Ch 10 Memory Lane

I stretch my feet out and arch my back, feeling it pop a couple times. It never ceases to amaze me how human our vampire bodies seem sometimes; especially since Spark and I don't partake in human blood. I shrugged and looked at Spark, holding two cups of espressos for good measure. I glanced at Spark who looked rather peaceful; maybe it was the atmosphere of Venice, or maybe it was the fact that she had George. Either way, I was surprised that she wanted to go to Venice, the place where she was bitten. I couldn't help but wonder if it had to do with George taking her on a date here.

Sensing my wonder, Spark looked over at me and flashed a smile. "I'm happy El.
I could live with this. It's calm and it's peaceful…and George and I are happy."

I laughed softly and nodded. "It is calm and peaceful. Though, I kinda want to go back to our New Zealand home. I still haven't finished decorating everything and it's driving me crazy."

Spark laughed and nodded. "Hun, you've always been crazy."

I nodded. "'Tis true." I flashed a smile at her.

She laughed softly again. Then she stretched. "I wonder where George is taking me next."

I smiled at her knowingly.

She gasped and stared at me. "YOU KNOW!"

I giggled, if a vampire can giggle, softly. "I've been sworn to the utmost secrecy.
Sorry."

"Fine…be that way. But I'm so holding back the next Fred date location from you.
And it's going to be one you'll like." She smirked at me.

I shrugged. "All the more reason to be surprised."

She pouted.

I laughed again. "You never did tell me all the details; only that he took you here."

I looked over at Spark and smiled as her eyes got a little glossy. "It was wonderful El…" She smiled at me. "Well…"

***

(1 year 3 months prior)

Spark was throwing clothes at my head as she tore them out of her closet.

"Spark, Hun, calm down. Just grab something to wear. I'm sure you'll look beautiful. You always do. Just pick something."

She looked at me from the closet. "Vampire. Date. Human."

I rolled my eyes and got up. I grabbed her by the shoulders and pushed her onto the bed. "Sit. Stay. Don't make me call Emment and Jasper."

Spark flushed lightly. "What are they going to do?"

I smirked. "Why Emment will sit on you and Jasper will give you so many relaxed emotions that you'll practically be on tranquillizers. Which reminds me…" I sent her as many calm and serene emotions as I could muster. "Now just trust your El, okay?" Before she could answer me I was already in the closet. I grabbed a beautiful black cocktail dress that was going to be appropriate for what they were doing. Of course I knew, George had asked me what I thought of it. He was going to take Spark on a romantic gondola ride in Venice. I had given him a heads up, after promising that I thought it was beautiful and sweet, that Spark might not be as into it as he thought; that she had some bad past experience with a gondola and Venice. And being the cocky male that he was, he said she'd be okay that he would help her get over it.

I walked out with the dress and Spark jumped to her feet. "I love you!" She grabbed the dress from my hands and changed clothes quickly. I laughed at her. "Now sit so I can finish your hair." I pushed her into a chair and smiled at her.

"Just no pulling Spark's hair out; Okay?"

I smirked. "We'll see." I started working on her hair. By the time I was done
Spark looked beyond amazing. She spun in a circle for me and I couldn't help but smirk and say "Okay. Maybe we should change your look."

Her face fell. "What are you talking about? I really look that bad?"

"No Spark. You look that good. Poor boy is going to go into cardiac arrest. Even to change him you need his heart pumping."

She laughed. "I'll get it pumping."

I laughed. Then the doorbell rang. "Ah saved by the bell." I smirked at her before going to get the door. "George." I smiled at him, opening the door happily. "Come on in. Spark's almost ready."

George, looking all nice and dressed up, walked inside. "Hi El. How are you today?"

"Good. George I really wish you'd reconsider this. Spark and Venice just don't click…"

George shook his head. "No El…Everything's already set."

I sighed and heard Spark coming. I looked toward the stairs.

Spark walked down them slowly and smiled at George.

I glanced at George, honestly worried that his heart had stopped.

"Whoa." His eyes grew wider than any other human's have in front of me. I chuckled. "You look absolutely beautiful Jenny."

I smiled at the pleased look on Spark's face. "Alright you two, go have fun.
George, keep what I said in mind, and I will be waiting up so don't take too long please. A girl needs her sleep." I winked at Spark.

Spark laughed and George just looked at us in confusion; he didn't know we were vampires yet. I waved them out the door.

Spark looked at George curiously as he spun her in a circle and she felt a squeezing sensation before seeing a familiar sight that almost made her panic.

George kissed her cheek. "Welcome to Venice Jenny." He whispered in her ear.

Spark looked at him. "George. I...I can't. I can't believe El let you do this…"

George shook his head. "She told me not to. Jenny whatever happened before; it's not going to happen again. I won't let it. I swear."

Spark held back a 'It can't I'm already a vampire' comment that was on the tip of her tongue and just looked at him in disbelief.

"There's more she advised me against, and of course I didn't listen to her…" he took her hand and led her to the gondola that was waiting for them. He got in silently and offered his hand to her. "Jenny?"

Spark stood there shaking her head. "I can't…" Flashbacks were flying through
Spark's mind of when she'd been here with Aro.

"You can Jenny. Whatever happened before…it doesn't matter now."

Spark looked at him; George's voice was so soft, so warm, and all she felt from him was love and encouragement. She took a deep breath then nodded and took a step into the gondola. She sat down and looked up at George who was smiling brightly. She could feel how proud he was of her, as well as see it.

George sat down next to her before the gondola began to move. He put his arm around her and smiled softly. "Did I tell you that you look beautiful tonight, yet?"

Spark gave him a slightly nervous smile and nodded. "Yes. I believe you have.

But I like to hear it so feel free to say it again."

George chuckled again. "You look absolutely stunning Jenny." He whispered in her ear.

Spark smiled and then looked at him. "So what kinds of things do you like George?"

He smiled warmly. "Well, pranks, obviously since Fred and I have our own joke shop, and I like Quidditch, art, skydiving, ski…"

Spark cut him off, her eyes sparkling at the mention of 'art.' "You like art? What kind of art?" She looked at him curiously.

"Honestly I like the older art…stuff from a couple hundred years ago." He smiled, glad to have found something she was interested in as well.

Spark smiled at him and didn't even think before asking her next question. "Who's your favorite artist?"

George smiled. "Franklin DiNardo. He's got some truly exquisite stuff."

Spark's smile faded. "Fr…" then she smiled. "Really?"

George nodded. "By far. I like DiNardo's work more than Picasso or Voltaire…or even DiVinci."

Spark blushed and smiled. She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him close.

George was surprised but smiled and hugged her in return. "What's that for?"

"Thank you." She said, not even aware of what she was saying or doing.

"For what?" He tilted her head and stroked her hair softly.

"For liking my work so much…"

George froze and looked at her. "Your work…?"

Spark froze and looked up at him with wide eyes. "Uh-oh…" she paused. 'El's going to kill me…'

"Spark that would make you," he paused calculating in his mind. "Blimey, you'd be almost 400 years old!" He looked at her in disbelief.

"Err. I meant…err…oh shoot. George…" Spark took a deep breath. "Oh El's going to kill me." She shook her head then looked at him. "George I'm not a Veela or whatever it is you think I am. I'm a…" she paused. "I'm a vampire."

George paused and just looked at her.

Spark sighed and turned away. "I can understand if you never want to see me again; I wouldn't want to."

George looked at her and touched her cheek after a slight hesitation. "Answer me this; do you drink human blood?"

Spark looked shocked but shook her head. "No I never have; I never will. El's the same way."

George nodded. "Well that explains a lot."

Spark frowned and looked at him. "What do you mean?"

"Just explains the things that I never got; why you didn't know what a Veela was, why you hesitated when I asked about your wand." He smiled at her and stroked her cheek. "Why you're skin is hard and cold and so pale." He spoke softly. "Why you seem hear things no one else does, why you are so much more graceful than any other I've ever seen." He smiled leaning closer to her slowly.

Spark just looked deeply into his eyes.

"Why I was head over heels in love with you when I first laid my eyes on you." He whispered before kissing her softly…

***
I looked at Spark. "YOU KISSED HIM?!"

Spark smiled. "Actually he kissed me."

"YOU TWO KISSED AND YOU DIDN'T TELL ME?! JENNIFER PARKER!"

Spark put her hand over my mouth laughing quietly. "Hey you've got some story telling of your own there chica."

I smiled at her. "What time are you thinking about?"

Spark arched an eyebrow at me. "Oh I don't know…the night you and Fred stayed
over."

I blushed as I began to remember that night as if it were yesterday.

***

I opened my eyes feeling him come closer. It wasn't going to be our first date; Fred had surprised me with a trip to Ireland for that; it was, however, the first time we would stay the night together. Neither of us was planning on anything sexual or intimate. No, we were just planning on going to New Zealand. He wanted to see the house; wanted to know the life we lived. I also was going to tell him about being a vampire tonight.

I heard Spark open the door and hear the idle small talk she made with him. I checked my reflection and smiled softly; my golden hair was wavy today and I wore a simple pair of jeans and a cute t-shirt; I looked very human. I took a deep, and unnecessary, breath then walked down the stairs, forcing myself to walk slowly. I smiled when I saw Fred; I couldn't help it, he just made me happy. He stood there, with his shaggy ginger hair and his countless freckles… okay so he had 73 freckles but hey, who's counting? Behind his slim and tall figure was a suitcase; and boy could I feel the excitement leaking off of him. Spark drove us to the airport in the car we'd bought; she swore she needed something more accessible than the motorcycle; we both knew that the only reason she didn't like the bike was because there wasn't a back seat…or because it messed up her hair; one of the two.

Spark looked at me as we waited for them to call our plane. "Behave you two. Now Fred; Elanor is my sister if you will. If you do so much as try to do something to hurt her I give her full permission to beat your butt." She nodded once and smirked.

I just rolled my eyes at Spark. "Oh shush. Will you be okay by yourself?"

Spark turned away from me and sniffled. "I'll….manage…."

I laughed softly and pushed her gently. "Quit acting. No having George over without supervision."

She spun around, dropping her very convincing façade. "WHAT?!"

I smirked at her. "Nope."

She looked at me with disbelieving eyes. "But but but but…"

I laughed. "Spark. I'm kidding."

She smirked. "You scared me. You know that? Bloody scared me."

Fred was chuckling next to me.

Spark arched an eyebrow. "She can so take you."

He smirked. "I know."

"And take him I am. Away from you." I winked at her then hugged her. "Behave."

"Never." Spark smirked at me then waved as I led Fred away from her and onto the plane. I waved to her before finding my seat. I smiled over at Fred as he took my hand in his; it always amazed me how he never shied away from my cold and stone-like skin.

After two days on the plane, stopping in London for 5 hours, then stopping in Hong Kong for almost two hours, and then finally arriving in Auckland, I couldn't get off the plane fast enough. Two days after when we departed was a horribly long time on something like a plane. I rested my head against his shoulder as a taxi driver took us close to the house. I smiled and opened the door; it felt good to be home. I looked at Fred, offering him a hand. "Welcome to New Zealand."

Fred looked around "It's absolutely stunning…" I could hear the wonder in his voice and feel the emotions rolling off of him as he took my hand again. It made me smile.

"Wait till you see the beach." I winked at him then paid the taxi driver and walked with him up to the house.

After a quick shower, Fred decided he wanted to test my 'wait till you see the beach' theory and bounced around begging me to go to the beach with him like a little kid wanting to open his presents on Christmas Day. I laughed lightly and nodded. "Alright; let's go."

Fred did a little jig, which of course made me laugh, and then we walked hand in hand down to the beach. The sun had just started to set behind the ocean line casting beautiful colors across the sky as we walked in the sand, both of us barefoot. Not much was said between us; it wasn't necessary, we were just happy to be with each other. That's just how we were. I smiled and looked over at him making a decision. If I didn't do this now, I never would. "Fred…I need to tell you something."

Fred glanced over at me with a…wait a knowing look? Was it possible that he already knew?

I frowned. "Why do you look like you know something you shouldn't?"

Fred chuckled. "Because I do Ella; but that's not the point. The point is I know what you want to talk about."

I arched my eyebrow. "Oh? And pray tell what that topic is." I crossed my arms in front of my chest, stopping walking.

He looked at me seriously. "You're not human. In fact, I'd go so far as saying you're a vampire."

Yeah; totally caught me by surprise. "Um…"

Fred chuckled. "It's okay Ella. George told me; but only because I bugged him for it first."

I looked at him curiously. "And you're okay with it?"

He nodded. "George explained the whole thing to me. Thought I deserved to know."

If I could have, I would have blushed. "I was going to tell you…"

Fred put his finger on my lips softly. "Shh. I know. You needed to tell me on your own time. I just think it's cool. I understand why you waited. I probably would have done the same thing Ella."

I offered him a small smile. "So you don't think I'm some horrible beast?"

Fred chuckled. "No. Actually, I think you're a beautiful young woman who just can't die."

I shook my head but I was amused by his acceptance. I opened my mouth to say something but he touched his finger to my lips again. "Shh. You talk too much." He smiled softly. "I love you Ella."

Fred leaned forward and kissed me softly.

'I love you too Fred.' I whispered in my mind softly, not sure why I didn't say it out loud before he kissed me.

***

Spark looked at me critically. "You didn't say you loved him?"

I shook my head slowly. "About a year and a half and I've yet to say it."

Spark shook her head slowly. "Come on El. Even I said it."

I nodded. "I know. I think he's going to propose tonight…I'm going to tell him tonight."

She looked at me critically. "Do you love him?"

I nodded again after a little hesitation. "Yes. I do."

"Then tell him. Tonight." She smiled encouragingly.

I nodded. "You know we've been through a lot this past year and a half Sparkle." I said nodding at her.

She returned my nod. "You're not kidding. Between you trying to figure out what is going on with Felix and Fred, and me with George…Romania. It's all been crazy."

I looked at her. "Not just for us. You've also got Edward falling in love with that Bella chick. I can't believe he not only managed to attract a tracker and his girlfriend, but then run away from her to have her fall in love with a wolf, to come back after almost committing suicide by going to the Volturi, to fighting that massive load of newborns."

Spark looked at me, confusion rolling off of her. "What newborns?"

"Oh I guess I didn't tell you. The last time Felix stopped by he and Jane had gone out and went to check out a supposed Newborn invasion that the tracker's girlfriend formed to get revenge on Edward and the others while she killed Bella; A love for a love. Edward apparently teamed up with wolves."

"No way!"

"Yep. Imagine that."

Spark laughed. "But you're right. We have been through a lot."

I looked at her. "Especially George's ear…?"

Spark nodded. "Especially George's ear."

***

"SPARK! Hurry up! I know you want to look nice the first time you meant Arthur and Molly but come on. You always look beautiful. You're a vampire for Pete's sake."

Spark came flying down the stairs. She looked totally frazzled. "Look. Vampire. Dating. Human. What part of that don't you get?"

I rolled my eyes. "What part of 'flawless looking vampire' don't you get?"

She huffed at me and rolled her eyes. "Come on. They should be getting back from that thing they were going to do with that Potter boy any minute now."

"It's kinda crazy how they've got this war going on that no one knows about. I don't get how so many worlds can be on one planet. You've got the world of Vampires, the world of humans/muggles, and the world of Wizards. Makes me wonder what other ones there are." I said as I headed toward the motorcycle that was waiting out front.

Spark nodded and got on behind me. "I just have a bad feeling that something bad is going to happen. I'm not sure what but it's just a bad feeling. I don't like it El. It makes me nervous…"

I nodded. "I know what you mean. I look at the entire family and know someone isn't going to make it; though who it is I can't figure out." I kicked the bike into life and off we headed toward the Burrow that Fred and George had given us directions to.

When we got there, I could feel the emotional distress. I stopped the bike and glanced back at Spark whose eyes were wide with terror. The emotions coming from there were horrific; someone had died and someone else was injured…and there were feelings of betrayal. I walked up to the gate and opened it slowly.

Fred walked out looking troubled. He saw me and walked quickly toward me, specifically not looking at Spark. He wrapped his arms around me and buried his head against my neck.

I stiffened slightly and then wrapped my arms around him and he began to shake with what I could only think were shudders from restraining his tears. "What's wrong?" I whispered lightly.

"Moody's dead…and George…"

That's all Spark needed to here. She was running, a little too fast, toward the house. She burst into the kitchen, the door breaking off its hinges.

I followed quickly, Fred following me like a puppy. I moved a hand up to my mouth at what I saw.

On the couch was George, lying there paler than any living person I'd ever seen. If it hadn't been for the rise and fall of his chest I would have easily thought him dead.

Spark walked over slowly; I don't think she could have managed to go any faster. "No…" she whispered softly.

Next to me I felt Fred take out his wand and whisper a word in Latin that sounded like "Reparo" though I wasn't sure. The door magically fixed itself. I looked back at Spark as she knelt down next to George. I reminded myself to breathe like a human but found that it made my throat burn. I looked around and knew why; George had been bleeding horribly recently. I shook my head sadly and looked at Fred. "Is he going to be okay?"

Fred nodded slowly. "We think so. We hope so."

Even as I watched George opened his eyes and Spark looked at him sadly. He offered her a weak smile and she burst out into tearless sobs. She leaned forward onto his chest, careful not to crush his ribcage with the force of which she lay her head down.

Molly and Arthur looked at each other before nodding to one another. I caught the look of approval in their eyes.

George put a hand on Spark's back awkwardly; he didn't really have much other option in the way of comforting her with actions. "Sparkle…Jenny…I'm okay. You might have to speak up every now and then but I'm okay. Even better than that; I'm holy. Get it? Holey." He offered her a second smile.

Spark shook her head. "I can't lose you…" she whispered.

George frowned. "You're not Jenny."

"No…You don't understand." She sobbed, still tearlessly.

Watching this made me reach over subconsciously and take Fred's hand in my own.

"The vampire that changed me…Aro… it didn't take long for him to develop feelings for me, and I maybe loved him at one point. He changed me on what was my seventeenth birthday, telling me he was going to help me become immortal. Because I was so young I assumed he was helping me with my art, and not making me a vampire. The last words I heard as a human were 'I love you with all the heart I used to possess Jenna'. He abandoned me shortly after he created me. Do you understand now? He changed me after telling me he loved me…he left me after that. I can't lose you too George…"

George got the most serious and sincere look on his face as I heard him whisper "I love you too much to ever leave you Jenny."

Spark whispered softly. "I love you too George."

***

I looked at Spark and smiled. But then the reverie ended quickly and suddenly. A sharp pain across my chest told me something was wrong. I sat up straight, no longer leaning back and reclining in comfort. My cup of espresso went flying and smashed into the pavement, shattering into a million pieces, my eyes closed tight, and my hand went flying toward where my heart no longer beat.

Spark sat up straight, her eyes filled with concern. She touched my arm only for me to recoil at her usually comforting touch. "El?" She asked softly. "What's wrong? Why are you so hurt?"

I glanced at her; the fact that she was able to feel the pain could only mean one thing; it was emotional. I said the first words that came to mind. As much as I didn't want to believe they were true I knew deep down in my soul that they were. "Fred's dead."