A/N: Disclaimer in Chapter 1.

Five chapters left after this one.

Chapter 25: Fight

Erin stuffed her books into her back as she prepared for an afternoon of school. The morning had been devoted to 'private lessons' meaning getting shouted at by Bertrand for not being able to fully control and access her powers. Vlad seemed to bear the brunt of it though as he kept dropping off to sleep instead of regulating the power flow from him to her. For some reason he was exhausted.

It was strange training without the slayers being in the room, Jonno and Mina were still trawling through the computers and would be returning either later in the evening or the morning. They were gathering the evidence they needed to prove Mina had been taken intentionally. So far there hadn't been any luck in trying to find evidence to link the Council to her kidnapping.

She grabbed her back, slinging the strap over her shoulder. As she moved the bag glided over the table before pulling her shoulder down suddenly with the gravity from the books in the bag.

Suddenly the bag felt very light, looking down she caught sight of the books falling through the bottom of her bag landing on the floor with a bang.

Erin turned over her bag, noticing for the first time the large rectangular missing section at the bottom of her bag. Looking across at the sofa she thought she recognised the new patch on the arm of the chair. The patch made with the base of her bag. This time she knew exactly who the culprit was – Renfield. Looking at her watch she knew she didn't have time to confront him or she'd be late for school.

Vlad had a spare bag she could borrow for this afternoon until she could buy one over the weekend. In a flash she scooped up the four textbooks, two notepads and pencil case, before making her way towards their room.

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Erin turned the handle to their room before slowly pushing it open trying not to drop the books she held in her arms.

She suddenly staggered backwards as the door was shut in her face with force. The shock forced her to let go of her books sending them crashing to the floor, bending and twisting the pages. Any pencils she had in her case now had completely broken leads.

A head poked out of the door, "Erin!" Vlad's head darted back inside the room before poking back out nervously.

"Can I come in?"

"Yeah…NO!" He shouted suddenly, "I mean what are you doing her?" He was bouncing up and down nervously on his feet. Rarely did Vlad get nervous around her and that worried her.

"Vlad I can't get the tape off the roll." A new voice entered the conversation.

"Is that Wolfie?" Erin tried to peer over his shoulder, to see into the room, but Vlad moved constantly so she couldn't see. "Okay…" She drew out, "I need to borrow your spare rucksack. Renfield's used mine for patching up."

Vlad nodded rapidly, "Sure."

Before Erin could respond the bag was thrust into her arms and the door slammed shut into her face. "Bye to you too." She muttered before packing the bag and moving off towards her lesson, pondering over Vlad's strange behaviour.

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The bell rang and in a flash Erin was outside and into the corridor. She hated being in the crush of the corridors during lesson change over. A familiar shock of black hair caught her eye, she smiled as she realised who it was.

"Vlad?" Erin called, he didn't seem to hear her down the corridor busy. She raced after him, Bertrand passed him something in a plastic bag, which he nodded and smiled at. His mentor seemed to be giving him a stern talking to before walking away

"What's that?" Erin asked as she watched Vlad stuff something up the back of his jumper.

"Nothing." He protested quickly, a flash to the side of her caught her eye before it vanished again. Looking back towards Vlad she realised he'd used her distraction as a way to escape. She couldn't help but feel the small flares of irritation towards Vlad who seemed to be avoiding her.

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Ingrid was looking through the books in the library, a rare occasion as she wasn't defacing them at all.

Erin didn't really have time for pleasantries. "Do you know why Vlad's avoiding me?"

"What's been put in your blood?" Ingrid jibed, seemingly surprised at Erin's quick question.

Ingrid saw that Erin was barely holding back her anger and if she weren't careful Erin would accidentally tap into Vlad's powers – anyone nearby would be in danger.

Ingrid blanked her face, she knew exactly what Vlad was up to. "I don't know what you mean."

"Vlad has been acting strangely all day." Erin explained, "I want to know why."

"Maybe he's just worried about the Council meeting." Erin had seen Vlad worried and this wasn't it. This was something else.

Almost as if the person in question had heard them he entered the scene, "Ingrid I need you help with…Erin! What are you doing here?" Vlad's surprise was beginning to annoy her.

"My history research project." She smiled sweetly, using all her effort not to turn it into a threatening one. "I thought you had woodwork."

"I do, I need a book." He grabbed a book from the shelf, he really should have taken care not to pick the first book on the shelf.

Erin snatched the book from his hands.

"The Rise and Fall of Roman Britain." She read, glancing at him. "I didn't realise you needed a book on the Romans in woodwork."

Vlad paused his mouth opening and closing, "I…I'm using it as research for my project." Erin pushed the book back into his arms, her anger releasing some of his power. Vlad stumbled back slightly, Erin was too angry to regret her action. He was lying to her and that upset her.

With a glance towards Ingrid who was shooting a dirty look at her brother and shaking her head as he shrugged, Erin grabbed her bag.

Her shoes clicking on the tiled floor of the library she stormed out into the busy corridor.

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Erin stormed through the foyer, her mood too dark for her to fully think her actions through. Vlad grabbed her wrist and pulled her back to him, not caring about the crowded entrance hall.

"That is the third time you've brushed me off today!"

"I've got a lot to do Erin! I can't always spend time with you." He realised what he'd said as her eyes widened, hurt flickering across her face. He immediately tried to rephrase that. "All I want is an hour or two to myself Erin, I'm trying to…"

"Trying to what?"

"I can't tell you yet." Vlad avoided her gaze, Erin could tell he was lying he could tell her now if he wanted to. They always promised not to keep secrets from each other.

"I am your wife!" A few heads snapped towards the bickering couple, suddenly finding the conversation interesting.

Vlad's eyes narrowed at her outburst, it was supposed to be a secret. Getting emotional wasn't going to help either of them at all. They didn't need the rumour mill working overtime. Vlad knew what they'd think if they found out they were married, "Say it a little louder, I don't think they heard you upstairs!" Vlad snapped back, his fists clenching at his sides.

Erin's voice weakened, dropping lower. Tears pricked at her eyes. "Look Vlad if you just want me to go away just tell me to."

Vlad jerked back in surprise at her comment. "Why do you think I want you to go away?" He couldn't understand her attitude.

"You obviously want to be on your own, so don't let me stop you. You don't have to act like an idiot if you don't want me to know about something." With that she pushed passed him, jostling his shoulder as she did so.

"Erin!" He called after her, pleading for her to listen. "Erin I didn't…" She ignored him and continued through the entryway.

He knew he hadn't handled that well, but she'd find out soon enough. He hadn't deliberately tried to hurt her but he didn't want her to find out what he was up to just yet.

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WHIP!

Erin turned the pages in her book more forcefully with every passing second. The Count was beginning to wince at the sharp sound of the air whipping against the page. He blinked in annoyance trying to focus on his throne catalogue, this would be the second throne in six months.

WHIP!

He dropped his paper, giving her a harsh glare. Erin's eyes softened at him before hardening as she looked at Vlad. Vlad glanced up from his homework feeling her eyes boring holes into him, Vlad shook his head slightly, trying to give her an apologetic look but she made a point of turning her head away from him.

WHIP!

"Erin will you please stop doing that!" The Count finally snapped, she closed her book with force. Slowly scraping her chair across the floor watching Vlad screw his eyes up in a cringe. The childish part of her enjoyed his reaction.

Erin clutched the book to her chest tightly, "I'm going to train with Bertrand." She told the Count, not looking at Vlad. With that she left the room slamming the door behind her.

"What did you do Vladdy?"

Immediately Vlad jumped to his own defence, "Who says I did anything?" The Count threw a look in the direction Erin had just gone. "It wasn't my fault." His father tapped his own cheek with his finger waiting for Vlad to elaborate. "Its just a misunderstanding." Vlad nodded trying to convince him.

"You need to apologise to her."

"She's the one who started it." He realised how childish he sounded, technically it was his fault. If he'd handled it better she wouldn't have reacted like this. "I thought vampires didn't apologise to anyone." Bertrand and the Count had drummed it into him.

"Women are different, besides they can hold a grudge."

Vlad felt a small smirk cross his face, "You're not still afraid of mum?"

The Count froze before shuddering and shaking his head frantically, "Of course not." His mouth ticked, "I'm terrified of her." Vlad moved his head back and forth in annoyance. "Erin's a reasonable girl. She'll understand."

"If she doesn't stake me first." Vlad muttered under his breath. With effort he pushed himself out of the chair, using the table to pull himself up. He really wasn't looking forward to this at all.

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Bertrand had obviously given up training Erin, if he ever was going to train her this evening at all, as she was sitting on the floor reading her book.

"Erin?" He asked softly,

"Leave me alone Vladimir." He hid a wince at his full name. "At least I'm not afraid to say it."

"I'm sorry Erin." He whispered, she made no sign of actually hearing him. "I'm sorry if I've upset you today…"

"No you don't trust me."

"I do trust you Erin."

Her face turned to him and he could see the dried tear tracks on her face, "You've made such a fuss about avoiding me today. It's like you don't trust me. Do you have any idea how much it hurts? You've let everyone else know this secret but not me. Why?" He didn't realise how much it had hurt her. She'd understand when she found out.

Vlad glanced at the clock behind her 9.30pm. "I can't tell you yet, but I will."

"When?" She stood up, moving across to him she wanted him to look her in the eyes and tell her the truth. Vlad realised that she'd never had many people to trust in her life and he knew that she was acting out of fear of losing his trust. Not that she could ever lose it.

"Tomorrow." He promised, his eyes never leaving hers.

"Why not now?" Vlad shook his head, he couldn't tell her without spoiling everything. Erin nodded before settling herself back down on the floor. Vlad sighed watching her back for a few minutes before dashing from the room. His mind was made up he'd bring his plans forward to midnight.

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A clunk disturbed her from her sleep, alertness flaring in her before shaking it off as the pipes creaking.

Erin stretched her arm out but only found thin air. Her eyes snapped open as she realised she was alone in the coffin. Snapping her fingers the coffin glided open. It was dark in the room; glancing towards the clock it was just gone 12am. She let out a groan before sitting upright.

It was typical that when she finally managed to get herself to sleep something would wake her up.

A worry overcame her as she realised that Vlad was probably worrying about the meeting with the Council. They still hadn't found the proof they needed. Granted she wasn't in a very good mood with him at the moment, she was still concerned with the pressure he was under.

Erin closed her eyes and felt Vlad's presence rush to the front of her mind. He was alone in the throne room, he didn't seem angry or annoyed but nervous. The sensation was curious because Vlad didn't have anything to be nervous about, or so she thought.

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Erin softly padded into the throne room, taking a moment to survey the bright, cheeriness of it that was so different to the usual darkness and gloom it held. Rows of candles had been lit giving it thee extra glow it needed. Around the room there were blue balloons, Vlad had laid the table with a variety of breather treats including cake and jelly. The table was covered in a blue cloth. He hadn't over decorated the room, just enough to make it look special for her.

Erin felt more than a little underdressed when she saw him dressed smartly in black suit and charcoal shirt; after all she was only in her blue pyjamas. Vlad grinned when he saw her, he stepped closer to her holding out a large flat box for her.

"I asked Ingrid to get it for me." He smiled, Erin took off the lid and saw a beautiful deep navy blue dress inside. She held it against herself, it had a simple bodice but flared from her waist to her knees. There were thin shoulder straps, which looked as if they were made of silver edged blue ribbon. "Renfield had to iron it after I shoved it up my jumper to stop you seeing it."

Tears came to her eyes; he hadn't been trying to hide anything from her like she'd thought. Instead he'd been doing something wonderful her. It must have taken him days to sort out – that's why he was so tired, the realisation dawned on her.

No one had ever done anything like this for her before. She felt like an idiot for not trusting him, usually when people acted like that behind her back it was because they wanted to hurt her, everyone always turned on her sooner or later. Old hurts were hard to let go of. Her husband loved her too much to ever do that to her.

Erin had never felt more loved than she did in that moment.

"This was what you were doing all day?" She glanced around the room once more, he grinned looking around with her surveying his work.

"Yeah." He pulled her to him, kissing her gently. Erin clutched at him responding eagerly to his kiss. Erin felt him grinning into the kiss at surprising her, albeit not doing it very elegantly.

"I love you." He knew she was apologising.

"Love you too." Resting his forehead on hers, she closed her eyes, "Happy Birthday."

TBC

A/N: What do you think?

Thanks for reading.