This is like, the longest chapter in the history of ever. I kind of rushed it, but I still like it :3

I opened my eyes to hazel ones and inhaled the scent of lilacs.

I smiled. "Morning."

Gerard smiled back. "A very good morning to you, too."

I recalled the events of last night and grinned even wider.

Time to mess with his head.

"Man, I was so tired last night. Didn't you wake me up and drag me into the forest? I don't even remember- I was half-asleep. I always say the weirdest things when I'm tired. Did I say anything weird?"

His eyes widened. "You…don't?"

"Don't what? All I remember is looking at the stars and saying things that were probably insane and didn't make any sense."

He started, though subtly, to hyperventilate. Can vampires have panic attacks?

Then my façade broke and I laughed, wrapping my arms around him and kissing him. When I pulled away, I chuckled, "Kidding."

He gasped and frowned. "Frank, that wasn't funny. I was seriously scared."

"I know. Don't worry, I love you. Now, I'm hungry."

He followed me out of bed, grumbling half-heartedly. I knew he wasn't really mad, though.

I put a couple of Poptarts in the toaster and turned back to a still frowning Gerard.

"Oh come on, baby. I was joking."

The corners of his mouth twitched. He sighed. "Alright, alright. You should consider yourself lucky."

"No, you love me," I laughed. "Am I right?"

"Yeah," he smiled.

Just when I had taken a bite of the first Poptart, the phone rang.

"Oh, for the love of God," I groaned, standing up and answering it. "Hello?"

"Is Gerard there?" a raspy voice asked. I froze.

"Uh, yeah, hold on…"

I held the phone out to him. He took it with wide eyes.

"Hello?"

I could hear a voice murmuring for a moment, then a dial tone.

The phone dropped to the floor with a crash from his frozen fingers.

"Gerard?"

He didn't move.

"Gerard."

He seemed to wake up. "Frank."

"What…?"

"They're coming. Devin, Eric, and Randy…they might kill me, Frankie," he whispered quietly.

"Gerard, shh, they won't," I soothed. "They're just bluffing."

"No, they're not! You haven't met them!" He began to hyperventilate.

"Gerard…Gerard!"

"I mean, Devin was the one who burned that into me, remember? And Eric definitely wants to kill me, and it's not like Randy and I are exactly on good ter-mmph!"

"Gerard, shut up," I mumbled against his lips.

When he finally relaxed a little I pulled away and stared into his eyes. "I. Won't. Let them. Hurt you. We can barricade the house or something. Hell, I'll fill the bathtub with holy water if I have to. They are not going to touch you."

Gerard huffed, his hair fluttering. I laughed softly and brushed it away.

"It's going to be all right," I assured him once more, kissing the tip of his nose. He sighed again, more softly, and buried his face in my hair, embracing me.

"As long as you bring that crucifix within reach and find me some gloves, I'll be fine. Can you get that for me?"

"Sure."

I wriggled out of his arms and dashed upstairs, yanking the cross off the wall with a slight feeling of déjà vu, then hurrying back down with a pair of thick gloves as well.

"Here you go," I said apprehensively, handing him the gloves and then, carefully, the crucifix."

He took it warily; holding it like it could explode at any moment.

"Okay," he smiled, setting it gently on the table next to him. "I have something to ask you. On a completely unrelated topic, actually."

"Go ahead."

"Do you think," he began, looking me straight into the eyes, "that it's possible for two different…species…to, um, date?"

I blinked, but then grinned broadly. "Did you just ask me out?"

"…Possibly."

"Well," I grinned, "I'd be honored."

His face lit up. "Really? For real?"

"Of course."

He dipped his head down and kissed me softly, throwing his arms around my neck.

Later that day, I was at the department store with Gerard. Thankfully, it was cloudy today, so he decided to tag along.

"Like this?" I asked, pointing at a considerably sharp wooden stake.

He pursed his lips, but then shook his head. "It's better if it's not painted."

"Here, then?"

Gerard nodded. "You know, if I didn't trust you so much I'd probably be worried you'd use them on me."

I smiled, picking up three and heading to the checkout, adding, "And if I didn't trust you, I'd be worried you'd suck my blood."

The look on the cashier's face was priceless.

I turned to her. "Problem, sweetie?"

She looked at me with wide eyes. "You didn't actually mean that, did you?"

"Of course I did. I'm totally serious. Now, I'd like to buy these wooden stakes."

She shook her head frantically. "I don't believe you. That's insane."

I looked at Gerard for permission and confirmation. We both smiled. "Care to demonstrate, Gerard?"

He stepped forward. "I'd be happy to, Frank."

He leaned over the counter so he was face-to-face with the woman, and then bared his teeth, revealing his razor-sharp fangs.

"Now look here, hun," he said in a sugary-sweet, almost dangerous voice. "I suggest you help us buy these, or you might not go home in one piece."

Wordlessly, she held out her hand, not tearing her eyes from Gerard's, and I put the stakes in her open palms. I heard them beep comically in the dead silence.

"H-here you go," she stuttered, finally looking away and holding them out to me.

I got out a twenty and handed it to her, but her eyes widened even further and she shook her head. "You can have it. Please."

"Oh come on, Gerard won't hurt you. Will you, Gee?" I grinned.

He pulled his head back and smiled sweetly at her, even though his eyes were still glinting evilly. "Of course not."

Then I had an idea. I hoped he knew sign language.

Under the counter where the cashier couldn't see, I mimed six letters with my hand. K-I-S-S-M-E.

He nodded just slightly. Wow, he does know.

"And, if you're not satisfied," Gerard winked, turning nonchalantly so he was facing me, "I'd be happy to give you more of a show."

He grabbed the back of my neck and pulled me towards him, mashing our lips together. I quickly opened my mouth and visibly slipped my tongue into Gerard's mouth before she had time to look away.

I practically heard her jaw hit the floor.

Gerard let out a long, fake moan and I tangled my fingers in his hair.

Then his lips detached from mine and he made his way down to my neck. My first reaction was fear, but I shrugged it off and bent over backwards, tilting my head back and groaning loudly as he kissed my collarbone.

Suddenly, he stood up, pulling me with him and grinning at the cashier.

"So, now you have a story to tell. Of course, no one will believe you, but I hope this was the highlight of your day."

She stood there, gaping like a fish before she finally found her voice. "Are you two actually…?"

I nodded. "We probably would have stopped with the vampire part if we weren't."

"So it's true," she murmured dazedly.

"Yep. And, as Gerard said, no one will believe you. If anyone does, and if we ever see you again, let us know."

With that, we turned around, me grabbing the wooden stakes and throwing a ten-dollar bill at her, and marched out the door.

Once we were out of sight of the store I looked at Gerard.

He looked at me.

We burst into hysterics.

"Her reaction…" I choked out, which only made Gerard laugh harder.

After a few minutes, we began to cool down, and when Gerard finally stopped laughing he shook his head, though he was still grinning. "Poor girl. She was so shocked."

"Wasn't that kind of the point?"

"Of course it was," he giggled. "I wonder if we ever will see her again."

"Probably not."

We walked back to the house, discussing things like wooden stakes, vampires, and girls who we'd never see again.

Upon entry, I handed a stake to Gerard. He took it gingerly from me.

"It's so weird, depending on these things that could potentially kill me to protect you and I."

I smiled sadly. "It's so weird, living with someone who could potentially kill me and I can't help but love them."

He smiled. "It's so weird, living with someone who I could potentially kill and I can't help but love them back."

I loved moments like this.

But something always ruins it.

The phone rang.

I groaned and walked over to answer it.

"Hello?"

"You think you're safe, but you're not," a voice growled, then a dial tone.

Wordlessly, I hung up.

"Gerard, did you hear-"

"Yes."

I walked back over to him. His face was expressionless.

"It's okay, Gerard, they're just saying that."

"But it means they know we're trying to protect ourselves! They're here, Frankie!"

He covered in his face in his hands and began to sob dryly.

"Gerard, Gerard," I soothed, rubbing his back. "We're going to be fine."

He sniffed. "I hope so."

Days slowly passed by, Gerard not daring to leave the house. Nothing else out of the ordinary happened. He wouldn't even leave to hunt, which really bothered me.

"Gerard, you really need to eat," I said after a whole week.

He shook his head, hugging his knees and leaning against a bedpost. "I don't want to leave you alone here."

"I think it's better if you leave me alone so you can eat someone else so you don't lose control and eat me."

His eyes widened.

"…Alright, but only because I don't want to hurt you."

"Go," I nodded at the stairs, "I'll be fine."

He bit his lip, hesitating, but then nodded and kissed my forehead.

"I love you," he murmured against my temple, trailing his lips over my cheekbones.

"I love you, too," I said while turning my head to meet his lips.

He kissed me softly for a moment before pulling away and heading downstairs.

I heard the door slam shut.

I was alone.

Suddenly, there were other voices floating through the house.

Not as alone as I thought.

I ran downstairs to get the crucifix, when suddenly I remembered it was upstairs, oh God I'm stupid, but before I could go back and get it three figures: a rather short blond, a brunet and another blond, but taller than the first, appeared in the doorway.

Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit-

"Hey, Devin, can we kill him yet?" the brunet whispered.

"Not now," the tall one hissed. "Be patient, Eric."

Eric huffed.

I stumbled backwards and tripped over the couch, landing sprawled on the floor.

"So," the one called Devin sneered, "you're the fag's little boyfriend, are you?"

I didn't need to answer. They knew.

He snapped his fingers lazily. "Cut, don't bite. Get him, boys."

Eric and the short blond, possibly Randy, launched themselves at me, snarling and dragging their knife-like nails over every part of me they thought of. When Devin finally called them back I had lost so much blood I was beginning to lose consciousness.

"That's enough. Now, let's leave the Gaylord to discover his prize when he gets home, which should be in about ten seconds."

They laughed and leapt through the open window just as Gerard walked in, shutting the door behind him.

"Frank?"

I couldn't move. I couldn't speak.

"Frank, why do I smell blood?" His voice was strained.

Then he walked into the living room.

A long, piercing scream split the air, and Gerard fell to his knees beside me.

Suddenly, my voice came back.

"Gerard," I whispered.

"Frank," he cried, taking my face in his shaking hands.

"Gerard, stay calm. I have an…idea…"

"What?"

"Change me," I gasped.

He suddenly looked panicked. "Frank, I don't know…"

"Just. Fucking. Do it," I shrieked. "It's the only way out."

All his reluctance vanished as he realized how much blood I had lost already.

He gulped. "Frank, if I can't…I just want you to know I love you."

"I know. I love you, too."

He kissed me softly, and I weakly attempted to kiss him back. His lips traveled down to my neck, and I braced myself for the pain. More than I was already in, of course. Could it be that bad?

The instant he bit down was worse than I could have ever imagined. It was just once pure, full, entire second of the most excruciating pain I'd ever felt in my entire life. There aren't even words to describe it.

Then everything went black.