A/N: Yes, I know everyone it has been quite sometime since I last updated but I came to a block of sorts and couldn't write. Anyway, here I am updating. So chyea hope its well liked and what not kidos and don't forget to review! BTW! To my brand spanking new readers: AngelUndertheOpera and theonewhoconquers, your amazing and I love you, your reviews really made me want to write some more. Also to my wonderful friend TempestRaven, this update goes to you because I know how much you enjoy this story and it means allot to me that you care about this work of mine so much!

On with the update!

( I use the word much much to much ) X DD

"How dare that woman love another man!" Ralph shrieked to his unexpecting butler. " I am the man she is to be married to! And she loves this Drake? This monster? Its disgusting I tell you!"

"Yes sir," the butler said lamely and took his masters dinner tray away.

"I cant believe this, I cant wait until I get my hands on that bastard!" Ralph began an all to familiar stream of hallow threats towards a man he didn't even know.

Gustave just walked away with the tray in his trained hands and then started towards the kitchen keeping his well taught apathetic look in place. Upon reaching the kitchen he sighed deeply and his shoulders slumped.

"The masters at his ranting again about Sophia?" asked Lily, a tiny middle aged pastry chef, examining the tired Gustave.

"But of course, it is the third night in a row I have to be put through his pathetic babbling." Gustave groaned and readied his masters dessert tray. "Honestly, i thought that Sophia was well off getting engaged to be married to the master but now that I come to hear his whining I would never wish that on any lady!"

"Oh honestly Gustave, France really produces dramatic people like yourself? It cant be that bad!" Lily giggled patting him on the shoulder.

"I want to slit my wrists slowly with a butter knife." Gustave said his face frozen into an apathetic glare.

"Whoa.." was all Lily could counter watching Gustave leave the kitchen with their masters food.

-o-

Drake tugged at one of his beloved's' dark chocolate colored curls and sighed. His sigh was heavily weighed with pen up worry and disappear.

"What if he tries to take you from me?" He asked to himself watching the slow and steady rise and fall of Sophia's chest as she slept peacefully in his arms. It had been three nights since Sophia had her run in with this Duke that threatened his entire family. Drake pulled himself out from under her slumbering weight and went to get dressed.

After putting on his everyday uniform of dress trousers, a white linen shirt, vest, coat and

dress jacket he walked over and laid a loving kiss on Sophia's brow. He then walked out

into the hall and locked the door to his room. He walked across the hall to Nicolae's room. When he raised his hand to knock on the door he heard whispering and a occasional whimper, he decided not to bother to knock and instead just walked into the room.

Upon entering he saw Nicolae kneeling on the floor praying by a picture, tears streaming down his thin and now hollowed looking face. "Nicolae..." Drake whispered softly in his friends direction.

Nicolae turned to Drake with glistening tears. "I think I will soon be seeing my wife my friend..."

"What makes you say that?" Drake asked crouching down next to Nicolae.

"I've heard them, the ones you are staying behind, they dont believe in you any longer." Nicolae took a deep breathe, "This is the only time in this home of ours that I have felt unsafe, they tried to attack me you know."

"They did what?" Drake started to rise, his teeth grinding due to his mounting anger.

"Sit friend, it is useless, and it doesn't matter much anymore." Nicolae's soothing yet demanding voice made Drake take a seat on the floor again next to his ill looking friend.

"Nicolae you are looking worse than usual."

Nicolae smiled at that and patted Drake on the back and only replied with a nod. "I miss my wife, I miss my daughters, I miss everything." his once strong hands were now shaking and ghostly white he looked down at them new tears brewing causing his purple eyes to glow. "I want to be healthy and whole and with my maker, even if He rejects me from heavens gate for living the life I have I would rather hells fire or the uncertainty of purgatory!" his frail body shook with years worth of sadness and regret.

"Nicolae I am sorry," Drake said a single tear toppling down his handsome face. "I am so sorry I came that night to the graveyard outside your church, I am so sorry I approached you, if I didn't leave you there even in a half state then that demon of a person would never have tricked you into becoming one of us." Drake laid a hand on Nicolae trembling shoulder.

"Drake, dont apologize, being here with you and Romulus had been a reason to carry on all on its own, I just need to pass on and be with the Lord." Nicolae smiled a watery smile at Drake. "I think I will take my life soon." he whispered.

All Drake did was nod. "I think you should wait, not for me or even Romulus but for yourself. Try and wait for this up and coming battle and see if you dont meet the Lord on that day."

"Drake, we will win any battle that comes against us, not by spilling blood, but by speaking with them, we are rational men and I will not fight unless they make an attempt to take Romulus' life you yours or even Sophia's. After this battle though I am going to leave this place."

"I understand," Drake whispered looking at the old decomposing rug he and his pale friend sat on. "Nicolae, you are my best friend, I love you very much , you are my brother in flesh and soul."

"As you are mine," Nicolae lifted his lavender gaze to meet Drake fierce green and then smiled, they both smiled warm and genuinely to each other for they knew what really lie ahead of them in the coming days.

Drake rose from the floor then and turned to Nicolae. "I think I am going to take a walk, watch out for Sophia I will be back before you can say dawn."

Drake walked out of the room the door banging behind him. And as a single tear cascaded down Nicolae's cheek he whispered; "dawn..."

A/N: well I hope you liked it, I know it was just a filler but I needed to update and it kind of gave me an idea, I think that this story with be only 30 chapters long SSOOO, here comes the end, I might update again tonight. Toodles!