Just a Suggestion

Lacey giggled as she ran. The snow beneath her booted feet crunched loudly with the pace she was setting. Danny stood back with a slight smirk on his face as he held a perfectly round snowball in his hands.

Placing her hands down on her knees, Lacey stopped running. She was breathing rapidly due to the exertion. Puffs of white clouds emitted from her mouth due to the chill in the air. She smiled cheekily at Danny. Contrasting against her ebony skin, her cheeks and nose had luster of pink due to the cold weather. As far as Danny was concerned, this made her look adorable.

Danny pulled down his sunglasses slightly looking over the brim of them. His brown eyes glowed mysteriously as he winked at her. "Your turn."

Lacey's eyes widened as she watched Danny toss the snowball up and down in the air. She drew in a deep breath which caused her chest to constrict tightly due to the cold air. Then she took off running again with heavy laughter.

She didn't get far before she felt a cold wet mass hit her in the back of the head. She laughed as she fell forward into a mound of snow. Lacey rolled over smiling as she watched Danny approaching slowly. She tried to sneak and roll a snowball behind her back. Danny smirked again when the small snowball whizzed past him.

Danny soon was beside Lacey. He knelt down to look at her. He pushed a stray hair from her face. "You missed."

"Yeah." Lacey's cheeks warmed as she bit her bottom lip out of habit. How was a simple phrase so sensuous?

Danny chuckled as he laid his body next to Lacey's. His glasses were back in place as he peered up at the day sky. "It is peaceful."

Lacey felt she had limited vocabulary when she once again said. "Yeah."

Danny breathed in and out feeling a sudden urge to hold Lacey against him. Sliding his hand slightly, he allowed his gloved hand to grasp Lacey's gloved hand. Lacey turned to gaze at Danny.

"Will it hurt too bad to take off your sunglasses?" Lacey squeezed Danny's hand gently. She faintly whispered. "I want to see your eyes."

Taking off his glasses, Danny turned his head to stare at Lacey. "I'm okay. I can't keep them off long."

"Okay." Lacey turned on her side. "You're so beautiful."

Danny studied Lacey perplexed. "I think that is what I'm supposed to say to you."

"You've told me." Lacey still held onto Danny's hand. "I guess many people have told you that. Huh?"

"Yes." Danny admitted earnestly. "But the words coming from your mouth, sound more pleasing."

Lacey watched as Danny's eyes began to darken. He looked pensive.

"What are you thinking?" Lacey whispered kindly. "Maybe I can help."

"Can I hold you?" Danny felt cold.

He hadn't felt cold in so long. Heat was always penetrating his skin with a searing burn on Summer days. Cold came with his death to mortality. It wasn't felt. However, today he was feeling the coldness.

"Yes." Lacey exhaled slowly once again watching her breath in the air. "I'm cold too."

Danny pulled Lacey's body on top of his own. He could feel the heat penetrating his skin even with the layers of clothing between them. Closing his eyes, Danny wrapped his arms around Lacey's body.

"The ground is cold. Maybe we should go in." Lacey suggested.

"Not yet." Danny embraced her tightly as he said the words. "You missed me."

Lacey buried her face against Danny's jacketed chest. She thought his words were about the snow ball fight earlier. However, he sounded like he was talking about something else. She didn't question him. She wasn't sure why. But she did feel like she had missed him for years. Strangely, Lacey felt like Danny was a part of her past that she couldn't remember.

Then his words were even stranger. "I've missed you too."

Lacey furrowed her eyebrows as she glanced up at Danny. She felt like she was melting into him when he stared down at her with his eyes meeting hers. A smile caressed both their faces before Lacey lay back down on Danny's chest. She sighed contently at the feeling of being held in his arms.

"What are you looking at?" Vikram wrapped his arms tightly around Karen's waist. He placed his chin on the crown of her head.

"Danny." Karen sighed wistfully. "He seems carefree and young."

Vikram chuckled as he stated without thinking. "Yep. He doesn't look a day over the age of three hundred."

"Funny." Karen swatted her husband's arm. Vikram was relieved that his wife thought he was joking."Go call them in. I know Danny can't be frozen to death but Lacey can be. I'll make them hot chocolate."

Before long, Danny and Lacey were pulling off their winter garments. They settled down in much more comfortable clothing. Lacey had brought over a cute purple sweat outfit. Danny had on a gray sweat suit. Both looked relaxed in their comfortable clothing.

Vikram had built a fire and was cuddled up to Karen in his old recliner. Danny and Lacey sat on the floor in front of the fire place. They talked about school and other things. Karen smiled at them and Vikram rubbed his wife's arms knowing she wanted this type of life for Danny. Karen seemed to think her son had changed into the killer who craved blood due to his treatment the years he was gone.

"I want to go to Paris someday." Lacey sighed out. "There is this great art school that I want to attend."

"Paris is gorgeous at times. However, for the arts, I prefer Italy." Danny stretched out as he leaned on his elbow. "There is nothing like seeing the Sistine Chapel in real life. Also, 'Lacoon and His Sons' is a phenomenal work. One of my favorites."

"You've seen those in person?" Lacey stared at him questioningly.

Vikram's eyes widened as he heard Lacey's question. He waited for Danny's answer.

"Yes." He smiled tenderly. "Remember, I was a sickly child. Surprising what you can get out of life when having a condition as I do."

Lacey pressed her hand against Danny's thigh. Her eyes misted over as she asked earnestly. "You're okay now. Right? You're not dying or anything, are you?"

"Not any time soon." Danny grinned as he stared at Lacey. "I was with a special group traveling to Italy. Someday, perhaps, I can take you."

Lacey nudged Danny with her elbow. "Right? Like you'd take me even if you had the money."

"I'd take you anywhere your heart desires, Lacey." Danny raised his eyebrow as he flicked his tongue out suggestively. "I'd take you anytime your heart desired as well."

Vikram rolled up his newspaper and swatted Danny in the back of the head. "Put another log on the fire, Danny."

Seductive Vampire nipped in the bud by old dad. Danny chuckled at his dad before getting up to place a log on the fire. He soon was back beside Lacey.

"I guess I better be getting home. It's getting late." Lacey sighed out not ready to leave but knew it was too late to stay.

"You can always stay all night here." Danny turned his glowing eyes towards Lacey. "I'm sure we can find somewhere for you to sleep."

Once again, Danny was being overly suggestive. Vikram watched curiously. Was that vampire son of his seducing the sweet girl right in front of them?

"Karen will drive you home." Vikram suggested quickly. "Danny has an early morning tomorrow. He needs to help me get some things winterized around here. This freak snow shows that winter is hitting early this year."

Danny shook his head slightly as he stood up. He reached down and grabbed Lacey's hand. Danny pulled her up. Her body collided with his with a slight thud.

"Are you sure you don't want to stay? It is very cold out." Danny raked his finger along Lacey's jaw line. "Perhaps, you can keep me warm again."

"Ummmm." Lacey stared into Danny's glowing brown eyes. "Uhhh. My mom...I don't think...Uhhh.." Why couldn't she think? Why didn't she care that Danny was talking suggestively in front of his own parents?

"I think we need to go before the roads get icy again." Karen touched Lacey's arms. She gave Danny a glare to say 'STOP!'

"Okay." Lacey felt Karen pull her away from Danny. Once her eyes left his, she suddenly became aware of her dumbfounded actions. "I guess I'm getting sleepy anyway. I can't even think."

Karen smiled sweetly as she practically pulled Lacey away from Danny. Vikram turned to his son.

"What is wrong with you?" Vikram waited to speak until Lacey was out of hearing distance. "YOU were seducing that girl."

"No. I wasn't." Danny assured him. "Much."

"Danny Desai. I know what I saw." Vikram tossed down his newspaper angrily.

"I wasn't seducing her." Danny stood up defending himself. "IF I was seducing her, she'd be in my bed right now. I wouldn't seduce in front of my own parents."

"What do you call your actions ?" Virkram was talking a little louder and lot more perturbed.

"The power of suggestion." Danny shrugged. "I was suggesting she stay the night. IF she did, I'd have then used the power of seduction."

"Don't do that!" Vikram was now standing staring at his son. "Do you think we'd let you by with that?"

Dany laughed slightly. "Dad, I love you. But if I really wanted Lacey to stay. You or mom would've been the one asking her to stay. I was only teasing the lovely girl."

"We would do no such thing." Karen had walked back into the house. "Judy pulled up right when we were getting ready to leave. As I was saying, we would do no such thing."

"As I said, if I wanted her to stay. I mean really, really wanted her to stay. One of you two would have asked her to stay the night." Danny raked his hand through his unruly hair.

"What makes you think that, Danny?" Vikram shook his head at his son.

"I would have suggested it." Danny grinned slightly before winking at his parents. "I'm thirsty."

Both parents watched worriedly as Danny headed towards the kitchen. Karen called out. "Ummm. What will you be drinking?"

"Milk will do. Since neither of you seem to want me to taste of the lovely Ms. Porter." Danny teased as he continued into the kitchen.

Karen wrung her hands before glancing at Vikram. "You don't think he'd really use that hypnotic thing on us. Do you?"

Vikram arched an eyebrow. "Naw." He sighed. "I don't think so. I mean…"

"Right. You don't know that answer. Oh gosh." Karen placed her hands on her hips. "I ordered him an apple pie the other day from Johnny Cakes."

"So?" Vikram wasn't following his wife's logic.

"He asked me to. I told him I wanted to try their new peach cobbler. I was determined to try a new dessert. I ordered an APPLE PIE instead!" Karen marched towards the kitchen. "Daniel Vikram Desai! You are so in trouble!"