Selene pulled up behind the apartment building in the back ally. She took in a deep breath and sighed she still had not eaten a sufficient meal and became tired so easily. They climbed out of the car and Selene waited for Duncan to show her were to go. The building was old dark and run down but she didn't care she had spent countless days sleeping in an old dusty warehouse floors.

He led her though a gate that lead to the main back door, when they where greeted by a snarling Rotwheiler.
"Oh shite, Mr Hagley let his bloody dog out again" Duncan said backing up back toward the gate but Selene remained standing where she was.

"That dog hates everything!" Duncan said trying to get Selene to move back out the gate. The dog snarled at her and walked forward beginning to bark. As soon as it was within a metre of her it rolled its lips back baring its teeth snarling, ready to attack. Selene's eyes changed she took in a deep breath her nose wrinkled up at the top as she bare her own teeth at the dog and let out a loud threading hiss. The dog immediately stopped barking and snarling its head and ears perking up immediately looking at Selene who stepped forward and hissed again this time it was louder and more of a growl.

The dog dropped its head and tail backing away a little cowering yet held its ground then laying down. Selene crouched to one knee and put her hand out

"What are you doing?" Duncan asked thinking she would be bitten.

The dogs ears was down cowardly, approaching Selene whimpering in a manor as if she had beaten him conically and it had come begging back. It sniffed her hand and licked it then came even closer almost smooching her lovingly. She smiled only briefly giving him a pat the dog wagged its tail fiercely looking up at her adoringly with its large brown eyes.

Duncan couldn't believe his eyes "I forget you're a Vampyre"

"A man is a dog's best friend, but a Vampyre's is even better friend, we have a stronger bond and companionship. Even over Lycans that are wolf" she quietly explained.

"What's a Lycan" he said cautiously approaching her in case the dog went him.

"I'll tell you all inside" she said looking at the sky the sun would be up soon.

They reached is apartment it was on the first floor on the shaded side of the building so she didn't have to worry about the sun to much a blanket over a window was enough protection.

He unlocked his door and led her into a small tidy apartment it was fairly clean compared to the rest of the building. Neither the less it was quite cosy, with its small table and in the centre of the room and sofa along the wall, along with neatly stack shelves plied with books and a fish tank it was a warm atmosphere. It was living atmosphere that Vampyre's could not posses, just a cold elegant dullness that lacked any sense of feeling. As Duncan quietly closed the door, a series of pitter patter came running into the kitchen. In ran a small skinny half fox terrier half whippet dog followed by a over fluffy fat ginger cat greeted them happily.

"Hey guys" Duncan whispered careful not to wake his flatmate. He patted the dog then picked up the cat who started to purr.

"This is Gomez" he said smooching the cat

"And that is Russ" nodding to the dog. He placed the cat down and led Selene into his room followed by the pets.

"Here you can sleep in my bed for the day I need to sort out my flat mate when she gets up she will want to know where I've been"

Selene sat down on the corner of the double bed and rested her hands on her belly. There was a thump of feet in the next room.

"Oh, be right back" he said jogging out the room. Selene was about to take her coat off and she had the feeling see was being watched. She turned around to see two furry faces looking at her on the other side of the bed. Russ started to wag his tail as soon as she set eyes upon him, he wagged it so hard that his chest and head wagged side to side with it, his backside almost lifting off the ground at the sheer force.

Duncan stood in the kitchen after shutting the door to his room, when an auburn haired woman wearing on oversized t-shirt walked out half asleep.

"You! Wear the hell have you been!?" she grouched at him.

"I'm really sorry, but I have this new friend she needs my help"

"She?"

"Yes, its a long story and I don't think you will believe half of it, but look she needs to stay here for a few days, I'll even pay extra rent for her accommodation" he pleaded, giving her the best sappy face he could manage.

"How long have you known her?"

"Well few days she hurt in the earthquake and has no where to go"

"I suppose" she sighed she knew she owed him.

"If you didn't have a heart of gold Duncan, I wouldn't thrown your stuff out into the street and gotten someone else to fill the accommodation spot"

"Thank you! But there's something else, there is one small favour I'd like to ask of you"

She couldn't believe his cheek.

"She's pregnant and you sister could help her, she can't go to the hospital she's in bit of a spot"

Julian didn't even want to know she was to tiered

"Alright, I will call her later this morning"

"Oh get her to bring one of those scanny things"

"You'd be pushing your luck there"

"Alright" he said heading back toward his room.

"Oh one more thing"

"What Duncan?" she was becoming annoyed

"Is it alright if I run a bath?"

"Yes"

"Oh and can she borrow one of your baggy T's?

"Yes if I can go back to bed" she grouched again getting really pissed off.

"Okay, sorry" he popped into the bathroom and started the bath.

He went back into the room to see Selene sitting against the headboard on top of the sheets with Russ and Gomez either side.

"Wow Vampyre's are pet magnets eh" he smiled his grin from ear to ear at the scene.

"I'm running a bath it will be good for ya"

"Alright" as much as she didn't take orders she was to tiered and it wasn't that she wanted one, she needed one anyway they had only changed her into a gown at the castle.

The bath tub was an old a large deep tub with the clawed feet, it sat in a tiny bathroom. Selene sighed with relief as she submerged into the water leaning against the end of the bath, finally her back let up screaming a little and calmed down.

She felt a lot more at ease even though Duncan was mortal she seemed to trust him, the other reason was she now had sufficient weapons that sat on a small table next to her that held oils, soaps wash cloths and shampoos, one berretta of silver nitrate the other UV light.

She sat back enjoying the heat but it wasn't long before the thought of Michael and the baby invaded her mind. She had been running so long she couldn't have time to really think of him or reflect the events that took place. She thought she didn't need to, he was gone no amount of thinking the scenario over and over again would bring him back, she was there

Alone.

Tears began to dwell in her eyes

"Damn you Michael" she cursed at herself squeezing her eyes shut causing the tears to fall. Over a year ago when she was Viktor beloved warrior daughter the feared Death dealer, if she had seen herself like this now she would have never have believed seeing herself alone crying running from both species pregnant with a hybrid's baby in a mortals bathtub.

But she wouldn't change it not for the world. Her baby was everything to her, every time she thought about the baby she smiled she couldn't help herself, she felt real pure love.

Something she never felt while under Viktor. Michael and hers, a thought almost like an angel whispering in her ear gave her another warming thought. Michael was not gone a part of him lay in her womb, happily content with the soothing rhythm of her heartbeat. She felt almost terrible for bringing the baby into a world of war where so many creatures wanted kill the baby, wanted at birth.

She stroked her belly at the thought

"So innocent and unaware" she whispered gently to herself and her baby.

"I'm sorry you will never see your father" more tears strolled down her pale cheeks talking to her baby as if she where holding it in her arms.

"And I'm sorry to bring you into this shit hole of a war, but I'm not sorry you happened. You are not accident, and never will be, you where conceived with love and are the best thing that ever happed in my life"

In a strange perfect timing the baby kicked hard almost as a response making Selene smile. Most women had complied about being pregnant, especially her sister when she was pregnant with the twins. But Selene had quite enjoyed most the experience. When she was not running, being shot at or on a bad bus ride for that matter, she loved every little kick and movement the baby made.

Her thoughts where interrupted when she heard a tiny little grizzle at the door. Russ was waiting for her outside the door.

"Russ?" the door swung open a little and a tan face with big eyes popped around the corner. She could tell he was wagging his tail he head was swinging back and forth hitting the wall and door.

"Russ get out of there" Duncan's voice came from the other side of the door. Selene sat up and turned toward the door as Russ ran in and jumped up against the side of the bath, without thinking Duncan tried to grab him and fell though the door into the bathroom, Selene covered herself with her arms.

"Oh, shite, sorry!" he said quickly turning away but at a quick glimpse of her he had seen her red swollen scarlet eyes. Staying faced to the wall he picked up Russ

"Are you alright Selene?"

"Yes I'm fine" her answer was short and snappy he knew it would be best to leave. Putting the dog down Duncan grabbed the pile of clean towels and cloths he had found for her and placed it inside the door

"Here are some cloths and towels big enough to wrap around ye"

"Thank you" her answer was again short. Duncan closed the door concerned.

When Duncan walked back into the kitchen he found Julian standing at the sink opening a bag of bread.

"Sorry didn't mean to wake ya again"

"No its quite alright, couldn't sleep anyway. Want some tea?"

"That would be great" he said flopping into a chair at the table.

"You haven't gotten yourself into more than you can handle have you"

"Well, not really. More..." he paused looking for the word

"Dangerous?" she finished it off for him.

"Well kind of more adventurous, I'd say" he said taking up the cut of tea that was just placed in front of him.

"She a gang girl isn't she? She's gotten herself knocked up with a bun in the oven and wants out, but daddies still in the gang and wants her back under his control?" she mused herself thinking she had figured it all out sitting across from Duncan.

"No she's not in a gang or was in a gang"

"Don't bullshit me Duncan, what's with her long cloak then? The gang symbols on the back"

"It's not a gang symbol"

"What, so she's a drug lord then? You've fallen for a knocked up drug lord Duncan"

"No! its not like that, its hard to explain and a long story"

"Look, Duncan I don't want thugs turning up on our doorstep looking for her, I have all morning tell me the 'long story' of yours and why you have put rugs all over the windows"

Duncan sighed

"Alright. But she might hate me for telling you, and I warn ya, ya aren't gonna believe half of it"

"Try me Duncan"

Duncan began to explain the story since the earthquake and how he found her trapped under the pole. Selene sat in the bath hearing every word curiously listened to his version of the events.