Chapter Two:

Grace tried not to let Godric distract her as she went about her normal day routine. She had a practice with her swim team and end of the semester exams were approaching quickly. She needed to focus. And she tried extremely hard not to let her thoughts drift to the vampire that was not so dead after all. However, she failed miserably, and found herself staring off into space more than once during her lectures.

"What's gotten into you?" her classmate and fellow member of the swim team nudged her in the side and sent her a swift glare. "You haven't even taken any notes!"

"Oh," Grace blinked, gazing down at her empty notebook. The lecture was nearing the end and she hadn't written a single word.

"I'll send you them," she rolled her eyes at Grace. "What's on your mind?"

"Nothing, nothing at all," Grace shrugged. She wasn't sure how acceptable it would be to gush about a vampire who had faked his own death and had stolen her swing again. She was certain she would be locked away for sounding absolutely insane.

"Just get your head out of the clouds."

Grace frowned and tried to focus for the last twenty minutes of class. She barely wrote a word however, scribbling on the page instead. Her friend huffed at how distracted she was as she packed her things up after being dismissed. Gave offered her an apologetic smile as she too hurriedly grabbed her things and jogged out of the room. She just wanted to get home and go for a jog. Her legs were still aching after last night's adventure, but jogging was one of the few ways she was ever able to clear her thoughts.

And she desperately needed to clear her thoughts.

The sun was starting to dip below the horizon as she jogged closer and closer to the park across from her apartment, and by the time she reached the entrance, the sky had darkened completely. She waited for a few minutes, as if expecting Godric to appear out of thin air again, but soon realized that she was only kidding herself. Godric wouldn't be hanging out in some random Dallas park for no reason. She was silly for thinking he would be.

Sighing, Grace hurried through the park to return home. She had nearly made it passed the swing set when suddenly a gust of wind brought her to a dead stop. Her breath was caught in her throat as she slowly turned, facing the swings.

There he was.

And he was still on her swing.

"I thought I would never see you again," she pivoted on her heel and began towards the swings. She noted he was wearing the same outfit from the previous night, dirt covering his entire body. "Did the ground attack you or something?"

Godric raised an eyebrow at her. "I went to ground at sunrise."

Her eyes grew wide. "You actually slept in the ground?"

He looked amused at her awe. "I traveled many centuries without a coffin or light tight bedroom."

"Wow," she shook her head in disbelief. "What's it like?"

"You are too curious for your own good, Grace," her name slipped off his tongue, causing her to shudder. The way his accent spoke her name, it sent an odd tingling throughout her body.

"That's your own fault," Grace shrugged, moving around him and to the swing beside him. "You just kept appearing and disappearing out of nowhere; what else was I supposed to believe when I was a kid? I thought you were some kind of wizard."

She giggled when he looked appalled at her suggestion.

"Sorry, does that offend you?"

"Greatly," his nose scrunched up in disgust.

She stifled her laugh as she began swaying on the swing. "So what are you doing back here, anyways?"

"I was curious myself," Godric admitted, tilting his head to the side as he took her in. She shifted uncomfortably under his scrutinizing stare and that only caused a small smile to spread across his lips. "Do I make you uncomfortable, Grace?"

"Only when you look at me without blinking," she shuddered.

"My apologies then," he didn't look very sorry, however.

"Well as long as you're sorry," she had to look away, gazing down at the sand instead of into those blue abysses. "What are you curious about?"

"You."

Grace froze, her feet digging into the sand. She needed something to keep her grounded. "Me?" her voice was nothing more than a squeak and she blushed in embarrassment. "I mean, me, really? What's so curious about me?"

"You do not seem afraid," his head tilted to the side. "I'm a vampire and yet you converse with me as if I were human."

"Should I be treating you any differently?"

"You should be afraid."

She risked a glance at the vampire, searching his face for anything that could possibly cause her an ounce of fear. She found nothing, however. "Well I'm not."

His eyebrows furrowed as if the idea of someone not being afraid was unthinkable. She began to assure him that he didn't appear all that scary when suddenly he was no longer sitting beside her. Grace frowned as she turned her head to gaze around in search of the vampire.

She wasn't expecting him to appear behind her, nor did she expect his hand to suddenly wrap around her throat. Her entire body stilled, her eyes growing wide. Godric pressed himself against her back, his hand curled around the base of her neck. He didn't squeeze, didn't tighten his grip at all. She could still breathe; she could probably even knock his hand away and escape.

"And now?" he question, the pad of his thumb massaging her neck. "Now are you afraid?"

Her mouth felt dry as her heart pounded in her chest, quickening with every caress of his thumb. He wasn't trying to hurt her, and instead frighten her. But that thought did not calm her wild heart. "Are you…are you trying to make me afraid?"

A dark chuckle rumbled behind her and she shuddered at the sound, a chill running along her spine. "Is it working?"

"No," she managed out.

His hand did tightened around her throat this time, though he still didn't apply pressure. Her entire body tensed, however, and for a split moment, she did wonder if he would kill her. Maybe he hadn't killed her as a child because he had some sort of morals. But she wasn't a child any longer.

"Are you afraid of me now?" he whispered into her ear, his other hand sweeping her long locks over one shoulder.

She couldn't deny the spark of fear as his hand locked around her throat. She could breathe, and yet his sudden change made her feel breathless.

"Do you fear me, Grace?" she suppressed a whimper as he spoke her name, biting down hard on her bottom lip. "Do I frighten you?"

"N-no," her voice wavered but she was proud of herself for even being able to speak.

"And why not?"

She had to close her eyes to remind herself that this was Godric, not some other vampire. This was the vampire that had stolen her swing, glamoured her back to bed, and had done nothing but tease her. He hadn't harmed her, or even attempted to. She had to believe there was still good in him.

"You told me last night that you wanted peace between human and vampires," she swallowed hard. "You were tired of all the pain you caused."

When he didn't respond, her tense shoulders began to relax.

"You could have killed me when I was a kid, but you didn't. You could have killed me last night, but you still didn't," Grace reasoned. "If you really want peace, then you wouldn't kill some innocent girl."

His hand remained in place around her throat, and for a moment, she thought she had been so completely wrong. But another chuckle sounded, though it was filled with amusement this time, and his hand slowly drew to her shoulder instead.

"You are as wise as you are curious," he whispered one last time in her ear before suddenly he was gone.

Grace shot to her feet, tearing around in search of the vampire. Her hand rose to her neck, rubbing where he hadn't even left a mark. Her heart was still racing wildly as she searched the dark, empty park for any sign of Godric. But he was gone. Again.

"Really?" she sighed heavily. She was getting tired of him just disappearing. Shaking her head, she plopped back down onto the swing, though this time relishing in her swing. She couldn't help the smile that crossed her lips at being back in that swing after so long. It had fit her even when she was a child, and it still seemed to fit her.

"Why that swing?"

Grace jumped at his reappearance, this time on her right. She rolled her eyes as she swung, ignoring his intense stare. "I don't know. I just like it. You really need to stop disappearing, you know."

He raised an eyebrow, smiling as he watched her. "I find your reaction to be amusing."

"Glad I can entertain you," she snorted before falling back to a stand still. "Why this park?"

"Hm?"

She turned towards him curiously. "Of all the parks, of all the swings in the world, why this one?"

Godric looked uncertain of how to answer, turning his gaze up to the night sky. "I'm not entirely sure of why this park."

"Well then why, Dallas?" she questioned. "If you're supposed to be dead, then why are you hanging around here still?"

"I haven't always," he admitted. "I traveled for many months. But I found I could not stay away for too long from my children."

"So you're, ah, vampire children are here then?"

He shook his head and her chest tightened at how sad he appeared. "No, they are both in Louisiana at the moment. But I found this was as close as I could get without interfering."

Grace frowned as she watched the pain cross his features. "Because they don't know, right?" when he nodded her heart broke. "Well why don't you just tell them?"

"They will be furious. They will hate me."

"Well of course they will be," she shrugged. "But isn't it better for them to be furious for a little while instead of having them mourn you?"

"They are very stubborn. Especially my Viking," he sighed at the thought of his children. She still didn't understand what a vampire family could possibly be like, but she imagined they had to be somewhat similar to a regular, human family.

"So they might be pissed off for a few years. Y'all are immortal. Isn't that better than centuries of them thinking you're gone?" Grace pointed out. "They deserve to know. And honestly, I think you would be much happier if they did. You miss them."

He turned his gaze onto her, his eyebrows furrowing as if he was trying to understand her. "You think that I am sad?"

"I think you're miserable," she could see it in his eyes. There was something missing, like a piece of him was no longer there. "Everyone always needs their family, whatever that family might be. Maybe it's blood, or just a group of friends, or whatever. But family is everything. Even vampires must need that."

He stared at her for the longest time and she was growing uncomfortable again, her hands fidgeting on her lap. A small smile crossed his lips as he finally looked away, allowing for Grace to sigh and relax.

"You are wise," he mused. "And what about your family, little one?"

She watched as his gazed turned to where the gate once laid leading to her small house. The gate was no longer there, however, instead bushes taking its place. She was almost sad to see the change. "We moved a few years back to Houston for my dad's job. It wasn't until recently I came back for school."

"And you returned to this park," he nodded at the apartment building across the street. "Why?"

Grace shrugged as she glanced around the park before landing on him. "Honestly? I don't really know. I've just always loved it here."

"Especially, that swing."

"Especially this swing," her hands curled around the chains holding the swing up. "After that night, I could think of nothing but how you could even be possible. I was obsessed. I think I worried my parents for a while, and I think that was one of the reasons we moved. Turns out I wasn't so crazy after y'all came out into the open."

He eyed her and she was beginning to feel self-conscious. There was just something about when his eyes bore right through her, as if he could see into the depths of her soul.

"You truly are a remarkable thing, aren't you?"

"I wouldn't say remarkable," Grace shook her head, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

"I would."

A blush appeared on her cheeks. They fell into a comfortable silence as the gentle breeze rustled the trees surrounding the park. She was perfectly content on just remaining on that swing for the rest of the night, though she had a feeling if she stayed away from home for too long, her roommate would call in worry.

Suddenly, however, she was yanked right off of the swing. She yelped, trying to pull out of Godric's grasps as he held onto her arms.

"You must return home now, little one," he shot her a quick glance before gazing over her shoulder to the line of trees. "It is no longer safe."

"But…" she wanted to argue that she felt utterly safe around him, but his grasp tightened just enough for her to clamp her mouth shut.

"You need to return home," he caught her gaze and she immediately groaned, knowing what he would do. It was easier this time, to have her fall under his great power, her shoulders sagging in defeat. "Return home, Grace, and do not wander out again this evening."

"Okay."

"Good girl," he squeezed her arms before releasing her. She shook her head, the glamour ending as she took a step away. "Now go on your way."

"You did it to me again," she huffed, though her feet seemed to have a mind of their own as they began to move around Godric. "You really need to stop doing that."

He only gave her a small smile as she crossed the park to her apartment building. She did pause, however, before crossing the street. She glanced over her shoulder but frowned when she realized he was once again gone.

"Damn, Vampire," she grumbled, only to stop suddenly when she felt that gust of wind again. Her eyes fluttered close as a voice sounded in her ear, his lips ever so close.

"I will see you again soon," he vowed before disappearing completely.

Grace sighed and nodded to the empty park as if he could see her. "Goodnight, Godric." She turned then, glanced for any cars, and hurried to the building. It was only when she was safely inside the lobby doors that she glanced back at the park. She was surprised to find Godric settled on the sidewalk, gazing directly at her. Had he been making sure she arrived safely, even if it had only been across the street? The thought make her smile as she waved to the vampire and jogged up the stairs to her apartment.

She couldn't wait to see the vampire again.

Godric sighed as he watched her disappear up the stairs and out of sight. He stood there for a few more minutes, hoping to catch another glance of up through her window. Drapes were covering the glass, however, leaving him feel disappointed. He didn't understand why he suddenly found this girl intriguing. He barely remembered her as a child. He barely even remembered that very park. But he had been drawn to it for some reason as he tried to rid his thoughts of his children. And then she had come along.

He was supposed to slowly approach Louisiana after ensuring that his former area and its new Sheriff were well. He was supposed to risk his children seeing him as he tried to catch a quick glimpse of them. But he had been distracted. And by a human girl.

He had never been interested by any individual human other than Eric and Nora. But they had been different; they had been special. This girl, she was only ordinary. However, the more time he spent around her, he was beginning to realize she was much more than that. She was entirely human, nothing supernatural about her. But it was her innocent view on the world, her curiosity that felt like a fresh breath of air. He could not understand how anyone could not fear him. But she did not. She didn't fear him at all.

Godric couldn't help the small smile that crossed his lips as he glanced one last time at the building before taking off into the night sky. He would find more suitable arrangements than the ground for the day and then he would once again seek her out tomorrow night.

"Grace," her name slipped from his lips, his smile widening.

He had an inkling he would not be able to stay away, even if he should. He was dangerous, he was a monster. He wasn't even supposed to be there; he was supposed to be spending the rest of his existence in solitude and grief. But when he was with her, he found that he did not want that.

What would his children think?

He chuckled as he thought of his Viking's response. He would be appalled at the notion of a human bringing his maker any sort of happiness. Though Godric had become aware of a telepath that had captured Eric's attention as of late. He wondered if his eldest child had finally begun to evolve.

Nora, part of the Authority and a key member in the support of mainstreaming amongst humans, would likely question his choice but accept it.

His choice.

He was speaking as if she was his, as if he had claimed her.

But he had not. And he would not. He had never claimed a human, nor did he wish to.

Or did he with her? There was something about the way she stared at him, like he was just an average boy and not a beast that had roamed this earth for millenniums. She did not judge him, did not cower away in fear. Perhaps there was still a child inside of her. Perhaps she had just not lost her childlike notions. But even if that was so, it was refreshing. He found he enjoyed her attentions.

Even when he should not.

Godric almost wished he could reach out to his children to ask for their advice. Eric would surely advise against claiming anyone short of being worthy, though perhaps this telepath had changed his child. Nora would simply wish for him to be happy, just as she always had.

The thought of his family brought a sad smile to Godric's lips. He wondered if Grace was right, if he should inform his children that he was still here, roaming this earth and watching over them. The thought of his family being reunited brought him great happiness. She had been correct; he was miserable.

"It's too soon," Godric shook his head, gently landing before a small cottage just outside of the city. It had been a safe home he would sneak off to when his Sheriff duties had grown tiresome. "They will know soon. But not know."

Vowing to himself, Godric slipped inside of his home and left the thoughts of his children outside. Only Graced crossed his thoughts for the rest of the evening before he fell into a dead rest safely tucked away in his light tight room.