Mercy closed her eyes tightly as the knocking on the door increased. It did nothing to make the pounding go away. She was fated to have a migraine today, no matter how she tried to will it gone. Why did it have to be today, of all days?

"I'll be right there!" she called, then winced at the pain. She really needed to call this blasted date off. She hated that this friend of Paul's came all the way over here, but there was no way she was up for going out tonight. Kate could yell at her tomorrow at lunch, if she was able to go in to school.

The knocking continued, even after she acknowledged them. This guy was on his way to becoming one of Mercy's least favorite people. Holding onto a wall, Mercy carefully made her way to the door and opened it. Standing on the other side was a guy who looked like he spent entirely too much time in front of a mirror.

"Paul said you were a looker, but damn! He definitely wasn't lying. You ready to go?"

He smiled showing too much of teeth that were too white. Seriously, they were practically blinding.

"I'm sorry, umm—"she couldn't even remember the guy's name. And she was killing Paul for telling him where she lived. Kate wouldn't get her wedding in two weeks.

"Allan. That's okay; we've got all night to get to know each other."

"Allan. I'm really sorry t o have to do this to you, but I'm gonna have to cancel. I've got a killer migraine, and I'm just not up to going out tonight."

He smiled, as if she'd just told a joke.

"That's okay. I've got just the cure for that. I know this little place that sells some of the best rum you'll find in Dallas. You'll forget all about that pesky little headache."

"It's not a headache, it's a migraine. And I'm not adding alcohol on top of that. We'll have to try again another day."

He reached for her hand, catching it before she could pull it away. He tugged, hard, and she braced herself to pull back.

"I can help you take care of that headache, Sweetheart."

"Let go of me, and get out of here."

"Just come on out, and I'll take care of you."

"She said to let her go."

What was Godric doing here? He'd come by last night, and he never came more than once a week. Whatever the reason, she wasn't going to question it. As long as he didn't kill the man—she wouldn't be able to explain that to Paul and Kate.

"This is none of your concern, kid."

"Don't kill him, Godric," Mercy said at the same time.

Within a second, Allan's hand was gone from her arm, and Mercy sagged against the wall. Godric stared the slightly taller man in the eye, a low warning growl coming from his throat.

"You will not remember that you came here this night. You will return to your home. You will never bother this woman again."

Mercy watched, amazed, as Allan's eyes glazed over and a blank look settled on his face, as he repeated back Godric's words before turning on his heel and leaving. The vampire watched him for only a few seconds before turning his full attention to her.

"I could feel your pain," he offered as an explanation for his presence.

He could see that something was very wrong with Mercedes, as she held onto the wall for support. He'd felt her agony not long after he rose for the evening, and came immediately. The urge to rip apart the human male trying to remove her from her home was strong. But he knew the male wasn't the cause of this feeling; she projected pain, not fear.

"What pains you Mercedes?"

"Migraine."

A one word answer, which worried him. As he and the fascinating human grew to know each other, she'd revealed herself to be quite vocal. He'd heard the term before, but didn't know precisely what it was. From the way she closed her eyes and held her head, he could guess that it was a head condition.

"Allow me to assist you."

"I'll be alright, now that jerk is gone. I just need my medication."

Her assurance was nullified by the fact that when she took a step away from the wall she stumbled forward, falling into Godric's arms. She was far from well if she couldn't even walk, and Godric wasn't willing to allow the risk; he scooped her up in his arms, ignoring her protest.

"Invite me in, Mercedes. Allow me to aid you when you have need of it."

"Come in," she muttered weakly, and he stepped across the threshold. Months he'd spent trying to gain access to this house; he was rather disappointed she only allowed it when she was ill.

"Where is your bedroom, älskling?"

"I knew you were only trying to get me into bed," she joked quietly, then groaned from the laughter, "Down the hall, third door on the left."

He carried her to the designated door and carefully pushed it open. He was surprised by the decoration of the room—it was not what he'd pictured her room to look like in his mind. Ignoring the lights for the moment, he laid her down on the bed.

"How can i help you, Mercedes?"

"My medicine—it's in the bathroom. No—" her hand shot out, "it's in the kitchen. A syringe and needle in a bag with a vial of medication. Should be in the drawer by the fridge."

"I'll be back in a moment, älskling."

He found the medication easily, but his curiosity got the better of him and he quickly scanned the drug information sheet, and froze. This medication that was supposed to help his human feel better came with warnings of far too many potential side effects. It appeared that the relief was far more dangerous than the illness. No way was he allowing her to take something that carried so many possible risks. He would heal her himself.

His decision made, he hurried back to her room, bag in hand, to see Mercedes attempting to change her clothes. He immediately set the bag on the dresser and moved to her side, removing her shirt easily before instantly grabbing the over sized sleep shirt and pulling it over her head.

"I can change myself," she protested.

"I can do it much more quickly."

She scowled at him as she slid her arms through the sleeves and she her jeans. Godric pulled back the blanket and sheets, and nudged Mercedes into the bed, then switched off the light so she couldn't see his next move.

"I need-:"

"I'll get it, älskling. I can see perfectly in the dark. Rest now."

Confident that she couldn't see him, he picked up the syringe and plunged it into his arm, filling it with his blood. His blood would heal her quickly, and as she'd already had it, there would be no new side effects. Once full, he sat on the bed beside the woman who had her head sandwiched between two pillows.

"Where should I inject this?"

She held out her arm without moving any other part of her body, and Godric quickly injected it before she could changed her mind an d look. He had no doubt that she would be less than pleased once she discovered what he'd done.

"Rest now, child," he ordered as he laid a cool hand on top of hers. He was surprised when she grabbed it, stopping him as he attempted to rise.

"Don't go," he heard her whisper. She wanted him to stay? She slid the top pillow off her head and pulled his captive hand down to her forehead, sighing in relief at the touch. That was certainly unexpected.

"Stay until I fall asleep? The cold is soothing."

He could not deny the ill woman's request. As carefully as he could (without removing the hand she held prisoner) he arranged himself on the bed and pulled her to him, laying her head on his bare chest.

"Sleep now, älskling".

"You would take that as an invitation to take your shirt off," he heard her mutter as she drifted off. He silently agreed with her. After spending regular time with Mercedes for the last several months, he wanted to possess her. Her reactions were never what he expected, and he wanted to know what made her tick. It was frustrating; despite his veiled overtures, she kept him at a careful arm's length. He didn't understand why she denied them both; he knew she wanted him. And he couldn't glamour her compliance either (even if he wanted such a hollow victory).

Her informality and complete lack of deference was refreshing, except for those rare occasions when she treated him exactly as the adolescent he appeared to be. Then it was annoying. She was a puzzle, his Mercedes, one he'd expected to solve within the first weeks. Now he wondered if he would ever truly know her.

He wasn't terribly surprised when she woke only a few hours later. His blood had surely done its work in that time. He was disappointed when she pulled away from him. He'd reveled in the warmth of the human body pressed against him.

"You stayed?" she asked, disbelieving.

"I stayed," he agreed, urging her to lay back down. She complied, until she froze halfway down. Godric followed her intense stare to the clock on the bedside table.

"You son of a motherless goat!" she yelled as she smaked him on the chest, before sitting up and completely scooting away.

"There's no way my drugs could have worked taht fast! You gave me your blood again, didn't you?"

"I did."

He would not apologize for it.

"That human medicine was dangerous. My blood healed you much more quickly, and safely."

"Not the point, A-hole! You had no right to do that! I only just stopped having those darn dreams!"

Another reason it was time to give her more of his blood. The connection between them would strengthen. He didn't want her to stop dreaming of him, wanting him. He fully intended to get past whatever barrier she'd erected in her mind that allowed her to resist the pull he knew she felt.

"I could not bear to see you in such pain, Mercedes."

It was no platitude, no trick, just the simple truth. Mercedes was his, regardless of whether she understood that yet, and he would not see her in pain.. Not when he could do somethign about it. He would not let her human stubborness prolong her agony.

Tugging insistently, he pulled her back down so that she was again using his chest for a pilllow. He could see and feel the anger leaving her, as well as the desire for it to remain. She wanted to be mad at him, even as she nestled into the comfort he offered. Such a contradiction, his human.

"You're lucky you're a comfortable pillow and I'm exhausted, Vampire Man, or I'd take back your invitation."

"Sleep, Mercedes."

"Remind me I'ms still ticked at you when I'm more awake."

He smiled at that, unnoticed by the human in the dark; a real smile of wamr amusement. He dropped a kiss on her hed.

"When you're more awake, älskling, you really must explain why you have a pan shaped like a penis sitting on your kitchen counter."

TB-TB-TB-TB

"What the heck are you doing here? I told you not to come by tonight!"

Godric simply smirked as he walked through the door into the house, thanks to Mercedes' forgetting her threat to rescind her invitation. She'd warned him to stay away tonight, and he had originally intended to do so. But his curiosity about this "bachelorette party" ritual, and Mercedes' absolute refusal to talk about it, had practically guaranteed that he wouldn't be able to resist. When Isabel could provide no more insight, Godric had chosen to come over as soon as his business for the evening was concluded. He'd felt Mercedes' mortification the entire time he filled out paperwork and heard requests, which really only doubled his eagerness to see this party for himself. Unfortunately, he arrived too late.

"I wished to see this cake you baked. But it appears I am too late."

Only portions of what had been an impossibly large phallus remained.

"And I told you I'd show you a picture the next time you came over. Now seriously, you need to go!"

He wondered why she was trying to hurry him out of the house. He detected no other heartbeats, so there was no one left to discover him. Then he noticed something else lying on the counter.

"And what is this?"

Mercedes reached for the paper, but Godric was far quicker, and snatched up the catalog before she could. Her face grew impossibly red as he flipped through it, his eyes widening. He wasn't a monk by any stretch of the imagination, yet even he had never heard of a number of these implements. Had Mercedes actually purchased one of these? Was that why she was so embarrassed? The ones that were circled in red—

"And which of these did you purchase, Mercedes?"

She had no need for any of them. He was more than willing to pleasure her. Although the voyeur in him would delight in watching her use one of these items to pleasure herself—. His musings were interrupted when she ripped the catalog out of his hands and threw it in her recycle bin.

"I didn't purchase any of those, you perv! The ones circled in red were the ones the bride wanted, and we bought them for her!"

"Your bachelorett party was a party so that you could buy sex toys for the bride?"

That sounded like something his oldest child might do.

"If your friend is getting married, what need would she have for a—" he knew this word, he'd heard Stan use it on occasion—"a dildo? Is her husband-to-be-not an adequate lover?"

Mercy covered her mouth with her hand to stifle a laugh, and some of the blush began to recede.

"Okay, sweetie, don't ever say the word 'dildo' again."

"Did I not use it correctly?"

"You used it correctly. That word should just never come out of your mouth. I don't know why she ordered that, but really, there are just some things you should never ask your friends to buy you. I just got her the shaving cream she wanted."

Standing so close to her, he inhaled sharply. For some reason, her scent was even stronger than usual. He wanted to carry her to her bedroom and rut her into the mattress. The urge to claim her was growing, and he truthfully did not know how much longer his control would hold. He surprised even himself when his fangs dropped.

Mercy had no idea why the vampire was acting so strange, but she quickly stepped back. Did vampires get sick? Godric wasn't acting like himself. He immediately grabbed her arms and stopped her.

"Don't move, Mercedes."

If she tried to run, he would lose what little control he had. The last thing he wanted to do was assualt her, and he knew she wouldn't welcom his advance, but it wouldn't matter. If she ran, instinct would take over. He would run her down and take her.

She was frightened of him now; he could see it in her eyes. Fighting to get back his famous control, he closed his eyes and stopped breathing. When he finally felt calm enough to release her, he opened his eyes again.

"Forgive me, Mercedes. For some reason your scent is much stronger than usual, and I did not feed tonight. My control is not what it should be."

Her eyes widened as he released her arms.

"Oh, Godric, I'm so sorry!"

"It is not your fault, Mercedes."

"It kind of is. The lady dabbed us all with this perfume that's supposed to boost pheromones, or something like that, to attract the opposite sex. I'll see if I can wash it off."

He grabbed her again.

"Do not," he almost growled in her ear. He didn't release her until she nodded her agreement. He didn't want her to try to wash away her scent. He wanted to savor it; to revel in it.

"So, did you come for some other purpose, or did you just want to crash the wildly inappropriate party?"

"I had never heard of such a party, älskling. Surely you cannot blame me for wanting to know more?"

"No, I guess I can't—you've serioulsy never heard of a bachelorette party?"

That was too funny. He knew what a dildo was, but never herad of a bachelorett party. Didn't all teenage boys know about bachelorette parties?

"No women of my acquaintance would have such a party, Mercedes. Therefore I have no reason to know such a thing, until now."

"Vampires don't get married?"

'Marriages between vcampires are a political move, normally to consolidate territory or power, usually lasting a specified number of years. Vampire marriages to humans are little more than an exceptionally strong claim marked by a blood bond."

Well, that was—sad. Vampires didn't—well okay, stepping foot inside a church might prove problematic given a traditionally antagonistic relationship between vampires and religion, but it wasn't like they'd burst into flame or anything. And okay, courthouses would be closed by the time it got dark. But still—

"Alright then. For future reference, a bachelorette party is thrown for a woman getting married by her female friends. It often involves alcohol, or strippers, and occasionally sex toy shopping. Anything else you want to know?"

He wasn't ready to leave just yet. Partly because he didn't want to be out of her company, and partly because he was in no mood to go back to the nest and deal with more political infighting. There were many nights he thought he'd be happier if he gave up the position of Sheriff. At least he'd ahd the good sense to refuse becoming King of Texas. He searched for another topic they could discuss, so that he didn't have ot leave just yet.

"Why is your home not decorated? I've seen Christmas trees in the majority of homes I've passed this month."

It was rather surprising that her home was void of any decorations. Godric might not understand why some people went to the extremes he'd seen, but Mercedes didn't even have a single stocking. The house was bare of anything connected with Christmas.

"Oh. I just didn't feel like decorating this year."

He knew she was lying.

"Why would you not wish to decorate?"

He could feel that this had something to do with the occasional feelings of incredible sadness he woudl read from her. They always left him feeling helpless to make it better for her. He wanted to know what caused the despair and make certain she would never feel it again.

"Truthfully? Christmas was my parents' favorite holdiay, and this is the first one without them. I just didn't want the reminders."

"Without them? Are you unable to get home for the holiday?"

If it was a matter of funding, he was more than willing to provide it. Humans put great store in spending such times with loved ones. He would make it happen if that was what she needed.

"You really don't know?"

She was watching him carefully. What did he not know? She was speaking in riddles now, and he felt lost.

"My parents died. I lost them the night you almost killed me, actually."

Had she really never told him that? She could've sworn she mentioned it during one of his visits. Maybe not. He looked completely surprised at the announcement.

"So anyway," she continued, not wanting to see the pity she expected on his face, " I just couldn't bring myself to do antying Christmas this year. By next year I'll be ableto make myself do the whole 'Christmas' thing, but this year I just have to put up with Kate's well meaning intrusions."

"You do not wish to follow your parents' traditions?" he asked carefully, and Mercy had the sneaking suspicion that wasn't the question he realy wanted to ask.

"It's not that," she tried to explain, "It's just—too raw this year. I mean, did you want to celebrate the holidays after you lost your human family?"

"I wanted no part of anything human after I was turned," he answered honestly," I wanted nothing to do with the Romans who'd enslaved me."

"The Romans? But—that would—how old are you?"

She knew he wasn't the boy he looked to be. She thought he was perhaps a few hundred years, from the way he spoke, but—enslaved by the Romans?

"I am over two thousand years old. My precise age I do not know."

"Two thousand years—did you know Jesus?"

He smiled at her reaction. Most who knew his age grew extremely uncomfortable, and acted differently around him. The few humans who knew, namely his nest mates human companions, could not look him in the eye. Again Mercedes surprised him.

"I would have liked to have known him. They said he was a remarkable man. Unfortunately our paths never crossed."

"That's a shame."

She was getting him off topic, and he had yet to decide whether it was deliberate. He recognized her tendency to deflect conversations from herself. While discussions were made more interesting as they covered almost everything but their own lives, it frustrated him that he didn't know as much about her as he wanted. He hadn't even known her parents were dead.

"What do you intend to do, if you do not wish to observe Christmas this year?"

"Kate is forcing me to join her family for the day. She doesn't understand that i just want to kind of hide in a cave for the day and crawl out when it's New Years."

"Come to my home for the day."

The offer was made without thought, but as he considered it he realized how much he wanted her to accept. It would be the chance he was seeking to introduce Isabel. She'd grown most curious about the human he seemed to have difficulty staying away from. And Godric still wished Mercedes to know Isabel, and his world.

"Oh, I couldn't put you out like that."

"It is no trouble, Mercedes."

"But don't you need to sleep during the day? I can't ask you to stay awake to entertain me."

It was a tempting offer, but she couldn't do it. She woudln't put the kid through the inconvenience (however much he protestedd it was inconvenient). And if she blew Kate off, her friend would want to know why. She could hardly present Godric, who looked seventeen at the most. She wouldn't be able to explain their relationship, and Kate would jump to the wrong conclusions. That particular rumor would be doubly damaging.

"If I don't show up, kate will just hunt me down."

Godric was beginning to hate this Kate person. What business of her was it what Mercedes did with the time she chose to spend with others? Why should this Kate be allowed to track his human down like an errant child? He didn't realize he was growling unitl Merceds laid a hand on his arm.

"Clalm down Godric. She's just worreid about me; she doesn't mean any harm."

"Then tell her to leave you be and come to my home instead."

"Why don't you meet me here at sunset, Christmas night, and I'll come to your home once it's dark?" she offered as a compromise. She had the sneaky suspicion he wouldn't leave if she didn't offer something. And she didn't really want him to hate Kate. They might meet someday, and it would be nice if he didn't try to kill her if that happened. Although she had to wonder at his apparent possessiveness—it could get realy old, really quick.

TB-TB-TB-TB-TB

Getting out of Kate's parents' home was an exercise in subterfuge and evasion, and flat-out lying. No, actually, the lying started the moment Mercy entered the house, when she had to use all hte patience she had not to figuratively bite the heads off of everyone who wished her aMerry Christmas and plagued her with questions about how she ws holding up. Not that she didn't appreciate everyone's generosity, as she was laden down with gifts, but they were all either walking on egg shells around her or treating her like a lost puppy who needed a home. Honestly, watching Godric sleep while curling up with a good book would probably have been a preferable way to spend the day.

It took twenty minutes of arguing with the double team of Kate and Paul to get her things loaded into her car and finally able to drive away. It also took twenty minutes of reassuring Kate's parents that she wasn't about to go home and slit her wrists with a straight razor after downing a bottle of Jack Daniels. As it was, she only barely made it back to the house before sunset. She only beat Godric by two minutes, and barely got her bags in the house before he knocked on the door.

"Are you ready for your first visit to a vampire nest?"

"Um, how are we getting there?"

She had no idea whether he actually owned a car, as he only ever showed up at her house on foot.

"You wish to lock up, do you not?"

"Huh? Oh!"

Mercy hurriedly locked the door and set the alarm. One couldn't be too careful, even on Christmas day.

"You still havent' answered my question."

"Well, if you insist, you can drive. Or—"

'Or?"

Without warning he pulled her into his arms, and with a whoosh they were airborned. Mercy stifled a scream.

"Or we can fly. We'll be there in no time."

She looked down to see that they were several feet off the ground, and quickly looked back up. If she fell from this height, she'd be in serious trouble. Godric was wearing what she'd come to think of as his trademark smirk.

"You don't really think I'd drop you, do you Mercedes?"

"No."

She realized, as they simply hovered in the air, that this was a gift of sorts, as well as a token of trust. He was trusting her enough to reveal another of his strengths, but also gifting her with a chance few, if any, humans ever had: to fly freely, with the wind literally blowing through her hair. It really was remarkable.

"What are you waiting for?"

"You'd better hold on, älskling."

In no time at all, they were coming to a landing ni front of a surprisingly modern house. Mercy wasn't sure exactly what she'd expected of a vampire nest, but definitely something more historical. This house didn't even look ten years old. Godric kept a hand on the small of her back as he escorted her inside.

The first surprise inside the house was that she wasn't the only human present. She didn't know hwy she'd expected it; if Godric could have human friends, why couldn't other vampires? But for some reason, she was surprised to see other humans.

"You must be Mercedes."

She was approached by a stunning Spanish woman. Godric stayed relaxed, so Mercy did her best not to tense up. New people—new vampires especially—tended to make her uneasy.

"Mercedes, this is Isable, a trusted Lieutenant."

"Lieutenant?"

"It is a pleasure to meet you at last. Godric speaks highly of you."

"Isabel," Godric warned, but if anything he sounded more embarrassed than angry. Isabel surprised Mercy by extender her hand. Bemused, Mercy took it, shaking hands with her first vampire.

"It is a pleasure to meet you too, Isabel."

"Forgive me, Godric, but Vincent is on the phone for you. He said it was incredibly urgent."

Godric sighed, audibly, and released his hold on Mercy.

"Forgive me, but I must take this call. Isabel, show Mercedes around the house, if you will."

"Of course, godric."

Mercy found herself uncomfortably alone in a room full of strangers. The few humans were watching her curiously, and she saw more than one vampire sniff in her direction.

"I hope it's nothing too serious," Mercy commented with a nod in the direction Godric disappeared. Isabel barely glanced that way before focusing again on Godric's human. She could understand his reluctance to bring her around. Her virgin blood smelled delicious. It was fortunate that he'd sent Stan on an errand, so that Mercedes might remain unmolested.

"Vincent can be very—demanding. But Godric knows what he's doing; not to worry."

She carefully guided the human woman into motion, walking through the open living room.

"I'm guessing Vincent is someone important?"

"Vincent is the vampire King of Texas. Now, this house has only recently been remodeled, to make it more accomodating for both vampires and humans.'

"Wait a second Isabel. If Vincent is a king, what does that make Godric. Just—just how important is he?"

"I can see that we have a lot to talk about, Mercedes."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXX

It was nearly an hour later that Godric was finally able to get Vincent off the phone, and go in search of Mercedes. Vincent was an annoyance at best, and a dangerous pawn at worst. Vincent on the throne almost made him wish he'd accepted the Authority's offer to become King.

They weren't in the living room. He searched the kitchen, evne the restroom, all the common areas the humans used. They were nowhere to be found. Isabel wouldn't have taken her far, so he directed his search outside. The grounds weren't extensive; they must be nearby.

He found them sitting in the loung chairs by the pool. The grin on Isabel's face as he approached warned him that he was in some sort of trouble. That feeling was compounded by the devious look on Mercedes' face.

"Was your call productive?" Isabel asked as he joined Mercedes on the lounge chair.

"It was as can be expected with Vincent."

He didn't want to discuss Vincent, or politics, when he finally had Mercedes in his home.

"You should have told me that I should have been calling you 'Sherrif' all this time."

Oh hell. Perhaps leaving Isabel alone with Mercedes for so long wasn't the wisest decision. What else had she told the human? There was much that he did not wish her to know yet. Not until she was ready to accept it.

"That will be all, Isabel."

"Of course Godric. I shall see you again, Mercy."

The vampiress rose gracefully from her seat.

"I hope so, Isabel."