OK, so, here's the second chapter of this story. The chapter is a heavily rewritten story I posted a year ago for Christmas. Maybe you'll like this version better.

The next chapter will then focus more on how they're settling down in Austria and I'll introduce a new character, known from the movie –but I'm not telling you who it is. I believe that next chapter will be published in January (or at least I hope so).

I appologize for possible mistakes. I'm sure there are some, but they somehow escaped me.


I'll Always Stay With You – Chapter 2

Few days after they moved to Selene's house in Austrian Alps, Christmas came and Michael and Eve decided that it would only be appropriate to celebrate it traditionally with Christmas tree, gifts, ornaments and everything that goes with this holiday. Not that Eve would ever before have seen how it is to celebrate Christmas, but Michael did. He explained everything to her and she also got to see few movies on the TV about this special time of year and it only made her wanting to celebrate it more.

"I still don't understand why such a fuss over a simple holiday?" Selene's voice sounded slightly annoyed and she furrowed her eyebrows deeply while looking at Michael and Eve. They have been setting up and decorating a Christmas tree for almost two hours now, adding a little thing here, changing the arrangements, looking at their work from a safe distance and correcting something yet again. She disregarded the fact, that in the morning they spent more than one hour roaming through the forest in search of an appropriate tree to set it up in the house. But … she had to admit that they found a really nice one. For a tree.

All this time Selene found absolutely no interest to help them. Just sitting there and watching them was something she couldn't stand and so she decided to do some work on the notebook on the table in the kitchen. But, after she began her doing, she found herself looking at her mate and daughter every thirty seconds, if only to check that they were OK. After one hour, she decided that it wouldn't do any good to stay there while the two people she cared about the most were in another room, obviously enjoying their activity. At least their happy voices and quiet laughter as they argued over some absolutely trivial things lead her to believe they were definitely having fun.

So, for few minutes now Selene sat on the sofa and watched them both carefully, her head tilted slightly in silent wonderment how Eve could act so much like her father. Like father like daughter. The phrase hit the dead center of their behavior just now. She may have inherited her looks, but her character was clearly Michael's, apart from the stubbornness, which she undoubtedly inherited from her. And Selene had to admit that she was glad Eve was more like her father than like her. She remembered how cold and unattainable she used to be before meeting Michael and opening up to him. No, Eve should not be like she had been! Even though Selene was now a changed person, she still preferred that her daughter was more after her father.

Upon hearing her question, Michael turned to her with bright eyes, showing her the wide smile on his lips. Eve followed his movement and in the instant they both turned to look at her, Selene saw unmistakably the resemblance between the father and the daughter.

"Why, have you never celebrated Christmas while you were still human, before Viktor turned you?" Michael immediately admonished himself for bringing up the thing that hurt his beloved the most … the loss of her human family. He quickly stepped over to her and before she could respond, he kissed her tenderly on the lips.

Selene asked herself for the umpteenth time, why she still always reacted so strong to his kisses. They always stirred something inside her, something she believed to have been dead for centuries. But then she met Michael and her heart began to live again. Every kiss that he gave her was a tiny revolution in her soul, every touch of his fingers to her skin caused her to shiver in enjoyment, every time they made love brought her to ecstasy. She loved him every day more. She owed her life to him. Not just in physical sense, but also emotionally speaking. She was no more the empty shell, called Selene the Death Dealer, with only one purpose in her immortal existence … hunting and killing all the lycans. She was a woman Selene, craving the touch of her soul mate, longing for his hands on her body, a mother to the daughter they conceived together in their love.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you." Michael murmured softly in her ear, his lips just inches from it and sending another jolt of passion through her body.

She leaned back in his embrace to look into his eyes and smiled gently at him. This entire smiling thing was still quite a new thing to her and she used it occasionally, however more and more often. For Michael, the moments in which she gave him her beaming, somehow shy smile, reserved for him only, were the fulfillment of his dreams. Her special smiles were rare, and that's why they were always so precious.

"Don't apologize, Michael. I might have lost my family more than six hundred years ago, but I have found a new one, a family that gives me everything I could ever wish for." Her voice was soft, but firm. She didn't want Michael to feel guilt for bringing up the horrible history of her family. "And I can only hope that I give you both at least something worth keeping." She was still wondering if they really could love her the way she loved them. Her, a death dealer, who killed thousands of lycans, ice queen who never allowed anyone to reach for her heart.

Michael looked at her in surprise. He couldn't understand why she occasionally still downplayed her importance to him and Eve so much. She was sometimes so insecure, absolutely not like a strong, stubborn and powerful vampiress that she still was.

He put the decoration he was still holding in one of his hands aside, pulled her to him and wrapped his arms around her tightly. "Selene, stop! You're giving us both much more than we deserve. You're giving us yourself. And that's more than we could ever ask for." He squeezed her tight, feeling her breath on his neck, her hair tingled his face and he inhaled her sweet scent, scent that helped him to find her few months ago, scent that sometimes seemed to drive him crazy from love and desire for her. He felt how her initially tense body quickly eased into his embrace and her arms pulled him into even tighter embrace.

Selene wrapped her arms around him too, felt how he pressed her to himself and she suddenly felt safe and loved. She knew Michael would never hurt her in any way, she knew he would protect her even with his life if necessary. Hell, he did it just a short time ago as he broke her out of the prison, the lycans put her in. He would go to the end of the world for her, just as she would do anything possible for him too. She gasped barely audible and tightened her hug.

"I love you." She breathed quietly into his ear. Suddenly she realized just how much she loved saying these three little words. Whenever she mouthed them, she felt fulfilled, relieved … she felt good. So she learned to say them more often, knowing how Michael craved to hear them too. And she realized that she should have forced herself to say them sooner. Before they have been attacked, separated and frozen for a decade.

Michael squeezed her even tighter. "I love you too."

Every further discussion was interrupted by a high pitched cry of their daughter, who noticed her parents in an intimate hug and decided to join the party. "HUGGING!" She cried and launched herself at them, spreading her arms to hug them both at the same time.

Michael laughed aloud upon the impact of Eve's small frame on him and opened one of his arms embracing Selene, to accept her too.

Eve was absolutely no more like the Subject 2, Selene met months ago. Ever since they became a family, especially since they left the coven and started their own life, she more and more often acted just like a little girl, like she should, considering her age, and less like a powerful hybrid that she was. Now she was sometimes just like a child, unburdened by the life itself and most definitely not like an immortal, knowing exactly that there was a war out there and having already taken a part in the carnage. Selene wasn't sure if she should be happy or irritated over that fact. On one hand she was happy that Eve was at least partly making up for the lost years, but on the other hand, she was well aware of the fact, that there were still dangers out there waiting for them and her daughter should be prepared to face them. Somehow she reached the conclusion, she would welcome Eve's childlike behavior when they were alone, but not encourage it while out in the open. And as if Eve would miraculously be able to read her mind, she behaved just like Selene wanted her – childlike in the circle of her family and very grown up when out in the public.

Eve squeezed her body tightly between her parents, feeling how her father's and mother's arms encircled her immediately. She knew all too well that even now Selene sometimes had problems expressing her feelings, but she knew just how much she loved her. Hell, she came for her when she was kept prisoner in Antigen building and also later she clearly showed her love! She just wasn't exactly good at showing her affection, but was getting better with each passing day. She already completely opened up to her father and her, but against other people she still acted more or less reserved and sometimes even slightly detached.

"Are you going to help us decorate the room, mom?" Eve looked at Selene with big pleading eyes, and they caused Selene to feel warm at heart.

"Why would you want me to help you? I have no feeling for such things." Selene tried to protest not really seriously, knowing that she already lost the battle with her daughter's doe eyes.

"It's not about doing it well; it's about being together and making something together. You should learn how it is to sometimes let go of everything and just enjoy the moment. I know it's hard for you, but you could at least try. Please? For me?"

Eve's words found their way into Selene's heart, just like they were intended to. She loved her daughter and her mate, she loved them more than she would have believed to be able to, more than she ever could have expected. Looking into her daughter's big pleading eyes made her resolution to remain stoic waver and she smiled openly at her. "What do you want me to do?"

Eve almost squealed in delight as she heard Selene's words and Michael's face almost split in two, so wide he grinned. Looking at him Selene suddenly got the idea that it was good that he had ears otherwise his smile might easily spread around his head. They both attacked Selene and she received two kisses, one on each cheek at the same time. Now she not only knew how it felt to be loved by her family, now she also felt it firsthand. She had almost forgotten how it was more than six centuries ago, while she was still human and now the memories of that time resurfaced. And deep down in her heart she admitted to herself, although perhaps a little unwillingly, for it wasn't a feeling a Death dealer would normally be fond of, that it was fantastic to feel the love of her family. She was still the most powerful vampire hybrid alive, that would never change, but somehow she felt that this love that surrounded her gave her even more strength.

They strolled towards the Christmas tree and Eve began to instruct Selene what to do. Michael watched in silent awe how the little girl managed to turn her mother into a team player, playing along with her daughter's plans. He knew the feeling of being loved, even from his former life, but also from his immortal life. Although it took Selene a long time to openly express her love for him, she even before found a way to let him know just how much she cared for him. But seeing her so at ease with their child was something new. He suddenly felt like they would be an ordinary family, preparing for the most exciting time of the year, enjoying the togetherness and sharing love.

He inhaled deeply and let out a ragged sigh. Selene instantly turned to him and looked at him with worried eyes. I should have known she'd hear me and be worried if there's something wrong with me. Ever since they were together again, Selene seemed to panic every time she suspected he wasn't all right, no matter if she had the reason for her worries or not. He smiled at her warmly, stepped over and took one of her hands in both of his. "Everything's fine Selene. I was just thinking that we never had such a peaceful moment in our time together, apart from that one time in the warehouse."

"Which warehouse?" Eve's voice broke the deep look Selene and Michael were exchanging.

Michael actually blushed a little and even Selene looked like she would suddenly burst out in giggles, what was so untypical for her that it seemed almost surreal. She knew very well what Michael meant. The first time she ever let her feelings free, the first time she experienced how it is to love and be loved, body and soul. The time she realized how much Michael wanted to take care of her, regardless of anything else.

"Nothing important, Eve. Your father was trying to tend for my wounds even though I told him it wouldn't be necessary. But the healer in him insisted." Selene was the first to react and she tried to give her daughter a stern look.

Eve smiled at her mischievously and nodded. "I'm sure it was just that, right. OK, I guess I get the picture. Something you two did and don't want me to know. Something that in the final consequence resulted also in my existence, I guess." Then she sighed exasperatedly. "Mom! I'm not a baby anymore! I know what sex is!"

"EVE!" Selene and Michael protested in unison, Michael's face getting a deeper shade of red and even Selene's cheeks colored in a slightly rosy color.

"OK, OK! Do you think that I'm so young that I don't know what making love is? I may be only twelve years old, but I know a lot of things." She suddenly fell silent and thoughtful. After a second, she added in quiet, barely audible voice. "They forced me to grow up beyond my age."

Michael and Selene exchanged the looks and Eve suddenly found herself in a sandwich of her parents. Her mood instantly lightened and she grinned up at Selene. "Now I know how a hot dog feels like."

Selene gave her an exasperated look, while Michael snorted and exploded in laughter. Eve grinned wider, seeing how she again managed to bring them both in a good mood. She might have known before knew what Christmas was, but now she knew how it was to celebrate it with one's family. And she loved it!

Almost two hours later, after the decoration works have been finished, Selene stood in the middle of the room, her ams hanging by her sides, taking in the now completely changed room. The big tree in the corner, reaching almost to the ceiling glittered in gold and red ornaments, the many tiny lamps illuminated it so that it appeared almost otherworldly. Together they also decorated the room, hanging up some garlands, ornaments, additional lamps and similar stuff. For the first time in her life, Selene felt like Christmas would really be some special time. I've never known that my house could look so nice! She finally admitted to herself that she was happy to have allowed her daughter to pull her into the activities which resulted in what she was now looking at.

"I hope you're not mad at us for dragging you into decorating job." Michael's arms snaked around her waist from behind and his lips softly brushed against the nape of her neck.

She put her hands over Michael's on her belly before turning in his arms so that she was now facing him and scrutinized him for a second before shaking her head. "No, I find it really nice."

His eyes drilled into hers. "Have you never celebrated Christmas before?"

"No, we never celebrated it. And after I've been turned … well, there were always more urgent things to do."

"Do I really hear a small trace of regret in your voice, Selene?" Michael cupped her cheek with his hand and softly brushed it with thumb.

Selene remained silent for few moments, turning her eyes away from Michael's, seemingly lost in her thoughts. Then she turned back to him and he could see a small trace of insecurity in her eyes. "I don't know. I feel so different. I feel …" She fought with words to find the right one, the one which would express her feelings the best. Not finding it, she started again. "I feel like there had been something missing in my life and now I'd finally found it again. And I believe to know what it is." She turned her eyes to him and he could see that they were even bigger than usually.

Without saying anything, he leaned into her and kissed her tenderly, feeling her immediate response. They remained lip locked for few moments, just enjoying the closeness.

When they separated, Michael gently ran his hand down her hair and came to rest on her cheek, his thumb idly caressing her flawless skin. "I think I know what you've been missing."

"You do?"

"Yes. I think that you've been missing someone to love and someone who'd love you back. Deep down, you're far more human than you give yourself credit, Selene. I'd say that you're more human than many humans I've met in my life."

"And you are the one, whom I've been missing all those centuries?"

"I'd like to think that I am. But not only me … there's also Eve. You love her deeply, Selene, no matter if you admit it to the others or not. You would gladly sacrifice yourself, just to save her." Michael paused and ran his finger over her slightly pouting lips, before continuing. "As I would die to protect either one of you two."

"You already died, Michael! I don't want to go through that again!" Selene's voice quivered a little as she remembered how she felt when she found him seemingly dead at the banks of Danube, after Marcus fled..

"I'm sorry to have caused you such pain, dear. It definitely wasn't my intention to die. Besides … I'm here right now, am I not? I would never leave you, Selene. I love you too much."

"I know. Just … don't ever do something like that again, understood?" Selene gently punched him on the shoulder, underlining her request. "I don't know what I would do without you."

"You would go on, Selene. You're the strongest woman I've ever met. You would keep going and fighting. For Eve."

"I don't know…" Selene trailed off, but knowing that Michael was right. But then she shook her head slightly and looked into her husband's eyes with determined eyes. "Why are we discussing such sad things instead of celebrating Christmas? I thought it should be an occasion to be happy , or did I get it wrong?"

Michael smiled wide. "I don't know, my love. Maybe it's our lives that got to us. But I surely don't want to be sad now. I want to be as happy as I've been after I found you again." He crashed his lips on hers and kissed her passionately.

"Oh no, not again!" Eve's whiny voice interrupted them and they looked in the direction from where their daughter's voice came, gasping in surprise as their eyes set upon her.

"Eve?" Selene looked flabbergasted at her daughter.

Michael's lips curled up in a smile, wider smile, widest smile and he finally began to laugh aloud.

"I don't know what's so funny?" Eve sounded offended.

Michael got a funny look from his wife too and fought hard to get his laughter under control. "You look amazing, Eve!"

Eve perked up and gazed proudly at her parents, the red Santa cap slipping slightly to the side of her head and she corrected it immediately.

"Where did you get this … this …?" Michael pointed at her cap, drawing small circles in the air with his outstretched finger, still looking immensely amused.

"David bought it for me and forced me to take it with me as we left the coven, saying it would come to use soon." Eve explained patiently.

Michael finally got his laughter under control and pointed to the corner of the room, where different wrapped packets were stashed. "Eve, could you please arrange the gifts under the tree?" He softly said to his daughter and she nodded eagerly, skipping over to the parcels.

Michael opened his arms for Selene and she walked into his embrace again, wrapping her own arms around him tightly. She leaned her head against his chest, listening to the thumping of his heart, feeling his strong arms encircling her tightly. The beating of Michael's heart was the most beautiful music she ever heard and she hoped she would be able to listen to it for a very long time.

Michael felt his heart swelling from joy. He finally had his beloved Selene back; she gave him a beautiful daughter, whom he loved endlessly. They managed to destroy all lycan dens in Budapest. They had allies, should they need help. He was happier than ever before. Sure, tomorrow would inevitably bring new fights, but he somehow knew that they, as a family, would stand through everything, manage all the challenges together.

"I love you." Selene softly whispered and felt how Michael's heart began beating faster upon hearing her words. She lifted her head and stared into Michael's face.

Michael looked into Selene's dark brown pools and in this moment he loved her almost more than his heart could bear. "I love you too Selene. Now, tomorrow, forever. I want to spend eternity with you." His throat felt strangely constricted and he didn't trust himself to say anything more.

Suddenly Selene felt how her lips curled upwards in a beautiful smile almost out of her control. "Maybe this all Christmas thing isn't that bad."

"No, it isn't!" Michael agreed and gently laid his lips on hers. The kiss started gentle but became more demanding with each passing second and they soon drifted off into their own private little world.

After they returned to earth, Michael leaned his forehead to Selene's and gazed into her unwavering eyes. "Merry Christmas, Selene."

"Merry Christmas to you too, my love." Selene whispered back, closed her eyes and at least for a moment she felt safe, content, loved.

A sudden impact of Eve's slender frame against their bodies shook them out of their reveries and they looked at their daughter, who was now squeezing them both and gazed into their faces. "Merry Christmas, mom. Merry Christmas, dad."

They both smiled and Selene beat Michel to answer. She bowed and gave Eve a tender kiss on the forehead. "Merry Christmas, Eve."

Michael followed immediately after his mate and squeezed Eve tightly. "Merry Christmas, dearest."

For few moments they just stared into each other's eyes, feeling that they were a family. The family, which would never abandon any member and would always fight for them.

TBC