Notes: Sorry for missing posting but between trying to get everything winterized now that the temps are dropping and dealing with nasty headaches from the change in pressure, I'm not sure which way is up at the moment. LOL Here's the next chapter for you lovely readers. Thanks for checking it out and stay safe.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything and make no monies writing this.

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Chapter 5

Once Godric was outside the tent, waiting on Eric, he realized he could hear nothing inside the tent. No voices or sounds of any kind. He was impressed with Hermione's spell work and figured that such spells were necessary to survive on the run during a truly magical war. Shaking his head, he couldn't imagine the things this kind and gentle woman had seen and had to do. What all had she had to do, what had she been forced to witness, how many friends and loved ones had she lost…? The questions kept piling up and Godric knew, one day, he would know the answers. She wasn't ready yet to unburden her soul, especially not to two beings she just met, but she would one day and when she was ready…he would listen. Just as he knew Eric would as well. Finding someone who could relate to such atrocities and tragedies that war caused was a rare thing and even rarer was finding someone who wouldn't judge any actions that may have been taken or not taken by the survivor. That was exactly what Hermione was, a survivor. He could tell she had been through a lot in her short life but she had yet to allow it to drag her down or make her a shell.

Godric was amazed at how quickly he liked Hermione as well as the protective instinct which almost overwhelmed him for her when she almost broke down at his offer of a shoulder or ear. He meant what he said. When she was ready he would be there for her. He would do all he could to ease her burden of guilt, be it from having to take a life or from ignoring a situation or whatever may have caused her distress. There would be no judgment awaiting her in his eyes. He knew all too well just how others could cruelly judge another's actions. Being over two thousand years a vampire and having been turned after fighting the Romans for several years, Godric understood what most seemed to forget or not want to acknowledge. Still, it would be on her terms, not his, when she would share her experiences, joys and nightmares with him. He would never push her. He hadn't missed the well of tears, which never fell, in her eyes and the trembling of her body in Eric's office. He was neither surprised nor disappointed when she collected herself enough to respond to his offer but he had also been prepared had she decided to embrace him for said offer. He was, actually, quite proud of her for holding herself together, it showed him the strength of her character.

Godric then let a small chuckle escape when he thought of her response to his taking flight with her in his arms. It had been close to two and a half to three centuries since a human had caught his attention. It's not to say he didn't appreciate human beauty, he did. Just that none had captured his attention as completely as Hermione had. She was just as beautiful inside as she was outside. He may not know her all that well at the moment but her inner beauty outshone her outer beauty in every way. Don't get him wrong, he thought Hermione a very beautiful woman but most would see her as more of a "plain Jane". As he had commented to Eric about Sookie, outer beauty was not at the top of the list for them, it was a bonus. They had both known some very stunning and gorgeous women through their long years in which the beauty was only skin deep. Sometimes it seemed the more beautiful the woman, the crueler they could be. Now that's not to say the "plain Janes" of the world couldn't be just as cruel or cold but it seemed they were less likely to be.

He smiled at remembering holding Hermione in his arms. She had squealed and tightened her hold on him at first and then tried to chastise him. He had thoroughly enjoyed her reaction and hadn't missed the fact she would not look him in the eyes for more than a moment. But that moment was all he needed. He had seen the slight desire hidden behind the mirth and knew he could have easily seduced her but Godric felt she would be worth the wait. He wanted her ready for their relationship to take a deeper connection. He was surprised at his response, both physically and emotionally to Hermione but was embracing feeling again for someone other than his child. When he had first saw her in Eric's office he had felt like the wind had been knocked out of him. He had been shocked that this beautiful and disheveled creature could pull such a strong response from him. He knew, without a doubt, he could fall deeply for her in little time. As it was, he was already starting on the journey and he had only spent a few hours with her. She was refreshing in her beauty, thoughts, generosity, strength and openness. He found he admired everything about her. She was rare and rarity was precious, meant to be protected and cherished. He knew he and Eric would be able to do just that.

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As Godric was running his thoughts and discoveries through his head, Eric stepped from the tent, taking a moment to observe his Maker. The small smile gracing Godric's lips made Eric hope that it was due to this wonderful new distraction they had just found. Distraction…yes…that described Hermione to a tee. However, he couldn't imagine a more pleasurable or beautiful distraction than Hermione. She was so refreshing in her strength, courage, confidence and natural beauty. Eric was certain that Godric would agree with him about Hermione, especially her beauty. Yes, he has been with stunning and gorgeous women. However, with Hermione, she was the most beautiful woman Eric had seen in far too long. They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder and it was very true. But, some women were so caught up in material things, power, money, etc. that their beauty became ugly. To behold true beauty was to see someone whose inner self matched or outshone the outer. Hermione was one of those women. She truly had a beautiful inner being that only amplified her outer beauty. Many would say she was average or just okay in the looks department but Eric had learned long ago that true beauty was seeing someone from the inside out, not the other way around. True beauty began at a being's core not the protective layer we all see.

Eric was a bit alarmed though at how quickly Hermione had managed, unintentionally, to get under his skin. He wasn't surprised at his reaction to her physical beauty, that was normal. No, it was how he wanted to wrap her up and keep her from harm and danger. She was honest in who and what she was, what she could do and had no problem showing her capability of taking care of herself. She was able to appear strong and competent as well as fragile and demure. Such contrasts, honest contrasts, were rare in today's world. So many women were either one or the other. To find one who could be all of those things was a treasure to be protected and cherished. Eric had no doubt Hermione could be a fierce warrior, a lioness, if someone she cared for was threatened. No, he did not doubt that at all. Even if he hadn't seen her in a battle stance, her demeanor screamed for you to not challenge or cross her, she could rip you limb from limb. Yet, Eric could feel the need to wrap his arms around her and protect her from having to face such situations. It was beyond him, at the moment, why, after only knowing her for a few hours, he felt all the things he did. It was confusing and heartening at the same time.

Then, there was Godric's reaction to Hermione to consider. He was enjoying feeling his Maker through their bond. Eric was concerned earlier that evening in not feeling the bond as open as it should be but then after embracing his Maker, Godric had opened the bond back up. It was such a comforting feeling that Eric hadn't realized he had been missing it. So when he felt Godric's feelings flare up for Hermione when they both stepped through the door to his office, it was a bit of a surprise. Where Eric's initial reaction physically was nothing new, Godric's was. He hadn't felt his maker attracted to anyone other than himself for a few centuries now. Eric felt a jolt of jealousy for a moment when he realized just what he was feeling from Godric but then it was gone. He truly was happy for his Maker. It was well past time for Godric to have someone to make him happy. Although they have shared in the past and Eric wouldn't mind sharing now, he would step out of the picture in a human heartbeat for Godric. His happiness was well overdue and well deserved.

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Godric brought himself out of his musings to give Eric a smile. He knew his child had been watching him and having his own musings on the evening's events. It was a bit on the comical side for Godric to feel his child feeling a bit off kilter. He also knew Eric was shocked at Godric allowing him to feel his own emotions throughout the night. Normally, Makers kept a fairly tight lid on their emotions through the bond shared with their Child but Godric felt the need to not close off or tamper the bond any tonight. He had enjoyed feeling the array of emotions Eric had gone through, as well as his own. He wanted to share this amazing night with his child and knew it had been too long since he had allowed Eric to feel him so thoroughly.

He had felt Eric's small spike of jealousy and wondered briefly on it then dismissed it. He knew there could be many reasons for the spike; however, since Eric had let it go so quickly, Godric didn't think it needed much consideration. If it did, Eric would let him know. Feeling Eric's confusion was no surprise to him for he was just as confused. Their reactions to Hermione were, well, confusing. Not the physical ones but the emotional ones. It's not that they never felt anything towards anyone other than each other. It was just…it usually took longer to evoke such reactions from them. They weren't some baby vamps trying to get their emotions in control. No, they were both considered ancient and therefore had had much practice controlling all emotions. So for them to react to a human woman in such a way was strange. Their reactions could almost be called visceral. They were that quick and deep. They were used to not feeling much of anything for so long, especially in the last century, that it truly took their breaths away.

Godric had taught Eric to control his emotions so they couldn't control him. He had learned how to do this the hard way with his own maker and hadn't wanted anyone to be able to have such power over Eric. He hadn't allowed Eric to bury his emotions where he couldn't access them, that wouldn't have been fair. No, he had just taught his child how to not let his emotions rule him. To not let them show so when the chance happened where he might find someone he was deeply interested in, he could feel as he should. Most non-vampires believed vampires to be unfeeling and emotionless, this was not the case. Actually, just the opposite was true. Vampires felt more deeply than most could comprehend. Just as a new born vampire had to learn to control their bloodlust and sexual lust so too they had to learn how to deal with other such strong emotions. Most baby vampires were, quite literally, knocked on their asses when the strength of their ability to feel first hit them. It was for this reason why newly risen vampires stayed with their Makers for fifty to one hundred years. Bloodlust and sexual appetite were generally controlled within the first decade or so, as well as the way their new reality worked. However, mastering the emotional side of being a vampire took a good maker upwards to a century to teach their child how to handle them.

This was why Godric always found it so amusing when those around them thought both he and Eric were unfeeling, coldhearted bastards and that vampires were only interested in two things…blood and sex. It was just most people didn't care to put in the effort it took to worm their way into a vampire's heart. It took a very special person to become someone important to a vampire. They did not give their affections, trust or even friendship very easily. So how Hermione had managed to garner all three within hours was truly something to muse about.

Godric focused on Eric and smiled. "Shall we retire for the night ourselves?"

"Yes. I believe we shall. There is much to discuss about the evening's events, would you not agree?" Eric asked, returning Godric's smile.

"I would and do agree. I believe it safe to assume we will be resting here for the day?" Godric asked Eric when they started walking towards the cabin.

"We will, if that is agreeable with you. This is still one of my favorite homes to rest in. I always feel more rested when I die for the day here." Eric replied.

"A comfortable home truly does make all the difference in the world. Come child, let us relax and discuss the wondrous events of this evening. I believe our main topic of choice will be the beautifully strong and amazing creature who goes by the name of Hermione Granger." Godric commented as they walked into the cabin.

"Indeed Master, indeed." Was all the reply Eric gave while securing the door.

Godric and Eric made their way down to the light tight chamber below. After showering and changing into sleep pants, they both stretched out onto the king size bed to begin their conversation and discussion over the night's events, as well as Hermione.

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