Chapter 8

After returning to Garside they moved her things into his room so they could be together and take care of Lizzie.

As she unpacked Ingrid found the things she'd saved from Stokely. Bertrand was rocking Lizzie to sleep, '2 minutes' she mouthed to him, he nodded seeing what she was holding. She knocked on Vlad's door, walking in quick enough to see Vlad and Erin speed into different corners like two guilty teenagers who thought parents were out.

"OK, you know you're allowed to kiss right?"

"Force of habit." Vlad told her, "what's that?"

"We went to the remains of the castle. These were yours," she said giving him the album of when he was a baby and of he, Chloe and Robin.

"Thank you Ingrid." If he couldn't see them, he may as well have the photos.

"And I though you might be able to use this." She said to Erin, pulling her old cape from her bag. "It's too small for me, but I think you might be OK with it." Erin carefully stepped forward.

"Thank you. It's beautiful."

"Welcome. I'll see you later."

"Thanks Ingrid." Before Ingrid could react Vlad was hugging her. Awkwardly she hugged him back. "See ya."

Returning to her and Bertrand's room she found him getting ready for training. He was keen to continue with Erin's abbilities, as was Vlad so she could protect herself. Ofcourse, it helped with hand to hand combat that she used to do gymnastics and martial arts. Not so helpful when your opponent was stronger than you. Or Vlad. She could beat Ingrid when they put the effort in, she had taught Ingrid the moves she had used to win Bertrand. She was close to beating Bertrand, well, with her moves that were improving as she practiced. She was most leathel when she was angry.

"She shouldn't wake. I've got a monitor incase she does. So you don't have to stay in here."

"I don't really have anything better to do. I can't hang around with Erin incase I catch it and give it to Lizzie, you're training Vlad and my dad is celebrating the fact Lizzie isn't mine. I'm gonna stay up here. Get some sleep."

"I'll try not to wake you." He smirked and kissed her goodnight. Ingrid changed into one of his old t-shirts, her underwear and a hoodie that was clean. Again it was his. She liked sleeping in his clothes. It was comforting. Just as she settled in the coffin she heard the small vioce of Lizzie, crying out for attention. Smiling she picked the toddler up where she snuggled into the soft material that smelled like Ingrid and her uncle. Realising she just wanted to be held Ingrid settled herself and Lizzie in the coffin, being carefull to leave enough room for Bertrand to join them after training.

Bertrand dismissed Vlad and returned to his room. Discarding his shirts he noticed the coffin was open. Shaking his head he found Ingrid's digital camera and snapped a photo of his niece and girlfriend sound asleep. Climbing in the other side of Lizzie he wrapped an arm around his two favourite girls who snuggled closer to him. In that moment it was fair to say that Bertrand De Fortunesa was happy.