A/N: Thankyou to all those who read and reviewed. You are all amazing. This is the 3rd chapter and it hopefully keeps the story moving forward. I have written up to chapter 7 but they are all rough right now. I'll try to post a chapter as I finish the next rough chapter. The action is not too far away.

I don't own anything *sad face*

Gran was asleep on the sofa when I finally dragged myself home. I double checked the locks on the doors and windows before making y way to her side. I glanced at the T.V. curious as to watch she had been watching so late. My Gran had the news on and judging the images on the screen things weren't going so well with the Vampires revealing themselves. Goth kids had been attacked, several bars and clubs, a 24 hour dry cleaners and a costume store of all things had been burnt to the ground. There were shots of fighting, grainy video phone evidence of vampires being staked all throughout Louisiana. The only place that there seemed to be no real trouble was New Orleans. Go Figure.

The shot changed from the studio to an elegant looking red head seated on an ivory brocade chair. She looked regal, almost. As I listened to her speaking about equality and there being no dangers to humans anymore I glanced at her name below. Sophie-Ann Le Clerq. She was in New Orleans.

When she began talking about the deaths of her kind and of how barbaric it was and of the cowardice these people were fighting in dozens against one vampire I knew there would be fighting in New Orleans by dawn.

There were clips from Texas and Arkansas and Mississisppi. They were all the same. Death and fire and blood and hate. There were mentions of the President in secret meetings and the army being called in to restore order.

I turned off the T.V.

Looking to my Gran preparing myself for waking her and answering her questions I realised her eyes are open looking at me, streaks of tears running down her cheeks. She hated this as much as I did. My Gran was one of the most loving people I have ever known. She didn't care who or what you were so long as you had good intentions.

The pair of us silently rose and I was ready to help my Gran up to bed when she turned right heading into the kitchen. I followed not really understanding. Slumping into a chair I watched my Gran putt this way and that and pull this out, turning that on. The more I watched the more my brain seemed to shut down. I sat resting my head on my hand, my elbow on the table hoping my Gran wouldn't chastise me for it. Staring out the back door I realised it wasn't dark anymore. Spinning in my seat to the clock on the wall I could have cried. It was five thirty in the morning. I had been awake for twenty four hours. The hours may have been the same length but those twenty four hours were the longest of my life and I was pretty sure it wasn't over yet.

Feeling the cup put into my head I clung onto it with both hands. I was chilled to the bone and looking down at the coffee I could see the liquid dancing as I shook. Was I in shock? I didn't feel like I was in shock. Did you know when you were in shock? The questions suddenly stopped as a plate of cookies came into sight. Gasping at my Gran as she scooped one up and took a bite before winking at me I felt my brain switch back on. Looking back to the plate I lifted a cookie staring at the oats as I scratched them with my thumbnail. I wasn't really hungry.

"What are we going to do Gran?"

"You're a Stackhouse. We do what we always do. " I nodded. I knew what she would say before she said it. It was simple but it's all we needed. Dig in your heels and get on with it. Can't go wrong with it but it didn't stop the fear creeping up the back of my neck.

"Do you think..."

"This town loves you. You are a member of this community just as much as everyone else." I wasn't sure if Gran was trying to convince herself or me. Maybe both. Maybe it only needed one of us to believe it for the two of us to stay strong.

With the bar closed for the day for repairs I had nothing to rush around for. Gran and I stood side by side making breakfast seamlessly passing eachother this and that. Breakfast was ready in no time and as we sat together our laden plates before us I told her about what happened at the bar, about what the good people of the town had done to someone, of what they had done to Sam's bar and about the two vampires that came at the end of the night.

To say she was shocked was an understatement. My Gran knew everyone in town. She grew up with their parents surrounded by their grandparents. As much as she wasn't a gossip she knew everything about everyone. She never once interferred where she wasn't welcome but everyone knew she would help if she could even if it was just with a glass of iced tea and an eager ear. If she couldn't help she certainly knew who could. If there was a town matriach she was it no matter what Maxine Fortenberry wanted.

When breakfast was eaten, the dishes washed and the leftovers put away we both resumed our chairs at the table. The silence was the most comforting thing I had felt since that message flicked up on the T.V. screen.

Gran always has something she could be doing and before too long she was up and out the door gardening tools in hand, off to weed and tend to her roses. I have my books but I know I won't be able to concentrate. I wander the rooms hoping to find something that will keep my mind occupied but there is nothing. The house is beyond clean. Between my Gran and myself very little gets left by the wayside. Creatures of habit I guess you could call us.

I settled on the hottest shower I could stand. I shaved, buffed, washed and conditioned every inch of my body twice. Letting the fluid motion of washing my tanned skin fill my mind I forgot about everything outside the shower curtain. The heady aroma of lavender teamed with the steady stream of steam left me in a relaxed state I didn't think I would ever get out of. Or at least I hoped. Alas all good things come to an end. In this case the hot water.

Emerging in the softest towel I could find I entered my room intent on covering my whole body with lotion. As I rubbed in the lotion I thought about the two vampires from the night before. They were calmer than I expected especially considering we had stood by and let one of their own be killed. Brutally. They almost looked like they couldn't care less.

I suddenly remembered the box in my trunk. Grumbling at the fact I had just had a shower and now needed to go digging in the graveyard I tossed on an old pair of jeans and a simple t and headed downstairs. Just to be safe I told my Gran where I was going. The smile she gave me made me warm inside. A small kind gesture for man who just tried to come home.

The cemetery was thankfully deserted. It would have been hard to come up with an excuse for being there to be honest.

I knew where the grave was. I've pretty much memorized the layout over the years. It was disturbing to walk over to it seeing the ground had been disturbed. A small part of me was worried someone or something had taken up residence there for the day but I figured maybe the man in the box had needed somewhere safe for the day.

The box thankfully wasnt that big so with the soil loose I had the box buried in no time. I kept my shields down hoping no one would come across me but wanting to know just in case. Forewarned is fore armed and all that. I was heading to my parent's graves when my head picked up something. It wasn't much, just a thought about no more vampires and then it was gone. I didn't recognise it but I did realise it was heading towards the cemetery away fro the old Compton place. I quickly tossed the shovel behind a memorial bench and dropped to my knees at my mother's grave moving around leaves and flowers as the mind got closer and closer.

Willing my heart to slow down I kept my head down and my hands moving as the person's footfalls stuttered before walking around me giving me a wide berth as they slipped into the trees humming the national anthem. It still wasn't familiar. Breathing deep at not being caught burying a dead man in his grave I stood brushing the dirt from my knees. The smell that filled my nose was very distinctive and very hard to miss were the large black clouds stretching into the sky from the Compton estate.

Cursing under my breath I turned and ran as fast as could back to the farmhouse hoping and praying the fire service could get there before the fire destroyed everything.