A/N: Hello, fellow nerds! So, yes, I've decided to write more. I couldn't help it. I hope you like what I've got in store for this chapter. Heads up, I'm probably not going to follow what's been happening within the show, such as the dialogue, but might borrow some ideas later. Anyway, enough of my rambling. Enjoy & please review!


Lucy Westenra watched as her breath drifted from her own lips toward the sky. It was freezing outside, colder than anyone could have anticipated. Usually cold for this time of year, in fact. She wrung her hands together inside the mink-lined coat she wore, shivering vigorously and wondering how she mustered up the courage to follow through with the instructions detailed to her in a card attached to a bouquet of red poppies. She had only seen red poppies given in times of memorial, popular among families whose sons have gone to fight in wars. Never had she seen someone send red poppies as just a gift. It brought out such deep curiosity that Lucy was unable to refrain from sending a letter stating she would attend Lady Jayne's invitation to tea the following evening.

It gave Lucy enough time to pull herself together. After Mina left, she crumbled again. She drank the rest of the sinful liquor, putting herself into a deep sleep. The first sleep without nightmares. Lucy expected a hangover, but was incredibly relived when she instead felt rejuvenated. She decided to eat, a bit forced, but her mother praised her for it. She bathed for a long while, and even was able to go for a walk in the park before returning home to prepare to go to Lady Jayne's. She chose to wear dark purple gown, one of her more simple outfits, feeling her usual pink was too bright for her darkened state of mind.

So, there she stood, in the biting cold waiting on the doorstep of the mysterious Lady Jayne. She was about to turn away when the door creaked open loudly, jolting her nerves slightly, a grey-haired maid gestured her inside. Lucy thanked the elderly woman as she followed her into the library. There, a small table was decorated with tea settings and little treats and fruits. Lucy gently sat on the velvet couch that faced the fireplace, a greatly decorated stone structure glowing with the warmness of fire within it. Lucy held her hands out slightly, desperate to feel the heat in front of her.

Lucy looked around the room while warming her hands. It was a fantastic room, books from the floor to the ceiling and all around. It was rare for anyone to believe Lucy to be a bright young lady, however she loved to read. Her favorite room in anyone's house was always the library. Lucy felt disappointed when no one took her seriously, their faces housed expressions of shock and surprise whenever she mentioned her reading list. In fact, the only person who didn't have this reaction usually included her parents, who bought her any book she asked for, and her dearest Mina.

The blonde was brought out of her thoughts when a light clacking sounded through the halls and enclosing on the library. Lucy turned in time to see Lady Jayne at the doorway as she entered, shutting them behind her. "Miss Westenra, it is so wonderful to see you! Thank you for coming," the older woman purred, joining Lucy on the couch. She wore a dark red dress, with little white and black pearl beading on the top. She leaned forward to kiss Lucy on each cheek, then relaxing back into her previous position.

"Thank you for the invitation, Lady Wetherby, your library is absolutely beautiful," Lucy complimented with a smile.

"Please, enough of the formalities, call me Jayne," the older woman corrected.

Lucy blushed slightly, "Then, I insist on you calling me Lucy."

"Lucy," Lady Jayne said softly, liking how it sounded on her tongue. "Yes, Lucy, I suppose you're wondering why I called you here?"

The young blonde squirmed in her seat, knowing where this conversation was headed. She just didn't expect Lady Jayne to be so forward with it. "I-I was wondering, yes."

"Well, it is a pleasure to have your company again, Lucy. I see us becoming great friends. But, I must admit to an ulterior motive," Lady Jayne confessed while fixing herself a cup of tea. "The other day, the first day I invited you for tea, we spoke about Miss Murray?" Lucy simply nodded, willing herself not to cry. It was tough enough having to deal with Mina's rejection, but even tougher having to admit it out loud to another individual. "I was wondering, if you've acted and spoken of your true feelings? To Miss Murray?"

Lucy swallowed thickly, her eyes downcast at the tea and saucer Lady Jayne had given her. Her voice shaky, she responded solemnly, "I did. An-and it did not fair well with Mina... She rejected me."

Lady Jayne sighed deeply, feeling genuinely sorry for the younger girl, but just for a moment. "Oh, dear, I'm terribly sorry. Some people are just not mature enough to understand the complexities of the human sexuality and emotion. It's horribly awful actually, those types of people just prefer to remain ignorant, and in my personal opinion, rather closed-minded and dull. Such a bore, honestly-"

"Mina's not a bore," Lucy defended weakly, willing her tears away as she drank from her tea cup.

"Oh, Lucy, I did not mean to offend. I simply meant that others are more... congruent in their ways. People like you and I, have a broader sense of what's what in the world. Our thinking is not less rational, but more revolutionary in certain aspects. It's nothing to feel burdened upon, I much prefer the company of right-brained thinkers. Far more interesting, I believe," Lady Jayne paused, sipping on her tea and deciphering the expression on Lucy's face. "My words are of minimal comfort, are they?"

Lucy's eyes shot upwards, fearing she'd offended the Lady. "No, no, your words are just new. I-I've never thought about myself in that way."

"You're different, dear, but that doesn't make you a monster. Don't treat yourself like it," Lady Jayne reminded the young girl, helping herself to a small dish of blackberries. "Now, back to Ms. Murray - unless you wish to not speak of it?"

The blonde sighed lightly, semi-reluctant to carry on with their conversation. She shrugged her shoulders, "No, I suppose it would be healthy for me to discuss what happened."

"Very good, very mature, my dear. Have you spoken since your confession?"

"Yes, yesterday, actually. It was awful."

"How so?" Jayne asked politely, offering berries to the blonde, who graciously ate them as she recanted the details of the day before. Lady Jayne listened intently, nodding her head every once in a while to encourage the younger girl. After she finished, Lady Jayne patted her hand gently. "That does sound unbearably awful."

"I just don't understand how Mina could possibly think we could maintain our friendship, after all this, it would be far too uncomfortable!" The blonde whined.

"Did you explain that to her?"

Lucy groaned slightly, "Yes, in every way I could. She kept saying how she would rather have tension between us than not have me in her life at all, and I just don't believe my heart could bear it. Especially, when her and Harker are to wed in the future. I cannot keep pretending, not like her."

"Oh, my dear. You are correct, you can't pretend. And you shouldn't. But, I must confess, I have had my own experiences with unrequited love and-"

"You have? How? You're so smart, beautiful... I couldn't imagine anyone rejecting you," Lucy flattered, a lost look on her face.

Lady Jayne couldn't help but laugh lightly, "Lucy, there will always be something you want, someone you want, and fate can be such a cruel mistress in denying us these desires. But, we must not dwell on them for long. We remember the pain, not dwell in it, but remember it, and use that memory to protect yourself in future relations. You use the pain to remind you to be your own knight in shining armor, do you understand?"

Lucy was enthralled by Jayne's wisdom. She never understood why the town gossiped about the blonde woman, for every word that flowed from her mouth offered Lucy nothing guidance and reassurance. The younger woman nodded her head in understanding, "That's what the poppies meant."

The older woman smiled graciously, and tapped her nose. "You are a quick-witted girl, love," the compliment turning Lucy's cheeks a tinted pink. Lady Jayne thought carefully for a moment before speaking once more. "Pain is never an easy horse to ride, but there are ways to tame the beast. Control it, and use it as you need. And what used to bring about lightness in my darkest times was a bit of a good time," Lady Jayne grinned teasingly. "Sweetheart, what you need is some distraction. You need to forget about Mina, Harker, all of that and just live. Wealthy women like you and I can afford to have a little fun, can't we?"

A smile tugged at Lucy's pink lips, "What do you propose?"


Mina tried focusing in Professor Van Helsing's class, but her mind kept drifting. Mostly to Lucy, but every now and then, Jonathon or even Alexander Grayson would come across her mind, torturing her really. She chewed on the end of her pencil, attempting her channel her 'concentration face' as Dr. Van Helsing spoke about the complexities of the circulatory system.

The heart.

What a strange organ it was, Mina wondered to herself. She wondered how this organ, this heart, became of such importance in a metaphorical sense. Why was it the heart that housed someone's soul? Why not the liver or the kidney? Surely those organs as just as important to the functioning of a human being as the heart. And the brain, perhaps more important. Why did humans choose the heart to be the symbol of love? There were so many words that reflected the heart's importance in the world. Heartfelt. Heartwarming. Heartthrob. Heartbeat. Heartbreak. Heartache.

All this heart thought began to ache Mina's other vital organ, her brain. If her brain was forming the thoughts surrounding her wonder at the origins of the heart, then what the hell did the heart actually do? Were feelings and thoughts so vastly different that we've somehow separated them into brain-thoughts and heart-feelings? And if that was the case, is that what they meant when they said "follow your heart"? What was Mina's heart trying to tell her?

"Miss Murray? Am I interrupting you?" Professor Van Helsing's voice boomed, tearing the brunette out of her day dreams.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Y-yes, that would be the circumflex branch of the left coronary artery that supplies left atrium and the backside of the left ventricle," Mina said smartly, not looking once at her notes.

"Ah, so you were paying attention? Good. As I was saying, the circumflex branch," Professor Van Helsing drawled on, leaving Mina to let her mind wander again. She figured, being called on once, she was safe for the rest of the lecture.

Mina finally decided upon the heart-word that she felt suited her feelings: heartbroken. She had been lying to herself the past few days since she last saw Lucy at the Westenra estate. She had drilled into her own brain-thoughts that she was fine. That everything between them would eventually, with time, return to normal. Lucy would have some sort of revelation that her feelings were just a phase, a silly crush, and eventually marry Alastair or whomever. Mina would be at the blonde's side, and desperately tried to picture herself there. But, every time Mina put herself at Lucy's side, a bridesmaid, watching as Lucy vowed her love to some man,but Mina felt her heart crack a little bit more. And it frightened her.

Why would she - why should care? Perhaps, Mina just wanted Lucy to be happy. Maybe, with a man, Lucy could never be happy and that despaired Mina ever so much. She remembered during their last conversation, admitting to wishing she could make Lucy happy. And, although being said in the heat of the moment, Mina realized she really did wish that. She wished, somehow, she could be the one to provide Lucy with the comfort, love, and affection the blonde so desired. Unfortunately, the thought of going about doing that always ended in the same conclusion. Impossibility.

Two grueling hours later, Mina sulked out of the classroom, thankful her day was finally over. With every passing moment, Lucy became a more and more prominent thought in her rushing brain. There was something she felt, something bittersweet that should couldn't name. She felt remorseful, disappointed in herself, and a lot of sadness, but on the other hand, there was a tiny bit of lightness she felt. And if she was being honest with herself, she began to think the lightness made its moment's appearance only when Lucy crossed her thoughts. Odd.

Unable to continue her day without hearing from Lucy, she made her way across town to the Westenra estate. She nervously waited at the front door after knocking for what seemed like a decade. Finally, the old wooden door creaked open and Marie, the maid, greeted Mina, ushering her in from the cold. "Good afternoon, Miss Murray. What can I assist you with?"

"Afternoon Marie, I just came by to see Lucy?"

"Oh, that is so kind of you. Miss Lucy is doing... so well as of lately, it is so nice to see a smile again on her face. However, she went out last night and has yet to return home." Marie replied gently, although a flash of worry transcended her features.

Mina knit her brow together. Mina was the only person Lucy actually enjoyed going out with, the blonde merely tolerated others. "Whom has she been with? Why didn't she come home?"

Marie sighed frustratingly, her hands clasped tightly together. "Well, Miss Murray, I do not permit gossip, but you are Miss Lucy's oldest, dearest friend. I am overjoyed the depression has left her... However, she has been spending time with Lady Wetherby. Do you know of her?" Mina nodded in response. "That's where our dear Lucy has been. She seems to be enjoying herself, but... Oh, well, never mind me-"

"No, please, Marie, speak your mind?" Mina pleaded gently.

Marie shifted on the balls of her feet, hoping the gossip wouldn't come back to bite her. "I don't know if I entirely trust that woman with our Lucy dear. A cousin of mine works at the Wetherby estate, and I've heard some rather odd things from her-"

"Like what?" Mina asked. Marie bit her lip in apprehension. "Marie, I promise I would say anything to anyone. And besides, if Lucy's fraternizing with persons of questionable character, then I should know. As you said, I am her oldest and dearest friend."

"I don't know of details, but there are rumors... Late nights, secretive meetings. My cousin told me the Lady keeps an entire armory in her quarters. And there are a lot of midnight visitors, and the likes. Things I wouldn't think a lady to be interested in, if you ask me."

Mina's jaw dropped just slightly. She knew the Lady Jayne was a sort of mysterious figure in their world, but that did not sound like the type of person Lucy would find company in, especially someone who was older, practically widowed, and honestly gave Mina the chills the few times she met her acquaintance. "Yes, I completely agree with you. It doesn't seem like Lucy to be around all that. Regardless-"

Marie and Mina turned when they heard the door open and slam roughly, a slightly disheveled Lucy stepping through the door. "Mina?"

"Lucy!" Mina smiled unconsciously, but then regained her posture. "I was just stopping by to check on you."

Lucy handed her coat to Marie absentmindedly, "I don't need you to check in on me." She walked past Mina, heading upstairs to her bedroom. "Marie, draw me a bath, will you? Put some of that lavender oil in it, and some tea please, I'm disgustingly thirsty!"

Mina glanced at Marie, who just sighed heavily and left to the get the bath started. Mina followed Lucy to her bedroom, determined to get details from Lucy regarding her whereabouts. She pushed open Lucy's ajar door and opened her mouth to speak but stopped short.

Lucy had torn off her dress, and was standing in her slip in front of the mirror, leaving little to the imagination. She stared at herself vainly, ignoring Mina's presence completely, which infuriated the brunette. "Lu-Lucy, I haven't seen you in days-"

"And?" Lucy replied nonchalantly, removing the pins from her messy hair, the golden curls falling down in waves down her back.

The medical student's brow knitted on her face, her eyes narrowing. "And, you're my best friend? I care about you? Especially since you've decided gallivanting around with the town's most abhorring crowd-"

The blonde spun around quickly, "Excuse me? Abhorring- To whom are you speaking about?" Lucy questioned, "Actually, you know what, I don't care. You're not my mother, you're not my...," Lucy paused momentarily, the word lover almost slipping from her lips. "You can't tell me what to do and whom to surround myself with."

"Why are you acting this way? Are you still inebriated from the previous night's misadventures?" Mina teased cruelly.

Lucy let out a loud sarcastic laugh. "Misadventures.. Ha, yes, Mina, something like that... Or perhaps a bit more," Lucy unconsciously lied. Truth be told, it filled Lucy's heart with glee hearing the concerned laced between Mina's somewhat harsh statements. But, the immature child in her wondered how much she could push the brunette to care; spite, confusion, and desperation forming her words.

"'A bit more?' What do you mean, a bit more?" Mina pressed on, following as Lucy disappearing into the bathroom.

Lucy sidled up to the large bathtub, the water smelling absolutely heavenly and so warm against her hand. "It's not polite to watch people bathe."

Mina groaned. "Stop changing the subject... Lucy, what have you been up to? Do I even want to know?"

"If you have to ask, then no," Lucy replied coolly, looking over her shoulder at the form that stood in her doorway. "No point in letting the water run cold," Lucy said allowed as she began to undress.

Mina felt her face flush. Yes, she and Lucy has seen each other nude on several occasions, but things were... different now. She dropped her gaze to the ground, her mouth suddenly dry. She swallowed hard, and she didn't want to recognize the surprisingly agonizing feeling she felt in her chest. A feeling that told her to look up. Only semi-reluctantly, she did, her mouth dropping slightly at the sight.

It only lasted a mere second, but Mina watched as Lucy's nude form slipped into the tub, her hands steadying her on the tub's rim. Lucy had continued to have her back towards Mina, unknowingly giving Mina a good glance at her behind. And in this moment, the brunette saw something that stood out more than Lucy's blatant nudity. A medium-sized welt, extending from her lower right hip onto the middle of her butt cheek. "What in God's name happened?" Mina shouted before she could stop herself.

Lucy, who has already descended into the tub, turned around with a confused look on her face. "Are you mad? Mother is napping, she will be infuriated if she hears your loud mouth!" she scolded.

Mina marched to the tub's edge, her hands on her hips, reminding herself to only stare at Lucy's face and not the enticing form that lingered beneath the rippling water. "Stand up; you have a mark."

"I'm not standing up, I'll freeze! And besides, it's nothing. It doesn't hurt," Lucy dismissed with a wave of her hand.

"Get up."

Lucy raised her brow, the look on Mina's face was pure annoyance and frustration, but a smidgen of concern somewhere in there too. "Are you going to make me, Dr. Murray?"

"You may challenge me, Lucy, but I know you will not challenge your mother and father," Mina said through tight lips. "Stand. Up."

"You don't play fair, Dr. Murray," Lucy groaned, as she kneeled in the tub. Standing wasn't required, Mina could examine the welt from this angle. "See? Nothing, not a problem-"

"How did you get this?" Mina demanded, her voice stern. She almost knew the answer, but wasn't ready to believe it. The welt wasn't just a mark. It had a pattern to it. It was a square with rounded edges, five small linear marks about two inches in length extending from the edges. It was a hand print. "Who did this?" She reached forward automatically, but before her fingers could graze the pale, smooth skin of Lucy's backside, the blonde jerked away.

"Don't touch me," Lucy spat. "I went to a tavern last night. Some of the men there had more than their fair share of liquor. Some of them... got a little on the bold side, but you should see the mark I left on him," Lucy laughed lightly. "Right between the eyes," she whispered through a smile, showing Mina her bare right hand. It had small dots of dried blood on the knuckles.

Mina could only help but laugh lightly. Lucy, despite her very proper upbringing, always held her own. In grade school, she had protected Mina against many school yard bullies, often resulting in childish fist fights. "Lucy, dear, you haven't changed since we were little."

Lucy forced a sad smile at the comment, "If only that were true, Mina."

"It is true," Mina said kindly, crouching down beside the tub. She ran her hand, tentatively, over Lucy's hand that rest on the rim of the tub. It was warm, wet, and so familiar. Mina did love Jonathon, despite his flaws, but she always knew her and Lucy had felt a special connection. A connection she had never experienced with another woman, girl, or man. She chalked it up to being the deepest, sincerest form of friendship. Now... even her own, generally sound, judgment questioned that. "You're still the brave, loyal, loving, and indescribably fun girl I met in grade school. Lucy, nothing, I mean nothing, could ever change that."

Lucy rolled her eyes, scoffing aloud. "Mina, stop pretending that everything is just peachy! It isn't! Things are different! We are different!"

"We don't have to be!" Mina cried out, her lip beginning to tremble. "I still care about you..."

The blonde bit her lip, uncomfortable with carrying on with this conversation while still in the bath. "Hand me my robe, please," she asked softy. The brunette did so, without words, turning her back so Lucy could step out without having to overly guard her nudity. "Mina, I appreciate your concern, but honestly, these last few days have been utterly joyful. I've been living without care, and without having to have to care. I know the rumors that surround Jayne, but they aren't true, I promise that," Lucy confided (although naively). She stepped lightly over to her vanity, sitting down on the cushioned bench. She ran her hands through her damp blonde hair, the familiar hurt, empty feeling growing again in the pit of her stomach.

Mina fidgeted in the corner, unsure what to say or do. So, she said the only thing that she felt made sense. "You're my soul mate."

Lucy's heart clenched in her chest. Years ago, when they were practically children, Lucy and Mina decided they were each other's soul mates. Of course, this pact occurred before Lucy's newly developing love and was meant to be completely platonic, but regardless, it was something the two friends had always remembered, upheld and cherished. So, normally, these sweet words escaping Mina's mouth would fill Lucy's heart to the brim with warmth and love, but hearing them now felt false, like a sugar-coated lie Mina forced herself to believe in. "We know that cannot possibly be true-"

"It is true!" Mina shouted again, her face slightly pink and her eyes filled with tears. "When are you going to stop punishing me for what happened?! I'm sorry, Lucy, I'm so dreadfully sorry! There isn't a minute that passes that I don't think of you and how awfully I treated you!" Expecting Lucy to lash out, Mina paused, awaiting an answer. But, she didn't receive one. Lucy just sat still, her hands wringing together in her lap, her eyes downcast to the floor. Mina felt tears fall at the site of her poor friend, her heart ached for her. She made her way in front of Lucy, dropping to her knees in front of the blonde. "Lucy, please, look at me!"

Lucy did, reluctantly so. An overwhelming sadness cast upon her beautiful, delicate features. It broke Mina all over again. She just wanted Lucy to be happy. She wanted to see the smile on her lips, the enchanting sound of her laughter floating throughout the room. The sparkle she loved so much was disappeared from Lucy's eyes, darkness and dullness taking its place. Mina was desperate to make her happy. Just confusingly, achingly desperate. Unable to string together a rational thought or verbalize a comforting sentence, Mina just reacted to what her heart begged her to do.

Lucy jolted at the feeling of Mina's lips upon her own. She felt the soft sensation of Mina's small hands on her neck and face, gently forcing Lucy to remain close. For a moment, Lucy's mind wondered how something so unbelievably, indescribably pleasant could make her feel so lost and full of despair. It was a contradiction Lucy had never thought to exist. The persistence in Mina caused her lips to press firmly and fully against the blonde's lips, and elicited a small sound from Lucy.

Mina pulled away for a tenth of a second, their lips barely touching, their contrasting eyes boring into one another's. She closed her eyes and didn't waste a moment in pressing her lips again to Lucy's with a fervor she rarely ever displayed to Jonathon. The brunette tentatively brushed her tongue against the blonde's lower lip, seeking to deepen their kiss but suddenly felt a chill as Lucy's lips left her own.

Lucy shot up, her hand over her mouth and shaking slightly. In her sudden ascent, she bumped into the kneeling Mina, knocking her over backward to the ground. The blonde could feel a fiery anger build within her. "How-how could you?!" She yelled frantically, her chest heaving.

"I-I thought-" Mina began, her own head starting to swirl. She struggled to get up from the ground, gripping onto the tub for support.

"No, you didn't think! How could you do that to me! Do you think this is a game?!" Lucy roared, completely offended, unaware of the confusion that had plagued Mina the past couple days.

The soon-to-be doctor stood, shakily, her cheeks reddened with humiliation. "I'm sorry, Lucy... I'm sorry- I-I have to- I must go-"

Lucy let out a hearty laugh, her tone laced with sarcasm and disgust. "Go ahead! Leave! It's what you do best, darling!" She gracefully pointed to the door, her face showing little emotion, despite her trembling figure.

Mina did as she was told, the repercussions of her act sinking further in by the second. She hastily ran downstairs, attempting to hold back any loose tears, tearing her coat from the rack and slamming the front door as she stepped through it.

Upon hearing the door slam shut, practically shaking the house as it did, Lucy collapsed to the floor. She screamed into her robe, the fabric bundled tightly between her fingers. Tears ran down her pale cheeks as sobs wracked her small frame. Countless days and nights Lucy Westenra wished to feel Mina Murray's soft, pink lips upon her own. She was so desperate for Mina's touch, her love and affection... It wasn't until this dreadful, bittersweet moment she wished she hadn't wished for any of it.


A/N: What'dya think?! Bad? Good? Spectacular? Well, lemme know by reviewing! And following! I love that kinda thing ;)

Also, I hope I've made it kinda clear that Mina's slowly (and painfully) discovering some hidden feelings of her own, if ya catch my drift. She's insanely confused about her thoughts, actions, and feelings towards Lucy (now that Lucy's hanging out with a different crowd and not so prevalent in her life). Lucy is mostly just hurt, and now on the defense, overly protecting herself from her long-time friend, interested in exploring a new lifestyle. If you didn't get that vibe, then I must suck. But, if you did, then tell me whatcha think! As always, feel free to review, follow, or PM if you're bold! Until next time!