Gena was awakened from her nap with a knock at the door. She sleepily made her way and opened the door to a smiling, familiar face.

"Hey Gena, what are you doing napping in mid afternoon?" Gavin said, as he closed the door behind him. He pulled her close and gave her a warm, soothing hug. The two moved over to the soft, welcoming couch. The pair sat next to each other; Gena moved closer and leaned her weary head on his strong shoulder. "So, how did your project go today? Did you bomb your presentation," he asked

"It went very well. The class was surprised when I brought in all of my antique outfits. I got an A," she said with a smile. She sighed happily; the memories of the past days swept through her mind. They had known each other for four wonderful days now. It had all happened so fast. After their introduction in the computer lab, all Gena could think about was him. His presence even seemed to take away her resurrected thoughts of Will. After the evening with Lilea, she couldn't sleep. She went out to feed, to see if leaving the old plantation would relieve her feelings, but it wasn't enough. Gena tried to get back to sleep when she returned and was greeted with twisted thoughts of Lilea tangled with her own past. Seeing Lilea's descent into darkness through her own eyes only made her own memories more vivid. She was dying all over again. Gena finally had enough, but she didn't know whom she could turn to. Could Zoë handle her grief? Maybe Philip could ease some of her pain? Then Lilea's words again echoed in her mind. 'Gavin is the one.' That's exactly who she turned to.

He had been warm and welcoming when she knocked on his door at four in the morning. Gena looked horrible. She stood in front of him in her pajamas; her disheveled hair matted against her in a cold sweat. She looked at his sweet face through swollen eyes. Gavin's warm brown eyes filled with compassion as he took her into his arms. She finally gave out and fell to the floor, grief finally over powering what was left of her strong exterior. He knelt down beside her, stroked her hair and kissed her cold forehead. Gena then felt strong, loving arms wrap around her shivering body. He picked her up and carried her over to his soft bed. Gavin laid her body down and he sat comfortably beside her.

"Do you want to tell me what's wrong, sweetheart?" he said, as he lightly brushed her ebony hair back from her face. She looked up at him, his face full of concern. She heard his thoughts with her mind. 'Why am I taking in this woman, who is almost a stranger? Why am I so drawn to her? Am I going crazy? What's wrong with her; why is she so sad?'

 "I'm sorry to bother you this early in the morning," Gena said, trying to gain her composure. "I just didn't know who to go to...I'm not feeling very well."

"I would say so. What's bothering you?"

"I can't sleep. Every time I close my eyes, I have these horrible nightmares."

"Anything that could have brought these nightmares on? Bad café food or something," he asked softly.

"Yes...it has to do with that Lilea girl you helped me research," she paused to think about what she was going to tell him. "Never mind, you'll never believe this."

"Try me. I've had kind of a weird life already. This will just add to the list."

She told him the whole story; the sleepover, the Ouija board experience, the research, breaking into the room, the letters, Lilea's spirit communicating, the voodoo doll, her vision of Lilea's death, and the headstone. He looked at her with a shocked look on his face. She lowered her eyes in embarrassment.

"You think I'm nuts, don't you Gavin," she said with a defeated tone in her voice. If he didn't believe this, than he wasn't 'the one'.

"No, actually I don't. I don't think a reasonably sound person such as you would make something up that crazy." He believed her, for some stupid reason her believed every word she said, no matter how crazy he would have thought otherwise. "Is there something else besides that bothering you?"

She thought about it for a moment. What could she tell him; 'Oh yeah, when I was seventeen years old in fifteenth century Florence, my husband and I ran off after being together for three days, only to be murdered in cold blood. Oh, I forgot to add that I had been changed into a vampire.' Then he'd think she was nuts.

"It just brings back bad suppressed memories," she said.

"Like what? What happened?" He grabbed hold of her hand and stroked it gently.

"When I was seventeen, my husband was killed in front of me. He was murdered by a jealous prick...," she paused, and tried to hold back the tears. 'Why am I telling him all of this? I've only known him for a day...but it feels like I've known him forever.'
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring you into this," she said, feeling guilty to lay the burden on Gavin.

"Gena," he said as he looked deep into her eyes, "it's ok. I understand how that can traumatize a person. I...I watched someone I loved die in front of me too." A look of hurt and longing came over his face.

"I'm sorry," Gena said, feeling guilty for making bringing up horrible memories for both of them.

He sighed deeply. "It's ok. I just want you to be ok. You need to get some sleep. No more nightmares." As he stroked her hair, she felt herself falling deeper into sleep.

The next two days had been spent just cuddling and watching television all day. Gena's friends were starting to wonder what was going on with the two, which she always answered "We're just friends." That was true until last night.

Gavin went to Gena's room to say goodnight. Gena wasn't expecting him, so she was already in her pajamas; a comfortable tank top and cotton panties. He knocked on her door.

"Hold on a min..."

It was too late; Gavin was already in the room. He was staring at her now, a look of pure surprise on his face. His skin flushed pink as he tried not to look, but he couldn't help himself.

"I just came to say goodnight," Gav said, as he quickly went over to kiss her and then depart. But he didn't depart; their kiss deepened and he didn't leave.

The next morning, they awoke in each other's arms. It had been the most magical night in Gena's life.

Gavin turned over to look at Gena. "I love you, Gena. I'm not just saying that. I don't know what is happening with this whole thing. Why someone like you likes me...why I went to bed with you last night. But, I know that it feels right." He leaned in and kissed her.

Then a knock came from the door.

"Oh shit," Gena said as she realized she had made the worst mistake you could make when you had someone in your room; she had left the door unlocked.

Gena and Gavin jumped out of bed and started to make them selves more presentable but it was too late. Zoë stood in the room, a look of confirmation written all over her face.

"No, Philip! Why can't we just hang out? I'm so sick of being this school's 'king and queen'! All you want to do is flaunt me around like I'm some goddamned prize and then get me to your bed; that's not what I want! What happened to you? You used to care about me; now the only thing you care about is your own damn reputation!"

There. She had finally said it. All those months of being treated like an object had taken its toll. She was just sick of it. Her courage welled up despite her constant thoughts to give in.

"Where the hell did this come from?!? You were happy with me…remember?"

"But I'm not now! Why can't you just understand that?

"Fine, Gena. But, I know you'll just come running back to me one day."

"You just keep on telling yourself that, Phil. Maybe one day you'll get your fairy tale princess who doesn't give a damn what you do."

With that, Philip strode out of the room and slammed her door. Gena pulled her arms around herself protectively, trying to decide if what she did was the right thing to do.