YAY! My GCSE exams are now over!! They are no more! hehe :D And guess what that means people?

Dracula: You can torture us with your so called writing skills?
Me: I wasn't asking you...
Dracula: Well, when you said 'people' I just assumed-
Me: -technically your not a person. Your just this annoying freaky little thing in the far recesses of my mind who causes me to have headaches!
Dracula: Ouch!
Me: Oh god, what is it now?
Dracula: People are throwing rotten food at us, that's what!
Me: (looks around and gasps) Well that's not very nice, whatever for?
Dracula: I thought that would be obvious..it's been about 3 months since you last updated!!
Me: (gives sheepish grin) Urm, yeh I know...

And I'm extremely sorry, but blame the school! And the examining board! Ugh! But I've got 2 months worth of holidays, so have no fear. :) Enjoy this slightly longer chappie!

He froze on the spot. Looking down on Rose, he saw her head nestle deeper into his jacket and the corners of her mouth tilted upwards in a contented smile. That alone was enough for Vlad to give in. He couldn't do it. He had just started to properly get to know someone, to be nice to someone for a change...and it felt good.

No, I can't do it. He shook his head. Not tonight at least. He was amazed at himself for resisting the temptations that now lay in front of him in his arms. Here was the perfect opportunity to achieve what he had wanted to do, for what felt like centuries - and yet, just by taking one fleeting glance at the girl, he felt that he could not do it.

He strode onwards, trying to leave behind the confusing emotions that were raging inside of him... to get back onto the path and out of the woods. To his surprise, it wasn't hard for him to do so. Vlad didn't have a voice calling at the back of his mind to stop and do what he had intended to do. There was no feeling of regret. Besides, he thought, I have plenty of other opportunities to come for what I want. And he was right - he was just about to find out where she lived, which would be handy...very handy indeed.

With that reassuring thought, he carried on through the woods whilst trying to devise a plan on how to seduce Rose. However, Vlad avoided thinking about the more sensitive topic - the end result of his plans which would affect Rose herself - deciding that he would deal with those matters when the time came.

Vlad had been so deep in thought, that he hadn't noticed that he had already approached the clearing of the woods. It wasn't until he felt Rose stirring a second later that he was broken from his reverie and slowed down to a halt. Looking down he saw Rose give a little yawn before reluctantly opening her eyes. She looked up at Vlad who had a strange unreadable expression on his face. However, she was far too tired to care and glanced around trying to find her bearings as she was only vaguely aware of what had transpired not that long ago. It felt odd to wake up after a small nap in somebody else's arms - especially somebody who she could very well consider a stranger!

For a moment he felt guilt surge through him as he saw her innocently look from one side to another in curiosity. At the moment she trusted him, though he knew that it was partly due to her being exhausted. Then Vlad inwardly shook his head. He vowed to himself that from then on he would not appear overly soft towards her or get too attached. If things were going to get intimate, he would try and distance himself. He would only harbour lustful feelings towards her and nothing else. He would just appear as his usual seducing, lustful and careless self. That was all that he had been known as after all.

"Where are we?" Her speech was slurred as she rubbed her eyes with her free right hand.

"Just outside the park and now I will need assistance in taking you home since I know not of its whereabouts." Rose gave a small chuckle at hearing his formal speech, which added to his gentlemanly air - acheeky and seducing gentleman mind you. She didn't know what to really make of him.

"It's all right. I can take it from here, but thank you." Rose was beginning to stir and release herself from his arms but Vlad would have none of it. Her movements were slow, and he could tell by her long yawn that she was in no condition - including physically - to go home on her own.

"If I don't remember rightly, you had just injured your ankle. It would be wise if you didn't put any pressure onto it at the moment." She stopped fighting against his grip, realizing that he was indeed right. Not that long ago she remembered the pain as she attempted to lift herself off the ground - something that she didn't wish to relive anytime soon. Letting out a frustrated sigh at being so useless at that present moment, she reluctantly gave in.

"Alright, I guess I should take it easy." Rose huffed as these words of acceptance of her present state didn't come easily for her.

"Good, I'm glad we got that settled." Vlad smirked, finding her stubbornness very amusing. Sensing this, Rose lifted up her head to face him and gave a deathly glare.

"Don't push your luck buddy. You're lucky I actually let you help me in the first place without getting kicked in the-" His eyes went wide and jaw dropped in shock of her sudden aggressive behavior, though inside he found it highly amusing.

"Wo, steady on! I'm only trying to help you know." At seeing his shocked expression, she lowered her eyes feeling slightly ashamed at her little outburst.

"I - I'm sorry for over reacting. I know you're only trying to help and I am very much appreciative of it really. I'm just so used to being so self sufficient that I hate feeling...well, useless." Inwardly he softened, wondering what experiences that Rose had gone through to make her have such a tough exterior and how she had such a strong desire not to look helpless - which led to vulnerability.

"It's okay...now, I need directions." Vlad swiftly tried to change the subject, and quite successfully. Rose perked up and gave him a curious look before realizing what he meant by 'directions'.

"Oh! Yeah, directions to my apartment..." She paused for a second, before carrying on, "...well, just turn left out of the park gates, and carry on along St Lawrence road for a bit. The block of apartments I live in are on the right hand side, number 112. There's loads of graffiti on the garage doors on the left of the block of flats. You're bound not to miss it!" Vlad nodded once he had processed the information and then proceeded onwards. After a few minutes, Rose began to grow tired again and sleepily made a rather strange remark.

"Damn, you've got muscle!" Vlad raised his eyebrows and couldn't help but not suppress a smile from gracing his lips.

"I beg your pardon?" Her head snapped up to his and saw the amused expression playing about in his features and immediately turned bright red with embarrassment. Oops, I hadn't meant to say that out load! Her right hand flew up to her mouth and she lowered her head instantly, as not wanting him to see her blush.

"Urm..." She muffled, trying to think of an explanation.

"Sorry, I didn't quite hear you." Vlad tilted his head in a mocking fashion, showing that he was eager for her to carry on with what she was going to say.

"Well, I can't help but notice that...you've carried me all this time whilst we've been talking without taking a break or anything! You - you must work out a hell of a lot!" She felt silly about having to point that out. Rose almost felt like a blubbering little naive teenager, caught gawking at a fit guy. To make matters worse, Vlad let out a deep laugh, which only increased her embarrassment. Next thing she knew, her cheeks had turned crimson.

"It was just an observation! One that I couldn't help but make. I reckon you just do this to show off." Vlad stopped laughing and gave her a lopsided grin.

"Oh, really? How do I show off then?" Rose scoffed at his question and leant back into his chest, eyes half closed.

"Do I really need to answer that?"

"Honestly, I really want to know what led you to that conclusion..." Rose pulled a face whilst he was looking onwards, "...and don't think I didn't see that!"

"God! I can't say or do anything without you catching me in the act or bombarding me with stupid questions!" You insufferable, egotistical twit of a-

"You're still not answering my question." He said in a mockingly reprimanding tone, which led to Rose letting out a loud groan of irritation.

"Well, I bet you were waiting for an accident to happen! With me hurt I act as a 'damsel in distress' so to speak, in desperate need of help. Hey presto, you appear, serving to be the great 'saviour' figure after hearing my call of help! It had served as a perfect opportunity to flex your muscles and show your magical strength. I bet you're really actually struggling under my weight but are too stubborn to let me go. There you go...the perfect example of a show off!" Vlad quirked one eyebrow up in confusion. She's either been drinking, extremely tired or positively insane.

"So what your saying is...that I deliberately and strategically placed a log in your way whilst I was playing hide and seek with you - a game of which you had suggested to play for some odd reason - only so that you could get injured so that I could try and show off to you?" He let out another deep chuckle.

"And me, struggle under your weight? Believe me, you weigh hardly anything!" Well for any other mortal, maybe not.

"I still think you're a show off - a compulsive show off at that!" She mumbled into his coat. He thought it cute how she was trying to defend herself whilst having the difficult task of staying awake.

"Oh I see it now! You're trying to shift the blame on me as to why you fell over!"

"No, that's absolutely absurd!"

"God almighty! You really can't take these things well."

"What?"

"Well, falling over for one...helplessness..."

"Well, it's a pretty humiliating when somebody sees you flying ass over tit!" Yup, she's definitely in need of sleep. He enjoyed their little conversation though, he found it extremely entertaining. It would just be even funnier seeing how she would act around him the following day once remembering their conversation.

"Lucky I was the only one there then." He said quietly. When she didn't respond, he looked down and to his surprise, found that Rose had once again dropped off.

I would just like to thank again all my reviewers who've never failed to leave comments and urgent messages to hurry up and post another darn chapter!!! hehe so yeh, you know who you are. And yes, I'm not joking when I say that I have extra long holidays, so they'r is never going to be another 3 month delay!! Thankyou for those who have been so patient. (hugs) The reviews mean a lot. :D