Chapter Eight:

A giggle arose from Grace as a cool finger dragged along her arm, tickling her fingers, before travelling slipping across her stomach, tugging her back against a rock hard chest. Godric couldn't stop the smile from spreading across his lips as her entire body shuddered at his simple touch. He loved the way she reacted to him, how her body was entirely his.

"Ah, stop that," Grace grabbed at his wrist as his hand began to dip lower under the thin bed sheet.

"I believe you're still ready for me," her thighs parted on their own accord as his fingertips drew across her lips. He could smell her arousal, smell how ready she already was after he had only just taken her.

"Oh!" her entire body jerked as he rubbed at her bud of nerves. "Oh that's not fair!"

Godric chuckled as he slipped a finger inside of her, her hips bucking, her moans sounding from his ministrations. "Allow me to bring you pleasure, my love."

Her hand gripped at his arm, but didn't move to stop him. She was not in the right frame of mind to try and stop him. But yet, logic was nagging at the back of her head, reminding her of why she couldn't let Godric continue. Not yet, anyways. Not until her fears were put to rest.

"Once more before you leave?" she asked softly, her nails digging into his arm as another finger joined the first.

Godric froze, however, leaving Grace to groan in displeasure. He stared down at her with a frown, turning her onto her back as he raised himself up onto his elbow. "What do you mean, my sweet?"

Grace chewed on her bottom lip, her hips shifting as she sought for friction. Godric's fingers slipped out of her, however, and a pout threatened to form.

"Grace?"

She sighed as she finally caught his gaze. "You're leaving, aren't you?"

"Why would you ask me that?" his eyebrows furrowed.

"Because I'm not stupid, Godric," she pushed herself up into a sitting position. She had a feeling the mood was gone now, though there was still a burning in the pit of her stomach, a knot that was just looking to be loosened. "I know you have to go."

Godric sighed as he rose beside her, rubbing the bridge of his nose. He hadn't wanted to talk about it yet. He merely wanted to enjoy this time with her. He wanted to spend as much of his time as he could pleasuring her and simply enjoying her in his embrace. This was the last conversation he wanted to have.

But his little human was more perceptive than most.

"I get it," she tucked the sheet around herself. "I understand why you have to go. I've been telling you you've had to tell your family for days now. So I get it."

He caught her fidgeting hands, squeezing them gently as he tugged her to his side. She gladly accepted the embrace, curling her form around him and settled her cheek against his chest.

"Just don't pretend that you're not leaving, because we both know that you are."

"I'm sorry," he ran his fingers through her long locks, toying with the ends. "I cannot let Eric or Nora discover that I'm alive through another."

"I know," she nodded. She did understand. She had been hounding him about this, after all. All she wanted was for Godric to be happy, to not want to meet the sun like he had mentioned the last time he had been in this apartment. She knew having his family back would bring him the happiness he had been longing for. But a small, selfish part of her hated it all the same. She had just spent three days without Godric, without this complete stranger, and she had despised it. She was pathetically attached to one single being and she should have hated herself for it.

"I will be back," he vowed to her, brushing his lips across her forehead. "I'm an not leaving you, Grace. I will be back."

"You don't have to…"

He caught her chin and forced her gaze to meet his. "Perhaps you're right. I don't have to. But I need to. You still do not realize, do you?"

She stared up at him with her sad round orbs and it almost angered him. How could she still not yet realize what she meant to him? Had he not proven himself?

"You, you silly girl, are you my reason. I have been searching for you for too many years, and yet here you have been this entire time," his thumb caressed her cheek, a soft sigh sounding from her lips as her eyes fluttered and she leaned into his touch. "I considered ending my existence when I first came across you when you were seven, but something stopped me even then. Perhaps it was the universe trying to tell me something. Perhaps I was too stubborn to listen. But then you came along again, my love, and this time I will not let you slip through my fingers."

"I'm not that special."

"I disagree," he tilted her chin, dragging his lips across hers. "You are mine, Grace, and I will be back for you."

"Promise?"

He couldn't help but smile. "I swear it."

She stared up at him for the longest time, searching his orbs for the answer to her unanswered questions. She couldn't help but wonder if this was some sort of dream. Perhaps she was just imagining this. It would explain why she was suddenly so attached to a stranger she barely even knew – a stranger that happened to be a ferocious vampire. But the longer she stared into those stormy seas, her own smile began to spread across her lips. She felt happy in his arms. She felt more alive than she had ever felt before. She felt free of her parent's expectations. She felt free of the judgments, or the assumptions. She finally just felt free and she never wanted to let that feeling go.

"I'm going to be miss you," she admitted, her hand raised, her fingers tracing the tattoo that crossed from one shoulder to the next. "Though I'm not going to miss you stealing my swing."

Godric laughed heartedly. "You would bring up that damn swing."

She playfully slapped his chest. "It is an amazing swing, Godric. Don't even dare try to tell me any differently."

"I should move the entire swing set while you're sleeping," he teased. "You would be frantic."

"That would be cruel and evil," Grace pouted up at him. "And you would never get any again."

He raised an eyebrow, his grin forming a smirk. "Hm, is that so? Is that a threat?"

Grace was glad for the sudden mood change. She couldn't help that Godric was leaving. Hell, she even had been the one to push him to leave. While she knew she would be miserable until he came back – if he came back – she just wanted to spend as much time with him now as she possibly could. She had a feeling that by the end of the night, he would be sneaking back out of her life.

And this time he wouldn't just be stalking her.

"Maybe," she grinned mischievously, inching away from the vampire.

"Oh I don't think so, love," his smirk widened as he was suddenly hovering above her, pressing her back into the bed. She laughed as she mocked struggled, her hands resting against his chest. She didn't even try to push him away, however, and instead enjoyed the feel of his chest beneath her hands. If she could have it her way, she would want to touch nothing else for the rest of her life. "You are mine."

"Yeah, we still need to talk about that,"

"There's nothing to discuss," he lowered his lips to the top of one breast, gently beginning to tug on the bed sheet that was still tucked securely around her form. "I believe we're going to need to lose this."

She was naked in seconds as his lips grazed across her nipple. A shaky breath sounded from her lips as he drew her thighs apart, fitting perfectly between her legs.

"I will miss you," he caught her cheek as he positioned himself at her entrance. "Not a day will go by that I will not…"

"Oh just hurry up already," Grace laughed, bucking her hips.

"Someone is impatient," his orbs twinkled.

"Godric…"

"If the lady insists."

Grace had to grab onto his arms for support as he slid inside of her in one quick movement. A moan threatened to escape, but was silenced by his lips.

"You are mine," Godric claimed. "I will be back."

In that moment, she was entirely fine with being his.

"I want you to have my blood."

Grace wasn't sure if she was just exhausted from the sheer pleasure of being with this vampire, or if she was just hearing things. She shook her head, trying to clear her hazy thoughts, and turned onto her side to catch the vampire's gaze.

"I'm sorry, repeat that?"

A single finger traced the length of her jaw. Her eyelids fluttered as she moved into his touch. "I want you to have my blood."

"Yeah I didn't get that. Try again."

Godric sighed as he removed his finger, rising onto an elbow. "I want you to ingest my blood."

The third time was the charm as Grace shot up into a sitting position, her eyebrows furrowing. "You want me to have your blood? What, Why?"

"I told you that my blood can heal you."

"But I'm not hurt," she pointed out.

"My blood can do so much more than simply heal you, Grace," he explained, apprehension crossing his face. Their blood was sacred; he had told his children exactly that for centuries. Their blood was not to be given to humans, not to be treated like a common gift. It was not to be shared.

But for Grace, he felt he would give her the world. He would do whatever he must to protect her, and his blood could do just that.

"What do you mean exactly?" she questioned.

"It can create a bond, one that can never be broken," his fingers intertwined with hers. "It would allow me to know where you are at all times, to know if you are ever in trouble. I would know if you were ever hurt or afraid. I would be able to find you in seconds."

Grace was taken back with this revelation. She had done research of vampires, just like everyone else had when they revealed themselves years ago. But never had she ever come across anything about their blood besides how dangerous of a drug it could be..

"If I am to be away from you, I need to know you are safe," he could see the hesitance in her eyes. "If you are ever in danger, I could come to you, protect you."

"No."

His forehead crinkled in confusion. "No?"

"No," she repeated, her expression hardening. "Definitely not."

Godric felt perplexed. He was trying to protect her, and she was telling him no? He truly didn't understand humans, and certainly not his. "Why not?"

She shook her head with a snort. "Because then you have absolutely no reason to come back," if it wasn't such a serious subject, she would have laughed at the surprise on Godric's face.

"I've told you that I will be…"

"And you could be lying," Grace shrugged. "You can just give me your blood, know if I'm safe from afar, and never come back."

"I'm trying to keep you safe."

"And I'm trying to make sure I see you again."

Godric sighed as he fell back against the bed, shaking his head at the girl beside him. He could be with her for years, and he would never understand her at all. "I could simply make you ingest it."

Grace rolled her eyes as a smile began working its way across her lips. "No you wouldn't."

"For this, I would."

Slapping him lightly on the chest, Grace was the one to raise herself onto her elbow this time. "You've proven time and time again that you wouldn't glamour me. Even for this. And anyways, I need something to hold over you, don't I?"

"Grace…" she was being unreasonable, Godric decided.

"If you want to know if I'm safe or not, then just come back," she cupped his cheek. "Come back to me and you won't have to use some bond to know if I'm safe."

"You're being stupid."

"Gee, thanks," she snickered.

"Grace, I'm being serious. I cannot lose you. If you do not take my blood, if I do not know if you are safe, I may not be able to get to you in time should anything happen," his hand grasped hers. He had only just found her; he couldn't risk losing her. If he had to leave her, if they had to part, then he needed to know she would be perfectly safe. This bond would ensure that.

"Either you are going to have to force me or just live with it," she pecked his lips. "I won't leave the apartment after dark alone. I won't go out and find trouble. Just trust me, Godric. And if you're so worried, then you can just get your ass here and make sure for yourself that I'm safe."

Godric grumbled under his breath in his native language as he tugged Grace to his side, trapping her in his arms. She didn't mind, however, curling around his form happily. "You are going to be the end of me, my sweet."

"Hey, I'm just making sure I see you again," she nudged him. "Because it would really suck not seeing you again."

"That will never happen, I assure you," he vowed before sighing, realizing how late it was becoming. "I'm afraid I need to leave soon. I wish to be in Shreveport by dawn."

Her arms immediately tightened around the vampire. "Five more minutes?"

Godric chuckled but nodded. "Five more minutes."

They dressed in silence, though Grace stole glances across the room every so often when she knew Godric wasn't looking. He knew every time her eyes landed on him, however, and with each glance it pained him further. He didn't want to leave her. He didn't want to part from the single soul that had brought him more happiness in a week than he had ever experienced in his long existence.

But he knew, for the sake of his children, that he must.

"So…" Grace turned towards him, chewing on her bottom lip. "I really wish I could be one of those sappy girls that would beg you not to go."

He was before her in a flash, resting his forehead against hers. "And I wish I could stay."

She so desperately wanted to grab onto him and never let him go. But she couldn't, and she knew that. She didn't want to. She wanted Godric to see his family, to make amends. She had wanted it from the beginning. Grace just never knew how difficult it would be to let him go.

"Five more minutes?"

Godric chuckled as he brushed his lips across her forehead before stepping away. "I'm afraid I cannot give you those five minutes."

"I know," her nose scrunched up. "You know, I shouldn't hate it that some guy I barely know is leaving for god even knows how long."

"No, you likely shouldn't," he agreed with a sad smile. "Especially as that some guy is a ferocious vampire."

"I don't know, he seems like a cute cuddly teddy bear to me."

"I believe you've forgotten that I tore two vampire apart in front of you."

Grace shoved at his shoulder, rolling her eyes at him. "Thanks for reminding me."

Godric stole a quick kiss before offering his arm. "Escort me to the door?"

"You might have to pry me off of you," she gladly took his arm. "I will deny it, though, in the future."

"I'm sure you will."

Despite the fact that in only minutes, Godric would be gone, Grace couldn't stop the smile from growing on her lips. She just felt so alive, so happy when she was in Godric's presence. It made no logical sense, barely knowing the vampire who she had only just met. But she honestly didn't care.

By the time they reached the apartment door, however, the smile was replaced with a frown. "I don't know why I'm really going to miss you, but I am."

"I know," he enveloped her with his arms, inhaling her scent one last time. "And I will miss you."

"I am glad you're doing this, you know. Just, come back, all right?" she clutched onto the material of his shirt. She wasn't ready to let go just yet.

"I swear to you," he assured.

"I mean you have to know whether or not I'm safe, right?"

"I wish you would just let me give you my blood," Godric sighed. He hated that he wouldn't be able to feel her, to know if she was safe or not. It would drive him insane every single day not knowing where she was.

She shook her head against him. "You'll just have to come back."

"As soon as I possibly can, I vow that to you," he pried her hands from his clothed and cupped her cheeks. "I don't know how I found you so easily after searching for centuries, but I am more than relieved that I have. You are my reason, Grace. I have never needed another soul in my existence, but I find that I need you."

Grace felt almost overwhelmed by his proclamation. "You know a simple 'I like you too' works too."

"They hardly express just how important you are," he captured her lips. Before she could draw him closer, however, Godric pulled away. "I have to go," he murmured.

"I know," Grace sighed heavily. "Have I mentioned how much this does completely 100% suck?"

He caressed her cheek one last time before stepping away. The longer he held her, the longer she was within his grasps, and he wouldn't be able to leave her.

"Soon," he promised.

Before she could respond, though, the vampire was gone. Her mouth dropped open, an eyebrow rising at his sudden departure. "Really? You're just going to…"

"I was merely putting my number in your phone," Godric chuckled from behind her, handing her the cellphone. "Should for any reason you need me, do not hesitate to call. I will always answer for you."

"I'll try not to play the needy girlfriend role," she did, though, hold tightly onto the phone as if it would disappear if she let it go. "Now go, before I try to tie you to my bed and never let you leave."

Godric snickered but nodded, knowing he needed to leave now in order to arrive in Shreveport before dawn. It would be then when he could decide how to approach his eldest child.

With one last caress, Godric was gone. Grace stood in the doorway for the longest time, wondering if she would see him again. A beep emitting from her hands caught her attention as she was closing the door, and a smile brightened her face at the single word that she found.

Soon.

A/N: So it's been forever, and I apologize for that. This semester has been one of the hardest, craziest, worst and best three months of my life. I do have a month off (three weeks now that I've slacked an entire week when I should have been writing, oops) and I am hoping to be able to update the three current ongoing fics. I actually hope to finish this one, as it was always meant to be a short one that turned larger than expected. But I feel like no one really minds lol. Extremely sorry once again, and thank you all for reading and even reviewing. I never write in expectance of them, and each and every single one is like a Christmas present that I treasure (I am THAT sappy girl, okay, shhh).