Heather sat up wiping her eyes anger suddenly taking over. "Yes! Your brother is an ass! And Christian, I think it's the last one."

Gabby looked sad at those words she had been hearing all night, not that she could blame her, but she didn't want to see their "family" torn apart. But she also knew Christian was very different from his brother.

He saw this and knew he didn't want to get anymore involved than necessary. "I think I'll go back to my bedroom. I wanna stay out of this." The phone rang and he walked over to answer it thankful for the distraction. "Hello?" He sighed as Adam's voice came over the phone.

"Is she there?"

"Where the hell else would she be?"

"Let me speak to her. Please."

"Wanna talk to him?"

"Why the hell not. I already packed everything, might as well tell him I'm not coming home. Hello?"

"I'm sorry," Adam pleaded earnestly over the phone and she almost broke down then and there.

"Yeah, you're sorry alright."

"No really I am, and I'll try and change. It's just not easy."

"No Adam, for you its impossible. You have said the same thing for the last 100 years, and I don't believe you. Hell, I haven't believed you for a long time now. But I thought hey, get to the 1990's and MAYBE he'll change. Maybe he'll realise, but no, you DIDNT!"

"Vampires don't change!"

"Well obviously they do. Christian sure as fuck did! Hell Maybe I need someone younger!"

"Well you aren't WITH CHRISTIAN ARE YOU?"

"NO I'M NOT AND I'M NOT WITH YOU EITHER!" Tears fell down her face as she said those finalising words. "Adam, I love you, I honestly do, but I can't do this anymore. I can't take you telling me what to do. I thought, I guess that before you changed me, I thought things were going to be different. I mean you were so great, you seemed everything I ever wanted when I was human. And I thought you weren't going to be this way. I ...dammit I'm rambling now. I just, I cant do this, I can't be your little doll, or slave, or whatever the hell you think I am. I'm not a child."

"Please, don't do this." She heard tears in his voice but she stayed silent. "Please."

"Goodbye Adam." She barely choked these words out before hanging up the phone and turning around throwing herself into Christian's arms, who was right behind her waiting. "Why? Why couldn't he have changed? Why?" she sobbed.

"I don't know, and I'm sorry. I wish he would have, you guys used to be great together."

"Yeah, used to be."

Gabby spoke up. "You can stay here, if you need to."

"Thanks, I might a few nights, just till I can get a house."

"What are you going to do?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well I mean now that you aren't with Adam, are you gonna live alone?"

"No, I'm finding someone else." She broke from Christian’s embrace and went to her car to get her clothes and CDs and notebooks. She knew she wouldn't go back to Adam, she couldn't now, or he would never let her be free. She just had to be careful who she chose. She had to make sure he was the right one this time.

***********

Becca knew she was in for it the second she walked in the door with a handful of bags from the expensive boutiques that lined the main street. When she dropped the bags down in the living room, Jeff eyed them darkly, then sighed.

"I was saving that money. I might need it one day." Becca rolled her eyes at this oft-said speech.

"God, I am SO sick of hearing that! You have so much damned money saved up, we could buy a better place than this vermin filled hole, but you're saving it for something that is NEVER going to come!" Jeff got up to protest, but she continued on. "And its taking its strain on me, you always wanting something you can never have. You never shut up about it and I've already given you a second chance, but this is it Jeff."

"So this is officially it?" He questioned in what seemed to be a menacing tone. She nodded, hands on her hips.

"Seems like it. I wish I could say it was nice." Jeff shook his head at her, then pointed to the bags.

"If this is it, then you can just leave. No use prolonging anything. Get your stuff and get out, Becca." Her gaze narrowed at him.

"Fine. Fine, fuck you, and that goddamn wish of yours and everything."

"Okay, okay, I get it. Just leave in peace." She stared at him for a second more, almost surprised at his detachment to the whole situation, before packing her bags and leaving. All the while, Jeff just sat on the couch and watched her walk from the door to the bedroom, never offering to help, because he simply didn't care anymore. Not about Becca and her quick departure, or about the fact that she was leaving with some things that weren't even hers. All he cared about was his wish, and how with her out of his life, it finally had a chance of coming true.

Christian half smiled as he looked at Heather and Gabby walking beside him talking cheerfully. He knew Heather was just covering up how sad she was, and also knew she loved going out to clubs or walking around thinking she was going to find the right guy. He couldn't help but also feel sorry for his brother who was heartbroken, but knew he deserved it. He also wondered if Adam was the right guy and they just needed some marriage counselling. The thought of Heather and Adam sitting in a counsellors office talking about a vampire relationship problems made him laugh. The girls looked at him funny, shrugged and went back to their conversation.

Heather stopped suddenly causing Gabby to also stop seeing as their arms were linked. She looked through the darkness across the park they were passing by. She saw him sitting on a bench hovered over a sketchpad rapidly drawing the old gothic church lit by the street lamps. She could see clearly his rainbow-streaked hair and his green eyes looking enthusiastically at his subject. He was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. She snuck into his mind hearing his thoughts. "What is it?" Gabby asked.

"It's him."

"Who?"

"The person I have wanted Adam to be."

Gabby looked at him. "Are you sure?" Heather nodded. "Well," she said looking at Christian, "I guess we can help you keep an eye on him and follow him to see what he's like. Cause he sure isn't a vampire."

Heather nodded and looked at Christian reading his thoughts. "I'm sorry. I know you were determined me and Adam would get back together. But we aren't. And I think this guys the answer." She looked back at him as he finished his sketch and jotted a few notes on the page. He looked over his shoulder and she knew he sensed something. After staring a few moments he turned around closed his book and walked off in the other direction. "I'm telling you...that's him."

Gabby walked in from the balcony where Heather was sitting, watching the world outside, and thinking about the same person she'd been thinking about for days. Him, she simply called the man, as if a name wasn't needed.

Inside, Christian sat at the kitchen table reading a day old newspaper out of sheer boredom, his eyes glancing up for a second as Gabby entered the room with a concerned look on her face. He knew he simply had to ask one question, and she'd practically pour her heart out.

"You still worried about Heather?" He prodded gently, folding the paper down on the table as she sighed deeply, taking the seat next to him.

"All she's been doing is thinking about that guy that she saw and about how he's the one and everything like that and I'm really worried because she never throws herself so completely into something like this and she's still not over Adam and if she makes a move on this guy, who knows what's gonna happen and maybe its all wrong, and maybe this shouldn't be going on and I don't want to see her hurt again and - "

"You're ranting." Christian told her when she finally stopped for a breath. Gabby shook her head, looking nervously at him.

"I'm just worried, that's all." He nodded in recognition.

"Maybe its good for her though…finding someone else…"

"But…he's mortal. What if they fall in love and he doesn't want to be changed? What if he's dying? What if - "

"Gabby, stop it. She's going to be fine. A little distraction may be a good thing…" He trailed off as she sighed again. "And you should support her anyway. It could just be a little infatuation." She smirked at the all too familiar thought.

"Like our silly little infatuation a very, very, very long time ago?" Christian smiled, shaking his head.

"Maybe, but a little more modern. Without the running away from a certain someone's father brandishing a long sword and his guards with crossbows. I don't think proper courtship is an issue anymore."

"Hey!" She interjected, jabbing her finger into his chest. "It's not my fault that you stole me. You were supposed to ask permission first."

"Oh, sure. 'Can I take your youngest daughter away and make her into a creature of the night with me?' That woulda went over famously."

"Okay, okay. Enough. Fun as it may be, the past is the past. I think we should really concentrate on the immediate future…" He raised his eyebrows at the suggestion.

"Which is?" Gabby rose, walking out of the kitchen, holding her hand out behind her, which he soon got up and grabbed.

"Well, it takes place in that bedroom, I know that much. But the rest is pretty much up to you…"

The swift closing of the door and faint sounds from within the bedroom drifted out to Heather, still sitting on the balcony where it overlooked the park, waiting for another glimpse of the blue and purple haired stranger that she knew was the one.

**********

Heather sighed as she got up from her seat on the balcony and walked in to the living room. She had heard their entire discussion and wished they wouldn't worry about her and make things so trivial all at the same time. Sometimes they acted like she wasn't even there. She stopped to write a note before leaving; not that she expected them to emerge from the bedroom before the next evening. She walked out the door and aimlessly down the sidewalk. It wasn't until she was there that Heather realised where she had been going. Somehow she had ended up at the same park where she had seen him a couple of times. A smile had crept across her face the night she saw him and his hair had gone from rainbow striped to blue and purple. It was almost as if he finally decided on two colours after trying them all. Every time she saw him, he had been sitting in the park or on a bench in town or in a coffee shop, always somewhere quiet, and he was writing or drawing. She didn't dare get close enough to see what he working on but she could sense a serene feeling in him. As soon as her mind came back to reality she looked up from her spot under a tree to see him walking by, leaving the park when he suddenly stopped to stare up at the sky. Making sure she was melted into the shadows, Heather stared and read his mind as she always did.

***********

Jeff turned around as a chill ran down his spine. He had been getting a strange feeling he was being watched lately, and almost every time there had been a girl standing there. She was always wearing black and had long black hair. At least he thought it was the same girl. He could never see her well but the odds against it being someone else weren't very high. Sometimes there was another girl with her dressed the same but with unnaturally bright red hair; And sometimes a guy with blonde hair was there too.. Lately though, he had noticed her alone, at odd hours like this. He didn't even turn around knowing she was somewhere around there. Knowing she had been following him. He wasn't scared; He sensed something different about her. Maybe she was what he had been waiting for. He shook his head and laughed out loud. Rubbing his eyes he checked to make sure he had all his art supplies.

"Okay Jeff you are really losing it now, maybe Becca was right. Immortality is for dreamers. And so be it if I am one. And now you are talking to yourself. Time to sleep before the cops pick you up and take you to the asylum." As he started off in the direction of home, he couldn't help but glance behind him. He saw a pair of eyes staring at him and smiled. He knew it was her. She had been staring at him the whole time. Maybe she would serve as a good distraction anyway, he thought, walking towards his house, his warm bed, to sleep away the day peacefully.

********

"Oh my god," Heather whispered as she ran home. She knew she couldn't tell Gabby and Christian till the next day, but was as excited to get home as a child was to wake up on Christmas morning.

Yawning and stretching, Gabby walked from the bedroom to the kitchen, greeted by the smell of fresh coffee, and a very happy looking Heather sitting at the kitchen table.

"Rough night?" Heather asked jokingly, pointing out Gabby's dishevelled red hair and obvious tired expression.

"Good night, you mean." She returned, attempting to tame her hair while shooting her friend a wicked grin that told all. "What about you? You get laid or something?"

"No! But this could directly influence that in the very near future." Heather's smile seemed to widen. "But we should wait for your beloved to drag his ass outta the shower before I say anything because this is very very important."

"Hmm…can I go get him then?"

"No, because then you won't get out for another hour."

"Well, quickies aren't fun all the time." Gabby pouted, sitting down at the table just as the shower went off. "Can I go get him now?"

"Absolutely not. Can't you calm your hormones for two seconds?"

"Can't you? Following that blue headed hottie around with lust filled eyes all night…God only knows what thoughts are going on in that sick little head of yours!" Heather shook her head and sighed, not losing her smile any.

"This isn't about my head, it's about what's in his." She took a deep breath as Gabby leaned over the table, eager to hear what was so important. "He wants to be immortal." Heather blurted out quickly in one breath, terribly excited. Gabby narrowed her eyes and sat back, trying to absorb it.

"That's…that's great Heather." She told her with almost false happiness. "I'm really happy for you. Really."

"No, you're not." Heather accused, somewhat astonished. "You don't look happy, you don't sound happy…" She trailed off as Christian came into view in the doorway, walking over to Gabby and wrapping his arms around her neck, whispering something in her ear that made her break into a small grin.

"See? She is happy." He kissed the top of her head, then rested his chin on it. "Now what's she happy about?" Heather took another deep breath, preparing herself again.

"That guy I've been following, I read his mind last night…and he was thinking about how he wanted immortality. He wants to be like us." She told him quietly, afraid the reaction Gabby gave her might play itself out with Christian, but it didn't.

"Wow." He exclaimed thoughtfully, a smile creeping across his face. "So you're going to do it?" She nodded excitedly.

"As soon as I introduce myself and bring him here to meet you guys and tell him just what he's getting into. Then we get to revive our weird little family."

"But its not the same." Gabby said quietly, stiffening in Christian's arms. "It's not going to be the same." Christian let go, opting to kneel beside the chair she was in.

"Gabby, no one said it would be, but - "

"Christian, you know what I want back. I want the happy family. The one where we were all content and Heather and Adam were still…" She broke off with a sigh, speaking his name quietly, never turning her head to see Heather's annoyed reaction. Christian glanced over briefly, then turned back to Gabby.

"Change happens, and we've all got to get used to this."

"And I'm not getting back with Adam. Never. Its that simple." Gabby sighed again, looking down at her lap.

"But, there's gotta be some way - ?"

"Gabriella Queida Rossellino, shut up." Christian scolded, looking at her seriously. "Just wait till Heather brings that guy home. You two are gonna be fighting over him." He tilted her chin up so their eyes met, and she had to smile, even against her will. "And you can share hair dye." He added thoughtfully.

"Alright…Just don't ever use my full name again, or a two weeks probation will follow." He rolled his eyes, then nodded over in Heather's direction. Gabby nodded back at him, then turned to face Heather. "You can kick me in the shins if you want. I'm really sorry. I'm just old and set in my ways. Plus, the senility is starting to creep in…" Heather shook her head with a smirk.

"Yeah yeah, I know you're old and stupid. Its alright. You're forgiven."

"I can feel the love." Christian remarked dryly, pulling out a chair and seating himself.

"Ya know, if you really wanna feel the love…" Gabby began, and Heather rose noisily.

"I'm going out. You two just don't quit." She grabbed her coat and started out the door.

"Bring me back someone nice to eat!" Gabby called after her, the response coming in the form of the door clicking shut. "I want a new hair colour. Think if I get purple and blue she'll pay attention to me again?" Christian looked boredly around the room, then settled his eyes back on her.

"Oh sorry. I wasn't paying attention to you. The bright, blinding red just didn't catch my eye enough. What were you saying?"

"I hate you." She leaned back in her chair, pouting. He shrugged.

"I can live with that."

"I'm leaving."

"You can't without a shower."

"But they're no fun alone." She whined, and the two bickered jokingly until they found themselves under the spray of warm water.

Outside, Heather roamed the park, shoving her hands in the pockets of her long black jacket, scanning the benches for him. Her soon to be companion. Very soon. She quickly spotted his coloured hair, and walked in his direction, taking a deep breath and holding it until she was sitting on the bench beside him.

Heather sat there looking down in silence. "You finally got the nerve to come up to me?" he asked quietly.

She smiled "Yeah I guess. Wait, how did..."

"I saw you."

"Oh, I'm sorry I have been following you."

"That's okay. I really don't mind. I'm Jeff by the way."

"I'm Heather."

"So why have you been following me?"

She laughed nervously. "Do you believe in love at first sight?" She looked up at him for the first time. It almost took her breath away to see him this close. He was as close to perfection as she could imagine.

"Definitely." His answer was serious as he stared deep in her eyes. "And there is definitely something ...different about you."

"You could say that." She fumbled in her mind for the words shaking away the memories of what Adam had said to her. They didn't apply and she didn't want to be distracted by her happier memories right now. "Jeff, if you could have anything, anything in the world, what would it be?"

"Immortality."

The quickness of his answer shocked her. He really did want it, and bad. "What would you give, what price would you honestly pay?"

"I'd do anything."

"Why?"

He took her hands and looked into her eyes. "Do you realise how much beauty there is on the earth, even right here in this town? How much things change while other things stay the same? It's the only way to experience everything. The only way to have no fear of anything. The only thing I couldn't stand it would be to be alone forever." His last sentence stung her. Adam has said the same thing before she decided to be changed. He didn't want to be alone. That's exactly where he was now, and it was her fault. NO, she told herself it was his, she had no choice. A few tears slid down her face. "What?"

She realised Jeff was holding her face wiping the tears away. She smiled and almost laughed feeling silly. "Nothing really, you just reminded me of something that happened a long time ago."

"I'm sorry."

"No, no don't be. It's perfectly okay! I have a question for you. What would you say if I told you I could make your wish come true?"

"Can you? Really?" She nodded. "What do I have to do?"

"I...I think you should come home with me, and meet my friends. I'll explain it there." He nodded and stood with her. She put a hand on his chest. "Why do you trust me?"

"I don't know. There's something that's telling me I should."

She sighed taking his hand and hoping he was making the right decision for HIM. She already loved him and didn't want to ever see him unhappy.

Heather stood outside the door listening a moment before opening it. She opened it a crack peeking her head in seeing the light on. "Gabby? Can we come in?"

"Yeah, we're in the living room!"

As soon as they walked in Christian stood up shaking hands with Jeff as they introduced themselves. A smile spread across Gabby's face. When she decided not to resist it she could see why Heather was in love. Christian was right, if she wasn't crazy for him they might have fought over Jeff. "Gabby," she looked up to see Heather speaking. "This is Jeff, Jeff this is Gabby."

"Nice to meet you," he said politely reaching for her hand. She shook his hand and smiled.

"Nice to meet you too."

Heather sighed knowing she was for real. "Okay, there's something I want to tell you." Jeff looked at her waiting. "We...we are vampires." There was nothing in his expression. "Gabby, Christian, and I, we are vampires."

"So you can do it?"

"Look, there are some things you need to know. It's not easy, at all." She sat down on the couch pulling him next to her. "The change isn't... easy. It is over quickly though. You cannot be in sunlight. You can only be killed by draining all your blood. Wooden objects only cause more damage, which takes more time to heal. The sunlight causes terrible burns that also take a long time to heal. You have to have blood to survive, but we keep it stored here. We don't want to hurt people. Only vampires that were cruel as humans are that way. We can have regular food. Damage done to the body after being changed is repaired. You can see in the dark. You are faster and stronger. You can read minds and send messages to other vampires. You can also sense if someone is vampire or human..."

He put a finger to her lips. "I told you...I'll do ANYTHING. As long as you promise not to leave me. I think I could stay with you for an eternity and never get bored."

She nodded dumbly. "Do you have any questions?"

"Yes, how are you all...related?"

"Well, Christian is Gabby's sire, and Christian's brother was my sire. Christian and Adam are brothers because the share the same sire."

"Where is Adam?"

"Home. I...I left him."

"Why?"

"It's kind of a long story."

"Tell me."

"I was living in Virginia during the Civil War. My father had just been killed and the rest of my family killed or kidnapped before then. I was alone, hiding in our house when someone burst in. He wasn't dressed as a soldier and told me he would rescue me. I thought I had met my prince. My knight in shining armour. But now I realise you are my sweet prince. But anyway, he took me away to the northern side and took care of me. After he realised I was falling madly for him he told me about what he was and asked me if I wanted to be the same. I told him yes. But he never changed. He was controlling which was acceptable and almost expected in the past. But I couldn't take it. I had almost left several times, but I finally left for good."

"Oh…I see."

After a while of silence Heather looked at Gabby and Christian worried. "Jeff? Are you okay?"

He nodded. "Change me, please."

"Let's go to my room."

She pulled him into her bedroom closing the door. "I have to know right now, are sure?"

"I have never been more sure of anything."

They sat together on the bed as she kissed him. "Lay down." She leaned over him brushing his hair back.

"Go ahead. I trust you."

She kissed his neck gently then touched her tongue to his skin. She felt him completely relax and took her opportunity. Slowly she pushed her fangs into his throat and heard him whimper. She drank carefully gauging his heartbeat. When she pulled back his face was deathly white and scared her. He barely moved his lips and whispered, "Please, don't let me die." She ripped into her wrist pressing it to his open lips. He drank hungrily until she pulled away. His eyes cleared and she moved away. Pain flickered across his face as the blood fused into his veins. She held his hand tightly until the change was complete. Lying down to rest she leaned her head on his chest.

"Sleep my sweet prince."

He smiled. "I thought you always got laid when you were changed."

She died laughing. "You'll get that later sweetheart don't worry. Sleep for now though. The sun should be up soon anyway."

Walking down the hall quietly with Christian on her heels, Gabby stopped at Heather's door, knocking lightly so she wouldn't wake anyone up, if either of them were actually sleeping. When she heard Heather quietly tell her to come in, she opened the door a crack and peered in, Christian looking over her shoulder.

"He's asleep." Heather whispered with a sigh, looking down at Jeff, contentedly slumbering next to her. "He's been sleeping all day." She lowered her hand to his head, softly stroking his hair, smiling when he stirred slightly then relaxed again.

"Think you did the right thing?" Gabby asked her, admiring her already visible affection for him. Heather nodded slowly.

"I know so. We just clicked, and it was like…" She paused, at a loss for words. "I know this time its gonna work out." Gabby nodded back at her.

"I know. Women's intuition." She tapped the side of her head with her index finger, smiling omnipotently.

Christian rolled his eyes. "Like girls are the only ones that know things."

"Are you going to wake him up?" Gabby asked ignoring Christian.

"No, I think I'll let him sleep."

"You going to stay here with him?"

"Yeah, where you guys going?"

"Just shopping. We won't be long."

"Well, we'll see you when you get home then."

Gabby and Christian left quietly shutting the door. Heather snuggled up to Jeff running her fingers through is bright hair. She sighed in contentment laying her head on his chest. After a few more minutes she felt his arms reach around her holding her tight. She glanced up and he let her back up a little. "Sleep well?" she asked.

"I think that's the best I have ever slept."

"Good," she smiled. "Now didn't you have a request last night?" He looked at her puzzled. "You mean you don't want to play any more?" She pouted like a child.

"Depends on what kind of playing you mean." He rolled over on top of her.

"I think you know what I mean."

********

Gabby and Christian walked into the door to hear squealing and laughing. "I think he's awake." Christian said receiving a "no shit" look from Gabby. They walked into the living room to see Heather and Jeff rolling on the floor, luckily fully clothed, fighting over the radio remote as a random boy band love song played.

"I am NOT listening to this shit!" Jeff laughed.

"But it's sweet!" she protested for about the millionth time.

"She's right," Gabby commented to Christian, "They are perfect for each other."

Jeff finally quit fighting and she stood up thinking she had victory until she realised the song was no longer playing and "Black" by Pearl Jam was now coming through the speakers. Jeff grabbed the remote turning it up and pulling her onto the couch in his lap. "Now that's music."

She smiled "Can this be our song?"

"Why?"

"Cause I really like it. And you said you love Pearl Jam?"

He shrugged. "That’s as good a reason as any."

Heather looked up just realising they had guests. "Oh hey guys. How was shopping?"

"Wasn't really anything great." Gabby answered still smiling. Maybe things will be okay like this, she thought. Christian grabbed her hand pulling her to the other side of the couch to sit with him. As everyone began talking, and they found out a little more about Jeff, Gabby was sure that as happy as everyone in the room was, nothing could ruin this family, they finally had it right.