(A/N: I know LBJ is gonna kill me for how this one ends, but hope you enjoy it anyway.)

So Far So Good

Penny hoped to see the red haired man again, but when he finally entered he was with Reverend Newlin. The Reverend cursed when Summer stood up and held Penny's hand. Angry, he told Stuart to bring the girls upstairs.

Letting the Reverend leave the room, Stuart approached the pair.

"This is going to hurt," he said holding out silver cuffs, "but I have to do it."

"I understand," Penny said, hissing as the silver touched her skin. "Is my mommy here yet?"

"Not yet. She said she'd signal you when she's here. Do you know what that means?"

Penny nodded.

"Eric said to be strong and if it comes to it, just concentrate. He said you'd know why?"

Penny smiled. 'I do."

"Ok. I'm going to take you upstairs to get ready. In the dressing room there is a woman named Elena. She will be wearing a purple dress. She is my wife, she's helping too, understand."

Both girls nodded.

The moon shined brightly outside as they walked up the stairs. Four women waited in a small room marked Bridal Suit. The woman in the purple dress removed Penny's gown and replaced it with a black dress covered in little metal spikes. Allowing her hand to brush the child's face Elena finally caught Penny's eyes. She gave the girl a wink and a quick smile.

A second woman applied dark makeup to Penny's eyes, like Summer was wearing.

Penny looked for Summer. Her face was being washed and her tight buns undone into soft flowing curls. They removed her black leather clothing and dressed her in a long white gown. In the end the two had switched places, Penny's outfit topped off with a short black wig.

As they fit the wig snuggly on her baldhead Penny felt a familiar tug at her center. She couldn't help but smile. Her mommy was close.

Fully dressed Penny's cuffs were put back on and she was lead down a small hallway to a door. She could hear a large crowd chattering on the other side. She felt the fear returning and wished she could hold Summer's hand.

The teams were in place more than an hour before the seminar was supposed to start. Eric, Gavin, and the enforcer from area 1 took the roof, keeping watch at the large skylight over the main sanctuary. It was sickening to think of the purpose for it. The Queen, Tommy Joe and the enforcer from 2 took the front door, ready to work their way forward if need be. Meanwhile, Lucy, Tammy Jean and the remaining enforcers took the rear entrance. Stuart was supposed to leave a series of doors open, a direct path to the suit where Penny was being prepared.

The first two doors were unlocked and unguarded as planned. The four wound their way through a labyrinth of beige colored hallways. When they neared the third door Vera held up her hand, halting the others.

"Human," she said quietly, "male by the smell of him. Allow me." Lucy reached to stop her. "No killing unless necessary," Vera said, allowing a slight accident out. "I remember."

Vera sauntered around the corner.

"Excuse me," she said putting on a southern drawl, "I got a little lost on my way back from the ladies room. Could you direct me to the sanctuary?"

"Sure thing miss," the man said. "Right through this door, then follow the signs."

Keys started to jingle as he unlocked the door.

"My friends are coming too," she said her voice growing deep and soothing.

"Okay."

The others hurried around the corner.

"You didn't see us," she said. "You're going to lock this door behind us and go about your business, got it?"

"Yes ma'am."

As the door clicked behind them they moved forward once again. They saw no one else until they came to a door marked "Bridal Suit." Stuart stood outside. He motioned for them to stop where they were and knocked on the door.

"Everyone decent," he said poking his head in. "Can I borrow Elena for a minute?"

Elena stepped out.

"There are three others," she whispered. "Are you read?" Lucy, Julius, and Vera nodded, pulling plastic zip ties out of their pockets. She opened the door, a huge smile on her face. "Oh my goodness," she squealed. "Ladies come out here, you've got to see what Stuart just brought me."

The ladies poured into the hallway expecting to see some sparkling piece of jewelry or another equally impressive love trinket. But they saw nothing. Faster than their human eyes could catch the three vampires bound, gagged and blindfolded the three women. They were carried back into the bridal suit and placed in the bathroom.

"So?" Elena questioned.

"So far so good," Tammy Jean said. "All this way with no injuries on either side."

"Good," she smiled. "They've got her on the other side of this door."

The Reverends sermon played over the speakers in the room. He was babbling on about the sanctity of family, how vampire human marriage and the right of vampires to adopt humans would surely lead to the disintegration of the American Family.

"Vampires have no regard for human life. They murdered my father, his wife, and their infant child. The good lord only knows what they've done to my brother. There is nothing sacred to these creatures, not even something as precious as a child. In the book of Matthew, chapter 18, the disciples asked our savior, 'Lord, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?' The son of God himself picked up a child, placed it on his lap and said 'Verily I say unto you, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.' The greatest in heaven, so precious are children in the eyes of our Lord and Savior that they are named the greatest in heaven. Now don't you think that makes them worthy of our protection?" The congregation applauded.

Using the noise as a cover, Stuart slowly opened the door. Penny and Summer stood alone in the hallway. Stuart stepped closer, reaching for the key in his pocket. Lucy stepped forward to enter the room only to be pushed back. The guard had returned from checking a noise.

"What are you doing here," the man said.

"Shhhh," Stuart said, "wanted to hear the sermon better."

"Amen," Reverend Newlin continued. "Amen. Our protection, our assurance that they would be brought up in a safe, loving, godly home. But our country doesn't seem to share our Lords regard for children. No," he said forcefully, "our country sees fit to let the earth bound children of Satan adopt our children." There were noises of disapproval. "I know, I know. Our children, our precious, precious children offered up like Hors d'oeuvres to their monstrous appetites. To a vampire, a child is one of two things. They are food," he said, "sources say that in the so called dark days of vampire history, vampires would wipe out entire villages. Men, women, children; slaughtered, drained, murdered. They would pass it off as a plague or an epidemic. I suppose they were right, it was a plague. A plague of evil sent by Satan himself."

The guard's earpiece chattered and he motioned that he'd be right back. Stuart quickly pulled the key out of his pocket and went for the handcuffs at Penny's wrists. The silver had cut into her and caked the locks with blood.

"What could be worse than that," the Reverend asked. "What could be worse than having your child murdered for their blood? Do you want to see?" The congregation cheered. "Do you want to see?" Stuart was running out of time, he pulled the girls towards the door. "I'll show you. This is the other reason vampires want your children." The door flew open just as Stuart's hand reached the knob. Two sets of hands grabbed Penny, another grabbed Summer. Panic set in, Stuart had failed. It was too late.