Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters in this story except for Paris/Blathnaid (which is pronounced 'Blaw – nid', for those of you who no speaky Irish!)

Thanks to every one who read the story and a huge thanks to Wolfseeker who is my one and only reviewer! They are very motivational reviews though, thanks! Its much easier to write when you know someone is reading it! Please take the time to review and recommend! Enjoy.

CHAPTER 4

Vancha's bulky body went stiff with shock and his jaw dropped. For a moment he was still and just looked at her without saying a word. She let go of his hand, sat herself up on the bed and looked him up and down with an inquisitive expression.

"You've been hanging around here for a while sir." she stated calmly.

"How…how did you know that" he replied weakly.

"The dog gave me a few hints… and I've heard you come in every night for more than a week. You should be more careful, if it had been anyone else but me you could have found yourself in a mess. " She chided

Vancha nodded absentmindedly, shocked that she didn't scream or react on seeing a stranger in her house. "You don't even seem afraid of me". he said whilst gesturing to his animal skins.

She laughed out loud and the dog emerged from under the duvet wagging his tail.

"Ha Ha, why would I be afraid of you when you do nothing but talk to me and tuck me in! I'm fairly sure you kissed me on the forehead last night! I'm not normally so presumptuous but I'm certain you don't mean to harm me even if you do look like a cave man!" she said through her smile.

Vancha had to laugh at that. "I suppose you have a point", he added.

"So…what's your name?" she enquired.

"Vancha….March." he said and he smiled when she reached out her hand to shake his.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Blathnaid Ryan", she said pleasantly.

For a moment nothing was said. Vancha felt uncomfortable as she gazed at him. She carefully studied his face and frowned. She then took in his animal hides and she paused when she saw his fingertips.

"And it seems Mr. March is a vampire…am I right" she said coolly.

"You know about us?" ha gasped.

She smiled softly, "Not all of us are ignorant of the creatures of the night. I know a bit about your kind but not much. What I'm interested in, is you. You have an agenda here. And that agenda has something to do with me, right?"

He nodded. "Yes, but it sounds crazy. You will never believe me", he said.

"Try me" she pried.

Vancha looked at her uneasily for a moment. She had a pleasant peaceful manner but he didn't know how she would react to the bombshell he was about to drop. He bowed his head and studied his hands. He wasn't sure if he should tell her that he was her father. She seemed to have a happy life and surely his revelation would destroy it for her.

He tried to speak but the right words seemed to evade him and he got no further that opening and closing his mouth. When he looked back up at her face she looked pensive.

"Vancha can I show you something?" she asked softly.

"Yes, of course", he replied.

She rose from the bed and crossed the room to a chest of drawers. She opened the bottom one and rummaged around in it for a moment. He watched her pull out a large sketchbook with some difficulty. She stood again and walked towards him whilst flicking through it. She sat across from him on the bed and after a few seconds paused on a page. She looked from the page to his face a number of times before she handed the book to him. Vancha gasped as he looked at the figure in the book.

"Is it that awful" she said with a strained laugh.

The drawing was quite good and worked in ink. There was no mistaking the animal hides and his eyes were drawn with considerable skill.

"This is me!" he exclaimed.

She nodded in response.

"I've had dreams of you for as long as I can remember. I'm always so content when I see you in them. I can't explain it," she said.

She leaned forward until their faces were inches apart and she took his rough hand in hers.

"But you can explain it. You must tell me why you're here, Vancha. I won't doubt the word of a vampire no matter how incredible your story is".

Vancha nodded and she squeezed his hand encouragingly.

"Ok" he said. "It all started over nineteen years ago…"

He retold the entire story. He told her of the War of the Scars and the aftermath. He told her about Evanna and how she had decided that he would be the Father of one of her children. How Evanna had sent them away to lead normal human lives. He explained how he had spent 18 lonely, desolate years in Vampire Mountain waiting to bring his child home. She remained quiet throughout, taking it all in, asking no questions.

When he finished, there was an uneasy silence in the room and her eyes were filled with tears.

"Was your baby a girl?" she asked him.

Vancha felt his own eyes sting with tears as he answered her with yet another nod of the head.

"You were that baby Blathnaid…You are my daughter," he said through broken sobs.

He buried his face in his hands and she immediately arose and hugged him.

"I believe you" she whispered into his nest of hair. "I mean, where else would I have gotten a nose like this", she jeered.

At that home truth, Vancha's tears subsided and he erupted into laughter with his teary eyed daughter. She let go of him and sat in front of him again. He brushed a few loose strands of hair from her wet face, tenderly.

"So…what happens next?" she asked.

"You leave here and come with me", he said simply.

She looked pensive for a while and gazed around the room.

"I never really felt at home here you know. I always felt like a bit of a lost lamb, never got along with my family particularly well either. I suppose it all makes sense now. But in spite of it all it won't be easy to leave, it's all I've ever known".

"I know" he said sympathetically, "but I'm here for you now and I'll help you. I don't expect you to leave tomorrow, but we must leave at the start of spring at the latest if we are to get to Evanna's on time. And the journey after that will be unforgiving to one of your size if we leave any later," he said.

"Where are we going after that" she asked, intrigued.

Vancha smiled at how well she had taken it all and at her eagerness to embrace her new life.

"Vampire Mountain" he said. "Your people have awaited your arrival for too long".

God that moved pretty quickly…I think that was a pretty awful chapter but necessary. Ah what can you do! Let me know what you think and any suggestions about what should happen next would be much appreciated! Bye!