Note: Sweet things just around the corner :-)

"Brigid, are you dressed yet?" Erin yelled from her bathroom.

Larten was downstairs eating breakfast Brigid had made. Her specialty: toast. Erin had noticed his grumpy demeanor. She quickly cooked some sausages for him. His face immediately changed. Erin gave him a knowing wink and went back to getting ready. She knew he was also grumpy from having had to wake up before midnight. Erin had said they could measure him and buy him the jackets and return the ones that he didn't like. Larten had promised Erin that he would accompany them last night so, of course, he was going. He was not eager to be in a mall where there were large groups of humans chattering about inane and banal trivialities, but one's appearance had to be maintained.

Brigid came into Erin's bathroom and immediately started looking for the lip gloss she wanted.

"You better not lose another lip gloss of mine." Erin warned.

"I can't find mine." Brigid said choosing the color she wanted, a shimmery rose pink. The color complimented her nude metallic eyes and dusty pink cheeks.

"Exactly. You can't find yours and then I won't be able to find mine."

"It's in my purse and if you ever feel the urge to make sure it's still there just look." Brigid shot back sarcastically.

Erin gave her the standard look she reserved for when Brigid pulled that tone with her.

"Sorry. Joke. My bad." Brigid said, her usual standard apology. It didn't seem the best apology but Erin knew she was sincere when she said it in her teenage way.

"You look cute." Brigid said. "I'm liking the white shirt and the grey flannel. Jeans, black riding boots, nice. I approve so far. Let me guess, navy pea coat?"

"Yeah, it's cold." Erin said applying her lipstick, creamy neutral coral. She dusted her cheeks with a sheer muted coral color and had shaded her eyes with a warm brown matte finish eye shadow.

"Not quite what I was meaning but okay." Brigid rolled her eyes.

Erin looked Brigid over as she piled her hair on top of her head into a ballerina bun.

"You sure you'll be warm enough? Those are your thick winter tights, right? Hey, help me pin the back of my bun."

Brigid took the bobby pin from Erin's hand.

"Yeah, they're the winter tights. Gotta keep my bad girl persona up."

"Ragged jean shorts, thick winter tights, your fringe black boots, long cream shirt, and leather jacket. Yes, you are the epitome of what it means to be a bad girl."

"Shut up. You wore this when you were young. It's the circle of fashion." Brigid said as she sprayed anti-frizz over her straightened long strawberry blonde hair.

"Ow. My feelings." Erin said, rolling her eyes. "Toss me my keys. Time to go."

Erin caught her keys in mid-air, grabbed her purse, and hurried Brigid down the stairs.

Larten was waiting in the living room, somewhat impatiently. He breathed a sigh of relief when he heard them finally finish and headed down the stairs. He stood up when they entered the kitchen.

"Woah, Larten, are you sure you want to wear your cloak out?" Brigid immediately asked, raising an eyebrow as she looked him over.

Larten narrowed his eyes. "Yes. I am sure." He snapped.

Brigid held her hands up. "Okay. I was just asking. No judgment intended."

Larten heard her say "touchy, touchy" under her breath. He bit his tongue and held back his retort.

"Come along, children." Erin said disappearing to the garage.

Brigid and Larten followed. Erin started the car and Brigid tossed her purse in the backseat and scooted over to sit in the middle. That meant the passenger's seat was for him. He hesitated. He hadn't been in a vehicle in a very, very long time. Really all he had ever traveled in were trains, besides that one misfortune when he had tried one of the first airplanes invented when flight had just been discovered. As far as being in a modern day car...it certainly felt odd and his vampire nature did not like it. But there was no choice.

He took a deep breath to ease his nerves and climbed into the front seat. He sat very still when he noticed Erin looking at him from the corner of his eye.

He turned to face her. "What?"

She gave a small nod of her head to his side. "Seat belt. I don't want to get pulled over because I have a big, tough vampire in my car." She said giving him a side smile.

Larten fumbled with the belt for a small second before latching himself in. This made the experience even more uncomfortable.

Larten felt a few soft pats on his hand and looked up to see Erin giving him a reassuring smile. Larten maintained a poker face and tried very hard to relax.

Erin pulled out of the driveway and onto the main road towards the mall.

"Hey, can you turn the radio up?" Brigid asked from the back seat, looking at her phone.

"Ask Larten." Erin replied. "He doesn't understand how music these days is even considered music. He emphatically does not like it."

Larten looked at Erin in surprise. A small insight, or blip as she called it, into his dislikes of these current times. Obviously, music being one of the top.

"Larten, can we turn the radio up, please?" Brigid asked exasperated.

"Brigid-" Erin began.

"It is fine. I've endured worse." Larten snapped.

"Cool. Thanks." Brigid said still looking at her phone, not even taking notice of Larten's jab.

Erin gave a small chuckle and turned the radio up.

They reached the mall and walked in. It was busy. There were a couple of hours left to get what they needed. Larten was the top priority and Brigid wanted to be completely involved to help. She'd get what she still needed later when it was day.

Brigid led the way to the store where they had purchased Larten's pants and shirts. Larten relaxed inside slightly. There were only two or three other customers. And now his focus was shifted to acquiring his standard attire and look.

"So, let's find everything red that we can and work by process of elimination." Erin said. "Brigid, look for vests. Larten and I will be by the formal jackets."

"Sir, yes, sir!" Brigid said, giving a small salute.

Erin and Larten went to the jackets. Larten began looking with a close eye to detail. He knew what was quality and what was not. He saw a red jacket in a style he approved of; he grabbed the jacket at the exact same time as Erin. They looked at each other and shared a small laugh.

"You really don't need our help." Erin said as Larten pulled the jacket off the rack.

"That is not true. Your opinion is of the utmost importance. Having a woman's keen eye is always desired."

"Mm-hmm. Well, at least act like Brigid is helpful. She really cares and feels there isn't much she can do but she can help you in this."

Larten looked over to where Brigid was picking out multiple red vests of different cuts completely absorbed in the task.

"I would never think of not appreciating her desire to help." Larten said matter-of-factly, looking back at his jacket.

Erin knew he was genuinely touched inside and meant what he said.

After Larten had selected a few different styles of red jackets, the shade he preferred specifically, and Brigid came over with the vests she had found, they stood around the three mirrors watching and commenting on each item Larten tried on and paired together.

"Yes, these are the best! You have good taste, Larten." Brigid said happily.

"Thank you. I appreciate your compliment." Larten said giving a small bow towards Brigid with a smirk.

"Wow, and you're funny now? This has been a very enlightening experience." Brigid smirked back.

"Okay, you two. Hang out here while I go pay." Erin said snatching the items out of Larten's arms.

"That is not necessary. I am able to pay for the garments myself." Larten said, his pride getting the better of him.

"Too late!" Erin side-stepped him and hurried to the check-out counter.

Larten pursed his lips and gave an irritated 'hmph' as he scratched his scar. He turned to say something to Brigid but she was looking straight ahead, eyes out of focus, muttering to herself. Larten furrowed his brow and leaned closer towards her.

"Brigid?" He asked quietly.

Brigid's eyes fluttered and she started digging in her purse furiously finally pulling out a small notebook and pen.

"Turn around." She said.

"Pardon?" Larten asked, confused.

"Turn around. I need to write something down. I need to use your back to write on. Turn, turn, turn!" Brigid said briskly.

Larten did exactly as she said and felt the pressure of Brigid writing frantically against his back. She had obviously perceived something. Larten was on high-alert now as she finished and he turned back around slowly.

Brigid was staring at what she had just written, chewing on the tip of her pen, forgetting everything around her.

"What did you see?" Larten asked directly.

Brigid didn't answer him.

"Brigid." He said her name to gain her attention. "What did you see?"

Brigid looked up at him, blinking, as if she had stepped out into bright sunlight. She shook her head exactly how her older sister did to clear her head.

"It's nothing." She said, averting her eyes.

Larten narrowed his eyes at her.

"Honest. It's nothing as far as the main situation but it's a detail and it's diverging from another detail of an off-shoot of another important situation." Brigid said distantly.

Larten knew that that was all he would get out of her. But he would remember to bring it up again.

Erin walked over to them, the jackets and vests on hangers, covered in clear plastic. She immediately noticed something was off. She knew that feeling. Brigid had perceived something. She made brief eye contact with Larten and he shook his head. Erin looked at Brigid and gave her the sister look of 'we'll talk about this later.'

Changing the mood, Erin presented Larten his clothes.

"I believe these are yours, sir." She grinned.

Larten took them from her and smiled. "I cannot thank you both enough for your generosity and help."

"You'll be the finest dressed vamp-, er, man around. You'll look even better than us!" Brigid said pulling herself out of her own world.

Erin checked her watch. "Mall is closing soon. We should get going. Brigid, we need to get you on a regular sleeping schedule for-"

"Don't say it!" Brigid covered her ears. "Do not say the 's' word! I'm a senior and we'll have to look at colleges and my GPA has to be perfect and I have to keep training for track so I can run track at college and-"

"Brigid, breathe! Don't worry about that stuff. I won't say school and I'll let you live in denial. But you have to live in denial with a regular sleeping schedule. Okay?"

Brigid lowered her hands in dramatic relief. "You are the best big sister ever."

"I am well aware of that." Erin said smiling and putting her arm around Brigid's shoulders. "Let's go."
"Can we stop and get an ice cream before we leave?" Brigid asked.

"Ask Larten."

"Larten, can we stop and get ice cream real quick?" Brigid utilized her puppy eyes, big pools of hazel innocence.

He didn't understand why Erin kept throwing the questions towards him. She was being thoughtful, taking into consideration how comfortable he was or wasn't. He looked at Brigid. He really didn't have the heart to tell her no.

"As you wish." He said.

Brigid broke into a bright smile and slipped out from Erin's arm to lock her arm into the crook of Larten's.

"You're the best vampire I know." Brigid whispered loudly.

Larten gave a small smile and let Brigid keep her arm locked into his. He noticed Erin glance behind her at them. They made eye contact and he could see the gentle humor there.

They reached the ice cream counter in the food court. Most of the food joints were closed or closing. Erin gave Brigid some money.

"Do you want anything?" Brigid asked Larten.

Larten went to reply.

"Ignore that. I'm getting you a small something. You can share with Erin." Brigid grabbed Erin's hand, pulling her along. "Be right back."

The three of arrived home; it was now the early hours of the morning and Erin was going to force Brigid to go to bed.

Before Erin could even open her mouth as she set her purse onto the bar Brigid proclaimed she was going to take a shower and go to bed and bounded up the stairs yelling a 'good night' to the two of them. Larten draped his clothes across the back of the couch. He leaned against it and watched Erin as she started opening cabinet doors, most likely searching for something to cook for him. He sincerely had not met anyone quite like Erin. She thought of everything and took total consideration of what everyone and anyone needed. He couldn't fathom how she did it. It touched him greatly but also made him feel inadequate. True he was literally taking their own lives into his hands to protect them from being killed. He reminded himself that Murlough would be very close to being completely healed and would come looking for them. If there had been any new victims he was certain Erin and Brigid would have some sort of inkling about it, and if not, then from Erin keeping up with the news. No news meant good news. But still, he wanted to reciprocate somehow.

"Larten?"

"Hmm?" He said, becoming aware again.

"Are you okay? You looked pretty lost in thought." Erin inquired, giving him a look of concern.

Larten shook his head. "It is nothing. I would like to once again thank you for the clothes. You have gone above and beyond, again, in your generosity. However, we were not able to replace your phone." He said, suddenly remembering.

Erin smiled and waved her hand in dismissal. "Don't worry about it. It still works and my warranty is still good. I can just trade it in. You don't have to pay for anything."

Larten's heart dropped. One less thing he could do for her. He growled inside with frustration.

"Are you hungry?" Erin asked.

"No. I am not. Thank you." Larten answered curtly.

Erin cocked her head slightly at the change in his tone. He was struggling with something inside and she knew he wanted to be left alone for the time being. She didn't need a sudden 'blip' to know that.

"Okay. Well, I'm glad we were able to accomplish adding to your wardrobe. I have a shift tomorrow so I will see you tomorrow night. Goodnight Larten." Erin said formally. Larten watched as she left and heard her ascend the stairs.

Larten pinched the bridge of his nose. "Larten, you fool."