The Perfect Family

Michael sat up slowly with a soft moan a few hours later. Sarah opened her eyes as soon as she heard him move. He coughed as he swung his legs around, preparing to stand up.

"Whoa, hold on there. You're not going anywhere." Sarah said as she rolled over and onto her knees. He coughed again before he started to talk.

"Alright," he rounded on her. "One-thank you very much." He got ready to push himself up. "Two-I really have to go."

"You don't really expect me to let you get up and walk away, do you? You're hurt."

"I'm fine," he mumbled as he pushed up off the couch.

"No you're not," Sarah countered, pushing him back down. He looked at her incredulously and narrowed his eyes.

"What time is it?" he asked after a pause.

"Most likely three or four in the morning. The sun's almost up-" Before she could finish he was opening the front door.

"What the-? How did you get over there?" Sarah rose and walked over, standing beside the quiet man. She was surprised by his wide, nervous eyes as he looked outside at the clouds slowly turning pink.

"Where are we?" he demanded as he closed the door and headed into the kitchen. Sarah followed him, confused as to why he sounded so angry.

"We're in my house," she answered.

"No no, I mean where are we?" He opened the refrigerator only to sigh and close it quickly. "I should have known…" he grumbled.

"We're in Sterling Heights, and if you're hungry I can make-"

"I've got to go," Michael interrupted, heading for the front door again.

"No," Sarah said firmly, running to stand between him and the door. "Not until I'm sure you're okay." Michael went to move her but swayed unsteadily. "See?" she said, steering him back toward the couch. "You need to rest more." She seated him on the couch and threw a blanket at him. "Look at you, you're still freezing…"

"You don't understand," he said angrily, glaring at her. "I'm telling you I've got to leave now."

"And I'm telling you, you can't."

"Fine! But I shall stay in another room."

"And why is that?" she asked, hands on her hips.

"My eyes…they are sensitive to the light." Sarah sighed and motioned for him to follow her.

"You're lucky we just redid the basement." He made a face and followed her down. "Enjoy yourself. Call when you get hungry. If I don't answer you later today I'm probably at the hospital. Feel free to eat whatever you can find."

Sarah went upstairs and slowly made her way down the dark hallway. Like the nights before, she crawled into Toby's bed. She clung tightly to her old bear Lancelot.

"Today," she whispered to the toy. "I'll take you to Toby. I'm sure he misses you." Sarah closed her eyes and tried to fall back asleep, comforted by knowing that Michael was in good enough condition to put up a fight. She wondered if he would still be there when she woke up.

It was five thirty in the afternoon when Sarah finally dragged herself from Toby's bed. She didn't want to get up and face another lonely day, but reminded herself her new guest might be wanting something. She got up and started downstairs to check on him, but decided she wanted a shower first.

As the water ran over her, it mixed with her tears. It was the only time she would let herself cry, the place she could tell herself it was only water racing down her face.

Toweling off she looked in the mirror. She was disgusted by the person she saw. The woman before her looked fine. Healthy, pretty, and not a scratch on her. It didn't seem right that everyone around her was hurt…aside from Sarah herself.

When she was dressed, she headed into the kitchen to grab a drink and a snack for Michael. Sarah knocked on the basement door and called for him, asking if he was awake. When she didn't get an answer, she opened it slowly and stepped lightly down the stairs.

She looked around but couldn't find him in the dark. Figuring he was asleep, she left the lights off so she wouldn't wake him. But she was still curious as to where he was. She looked over to the chair in the corner, but saw nothing. She wandered over to the backside of the couch to look over it and-aha there you are.

She walked around and sat in front of him. She couldn't help thinking he was beautiful, but the same nervous look from earlier still haunted his features. Sarah smiled sadly. She had a troubled angel on her couch. She unconsciously touched his cheek. He was freezing again. She tugged the blanket down off the back of the couch and laid it over him.

She headed back upstairs, and glancing at the clock she saw it was just past six fifteen.

"Great," she mumbled. "By the time I eat and get to the hospital it'll be eight."

And she was right. As she walked in to take a seat beside Toby her watch read five after eight.

"Hey buddy," Sarah said quietly. "I brought Lancelot for you." She was answered only by the steady beeping of machines.

"I made a new friend last night," she started weakly, unsure if the other party would agree. "He wasn't doing too good when I found him, but, I'm pretty sure he'll be just fine now." She forced a smile as she smoothed Toby's rebellious tangles. "You can meet him when you're out of here, okay?" The constant drone of the machinery hummed softly. "Okay."

"Ma'am?"

"Hmm?" Sarah mumbled, opening her eyes.

"Sorry to wake you," said a shy nurse, "but visiting hours are ending…"

"Oh, yes, alright. Um, thanks," Sarah stuttered, unsure what to say. The nurse nodded and walked into the hall.

"Are you Sarah Williams?" asked a man, stopping Sarah in the doorway.

"Yes I am. Who are you?" she asked politely.

"I'm Dennis Osborne, Toby's doctor," answered the man, nodding over to Toby before shaking her hand firmly. Sarah gave a nervous glance in her brothers direction.

"Do you have news? Is he getting better?" The doctors moment of hesitation didn't go unnoticed by Sarah.

"I'm sorry, Miss Williams, but it seems he's getting worse." Sarah's hand covered her shaking lips, eyes filling with tears. She turned away from the doctor, gazing at Toby with lost eyes. She choked back a sob, and the doctor put a hand on her left shoulder. "There's still a chance he'll live, Miss Williams. Thirty percent."

Her hand moved to her eyes as she silently cried, body shaking.

"Excuse me," she breathed, hurriedly heading for the elevator.

"Is someone here with you? Someone to drive you home?" called the worried doctor. "Should we call a taxi perhaps?"

But Sarah ignored him, punching the button for the ground level, the doors quickly closed, the doctor disappearing.

Sarah walked slowly through the park, oblivious to the world around her. Her tears and sobs had slowed, until they were helpless sniffles. She rounded a corner and saw the same bench she had found Michael on the night before.

She sat down and cradled her head in her hands. Alone in the deserted park, she sat in silence, letting her mind digest everything that had happened.

"Hey."

Sarah's head jerked up.

"Oh," she breathed, "Michael. I didn't hear you."

"What's wrong?" he asked with a raised eyebrow, taking in her appearance. He sat down beside her.

"Have you eaten? You should be wearing a jacket, you're always so-"

"I'm fine," he interrupted. "What happened to you?"

"It's Toby," she said, voice full of emotion.

"Toby…?"

"My little brother. He's hurt…terribly…he's in the hospital…and…" her tears flowed down again. She melted into Michael, clinging to his shirt as if her life depended on him staying beside her. "…I just don't know what to do…" she cried. Michael put an arm around her shoulders, rolling his eyes once with his growing smirk. "First Mom left…now I lost Daddy and Karen…it's not fair…"

He let her cry there, grip slowly loosening and sobs fading away until she just leaned against him silently.

"You know," he started dryly. "You still haven't told me your name." She smiled and wiped at her eyes.

"I'm sorry, how stupid of me. I'm Sarah."

"Well, Sarah, what were you doing out so late, hmm?"

"I thought that was obvious, I was coming home from the hospital."

"And that's why you're in a dark park past midnight?"

"I was walking to the parking garage. It's easier to get a spot there than at the hospitals."

"Do you know how dangerous walking around in the dark can be?" he asked in an amused voice. "The wrong people could find you."

"You know, you ought to be thankful I go this way, this is the very bench I found you on!" He just smiled as she stared at him. "Why were you out here tonight?"

"I was out looking for…dinner."

"I told you, you can eat at my house."

"Yes, well…I didn't find anything…to my liking. My tastes are rather…unique."

"Oh really? How so?"

"You'll see," he smirked, fingers tapping playfully on her throat.

"And what's that supposed to mean?"

"Exactly what it sounds like," he said as his smirk grew. Sarah sighed.

"Well it's late. I'm sorry I wasn't home earlier, you didn't need anything you couldn't find on your own, did you?"

"No, I've only just gotten up."

"I see. You must've been pretty tired. You slept through the whole day." He said nothing, and Sarah sighed again.

"Well," she said, "let's head home."

"Yes," he said a low, smooth voice. "Let's."

Together they walked through the park, Sarah slipping her hand into his.

"I wish there was something I could do to help him."

"You mean you haven't?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.

"No, I mean, I have but, something more. I had him transferred to this hospital because of their top of the line equipment, but, maybe there's a better one…I just wish there was some way I could save him."

"There is a way, Sarah," he said, stopping. She looked up at him, brow furrowed in confusion.

"What?"

"I can save him."

"What do you-are you a doctor?" Sarah's grip on his hand tightened as she looked at him hopefully.

"No." Sarah's eagerness lessoned.

"Well, then, what?" He smiled slyly at her.

"I'm a vampire."

Sarah's eyes widened in surprise before she started laughing.

"Michael come on, I'm not really in the mood for games," she said between two short laughs. She got herself together and continued. "I'm serious, if you know something," he grinned, showing his sharp teeth and her voice faltered for a moment as he brought her hand up to his mouth. "Whatever it is- I'll do it."

Michael lowered his eyes to her hand, biting it softly, and watched the tiny red line draw itself down her arm.

Sarah stepped back, pulling her hand away from him quickly. He licked his lips with a smile.

"W-w-what?" she gasped, eyes widening with fear.

"Sarah think of it. You and I…immortal forever. The two of us could raise your brother together. The perfect family, the three of usWe could travel the world together."

"Family?" Sarah's mind was whirling. "N-no…" she stumbled backwards, unable to look away from his shining eyes.

"He wouldn't die that way, Sarah. He'd live forever. As would you. You would never be separated. You lost your parents, you don't want to lose your brother as well, do you?"

Sarah was breathing hard, mind spinning as she tried to take in the fact a vampire was actually stepping closer to her, hand outstretched.

"Come on, Sarah. We'd be together forever. You...and me…and Toby."

Sarah's mouth opened and closed as she struggled to find something to say. Speechless, she ran from the park. Sprinting down the block to her car, out of the corner of her eye she saw him leaning against the elevator. She quickly got to her car and raced home.

Michael watched her drive her car away, laughing to himself. He'd been alone so long it had been refreshing to be around someone. Especially a woman as beautiful as Sarah.

He walked casually out of the parking garage, turned right, and headed for the park. Last night he had been unsuccessful. The human he had picked had been stronger than anticipated. Tonight would be different.

In no time at all he was sitting on his bench, waiting.A young woman rounded the corner and came into view.

"Excuse me, ma'am," he started as he stood. "Do you know where the restaurant Danny's is?"

"Oh yeah, it's just about two blocks down Nineteen. Here, I'll walk you to the entrance and point it out, you can see the sign from here."

They turned around the corner she had just come from, the path hidden from the rest of the park by a wall of bushes. No one heard the single, muffled cry for help.

A moment later our gentleman rounded the corner, a small smile on his lips as he looked absently at the dying lamp. It flickered before going out, no longer casting its ghostly yellow light on an empty park.

ChesneyChickie: of course you can get one too! and thanks, i'd help you too if i found you on a park bench

Gi Xian: cute puppy ;) id take him home if i found him.

obsessor-of-inuyasha: I'm glad! yay! and i wouldnt want you to go crazy, so i'll pick up my pace lol

XiXhopeXyouXchokeX: taylor! you finally joined us! we should start that mime from hell story soon ;)

shatteredheart: hope you enjoyed this one as much as the first

CanaceErinn: I took a look at it, I dont remember if I reviewed it...I was in a hurry. I'll go check lol Was Michael who you thought he'd be?

Moonjava: thanx. any more ideas on the story you mentioned last week?

atsuibelulah: Sarah's family died in a car accident becuz 1) it was the easiet way and I didnt have to explain it to much and 2) they had to die and Toby get hurt at the same time. I suppose their ...plane...could have crashed. lol. But I did notice a LOT of ppl use that, dont they? lol wow