To my relief, now that I was no longer nervous about meeting Leila, the plane ride was a lot of fun. The first few hours I spent chatting with Maximus, until my eyes were barely staying open. While I had gotten more sleep than I was expecting after my nightmare, it still wasn't nearly enough apparently.

Maximus had only smiled before telling me to get some sleep, but that was easier said than done in a wheelchair. When I had told him that, he had offered to transfer me to the plane seat thanks to its ability to lie back. After a moment of thought I accepted. It was going to be a long flight so I may as well get some rest, after all.

Although when he had picked me up to put me in the seat I had been sorely tempted to just tell him to go back to his own seat and I would use him as a pillow. He was comfortable enough to be one. But my nerves won out and I stayed in my own seat for the duration of the flight. This led to where we were now, with me blinking tiredly at the sunlight as we exited the plane.

It felt weird to be home after my life had been irrevocably flipped on its head, but it also felt nice. I had to remind myself that I was only here to pick up my things and then I had to go back to Romania. It was better to temporarily put my life on hold than to return to it and get attacked.

It felt like time passed in a blink, and the next thing I knew we were standing in my apartment building's lobby. Seeing the familiar carpet brought me more comfort than I ever thought it would, but that comfort disappeared into dread when we moved to the elevator.

Taped to the front was a notice, written in bold it said. "Out of Order. Please Use the Stairs". Well that's great, if you could climb the stares that is. My frustration boiled, until Maximus spoke up.

"I could carry you up and then come back for your chair? I would offer to carry you and the chair but that would be more noticable." His logic made sense, and I would never pass up the opportunity to be in his arms so I nodded.

"Thanks and sorry about this…" He shook his head, dismissing my apology, as he bent to lift me out of the chair. It was becoming habitual for me to automatically wrap my arms around his head when he moved to pick me up. His words dragged my attention back to him.

"This isn't something to apologize for. It is a part of life for you and if I can make something easier on you, I will." I felt my cheeks flush and my heart skip a beat, I was so not used to that attitude in people but wow I could get used to it.

The climb up the stairs was uneventful, not that I expected it to be otherwise. After he placed me in the nearby chair, he turned to get my wheelchair next. I day dreamed as I watched his muscled back walk away. I would never have guessed this would happen when I had left here less than a week ago, but I definitely didn't regret my choice to go to Romania.

Maximus reappeared in my range of sight a minute later, having to take the stairs at a human rate thanks to all the cameras in the building, unfolding my chair and stepping back to let me situate myself into it. Once comfortable again, I led the way to my apartment. Turning the key in the lock, I felt my nerves fire up. He was used to living in an actual castle, my apartment was small and dingy at the best of times…

Well, I can't back out now. So with a twist of the knob, I let both of us in. At least I always kept the place tidy so I didn't have to worry about it being a mess…

"I only need to grab a few things then we are good to head to my work and get that sorted out." I wasn't sure if we were doing that or if one of the other vampires who came with us were, but I figured Maximus would let me know when it came time to leave.

It didn't take me long to pack, the only things I grabbed were the changes of clothes I would need, my favorite books and my drawing pad. Everything else I couldn't care less about. The only reason I had the extra clutter of nicknacks was my mother's insistence of buying me them, despite me telling her I would prefer art supplies since I couldn't trip over those.

When I rolled out of my room with the small suitcase in my lap, Maximus raised both eyebrows in surprise. "That's it?"

My mouth twisted into a hard smile, "I know it looks like I'm a packrat, but most of this was unwanted gifts from my mother who wanted me to 'enjoy the finer things in life'. Her words, not mine."

Maximus nodded, not commenting further on my mother, to my relief. Instead he rose from his previous place on the couch. "Well then, shall we head back to the plane? Another one of Vlad's people is handling your employment."

Well that answered that question. I nodded as I rolled to match his stride. We still had to go back down the stairs, much to my chagrin, but after that we would be headed back to Romania. And maybe we could have another date, but keep it simple this time. The memory of the cookies he made sprang forward and made my stomach grumble, which Maximus immediately noticed to my embarrassment. "If you're hungry we can stop on the way to the airport and grab some food?"

I waved my hand, hoping my face wasn't totally red as I answered. "No, it's fine. There was food on the plane and I can eat that once we get there. I was just thinking about how great your cookies were. And possibly hitting the kitchen once we get home?"

I really wanted to try his cooking again, but after such a long flight I would understand if he didn't want to. What I was actually asking must have come through because he grinned down at me.

"That sounds like a fine idea to me, shall we make a date out of it?" His arms rested around my shoulders as he lifted me out of my chair again. It was becoming normal now, to the point I wasn't even uncomfortable when he transitioned me.

I forced my attention back to him and his question, not an easy thing to do when all I wanted to do was bury my face into his chest. I managed, but not by much. "That would be great, but if you don't want to after we get back I would completely understand."

He shook his head, stopping at the bottom of the stairs to answer me. "As a vampire I'm not affected by jet lag like you are so as long as you feel up to it we can make it a date. What do you want to eat?"

He continued moving, looking for the nearest chair to put me in while he went back for my actual chair. I waited to answer until he had set me down in one. "Anything you make is bound to be good. So surprise me."

Usually those words are just flattery but I meant them whole heartedly. If his cookies were anything to go by at least. He nodded, already looking like he was considering what to make as he turned around to go back up stairs.

I released a sigh as I watched him go, my eyes drifting down to the tightly packaged form of his butt. It was certainly something to look at… For once I didn't pull my attention away from my thoughts, just letting them play out as they would. He was my boyfriend now, I was allowed to fantasize about him.

My mental imagery kept me from paying attention to my surroundings, something I would dearly regret soon.