after a change of heart, I have decided that this indeed is the final chapter...this is set two weeks later...

CHAPTER 8

Gangrel sighed to himself. How could all this have happened? The night Tim and Vincent had sought out Edge, they had asked him why he had done this. Edge's reply to them had simply been that he wanted the slayer community to leave Gangrel and Christian alone. Unfortunately for Edge, Michael, Derek, and Andrew had been nearby and before Tim or Vincent could react, Edge had been staked. Not too long after Gangrel had found out, he had sought out Christian. Christian, however, refused to feel sadness over what had happened to Edge. Gangrel, out of anger, had backhanded Christian across the face, calling him heartless. Gangrel leaned against the wooden pane next to his window. He felt sorrow for Edge. He felt ashamed for hurting Christian. He felt a tear find its way down his cheek. He wiped it away hurriedly when he heard his door open.

" Sire?"

Gangrel turned to look at Christian.

" I thought you left."

Christian looked at Gangrel in confusion.

"Why would I leave?"

Gangrel leaned his head back on the wooden pane.

" Because I hit you."

Christian could hear the torment in Gangrel's voice that proved even more of how much he had cared for Edge. He slowly approached his sire and wrapped his arms around him.

" I am sorry I was uncaring about Edge."

Gangrel ran his fingers through Christian's hair.

" It was fine when he was alive..."

Christian felt his sire pull away from him. He was about to ask why, but then he saw Gangrel's shoulders shake. Christian pulled his sire back into his arms and held him tight. Gangrel could not stop crying. He felt like he should have known Edge was playing a trick, that Edge would not have ever betrayed them even though Christian thought he would. Gangrel tightened his hold on his fledgling, noticing Christian had begun to cry.

"Do you understand now Christian? He loved us. He was trying to protect us."

Christian nodded, tears streaming down his face.

" I am sorry sire."

XXXXXXXX

Gangrel, as well as Christian, Tim, Vincent, Charlie, Robert, and the twins stood beside the box of dark ashes that once had been Edge. Gangrel set it beside his chalices on the table. He smiled as Christian took his hand.

" Our protector of all protectors will see light once again. Even though you no longer remain with us Edge, to myself and to Christian you are bound by our love and bound by my blood."

~*THE END*~