One week.

It had been one horrendous week and the girl was somewhat better.

She didn't speak but he would find her staring at him often through the darkness of the cave. Almost as if she could see him.

It was then Alistair would talk to her. It had been so long since he had someone to talk to and he doubted she understood half of what he was saying but it was still nice. To his surprise, her heartbeat became stronger as he talked. Not so much beating out of fear, but almost a recognition that she heard him. And then there was her strange scent. She smelled good but he didn't want to eat her.

Alistair was quick to pile on the blankets, trying to keep her warm. He continued to keep the fire bright and hot.

What am I going to do with her? Maybe I can drop her off at the old lady's. And then what? go back to living alone? He questioned himself. It was then Alistair admitted that he was lonely. But he couldn't bear the thought of being around other vampires. Other covens. It terrified him. He couldn't trust his own kind.

But you can trust the little girl. He reasoned. Lets say you did leave her at the old lady's, you couldn't just leave her there, you would worry too much. And then you find yourself right back where you started. So, leaving the girl is not an option.

"but she needs help" he mumbled to himself. "help I can't provide."

It was then Alistair made up his mind. He had to go to the old lady.

….

Julia had just climbed into her bed when something or more like someone whizzed past her.

Turning on her lamp, she almost screamed when she saw the red eyes man standing in her bedroom dripping wet and in his arms was the tiniest girl she had ever seen. The child was pale, scarred, and bruised. It was then she realized her stranger was back.

"you have to help me! I don't know what to do with her… I gave her the medicine, but I don't think it worked she's burning up I... I ... Helpa fi!"

Julia felt her heart break as she realized that this man was the stranger that had come asking her for help a week ago. And now here he stood begging her for help. She was even more convinced when he started speaking welsh. She hadn't heard that language in forever.

"alright, calm down. Calm down. Take her to the bathroom. Place her in the tub and turn the warm water on. You'll have to undress her to the bare minimum. Leave her in her underwear and a t shirt. Go."

With that said, her stranger disappeared before her eyes.

While he was doing that Julia opened her drawers and took out two pairs of socks. One regular and another wool. Once she had those she went to the bathroom. The little girl was in the water barely conscience. A small groan would sound but nothing more. Her stranger was also in the tub shoes off, holding the young girl up and mumbling to himself.

"alright young man. Now is no time to panic. Human children get fevers all the time. Do you recall having a fever in your human life? Or are those memories vague?" she asked?

Her stranger stopped his mumbling to look at her in surprise.

"you know what I am?"

"yes, I do. I told you a week ago that I was dying, and you didn't have to worry about killing me. Besides, no one would believe me If I told them that a nomad vampire often came into my home to steal my things. They would throw me in the looney bin. Now, I want you to go downstairs, into the kitchen and boil some warm water. You can do that cant ya?"

"of course, I can…im not stupid!" he growled. He then looked down at the little girl. His eyes softening and yet full of fear at the same time.

"she'll be fine..." Julia comforted.

With a nod of his head, her stranger went downstairs.

"alright, deary. Lets get this fever broken." She said softly to the unconscious little girl.

…

"young man. You'll have to put her in the other room." Julia called as she reached for a towel.

Before she could blink her stranger was picking up the small girl and waiting n her instructions.

"it's the room next to mine. We will change her into a pair of dry, loose clothes and tuck her in. the you and I will have a chat."

Her stranger followed her to a room that she hadn't stepped in in years. But today she had to. With a creak, the door opened to reveal a small child's room. Julia lifted the blankets and motioned for him to set her down. She then opened the dresser drawers and pulled the clothes.

Once all was said and done. She turned out the lights and motioned for the man to follow her.

"now, it seems we have much to talk about but first, what in heavens is your name and how in world did a vampire wind up with a sickly human child!"