Disclaimer: I don't own anything in this story accept the plotline and my OC. Duh. Wish I did though. :'(

A/N: This chappie is long (YAY!) and we meet Carl (YAY!!) but some parts of it are kinda boring, lol. I'm sorry.

Megan h: No, Anna does rock, but she doesn't come back in this story. Sorry. Don't stop reading it though! It's good! (ish, lol)

Christina Marquez: I was afraid of that. Well, I haven't changed him yet so tell me if you think he's still too OOC. If he is, I'll try to work on changing him a bit. Thanks for reviewing anyway!

Audrey: I'm so glad you like my story! It makes me feel all happy inside, lol.  Thanks for your review!

And of course, my bestest friend Pixie: Thanks for all the support with my story and obviously for letting me use your log in!   You rock and your stories do too, lol.

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1A few hours later, we had stopped our mad dash to let the horses rest, and were just going at a slow walk. "How old are you?" Van Helsing turned to me and asked.

"I'm 28." I replied.

"Tell me about your family."

I glanced at him, but said, "My family. I have a younger brother; he's 21. Actually, our birthdays are five days apart, and of course the seven years in between, obviously. My parents are divorced; both remarried but never had kids. I don't have any grandparents, but I have an aunt on my dad's side. She has two kids, but they're both younger than me. I'm not married and I don't have any kids. I don't think I will for a while either."

"Why not?" Van Helsing asked.

"I just don't like the whole idea right now. When you have a baby, your whole world changes. Suddenly, you have to rewrite your entire life to accommodate another person. It seems like too much hassle. I like my life now. Maybe a few years from now I'll have a different opinion, but right now, I'm fine without kids." Van Helsing nodded.

"It must be nice to have a family and memories you can look back on." Van Helsing said.

"Not really." I replied and he looked at me questioningly. "Let's just say I didn't have all that happy a childhood. My parents were always fighting before they divorced, and I think my brother's into drugs." I sighed.

"Drugs?" Van Helsing asked.

"They're kind of hard to explain, but the point is, drugs are definitely bad for you. I'm worried about him. I think I envy you. There are a lot of things I wish I could forget."

"I guess not all families are worth remembering." Van Helsing said after a moment, looking off into the distance.

"Yeah, I'd have to agree with you there."

After we'd stopped for the night and had dinner we sat around the fire talking about everything and nothing. "So let me get this straight. In your time, you can travel faster than even Transylvanian horses, and you can fly?!"

"Basically yes. There's more to it than that, but essentially, that's the idea."

"Wow. Carl would love you. Wait 'til he gets a chance to talk to you; he won't ever stop asking questions when he hears about this stuff."

"I told you Carl and I have a lot in common. How many more days until we get to Rome?"

"Hmmm, I'd say three or four. We'll reach the ship tomorrow."

"That's not too bad I guess. Alright, I think I'll go to bed. Have fun out here on the cold, hard, ground." I teased.

Van Helsing scowled at me. "I told you not to worry, but you don't have to be downright mean about it!"

I smiled devilishly. "It's a gift."

Van Helsing rolled his eyes. "Goodnight Ms. ...... Do you have a last name? You never told me."

"Do you have a first? You never told me." I returned, grinning.

"Yes, I do, as a matter of fact. It's Gabriel."

"I know, it was in the movie. But almost no one calls you that. Makes sense; you don't really seem like a Gabriel. Well........maybe......." I studied him for a moment, then shrugged. "It doesn't matter. My last name is Valeria (A.N. val-air-ee-ah, just so you know)." I said, and entered the tent.

We finally reached Rome some days later. Van Helsing led the way into a large Church and down through a secret passage. I looked around, taking it all in. "Pretty impressive isn't it?" Van Helsing asked me. I shrugged, nonchalantly.

"It's just a Church." I said. He looked at me incredulously. By now we were standing looking down at all manner of activity in this hidden area behind the confessionals. People were bustling about and there were racks and racks of various weapons and other things everywhere. I caught Van Helsing's look and explained. "I don't really believe in Go–" I was cut off by Van Helsing's hand as several priests and monks turned to stare at me.

"Not here." Van Helsing whispered. "Whatever you were going to say, save it for a more private spot." I nodded and we walked down a set of steps. Van Helsing led the way through the room to what looked to be a small library. No one was around except for a small person hunched over a book towards the back of the room. "Carl!" Van Helsing called. "I knew he'd be here." he whispered to me with a wink and a small smile. Carl jumped and looked up from his book.

"Van Helsing! What brings you to Rome?"

"Special circumstances, Carl." replied Van Helsing glancing at me out of the corner of his eye. I stood there staring. It was Carl! Right in front of me!

"Well, what creature is it this time? Oh! Van Helsing, who's your friend?" Carl asked, noticing me for the first time.

"This is Andrea, Carl. She would be the 'special circumstances' and I think you'll want to hear her story."

"Well come and sit down then!" Carl said impatiently, gesturing us over. "My God, Van Helsing! She looks just like–"

"Anna. I know." Carl stared at me in wonder. Van Helsing cleared his throat when he saw my discomfort. "So, Carl...." Carl started and blinked.

"I'm sorry, I just.....Anyway, continue." he said, looking at me expectantly.

"Okay, believe me when I say this." I started taking a deep breath. "My name is Andrea Valeria. I'm from the 21st Century, and the other night I went to bed in my own time, and the next morning I woke up here in 1891."

"Well," Carl responded quickly. "You certainly look like you're from around here."

"I assure you, these are not the clothes I went to sleep in." I said.

"I believe her Carl." Van Helsing said.

"Okay, I wasn't doubting her! I was just a little shocked is all. That is a strange story, even with you involved, Van Helsing." He turned to me. "Do you remember anything between when you went to sleep and when you woke up?"

"I remember this strange dream. There was a really bright light.......and wings.....and it felt like the world was spinning faster and faster. I felt dizzy, then I woke up."

"What do you make of it, Carl?" Van Helsing asked.

"Well, it seems to me, and this is just an educated guess mind you, but it sounds like Andrea is some modern reincarnation of Anna, what with the physical similarities, not to mention the similar names, brought back in time by angels sent by God to help with.....something."

"What?!" I said in disbelief. "That's ridiculous! I don't even believe in God! Why would He bring me back in time?"

"You don't believe in God?" Van Helsing and Carl asked at the same time.

"I mean, I....." I blushed a little in embarrassment. "I was baptized," I explained, "and I did get my First Communion and all that, but I was never Confirmed and I just don't really believe in all that stuff."

Van Helsing and Carl stared. "How can you not believe in God?" Van Helsing demanded. "How else would you explain your being here? I'm the Left Hand of God for crying out loud!"

"Well I didn't believe in God 'til just recently, okay?!" I said, getting a little annoyed. I took a deep breath. "I'm sorry for yelling. I'm just a little stressed out about being in Rome a century back in time." I said, trying to stay calm.

"Right!" said Carl, all business now. "I'd say the first thing we need to do, is figure out why you were brought back here, and how to get you home."

"Why was I brought back in time?" I asked Carl, hoping he might have some ideas.

"I don't know," he replied. "Maybe you know something that could be of use to us."

"Use for what? Things seem to be pretty quiet around here." I said.

"I have a feeling we'll find out soon enough." Van Helsing replied. "Until then, I suggest we just stay calm and go through life as usual. Well," Van Helsing said, glancing at me, "Carl and I should go through life as usual, and Andrea, you should.....um....." Van Helsing seemed to be at a loss as to what to do with me.

"How about I stay with Carl?" I asked cheerfully.

"What?" Carl asked, looking a little uncomfortable. "I don't think that's really–"

"Relax, Carl." Van Helsing cut in with a smile. "Trust me, you two will get along just fine. I'm sure you and Andrea will find lots to talk about." Van Helsing winked at me and left the room.

I turned to Carl. "I read all the time, and I study history and science. That's what Van Helsing meant." I smiled.

"Oh. Well in that case, come here and look at what I was reading before you arrived. I believe you'll find it fascinating. It's the only copy in Rome of the writings of.............pre-dating the 16th Century............page 1,149............" Carl began mumbling incessantly about the book. I sighed. Van Helsing was right. I seriously doubted that Carl would ever shut up. However, I was curious, so with a last look at the door, I turned and walked over to Carl.

Some hours later Van Helsing returned to find Carl and I in deep discussion. I had already explained to him all the wonders of modern science, and we had pored over almost every book in the small library. "Knock knock." Van Helsing called as he entered the room. "Good Lord, what have you two been doing?" he asked as he looked around. The books were no longer orderly and papers were lying strewn about everywhere.

Carl glanced up at him. "Van Helsing, I love this girl! Where did you find her? Now what page......"

"We've been discussing all the things you deem too boring to worry about." I supplied with a smile. "Everything Carl starts to explain to you, but never finishes."

"Oh." Van Helsing returned the smile. "Sounds.....great! Very, uh, interesting."

"And where have you been all this time?" I demanded, knowing full well he probably wouldn't tell me.

"You know, gathering supplies, information, anything we might need just in case." Van Helsing said evasively.

"Whatever." I returned with a smile. I shook my head and bent back over the book. Then I stretched and turned to look out the window at the night sky.

"Isn't that my job, Van Helsing?" Carl asked abruptly, glancing up from the page he was avidly reading.

"Well, I..."

"You know it's bad enough that you never listen to me, and where would you be without me, hmm? Don't you think I'd better get whatever it is we need? And another thing– What is it Andrea?!" Carl shouted. I had been tapping him incessantly on the shoulder ever since he'd started speaking. He looked at me, then followed my gaze to the window and froze as a huge, bat-like creature flew in and out of the clouds outside, then tore away eastward.

"What's with you two?" Van Helsing asked; he couldn't see the window from where he was standing. "First Carl suddenly starts lecturing me for no apparent reason, and now you two are just standing there like a couple of....." he stopped talking as I turned to face him.

"Van Helsing," I said, my voice slightly shaking, "I think I've jinxed you."

Hope you liked this chappie as much as I did. This is a pretty good one if I do say so myself. Read and review please! And stay tuned cuz we meet Dracula next!!