Can you believe I've been updating this story for a year? It's not that long! But there you have it. Only one chapter left after this and we're on to the final story in the series! I can't thank everyone enough for reading my story and reviewing it. I appreciate it so much. I really do.

I'm still working on the final story so there's still some more time left to vote in the poll in my profile. Dwayne and Paul are still tied. Someone break it! Also, I added a link in my profile to my store on Cafepress with a bunch of Lost Boys-inspired gear that I've designed. I'm constantly adding to it and taking suggestions on stuff so take a look and let me know what you think!

Again, thank you so much to everyone that reads my stories! It makes me so happy!

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They lay in bed, their naked bodies pressed against each other, Detta's head resting on Marko's chest, his arms wrapped around her. If she were human, it would have been a restless sleep, thoughts of Jackie flickering through her head. The image of his face was already fading but his name lingered longer. Marko sensed her contemplation and eased her mind.

"It all gets easier as you age. You still have small pieces of humanity left. Those will be gone eventually."

Detta frowned and looked up into his face. "But I don't think I want it to be gone."

Marko shook his head. "The vicious cycle of humanity. There's nothing you can do about it. It's going to fade whether you like it or not and when it's gone, you won't miss it. It'll be like it never existed."

"How long did it take for yours to disappear?"

"Ten years, about. Time passes so quickly for us. Looking back on it, it almost feels instant. Your humanity is what makes you human. Makes sense, right? When you're a vampire, you're no longer human. We don't need it so it cycles out." He looked at her face but still saw that inkling of emotion, that something for Jackie. "You'll forget about him before you even have a chance to remember him. Your connection to your family is gone. There's hardly even any blood left."

"How do you keep yourself from running into your human family?"

"Leaving is the best option but your life changes when you're a vampire. The chances of running into them after you've turned are rare, especially if the city is big enough. Besides, I think we have a built in device that keeps us away."

"Yeah, well, mine didn't work too good last night."

"Nothing's foolproof and like I said, you're still young, still learning and still adjusting. Just let it be and usually it tends to work itself out."

Detta stretched in his arms, arching her back so that her front pushed against his. Marko pushed back and rolled her onto her back, putting the full of his weight on her body. She dropped her arms onto his shoulders and wrapped her legs around his waist, inviting him. She licked his lips with the tip of her tongue before pressing onto his. Marko leaned into her, squeezing a moan from her mouth. She nipped at his neck, drawing a few drops of blood that he urged her to lick off. He had told her the previous night that his second feed diluted the first; his blood was safe for her to consume. She bit her thumb, making a gouge that she drew down her body, creating a trail for Marko to follow. He gladly obliged and ended burying his head between her legs. Detta moaned, her breathing starting to become labored. She arched into his tongue, grabbing onto his hair but he didn't rescind. She bit into her lip, drawing blood that trickled down her chin. Climax came as Marko rapidly slipped her onto her stomach, shoving her legs apart with his knees. He wound his hand into her hair and wrenched her head back. His mouth attacked hers, devouring the blood on her lips before he lowered himself to her neck. He entered her as he bit, her wail echoing off the wall. He wanted her, all of her. His every thought was about consuming her. He pounded into her, even as he came he didn't want to relent but his anatomy said otherwise. He lowered himself onto her back, wrapping his arms around her shoulders and resting his lips on her head.

"What's the vampire equivalent of love?" her muffled voice asked.

Marko hesitated for a moment before answering. "I don't know. I don't think it exists."

"Really," Detta said, her face turned to him, her eyebrow raised. "In all of history, a vampire has never loved?"

Marko laughed. "I'm sure they have but I think you're still remembering the human emotion and what it felt like then."

"So what do I feel for you, then?"

"The same I feel for you."

"And that is?"

"Our connection."

"So I'll just go around telling you 'I connection you.' Is that alright?"

Marko laughed a hearty laugh. "People will think we have a weird fetish for the game. Does it need a name?"

"Need? No, it doesn't need one. But something. Come on. Satisfy the remaining human in me."

"I feel you. That means everything. I just don't have a concept of love anymore. You do because it hasn't faded away yet. It's just a word anyway."

Detta rolled out from under him and propped herself up on her elbow. Their eyes locked. She brushed her fingertips along his check as he closed his eyes to revel in the feeling. She combed her fingers through his hair, pulling him towards her. He wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her tight to him. She ran her hands along Marko's back, grasping at his skin. She smelled him, she lived him, she breathed him. She could sense him when he wasn't around, their souls in a constant union. She felt him. It was an appropriate word for them. It meant so much more than the human notion of love although that concept still lingered in her mind. Detta lowered her lips to his ear, lightly brushing grazing it.

"I feel you," she whispered. "Always."

She could feel Marko nod as he held her tighter, their vampire souls melding into one.

xXx

"Laddie drank from the bottle," Detta said as the stewardess walked away.

Her connection to him was gradually getting stronger albeit it was still weak. Laddie was fighting it even though he didn't know what 'it' really was and really didn't even realize he was fighting. His emotions were mixed. He knew what he should want, what was expected of him to want but this something new contradicted all of that. Star was helping him the most, tending to his questions. She, of course, saw her own brother in him and wanted nothing more than to shield him from the evils of the group. Paul finally had the little brother he wanted and Dwayne, while not as adamant as Star, was also Laddie's protector nonetheless.

Marko nodded. "I know. I can feel him. I think it was a mistake to let him in. He's too young, awkward. I don't think he'd ever have the strength. David was careless but we all had a hand in it. We should have been paying more attention."

"Do you think he'll get in the way?"

Marko shrugged. "Honestly I don't think he'll make it. Dwayne would probably let him feed but Star?" He shook his head. "Those two'll starve before they turn."

"You know, anorexia plagues people of all ages and both sexes too. Men can be just as susceptible but if you get them the right help, you can stop it before it's too late."

Detta and Marko gaped up at the head bobbing over the headrest in front of them. A bubbly, blonde forty-something stared back at them, a firm yet happy smile on her face. "I'm willing to help in any way that I can—"

"Sorry but we weren't talking about an eating disorder," Detta replied curtly.

"Really? I heard the word 'starve.'"

"Yes, well, that's what happens when you listen in on conversations you have no business hearing. You don't get the whole story." Her face was emotionless, a frown attempting to push its way to her forehead but she fought it back.

"Well. I was just trying to help."

"There's nothing to help," Detta stated bluntly as the woman huffed and turned back around. She rolled her eyes and shook her head as she returned her gaze to Marko who was already looking at her and shrugged. "Gotta love it."

He raised his eyebrows. "Right. Lack of privacy is right up there on my favorites list, right next to wooden stakes and sunlight."

"We're on a plane. What do you expect? Hey, I thought you said stakes didn't work."

"I never said they didn't, just that it wasn't the only way."

"Got it. Sorry. Forgot my class notes at home."

"Wiseass."

"Ouch."

They had cut their flight back to San Jose close. They only had an hour to get back to Santa Carla before sunrise. Marko found a cab waiting outside the terminal and paid the driver enough for three trips, told him to rush it and gave him Detta's address, both as a destination and a place to forward any tickets he may get in the process. Detta started to protest but Marko silenced her. Now wasn't the time to argue. He would survive the first rays of dawn but Detta, her age continued to work against her.

With mere minutes to spare, they arrived just in time to make it through the front door, heaving the luggage onto the living room floor. Detta was able to get a glimpse of a bluing sky streaked with orange through the trees before Marko slammed the door behind them. It had been years since she'd seen that much of the day. She almost missed it.

The dawning sun began to take its toll on her internal clock and her knees buckled. Her eyelids started to close involuntarily. She grabbed onto Marko's arm for support but wasn't able to remain on her feet. Fast approaching her condition, Marko gathered her into his arms and struggled up the stairs, fighting against the sleep that so desperately wanted to overcome him. He collapsed halfway onto the mattress, heaving Detta's body all the way on. She had already succumbed to sleep; she never had a chance to fight. He stripped himself of his jacket, dragged his own body onto the bed and collapsed next to her, his arm draping over her. They lay flat on the bed, Detta on her back, Marko on his side. He got one final glimpse of her sleeping profile before his leadened eyelids closed on the day, letting sleep overtake him.

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