A/N: Here's chapter twenty-nine! Um…so yes, it came to our attention we happened to lose our path on our way here…and uh…we remembered where this story really started. The humble origins, I suppose. The roommates. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Bloodlines, but I do own my OCs. And there is a lemon.

"All you've done is complain…are you sure you're happy with him?" Her thin and tiny fingers combed through her blonde pixie cut, a little flower clip there today.

"Of course I am." May sat up, feeling accused, "He's the only man I've ever met who's lasted this long around me." She said, "Has to add up to something."

"His tolerance of you shouldn't…be something that draws you towards him…"

"Of course it is. April, if this is wrong, I'll let you sing 'I told you so' as much as you want. But I'm happy. It's just the sex." She sighed, "It's not like it's bad…it's just, lost its spark, you know? I keep pushing him, but he's already…there, you know? I feel like he's either not attracted to me anymore, or he doesn't want to hurt me. I don't know."

April's eyes flickered up to Slade, then she looked back at May, "I don't know what to say."

May held a hand out, "Well…I don't know, you don't have any advice?"

"…no…"

She narrowed her eyes and looked back and forth between them, then paused, "Wait…you two…you two haven't…"

"May, I think you should go." April stood up and pushed her sister towards the door.

May laughed, "Oh, how precious! He treats you like an angel! He's the perfect man for you, April!"

"Time to go!" She shut the door, then turned back to Slade, "I'm sorry."

"Huh…" Slade said from his seat, "Makes our problem look…nonexistent…" He said, then his eyes widened when he realized what he said, and he added quickly, "Not that…not that we have problems…to begin with…"

"I'm sorry…" She said softly, "It's my fault."

"No it isn't, I'm the one who messed up."

"No, it's…it's just because it was my first time…I was scared and…I tensed up and…"

"Look, it isn't really a problem…alright? Clearly, if we focus too much on sex, we'll end up like May…and…that's not good…I just, I just need to stop feeling guilty over it…"

"I don't think we should worry about being like May…I think she really tries to be that way…"

"She's got some nerve barging in here and judging how we do things when her own love-life is spiraling down the toilet…"

"I think she just wanted support…or at least a cheerleader…"

"That was supposed to be asking for help?" He asked, "Something tells me your sister isn't really one to lower herself to that…"

"No. She isn't…" She sighed.

"I feel bad…" He said, "I guess it's kinda clear we're both still embarrassed about all that."

"You shouldn't be embarrassed, it was my fault."

"No, it isn't." He stood up, "No matter how many times I tell you that, you keep blaming yourself."

"Well…" She looked away in shame, hugging herself.

She was hugged from behind, "Ever since we met in high school, you were always hard on yourself." He said, "Don't let it get to you."

She rested her weight back against him and kissed him on the lips, "I love you, Slade." She said softly.

"I love you too." He held her close, "That's all that really matters, in the end."

"Mmm hmm." She hummed against him, seeming like nothing else in the world mattered but his arms around her.

He went in for another kiss on the lips, holding her closely and rubbing her back.

"Did…you want to try again?"

"Well I mean…yeah…at some point…but…I wanted you to be ready…"

"I am."

This time when he kissed her, she felt him explore more of her mouth. Meanwhile, his hands moved down to grab her rear.

She giggled into his mouth, "Slade…"

"Yeah?"

"Nothing." She laughed, "I just wasn't expecting that."

He blinked a few times, "What…expecting what?"

"That…that move."

"This?" He squeezed her bum again.

She giggled again, it was high pitched and bubbly, "Uh huh."

He smiled, "Glad you can relax and enjoy stuff like this."

"Did you want to go upstairs?"

He nodded, heading upstairs with her. He loosened his tie and started to unbutton his shirt, "Don't be afraid to set the pace…or ask for something…"

"Okay. You can start, I'll let you know if there's something…not right."

Once he got his shirt and pants off, he went back to making out with her, rubbing his hands up and down her sides.

"Did you want me to take my sweater off?"

"If you're comfortable with that."

She pulled it over her head, then took her tights off as well, her cheeks blushing red.

"If you're embarrassed, we don't have to do this."

"No, I want to…I'm sorry…" She moved her arms away to stop covering herself, then hugged him. "I trust you. I'm just…chilly."

"It's…barely September…"

"I know but…now that I took everything off it's…it's cold…"

"Getting under the covers might help with that…"

"You're right." She said, skittering over to the sheets and crawling under before she held them up for him to crawl into.

He got in beside her, kissing her cheek, "Feel better?"

"Mmm hmm."

He smiled and kissed her on the lips, holding her close as he gradually shifted his weight so he was on top of her. Her hands traced down his sides, her nails down his back, and her lips smothered across his.

He held her hips and began a soft massage for her, sighing gently as he squeezed her a little tighter. "Ooh…Slade…" Her eyes closed as she firmly held his shoulders and melted into his hands.

He kissed her neck, as he reached behind her to unlatch her bra. He held her a bit closer as he rubbed her stomach. "Slade…" She whispered, just enjoying the feeling of his name on her tongue. She moved her head out of the way to encourage him to kiss her neck.

He kissed her neck a bit harder, moving her bra away and holding her breasts. She seemed to relax now that it was off, like she wasn't constricted any longer. He reached down and took his underwear off, followed by her panties, then he rested his length against her hip, squeezing her a bit as he began to create friction.

"O-Oh…" She gasped with excitement, "Hello-o…"

"Sorry…" He grunted, "Didn't mean to scare you."

"No, don't worry, I'm not scared…"

"I just…don't want you to…tighten up…maybe if you were on top, it'd feel nicer."

"Um…" She thought about it. "Let's just try again with me underneath…you…have more experience…"

"Alright, just let me know when you're ready." He rubbed her stomach, "Take your time, no pressure."

She nodded, "Just a little longer…" She seemed a little nervous, kissing him and massaging his shoulders, slowly wrapping her legs around him. He kissed her back, moving up from her stomach to give her breasts a few gentle squeezes.

Her eyes slowly closed as she rested her head on the pillow and held his face in a searing kiss, "Okay."

He nodded, kissing her for a bit, as he reached down and massaged her lower abdomen for quite a bit before he finally went in and penetrated her. She bit on her bottom lip, expecting the same pain from last time, but surprising herself when it wasn't there. Slade even waited, meeting her gaze to make sure it was okay to proceed, and when she smiled with a nod, it was like the room lit up with flames.

He closed his eyes and bit back a groan as he built up a rhythm, holding onto her bum to serve as an anchor for himself. The moans she made were simply irresistible. They were high pitched doses of encouragement for him to go even faster, even deeper.

He grunted and gave a few more thrusts, part of him fearful about her wellbeing once he was finally finished. She seemed to hold through, a sheen of sweat covered her tanned skin, but her smile was beaming. She gave him another intense kiss and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"…think you liked that one better…" He said, giving her a squeeze.

"I did…it…it was so much fun…"

"I'm glad." He smiled, "As long as I didn't hurt you."

"No, it didn't hurt at all…"

He kissed her lips, "Want me to get off?"

"You don't have to…" She combed her fingers through his hair.

"Then I'll stay." He kissed her, "As if you weren't warm enough."

She giggled, kissing his nose, "I love you." She whispered, her chocolate eyes meeting his.

"I love you too."

The squealing mattress was what woke her up. She rolled over her side and looked over at him, her eyes hazy with exhaustion.

He was sitting on the edge of the bed, his face in his hands, silent, motionless. It seemed he finally realized what happened the night before.

Harper sat up but kept her distance. She gently cleared her throat and decided what to say. "Good morning…"

He didn't budge.

She bit her lip and looked away. Tension burned the room around them like acid.

Finally he responded, "You look like my ex."

It felt like a drop of burning liquor ran down her throat. "I'm…sorry…"

"Don't be. I don't…I don't know what I did to you last night, I didn't mean any of it."

"It wasn't anything bad, really." Just one very, very nice hug…

He stood up and grabbed his shirt from the floor, shaking it out, "I have to go."

"Did she die…?"

He pulled the fabric over his head, "No."

"Then…what…what happened?"

He glared at her. Why was she so curious? He wanted to hit her, to teach her a lesson about what happens to people who pry. But he figured he deserved it more than anything else. "We went our separate ways. Doesn't matter."

"'Stasia'…was that her name?"

"Yeah…it was Anastasia…"

"Anastasia…" She said slowly, "Cadmus's…sister…?"

He froze for a moment, "Yeah."

"You…you were dating his sister?" She asked, "He…he told me she was in the Anarchs but I never thought…"

"The Anarchs are usually a lot more fuck-heavy than the Camarilla. At least, I can assume."

I can't exactly blame her. Her eyes darted away as he crossed his arms, "Did you need more blood before you go?"

"No. Again, sorry for anything I did."

She looked down. She needed more of his attention. She felt like she was in heaven just the night before, laying in his arms, even though it wasn't her he was holding. "P-Please." She stammered out, "Just…one…"

He glared at her over his shoulder, "I'm done with that."

"With what?" She asked, "With love or with sex?" Her face felt like it was burning. But she had climbed this far now, there was no going back.

"Both." His answer was blunt and without hesitation, "But thanks for the offer." His voice was terribly bitter.

"You said I looked like her. I was her, last night, wasn't I?" She stood up, "That doesn't have to change. I can pretend."

"Holy hell, I'm not that fucked." He looked offended, "What I want is to leave and go back home. I screwed up my mission and I need to help the others out."

"Then…" Her mind ran blank, "Let me come with you."

"What? No, you're a Camarilla ghoul."

"I'm not in the Camarilla."

"You're Vanderbilt's ghoul, of course you are."

"Just let me come with you. Once."

"No. Christ, you're a freak." He turned and headed for the doorway. She scurried after him, out over to the balcony. She pushed him against the railings and smashed her lips onto his.

He did not kiss her back. But he didn't stop her either. He waited for it to blow over. But it never really did.

She broke the 'kiss' after a second, "I didn't even…get your name."

His eyes seemed dry and heartless, "Killian."

"Killian…" She repeated. Of course that was his name. She kissed him again, sighing into his mouth.

This girl was clearly nuts. Out of her mind. Beyond sane. But really, was that any different than how he was in Chinatown? Was it any different than the way he treated her, all of them, when they had work to do? When they were occupied?

He knew he should push her away. He knew if she was to learn her lesson, she shouldn't continue.

But he didn't.

And he started kissing her back.

The kiss turned into making out, the balcony turned into the bedroom, and their argument turned into sex. But just like all his dreams, when she came, he didn't. He just didn't have the heart to.

She lay there, a panting, sweaty mess, fully satisfied for the first time in, perhaps her entire life. She closed her eyes, laying a hand on her abdomen as it ached. She felt him shift off of her and stand up, getting dressed, "Where are you going…?" She asked softly.

"I have to go find my old man. It's the reason I'm out here." His voice sounded like he was on the verge of tears, but he refused to face her.

"Killian…" She rolled over towards him, her big blue eyes shining with tears, "Are you going to come back?"

"Yeah." He headed downstairs, grabbed his empty shotgun and left.

This wreck of a girl who reeked of alcohol and stuck with desperation reminded him of himself. He was as broken as she was, once upon a time. Hell, he was still broken. He was just taped back together by sheer nerves and the pressure to survive. But were they really all that different? Clearly there was someone in her life who she had run away from. She couldn't possibly be this alone. He actually felt a pull to this girl, whether it was pity or not, he wasn't sure.

All he knew was it was about time he found someone who might be just the perfect match for him.

Sirius laughed as Phaedra took down the umpteenth gaggle of creations. At this rate, they were doing things his way, for miles, "That's right, keep killing them all until you drop!" He laughed.

"This is depressing to watch…" Cadmus muttered.

She stood back as the last one fell to the ground, her axe covered in dark matter now, "I can't wait to see what karma has in planned for you…"

"I find it hard to believe that he manages to treat another like a slave despite his lineage." Raven said softly.

Sirius's eye darted to Raven, as his snake's tongue flickered out. If this dope in the cloak was going to keep challenging his authority, she would pay for it. "I doubt a hermit like you would understand…" He started, "But in the Camarilla, the elder Kindred gives orders to the lesser ones, and they're to be carried out to the letter. That too difficult for you to understand?"

Catalina ran a hand through her red hair, "That's why the Camarilla is so messed up. Kindred need freedom."

A dark smirk came on Cadmus's face, "Says the group who sleeps in the woods."

She looked at the Ventrue, "It's your fault…you destroyed the Last Round!"

"You seriously thought that blowing up the Chantry wouldn't have any repercussions?"

"Tch, expect more where that comes from. We're going to liberate all the Kindred in the country from your oppression. Tyranny will end."

"Yeah, if I was on the losing side, I'd say crap like that too."

"I believe we're of the same age." Phaedra flipped the subject back, "Or else my Dominate would not work on you."

Sirius rolled his eye, "When that happens, usually rank comes next. What's your rank, Nagaraja scum? Huh? Do you have a title? Other than just, dirt, or muck? What does Strauss refer to you as, or are you just a disposable soldier? Going to put money on the second thing."

"Raven and Rainy aren't even part of the Camarilla and they're arguably more important than you are." Phaedra said.

"Well, clearly if Strauss thought that, he'd put them in charge, would he?" He smiled, "But since they're Independent, they're out of the runnings anyway."

"If you view everything like a competition, you're in for tough luck, douchebag." Cissy said.

"Yeah, clearly I don't know what I'm doing." Sirius said, "How the flies and mosquitoes out in the woods, eh bitches? Is it like a vacation?"

"Better than the noise of the city where there are people like you." Cissy said.

"I give praise to the Anarchs for staying with their cause, even in the most trying times." Raven said, "I have a feeling that many people here would rather…switch sides, perhaps, rather than stay loyal, when faced with such obstacles."

"Pfft, see, Kindred in the Camarilla actually survive." Cadmus said, "Even if the Anarchs try to rebuild from that, they'll just get knocked back down by us or a different Camarilla. It's fate."

"Got that right." Sirius said, "Of all the sects, the Anarchs never made sense to me." He said, "The Camarilla and Sabbat are always at each other's throats. Then there's the Anarchs…who oppose the Camarilla…unless the Sabbat are around, then they usually just hide in the Camarilla's shadow. They're like a rebellious child. They bark and yell at the Camarilla parent, but when real danger rears its ugly face, they tuck their tail between their legs and scurry off."

"Ugh, we didn't come here for you guys to make fun of us!" Catalina snapped.

"Well, we didn't even want you in the first place." Cadmus said bluntly as he narrowed his eyes, "We wanted Anarchs with talent."

"Who? Your sister?"

He didn't respond.

"Hate to break it, but your sister has no talent when those two apes back at camp are all over her. And they can't function without the thought of her. So yeah, you got us." Cissy said, "Sorry."

"Tch…this is why I hate the Anarchs so much…" He clenched his hands into fists, "They always pretend they're doing work, but really, they're turning my sister into a trophy…"

"Yeah, that's…more or less the impression I got while I was there…" Sirius said.

"We get the real work done." Cissy said.

"For some reason, I struggle to believe that…" Phaedra said.

Cadmus looked at Sirius, "How much longer till we're there?"

Sirius shrugged, "Could be another few days."

"You gotta be shitting me…" He said, "This place is gross…there's no way we'll be able to stand each other for another few days."

He frowned, "Why do you think I thought it was stupid to bring a ghoul down here?" He asked, "She's probably just gonna die soon, so we may as well drain her now."

His eyes widened. He looked incredibly disturbed at the suggestion.

"Or the Nagaraja will have to eat her. Seeing as…that is something she'll have to do soon…"

"Shut up. I know what you're trying to do, and it's not going to work."

"I mean, maybe she could scarf down the walls or some of the monsters…but…ingesting all that fungal shit is probably risky. Why do that when she can just eat her." He nodded towards Angelique, "What do you think she's like to Nagaraja? A happy meal? I've always wanted to know."

"Phaedra is not going to eat Angelique. That's ridiculous."

"Eh, originally, you'd be right…but…the beast…has a funny effect on how we process logic, and how we process what's going on around us. Come on, the Nagaraja has been doing the most fighting, and they need to eat regularly, just face it now, it'll make it less painful."

"Cadmus, I will not eat Angelique." She said, "I don't eat people alive."

"Sure you don't." Sirius grinned, "Right now."

"I will not eat you." Phaedra looked over at Angelique, "If I try, you have a knife, just cut my throat."

Angelique gave an uneasy nod, wheezing into her handkerchief.

Cadmus looked back at Angelique, his eyes full of worry. But shame or guilt forced him to look back ahead, to where he was walking. Even though they were having a falling out, he didn't want her to die down here.

He frowned at Sirius, "Alright, I'll bite, why do you hate the Nagaraja so much?"

Sirius smirked, "Should be obvious."

"Fine, I'll try again. Why do the Followers of Set hate the Nagaraja?" He asked, "Did Set and Nagaraja fight over a piece of bread a-thousand years ago or something stupid like that?"

He chuckled at the pure stupidity of Cadmus's statement, "Kid, there is no Nagaraja. Their group came from a ritual. Experimented on some blood to make themselves immortal."

"So what the hell does that have to do with the Followers of Set?"

"Because they used our blood to do it." He clenched his fists, "Ever since then, we've been enemies, hell, maybe even before that." He said, then he laughed, "But hey, they fucked up the ritual, so now they have to always eat flesh. Good. I hope they suffer."

"That's it?" He crossed his arms, "I was expecting something a little more personal. It's just a rip-off of the Tremere and Tzimisce conflict…it's completely unfounded."

"Unfounded?" He growled, "Unfounded?" He repeated, his tongue angrily flickering out. Then he calmed down and smiled once again, "I guess I shouldn't have expected you to understand…"

"Tch." He looked away from Sirius's gaze, a pause went by as they all kept journeying through the tunnels.

"I guess your beef with the LaSombra is unfounded then, too."

Cadmus's eyes sharpened, but other than that, he didn't really feel like dignifying that with a response.

"If I'm overreacting so much, why don't you embrace the next LaSombra you see with some warmth, huh?" Sirius turned to Cadmus and grinned, "Come on, give Remus a big ol' hug."

"That's completely different." He snapped.

"Uh-huh, I'm sure it is." Sirius said, looking at Catalina, "You. You hate the Tremere, right?"

Catalina looked at him bitterly, "Our clans have a shaky history at best. You know what they did, they cursed my entire clan…"

"Ah. Unfounded, I think you should give Strauss and Victor more of a chance than that."

"Piss off."

He faced ahead again, "Anyone else need a lesson on why I hate what I hate? Need to take notes? No, all good? Going to question me again?"

"If I weren't Nagaraja, would you hate me?" Phaedra asked.

He gave a careless shrug, "I don't know. Why the hell do you care so much?" He asked, "I'm just another coworker. Haven't you ever learned that you're not gonna get along with everyone you work with?"

"This isn't just a case of not getting along…" Cadmus muttered, though it was quiet enough where not that many Kindred heard him.

"Whatever…" Phaedra rolled her eyes.

"There's someone up ahead." Poe pointed.

Sirius squinted, "Ah…shit, that's Lafayette…" He said, "Well, gotta go…"

"Gotta go?" Cadmus glared at him, "Where the hell do you think you're going?"

"They still think I'm on their side." He said, "If they see me with you, the whole operation is ruined." He started walking backwards, shrouded by Obfuscate, "Later, scumbags."

"Unbelievable…" Cadmus pulled his axe out, "We hear him flapping his gums for what easily could be days…and now he ditches us…"

"Let's just…try not to dwell on it for now…" Phaedra mused, grabbing her axe. She didn't realize until she held it in her arms just how heavy it was.

"You should stay back." Cadmus said, more or less standing in the front lines, "You're still exhausted from taking out all those monsters."

"Alright…I'll stay on guard…"

Cissy got out her machine gun, "I remember this guy. He's nuts."

Catalina nodded, pulling out a sword and standing beside her, "Looks like he brought company."

Lafayette chuckled, Cedric at his side. The former looked extremely confident, given that it was two to eight. "Ah, where are you hiding, little Nagaraja?" He asked, "I have so many new powers to show you. If I recall, you ran away from our last conflict."

"I'll take your word for it, but thank you for the offer." Phaedra held a hand up.

Lafayette snickered, "Look at them, tremble in fear." He said, "I could squish them like insects, but I'd rather add their powers to my collection!" He laughed.

"Laugh while you can." Cadmus frowned, holding his axe firmly, "We know what you're planning, and we're going to stop you."

"Oh, are you now?" Lafayette's expression only grew darker, more confident. He held an arm over Cedric, "Stay here. Your assistance is likely not needed." The stoic reaper gave a nod, crossing his arms and staying where he was.

Lafayette darted towards Cadmus, holding his hands out as a red glow came from them.

"Not again." Cadmus avoided the attack, holding a defensive stance.

Cissy grit her teeth and unloaded a clip right for Lafayette's chest.

Lafayette only laughed as his outer skin chipped and a mild amount of blood poured out, "Yes, fight your flimsy battle with me, Camarilla dogs! Do the best your pathetic powers can afford you!" He held his hands out, immediately summoning three giant worms that joined the battlefield.

Cadmus swallowed hard, "High-level Animalism attack…" He said, "Starting to think it's true and he did diablerize Madame Vaska…"

Phaedra grasped the grotesque wall as their balance shook, "Then what on earth are we supposed to do to outmaneuver them?"

"I'll get back to you on that one!" He shouted over the creepy screeches of the worms. He looked back, seeing one of them corner someone, "Angelique!" He leaped to her aid, shoving his axe blade into the worm's jaws. The worm screamed and slithered back, blood leaking everywhere from its mouth.

"Should we run?" Cissy asked desperately.

"No…we've come too far." Cadmus grit his teeth, as another worm dove for him. "I am not just going to turn around after staying down here for so long…we can't let him get to the Antediluvian…"

Cedric's eyes lit up, "…Angelique…?"

Angelique's pink eyes darted over to Cedric. While a good half of her face was covered by a bandana, she still looked a little freaked out.

"I thought the big metal grim reaper was supposed to stay in his spot…" Catalina said.

"Yeah…why?" Cadmus asked.

"He's headed straight for us." Poe pointed.

Cedric sprinted across the battlefield faster than anyone had ever seen him move. He drew a single scythe, slashing apart anyone who got in his way. Once Cadmus, Catalina, Cissy, Poe, and anyone else near Angelique was knocked aside. Cedric sheathed his scythe, reaching out a menacing, metal hand for the tiny ghoul.

She shook her head, backing away, back into a wall. She looked like she was going to have some sort of panic attack at the rate her chest was rising and falling.

Cedric flinched as Cadmus slashed him from behind with everything he had, "Get the hell away from her!" He bellowed.

Even with armor, Cedric felt that. He whirled around and drew both his scythes, clashing with Cadmus.

Cadmus couldn't take dueling him alone for too long, "Someone help me shake this guy off!"

Poe was about to dash in for aid, but he looked back, seeing Lafayette close in on him. He held his golden sword in a defensive position.

Phaedra rushed in and tried to hit Cedric from behind with little avail.

Cedric defended the blow. One scythe was blocking Cadmus's axe, and the other was blocking Phaedra's. His purple eyes shrunk when he saw Angelique trying to sneak away from him, "Come back, Angelique!"

Cadmus turned pale at the realization of Cedric knowing her name, "What the…"

"Cedric, enough of this." Lafayette said, "I need to be in well condition for when I drink Tzimisce's blood." He said, holding a hand out, "This will do."

A blue glow came from Lafayette's hand as he waved it, and everyone, aside from himself and Cedric, fell asleep.

A/N: Maybe if Angelique was a little bit hungrier, she would have taken his hand…a little dizzier…Thanks for reading!