Disclaimer: Nothing belongs to me.

They had talked late into the night until it transformed into early morning and Mitchell had to drag himself out to bed to get George. Annie stayed behind, for there was a world that belonged only to her boys, and even if she ever felt left behind, she knew she'd be willing to make the sacrifice if it meant the two people she loved the most could keep their relationship intact.

After all, she had figured out that it wasn't the house, with its bricks and mortar that kept her lifebound; it wasn't the bad wallpaper and the mismatched furniture, not even a cracked tile.

It was George and Mitchell.

It was funny, she thought. Their existence was nothing but a holy triad. Their binary relationships were unique and unchangeable:

George and Mitchell had come before, a brotherhood both exotic and mysterious to her, with a bond so deep that she had envied them before.

Then it was George and Annie: rocky at the start, like squabbling siblings, thirsty for control, and for getting the favour of the older one. But then such a sweet and understanding bond.

And then, it was Annie and Mitchell: A relationship too easy and too complicated to understand. United in death. Bound by never-ending life.

There was always someone left aside, unable to decipher the relationship of the other two: Annie for being a woman, Mitchell for being old and a killer, and George, because of his bigger chance at life.

You couldn't take one of them out of the equation, for then the whole thing would crumble.

Annie was still pondering on this when Mitchell and George arrived.

"Hey Annie." George said as he came into the kitchen still dirty from his previous night as he sat down on the nearest chair.

"Hi George. How are you feeling?" Annie asked placing a mug of steaming tea in front of him and following it with a plate of a delicious smelling full breakfast: eggs, bacon and baked beans.

"A little rough around the edges but I'll live. You didn't have to cook all of this."

"I like cooking, even if I can't taste it. And thank god for me or you two boys would eat nothing but cereal and biscuits." She said pointing at both George and Mitchell who had sat across from his friend on the long bench.

"You smell flowery." George said turning back to look at Annie.

"I took a bath. I used your lavender salts, sorry I didn't ask you before, but I have no money to buy my own."

"It's okay. But, you took a bath? Can you? I mean, I thought the ghost thing, you know, that it had some cleaning built-in something." George inquired making a vague gesture with his hand.

"I'm not a self-cleaning over George. And, yes I don't think I need it, but I enjoy the sensations. I can feel the water." Annie replied while she busied herself serving another plate.

"And how is it?" Mitchell asked interested while he stole a piece of bacon from George's plate.

"Well, it's like an echo of the feeling" She said as she was setting the new plate in front of Mitchell and took the time to slap his hand. "Wait for your own! Anyways, on the bright side my fingers don't get pruney. But I like it. And it makes me feel more normal. I've been thinking that I should try other normal human things I've forgotten about since I died."

"Like going to the loo?" George asked smiling.

"No. I don't eat, so that is unnecessary. And anyways who would miss that?"

Both boys were grinning now.

"Well, you could try eating and drinking." Mitchell offered.

"No. I really don't want to wee myself again trying to have tea, but wasn't the whole idea of this experiment of playing house of us to try to be more human? I don't know, maybe I should try other things."

"You're not getting another job at a pub right?" Mitchell asked.

"I think my career as a barmaid is over. But I could do something else. Though it would have to be something where presence wasn't required."

"Telemarketing? You like talking to people after all." George proposed.

"That's a thought. I should add it to my list."

"You have a list?" Mitchell asked.

"Of course I have a list. I have all the time in the world, I have tons of lists."

"Well, in the meantime, why don't you come here?" George said patting the seat next to him. "I'll be happy to eat for you, if you want to put your hands on my face while I eat this wonderful feast you have prepared for us."

"No, thank you. With everything, I just don't feel like it. If I was alive I think my stomach would be a in a knot. But I like watching you boys eat." She said sitting down on the remaining seat.

"Annie, have I told you you'd make a wonderful Jewish mother?" George asked smiling.

"Oh, I love you too Georgie!" Annie said jumping up and wrapping her arms around George's neck from behind.

"Don't call me Georgie, and get off of me! I smell! Of dirt, and blood, and dead things and other stuff I rather not think about." He said trying to pry off her hands.

"Oh, I don't mind. Maybe we should agree on trying to enjoy our five minutes of happiness as long as they last? What do you say? You just got your reprieve and Mitchell, you dealt with your vampire politics things right?" She asked looking up to Mitchell who wasn't too keen to talk on the subject.

"I don't think it's as simple as…"

"We'll deal with things as they come right?" She said extending her arm towards Mitchell who took it.

"And I'm learning to protect myself. I'm getting better at aiming and channelling my emotions."

"We'll always be here to help you, you know?" George said with a mouthful and placing one hand lovingly on the hand Annie still had around his neck.

"I know. So what do you say?" Annie asked letting go of George.

"I say… pizza and The Real Hustle? Pizza is on me." George offered.

"Are you sure I didn't go to heaven?" Annie overdramatized.

"Sarcasm doesn't really suit you."

"Oh shut up." She replied.

"So, have you really sorted out the vampire stuff?" George asked Mitchell.

"I think I got the message across, hopefully we won't have problems now."

"Hopefully? That's encouraging." George added.

"Oh, guys, would it be too superficial and naïve of me to want our problems to be just about who hasn't done the washing or who left the toilet seat up?" Annie asked leaning against the kitchen counter.

"I thought you said you're not planning on going to the loo. So I really don't understand why it's such a problem with you if the seat is up." George complained.

"George! Focus, please!" Annie admonished.

"We hear what you're saying Annie, but, do we really have a choice?" Mitchell asked.

"I lived my whole life, all twenty-two years of it, and I know it sounds ridiculously short to you, but nevertheless, I lived that entire life afraid. It was as if I was just rehearsing some goddamned play. I won't do that now. I won't let this… this second life… be just as insignificant."

"Annie…sweetheart… you'll never be insignificant. Not even if you tried." Mitchell said grinning at her.

"Okay then. So… Pizza and a film." She said.

"The Real Hustle is on tonight."

"Oh, yeah… Fine, but I'm choosing the film next time one of you goes to the video store. And Colin Firth will be in it." She threatened.

"Whatever you say Annie." George said smiling.

They were able to stretch their five minutes of happiness into a whole week. Annie and George were enjoying it but with each passing day Mitchell grew more and more restless. You can't live a life as long as he had without knowing the peace and quiet were rewards not reserved for his kind.

'Soon trouble will find us again." He thought.

And it did.

"Is that the big bad John I see moping human waste?" Mitchell was looking at the floor when a voice too loud and cheery for his taste made him look up. His eyes went from the floor to her cowboy boots, to her bare legs to her skirt and then her denim jacket.

"Daisy." He finally said not too cheerful when he met her eyes.

"Did you miss me handsome?" She said leaning back against the stark wall of the long corridor Mitchell was moping.

"Only like someone can miss deranged oversexed psychopaths." He replied.

"Oh! So you did miss me!" The ginger vampire added.

"Whatever Daise, I have to work." He said starting his work again and forcing her to move out of his way.

"Ivan was right. You are no fun anymore." She said curling her lip and frowning while she planted herself firm on the ground and refused to give him one more inch of space.

"And it seems you have the same attention span." Mitchell said resigned to the forced break and leaning now on his mop.

"I was wondering… if you'd let me… play with your little puppy… I always wanted to have one of those."

"He's off limits Daisy." Mitchell's slight smile was all gone by now.

"Don't you get tired of being so broody? Lighten up, we're only the superior species."

"George is not a pet."

"And you don't enjoy having Casper as a maid."

"Do not talk about Annie."

"Oooh… Have you been having fun with the ghost? You get all touchy when she's mentioned. Suddenly you're a lot more kinky than what I remembered."

"And you're just as ignorant and shallow. I thought Ivan was trying to educate you. You little Eliza Doolittle from hell."

"I really thought that with Herrick gone and you in charge Bristol would be the place to be, but so far it's been dreadful. And when something finally happens I'm out in a drink run. Ivan told me about your little performance. You were really bad not waiting for me." Daisy added ignoring everything Mitchell had said.

"It wasn't a performance Daisy. And I'm not in charge." Mitchell replied getting back to his task once more.

"So you really rather pick up after human's disgusting excretions? You are a bizarre man John Mitchell."

"I wouldn't expect someone like you to understand." He said without stopping.

"Jesus! You haven't gotten laid lately, have you? If you let me have a go with humanity's best friend, I could even help you out with that." She said playing with his curls.

"I doubt Ivan would be happy about it." He said batting her hand away.

"We can invite him if that tickles your fancy." She countered.

"Listen Daisy, things are different. George is off limits. And so is Annie. Actually stay away from my house altogether."

"So you're not having us over for supper? I could bring food, I'm in the mood for Chinese."

"You better not show up by my place. You're not welcomed." Mitchell said getting closer to Daisy.

"Daisy! There you are love! This place is a bloody maze!" Ivan yelled from the end of the corridor.

"Christ! Can't you people leave me alone? This is my place of work!"

"Well mate, it's not a bloody dream career." Ivan retorted.

"Why is it that all the success rock star stories end up with someone moping floors?" Daisy asked now perched over a trash bin.

"For being alive for over a century, don't you have any funds somewhere? Here's a story to tell about lack of later life financial planning." Ivan said sarcastically.

As Mitchell was doing the best to ignore Daisy and Ivan he saw that at the end of the corridor a number of gurneys were being pushed; all of them topped with black lustrous body bags.

"Wait! Are those…? Oh God tell me that wasn't you." Mitchell said looking back at his 'friends'.

"Nah, I was getting tired of the local cuisine, I wanted something more… wholesome… we went to the country, had a very nice old-fashioned meal. Retired couple I think. They even had their own vegetable garden! I guess that counts as organic." Daisy explained while Mitchell frowned with his eyes closed.

"It looked natural." Ivan offered to appease him.

"That is just brilliant…"

"Oh don't get your knickers in a bunch. We always clean after ourselves. Well, Ivan does it. I have never been too domestic. But you know my Ivan, always so proper." Daisy said cheekily.

"Something has to differentiate us from the beasts darling." Ivan explained.

"I thought I made myself clear the other night at B. Edwards." Mitchell said getting closer to Ivan to avoid suspicion.

"Well it seems our… family has gone to the dogs, no pun intended. There's no dignity or class anymore. Herrick may have been going crazy with world domination and that lot, but it seems you have yourself a town of young vampires feeding willy-nilly. At least old Billy had a plan."

"Ivan, you know we have to do something for appearances sake or the whole organization is going to crumble. You don't want the old ones coming over."

"Well, maybe your furry friend shouldn't have killed Herrick. Come on Daisy, let's get out of Mitchell's hair, he looks… distraught."

"Bye Mitchie, say hi to George from me." Daisy said walking backwards as they both left Mitchell with his thoughts.

Annie was cleaning out the fridge and making faces at containers with unidentifiable food in them. The radio was on and Annie would sing along randomly at Beatles songs.

'The long and winding road, that leads to your door…'

The song was interrupted by some interference. Annie was about to change the station when a strange voice started talking to her.

"Why don't you go through your door Anna? Any door really." The voice said.

The music started again leaving Annie a little stunned.

'Sweet Anna Sawyer thought she was a goner, but she had another chance

all the dead around her said she had it coming

but she refused to cross…'

Annie went to the radio and unplugged it, but the voices continued coming from the device.

"Anna, your door is waiting for you…" The voice kept taunting, and Annie was trying to ignore it by closing her eyes and placing her hands over her ears.

'I want you… I want you so bad… I want you… You know I want you so bad…

She's driving me mad, she's driving me…'

"Stop!" Annie finally yelled and the radio exploded making the lights flicker.

"Annie! What happened?" George yelled coming down the stairs.

Annie let go of her ears, and restarted her task, trying to look as normal as possible.

"Oh, that? It was nothing sorry… they were talking to me through the radio…" Annie said dismissively.

"Are you all right?" George asked concerned.

"I am… Though they might have ruined the Beatles for me."

"What are you talking about?"

"Ah… Forget it. Nothing serious. It was just death talking through Beatles songs. It's a ghost thing really." She explained looking at George.

"Have they been bothering you much?" He asked worried.

"The Beatles?" Annie asked confused.

"Yes the bloody Beatles! No! Death!"

"Here and there. No one has tried to drag me through a door or anything, but there are little things… Don't tell Mitchell though or he'll blow a gasket." She asked.

"He's been a little jumpy, hasn't he?"

"If I didn't know about the whole vampire thing I'd say he's getting quite paranoid."

"I'm not going to lie and tell you I'm not concerned. And I worry about you as well." George said getting closer to Annie and putting his hands on her shoulders.

"I know. I'm worried about you too. You're careful right? Have you had any vampires bother you?" Annie asked.

"No. There was this time though, I thought I saw someone following me, but when I turned she was gone… Some ginger girl… She looked American." George said letting go of Annie and making gestures with his hands as if he was a magician making something disappear.

"It doesn't necessarily has to be vampire, right?" Annie said.

"Of course not, I get girls stalking me all the time." George said sarcastically.

Annie started snickering and George feigned offence at first and gave in and started laughing with her.

"Guys?" Mitchell voice came from the entrance as he was returning from work.

"We're in the kitchen." Annie yelled.

"Are you okay?" Mitchell asked not sure what he had walked into.

"Well, George has a stalker…" Annie said still laughing slightly.

"And Annie's wanted by the Beatles." George said prompting Annie to double over with laughter.

Mitchell made his usual face of confusion.

"Oh, don't look at us like that. It's just that I get songs from the great beyond through the radio. Apparently the Beatles want me. John and George I guess… as in the Beatles, not the two of you, of course."

"I think he got the idea Annie." George added.

"You're being careful?" Mitchell asked worried.

"Yes, I'm being careful. And I don't think they can drag me through the radio. Though, I think I killed it."

"It's been difficult times okay. I don't want any more threats than what we already have."

"You look shaken mate, what happened?" George asked.

"There's been an increase of corpses getting to the hospital, cause of death unknown." He explained lifting his eyebrows at the last bit.

"Vampires?" George asked.

"Yes. It appears so."

"But, but you said…" Annie stopped midsentence.

"I know. I thought I made my point. But it's a bit more complex." Mitchell explained dismissively as he got a beer from the fridge.

"So, they are still after us. No more humanity experiment, right? Do we have to run away?" George asked worried.

"No, George. I really don't know."

"Nina is still coping with everything. She barely just let go of her anger towards me." George was now ranting to everybody and no one in particular.

"I think we have more problems besides Nina." Mitchell said upset.

"You don't understand. I can't do this to her. I can't ask her to leave her life behind."

"They won't go after her. They don't know of her." Mitchell tried to calm his friend.

"So you're saying I should just leave her, drop everything and abandon ship?" George said starting to get angry.

"You've done it before." Mitchell said too matter-of-factly.

"Mitchell!" Annie admonished.

"What? I only want you both to be safe!"

"And what do you suppose Annie should do?" George asked him.

"Maybe he doesn't want me to come along. I'm ghost after all. They can't kill me. And I can't go. I think this road trip is supposed to be just you two Thelma and Louise." Annie said visibly upset and getting back to her cleaning task.

"Don't start it Annie. I never said that. I don' want to leave you behind." Mitchell said forcing Annie to turn around.

"So you really think I'll be able to leave the house I'm attached to? For good?"

"You're more than a haunted house Annie. And let's just rewind. I don't think we need to flee. Not yet at least." Mitchell explained.

"Wait. So you said that there are more corpses. They're killing many more. People are being robbed of their lives? I have to go." Annie said walking towards the door.

"Where? What are you talking about Annie?" Mitchell asked following her.

"Someone needs to go there and help the victims. I need to go and help." She said turning around and explaining.

"I don't think that is a good idea." George added.

"Go where? Are you going to track vampires just so you're handy when they have fed?" Mitchell's voice had raised an octave now.

"Well, I would stop it if I could." Annie said.

"Are you mental? You were almost taken away by the dead before. And now you're just going to go chase it?" Mitchell was throwing his arms out in the air.

"Well, that's a risk I'm willing to take." She said opening her eyes wide.

"I cannot believe this!" Mitchell said turning his back to her.

"Guys, maybe we should calm down a bit." George tried to calm his flatmates.

"Shut up George!" They both yelled in unison.

"Okay, fine. Just lash out at me like I have no feelings." The werewolf added upset.

"What are you going to do when vampires see you? You have any idea what they can do?" Mitchell asked her.

"What are they going to do to me? I can't be drained and I can't be recruited."

"You think that's the worst that can happen? You really are naïve." He replied cruelly.

"I'm far stronger than you think." She replied.

"And what about the dead?" George intervened.

"They need my help, they need more than I ever had." She then turned to Mitchell. "You can suffer all you want with the aftermath of your years of killing, but what about the victims? What about of those like me?"

"And this is news, now? Oh sweetheart, who do you think you've been living with?"

"We make a nice pair then? Maybe we should go together, you can help with the killing and I can help with the dying!" Annie was yelling now.

"Fine, so go along. 'Annie the hostess of the great beyond', 'the tourist guide of the great big journey' then. Are you going to offer them a cup of tea as well?"

"That's below the belt Mitchell. But I know you. I know you'll say the most hurtful thing to get me to agree with you. Even if it means I'll hate you for it." She said to him now mere inches away from his face.

"I just don't know what has gotten you so worked up right now." He said.

"Mitchell. You cannot really say that." George contributed.

"And you too George. What did you both think happened when Herrick was around? You think they fed from blood banks? Rats? It's been very nice and cosy to find yourselves sheltered and be okay with vampires as long as they feed from those you don't know. Wake up and smell the bloody corpses!"

"So that's it then. You only care about keeping the vampire status quo?" George asked now bothered by the implications.

"And your lives George. I can't fight for both redemption and saving the world. And Annie, What are you going to do when after all your help pointing them towards their doors they just want to get you to tag along? Tell me then, what? You're willing to be taken just like that from me… from us."

"No one owns me, you said so yourself. I'm going to my room. And do not come knocking." She said popping out of the picture.

"Can you believe her?" Mitchell asked.

"I understand where you're coming from, man. But I can't tell you that I don't understand her as well."

"It's just… this whole thing is doing my head in."

"But does she really deserve you taking it out on her?"

"I just don't want anything to happen to her."

"Have you entertained the idea that you overreact and you overprotect her because you've grown too attached to her?" George asked but Mitchell didn't know how to answer.

"Someone was following you?" He finally asked remembering the beginning of the conversation.

"Some redhead girl."

"Damn it Daisy." He said inwardly.

"Wait. You know her?"

"Well, you seem to have a vampire groupie. She's been asking to meet you. She has some weird fetishes."

"I'm a fetish now?"

"Not in the mood George. I'll make sure she leaves you be. And now I'm going to watch The Real Hustle. Feel free to sit beside me in awkward silence."

"I think I'm going to go see Nina. You go apologise to Annie."

"You heard what she said."

"Mate, when a woman makes an exit like that she expects someone to come after and apologise."

"Oh, Dear Lord…"

Mitchell was going to Annie's room when he felt something coming from his own.

"Annie?" He asked coming in.

"I'm in here…"

"I know. I… sensed you… somehow… I'm in my room right?" He asked looking around in the dark.

"The room was mine before you came." She justified icily.

"I didn't mean you couldn't be here. I was just surprised to find you here."

"I don't have a bed and I just wanted to lay down and cover my head with a pillow. I used to do that. My chair is really uncomfortable when one wants to sulk, you know?… This room was supposed to be a nursery… Or my office. Or both… So I had dibs on it."

"You can be here whenever you like. No invitation needed." He said smiling and sitting down on the bed next to her.

"Good."

"Listen Annie… I'm sorry."

"It's okay. I know you mean well-"

"No, it's not. It's just…" Mitchell said interrupting her. "I don't know how to make things better."

"We don't need you to fix everything. There are things we need to do by ourselves. There is a lot I need to learn how to do. It's been amazing having you to guide us, but I need to learn how to get by, I can't expect you both to be holding my hand all the time."

"I know. It's just… the price would be too high, if something went wrong. I'm selfish. A very selfish man, really… I can't afford losing any of you. I can't afford losing you." He explained looking deeply into her eyes.

"I'm not going to go anywhere." Annie replied with a sad smile.

"But I can still worry, can't I?" He said holding her hand.

"I guess so." She was looking down.

"Listen. It's late. Why don't we go to sleep?" He asked pulling the sheets back.

"I'll leave then." Annie said as she started getting up.

"No. Stay. You can try to sleep again."

"I don't know."

"Come here. If you have a nightmare I'll wake you. And I promise no funny business."

"Mitchell."

"It's okay."

"We seem to fight a lot lately. We used to be on the same page a lot more before." Annie was getting comfortable laying on her side looking at Mitchell.

"It was just because we used to gang up on George a lot more."

"I think you may have a point."

"Annie… I don't feel like I own you." He was pushing her hair back behind her ear.

"I was just upset."

"No, let me tell you something darlin'"

"What is it?"

"You don't belong to anyone, not like Owen wanted you to. No one owns you. But you belong here. With George… and with me."

Annie couldn't say anything, and a silent tear rolled down her cheek.

"We can't ignore this anymore, can we?" He asked humbled.

"And what is it?"

"I don't know. But there is some connection, between you and me."

"Does it scare you?"

"No. But I'm scared of losing it. Of losing you."

Unbeknownst to them George was walking towards Nina's apartment at the very same time. It was just a few blocks more until he reached her place. He had been thinking about everything that had happened and didn't see the dark figure trailing him. By the time he noticed anything amiss a vampire had already knocked him down with a punch. He picked up his glasses and saw three dark figures in front of him.

That was the last coherent thought George would be able to remember.