A/N: Here's the final chapter for this vignette. I always pictured this would be the actually end to The Blood's Desire and it is very fitting to put it here. Thank you to everyone and anyone who has read these stories! I wish I was able to make this longer but I am grateful to wrap it up so there is no more wonderings if I would ever return to this story. I said I would not leave a story unfinished and so I kept up with that promise. Thank you once more to my dear and lovely readers!

Synopsis—The end. It all leads to this moment.

The End

Christine rested her palm on the cool marble, her hand slipping to delicately trace the engravings of the names that were now in their eternal slumber.

Arthur and Meghan Morris, Beloved spouses and parents

A single tear gathered as it made its descent, sloping down the curve of her cheek and falling to the newly disturbed ground.

Her friends…

Long ago she and Erik offered them a deal where if they wished—they could live forever and continue to watch their progeny grow. Christine enjoyed spending time with Meg and Artie and wanted them to have the opportunity to experience life the way she did. They could do whatever they wanted, travel to anywhere they wanted to go. She knew that there were cities and countries Meg longed to see and she could with eternity on her side.

Meg had often joked that Christine was lucky in finding the actual Fountain of Youth and if she got even older she might be tempted to take up the bloody regiment to secure whatever youthfulness she had.

It was a joke. Yet, Christine pondered if there was some truth to Meg's words. She talked to Erik about it and while he only ever sired one vampire (her)… he warned her that she had no idea what Meg and Artie would become.

"I was fortunate that you remained as you are, but not everyone who has undergone the transformation manages to retain their souls."

Christine knew he was right. Being with each other, they had encountered other vampires in their travels and some were completely monstrous. More so than what her horror movies ever portrayed. Christine had stopped one vampire from trying to create his own harem of young girls—mostly under the age of twelve—and she freed the ones that were still alive. The unlucky ones that were turned… Erik and she had to make the ultimate decision in destroying them.

It was difficult. Sometimes she would still see their faces and wondered if anything could have been done to help them. But Erik told her that they had been too feral and teaching them to control the demon would not have worked. They were the demons.

That incident combined with the birth of little Christine had her rethinking what her purpose was. Since she Changed, Christine had told Erik she wanted to help others who couldn't help themselves and do some good. He was reluctant since mankind never had done anything for him, but he saw how important it was to her and so he promised he would do what he could.

The first thing Christine wanted to do was see Raoul. Erik didn't like the idea of her seeing her former lover, but she told him she owed it to Raoul. She knew he was feeling guilty for shooting her and she wanted to put his mind at ease. Unfortunately, she had to wait before she could see Raoul. In her newly fledging state as a vampire, Christine's hunger was uncontrollable. She didn't want to kill Raoul on the spot if she were to see him.

So Erik helped her to tame and control the voice inside her head. It wasn't an easy process, but she eventually had dominance over her demon. When Christine knew she was not a threat, she did some checking and discovered Raoul's poor condition.

Indeed, she believed she was to blame and knew that even the faux funeral of hers did not give Raoul the peace he desperately needed. Going to the hospital had been a spur of the moment, but once Christine snuck in… she knew what she had to do. However, not even going to Raoul in a dreamlike state did the trick in getting him on the path towards healing. Revealing the truth about herself was the only thing she had left. As she expected, Raoul did not take the news well. So she compelled him to move on with his life, to mourn her and live.

He did.

Next, they located the vampire that murdered Nadir Khan's family. She knew it would help the Persian put to rest his ghosts and find the closure he always wanted. Erik, surprisingly, didn't argue about it. Despite what happened with him and the hunter, Erik felt an honorable sense of duty that began when the first daroga showed him mercy and gave him the gift of existence. It was the least he could do to in the name of friendship and one where Erik would make it known that he never wanted anything to do with Nadir ever again.

Their search took some months but with two beings with heightened senses… they were successful in tracking down the vampire. Erik gathered all the evidence he needed and then both he and Christine tracked down Nadir to give him the information.

The Persian was successful in claiming his vengeance and later died as he had nothing else to live for. Erik and she took care of the expenses to give the hunter a proper burial. While she did not always like the man, Christine was happy that he was able to move on and hoped he was reunited with his wife and son.

Erik had been stoic over the news of the Persian's death. He never once let it be known if the death had any impact on him. The only thing Christine noticed was that Erik had been talking to himself in a foreign tongue, which was in Farsi, but she gathered he had to be talking to the first Nadir Khan… the man that showed Erik some compassion. Erik shared a great deal with her about his human life, but there were some things he kept to himself. His time spent in Persia was one that he did not like to regale and Christine respected that with as little inquiries as she could make, relying only on questions about the culture and customs. He humored her but even after all these centuries… certain scars did not go away.

However, as much as Erik insisted that Nadir Khan (both the grandfather and his descendent) were nuisances… he would on occasion talk to his old friend when he thought she wasn't around.

With the hunter gone it was only natural that Christine suggested that she and Erik take up the mantle. The conversation hadn't gone over well but she knew Erik and his demon were getting restless on the lack of a good hunt. While their diet consisted of feeding on the blood of bad people, Christine understood the restlessness her mate was silently suffering.

At least hunting down another vampire would provide their demons the violence and chaos they wanted.

It took one hunt to convince Erik it wasn't a bad idea after all.

What a pair they made.

Vampires hunting vampires.

It was almost laughable the irony. But as there were evil (living) people in the world so were there evil vampires. Christine knew she was helping to make the world a better place and it not only soothed her soul but also fulfilled the demon's hunger. She never told Meg how she and Erik were now hunters. It was something she didn't want her friend to worry about, especially with the children in the picture.

In fact, Christine doted on her nephew and niece as if they were her son and daughter. She wanted to keep them safe from the creatures of the night and part of that meant she didn't want the truth about herself being known.

The years didn't help and it was not an easy decision for her and Erik to remove themselves from Quincey and Christine's lives.

But it had to be done.

However, Christine became one with the shadows as she continued to watch her loved ones. Erik had told her this was the part of his life he was accustomed to… not so with her. He was right, of course. Christine was never meant to belong to the darkness. Even as a vampire she was categorically the odd one out. But Erik loved her nevertheless. They made a life together as unconventional as it was.

At least she had Van Helsing.

Yet even cats couldn't live forever.

It was difficult watching him become older and when he got sick… Christine never wanted to let him go. He was her family for so long and when it became evident Van Helsing wasn't going to survive for very much longer; she, in a desperate manner, thought she could sire him.

Erik managed to stop her in time. He told her that animals didn't respond the same way humans do to vampire blood.

"You will certainly kill him in a very painful death," Erik warned.

That put an end to that harebrained idea.

Instead, they took Van Helsing to a late night veterinary where they said their final goodbyes. Christine fell apart in Erik's strong embrace, but he held her. Murmuring nonsense words and singing softly, he stroked her hair and back until she was ready to leave the vet's. Not that Christine was completely ready. Van Helsing was her world and leaving him behind felt almost like a betrayal.

But she couldn't stay there forever even though time was on her side.

Erik gave her the space she needed to mourn her pet. He understood her feelings quite well as they had brought back memories of his beloved Sasha. That night he told her about his dog, his only friend in the whole world, and how she had been cruelly taken away from him.

It was exactly what she needed.

Christine welcomed his short and sharp thrusts as Erik made rough love to her. She had to feel something and her mate rose to the occasion. Afterwards, as they lay in each other's arms, Erik told her they could always adopt another cat if she liked. It was too soon but Christine appreciated the gesture. When she was ready, she thought she would. There was always someone at the shelter searching for a good home.

She brought Van Helsing's ashes to her parents' graves and scattered them on top. At least her family was kept together.

But death was never far.

Artie was the next one to go. He contracted pneumonia and wasn't able to recover. Then Meg's cancer returned.

Despite their offer, her friends refused to take them up on it. They were destined to live a mortal life and die when it was their time. Fate obviously agreed.

Christine was able to sneak in and visit Meg right before she drew her last breath. She had begged her friend to let her save her. At least for her children and grandchildren's sakes. God bless her, Meg was stubborn and refused to let Christine help her.

"This is my choice. Thank you my friend for everything you have done. I know you will continue to watch over Quincey and Christine and their families. I told them they had Angels keeping watch. I hope you don't mind… I know you didn't want them to know what you and Erik were so I thought this was better. Remember the Angel of Music? I remember you telling me that story."

"I do." Christine held her hand.

"You found your Angel of Music. You followed him. Now, you're my Angel of Music. No… you're the family's Angel of Music."

Christine stayed until she sensed Meg's family coming. She remained out of sight but she never looked away as Meg closed her eyes and exhaled for the last time. She died surrounded by her family and Christine left the hospital in a daze. Thankfully, Erik wasn't far but he knew from the look on her face that Meg Morris was now gone from this world.

That was the one thing about this life he wished he could spare his mate from. Death was an integral fixture but to have someone you know die before you… It was never easy.

"I miss you so much," Christine whispered.

She glanced over her shoulder as Erik stopped beside her, his white mask shining brightly in the moonlight. She didn't like him wearing it but he insisted in public he had to. Even though no one was around in the cemetery, Erik felt the need to wear his mask regardless.

He didn't breathe a word as Christine took his hand and helped herself up.

"Until next time," she said her farewells.

She stopped at her friends' graves and the tiny plaque made for Van Helsing. From there, she paid a visit to Quincey Morris and his wife. Then Christine and her husband. Their children were next and their children's children.

The only person missing was Raoul but he was buried in New Jersey as was his family. Nonetheless, Christine said a prayer for him before she finally nodded to Erik that she was ready to leave.

The years never seemed to lessen the heartache or pain from the loss of her loved ones, but Christine kept their memories alive in her heart. For how long she didn't know. There might come a time when she and Erik might decide they had enough of their immortality. For now, they were together and as long as she walked this earth… she would find happiness and contentment.

The End