She was walking down the hallway of the Hotel Carmilla, slowly, uncertain of what she would find when she got back to the room. Alice held a white tunic in her hands - Godric's - and she brought it close to her chest. There was a strange emptiness inside her, and she couldn't figure out why.

Confused, she dropped the tunic.

Still she walked, coming ever closer to the door of the room she stayed in with Eric. She had no key but she was able to push it open gently. As she stepped in, the door closed by itself behind her.

Alice saw Eric sitting on the edge of the bed, bloody tears streaked down his face and onto his bare chest. She'd never seen him so sad before, and as she approached him he glanced up at her briefly.

"Do I look weird to you?" he asked her quietly.

"No," Alice said, tears welling up in her own eyes. "You don't. Eric, why are you crying?"

"You know why," he replied.

Alice gulped. "Godric."

Eric nodded once. "Was it quick?"

She faltered for a second. Had it been quick? Or had his death been drawn out? Had she even been looking? "I'm not sure," she finally answered.

He nodded again and stood up, coming to place cold hands on her shoulders. He said nothing and stared at her for quite some time, as if he was trying to calculate what was going through her mind.

"You knew he was going to do this, didn't you?"

"I'm sorry," a few tears slipped down her cheeks, but Eric simply wiped them away with his thumb. "He - he asked me not to say anything."

He remained silent, and Alice took the moment to reach up and wipe away his bloody tears, but it didn't entirely work - her fingers were covered in his blood now, his cheeks stained pink. She knew he wouldn't mind if she licked her own fingers clean - so that's what she did.

After that, there wasn't anything else to do but to kiss him and remind him that she was still there; he gripped her tightly and led her to the bed, never breaking apart.

All they had left now was each other.


Alice awoke a little startled and her cheeks tinged pink. She knew it was day time from the fact that Eric was fast asleep with his arm draped over her stomach. She sat up carefully, the movement actually making him stir - that was odd. Or was it?

She realised that after the ending of that dream she was a certain amount of turned on. It made sense that Eric was particularly sensitive to her right now, even in his dead to the world state.

She took a few deep breaths to keep her head and heart steady. She spied Godric asleep on the sofa and she felt a pang go through her heart - why did he not get his own room with his own bed? Did it have something to do with the fact he was very willing to die right now and don't particularly want to be on his own?

Alice wasn't sure in the slightest.

She didn't know if she wanted to get up and do something with her day. The dull aching in her body had really hit her now that she was sitting upright. Regardless, Alice forced herself out of bed and every movement made her joints scream. Unable to keep standing on her own two feet, Alice lowered herself to the floor by the bed for the time being.

She grabbed her phone from the bedside table - she was surprised that it was even there, and assumed that Eric had placed it there so when she woke up there was some sense of familiarity for her.

It was a little past midday, and she had a text from Sookie asking if she was alright. Alice shot one back saying she was okay for the most part, just hurting all over. That was a fair enough answer.

She ended up putting her mobile back on the bedside table and gently easing herself back into bed. Bed was good. Bed was safe. Eric was in bed. Eric was safe.

Alice slipped back under his arm and properly curled up into him, breathing in that comforting scent of his - something that reminded her of salt water and just him - before drifting off back to sleep.

It wasn't dreamless, but it didn't make her so terrified she woke up. No, there were flashes of the previous night which made her toss and turn, except she didn't wake up. Instead her brain processed it, muting out the more horrific parts. Eventually her mind calmed down, and she was sleeping soundly until someone roused her.

Eric.

He was wearing a black, tight, long-sleeved shirt with a pair of black jeans today - Alice hadn't even been aware he owned any shirts other than tank tops. She sat up and peered at him with tired eyes, glancing over at Godric who was also dressed and ready. They both looked anxious, or at least anxious for a pair of ancient vampires anyway.

"We're meeting with Nan Flanagan in about an hour. She's pissed. It's late, you need to get ready," Eric explained.

"We can get food brought up for you as well, if you wanted," Godric offered. Alice nodded as she got out of bed, stumbling as she did so. Eric caught her.

"I don't feel so good," she murmured as he helped her walk into the bathroom.

"That doesn't surprise me," Eric sighed. "You did say last night it felt like you'd been hit by a bus. I don't think that feeling goes away so easily. How hungry are you?"

"Um, I really want cereal. But it's-"

"It's midnight and you don't think you can get cereal at that time?" he offered. "They'll literally do anything for us here - without the need for glamour, that is."

There was something off about Eric; he seemed tetchier than usual. Whatever softness was there on the surface the previous night, it had retreated back into him to be replaced more with ice again. Alice frowned.

"Eric… are you alright?"

He didn't answer her at first, only pressing his lips to her forehead for a couple of seconds and resting his nose in her hair. "Nan Flanagan is a piece of work," he murmured against her. "I don't want her finding out about what you can do. Get ready."

Alice nodded dumbly as he pulled back and left the bathroom, closing the door behind him with a click. So she had an hour to mentally prepare herself for whatever shitstorm was heading their way. That was good, at least. That was enough time. If she needed to cry from worry she could at least do it in the shower and neither Eric or Godric would be the wiser to it.

She mentally slapped herself for thinking like that as she brushed her teeth. No, she was better than this. One bad night didn't necessarily entitle her to tears for the rest of the week. It entitled her to be more careful about what she did and who she spoke to; it entitled her to being as comfortable as she could be and at least having warning about bad things for a few days; it by no means entitled her to feel sorry for herself.

She wanted to be done with that, she realised as she showered. When they were done with Nan Flanagan, Alice would tell Eric and Godric what had happened in her life and she would be done with keeping secrets from either of them.

Well… there was still the case of Godric wanting to meet the sun. She had no clue if that was still a thing he was planning on going through with. Eric had no clue about it, and she wondered if it was too late to mention anything.

After showering, she wrapped a towel around herself and poked her head around the door. She requested Eric to get her her clothes - Alice had no desire to get changed in front of Godric, she'd rather get dressed in the bathroom. The tall vampire nodded and came back over with a white sundress, some underwear, and her oversized cardigan.

Once she was decent, she head out into the lounge area drying her hair with the towel and feeling a little more refreshed. There was an empty bowl, a box of cereal, and a carton of milk waiting for her. She was very much aware of the fact that Eric and Godric were watching her every move as she ate; it was annoying. They'd stopped in their conversation. Why was it so fascinating for vampires to watch humans eat?

"Tell me," Alice began when she was finished eating. "How bad is this all going to be?"

"Bad, but a lot worse if Flanagan knew or figures out what you can do - you'd get blame pinned on you for not being able to get people to safety," Eric said, and her faced drained of colour. "Look, Godric and I discussed this while you were sleeping - Flanagan is a bitch, she's not as nice as she appears on television."

"Quite frankly, she would be looking for an excuse to pin this on someone connected to us," Godric pointed out. "She wants there to be a balance between humans and vampires - we're going to be more at fault here in her eyes. Come on, we should get going."


Oh, Nan Flanagan was definitely a bitch.

Not only did the vampire care for Sookie or Alice's tales about what happened at the Fellowship in the tale they told, she decided to revoke any power that Godric had. He was no longer Sheriff. The moment Eric tried to protest that decision, he was threatened with his removal of power.

He immediately shut up after that.

If anything, Eric was more shocked about Godric willingly handing himself over to the Fellowship, and Alice knew that that was going to spark an argument between the two of them once this meeting was over. The amount of regret that Godric expressed made her think that he was still going through with his plan, and she wondered if there was a chance she could talk him down. If Eric could talk him down, once he realised or was told.

Eventually, Flanagan left, Godric going with her to sign some documents that would officially relinquish him of his power. He told Eric and Alice to meet him on the roof once he was done.

Just as the pair were about to leave, Bill turned Eric round and swiftly punched him right on the nose. He was about to square up to the older vampire, when Alice jumped between the pair, gripping Eric's thighs behind her and staring down Bill.

He was only a couple of inches taller than her, but her flaring nostrils made him back off a step.

"I don't care what you think about this entire thing, but you don't touch him again," Alice told Bill in a deadly quiet voice. His jaw clenched as Sookie's mouth dropped open at the redhead's instant defence of Eric. "We already established it was a trap. I don't think punches need to be thrown."

"She's got a point, Bill," Sookie piped up, going over to her boyfriend and looping her arm through his. "See y'all back home once this has all cooled down?"

"Sounds good to me," Eric replied dryly, and the other couple wandered out of the suite. He turned Alice round to face him, an eyebrow raised. He wiped a little blood away from under his nose, which was now in the process of fixing itself. "You're feisty."

"Only for those I'm loyal to," she said.

"Something's wrong with Godric."

"I know. We should go see him."

Eric nodded in agreement and they silently made their way to the roof. It was still dark out, but the talk with Flanagan had gone on for longer than any of them had wanted.

Godric was standing with his back to them, staring out over the city skyline. Alice hung back by the fire escape they had come through, watching as the two vampires communicated. The moment voices began to raise, Alice knew that Godric had told Eric what his plans had been, and would still be.

Eric dropped to his knees, and that was when she came running over. Godric was running his hand through Eric's blonde locks, and Alice wrapped her arms around him, tears in her eyes.

"Godric. Please," she whispered. "Don't do it."

The ancient vampire's eyes flashed in warning at her, and that was when Eric turned his attention to her, his face bloody with tears. She'd given herself away at such a crucial time, and it was about to cause more problems.

"You… you knew?" he almost couldn't believe it. He couldn't believe that she had kept it from him.

"Eric, I asked Alice to keep it a secret," Godric told him gently, but he still pulled away from the redhead. He overwhelmed her emotions with a sense of betrayal, shock, and sadness. Alice clutched at her chest, unable to breathe because this was the worst that his feelings had ever been to her. "Eric!" Godric then snapped at him, crouching down next to Alice and placing his hands on her shoulders, helping her stay upright.

"You should have told me," Eric muttered, unimpressed. There was an anger bubbling under the surface - it wasn't directed at anyone in particular, but the fact that it was still there unnerved Alice greatly. It made her crying become vocal as she was able to draw in oxygen again.

"I'm - I'm sorry," she choked out. "I wanted - I wanted to tell you but I couldn't. I thought that if we got Godric out, it would be fine… but - but it's not!" She shrugged out of Godric's grip and faced him. "Please, please. There's so much you could do for the world."

He shook his head. "We're monsters. I wish I had taught Eric differently: survival or death was not the way to do it. You've taught him about humanity more in a couple of months than I ever did over the years."

Alice stared between the two of them, not sure what she could say. Was there even anything she could say that could convince Eric she was not at fault? Or for Godric not to go through with meeting the sun before their very eyes?

"Godric…" she whispered. "You're a prime example of a vampire changing their ways. Eric and I need you, because - because well, neither of us are good at dealing with what I can do. And - and I know he finds it hard when I'm in a state. He needs someone to help him with that, and I need someone who knows how to help me be better at what I do." She paused for a moment. "Rose would want you to live."

Godric blanched, and a bloody tear formed at the corner of his eye. "I miss her. I could be with her again."

"I know, I know," Alice said softly, going to cup his cheek. "I think she missed you very much, Godric. I don't think she thought you were a monster. She wouldn't want you to do this."

"How would you know what she wants?"

"I was close with her. And- and-" Alice took a breath before she told the pair of them something she had never wanted to admit to anyone. "I felt like this once too. I didn't want to be here anymore. I didn't want to live in fear of what he would say to me, or could do to me. I didn't want to hurt anymore. But something inside me told me 'no' and I think it was her. So I moved halfway across the world instead."

Silence, besides the gentle sound of a breeze drifting through the city. Alice lowered her hand from Godric's face as she felt Eric encircled her tightly, bringing her to sit on his lap and rest his forehead on her shoulder. It seemed as if he had forgotten his apparent anger, and wanted to comfort her instead. He was far more sensitive than she had even considered.

Godric's face was stony, as he contemplated her words. "I wish you never had to feel like that, Alice."

"I wish you never had to feel like that too."

She was going to carry on talking, when she heard muttering coming from Eric. He was speaking in Swedish, and it sounded like he was saying the same word over and over again, except Alice didn't understand. She looked at Godric, her brow knotted every so slightly.

"He's saying 'please.'"

Alice felt her heart shatter completely at that point. She'd never seen Eric desperate or begging, yet here he was doing just that. She swivelled round in his arms, causing him to lift his head from her. She kissed him on the lips briefly.

"Go inside," she whispered. "Please. This might take some time."

He shook his head.

"Eric, I don't want you at risk from burning. I don't want either of you out here."

"I don't want to lose either of you," he replied softly.

"I don't feel that way anymore," she reassured him. "Do you trust me?"

He hesitated for a moment as he thought over her question, but nodded all the same. He slid her off his lap, stood up, and walked inside. Alice breathed a sigh of relief, and allowed Godric to help her up.

"You love him, don't you?" Godric asked, and she let out a dry laugh through her tears.

"We're not doing this now. Even if I do, it doesn't matter - he's not the kind of person to feel the same way. I don't want an actual relationship, I don't want to label what I have with him."

"He's good for you. He's helping you more than you think," he mused. Alice shrugged, knowing he was right. Either way, Eric didn't feel confident in himself with that side of things and would rather Godric be there for guidance and because… well. It was Godric. His maker. There was nothing that could replace him or that relationship.

"Eric would do anything for you," Alice said. "The amount of respect he has for you is… is just ridiculous. Please, Godric, I've had to talk myself down from this situation before - don't do this."

He sighed, taking hold of her hand. She wasn't expecting it, and something flashed before her eyes - blackness, but also…

Godric in Fangtasia?

She squeezed her eyes shut tight as it made her head pound. Did she just witness two possible futures?

When Alice opened her eyes again, Godric was staring at her with his mouth agape. He hadn't been expecting that - he hadn't been expecting his current state of mind to potentially betray him while Alice wasn't concentrating properly.

"You're thinking about changing your mind," Alice said. "What… what's making you reconsider?"

He licked his lips for a moment before answering. "I'm not sure. Perhaps you're right - I can be a good example to all vampires. I could do something good with what I've gone through, couldn't I?"

Alice was nodding her head eagerly. "Yes. There's probably so many others out there thinking along the same lines as you, and you could help them. Maybe that's what you were meant to do - maybe you're meant to help others for the rest of eternity."

"Would helping others be a better way of repenting than burning?"

"Giving yourself up to the sun doesn't help anyone," Alice said, a small smile coming to her face as she watched Godric's expression go through the motions. "There's other ways of repenting, and stepping away from the monster you think you are - because you're not a monster, and you are not deserving of death. When you were made a vampire you were given another chance at life, so to speak."

He scoffed. "I didn't use that chance very well for two millennia."

Alice gripped Godric by the shoulders, as if wanting to shake the thoughts out of him even though she knew that was impossible. "But you live you have another two millennia to make up for it. You have all the time in the world, and I'll be with you for as long as I can. Eric and Pam will be with you forever. You talk to us if you feel like this earth is undeserving of you."

"Did you ever talk to anyone?"

"At the time, no. Nobody knew what I was going through because I had to hide it in case I wasn't believed. I don't want you to be alone like I was," she said quietly, pulling him into a hug. He was surprised by the gesture at first, but slowly snaked his arms around the petite woman, glad for it.

Godric had never expected to receive so much compassion for a human that he had only met a couple of days ago. He had never expected Eric to be with someone so kind. Seeing the pair of them interact over the past two days assured him that it was possible to even break the shell of the most hard to read vampire.

"You have me, Eric and Pam," he said. "I don't think you'll be alone ever again."

Alice pulled away, her eyes threatening to spill more tears as she smiled at him. The sky was beginning to lighten now - sunrise was early in the summer.

"Can you forgive me?" Godric asked. "For every bad thing I've done, and for putting you through this?"

"Of course I can. I think Eric will too."

"If I choose to die, would God forgive me?"

"I don't believe in God, but I'm certain he would."

"What about Rose?"

"Yes and no," Alice said after some thought. "Yes, because everyone deserves to be forgiven. No, because she would probably rather you be alive."

Godric nodded. As he stood next to her watching the sky begin to lighten as the sun drew near to the horizon, he breathed in deeply.

"You smell like the sun," he said, in awe of her. "You're Eric's sunshine."

"I can be yours too."

"No. Never," he said, grinning. "I don't think Eric wants to share you."

Alice's lips twitched upwards in a half smile, but then she sniffed as she tried holding back more tears while watching the sky. "How much longer have we got?"

"Minutes."

"What do you want to do?"

Godric was silent as he contemplated his choice. He could ensure there was one less monstrous vampire in the world, or he could repent for his personal sins and help others. He wasn't sure which once was going to be the better option but he had to make up his mind right now. He couldn't let himself live or die in two minds and potentially repeat this process every night for goodness knows how long.

Perhaps they did need him - Eric and Alice - perhaps they did need his help. With her powers, and with their own relationship. They were in such denial in regards to each other, it amused him greatly. If he lived, he could see the great vampire Eric truly could become; if he lived, he could see Alice heal; if he lived, he could be of use to so many, everywhere in the world.

Death would prevent him from all of that.

Maybe…

Maybe this was his third chance at life.

You never got more than three chances, did you?

"Alice?"

"Hmm?"

"Let's go back inside."


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