A.N. I write the story, but I own none of the basic ideas or characters. Though I really wouldn't mind if I did...

Thierry stared at the mass of files in front of him blankly, vaguely wondering if they had been in some sort of order before he got them. Banking on yes, he rifled through them like a child pushing the unwanted peas around a dinner plate. Suddenly, he felt a tingle near his heart that caused his breath to flutter.

Elyssa was home from school.

Sighing, Thierry tried to ignore the feeling. He'd been trying to ignore it for the last couple years. He wanted Elyssa to remember in her own time, or to develop feelings for him on her own. He thought it was important that she shouldn't feel pressured to have feelings for him.

Seeing the woman she was becoming made it hard for him to stick to his own rules, though. Sometimes he found himself purposefully seeking her out when she was home, just to be able to see her and say hello. He watched her turn from a very sweet little girl into an intelligent, kind, beautiful young woman.

It was funny, but he felt almost as if he had fallen in love with his soulmate all over again.

The sudden knock on the door to his office startled him and he jumped, sending a file flying across the desk to land on the floor next to him. Looking at it in exasperation, he called, Come in! and bent over to pick up the file and papers.

The door opened a few inches, and Elyssa shyly poked her head through the small opening.

Smiling warmly, Thierry straightened and set the file on the desk on top of the others. Come on in, Elyssa.

She smiled and came inside, shutting the door behind her. Practically skipping in her happiness at finding him unoccupied, Elyssa happily plopped herself into the chair in front of his desk. What were you doing?

Thierry smiled sheepishly. Nothing really. I was supposed to be looking at these files, but I seem to have mixed up the order.

Elyssa paused to stare at the stack of files. Did they have to be in order?

Shrugging, Thierry picked them up and set them on the side of his desk near his To Do pile. Doesn't really matter. What can I do for you?

She grinned at him. I was trying to procrastinate doing homework.

His teasing smile held no malice as he asked, What? No chemistry to do?

Blushing, Elyssa shook her head. I'm already a week ahead. I have some calculus and reading for English, but that's about it tonight. Elyssa's gray eyes twinkled and her face broke into a smile as she said, Oh! I almost forgot! In chem today, Miller pulled me aside and told me about this internship at the Vegas crime lab. Apparently, they take high school students in the office. I mean, I'd be a paper pusher, but it's actually in the office.

She leaned forward excitedly, and Thierry carefully pulled his hands onto his lap. He saw her eyes dim and knew that she'd noticed the movement. Controlling his wince, Thierry grabbed the glass of water in front of him.

That's great. Did he give you an application?

Elyssa shook her head. He already recommended me for the position. I'm supposed to go in for an interview before they have me fill out an application.

Congratulations. When do you go in?

Friday, after school. Could I borrow Nilsson for a ride? Elyssa gazed at him with a hopeful expression and crossed her fingers on her lap.

Without bothering to check and see if he had any appointments Friday afternoon, Thierry nodded. Sure, go ahead. Just be back for dinner or call.

Thanks, Thierry. I guess I should go do my homework, huh?

Thierry laughed and leaned an elbow on the desktop, letting his cheek rest in the upturned hand. Probably a good idea, yes.

She stood up to leave, but turned back quickly. I forgot. I asked Sabrina to come to tonight's Circle Daybreak meeting. Is that okay?

Of course. Sabrina is always welcome here, Elyssa. His smile was warm and she smiled happily back before walking back to the door. As the door closed behind her, Thierry sighed and let his forehead rest in his hands.

What am I doing?

Sabrina bounced through the door into the entry hall, shooting a quick smile at Nilsson who had answered the door. Nilsson--proper young vampire he was--nodded once in return and shut the door behind her. As he faded silently into some other part of the house, Sabrina gazed after him a little wistfully.

Why do vampires have to be so attractive? she sighed, hand covering her heart.

All the better to lure you in, my dear, Elyssa teased from her place at the bottom of the stairs. Apparently, Nature decided that humans are more vulnerable to beautiful people. Eyeing her friend wryly, she added, Can't imagine where it got such an idea.

Sabrina snorted and shifted her backpack on her shoulder. So my attraction to your chauffeur is a testament to my human frailty. Wonderful.

Elyssa giggled. Are you thirsty? Hungry? The meeting isn't going to start for another couple of hours.

Still feeling sticky from her car ride over, Sabrina lifted her hair away from her neck.

Kitchen it is. Turning towards the hall, Elyssa led the way to the kitchen. Involuntarily, her eyes focused on the door to Thierry's study as they passed.

You've got it so bad, Sabrina breathed to her, careful of any oversensitive ears that may have been lurking.

Elyssa cringed. I was just wondering if we should stop and say hello.

Right. Because Thierry and I are such great friends.





Shut up.

Huffing delicately as they entered the kitchen, Sabrina muttered to herself, Crush, my butt.

Elyssa opened the gigantic fridge and stared inside at the array of beverages, including a few packets of blood. Diet or regular?

Regular, of course.

As Elyssa was pulling out two sodas, James, Poppy and Thierry walked in, laughing about something. Hey guys, Poppy said, reaching past them into the fridge.

You coming to the meeting tonight, Sabrina? James asked, sitting down at the table.

Yep, I can't wait. I haven't been to one in a long time.

Thierry smiled at them and sat next to James. Tonight won't be very exciting, I'm afraid. It's really just to check up on our branches. Particularly the ones on the East Coast.

So everyone's sending reps? Elyssa asked, opening her Coke.

His smile made her shiver.

Sabrina smirked as Elyssa tried to casually lean against the wall to cover her weak knees. But the regulars from Vegas will be here, right? she asked to buy some time for Elyssa's recovery.

Only a few of them, actually.

Ash is still coming, right? Elyssa asked eagerly.

Sabrina narrowed her green eyes speculatively when Thierry's smile faltered as he nodded. But she merely filed the information away for later gossip and turned back to her best friend. And why are you so excited?

Thierry had recovered and now had a teasing smile on his face. He owes her a birthday present.

Elyssa straightened off the wall with mock indignation, throwing a hand on her hip. Like I said before, I'm not that materialistic. I'll be happy just to see him. Turning back to Sabrina, she explained, Ash has been stationed on the East Coast for the past few months, so we haven't seen him since Christmas.

Sabrina nodded, and took a sip of her soda, cautiously eyeing Thierry. The blonde vampire seemed to have gained control over his reactions and didn't even blink when Elyssa further expressed her eagerness to see Ash.

Elyssa added with an mischievous gleam to her eye. Ash promised he'd take me to prom.

Everyone in the room simultaneously choked on their beverages. As they all tried to breathe again, Sabrina sputtered, When did he do that?

Elyssa shrugged and smiled calmly. When I was seven.

As the girls and the vampires laughed, Sabrina surreptitiously eyed Thierry. If she hadn't been seeing things, then Poppy had glanced at Thierry when Elyssa announced her future prom date. Furthermore, she'd noticed that Thierry looked a little paler than usual for a moment.

She'd always assumed that he regarded Elyssa as a little sister, but maybe that wasn't the case. His reactions sure didn't seem consistent with a sibling-esque relationship.

But if he was interested in Elyssa, what was all this talk about his soulmate?

Reviewers:

Charlotte-Don't worry, you're not going crazy. Thierry didn't save Hannah's life. (Er...unless you count when she got in the accident and he brings her to Chess's house.) Elyssa has the story wrong. She only got a partial story from Gloria and the mysterious disappearer. Don't worry, I'll discuss it in a diff chapter.

thelotuspath-I like the way your mind works! Voice command is totally the wave of the future. Haha. By the time we're done with this phone, it's going to be the only thing you need in a survival kit. :-p

Terriah-Haha. Being late screws up my entire day. I start feeling like I have to rush everywhere to get there on time. (Paranoia is a close friend of mine.)

A.N. I was thinking about including a woman who tries to seduce Thierry. Do you think that's too overdone? (If I'm asking that question, it probably is, huh?) Review and tell me what you think!