Chapter Sixteen:_

Erin heard the shower turn on upstairs. Larten was up and just in time. Erin pulled a plate out and piled it high with the huge omelet she had made and the bacon, sausage, and biscuits. She still wasn't feeling well so maybe a biscuit or two would be all she'd eat.

She carried the plates into the dining room to wait for Larten.

Larten was straightening his collar in the full length mirror, (red shirt and red pants), his dream in the back of his mind. He gave an approving nod of his head towards the mirror and headed downstairs.

He entered the kitchen to find Erin pulling out two glasses. He cleared his throat. She turned around and smiled at him.

"Well, don't you look nice." She said.

Larten gave a very pleased smile at the compliment.

"Thank you." He replied. "And you look lovely yourself."

Erin looked at him and shook her head giving a wry smile. "I know I do not look lovely but I will take the compliment anway."

His face fell.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean for that to offend you. I just don't feel well and haven't all day. When you don't feel well, you know you don't look lovely." She gave a tired smile. "But thank you all the same. Now then, what would you like to drink? I have your breakfast in the dining room and was waiting until you were done showering to fix you something to drink. Tea, orange juice, milk, water. What sounds good?"

"Orange juice would fit the meal the best I would say."

"Good choice." She nodded, pouring orange juice into his glass and her own.

"I really hope you like what I made."

Larten followed after Erin into the dining room and sat down in the chair she pointed to.

Sitting across from him she took a small sip from her orange juice and looked at him eagerly.

"Take a bite. I hope you like omelets. If you don't like it I can remake it for you or fix you something else."

Larten placed his napkin onto his lap. He adjusted his shirt cuffs before picking up a fork and taking a bite. He chewed for a few minutes seriously then looked up at her with narrowed eyes.

Her face looked crestfallen.

That was when Larten gave a teasing side smirk at her.

"This is the best omelet I believe I have ever had in my roughly 200 years." He said taking another bite.

Erin gave him the biggest grin. She was beautiful when she smiled. Her face glowed. Larten returned her grin, chuckling as he scarfed down the omelet, helping himself to the plates of bacon, sausage, and biscuits. He noticed she wasn't eating. She had one single biscuit she was picking at and that was it.

He chewed and looked up at her concerned. Now that he fully looked into her eyes he could tell she was in some sort of pain and had dark circles under her eyes.

"Are you not hungry?" He asked.

Erin shook her head no, picking a bit off of her biscuit.

Larten looked at her. She met his gaze briefly before dropping her eyes.

"How is your pain? I wish you wouldn't have slept on the floor in my closet. You really should have proper bed rest. It's only been a few days. I don't want you to be uncomfortable. You should have just left me on the couch, you know. I was worried when I woke up and didn't know where you were. You should have just laid down on the other side or woken me up to go to Brigid's room."

Larten furrowed his brow and shook his head.

"You have done nothing but take care of me and work. I knew you were exhausted and sometimes the best cure is to sleep in one's own bed. I was perfectly comfortable on your floor." He ate a sausage in two bites and noticed she was giving him a disapproving look.

"Are you sure? It was extensive. I'll believe you but I really want you to be honest with me. I know you vampires are tough and can bear much more than us regular humans, but still, please be honest with me so I can make sure I'm giving you the best care I am able to."

Larten could not fathom how this woman could care so much and be completely attentive to all his needs.

"For this moment, I am fine. I promise I will be honest with you. Besides, even if I was not honest, I am positive you would notice and enforce your medical skills on me anyway." He gave a small grin, taking a drink from his orange juice.

"Agreed." She smiled.

Larten wiped his mouth with his napkin. He didn't know how to approach the second part of what she had said: she had worried when she couldn't find him.

*Blip*

"Oh, when I woke up in my own bed and you weren't there I thought you had abandoned us and when I saw the rose by the sink I was certain you had left. I actually was going to go after you and drag you back here come hell or high water. I was scared you'd end up running into Murlough and end up getting killed." Erin looked down.

Larten thought he had seen a glimmer of tears in her eyes.

She looked back up at him and gave an embarrassed smile. "That's when I discovered you in my closet."

Larten stared at her, shocked. She was willing to run out to search for him, to save and protect him, from a vampaneze that had almost killed her. But his shock quickly turned into a sharp pain in his chest. She thought he had left them. Abandoned them! This hurt him. How could she have thought such a thing. How could she think that he would do something like that?

He met her eyes and stared into them intensely serious.

"I would never abandon you or leave in such a manner. I need you to believe me in this. I would never do that to you and Brigid. I am not going anywhere."

Erin fought back the tears threatening to spill and the lump in her throat.

She forced a smile to hide her relief and the emotions building in her chest.

"Good to know then." She took a small bite of her biscuit.

Larten said softly. "Besides, where else would I find such good care, attention, and warm meals?"

Erin threw her head back and laughed. Her laugh made him chuckle as well. He couldn't help himself, she was infectious. But he was still concerned. She had said she hadn't felt well during the day and he could tell she was in some sort of pain.

"But now I must put the question to you, Miss Erin. What is your pain level, as you say?"

Erin gave a start. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, I had intended for you to have some well deserved rest but you said you did not feel well today. You still do not feel well. I can see it in your eyes. What is wrong?"

Erin looked down embarrassed. "It's nothing, really. I had a bad migraine hit me in the afternoon and they're hard to shake. That's all."

"I sense something else but I will not push it." Larten stood up piling the plates on top of each other.

Erin stood up immediately reaching to take them from his hands.

"No, let me. You're still a guest here."

Larten swiftly moved them out of her reach and suddenly, in a red blur, he was in the kitchen with the sink running and the sound of dishes clinking as they were washed.

Erin whipped around, making her slightly dizzy. She hadn't even seen him go from the dining room to the kitchen.

"How did you do that? I know it's due to you being a vampire, but how did you move so fast? That's something I've been meaning to ask. What's flitting exactly? I had a blip the other day." Erin asked, pulling a stool out from the bar to sit on, her arms resting on the counter, directly in front of Larten as he placed the dishes into the drying rack.

"Flitting is a vampire ability that has to do with our natural speed mixed with our, how should I put this, supernatural essence of being a vampire. We start running and then reach a certain point and suddenly we are slipping through time and covering vast amounts of distance in a short amount of time. Sometimes you may hear the word magic used but that can be misleading. We are supernatural beings. That is as best as I can put it."

"What does it feel like?" Erin asked, looking at him with rapt attention.

Larten was enjoying that she was taking such an interest in him. It didn't bother her one bit that he was a vampire!

He grinned at her. "Would you like to see for yourself?"

Erin looked at him, taken aback. "But your wound."

"You told me to be honest with you, correct?"

"Yes." Erin replied, confused.

"Flitting will not be an issue. Come. I will show you."

Erin's face broke into a huge grin, eagerness in her eyes. She hopped off the bar stool and immediately was by his side. Larten felt his heart thump, feeling an eagerness himself.

Larten took her hand and led her into the garden.

Erin looked back at her patio. "Did you clear most of the broken pieces? Brigid and I were going to but..."

Larten nodded. "Yes, I cleared as much as I could while you were sleeping last night. I also intend to help you rebuild it. Oh, and I must confess," Larten cleared his throat, blushing, "I will help you also replace your cellular phone. I caused the crack trying to answer Brigid's call. I apologize."

Erin laughed, shaking his hand back and forth. (She hadn't let go, he noticed!)

"Don't worry about the phone or patio."

"No, I will worry about it. Both incidents are my fault and I have the means so I will take care of all of it." Larten looked down at her firmly.

"Well then, to match your offer, Brigid and I had planned on going to the mall to buy you more clothes, particularly a jacket and vest. But jackets all fit differently so we were wondering if you would come with us so we could get you fit properly. Also, so that you can choose which shade of red you like best. Deal?" She said just as firmly.

Larten tried to hide his smile. "You do not need to buy me any more clothes, BUT," Larten said when she opened her mouth to interrupt him, "I will accompany you. Deal?" He inquired.

"Deal." Erin nodded. "So how are you going to flit with me?"

"Easy. I will carry you on my back." He said leading her behind him. He tried to break their hands apart, but Erin wouldn't let go.

"Larten-" He heard her start.

Before she could continue, using his vampire swiftness, she was on his back in a split-second. She immediately wrapped her arms around his shoulders tightly.

"Larten-" Erin tried to start again.

"Now, be sure to hold on." Larten commanded, thankful she couldn't see his eagerness to impress her.

Larten hefted her legs around him better to hold her as she adjusted her arms so she wouldn't choke him. The weight of her on his back made his body tingle. He could feel her breath on his cheek.

"Now what?" Erin asked.

Larten gave a wicked grin she couldn't see; he started running and suddenly hit flitting speed. He heard her cry out in surprise, then laugh in exhilaration.

Larten sped out of the town hitting the outskirts, racing across fields and through woods. He could feel her smiling against the side of his neck.

He came to a stop miles from Erin's home.

Erin was still gripping him. She realized they had stopped and slowly detached himself from him. She was breathing fast, her eyes burning with adrenaline, smiling, and laughing.

"That was amazing! Oh my gosh, my heart is racing! You are so lucky you can do that! It felt like we were flying. Oh Larten, I loved it!" She said between breaths.

Larten wasn't out of breath but knew he shouldn't have them be far from her home, just in case. He may not have been breathing hard but his heart was pounding. He could hear her heart beating quickly and pride swelled in his chest. Flitting had never been anything special to him until now. She was thriving from it and her reaction made it all the more special, increasing his pride that he could cause such a reaction from her.

She looked up at the sky, taking a deep breath. "You know I've always loved being in the country. You can see so many stars. I remember only seeing the stars when Murlough had me. They were so dim then." Erin said softly, more to herself. "But they're so bright now. They're always bright even when we can't tell."

Larten looked up into the sky with her. The stars meant nothing to him. He was a creature of the night. They were just there. Nothing more.

He turned his head to look at her as she stared into the sky, a small smile on her lips. Her skin was soft in the moonlight, strands of hair blowing gently in the night breeze, her eyes soaking in the wonder of something he couldn't see. He wanted to see what she was seeing. How could she bring up her encounter with Murlough and smile at the stars? That was when he noticed the tears building in her eyes and drops starting to fall. She turned her head away and dabbed at her eyes with the sleeve of her sweater.

Larten's eyes widened. She was crying but he didn't know why. What should he do? By the gods of the vampires, he didn't know what to do! Ask, don't ask?

She tried to hide a choked sob from him. He placed his hand gently on her shoulder. Words were not always necessary.

She tried to laugh and wave him off as if it was nothing but when Larten's hand didn't leave her shoulder, she turned around and hid her face in her hands against his chest as she cried.

Larten immediately put his arms around her and held her as she cried against him. Part of her tears were, again, about the thought of him leaving them, (her), without saying anything. He didn't want any of her tears to be about that matter. Not now.

After a minute she pulled away, laughing and wiping her eyes.

"I'm sorry! I don't know what came over me. I'm so embarrassed. How silly of me." She turned from him, hiding behind a forced smile.

"You have nothing to apologize for or feel embarrassed about." He said gently, turning her back around to face him. "Crying is not shameful."

Erin still hid behind her smile but didn't meet his gaze. "I think between Murlough and my visions and the...fear that you had left us finally caught up with me. But I'm fine."

"I do not think you are fine but I, again, will not push it. Look at me." He placed a finger under her chin to force her face up. Her glossy eyes looked into his, puzzled.

He broke into a large grin, his facial scar crinkling into a wicked looking grin. There was a glint of mischievousness in his eyes.

"Let us merge the two deals we made earlier. We shall set aside a night to, how do they say, treat ourselves to a nice dinner so that you do not have to cook for once. After, perhaps, you can show me around your charming town. I have not had the chance to truly enjoy it."

Erin blinked several times, looking at him in disbelief before grinning in that special way that lit her face up and made her eyes sparkle. That look on her face, illuminated in the moonlight, made his heart flutter. He only wanted to see her this way, not crying. (Though she felt wonderful in his arms.)

Suddenly her face took on a serious tone. Larten frowned.

"What is it?" he asked.

She closed her eyes and concentrated hard before slowly opening them, grabbing Larten's arms to steady herself from the sudden dizziness.

He gripped her arms to stop her from falling.

"What? Have you seen something?" he asked, turning deadly serious.

She shook her head. "No, no. I can't force things to...appear, but sometimes if I concentrate...I might get a feeling." Erin wasn't ready to tell him what she had dreamed last night. She needed to talk to Brigid first.

"Nothing will happen. Brigid told me that Murlough would not be making any sort of move at the present time." Larten said firmly to reassure her.

"When did Brigid tell you this?" Erin asked surprised.

"A couple of nights ago. She was trying to explain precisely what each of your unique gifts entail."

"Ah, I see. Did she then try to explain how everything can be expressed through math?" Erin laughed at the look on Larten's face. "Remind me to call her when we get home. Her new school year starts in a week. I need to make sure she does come home tomorrow like she said she would and start working on a regular sleeping schedule." Erin said, slipping her hand into his, pulling him along to walk.

Larten was surprised but didn't fight it. They walked for a while through a small pasture, silent.

"When do you need to feed next?"

"I-um, not too soon." Larten stumbled out, taken aback by the abruptness of her question.

Erin nodded. "Well, when you need to just let me know."

Larten looked down at her, confused.

"I'm a nurse, remember?" Erin said, smiling and nudging his shoulder.

Larten laughed. "Yes, how could I forget?"

Erin stopped and looked at him, eagerness spreading across her face.

"Can we start flitting again? I wanted a small stroll to enjoy the quiet, but now I really want to go fast again."

In a second she was on Larten's back and he was soon flitting. He took a longer route to get them home. He just wanted to hear her laugh in his ear for a minute more.

Before Erin knew it they were back in her garden. She slid from his back, her body filled with adrenaline. She grabbed his hand and pulled him through the broken patio and into the kitchen.

"Gosh, that's so fun!" she said breathing quickly, pouring water into a large glass. She handed the glass to Larten.

"Here. I don't know if you're thirsty or not."

He wasn't but he took it from her all the same. "Thank you. Yes, I am a bit parched." He gulped it down.

Erin picked up her phone and called Brigid.

"Brigid? Are you still at Ellie's? Okay. Okay. Yes, come home tomorrow. We're going to take Larten shopping tomorrow night if everything goes right."

Larten heard a squeal on the phone. He could hear the whole conversation but the squeal seemed to be Brigid's key signature to her personality.

"We can look for some final school items for you, too. Okay, good. Okay. Love you, too. Bye." Erin hung up, a huge yawn escaping her mouth.

"You are tired. I think it is time for you to retire." Larten said gently.

"Are you telling me it's my bedtime?" She laughed at him, trying to hide another yawn from him.

"Yes."

"You're probably right. I need to shower first. What will you do for the rest of the night?"

Again, always sincere and thinking of him.

"I have been through many nights and have always been able to entertain myself. Please do not worry."

"Well you're not sleeping on my closet floor. The bed is yours all over again, okay? That is your room as long as you are here. Deal?"

Larten nodded with a small smile. "As you say. Deal."

Erin started towards the stairs.

"Oh, and thank you for giving me a crash course on vampire flitting. Maybe we can do it again?"

There was that look of thrill in her eyes.

Larten nodded again. "Whenever you wish."

He watched her walk up the stairs. Yes. Whenever she wished.