Quiet Time -

James had been looking all over for Mouse. It was 7pm and he was in the mood to play. He finally found her, when he saw a light on in the chapel.

"What are you doing in here?" asked James, waiting for her on the very first pew.

"I thought creatures like you couldn't be in here?

"Creatures like me?" asked Mouse, with a playful smile, as she stood before James.

"You know what I mean. Isn't it sacrilege or something for vampires to be on holy ground? Shouldn't you be turning to dust?" he snickered.

Mouse laughed.

"Something like that. No, I was just asking for help."

"Is he going to help us?" asked James, looking up at the Christ statue.

"Yes, but …"

Mouse didn't know if she should tell him or not. She sat down on the pew next to him and he put his arm around her.

"If you knew your death would save the world, would you willingly die? she asked, solemnly.

"As a soldier…It's a job requisite." Chuckled James, as he nuzzled her ear.

"I'll take that as a yes." Said Mouse, laying her head in his lap, and staring up at him.

James looked down at her and smiled. He ran his fingers through her soft black hair.

"What's wrong?" he asked, his smile becoming a frown. "You're not cocky anymore."

"That's because you and I …are going to die." Said Mouse, sadly. "And I just want to lay here and remember, what it feels like to be in your arms."

"HE told you that." asked James, full of concern as the full force of reality hit him.

"In a manner of speaking." said Mouse.

"Damn, I was hoping to live to be an old man." said James, thinking of all the things he still yet wanted to do.

"Trust me, your not missing anything." told Mouse. "I've lived over 400 years and man has never changed."

James sat still, leaned back and looked up at the chapel ceiling. He sighed as he thought about all that Mouse had seen and done in four hundred years. Mouse lay in his lap and listened to the rise and fall of his chest as he breathed. She could hear his heart beating, steady and strong. She could feel his trepidation and anxiety for a future that would never come.

"The food has gotten better though." she remarked.

"Ha." chuckled James, as he laughed only once.

Then silence and more silence; it covered the chapel like a blanket of sadness at the end of it all.

"Are you afraid to die?" asked Mouse.

"Yes." Said James.

"Me too." Sighed Mouse. "I hear hell is a really, really bad place."

"You'll won't go to hell." Assured James, upset that she would say such a thing.

"It's where vampires go, cursed men that have forsaken God."

"But you didn't! You were turned!" insisted James, now looking down at her, with deep worry.

"I'm a dhampire, James. I was born this way." said Mouse, as she smiled softly at him for his concern of her soul.

"Oh. Surely in his wisdom and mercy, he wouldn't send you to hell for just being born." Insisted James.

"Well, if you get there before me…" began Mouse, smiling weakly.

"I'll plead your case." promised James.

Silence filled the chapel, as minutes pass by. Neither spoke…cause there wasn't much to say. But there was one thing that needed to be said, and with his impending death, James would say it.

"Mouse, I mean Kalle."

"Yes, James."

"I love you and I'm glad I met you."

"Me too, James. Me too."

Then James leaned forward and gently claimed her lips. Their love, sealed with a kiss.