London

2013

The pavement was congested with pedestrians, suited workers swarming from their office buildings in one mass exodus to the pub. Loud tourists ambled past, cameras slung around their necks as they went in search of whatever landmark the guidebook recommended.

But two companions had interests that lay elsewhere. What held their attention was a nondescript building, new apartments that had been built during one regeneration or another.

"It used to be here, I think…." Hal paused.

The streets were just as narrow as he remembered but gone was the smell. Rats no longer scurried across the street and through the exposed drains. The bawdy calls from open doorways were lost to time; the spent women with easy smiles were no more.

"Looks like they built a Starbucks on it," Alex scratched the back of her head. "I don't suppose there's a plaque or something?"

"What, one of those blue ones? Formally the site of The Seven Bells, best stew in all South London?" Hal rejoined, barely hiding his amusement.

"Stew?" Alex questioned, her nose wrinkling in distaste. "Think there's something wrong if the first thing that comes to mind is stew when you visit a brothel."

Hal laughed, "Something to do with bath houses."

"Right," Alex nodded. "Should we go in? Get a commemorative mochaccino soya latte with extra cream and syrup?"

Hal swallowed, he was being confronted with the inexorable passage of time and for a moment he didn't think he could face up to the years he had long since buried.

"The river?" Hal offered instead. "I don't think I can…"

Noticing the man's discomfort Alex nodded, quickly grabbing his hand she pulled him in what she hoped was the right direction.

"You know, I have no idea where we're going."

"Turn left," Hal offered.

The streets were still familiar; there was something of his youth hidden amongst the bricks and mortar.

Hanging over the railings Alex couldn't help but smile. The sun was beginning its slow decent before disappearing beneath the horizon but the city was still enjoying its lingering heat. Glancing over towards Hal the girl squinted, the warm breeze buffeting her fringe into her eyes.

"Do you remember much from then?" Alex asked, wishing she could offer the solace Hal was seeking.

"It's not so much actual events, more feelings or general impressions." Hal leant ever so slightly against Alex's shoulder, the girl stiffened. Despite the loss of his vampirism, Hal was not one for casual embraces, something of 1955 remained in him.

"And your mother?"

"A whore…." Hal quickly replied. "Bessie, Clare or Kate or maybe Sally."

"You don't know?" Alex questioned incredulously. "You didn't know who your own mother was?"

Hal smiled ruefully, his hand drifting towards Alex's, "They all treated me as their own. Besides Mrs. Brown never failed to remind me I was lucky, I could have been drowned in the bathwater."

"Drowned?" Alex repeated, aghast.

"Most children born in the stews were killed. Who wants a whore with a baby?" Hal's shoulders tensed as if remembering a painful moment. "Bessie, Clare, Kate and Sally all looked after me. And I loved them in return as wholly and completely as I would have loved any mother. They always made sure I wouldn't see the men or the bruises some of them acquired – hitting wasn't outlawed, you just couldn't see the marks." Hal frowned, his thumb running distracted patterns across Alex's hand.

"But they loved you right? You were happy?" Alex questioned, a frown marring her features. For all her anger towards her mother, it was nothing like this. At least she had known her, felt like she belonged to someone, no matter how imperfect.

"Happy enough and for a while. But when I was older and began to understand, I had to leave. And I suppose bit by bit I began to lose parts of me. Plague pits and death, battlefields and tavern brawls, I had seen a lot by the time I reached Orsha."

"Is that where…" Alex tailed off; she was strangely reticent to mention Hal's recruitment.

"Where I should have died," Hal let out a suppressed sigh. "499 years ago."

"How did you stop yourself from getting bored… or going mad... or..." Alex reeled off the words quickly, before clamping her mouth shut.

"I found there was nothing more affective than ripping out someone's heart as means of distraction." Hal abruptly released his hold of Alex's hand, turning to face the river and away from the girl next to him he swallowed heavily. "It's been nearly 500 years since I was human, I don't know if I remember how to just be normal. My cravings were what defined me for centuries, and how I managed them became part of a strict regimen that was my life. Now I just don't know…"

"Hal, we don't know what kind of person you're going to be now, except I know you'll be as kind and generous and wonderful as you were before." Alex reached out and placed her hand on his shoulder, she could feel the muscles across his back twist before they slowly relaxed, easing into her touch. "Ever since my Mum left I always thought of myself in the context of my family, I know its not quite five centuries but we're all trying to figure it out. Together."

Hal's fingers wrapped around Alex's, prizing her hand from his shoulder he turned to face her. Brushing the flyway hair from out of her face Hal smiled, before pulling the girl towards him and wrapping her in an embrace.

"Promise?" Hal whispered, aware of how much he sounded like a child.

"I promise we'll find out what 'normal' is together."

A/N: The followup some people were asking about. Hope you enjoyed it!

Also thanks to yasmina9 for reviewing (I couldn't PM you to say as much).