"God, I love this car," I groaned, distracted by the roaring of Ivashkinator's engine. "And I love it's name."

Adrian laughed. "Oh, I know. If I hadn't bought this Mustang, you wouldn't have fell in love with me." Adrian looked at me and grinned. Then he leaned over the console and kissed me. I immediately pulled back, horrified by this.

"If you don't remember, you're driving! If you crash my baby..." I stopped mid-sentence, suddenly remembering something.

"I am going to sneak out when Zoe falls asleep." I said it fiercely, surprising myself with the certainity of my voice. Adrian looked at me, confused.

"Why? I mean, I am so happy, but last time you sneaked out, we had to fight an evil witch." Adrian's face looked concerned and I giggled. I never giggled before I met Adrian. Now? Now I did it all the time.

I smiled. "Because I have a son and I miss him and I want to see him." Adrian smiled too, concern vanishing from his face.

"I'll make sure Hopper is ready." he nodded. Then he looked at me with raised eyebrows. "So, no need for spirit dreams tonight? I actually get to see you? Like, normally see you? Without being on a mission?" I nodded and smiled. I couldn't wait to see him too. Okay, maybe I was overreacthng a little since Adrian was still here, but anyway. This was going to be something extremely new for me - sneaking out in the middle of the night to see my boyfriend and our son. And people actually thought I was boring!

"Thank God, you are going to get your blood now. You look awfully... Handsome." I commented. And I spoke the truth - he looked too good, without even trying. Or maybe he did try, but still. Adrian smirked. This just boosted his self-confidence for, like, a thoushand percent. And that was a very bad thing.

"You worry about blood too much for an Alchemist," Adrian said, still smirking.

"Well, since I don't act like an Alchemist, maybe I'm not one?"

"How I wish that was true," Adrian said and shook his head.

When we got to Clarence's, Adrian immediately called Dorothy into the kitchen and Eddie told me we were all settled. He also said that Zoe and I had our own rooms and that Zoe was locked in hers right now. Angeline was "out", according to Jill, and I couldn't help but wonder if Trey had something to do with that. I met Clarence in the living room.

"My dear child, come here," he said, tapping the seat next to him. I didn't even hesitate and immediately sat next to him, but I couldn't help but wonder if I would have done the same a few months ago. I wouldn't, I knew. But then I thought that everything in their lives was somehow connected with blood. Ant then I thought that they were evil. This old man in front of me? He was maybe slightly crazy, but he wasn't evil. I wasn't afraid of him. On some confusing way, I grew fond for him.

"Of course, Clarence." I said and sat really close to him. I realised that in ways, he was more of a father to me than Jared Sage ever was or ever would be. Clarence's next words proved it once again.

"What is on your mind, my child? I can see that you are stressed out. Is there any way I can help?" of course, Jared sage would never ask something like this. He'd ask if I wrote my report, if I studied for my exams, if I cried because I was a disappointment. But ask about what I felt? Never.

"Did my dear boy, Adrian, do anything to make you sad?" Clarence continued and I froze. Oh my God. Did he know about us? Oh my God, oh my God.

Sensing me stiffen, Clarence softly said, "Did you two have a fight?"

I looked at him, sure that my face looked shocked. "How do you..." I started.

"Well, from the moment you two first entered this house, I knew" he interrupted. "The affection is quite obvious to someone like me, experienced and observing. But let's not wander off to another subject - I want to know what happened between you two." I sighed and put my head on his shoulder, leaning backwards. He hugged me with one arm and pulled me closer to him. I really felt like his daughter in that moment, and I was grateful. I had so many things on my mind.

"He left with my sister Zoe because she had suspicions about us. And before that my sister was quite harsh, saying very painful things, so I started crying. But we solved it and now we're fine. It's just... Ever since Zoe came, I can't help but think that God is trying to tell me something to me. I just don't know if the message is 'You were together for a day and now you should part before it gets complicated' or 'Having him will be hard, and you have to fight for him'. I wish it was the second one."

Clarence was silent the whole time. "Would you die for him?" he asked, but still seemed deep in thought.

I didn't hesitate. I knew that, if I could choose to die instead of Adrian, I would choose death. I couldn't live without him. And it wasn't a cheesy romantic line. I was dead serious. If I could prevent anything bad that could happen to Adrian, I would. I'd gladly fight Spirit and lose sanity, if I knew he would be okay. I'd do anything for him and for those I loved. "Of course."

Clarence nodded, obviously pleased with my answer. "Then you don't have to worry. Everything will be okay," he said and hugged me so that my head was in his chest. I hugged him back and he kissed the top of my head. I felt safe, but not Adrian-safe. This was a different kind of affection (I mean, I wasn't in love with Clarence), and I couldn't help but feel like a daughter to this man, that wasn't even human.

"Remember, you are my child,"Clarence said, unavare that he was voicing my thoughts.

"I feel like your daughter," I whispered. "Thank you, Clarence. " My voice broke and I realised I was crying again. God, what was wrong with me?

"Now go. Fight for your love. I'll be here whenever you need me." He kissed my forehead and let me go.

I stood up and... Faced Adrian. He stood in the doorway, smiling, and he looked much better and I was relieved that Dorothy was in the house.

I smiled, showing him that I was okay, and he took my hand, pulling me into the kitchen with him.

When we entered, he turned around and pulled me into an embrace. I realised I was crying again.

"We are going to have a talk about this tonight," Adrian said and I nodded. He pulled his fingers through my hair and just the simpleness of the gesture made me feel better. I sighed.

"And I mean it. We are going to have a long talk and you are going to cry and tell me everything. But now I need you to be strong, go and work things with Zoe out, get another room and survive until evening. Okay?" he pulled away to look me in the eyes. I nodded and tried to be strong. He believed in me. He loved me. My own father didn't, and a vampire did.

I could do this. I nodded again. I didn't trust myself enough to try to speak. Adrian was watching me with those green eyes, and in them I saw love, concern, want, trust, anger... He felt everything for me. It was totally unreal to have anyone care about me, let alone a vampire. And he loved me with all he had, I didn't even try to deny it.

So with my head in his hands, close to him, sensing and smelling him, I started to compose myself and get ready for Zoe. And I felt strong enough within a minute.

"Okay. I'm ready." Adrian nodded and let me go, but not before a soft, but fierce kiss. I needed him. But the Alchemists wouldn't understand that. Nobody would.

I shot Adrian a last lingering look. He was smirking. "Go get them, tiger." I laughed at that. He could change my mood within seconds.

I opened the door to leave, but Eddie was obviously just entering. He looked back and forth between me and Adrian and finally raised an eyebrow, but didn't comment on anything.

Clarence was gone from the living room, so I was alone. I took several deep breaths and ran up the stairs, determined to end this as soon as I could.

I tried to open the door, but they were locked. I rolled my eyes.

"It's Sydney," I said calmly.

A moment later the door opened. Zoe's hair was in a bun, she was wearing a red shirt with a "I Heart New York" signt and black shorts.

Huh. No Alchemist outfit today.

I didn't even enter. I stood in the doorway and quickly said, "I will be staying in a separate room. I'll give you a chance. I want you to get used to them." Zoe nodded and smiled.

"That means we're good? I mean, I'm still angry because you wanted all the glory for yourself, but you're still my sister. I suppose I can forgive you." I just hugged her after that, not saying anything. I felt like a very big stone was lifted from my shoulders.

I waited for an hour. Most of the time I unpacked, not wanting to think about the conversation with Adrian that was waiting for me. He wanted to take the skeletons out of my closet. I wanted it too, but I never had the courage or the strenght. I wanted to tell him about Keith too, but he would be disgusted. He'd never think the same about me. And I wasn't sure if I would be able to live like that.

I couldn't sneak out the front door because Eddie insisted to sleep in the living room. He'd ask questions. The only other way out was... Climbing down a tree, and when I realised that I was wearing a skirt, it was too late.

I was halfway down when I heard voices and I immediately used the invisibility spell.

The voices were coming from Zoe's room.

"So she's not mad anymore? She trusts you?" said a muffled musculine voice. It was Neil.

"I think so. And thank God, Neil. If I didn't have you, I'd go insane," Zoe said. Was I hallucinating or what? He was a dhampir! A dhampir I didn't even know!

"Don't worry. It'll all work out."

"I think she doesn't even love me. I mean, she always loved being an Alchemist, but scaring me off... She's focused only on her job. And I thought she'd be happy to see me!" She growled and then sighed.

"I think her motives are deeper," Neil said. "She loves you."

"I hope so, Neil. I really do."

Then they stopped talking and I heard muffled sounds. I prayed that he was just leaving, but I knew better. He was older than her, he wasn't human, she knew him for days and now she was doing something I didn't want to think about.

Maybe there was something similar to us Sage sisters after all.

I climbed down the tree and heard footsteps. Tehnically, I was still invisible but I still decided to hide behind the tree.

Angeline passed by, grinning.

"Not so fast, miss," I said. "I need to talk to you. Let's start with where you've been all day. Or should I ask Trey?" Angeline stopped and turned around, her face shocked and horrified. I raised an eyebrow and crossed my arms over my chest.

She was going to stop this charade. I was going to make sure of it.