the entryway. The three stood there, Adam behind Heather and Ash just beside her waiting to greet their new family member.

When Christian walked in he held the door for Gabby as Heather waited excitedly to see her friend again after months. As soon as she entered what was to be her new home Heather’s excited face fell and her legs turned to mush. Adam caught her quickly as Ash knelt by her. "No, Christian, no." Heather whispered. "You didn't. I can't believe you did it."

Gabby started closer. "It’s okay. He asked and I agreed to."

"NO, no it's not." Heather turned back to look into Adams face. "You said she wouldn't die. YOU TOLD ME SHE WOUDLN'T DIE!"

"She didn't," he answered sincerely.

"LIAR!"

"Listen, I cant control Christian, I told him to go get her and bring her here and THAT'S ALL!"

Ash she got her footing again she stood up and started upstairs. Gabby grabbed her arm. "Wait, really, it’s-"

"STOP!!! LET ME GO!!!" When Gabby released her she ran upstairs to her room and slammed the heavy door before falling on the bed sobbing.

Adam shook his head. "Ash show Gabby to her new room." When the girls had walked upstairs Adam looked at Christian. "Why?"

"What do you mean why? You didn’t tell me not to, and you know its either we turned her or kill her. And I knew I couldn't kill her."

Adam sighed. "Well we are going to have to fix all this tomorrow. It’s going to take me all night to calm Heather down. God, I hope she still trusts me."

Gabby eyes the girl she was following. 'She's with Christian,' she thought. 'Damn her, how could he do that? How could he make me want him?'

"Here's your room," Ash said opening the door for Gabby. "Is that bag all you have with you?" When she only received a nod she started back out. "Well Adam and Heather are across the hall and we are next door to you, so if you need anything just come ask. I’ll leave you to settle in unless you have something you want to talk about?"

"I really want to talk to Heather. No offence, but I kind of know her already and all. I didn't think she would react this way or I would have talked to her before I let him do it."

"No I understand perfectly." He fucked her, Ash thought as she walked out. She could tell...his scent was all over her, and it wasn't just the smell of his blood. When she returned to her and Christian’s room she boldly said, "You fucked her."

"So?"

"That's going to be trouble. Us sleeping in a room, in a bed together and you fucking her."

"Who said I’ll do it again. It was just to make the change easier for her." he answered trying to convince himself as well as Ash knowing he would have her again.

"Whatever," Ash replied before changing for bed.

Adam walked in seeing Heather crumbled on their bed sobbing. "What’s going on? Why are you so upset?"

"I don't know." she whispered.

He lay down next to her to wrap her in his arms. As she began crying harder he held her tighter. "What can I do? Please tell me what it is. I want to fix it."

She shook her head. "Just hold me for now, please."

"Okay, whatever you wish, love." He blew the candle by the bed out and held her till the dawning of the sun claimed then in sleep.

The dark, heavy curtains in Gabby's new room ensured that the sun wouldn't come streaming through and disturb her in the day. Not that it mattered; she hadn't been able to sleep. There was too much going on in her mind. It was confusing enough to know that he was with someone else to begin with, but to have him sleeping with someone else so close to her was nerve wracking. Coupled with that, Heather, the only one she actually knew in the house, was seemingly mad at her. Thus far, immortality was proving to be a pain in the ass. The hours had idly passed before she stepped out of the room and decided she needed to talk to someone. Even if she did seem to be mad, Heather was the only one she really knew. But Gabby didn't want to just barge into Heather's room in case she was interrupting something. So instead, she decided on a journey downstairs. She only got as far as the living room before seeing someone. Not just anyone. It was Christian, sitting on the maroon love seat in the living room and he was alone. Gabby simply stood there, not entirely sure if she should say anything or continue walking through the rest of the house. He slowly turned his head and smiled. Nervously, she smiled back but still didn’t' speak.

"You okay Gabby?" She nodded as he rose and walked slowly with a definite grace. "Hungry at all?" Christian stopped in front of her, looking serious and running his hand down her left arm. Gabby almost jumped at his touch, but merely swallowed hard.

"I don't know…" He shook his head, smiling again.

"Believe me, you'll know when you're hungry. Just let me know and I'll get you fed, okay?"

"Yeah…" She whispered shakily as his hand came up to lightly touch her cheek, pulling her face toward his. "Christian?"

"Mhmm?"

"Where's Ash?"

"Kitchen. Why?"

"Because I - " She stammered then trailed off. Christian raised his eyebrows.

"Afraid we’ll get caught?" He asked with a hint of laughter in his voice.

"Well…" He stopped her momentarily with a small soft kiss that Gabby pulled away from at first, only to be pulled back as it turned into more. After what seemed like a very short time, he pushed her away quickly, just as Ash walked in the room.

"So, Gabby, you're fine then?" He asked loudly as Ash sat down and rolled her eyes.

"Gabby, Heather's upstairs. I imagine you'll want to talk to her." Gabby nodded, turning around to go upstairs, then hesitating.

"What if they're…"

"Fucking? Trust me, you’d hear it. We can hear everything that goes on in this house." Ash answered, sharply accentuating the last words as Gabby continued upstairs, hearing Ash speak to Christian in an annoyed tone. "You could at least wait until I'm out of the house before you pounce on her." Before she was given a chance to think about what was said, the door to Heather and Adam's room was swung open, and Heather stood before her.

"You wanna come in? We should probably talk…" Gabby nodded and followed her into the darkly decorated room, taking a chair by the bed. "Do you mind if Adam stays? I don't want to explain stuff more than once…" Gabby nodded again as Heather sat on the bed beside Adam, who took her hand. They soon drifted into an uncomfortable silence.

"Why are you pissed?" Gabby asked almost innocently after they had sat in silence for too long. "Did I do something?" Heather sighed again, trying to find something to tell her friend.

"Its…its not you, I don't know why I'm so mad…You've got to understand, this wasn't supposed to happen. Christian was supposed to bring you here, and that was all. He was never supposed to change you…"

"But he did. And you know he wouldn't have if I didn't want it, right?"

"I think that’s it…I mean, you had a choice and even though you know more about this than we do, you wanted it…and I never had a choice. God, I never even knew what was happening when…you know what I mean." Gabby nodded in understanding, and Heather continued. "I just don't know why anyone would want this…Everyone here, we never had a choice…And you even knew the consequences and…" She broke off, shaking her head. "It was a brave thing to do, I guess." Gabby shifted uncomfortably in the chair.

"Not really…. It was either that, or die. I don't know many people who would choose the latter. And anyway, Christian looked so…" She trailed off and ended with a sigh. "He did more than change me." Heather frowned, and Adam nodded.

"Christian told me." Adam interjected, "And I told Heather. He just did it to ease the change, you know that right? It doesn't mean anything." Gabby bit her lip and looked down.

"What if it does? To me, I mean. Then what happens?"

"Nothing, Gabby. You can't very well break up whatever he has with Ash. It's not fair to do something like that." Heather pointed out. "Don’t do anything rash, okay?"

"Well, he did. Downstairs before I came up here he seemed a whole lot more interested in me then he did in Ash. What am I supposed to do, tell him to get lost? I don't think I could - "

"Just don't worry about it for now." Heather suggested with a shrug. "Figure out what's going on between you two then make some sort of rational decision."

"I can talk to him if you want…" Adam told her, but Gabby shook her head.

"Nah, I'm thinking about this way too soon. And I've read too much shit anyway… I just figured, ya know, he made me so we should be in love or something. Like you two." Adam smiled humbly and Heather rose to give her friend the hug she should have got the night before.

"So you're fine other than thinking too much?" Heather asked her jokingly, going to sit with Adam on the bed. Gabby rose and gave a confident nod and smile.

"I think so. I'm gonna just go to my room and find something to do…if I need you I'll yell. And thank you both for…everything I guess."

"See ya Gabby." Heather said with some sort of relief as the door closed. Smiling happy, she crawled into Adam's lap, resting her head on his chest.

"So we're all happy now?" He questioned, wrapping his arms around her.

"We are." She returned contentedly, not wanting to move at all.

Adam and Christian walked past the living room hearing the girls laughter pour through the doorway again. "We're going out," Adam said looking in the room. "You girls wanna come. You hungry?"

"No we have it thanks," Heather said trying not to laugh and holding up a wineglass.

"Need us to bring back anything? Your girls want anything at all?" Christian asked.

"I don't," Ash answered as Heather shook her head.

"Gabby?" She glanced down as Ash looked at her. She didn't see what the expression on her face was but she also didn't think she wanted to know. She had been trying the last month to not mess things up. Hell, they might get rid of her and leave her on her OWN if she did. She thought surely Christian did love her, or at least WANTED her. He had grabbed her in the hall and in several rooms and pulled her close to kiss her many times. And she KNEW Ash knew about it but for some reason didn't care, which puzzled her. She put the most normal smile she could on her face. "No, thank you though."

Heather leaned over and whispered "Aw isn't the love of your life just so sweet?"

"You realise me AND the guys heard that right? We're vampires, HELLO!!" Ash said sending the girls into a fit of giggles again. Adam looked at them suspiciously.

"Which cabinet did that bottle come from?"

"I don't know," Heather answered innocently looking at the ceiling. He walked over and picked up the bottle inspecting the label. A smile spread across his face as he read it.

"Why did you get one of the bottles that's more wine instead of one that's more blood?"

"I didn't silly." Heather answered slapping him playfully on the chest.

"You didn't?"

"It sure looks like you did," Christian added.

"Nooooooooooo. I got three." she answered pointing to 2 empty bottles on the floor. Adam sighed.

"I want you three to stop RIGHT now so you will be sobered up when we get back."

"Yeah, well what if we DON'T?" Heather clung to his sleeves looking up at him. He lightly pushed her back making her fall on the couch and into Gabby.

"You don't get rewarded when we get home." Heather pouted.

"Fine," she mumbled handing him the now empty 3rd bottle.

"I don't have to be good." Gabby announced. "I don't get rewarded anyway." Christian smiled.

"Gabby, I'll buy you a present and if you are good you get it when I get home, if you aren't then I take it right back."

"Oooooh WHAT?"

"Be good and you'll find out."

"Okay," she answered cheerfully.

As the guys left them Adam knew they were just giggly, not really drunk. He saw the way Gabby acted and knew she was keeping herself in check around Ash, and he also knew Christian knew it and hoped one of the girls didn't end up hurt.

When they returned home, the house was silent, then they heard feet padding softly toward the living room doorway then saw Heather's face peek around it.

"We were good," she said causing Adam to grin.

"I knew you would be."

"How?"

"Cause you wanna be rewarded." She giggled as he picked her up and swung her around.

"Hi, Christian," Ash said walking around the corner with Gabby on her heels. He smiled at Ash then turned to Gabby.

"Okay ready for your present?" She nodded like a little kid. He pulled a box out of the bag in his hands and gave it to her. She opened it and squealed.

"A stuffed black cat!!"

"I saw you looking at him one night."

"THANK YOU!" She jumped up into his arms hugging him and he swung her around. She remembered Ash's presence by the cold stares she felt on her back and stood back on her feet. Before anything could be said there was a knock on the door.

"Who the hell," Adam mumbled. They had all heard of some vampire hunters in the area, and were all cautious, not sure whether living as a group was more or less conspicuous. "Girls go into the living room." When they were out of the way he opened the door so that Christian was unseen, at least he would have the element of surprise. When he opened the door he saw a young guy with blue and purple hair looking around nervously.

"Hello, may I help you?" Adam asked thinking it must be some lost high schooler, like Heather had been. The thought of her made him think about who he could be dealing with as the thought of protecting all 3 girls came with it.

"Um, hi. I'm looking for Christian. He said he was coming here to visit someone and I thought this might be the house. He tends to hang around people who don't like...um being around a lot of people." Christian immediately recognised the voice, as did Ash who brought the other girls back into the foyer. Christian pushed Adam back and stood in the doorway.

"Jeff?"

"Hi, Christian. How are you?"

"Um, come in."

"I'm sorry to come here but I have bad news."

"What is it?" Ash asked, making sure she clung to Christian like a small child to its parent.

What the hell is going on here? Gabby thought. First she doesn't act like she cares much about him and now she can't let go.

"Ash? OH MY GOD I AM SO GLAD TO SEE YOU!" Jeff said reaching out to touch her arm making sure she was real. "What are you doing here? Who did you come here with?"

"Christian."

"Christian? I..." Jeff looked puzzled, an expression somewhere between anger and sadness crossing his face. "Well, I am glad you are okay."

"What happened, Jeff?" Christian asked softly.

"Mine and Ash's family, well, until she left it, they were all gone. I went looking and found some of their bodies. Ash they were murdered. I was so scared you were one I couldn't find. I'm glad you found Christian and weren't there." The last sentence was forced. He didn't want her with Christian, though he knew her leaving was partly his fault.

"How, how did you get away?" she asked tears coming to her eyes.

"They went out hunting and I didn't want to. I was too upset over your leaving."

"Jeff I had too, They wanted me to be someone I wasn't."

"No, I know. This is the first time I have been out since you left."

"I'm sorry to interrupt," Adam said, "But where was this?"

"Just one town over. We really weren't in a town, about maybe 10 miles?" Christian nodded and Adam saw the confusion on Jeff's face. He raked his fingers through his hair thinking about what he had heard. So hunters were in the area. Damn it. What was he supposed to do? He had to think.

"Jeff, you are welcome to stay with us." Jeff shook his head.

"No," he said looking at Ash and Christian. "I don't want to interfere. I'll find a hotel."

"Check in with us everyday." Christian said as Jeff turned to walk off.

"Sure, I'll see you guys tomorrow night." After he left, Ash let go of Christian and walked to her room. Heather followed as Gabby looked up at Christian.

"Who is he? Why didn't you tell him who the rest of us were?" He placed his hand on the side of her head smoothing out her hair.

"He's an old friend. Been a friend of mine since almost right after me and Adam parted. And he knows who you are, precious. We can read thoughts if we try remember?" She nodded. "I'm going to go check on Ash."

God she hated being treated like a child. She heard the guys discussing how to secure the house as she ascended the steps. They better try and find a way to protect Ash she thought viscously, then chastised herself. She knew Christian loved them both and she was going to take what she could get, for as long as she could handle the sharing anyway. Then Christian was going to have to decide whom he loved more.

"You only find love once in your life, so I guess when you find it, you're gonna hold it right…you hold it right?" Gabby sang along absently with the words from her stereo, then realised how well they fit. She wasn't sure how much longer she would be able to take the confusion that she felt. Every time Jeff came over, Ash acted as if her and Christian were inseparable, but as soon as he left, she could care less. It didn’t help matters that still every time Gabby and Christian were alone, he practically attacked her. Ash knew about it too, but never said anything to Gabby, or tried to stop it, which was thoroughly perplexing. And putting a smiling happy face on around everyone was wearing thin. Pretty soon something was going to happen. The more she thought about it, Gabby knew she had to talk to either Ash or Christian, whoever came first.

She soon discovered they were both in the kitchen and as she stood in the doorway, she heard Ash lean over and whisper to Christian.

"Would you like me to leave you two alone?" Christian smiled and shook his head, inviting Gabby into the kitchen. She just stood, glaring at Ash with words of rage finally coming to the surface.

"That’s it! This is fucked! We all know what's going on here, so why are you still with him??" Gabby screeched, almost running into the kitchen.

"With him? Hold on, you've got this - " Ash started, only to be interrupted by Christian, who rose and started towards Gabby.

"Gabby, calm down….why are you so upset all of a sudden? Its okay…Just come here and - " He reached out his arms for her, but she stepped back.

"It's not okay, and I'm NOT upset, I'm confused. I've been confused for a long time now, and if I don't say something then something even worse is going to happen." Ash stood up from the kitchen table.

"Just let me explain, okay? Because I think you - "

"No!" Gabby snarled back angrily, "I don’t need to hear anything from you. Do you know what he does when we’re alone? Do you?"

"Yes, and that’s why I really think you should let me explain something…" Ash reiterated calmly, standing her ground as Gabby advanced.

"Please listen to her Gabby…its gonna make a lot more sense if you do…" Christian told her soothingly from behind, thankful that she stopped advancing and stood impatiently before Ash.

"Fine. But hurry up, cause I don’t know how much longer I can be restrained for." She was aware of Christian beside her, taking her hand and she didn’t pull away.

"First off, Christian and I are definitely not a couple…we’ve agreed to that since the beginning." She smiled almost smugly at the look of confusion on Gabby’s face. "I’m using him to make Jeff jealous. I don’t know why, but it seemed like a good idea at the time. Its working anyway, which is the point…" As she trailed off, Gabby turned her head up to Christian.

"You aren’t together? At all?" She questioned in a surprised but relieved tone. He smiled and shook his head.

"And everyone just assumed we were…no one even bothered to ask, so we just kept it up." Ash told her, but she barely heard. She was too paralysed with happiness for the words to truly register. "So….I think I’m gonna go have a bit of a celebration with Jeff at the hotel now and leave you two alone, deal?" Christian nodded, and Ash got halfway down the hallway when a thought dawned on him.

"Just bring Jeff here to live. We’ve got room. It’ll work." He faintly heard her say ‘sure’ as she walked out the door, then he turned his attention back to Gabby, who was still staring up at him almost awe-struck. "Stop looking at me like that. Makes me feel like I’m on display or something."

"I don’t want to not look at you…because then you might not be mine anymore." Gabby told him quietly with tears in her voice and her eyes.

"I am yours…all yours now, and I never meant to put you through any of - " She quieted him with her fingers on his lips.

"You don’t need to talk…I just want this moment." He nodded, pressing his forehead to hers and closing his eyes. They didn’t even notice the front door opening, or the hushed whispers of Heather and Adam, standing in the doorway.

"They’re together." Adam noted, holding Heather who smiled.

"Finally. They look happy."

"Hell, I guess so. At least he can grope her in public now." Heather looked up and rolled her eyes.

"Nice to hear a mans point of view. Let’s leave them alone." She grabbed his arm, pulling him upstairs knowing that in a few minutes, Gabby would be doing the same to Christian.

Adam smiled as Heather slid out of bed hoping not to wake him. He watched her as she got dressed and fixed her hair.

"I know you’re watching me," she said her back still turned.

"I know," he grinned as she turned around. She sat on the bed and he sat up wrapping his arms around her.

"Know what?"

"Hmmmm?"

"I really am happy. I never could have been this happy in my other life."

"You think this is where you should be then?"

"Yeah, now I do. Maybe I was meant for you. Maybe that's why...why I look like..."

"No, we are not getting back into that. I have nothing left here of her. Please, don't get back into that. She's gone and you are here. You are my angel." She nodded not really wanting to get back into discussions of Lysandra, ever.

"So, what are we doing tonight?" He pulled her down to lay next to him. "Other than laying here for a while, nothing." He smiled as she snuggled up against him. He thought of the antique ring in his dresser drawer. Now was the time to give it to her. He just had to have it fixed first.

Gabby ran her fingers through Christian's hair as he slept. She lay there watching him, amazed at the sweet expression on his face, especially after all the devilish looks he had given her before. She had apologised to Ash and was glad everyone was with who they were supposed to be with. Christian woke up and smiled.

"Hey," he whispered.

"Hey, I have a question."

"What?"

"If we can hear everything that goes on then why can't I hear anything now?"

"Well, you have to listen for it. If you heard every noise in this old house, you would go nuts. Like I can listen for Adam and Heather’s voices or Jeff and Ash's to see if they are talking. But you CAN have a private conversation here. But if we are in the same room, you can here them like you can here me. Make sense?" She nodded.

"Even thought it's been a while, I still feel like I don't know everything."

"Hell, Gabby, neither do me and Adam and Jeff. I’m the oldest of the three, and sometimes I think they know more than I do. I mean there are basic things, which we showed you, but then there are things you know from experience. It's just like life. There isn't an instruction booklet that's given to you with every answer." Again she nodded.

"I think I know everything I need to know though, at least for now."

"You do?"

"Yes, I love you, and I know now you love me."

"I loved you the moment I saw you." She curled up against him.

"I wanna stay this way forever."

"I can almost guarantee it."

Ash awoke to Jeff stroking her hair. She looked up smiling. "What took you so long?"

"What?"

"Why didn’t you want to be with me when we were with our other family?"

"Ash, that was months ago."

"That's not the question."

"You know, it had been just the two of us, the only children for a LONG time. And I always thought of you as my little sister. Someone I had to take care of. I didn't realise I was actually falling for you until I saw you with Christian. And I think it being someone I knew made me even more jealous, cause I knew it still could have been me."

"You can still take care of me know you. I still need protection from some bad big something I’m sure." Jeff laughed.

"I’m sure you do. There has to be something I can protect you from." She yawned.

"Boredom." He grinned and kissed her.

"Oh I sure as hell can do that."

A week later-

Adam walked past the living room. "I’m going out for a while. You guys watch out fair maidens while I’m gone."

"No, why?"

"Cause we always go together."

"No, I am going to get a surprise for you. I won't be gone long but I have to hurry." He kissed her on the forehead and left.

"DONT WORRY WE SHALL PROTECT YOU FAIR MADIEN!" Christian and Jeff both said as chivalrously as they could.

"Oh, thank you kind sirs," she said sarcastically. "Now lets finish this game shall we?" she asked picking up her game board piece dying to know what Adam was getting her.

Soon after he left she looked up sensing he was home, but also that something wasn't right. She cautiously walked into the foyer waiting for the door to open. When it did she saw the last thing she expected. Adam leaned against the doorframe sliding down onto his knees, blood soaking the front of his shirt. She screamed his name and ran over dropping to her knees in front of him. She saw weakness and fear in his eyes as he looked at her pleading for her to help. Christian and Jeff ran to her after she screamed.

"Oh god, Jeff help me," Christian said trying to pick Adam up and carry him to the couch. Jeff shut the door and helped lift him. Its like lifting dead weight, he thought then drove the thought away. He isn't dead. It's like lifting a heavy vampire, he thought again trying to convince himself things weren't grim.

Christian pulled Adam’s shirt open and Heather was glad she was already on the floor with Gabby and Ash behind her when she saw the gaping wound and blood caked on his chest. Jeff came back with water and rags. As Christian tried to clean him up so he could see how bad it really was Heather held his hand trying to comfort him even though she was just as scared. After they cleaned his chest they pulled his shirt off and carefully sat him up to see his back. Luckily it hadn't gone all the way through. Christian knew it was a stake by the wound and its reluctance to close. Blood still seeped from it too fast for anyone's comfort. Damn hunters Christian cursed as he bit into his own wrist to drip blood over the wound to close it.

"Adam," Christian said when he was done. "Whose blood do you want?" Adam looked at Heather pleading with his eyes. She nodded in assent. As they helped him up stairs to his room Christian reminded him to take any after the hunger pain was gone so as not to take too much from her at once. "Come with me," Christian said looking at Heather after they put Adam in bed.

"But he needs," she started to protest.

"You need some blood now, your gonna be weak as hell if you don't." He took her down stairs and he'd her drink as much as should could. Jeff walked by them with a small slip of paper in his hand.

"Where are you going?" Ash asked worried for his safety.

"Adam handed he this. I need to go do something." He kissed her before leaving running as fast as he could make his body go.

Heather returned to her room and shut the door. She lay down next to Adam touching her neck to his mouth. He weakly bit into her flesh drinking more hungrily with ever sip. Finally he stopped and she lay beside him running her hand over his hair in a soothing manner.

"It’s okay baby. I’m going to take care of you now." He squeezed her other hand and drifted into sleep. When she was sure he wasn't going to wake up for a while she went downstairs to try and silence her own hunger then promptly returned to her room to keep her promise of taking care of him.

As the days passed his strength grew back slowly. Everyone was checking on him and once Heather saw Jeff slip something in Adams hand.

"What is that?" she asked.

"Later, when we’re alone." She stared at him as Jeff chattered. The wound was now a light pink scar that was itself fading everyday. He still wasn't well enough to go out and tended to stay in bed going down stairs no more than once a day. She knew he was better and it was only a matter of time before he was well. But they had all decided no one was to go out any more unless it was necessary and that no one should go alone.

After Jeff left Heather looked at him expectantly. Adam sighed and patted the bed next to him. She crawled up beside him and he picked up her hand slipping an antique ring on it. She looked at it in awe.

"This was my mothers," he said. "I was going to pick it up from the jewellers that night. The band was weak. I kept it with me after she died in case I found someone who was special enough to have it." She looked at the silver ring with a simple black stone in the centre and thought it was the most beautiful then she had seen. "I sent Jeff back to get it cause it had to be picked up then or it would be sold. I wasn't going to lose it to some one else. Just like I don't ever want to lose you."

"God, I love you," she said tears falling down her cheeks as she curled up against him.

"I love you," he whispered then glanced at the window. "Mornings coming." She nodded pulling the covers over them and glancing to the door seeing 4 sets of eyes and 4 grins peeking in through the slightly open door. Smiling, she went to sleep, knowing nothing would separate them, ever.

"We're not going out tonight, are we?" Gabby asked Christian as she sat down with a sigh beside him on the couch.

"No, not unless you want to get staked through the chest, and trust me, I don't want that to happen very much."

"Good. Otherwise I'd severely question a lot in our relationship." She paused, turning to him with a smile. "What exactly are we anyway?"

"Umm…" Christian narrowed his eyes in thought, looking at the heavy white curtains that blew in the night wind from the open window. "Well, boyfriend and girlfriend sounds so…high school."

"Which I was in until a few months ago, might I remind you. So I'm a drop-out!" She added almost cheerfully.

"Uh-huuuuuh." He said, eyeing her strangely and drawing out the last syllable with a definite sarcastic tone. "But back to us…Child and sire?"

"Eeeewww, that sounds like incest or something."

"I really hope that’s not what you're thinking every time you scream my name loud enough to shatter the windows."

"No! Basically what I'm thinking is exactly what I'm saying at that point. Its not like I can really thing of any - "

"Soulmates." Christian said suddenly, interrupting her speech. Gabby stared at him, somewhat slack-jawed.

"You really think so?" She asked him hurriedly when she could finally speak. He glanced over to the window again and placed a finger to her lips, silencing her. Mutely, she could sense a small glimmering nearness of another vampire, just outside the door. Christian silently told her to stay put as he cautiously advanced, jumping back slightly when he heard a dull thud against the heavy wooden door. Sucking in his breath as he moved once again towards the entryway, he paused, his fingers dancing over the cold brass of the knob before turning it. Immediately, a body fell across the threshold, barely alive. Christian stood and stared for a moment before recognising the lack of harm in the man's mind. He yelled for Gabby to go and get the two couples, tucked away in their respective rooms upstairs, which she did without thinking. Christian recognised this vampire. He lived in the city, mingled amongst the mortals, and cloaked his immortality from their minds through the frequency of the radio. Once he began speaking, Christian couldn't stop his harshly whispered words, his last thoughts in death until the rest of the household congregated downstairs.

"The hunters….they want you…all of you." He turned his head aside, spitting out blackish blood before continuing. "They say…they say they staked one of you….and its there that…that they'll challenge you….sunset….two…two days." Christian was vaguely aware of the others standing around, but was held by the last sentence from the dying vampire before him. "Kill those fuckers." Heather let out a small gasp as his body crumbled before them into dust, and Ash buried her head in Jeff's shoulder. Gabby just stared down in shock, speaking with hushed awe.

"4 years I listened to him. Fuck…he was a vampire..." Christian stood up, shaking his head at the sight he'd just bore witness too.

"The hunters wanna fight. We've got two days. Dammit, Adam you better have weapons around here, or we're screwed." He nodded weakly, and Christian frowned. "And you're not fighting either. You're in no shape."

"You and Jeff can take them." He agreed, and Ash glared at him.

"And what do we do? Just play the good little girls and stay home while you're beating the living shit out of some hunters?"

"Yes." Jeff answered quietly. "None of you are getting hurt. We're not dragging you into this."

"But they fucking staked Adam!" Heather chimed in angrily, "I think I have a right to do some ass kicking of my own."

"No." Adam told her gently, smoothing back her hair. "You've gotta take care of me here, remember?" Sighing heavily, she nodded. Gabby crossed the few steps to where Christian stood, hands on her hips, looking at him intensely.

"So we can't go and fight because you could lose us…but what about you? What if…" She trailed off helplessly, finishing in her mind, I just found you, I don't want to lose you. He smiled sadly. The phrase was in each their thoughts. He reached out for her, pulling her close.

"We've got two days." He whispered, everyone hearing and sympathising. They stood in the foyer of the house, each with the ones they loved, barely wanting to move for fear of the unknown, the unknown that would creep upon them in two days.

The weapons were gathered by the front door, and the sun was retreating from their line of sight. The scene looked the same as it had two days ago, but there was a nervous urgency in them all. Like a band playing their first gig in front of a record exec, tonight had the feeling that it would make or break them. It would either go wrong, or go right. There was no in-between.

Adam and Heather sat on the steps, his arm around her shoulder, holding her close, purposefully not watching Jeff and Ash in the doorway to the living room, or Gabby and Christian, a silhouette of one in the orange horizon.

"Everything's going to be fine, isn't it Adam?" He sighed, looking down at Heather.

"Of course. We've got to keep thinking like that. Everything is gonna be the same as it is now." She nodded.

"But without stupid hunters…" Adam smiled at the slight bitterness in her tone, and pulled her even closer. From the shadows of the living room, Jeff emerged, followed closely by Ash. At the same time, Gabby released Christian from their embrace, sniffling quietly as he stooped down to pick up the black bag containing half of the weapons in the house. Jeff had the other bag slung over his shoulder, sighing under the weight of it. Not wanting to spend anymore time doting on goodbyes they'd already said, Jeff took Ash's hand, kissing the top and walking away holding it as far as he could before letting it slip away slowly as he disappeared into the folds of the darkness. Christian began leaning towards Gabby, but she shook her head, whispering good luck before he too turned and left. They watched for a while before Gabby turned to Ash with a sigh.

"They are so getting their asses kicked." Ash nodded in agreement, turning to Heather, still on the stairs with Adam.

"So how long until we crash the party?" Heather shrugged, standing up.

"Give 'em fifteen minutes."

"Wait a minute here!" Adam interjected, jumping up. "You three are following them?" Gabby and Ash ignored him, grabbing two crossbows each, while Heather spun around to face him.

"Hey we've got a right to kick ass too. And you're in no shape to go anywhere."

"But…it's dangerous!" She shook her head, leaning forward and placing a smallish kiss on his cheek before starting out the door. "If we're not back, avenge our deaths!" He started slowly over to the doorway, watching them as they walked out.

"I thought you were giving them fifteen minutes!"

"We're getting coffee!" Gabby shot back with a wave of her hand.

"Well, can't I come?"

"No, you can’t!" Heather's voice drifted back across the night, and for some reason, he wasn't afraid. Something told him they had better chances at beating the hunters than Jeff and Christian.

They were surrounded. Five behind them, six in front, and two on either side. Good thing we didn't bring the girls., Jeff thought in his head, and heard Christian laugh quietly beside him, completely out of place. The hunters in front of them were closing in, and Jeff sighed, looking over at Christian who was picking up a sword from the fully equipped bags.

"A sword? You stupid leeches have got to be kidding." A black haired boy said from beside them, tilting his crossbow slightly to obtain a better aim at the two vampires.

"I'll have you know I've ripped more hunters apart with a sword than most other leeches you've dealt with." Christian spat, turning around to face the boy who'd addressed him. Jeff leaned over.

"I really don’t' think making them angry is gonna put the odds in our favour." The same line of six hunters in front of them were continuing to advance slowly, readying stakes and whatever other wooden weapons they harboured.

"And how many hunters have you killed?" Jeff looked at him blankly. "I thought so. They don't change. Can you handle three?" Christian motioned with the sword at the three closest to Jeff, who nodded quickly.

"I sure as hell hope so."

"Good. Take that one." Christian nodded over to the short sword lying on top of the duffel bags.

"I've never - "

"Just run them through. It's pretty simple. Sharp object, human flesh. Ready?" Jeff picked up the sword, taking a deep breath before nodding and running forward into the triad, while Christian did the same.

Eventually, 8 of the hunters had been killed, but five remained, and Jeff and Christian were definitely tired, each sporting small wounds whatever not fatal weapons the hunters had carried. The stood back to back, breathing heavily as the last five advanced on them when suddenly something whipping by their heads, planting itself right into one of the hunters hearts, killing her instantly. Jeff and Christian both snapped their heads around to the general direction of the bolt, and saw Gabby, Heather and Ash running sauntering towards them.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Jeff exclaimed, turning his head back to the hunters in front.

"Not letting you guys die." Ash said simply, letting a bolt fly from her crossbow, impaling itself in another hunter.

"Yeah, cause you know, girl power and all that stuff." Gabby shrugged, taking out one hunter, while Heather took care of another. "I'll leave the last for you. Bragging rights and all." Out of the corner of his eye, Christian saw the last hunter advance, but swiftly plunged his bloodstained long sword into his chest then wretched it out again, rendering him dead.

"There. Now we can go home." Heather told them, walking over to the duffel bag and shoving her crossbow inside.

"We told you not to come." Christian scolded.

"And we told you not to die, which you were obviously gonna do if it wasn't for us." Stepping over a dead body, Gabby made a face of disgust, then stood beside Christian. "And you know how I feel about people I love dying."

"Thank you." He told her quietly, with a smile that told her she'd reap the rewards later. "Where's Adam?" Heather smiled smugly.

"I made him stay home."

"See? We control you guys. And why aren't we going home yet?" Ash pointed in the direction of their house impatiently, and Jeff smiled.

"We are, we are. Look." He started walking towards her, taking her arm and pulling her away from the murderous scene. The rest followed, leaving the dead bodies for the police to contend with.

"…and you shoulda seen the look on their faces when Ash shot that guy and..." Heather excitedly told Adam of the nights events as he smiled patiently, enduring all of the girls' ecstatic talk about how they'd saved Christian and Jeff from certain death. When he was certain she was finished, he leaned down and kissed her softly, pulling back to whisper in her ear.

"My hero." She beamed proudly, then rose, pulling him upstairs and biding everyone goodnight, explaining she was tired from the ordeal and needed her rest. The two couples still left in the living room just smiled and nodded, knowing there wasn't going to be a whole lot of sleeping going on anytime soon for any of them. Ash and Jeff looked at each other, seemingly exchanging words with just a glance, then they rose as well.

"We're gonna be retreating to our chamber. Jeff has some wounds that need to be licked, quite literally." Ash told Christian and Gabby while Jeff pulled her away. Gabby, with a smile, shook her head.

"Lovebirds. They're so cute together."

"Yeah, I bet they talk about us the same behind our backs." She looked over to Christian in question, then leaned back against him.

"Was that sarcastic?"

"I don't even know. I'm so damn worn out. Who planned your little excursion anyway?"

"Weell.." She began slowly, trying to remember which of them had actually come up with the idea. "I think we all kind of figured you two were gonna get your asses kicked. And we were pissed because you were going to fight without us. I think we set the feminist vampire movement ahead by years." Christian laughed quietly, resting his chin on her head.

"What's next, burning bras?" She snorted in response.

"You wish. Though…it would save time on second thought."

"And if you're already a feminist, then you shouldn't wear a bra, or something like that."

"Shut up!" She whined, yawning tiredly. "Can we sleep now?"

"You have to move then. Cause I've gotta get up." She shook her head.

"No you don't." Gabby shifted and pushed him down on the couch. "See? We can sleep here." Once she was sure he was comfortable stretched out, she settled down into his arms, one hand playing with his honeyed curls. He sighed and protectively wrapped his arms around her.

"Thank you, I love you, and goodnight." He whispered quietly in her ear, as she looked up at him with a contented smile.

"You're welcome, I love you too, and shut up and go to sleep." Christian smiled, and they both soon found sleep together.

Jeff sat on the bed pulling Ash into his lap.

"Thank you." She looked up puzzled. "I was scared tonight. I had no idea what I was doing, Christian did but I had never even used a sword before. I think he realised he should have asked me that before we left. But I wanted my revenge for our family too."

"It was the same ones?"

"I’m not sure, but I want to think so for my own sanity. There were a lot that showed up to fight us, and there must have been a mob to kill everyone of our family when then found them, and I am sure many of the hunters were killed then. But I really was glad to see you three, and that she made Adam stay home. He couldn’t have handled it. We barely could at full strength." Suddenly Ash covered his lips with hers.

"Shhhhh. You’re welcome." He looked surprised. "You were rambling. I understand okay? And we are going to be fine. Hell, with the 6 of us here, we should be able to handle anything right? Even if we have to leave, if people start to know someone is up here, we leave and we survive. But there are more important things to worry about right this second."

"Like what?" She pulled his shirt over his head and licked a small scratch on his shoulder.

"Those wounds I was going to attend to."

Heather sat down on their bed and stared at Adam as he closed their bed room door.

"So you are just exhausted eh?" he asked walking over to her.

"Exhausted my ASS!" She grabbed his hands pulling him down beside her. "I wanna celebrate."

"Celebrate your head being attached to your neck and all your blood in your body?"

"Aren’t YOU romantic" she said sarcastically rolling her eyes and pushing him away, well trying to.

"well what do you want to celebrate?"

"Us, being together. No more threats to our happiness." When she saw him start to protest she added "for now. Who knows, maybe I’ll let you leave the house soon."

"Maybe?"

"All depends on how strong you’re getting. Can have you bed ridden again."

"Well," he grinned evilly. "That is something to celebrate, and you know what?"

"Hmmm?"

"I’m about to show you just how much strength I’ve gotten back," he said pinning her to the bed. He leaned close to her ear kissing her neck. "And just how much I love you."

"I love you just as much."