A treasure Among Riches

Godric leaned back against the headboard of Azura's bed as he looked down at her sleeping face, her head resting against his stomach as she half laid on his lap, one arm on either side of his hips. He stroked along her temples to try and fight away the headache as he had the first night he stayed, wondering what had caused the trouble in the first place. When he had arrived at her window, noticing that the woman she lived with was absent, he was at first pleasantly surprised as he watched her caught in the throes of a passionate dream. Then, like the drop of a coin, she screamed and was curling herself up in pain on her side.

Nearly an hour of sitting there, stroking her face and hair gently, she finally began to stir from her dreamless sleep. Her hands gripped at the material of his pants, seeking something to hold onto, and she winced at the pain that was still present in her head. When her eyes locked with his he watched in hidden amusement as a dark blush rose to her cheeks in the dark. She was probably under the assumption that he could not see, but his eyesight was excellent in the dark.

"Are you feeling well?" he asked gently, not wanting to speak too loudly and hurt her head more.

"Ice," she muttered to herself and began to draw away from him. "I need ice." Godric allowed her to slip away from him, immediately appearing at her side again once she was standing beside the bed. He allowed her to walk on her own down to the kitchen of the small home, lingering close by as a silent guardian. She seemed to know exactly what to do as she got a freezer bag and cloth, filled the bag with ice before wrapping it in the cloth and fell to sit at the table with the ice on top of her head.

"Please, Azura, explain to me what happened," he asked carefully, moving to sit in the place beside her. She looked up to him carefully, her eyes slightly red and her face still pale. "There is something about you that is different isn't there, mon ciel?" he asked quietly, seeing in her hesitancy that it was not a subject that she wished to breach.

"I am different," she admitted in a timid voice, adjusting the ice on top of her head. "It started when I was about eight. At first I used to just think they were dreams, but then I would see things that reminded me of them. I was twelve when I started seeing things when I was awake, and it hurts. I don't know what I'm seeing most of the time, but sometimes I can pick out faces, or buildings; things that let me know where it is that I'm seeing."

"Visions?" Godric asked in quiet surprise.

"If you can call it that," she replied quietly, leaning back in her seat and groaning quietly. "It feels like someone fills my skull with acid whenever I have one like that. And I can't even get anything from it to tell me what I'm seeing-"

Godric placed a hand on her leg gently when she began to stutter out her words, her voice rising in pitch and her hands shaking. The affect was nearly instantaneous as she relaxed under his hold, taking a deep breath and looking him in the eye.

"There's more than just vampires in this world, isn't there?" she finally asked, refusing to be the first to look away. Godric's eyes widened just a fraction, clearly surprised and taken off guard from the question. He had never met someone that so quickly suspected that there were others besides vampires that lived among humans. Then again, Azura herself had proof that vampires were not the only 'abnormal' things out there.

"There is; I have a strong feeling that your blood is not entirely human," Godric answered quietly after a single heartbeat of silence. Azura nodded numbly as her hand moved to cover her mouth, an action that she often did when she was trying to think something over. Godric watched her eyes as she began to think over what he had said, probably wondering just what is was that was out there.

"I don't want to know about everything, but do you know what I am?" she finally decided on asking, lowering her hand to lean her chin on it, biting her cheek in wait.

Godric closed his eyes and shook his head, "At the moment; no." He heard Azura sigh nearly inaudibly and opened his eyes again, meeting her blue ones. "I will find out for you, though. Of that, I promise." Azura couldn't stop herself from smiling, seeing his own eyes brighten in reply to her upturn of attitude. "These visions, though, how often do they happen? That looked very painful."

"No, not too often. Since I had met you again during the storm I have only had two; this one and one that night you first came to my window." She looked uncomfortable talking about such things, since she had kept them to herself for so long. "I knew they were not normal when they first started, so I've never told another living thing…or, not quite living," she stuttered out, blushing at her own mistake. Godric couldn't help but to smile and lean forward, catching her lips in a kiss before she could continue to babble on.

Azura couldn't supress the moan that came from her chest as the feel of his lips on hers, her mind returning to her dream and the moments leading the Godric's departure the night before. Her mind drifted back to the feel of his tongue, both in reality and what her mind had been able to conjure up. Her body temperature began to rise again, the speed of her heartbeat increasing until Godric was reminded of Eric's warning of a heart attack.

The speed of her heart nearly became a concern and he pulled away from her, letting her gasp in deep intakes of air. He couldn't stop his eyes from darting down to look at her chest briefly, rising in falling heavily with every inward and outward rush of air.

"I…need to shower. A cold shower," she gasped out suddenly, rising to her feet and turning to leave. Godric caught her hand and before she could register what had happened, they were in the bathroom of her home. He caught her lips in another kiss, drawing a started gasp from Azura before she quickly melted into the feeling. Godric began stepping backward and was soon leaning against the glass door of the shower, effectively turning it on cold while he kept Azura wrapped in his arms. In once more quick move, he had them both pushed into the shower and under the ice cold feel of the water falling on their skin.

Azura yelped in surprise, arching against him to try and get away from the cold feel. Godric took advantage of the position and manoeuvred her back against the wall, his lips moving to her throat. He didn't miss the tensing of her entire body as she pressed into him when he licked at a couple of cold drops on her skin.

"G-Godric," she cried out, her hands gripped the wet material of her shirt in a white-knuckle grip as she tried to pull him closer. "Too much, trop, trop," she gasped, one of her hands darting up to twist into his longish hair. She was trembling because of the icy water and the tremendous pleasure that was coursing through her body. It felt like the cold was doing nothing to help her. Any more and she felt she would start to cry.

"Pas assez," Godric growled back, pushing her entire body up against the cold tile with his. Her breath hitched at the feel of him pressed into her, the muscles that covered his entire body so inviting and just commanding her to touch and feel. "It'll never be enough." A sob of frustration left her lips before she could stop it moments before Godric gave in to her silent tugging and pleading and ran his tongue along her throat until he reached her jaw, giving one sharp nip once there.

A cry was pulled from her lips in answer to him, her back arching off the wall and forcing the both of them back under the cold shower spray. In a move that shocked the both of them, Azura took hold his white—and by that time, transparent—shirt and pulled it up to expose his back and stomach. She continued to try and pry if off of him, even though the shirt couldn't move past his arms until he moved them from around her. He didn't hesitate a moment more and stepped back to shuck off the soaked material, letting the water hit his skin directly.

Unlike in her dream, she was able to see him clearly without a shirt on. Her eyes widened as they landed on the exposed tattoos along his arms and collar, looking ancient and tribal. Her hands moved out to touch them robotically, caressing along his cold skin. Godric watched her face intently as some of the blind passion left her eyes and was replaced with awe, clarity beginning to return. Stepping up to him, her body jolting at the icy water, she pressed a kiss against the center of his collar tattoo. Godric was able to turn the handle of the shower to raise the temperature to a warmer level.

She travelled her hands along his arms, tracing her fingers along the jagged lines of one tattoo and on the runes that were on the other. Godric bent to press a kiss against the chilled skin of her forehead, his hands taking a gentle hold on her hips and tugging her toward him to press their wet clothes together. He paused only a moment before his hands began to push her shirt up, exposing her pale skin to his sight and touch.

Stepping back from him, she pulled her over shirt off so that she was left in only her transparent undershirt, showing the black bra that she was wearing beneath. Godric was surprised when the clarity in her eyes didn't disappear as he pressed down for another kiss. For the first time in more years than he could count, her arms wrapped around him and held onto him like he was just a man that deserved to be held.

"If I am pushing you, tell me and I will stop immediately," he assured as he pulled his lips away from hers, seeing the smile that brightened her features. Slipping a hand back along his head, she pulled him down to meet him in another kiss, unable to supress her smile. Godric felt like she had just given him a right to move and wrapped his arms around her, burying his hands in her wet blonde locks. She smiled against his lips and gently took hold of his biceps, holding onto him as they stood beneath the spray of the shower, the water finally warmed.

Neither of them really knew what happened between the kisses they were sharing and suddenly finding themselves cuddled up on the bottom of the shower, warm water continuing to beat down on them steadily. Azura had lost her skirt as well, leaving her in a see through white under shirt and her black undergarments, her fingers tracing along Godric's exposed torso as he showered slow, lingering kisses along her neck and shoulders.

"You know, I don't have any clothes to lend you," she whispered in an amused tone as she looked down at his drenched pants. With his lack of a shirt, she was actually surprised to see the hem of his undergarments visible. He didn't seem the kind to let his pants hang down that far. The water may have played a part in that. "Especially these," she teased as she hooked the end of her index finger in the elastic band of his briefs and pulled them away an inch from his skin before releasing, letting them snap back down.

"I would hope not," Godric teased back, his hand slipping around her thigh so that he could hitch it up onto his hip. Azura snickered in amusement as she leaned forward to catch his lips softly, pulling away again and moving to place another on his chin, the bridge of his nose, his forehead and the top of his head. He sighed blissfully at the feeling, his hand sliding along the slick skin of her exposed leg.

It was a peaceful, calm moment. Every other contact between them had felt desperate and hurried, leaving Azura to feel dazed and unsure of the new territory. She was weary of what was going on, but in this moment, lying on the floor of the shower with Godric, she knew that those feelings inside of her—that he awakened inside of her—were amazing. Azura knew that she needed to follow those feelings.

"You…you said that you were here on business," she said suddenly moving to his her face in his neck. "When do you leave?"

Godric sighed against her shoulder as he held her closer. "I have many responsibilities back home; I'm afraid that I must return to Dallas this weekend," he answered back regretfully. He felt her tense against him and tried to comfort her by pressing her against his body, kissing her shoulder soothingly and beginning to run his fingers through her wet hair.

"I…I'll miss you," she admitted, beginning to trace the rune tattoo's on his arm in a way to distract herself. Godric didn't need to feel her emotions to know her fear; she assumed that after he left he would forget about her and never return.

"I'll come back again, mon ciel, and when I do you will be legally allowed to leave foster care and I will care for you. All depending on what you want to do, of course. I'm sure the Universities here are much more centered on the arts than in Dallas-"

"I want to be with you. I don't care about what education that I get, I'd work at a café-"

"No," Godric interrupted, "You are too bright to be working at a café, mon ciel, you must show the world your brilliance. I won't allow you to hide yourself away when you can be so much to this world," he whispered against her hair, gaining a sigh in answer. "I will always come for you, chère. I am a creature of the night, never to see the sun or daylight sky ever again. Azura, you are the only daytime sky that I need."

Azura felt her eyes burn with tears at his words and clutched him tightly, her arms wrapping around his torso and her face buried in his neck. No one had ever truly said something like that to her; there had been many foster parents that treated her like they were her true parents—some even asked her to call them 'momma' and 'papa' but that was too intimate for her. Throughout the years of different families and homes, no one had ever told her in so many words that she was their life. For a vampire that has lived for two thousand years to tell one that she is the only day he needs, it warms her heart.

"Thank you, Godric," she whispered against his throat, her tears beginning to blend with the water of the shower. Godric just held onto her, not sure exactly what to do, but he enjoyed the feel of her so close to—so dependent upon—him. It had been hundreds of years since he had someone to care for, and he admitted that he missed it. Eric had moved along in his eternal life—taking his own progeny—and that left Godric with an empty place. Azura was still so young and innocent that he felt the need to protect her and hide her away from the rest of the world, but at the same time he wanted to be the one to help her grow and take on everything.

The possessiveness inside of his rose up and claimed him, urging him to mark her and claim her. He couldn't allow her to slip away; he was beginning to regret saying that she shouldn't miss out on University. Inhaling deeply, the water seemed to force her smell more strongly into the air and he had to really strangle his control to remain and prevent his fangs from dropping at the smell.

Azura repressed a gasp when she felt the beginnings of his arousal pressing against her thigh, his hands tightening around her. Her body tensed against her will and it became difficult to keep her mind clear, wanting only to look back at her dream and wonder how much of it would truly happen. Would Godric act that way if something like that ever occurred between them? She couldn't draw herself away from his neck, though, afraid that he may pull away from her if she moved.

To her surprise, however, he used one hand to press down on her lower back, driving her body forward and pressing her against him. He exhaled deeply against her temple, a much unneeded action on his part. She couldn't stop herself from shivering against his body and holding onto him more tightly. The things that he was able to do to her so easily still left her baffled and slightly fearful.

"Not this night, young one," Godric suddenly whispered, releasing the pressure that he was putting on her back to press her down against his growing arousal, allowing her to back up just slightly. "What were you dreaming about, Azura?" he asked suddenly, not able to see the blush that rose to her face and neck, but he was able to smell the rush of blood against her skin and hear the increase of her heartbeat.

She buried her face more in his neck before mumbling out, "you." Godric's chest rumbled as he growled in contentment, that one simple word making his cold blood sing. His head nudged hers in a new animalistic action, urging her to continue. She drew in on herself at his urging, causing him to still in his actions.

He'd have to try a different approach. "Did I make love to you, mon ciel?" he asked softly, dipping his fingers up her undershirt to stroke along the skin, feeling the small dimples on either side of the base of her spine. She trembled at the touch, arching her back against her will. "Did I kiss you? Hold you in a lovers embrace?"

Godric's body froze when she pulled herself up suddenly, manoeuvring around until she was sitting on his hips, straddling him; he wouldn't stop himself from raising his hands to her thighs. He looked up to her face curiously, wondering what was going through her mind. A blush still stained the skin of her cheeks and neck as she looked down into his eyes quietly, her hands resting on his bare chest with her fingertips grazing his necklace tattoo. The irises were green again, she noticed, and a smile spread her lips.

"You did not make love to me," she finally whispered. Leaning forward, Godric remained completely still as she pressed a kiss against his lips gently. "You kissed me," she breathed against his lips. Her hands trailed down along his stomach to his hips, digging her fingertips into the elastic of his briefs again. "You touched me," she uttered against his throat, nipping at the skin. His hands gripped her thighs tightly, trying to keep himself under control. "You whispered such unbelievable things to me," she whispered so innocently into his ear. Drawing back again, Godric's hands tightened more on her thighs to prevent his body from reaching out for her, she suddenly pulled her shirt up and off to reveal the remainder of her undergarments.

A dark feeling began to lurk inside of Godric as he looked over her body; the hollowness between her ribs and the visibility of her hip bones. He had never taken notice before of how thin she was. All of the times that he had held her he had simply thought she was a naturally thin person. Before his eyes in that moment, he was able to see how terribly she was treated in foster care. There were several old scars on her body that didn't appear to be from normal falls as a child.

"They always took me out of the house as soon as the realized I was being hurt, but that can't erase the injuries that they have already inflicted," she whispered softy, watching his face carefully. Godric's hands finally released her thighs, hoping that he had not bruised her, and lifted to run his fingers along the hollows between her ribs. They were so prominent. Her shoulder bones were standing out as well, and her wrists looked so tiny and frail. "Mrs. Cross has been the best one so far; she tries feeds me well, but I just can't seem to eat it all."

The fear that was stirring inside of her was nearly tangible as he continued his inspection of her body and he quickly moved forward to press a kiss against her chest, above where he could hear her heart pounding. He could feel the steady beat against his lips and found it so soothing to listen to, moving to rest his ear above it instead as his arms wrapped around her torso to pull her up against him.

"You are beautiful, Azura. A treasure that must be protected," he said softly, barely even audible. He was surprised that she was able to hear him and wrapped her arms around his neck and began running one hand along his head, threading his hair through her fingers.

"In my dream, you didn't make love to me; I wish you had."

French to English:

Mon ciel – My sky

Trop – too much

Pass assez – not enough

Chère – dear

Does anyone know what's going on with the whole rated-M purge I've been hearing about? What's going on? I'm afraid to write anything more deep than what I have lest they delete my story! Please, if anyone knows whether this is true or not, let me know what's going on. I've heard that people think it's just a scam, but others are REALLY paranoid.

I hope you all loved this chapter, and I'll give you the hint that someone many of you want to see will be back in soon! You even got a bit more of a direct background of Azura's while she has been in foster care.

Please review, they're always so wonderful to read! :)