"Mercy, it's me. I got leave for this weekend, so I'm on my way in town. I'll pick Ava up about six o'clock. We'll probably go see that new Disney movie if you want to come with."

Mercy deleted the voice message. She didn't need to hear it again. She was glad Ethan was coming to see his daughter without her having to remind him (for a change), but the timing was unfortunate. She doubted she was going to get her two visitors out of the house before her brother arrived.

"Is everything alright?"

Kate was watching her and she nodded as she put her phone away. Lunch was almost over, and she had the second half of her AP English class. She didn't have time to worry about Ethan's coming in. She had to cover the second half of Much Ado About Nothing in only forty-five minutes and get started on A Midsummer Night's Dream. Maybe she would bring the DVD in over the next few days to give them a bit of a break before delving into Beowulf.

"So, I'm thinking we need to get together and have a Girl's Night Out. Paul said he'd watch Ava for you tonight, and we can go see the new Gerard Butler movie.'

"It sounds like a plan, Kate, but I'm kind of busy tonight. Maybe Sunday night, though."

"What's tonight?"

"I just have some people coming over tonight."

"Really? You didn't say anything about a dinner party. What people?"

"No one you'd know. Vampires."

She had the pleasure of watching Kate's mouth gape open like a fish before she rose and dumped her lunch tray, ready to head back for the last half of class.

She was watching Ava's gymnastics class when her phone buzzed, and she pulled it out to read the text message.

Made it early. Ur not at the house.

She shook her head at her brother's texting skills. His messages tended to look more like a teenage girl's than a grown man's. A thought occurred to her, and she quickly typed out a response. If he could get to practice, she could hand Ava over here, and avoid a loud confrontation when Ethan ran into Godric. If she could just divert him for now, she might even be able to get Godric and Eric out of the house before they got back from whatever Ethan had planned; or at least long enough to get them settled into bed for the night. Anything that might help avoid an all-out fight in front of Ava. Besides, he needed to take a bigger interest in his daughter's life beyond movies and trips to Sea World.

Ethan joined her in the seats before the class ended. They sat in silence for a few minutes, watching the class.

"She's pretty good," Ethan commented, surprised.

"She is. The teacher she we should consider putting her in the gym if she continues to improve. And if she wants to keep doing it."

"Really?"

Mercy nodded. They watched until the lesson was over and Ava spotted them.

"Daddy!"

She hurled herself into her father's arms as he bent down to catch her.

"Hey there Ava! You were so good baby girl!"

Mercy herded the girl to the locker room to change once Ethan set her down, and they returned several minutes later. It took less convincing (or arguing, depending on how you looked at it) then she'd expected to send Ethan and Ava on their way without her. Mercy found herself on her way home with no further interruptions, only a quick stop at a drive-thru so she wouldn't have to bother with cooking.

Brutus and Nero greeted her at the wrought-iron fence, briefly voicing their indignation that she dared to leave them, and then jumping over themselves to lick her hand and any other body part she could reach. She scratched them both thoroughly before opening the house and stepping inside to de-activate the alarm. The dogs were at the back door before she could even set her bags down. She opened the door to let them in, and they immediately circled around her.

"It you'd give me two minutes I could get you fed, you knuckleheads!"

The rebuke would probably carry more weight if she actually sounded upset, rather than trying to rein in her laughter. They were only a year old and still acted every inch the puppy. She could definitely put them to work exhausting Ava over the weekend.

"He'll be awake soon," Mercy jumped at Eric's sneaking up on her, "and there are a few things we need to talk about before he does."

"What do you mean?"

"This isn't entirely a social visit."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXX

Godric woke, momentarily wondering why Mercedes was not with him. She had not stayed the day with him; he remembered she'd left for work, promising to return in the evening. He could hear three heartbeats in the house; she must be home. He quickly dressed and made his way to the main part of the house.

He was surprised to see Mercedes and Eric sitting together on the couch. She was eating food, and Eric was drinking a bottle of that distasteful True Blood, and they were not fighting.

"Good, you're awake. True Blood?"

What an unappealing offer. Still, he needed blood, and since she did not appear ready to offer hers again, he accepted. It would be a poor substitute for Mercedes' blood, but he would manage.

"Your niece is not with you?"

"No. Ethan got leave at the last minute, so tonight he's taking Ava to a movie."

"Why does he not care for her himself? Why does she live with you?"

He'd spent a great deal of the hours she'd slept contemplating that precise question. Why should this child be Mercedes' responsibility? Why should the care of a child that was not her own take precedence over her coming to him? The child's father was clearly living. Why was he not raising her?

"Because while I love my brother, I am fully aware that if he wasn't forced to work for a living and support himself, he would become one of the most worthless people alive. If he took Ava full time, he would quit the army and expect me to support him, and I refuse to do so. I am happy to take care of Ava myself; I will not just hand a blank check to Ethan or her grandmother for them to do so."

"Why would they expect you to do so?"

"Because you left me eighteen billion dollars, and if I have so much money, why shouldn't they?"

Judging from her tone of voice, Mercedes was eager to change the subject, and Godric looked to Eric to lead the conversation. It would suit him very well to simply pay off the brother and give him responsibility for his own child, but he had a feeling that only an argument would come from sharing that view with Mercedes. It was over an hour later when their conversation was interrupted by a knock on the front door. The dogs immediately went on alert, standing guard and growling. Mercy excused herself to answer the summons with some wariness, as she had no idea who it could be. Ethan wasn't due back with Ave for at least two more hours, and she wasn't expecting anyone else. Just the mention of vampires should have been enough to keep Kate away until Mercy told her it was all clear.

She froze when she saw who was standing outside her door and cursed softly. What was Isabel doing here, tonight of all nights? Godric could see her hesitation, and was immediately at her side. Something had caused his human great alarm, and he would not stand for that.

"Eric, if you and Godric could go to another room and wait until my visitor is gone, I'd appreciate it."

"What?"

"Please, Eric."

"Mercy, what's going on?"

The knock came again. Isabel wasn't one to wait patiently.

"Mercy? Are you alright?"

Hearing Isabel's voice through the door, Eric froze as well. Shit.

"Everything's fine, Isabel! I'll be right there!"

"We need to go," Eric tried to herd Godric out of the room, but Godric refused to budge.

"Please, Godric. Isabel won't hurt me."

"I am not leaving you alone with an unknown vampire standing at your door."

"I'll be fine, Godric. Please just go with Eric."

Godric shook his head stubbornly. Until he determined for himself that there was no threat, he was NOT leaving his human to the mercy of an unknown vampire. If Eric thought he could remove him by force he was greatly mistaken. Rather than listen to more argument, he simply pulled the door open to face whoever Mercy wished him to hide from. He blinked when he saw a woman, who was staring at him in shock.

"What is the meaning of this?"

"Isabel, it's—it's complicated."

Mercy couldn't give any more explanation because Godric shoved her to Eric and jerked Isabel inside the house. Seriously? This was going to be the first meeting with Eric all over again.

"Godric, stop! Isabel is the Sheriff here and she's a friend! It's fine!"

He ignored her, lifting Isabel by the throat and flinging her into the wall. Isabel reacted immediately, regaining her feet and baring her fangs. She refrained from attacking Godric, instead maintaining a defensive posture. Godric growled at her in warning.

"How is this possible?"

Mercy wasn't sure how to explain—she wasn't even sure she understood Eric's explanation. Fist she was dealing with vamps, and now witches? What else could be out there that she didn't know about? She let Eric take over the responsibility of explaining this to the local Sheriff.

"This is extraordinary," Isabel finally managed to say after Eric relayed his story.

"It is. But you have to keep it to yourself. Vincent can't know about Godric."

Isabel looked to the smaller vampire, who had seated himself on the couch with Mercy. It was strange to see him watching her, with no sign or recognition. A century of serving as a nest mate and lieutenant, all gone.

"This isn't something that can be hidden, Eric! Everyone was aware of what—everyone knows. How do you plan on explaining his reappearance?"

I don't plan to explain anything. He's living in Shreveport with me. It's none of Vincent's business."

"And yet you are here in Dallas. And I somehow doubt this will be your last visit so long as Mercy lives here. Do you really think he won't be noticed by someone else eventually?"

Godric could not think well of this woman arguing with Eric as if he was not in the room. Did she believe that he was as young as he appeared to be? He thought she looked vaguely familiar, but could not remember why he would have reason to know the Sheriff of the area.

"Should I know this woman?" he asked Mercedes, who appeared to be doing her best to ignore the arguing vampires. She looked at him in surprise.

"Do you think you know her?"

"She seems familiar."

Isabel was looking at him strangely, and he positioned himself slightly in front of Mercedes. The human woman laid a hand lightly on his arm. This was familiar. His human was able to soothe him with a simple touch. This knowledge only confused him more. In ten year's time, he'd never tried to turn her? He never hesitated when he wished to do something. He'd been fascinated by Eric after watching him in a single battle, and chosen to turn him the moment he saw the beautiful giant laying on a funeral pyre. He did not delay.

He froze as his thoughts replayed themselves in his head. He remembered turning Eric? He closed his eyes, trying to summon the memory.

A pitched battle was taking place nearby, drawing him with its noise. With all the blood flowing, he would have an easy meal for a change. It had been a long time since he'd been near so many humans. Even in these primitive villages, they recognized him as something Other, and with no invitation he was prohibited from entering their huts. Hus human blood only came when he stumbled across a solitary hunter or traveler in the woods. He would be a fool to turn down such an opportunity as a battle still going on.

His attention was immediately captured by a golden haired giant who towered over his enemies, and even his allies. The man fought ferociously. He'd never seen a fighter quite like this human. It was beautiful. The human was beautiful. He wanted this human, and he would have him.

It was bad fortune that the fighting continued until it was very nearly sunrise, and his human never fell. He'd taken full advantage of his predatory speed to drain a few whose time had come, and hasten them on their journey to whatever afterlife awaited them, but to take one still standing was to rise exposure, and the giant was not injured until he was forced to seek shelter from the sun. He knew the human's scent now; he would track them when he rose.

As soon as it was dark he set out. They could not have gone far, not with the giant injured. His only real worry was that the human might already be dead. He had not known how seriously the man was wounded.

He saw their fires first. They had found no cave, no shelter. They had simply chosen an open space under the trees, and planed their fire torches for protection from animals. Then he saw that only two stood and neither of them was the giant. Where was his human?

The giant lay on a funeral pyre. Enraged that he'd missed his chance, he tore through the humans, only recognizing at the last possible instant that when one of them spoke to the figure on the pyre, he had answered. Not dead then. Not yet.

"Are you death?"

His giant spoke in the Norseman's tongue.

"I am," he answered in the same.

"But you're just a little boy."

"I'm not."

He had to smile. His giant was not afraid of death. He wished to fight death, even in his weakened state. He could not let this extraordinary human simply disappear from the Earth. He would make this human like him.

"Godric. Are you alright?"

He could hear the concern in Mercedes' voice. How long had she tried to get his attention?

"I am fine, Mercedes."

Isabel and Eric both looked to him, their argument apparently over.

"Is everything alright, Godric?"

"Yes Eric."

He would not tell his child he remembered the night he turned him, not yet. He wanted to savor the memory for himself, for a time. Besides, there was no guarantee that any other memories would return, and he could not bear to raise Eric's hopes only to be disappointed.

"I will say nothing to Vincent," Isabel stated, as if she'd just reached a decision, "but if anyone else finds him, Vincent is sure to find out. I'm sure I don't need to tell you he won't be happy at the news."

"I am not worried about this Vincent," Godric stated calmly.

"Of course you're not," they heard Mercy mutter under her breath, making Eric smile,"Stupid invincible vampire's not afraid of anything, not even the sun."

"What does that mean," Godric asked with a slight smile, expecting some comment about senseless manchildren or daredevil teenagers. At least, until he saw Eric and Isabel freeze, looking at Mercedes in horror. The human herself looked shocked, as if she couldn't believe what she'd said.

"Mercedes?"

"Nothing. It's nothing Godric."

"I don't believe you."

She was lying to him, but why? He looked to his child, who would not look at him.

"Eric? Isabel?"

Neither would answer him, and now he was growing concerned. This was clearly something of significance, and they wanted to keep him in the dark. Neither vampire would look at him. Why was the reference to the sun so important?

"I was just being foolish, Godric. It's nothing, really."

"Please don't lie to me, Mercedes. What could be so terrible that you feel you must lie?"

Mercy looked from Isabel to Eric, silently begging one of them to intervene at this point. Both remained stubbornly silent. She couldn't blame them; she had no more heart than they did to bring up that terrible night. She could kick herself for even mentioning the sun.

Godric looked between the three who were so unwilling to answer him. He could practically see the tension humming between them. He had the sinking feeling that this had something to do with what Eric alluded to the night before. He turned back to Mercedes, who wasn't nearly able to maintain the stubborn silence Eric was.

"Mercedes? What did I do?"

She looked to Eric, and to Isabel, who walked out of the living room and into the kitchen where the dos followed her hoping for a treat, before looking back to Godric.

"You died."

He froze. They—they blamed him for dying? But—

"—you waited until I was out of the country to give yourself up to the Fellowship of the Sun. Eric went after you, thinking you'd been taken. Steve Newlin retaliated by sending a suicide bomber into the nest, and after, you met the sun on the room of the Hotel Carmilla."

He looked to Eric in horror, silently pleading him to deny it. He could not have been so cruel as to abandon his child, abandon Mercedes. The blood tears rimming Eric's eyes only confirmed his fear. Without a word to anyone he left the house in a blur. Eric and Mercedes stared at the suddenly empty spot where he'd been sitting.

"I believe I should go," Isabel announced as she joined them, " I have other things I must see to this evening. Please tell Godric that I would welcome the chance to talk with him in future."

Mercy just nodded numbly as Isabel left. Her stupor didn't break until her home phone started ringing. It startled her enough that she jumped, but after checking the Caller ID and not recognizing the number she ignored it, opting to let the machine pick it up.

"Miss Wright, this is Steve Newlin. I've been trying to get in touch with you through Preston Harper—"

Mercy didn't hear any more of the message as the phone was knocked off the bookcase with enough force to put a hole in the wall when it impacted. She looked at the enraged Viking in shock.

'You owe me a new phone. And you're fixing my wall."

'You dare talk to that man?!"

"I've never spoken to him before in my life!"

"And yet he has your phone number."

"Which I'm guessing he was given by the realtor who keeps listing my house. I would assume that he's the client Harper has been trying to get me to agree to meet."

"You're selling the house?"

"Not in this lifetime, and it's a long story I don't want to get into. Not when we've got bigger issues."

"Don't pretend so much concern now. It's a bit late for that."

Mercy stared at him, wondering whether vampires could suffer a break with reality.

"Did you really just say that to me?"

"You weren't concerned when your rejection drove him to the Fellowship in the first place!"

"How can you still be going on about this when I never rejected the kid?!"

His fangs dropped as he advanced on her, his voice rising. Mercy stood her ground. She refused to be intimidated by the Viking brat in her own home.

"Ten years as his human, yet you're still a virgin when he dies? Godric would never spend so much time with a human without taking them to bed!"

"And because I wouldn't let the kid into my pants I drove him to suicide?"

"So you admit you refused him, when he showed you such favor?"

"Of course I refused him! That doesn't mean he decided to kill himself over it! Wake up Viking!"

"Godric would never get so close to a human without a deep emotional attachment," Eric stated very quietly, now standing directly in front of her, exposed fangs hovering dangerously close to fragile skin, "an attachment you withheld."

"You say that like I had a choice," she hissed at him, squaring her shoulders to look up at the towering vampire.

"And why wouldn't you have a choice?" Eric demanded, resisting the urge to drain the human who'd managed to take his place in his maker's heart. He would almost respect the girl for refusing to back down, except for the fact that he held her responsible for this current disaster. Why couldn't she keep her damn mouth shut?

"Really? You really don't have a clue? And here Godric always spoke of how intelligent you are."

"Well explain it to me like you would a child."

"He's a kid, Eric!"

Eric growled at her description of Godric. She dared show him such contempt?

"He's two thousand years old, Mercedes!"

"He's two thousand going on seventeen! Tell me honestly, Eric. Does he look like an adult to you/"

Eric shook his head, his patience running out. That was no answer. Mercy stopped him from interrupting her.

"I don't' know how old he was when he was turned. I don't know if he even remembers. But he looks like a kid. To say he's seventeen is believable, eighteen is pushing it. To say he's twenty or twenty one is a generous lie. Physically, he's the same age as my students and there are laws about that sort of thing. I couldn't let myself think of him like that."

"Human laws that don't apply to vampires!"

"And vampires didn't exist to the world at large until quite recently. Everyone who saw us together naturally assumed he was human. And without having sex with him I had colleagues expressing their concern over how close we were, a headmaster who was certain I was a pedophile, and a Concerned Parents Committee calling for my head! The only reason I wasn't fired was because no one could prove he was actually a student, anywhere!

I know that in your world, physical age matters very little. But I don't live in your world, Eric. I have to live in mine. And in my world-I'm a teacher Eric. It's all I've ever wanted to do, and I'm damn good at it—having that relationship with Godric would have cost me everything. So don't presume, Viking."

Eric stepped back, stunned not only by her tirade, but by the bitterness in her tone. She didn't give him even an inch of room to keep hating her.

"Enough Eric."

Godric's quiet command was enough to make his child spin around to face him. He'd come back at the first raised voice, but didn't want to make his presence known. He'd wanted to hear, from Mercedes' own lips, why she'd kept him at such a distance during their time together. Now he just wished the discussion had never been started.

"And you!"

His focus shifted from Eric to Mercedes as she directed her ire at him.

"You waited until I was out of the country, on a trip you lobbied me to take, so that you could end your life?! You care so little that you could leave me behind, just like that, without even the courtesy of letting me say goodbye?!"

Her voice rose until she was all but shouting, but that wasn't enough to drown out the sound as she unleashed her long-repressed anger in a resounding slap to his face before taking off to her bedroom, the tears that had been threatening now spilling over. Godric's sole thought as he raised a hand to the cheek that received the barely felt sting was that he had just made his Mercedes cry.