Chapter 33:

Shorter chapter, but necessary for the following chapter. R&R!

Larten hung his clothes in the laundry room when he heard noise in the kitchen. He popped his head out and saw Erin opening the fridge and trying to pull items out with her one good arm. Larten noticed she had removed the bandages around her broken fingers.

He growled internally. This was going to be almost a Trial of a fight.

"What are you doing?" Larten asked suddenly behind her, making her jump.

"I'm trying to find food for you."

"No. You are sitting on the couch while I find food." Larten turned her around to move her back towards the couch with firm strength, yet not causing pain to her shoulder.

"But- "

Larten flipped Erin around in the blink of an eye to where she was facing him, his hands firmly holding her arms, looking as sternly as possible. He very much meant business and he was going to lay down the law, as some might say.

"Erin," he said her name severely, "you are injured. I am no longer a simple guest in your home. It is not your obligation to take care of me anymore. I am the one now who must take care of you. I am in control, not you. You must trust me. I know I am earning your trust back, but please, let me make my effort in order to do so."

Erin looked into his eyes. He knew what she was thinking.

Larten tilted her chin up.

"I am not going to leave you. By the gods of the vampires, you have my word."

Erin's face tightened and softened. She couldn't speak from the choking in her throat and keeping her tears back; she nodded and took a steadying breath.

Larten's eyes didn't leave hers as his hands traveled to her wrists leading her to sit on the couch. He could feel the scarred X on her right wrist from Murlough those few months ago. So much in such a short amount of time in a vampire's world.

Erin sat on the couch with Larten kneeling in front of her. She glanced at the shattered coffee table behind him as she tried to hide a smile.

"What?" Larten frowned.

"Oh, nothing. I'm just rather fond that something gets broken in my house when you happen to drop by." Erin couldn't stop her laugh.

Larten looked down, but a smile crept onto his face as well. It was almost an inside joke now.

"Larten."

He glanced back up.

"Do you think we could flit sometime soon?"

He blinked. This woman was truly something, he thought, chuckling to himself.

"Soon." He nodded.

Clearing his throat, he stood and re-entered the kitchen. Not long after, the two were sitting in the dining room eating. Larten noticed that even though she was right-handed, her left arm in the sling and well-bandaged was cumbersome, and he saw the small cues that it frustrated her.

He looked down at his empty plate putting his napkin on top. Erin had just taken her final bite. He reached to gather her plate with his.

"I can carry my own, you know." Erin said quickly.

Larten gave her his signature piercing look that meant no back-talking.

Erin sighed, resigning herself to this new situation of being taken care of; though she would still unknowingly do something that caused Larten to snap at her as if she were a toilsome child. Larten constantly had to fight the urge to simply hypnotize her into behaving.

It was fast approaching dawn and both were noticeably getting drowsy. Brigid would be waking up in a few hours for school. The situation of sleeping arrangements was to be discussed.

"You're not sleeping in the closet." Erin, unwittingly snapped.

"And you are not sleeping in the living room anymore." Larten retaliated.

"I have been because it's easier to get out of a loveseat than a bed."

"I understand," Larten said heatedly, "but we can prop you up in your bed with pillows so that you do not have to worry about that."

"I don't want you to be uncomfortable on the floor."

"I have slept in worse places."

"Just sleep in the bed, Larten. I'm too tired to argue."

"And I am as well." Larten snarled.

"Uh-uh, don't you dare use- "

Erin collapsed in his arms. Split-second vision too late of his intent to use his vampire knock-out gas. He hefted her gently into his arms. He really did not want to abuse his vampire ability, but he was tired and cranky, something he was well known for being.

He quietly climbed the stairs to Erin's bedroom and laid her on the bed. He built up enough pillows to keep her shoulder elevated and pulled the covers over her. She was out cold.

Larten sighed in tired relief.

Before he went into her closet, he smoothed his hand over her forehead, and as if on reflex, he placed a kiss on her head.

He saw the clothes Erin and Brigid had bought for him hanging in her closet. Their stark red and obvious men's wear was blatant against the feminine attire around them; a physical symbol of his entrance into their lives.

Larten settled himself onto the floor feeling his breathing becoming slower. The scent of freshness, of her, lulled him to sleep.