A/N: Thank you all for reading! And a special thanks to Queen of War, lotusblossom, Mathwiz010, and princesstinkerbell45 for your reviews! Please continue reading and reviewing. And I'm sorry this chapter took so long. Working alot lately and finally had the time to sit down and just write.

Remember I have no Beta so all of the mistakes here are my own, be critical if you wish, just be gentle with the criticism! My muse and I do this for fun in our off time to unwind after work. And too many flames will make it too hot and uncomfortable at the writing desk for our liking. Thanks.


Henry was waiting for him in the lounge like he'd asked when Aidan finished talking to Suren. He was reclined back in one of the plush hotel armchairs looking, to anyone who didn't know better, like he was as relaxed as could be. But Aidan knew by the way he kept touching his temple, that he was nervous and worrying. In his anxiety, he was unconsciously reaching for the glasses that were no longer there, a nervous habit he still hadn't kicked from his human days.

Aidan had thought of buying him a pair with fake lenses once.

Eighty years ago.

An intense wave of guilt washed over him at the thought. He'd failed to keep one of his promises then. He'd chosen a woman he'd barely known and forsaken his progeny. He'd never forgiven himself for that.

But now?

Now he had the chance to make amends! He would not let it go to waste!

With a determined stride he closed the distance between them just as Henry glanced up to meet his gaze. A look of surprise in his grey-blue eyes.


Henry was so confused!

How had Aidan known he hadn't left? He'd backed up several feet from the door and had been as quiet as possible! Even by supernatural standards! How had he done it?

He pondered that for a while as he sat in the nearly empty lounge at the front of the hotel lobby.

Plus, he'd had those strange feelings again. It'd been so long since he'd last felt them that he'd all but forgotten about them. Having pushed them to the back of his mind when he couldn't figure them out.

Come to think of it. He hadn't felt these 'Ghost feelings' as he'd started calling them when he'd first felt them, since he'd left Boston eighty years ago.

They were strange. They felt faint at times and just as strong, if not stronger than his own feelings at times. But they had a sort of muffled, or muted quality to them. Like listening to a sound, or someone talking while you're under water. He wasn't sure what they where. All he knew is they weren't his own feelings. They were coming from somewhere… Someone, else.

Perhaps they were from…

No that couldn't be! Henry thought shaking himself mentally.

Aidan didn't seem the type to posses such feelings as the one constant among the ever changing jumble. That bright blinding light at the swirling center of the disjointed chaos that was all of the other feelings. It was warm and brilliant. Like the sun. Back before he'd been forced to leave Boston it was a source of comfort when he'd needed it. When ever he was upset, confused or worried about something he'd just focus on the Ghost Feelings and that gentle warmth would instantly soothe him.

Aidan had always taken his easy going attitude as a lack of maturity or caring. But in all actuality it was just so hard to worry about things with that particular feeling constantly washing over him.

He had sorely missed it in his years on the run.

But they were back now.

Which led him again to wonder at their source.

Not that I'll have time to find out once Suren gets her hands on me. He thought with a grimace.

He knew that even with Aidan willing to go to bat for him she would likely not back down on this issue.

Just as he knew that no matter what she said to the contrary, there was a very slim chance he'd walk away from his punishment. Even if Aidan could somehow manage to dissuade her from the whole skinning alive idea.

She'd just think up something worse.

Henry shuddered at the thought.

Not that you don't deserve it. You damned fool. He chided himself for what must have been the billionth time since that night so long ago.

Henry was pondering these thoughts when he felt the ghost feelings rising more prominently to the surface again.

Worry, doubt, and number of other feelings again swirling around that bright star of warmth at the center. A brief touch of amusement, then a crushing wave of guilt. Followed by unyielding resolve. He heard footsteps approaching then. He looked up in time to see Aidan striding towards him, his jaw set in a look of determination. As he got closer the feelings grew stronger.

Well I'll be damned! He thought with a great deal of shock and wonder.


She should have seen it years ago.

She felt so foolish now. Watching from the other side of the lobby as Aidan went to tell Henry the new agreement.

It was so obvious.

Well not to the two men apparently.

Suren almost laughed, though she felt more like crying at the moment. It was hard coming to terms with the fact that the only man you ever really loved, who you thought loved you in return, was never really in love with you at all. He'd always loved someone else. Had come so close to realizing it too. But he'd been forced into a rash decision, and made a mistake.

She wanted to hate him for it. To hate them both for it. But the truth was she couldn't. Because she did love Aidan. She had for a very long time. And when you love someone that much, for that long. All you really want is for them to be happy.

Even if you have to shove that happiness down their throat and force them to take it like medicine. Because they were do damned blind to see it on their own.

So that's what she was going to do.

This was not a punishment, this was just a firm helping hand. A forceful shove in the right direction to seeing the truth.

They may not understand now, but they would in time. And they would thank her for it eventually.