~*~Chapter Fourteen~*~

It had been Miranda's idea to take the baby out and get her some sunshine. Ever since Miranda had been nursing her, baby Cassandra seemed far more happy and robust. Roman was less worried about her as he pushed her in the stroller. Miranda carried the picnic basket, filled with a fried chicken and other delicious foods. Having Miranda there to nurse and care for his daughter had been a godsend to Roman. He was trying to be a good father, but parenthood was new to him and every little whimper had him uptight. He was constantly worried Cassandra would become sick. His precious baby girl was all he had of Letha, and he didn't want to lose her, too.

Over the past two weeks, Miranda, Peter, and Roman had settled into somewhat of a relaxed routine, caring for the baby during the daylight hours. In the evenings, they had fantastic sex. When Roman was away visiting Shelley, Peter and Miranda hung out together, getting closer, when Peter wasn't working at the garage, fixing up her car. They found out they had a lot in common, including wanderlust. Having Miranda there helped ease some Peter's pain. He was finally able to say Letha's name without the threat of tears. Because of Miranda, he was able to smile again. He just wished a little of that would rub off on Roman.

As he spread the picnic blanket out on the ground, he tried to snap his friend out of his melancholy. "Hey, the idea was to take Baby Girl out and introduce her to the sunshine," said Peter as he watched Roman sit down gloomily on the blanket, folding his long legs up underneath him. "But you look like you just lost your best friend..."

Peter's words just seemed to make Roman's frown deepen. "I did," he said softly, thinking of Letha. She had been his best friend. And he missed her... deeply.

"Look I'm sorry... I didn't mean..."

"No harm done," Roman said as he glanced into the stroller, seeing his precious baby girl. Little Cassandra was still sleeping,

Miranda sat back on the blanket keeping an eye on Cassandra, while Peter and Roman were talking. She was happier this way, here with Peter and Roman. The only thing that bothered her was that as soon as her car was fixed, she may have to leave. She wasn't sure she could bring herself to leave them, to leave that beautiful baby girl. The last thing she wanted to think about was leaving, let alone leave them all behind.

~*~o~*~

Olivia Godfrey was crouched between some bushes nestled between two trees. The bushes kept her hidden. From her point of view she could see her son and the two miscreants with her granddaughter. "There's that awful little blond," Olivia muttered to herself.

This has to stop!

She moved a little bit as quietly as possible as she pulled her phone out and dialed a telephone number. She was sure to keep her voice soft and low. She didn't want to be caught.

"Where are you?" Olivia asked in an annoyed tone.

The voice on the other end replied and then Olivia spoke again. "Well, stop that!"

"You are right. My son is here at the park..." she said in a hiss. "And he has that gypsy and that sleazy little skank with him!"

Olivia wrapped up her conversation so that she could go meet up with the person she had just spoken to on the phone. Her abrupt movements caused a rustling in the bushes. Some twigs on the ground cracked under her high-heeled footsteps.

~*~o~*~

On the blanket, Miranda's body went stiff. She could hear noises coming from somewhere nearby. Her hand shot out, grabbing Peter's arm. She tightened her fingers around his bicep. The fear was written on her face plainly as he turned to look at her.

HE was here! She had chosen the perfect place to get away from him and he was here now! She was trembling in fright, thinking that HE was going to jump out of some trees or bushes and grab her and drag her away. She couldn't go back with HIM or be anywhere near him!

"What's wrong?" Peter asked, seeing the look of fright on Miranda's face. She was holding onto his arm for dear-life, tightening her grip on his flesh. He looked around, but didn't see any dangers. Surely his werewolf senses would have picked up on it, but he had been engrossed in a conversation with Roman.

The baby had awakened at just that moment, letting out a muffled cry. Roman reached into the stroller, withdrawing his child. As he pulled her close, her eyes glowed so bright. They were Letha's eyes, but different. They were so blue. "What is it, sweetheart?" Roman asked the baby, kissing her tiny cheek. "Are you getting hungry?"

A louder whimper came from Cassandra, a hungry cry. No doubt the little miss wanted her lunch.

"What's wrong, Miranda?" Roman asked, seeing her holding tight to Peter's arm. "Did you hear something? See something?'

He looked around, greatly concerned. No one was taking Cassandra from him. No one! If anyone so much as tried to TOUCH his baby; they were dead!

~*~o~*~

Olivia had made it back to her vehicle where she stayed hidden. "I WILL get that baby," she said to herself. The person she had spoken to on the phone would help her in her quest. Her granddaughter would be hers and Roman and Letha would suffer tremendously.

~*~o~*~

"HE's here," Miranda choked out, not letting go of Peter's arm. She hadn't told either man about why she landed in Hemlock Grove.

"Somewhere," she answered Roman. "I can't...I think... maybe behind those trees." It wasn't specifically what she saw, but what she had heard. She really hoped it was just fear and nothing more. Perhaps she was so comfortable with these men that she was afraid of being found? Although she could honestly say there had been some noise nearby in the bushes.

Roman immediately handed baby Cassandra over to Peter for safe-keeping. He knew Peter would fight tooth and nail before he let any harm come to his baby girl. "Get the baby and Miranda to the car," Roman ordered. "I'll go check out what's going on in the bushes."

Roman rose swiftly before Peter could protest. As Roman disappeared into the nearby vegetation, Peter wondered if it was he who should have gone. With his excellent tracking skills, maybe he could have found something.

Taking Miranda's hand, he helped her up from the blanket. Gently he tucked the baby back into the stroller. "You heard Roman," Peter said. "Let's get you and the baby to safety."

Once they made it to the car, Peter strapped Cassandra securely into the car seat. Once he and Miranda were in the vehicle, he locked all the doors, waiting for Roman's return. Minutes later, Roman came to the car. "I found a shoe print," Roman stated after climbing in the car. "It was a woman's... definitely. She was wearing high heels."

"Do you think someone is following us?" asked Peter.

"I have a very bad feeling about this... I have been feeling it for days. Someone is watching us... Waiting..." Roman said. "I don't know who it is... or what they want... but they can't have the baby. I won't let them take her, Peter. No matter what happens; you gotta promise me. Promise me you'll protect her."

"You know I will, Roman. Cassandra is going to be alright," Peter tried to assure him, but Roman wasn't convinced. He had very bad feeling in his gut. Cassandra was in danger. He was a father... and he could feel it.

"Let's get her home," Roman said as he started the car. "I'm hungry and I didn't even get my chicken."

"Baby Girl's hungry, too," Peter said as the baby started fussing again in the back seat.

"We upirs need to eat," Roman stated. "After you feed the baby, Miranda, do you think you could feed me, too?"

"Huh?" Miranda replied distractedly. "You want milk too?"

She tried not to think about what was still out there, waiting in the shadows. She needed to remind herself that she was safe. Maybe if she had at least told one of them from the beginning why she was running, then maybe they would have been able to make sure she was safe. She didn't know who those footprints belonged to; just because it was a woman's didn't mean that it wasn't connected to the monster she was running from. She just needed it not be, so that she could feel better. As soon as it was somehow clear that she was safe, then she would decide the rest.

"I'm afraid milk is not going to cut it for me," Roman stated. "I need MUCH more than that."

"Let's go home and get the baby down for her nap... then the three of us can resume our picnic... and other things," suggested Peter.

"What did you pack in that picnic basket, Miranda?" Roman asked as he was driving back to the Godfrey estate. "Is there anything we could play with?"

"I hope she packed something kinky," Peter said with a smirk.

Miranda came out of her thoughts at the men's sudden sexual talk. She looked over her shoulder at Peter. "My panties wouldn't fit in the basket," she replied with a smirk.

She then turned to Roman. "Chicken, fruit, bread, veggies, dip, whipped cream, chocolate, lemonade and water," she answered. Somehow she knew that food wasn't the only nourishment these men needed for energy. She wasn't sure how they had so much stamina to be honest. It must be something in their diets. They both seemed to be bursting with endless energy.

Roman's mind was on the chicken and Miranda's panties, but he knew he had to get his daughter into bed first. When they arrived home, he said to Miranda, "Why don't you take Cassandra upstairs and feed her and put her down for her nap? Peter and I will get the picnic set up in the backyard while you are busy."

Peter gave Roman a wink as he reached for the picnic basket. He was more than ready to get things "set up" with Roman.