At our home I sit with Bernard on the coffee table and watch as he stares openly at me while he sips his TruBlood through a straw. We both sit criss-cross apple-sauce facing each other and hold up the bottle while he just sips. Next to me, on the floor, is a pile of six empty bottles he has already gone through and in my lap is a fresh case of more. Since we got here all he's done is follow my every move and it wasn't until Godric gave me my TruBlood that he stirred and grunted like a child in the direction of what I drank. It seems like my little Bear just can't get full enough.

I hear a deep breath taken in by Godric who sits on the sofa watching us both. I know already he is going to tell me that it's time for us to all go to sleep and I know already the question is where will we all sleep. We had anticipated Bernard would be like me when he awakened, like all the other vampires too, but that's not the case. Godric doesn't have to tell me there's something wrong and it's all my fault. I know I should have dug the grave deeper, I know I should have dug it faster too. I should have held him tighter, I shouldn't have panicked. I shouldn't have said his name. Bernard has always been prone to night terrors and the sound of his own name was the only thing that could make a bad situation worse. I wish I knew that before.

The sound of straw sucking in air brings my attention back to him and I place the empty bottle on the ground. I reach my hand up and pull the straw from his lips as I smile, "Time for bed."

His expression doesn't change but I know it will. I can see more than feel that he is tired and he needs his rest. I stand from the coffee table and he follows me in the direction of his room while the iron curtains fall around us. Bernard doesn't seem to notice the things that jumped at me on my first night, but I keep telling myself that everyone is different. He just needs some time out of his shell.

In his room I pull out his jammies that I had left folded in his dresser drawer. I place them on top and motion to them with my hand, "Change and get some sleep, little one."

He doesn't move.

I swallow hard to keep down the frog that wants to leap out of my throat. Sandy said to save him, save him. I lift up my arms and he follows the motion. I pull off the simple white t-shirt I buried him in and notice that he seems to no longer be skin and bone. Maybe it was the TruBlood or the transformation but he seems to fill out, not as much as Godric but still. I place on him a large Fangtasia shirt Eric and Pam sent with their well wishes and when it comes to his pants I decide to leave them. I had dressed him in a type of pajama pants anyway, it won't bother him.

I walk to the side of his race car bed, something I thought would be a big hit, and pull back the blankets. I get in and wait for him to follow me but he doesn't. I look up to him and pat the empty space with an encouraging smile but all he does is stand. I can see the ghost of watering eyes but nothing comes out, does he want to cry? Wouldn't I feel that?

"Come on, Little Bear, come to bed," I call to him but he doesn't move. I try again, in a more forceful tone, "Come to bed."

I see the weight of my words on him and instantly I am filled with guilty by how it hurts him. He falls into bed with out being able to use his limbs, what is wrong with my baby? I sit up and maneuver him so that he is laying beneath the blankets. I don't even have to wait and pretend to sleep, his eyes shut and he is done for the night.

I leave the room, making sure to keep the door open just a crack, and walk to my room with Godric. When I wakk in I am surprised to see be sits on the edge of the bed for me. His head had been hung low but upon my arrival it lifts up. His eyes are those seas again and I crumble before he has the chance to say, "I am so sorry."

I fall into his arms and try to cry as silently as I can, "Godric, what do I do? What do I do to help him? It's like he's not there, he's not there!"

Godric's arms form tightly around me and sink further and further into his hold, curling up my legs so I can hide in his lap like the child that I am, "Amie, it is not your fault. Every transformation is different just as every human and vampire is different. There are always variables that are certain to cause the most dramatic of changes. Especially when turning an individual as young as you both are. I too was concerned something of this magnitude would occur to you."

"But what is occurring, Godric?" I cry in nearly breathless spurts. "I need to know, I need to know how to help him."

"There is no answer," Godric sighs, "You have only two options Amie, help him face the True Death or wait."

"Wait for what?" I ask, because the first suggestion isn't an option.

Godric is quiet for a few moments which causes me to pull back and look over his statuesque pained expression. He lets out a little breath from between his lips before answering, "I don't know."