A/N: Merry Christmas! Sorry for the long wait, but as a reward and compensation for how short this chapter is, I'll be uploading a second one right after.

Disclaimer: Everything belongs to SM. No copyright infringement intended.

You could be my unintended

Choice to live my life extended

You could be the one I'll always love.

- Unintended, by Muse

Demetri stepped out of her bedroom and heard her shuffle, but stayed outside the door a few moments to make sure she would not attempt an escape. When he heard her breathing even out, suggestive of sleep, he walked down the corridor to meet up with Felix.

"Hello, friend." Demetri greeted with a smile.

Felix nodded at him in acknowledgement. "What's this one like, then? Is she as clingy as Gianna?" Felix asked, keen to learn how the newest human pet was settling in.

Demetri thought for a moment, pouting, trying to decide how best to describe her. "She's... funny. Laughs a lot. And quite bright, from what I've gathered. An impossibly stubborn creature. Shouldn't be a repeat of last time, though."

Felix's features darkened. "Be careful, friend. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were growing a good deal too attached to this one. Marcus was eyeing you after you ran off with her."

"Oh you know me, Felix. Always taken an opportunity when it comes." He said, trying to explain away any hint of affection but deep down, he wasn't quite so sure if it could be explained away. At the look they shared before parting ways for the evening, Felix could tell what he'd feared had already come to pass. "I don't want her knowing. It's too dangerous."

"I'll tell the others, then." He said before turning to leave.

It was true, Demetri knew, he had fallen and hard, at that. But he wasn't quite ready to let Daphne in on that little detail just yet. She needed time to settle in, after all, and he needed time to sort out his own feelings.

He had been alive for centuries, not finding comfort in anyone's embrace, save for Heidi's, and that was only due to her craving for some sort of contact, as well, not love. This was different, this was his mate. And he wasn't sure how he would deal with it - being alone had its way of changing you, and he wasn't prepared to let someone in. It would certainly take time before he would be able to fully let her in.

It had been over a thousand years since he'd felt this way and he never truly loved his human wife whilst he'd been alive. It was a marriage of politics, not feelings. He wasn't sure he knew how to feel back then but meeting this woman, this incredible stranger of a woman, had changed him. Could he ever truly let her in?

But there was a far more prudent question at hand.

Would she let him in, when it came down to it? After all, for all he knew, she saw him as nothing more than a cruel captor, one who was keeping her here against her will. If only she knew that if she were ever to leave, he would follow her anywhere.

As far as she would allow him to.

Heidi looked on as Felix arrived, leaving behind a pacing Demetri. Her expression grew curious as Felix motioned for her to be quiet.

"Has he come to terms with it yet?" She asked, crossing her arms.

Felix nodded. "He has but he doesn't want us to tell her."

She scoffed. "I figured as much. Any one of us and we'd have changed them by now but not Demetri." She shook her head in humor. "He's always done things his own way."

"Is it wise? To leave her so fragile?" He asked, unsure of his friend's decisions. "Of course we will honor his request." Heidi nodded in solemn agreement. "But I am not sure it is in her interest."

She turned to look at Demetri. "He's very taken with her, isn't he. Perhaps his feelings will show themselves, without him having to tell her so directly." Heidi's eyes narrowed as something dawned on her. "She may be hungry in the night. I'll have something taken up for her. What do you think she likes?"

Felix shrugged unknowingly. "What did you like when you were human? And why are you taking such great care of her needs?"

"Because, Felix. She will be one of us someday." Heidi smiled as she set off to acquire some food. "And we should all start off on the right foot."