Author: yeknodelttil
Show: Young Dracula
Rating: K+
Genre: Romance
Pairing: Vlad/Erin
Disclaimer: I don't own Young Dracula. This is purely for the enjoyment of its fans, created by a fan.
Summary: SEQUEL TO HONESTY AND DECEPTION. The treaty has been dealt with but the worst isn't over for Vlad and Erin. When everyone has a different intent and convictions how will they know who they actually can trust? Vlad/Erin
A/N: Thank you to all those who read and reviewed the prequel 'Honesty and Deception' and that story's prequel 'Truth and Consequences'. I'm going to try and post two chapters everyday. I'm not sure if this fic will be the same length or slightly shorter.
For anyone who doesn't know the order of the stories is: Truth and Consequences, Honesty and Deception then Intent and Conviction.
All I have to say after today's episode…FANTASTIC! (Roll on next October!)
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Set less than a month after Honesty and DeceptionChapter 1: Exams
The school was mostly quiet, a few people lingered in the corridors unsure what to do as it wasn't even lunchtime yet.
It was about now that the final set of mock exams were in full swing; Vlad really didn't see the point of them. If they were going to be tested why not just give them the test and be done with it. All they ever did is let them know points they needed to improve that probably wouldn't even be in the main exam.
Vlad leaned against the lockers as he waited for Erin's home economics exam to finish. He loved her but Erin's place definitely wasn't the kitchen. Renfield had only just got the kitchen back in order after Erin's last attempt to cook, it didn't help she got distracted half way through and set fire to the fried egg. Unfortunately even Renfield's cooking was more edible than Erin's.
Vlad was lucky that due to the lack of ovens the kitchen had he'd done his exam the day before that left time to go over the paperwork that his 'job' (using the term lightly) created. The class had been divided into two groups according to their place in the register and as Erin was still going by her maiden name she missed out on being in his groups by two people, one of which was unfortunately Becky. Vlad had spent most of his exam trying to dodge her.
Almost in time with the school bell the home economics class door opened. It was amazing the effect lunchtime had on breathers as they all dashed out trying to make their way down to the dinner hall to try and beat the dinner cue. Vlad pressed himself even flatter against the lockers as the stampede threw themselves forwards before choosing a direction to go in.
Typically Erin was the last one out of the class, in a flash she'd pressed herself against him, her food tub containing what she'd just cooked in between them. He couldn't escape.
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"Aren't you going to try one?" Erin asked with a smile as she held the cherry scones out for Vlad. He eyed the plastic tub as if he were positive it was going to bite him. The smile on her face told him everything he needed to know; she was doing this on purpose.
Vlad narrowed his eyes at her challenge. Before gingerly placing his hand between the part of the lid Erin was holding and the tub that held the scones. Slowly he grasped one, the soft, crumbly texture surprising him at first and pulled it out.
Erin's eyes were full of hope as he slowly brought the scone closer to his mouth – it smelled okay. It smelled nice. He didn't want to upset her so he didn't close his eyes preparing for the wince of the utterly disgusting taste that would fill his mouth. He took a large enough bite for her, so she wouldn't think he was trying to taste as little as possible.
He took the first bite, the inside was still warm from the oven. He chewed, forcing his mouth and jaw to work.
It couldn't be.
There was no possible way that she…
It was good, really good. The crumbly texture, the gently subtle taste of the cherries, the softness of the scone. She must have bought them, he decided. Vlad winced as she hit him on the arm, she'd heard that – it made him wonder how loud he'd actually broadcast that thought. Her eyes narrowed playfully.
"They're great, Erin."
"See I'm getting better." She told him with a grin as he quickly finished off the scone. Vlad pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Just need to practice more."
"You're banned from the kitchen." He reminded her lightly, Erin really was taking on the responsibilities of a vampiric wife. Erin pulled the scones away, closing the lid firmly creating an airtight seal once again. Vlad gently cupped her cheeks, "Just because you're my…girlfriend." He quickly substituted remembering Tess was with her, "Doesn't mean I expect you to cook for me or them."
"Vlad…" Erin began she just didn't want anyone to say she didn't take her responsibilities as his wife seriously.
"Erin." One word was all it took, that tone was enough to make her agree. She hated cooking anyway.
"Fine." Vlad smiled before taking the scones from her.
Tess nodded to Vlad, he nodded back confused at what she was trying to say but then realised she wasn't nodding at him but at the thing behind him. He quickly moved away from the lockers so she could open hers.
Tess reached in trying to remove her books that she needed from the locker while trying to put her spare home economics things into her locker, not really succeeding.
"Can you hold these for me Erin?" Tess asked as she leaned into her locker.
Erin was to busy trying to dodge everyone in the corridor to really pay attention to what Becky was saying. "Sure." Vlad pulled her closer to him as she was jostled fiercely to the right by hungry year nines.
Three spherical objects were pushed into her hands, automatically she grabbed them. She clutched the tightly in case she dropped them when she was knocked.
Vlad's nose twitched at exactly the same time Erin shouted.
"OW!" She cried loudly dropping them quickly to the floor, Vlad hissed and kicked them down the corridor as hard as he could.
"Erin!" Tess cursed her friend, her hands on her hips.
Erin gritted her teeth feeling pain flood her, she only hoped Becky didn't notice the smoke, "Sorry I was knocked."
"You owe me three cloves of garlic."
Erin nodded, Vlad tried to look at Erin's hands but found she was cradling them proactively. "We'll just get you the money for them."
Before Tess could say anymore Vlad had guided Erin down the corridor and, when he was certain no one was looking, sped them both upstairs.
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Vlad quickly grabbed a jug of water and set it down on the table as he forced Erin to sit down. The young vampire held out his hand waiting expectantly for Erin to give him her hand. With a roll of her eyes Erin held out her hands gingerly for Vlad to take.
He let out a low gasp as he saw the damage to her hands. The burns were deep and would take a few hours to heal fully. Very slowly he pulled her ring from her ring finger (she still wasn't prepared to wear the wedding ring until she'd finished school), tucking it into his breast pocket for safekeeping. Carefully he cleaned the burns, hating every hiss he heard coming from her. Tess hadn't done it on purpose but it didn't help any. He should have been paying more attention, if he'd just smelled the garlic a second earlier…
"It's not your fault, I was the one who said I'd hold them Vlad."
"I should have smelled it sooner."
"Not everything that happens is your fault Vlad." Erin leaned forward to kiss his jaw, "At least I know what garlic feels like now." That was the wrong thing to say, judging from the way his eyes took on a hardness.
"Its not funny Erin."
Erin could tell he wanted to get every speck of dirt from the burns he didn't want her to be left with a scar like his on his arm.
"I think they're clean." She whispered to him and he nodded. "It doesn't even hurt." Her face must have been convincing because Vlad withdrew his hands. He handed her a pair of clear plastic gloves, Erin pulled a face at him. There was no way she was going to wear the gloves. Vlad wasn't going to budge on the topic.
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Erin walked downstairs with Vlad, she felt like a complete idiot wearing the gloves. She wanted to take them off the moment Vlad was out of sight, at least that was the plan. All too soon they found themselves outside the classroom, Erin had never seen Vlad this nervous not even at his coronation.
"Good luck." She whispered softly, leaning up to give him a quick kiss. Vlad gave her a shaky smile; this was the one topic he struggled with the most – The Battle of Trafalgar. "You'll be fine."
"Yeah." He sighed.
"Just remember 'kismet' not 'kiss me'." Erin told him firmly, "I don't care what Bertrand says but to breathers its kismet." Vlad snorted, she reached up with her still gloved hand and brushed his hair from his eyes.
Vlad went to walk into the room before remembering something. He dug his hand into his pocket before fishing out her engagement ring. Erin smiled as he gently removed her left glove, seeing her hands were in a much better condition he slid it onto her finger.
With that he walked into the room shutting the door behind him. Erin smiled as she could hear him in her head going over the facts he needed for the exam.
"How romantic!" A high-pitched squeal gushed. Erin winced before plastering a bright smile on her face.
Erin turned away and began to walk down the corridor, "Go away Becky."
The dark skinned beauty didn't really listen to Erin's order instead she skipped behind her. "Its amazing that you're still together really," Erin let out a groan, the record was about to begin again, "I mean usually boys are only after one thing…"
"You would know Becky." Erin snapped, she wasn't really in the mood to go over this with Becky – again. Becky smirked at rattling Erin. "Look I've got a headache, can we talk about Vlad later?" Erin asked, she knew Becky would find it hard to talk about something else but it was worth a try. Unfortunately she had to deal with her throughout art.
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The heavy door flew back almost ripping off its hinges. Everyone in the room jumped at the bang. Ingrid and Bertrand turned in their seats to see what the commotion was about, while the Count continued to read his paper completely pretending not to have heard anything at all.
An irate looking vampire stood in the middle of the room, his arms folded across his chest. His face held thunder, it was amazing that none was actually crackling in the background. He surveyed every single one of them in the room.
"I was in the middle of a history exam!" He was actually doing well, or so he thought until he'd been called out. Luckily it was only the mock exam and not the real thing otherwise Renfield would be cleaning up piles of ash by now.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Ingrid muttered before turning back to the book on her lap, Bertrand shook his head saying he hadn't called for him.
Vlad flew forward a few feet; he was forced to use his powers to brace himself before he completely righted himself. He managed only just to make to look like he'd glided forward to lean on the oak table.
The Count flicked his paper, "Its not like you can use the apples for anything."
"A-Levels." Four voices echoed at the same time, the exasperated tone in each one. No one could be sure if the Count was being sarcastic or simply not bothered by his son's education in the slightest. Ingrid knew it was her brother's attempt at clinging onto a normal life for as long as he possibly could.
Vlad shook his head before turning to his attacker. He stretched letting his back click back into place from being forced into an odd angle.
"Why did you call me?" Erin asked outright. Her arms were folded across her chest, a clear sign she was annoyed with him. Vlad shook his head, a little offended that she was blaming him, before realising Erin was addressing the Count who was surprised at his daughter-in-law's questioning.
Erin held out a note, "Announced to the entire class that 'Erin Count has a family emergency'." She handed him the piece of paper. "It took five minutes to convince them that someone had got my name wrong." Both of them were still under strict orders from Miss McCauley not to announce their marriage to anyone yet, after Laura Winchester they weren't sure what would happen if they found out.
"We didn't send for you, if you want to torture yourself with *A-Levels* then we'll gladly watch. Now if you don't mind my blood is getting warm."
"Then who…"
"I did." Judging from the way the Count jumped to his feet in fear Erin knew who ever had entered wasn't someone he really wanted to see.
Vlad turned and was the first one to plaster on an agreeable smile. "Gran."
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"Gran." Vlad greeted, she gave him a quick nod. Erin did a slightly curtsey in respect for her family's matriarch on Vlad's mother's side. Erin knew it should be the other way round but Atilla had accepted her into the family from the onset and she wanted it to remain that way.
"How are my favourite grandson and his wife?"
Vlad raised his eyebrows at the uncharacteristic compliment; usually the word 'favourite' was restricted to Ingrid. He smiled in disbelief before
"Fine thanks Gran…why are you here?"
Atilla wasn't going to mince her words, "A vampire has been slain."
TBC
A/N: Thanks for reading