Right. This is possibly the final chapter. I say possibly because I'm waiting for your approval... should the story end here?

DC

He'd almost decided not to step out from his hiding place in the dark bush and flit away instead however the simple movement of Darren's hand, which closed around Rose's, triggered an emotional reaction deep within him. Steve squared his shoulders and walked out from the shadows into a single beam of moonlight streaming through the trees. A branch, half in the way, cast a long shadow down one side of his face. The side Darren and Rose could see was sneering.

"Interrupt something did I?" he mocked. His frustration rose as he noticed Darren hastily step sideways in front of the girl. Rose simply looked at him imploringly but said nothing. Steve shifted his weight from foot to foot as though ready to pounce.

"What do you want, Steve?" asked Darren, feigning bravery. Steve rolled his eyes and removed his hands from his pockets.

"Three guesses," he snarled taking a step forward. Rose also took a step toward him, knocking Darren's shoulder out the way carelessly.

"Leave," she ordered but her request was ignored. Darren turned his head to her fearfully, his eyes never leaving Steve's.

"Go," he whispered hoarsely, "Get out of here. Get Crepsley."

"Crapsely can wait," said Rose. Steve sniggered.

"Now now, Rosie," he said with a grimace, "do what your boyfriend says." Darren, shocked that Steve knew Rose's name, hadn't heard the rest of the sentence that followed.

"How do you -?" he started but Rose interrupted him.

"Don't be stupid Steve," she laughed, "Darren and me?" Enlightenment suddenly dawned on her as Steve's face became a mask of pain at the idea.

"Darren and me," she repeated thoughtfully. Darren turned to face her, shock obviously overrunning the senses which alerted him to the threat.

"How do you -?" he began again but Rose threw her arms around his waist and hid behind him.

"Darren I'm scared," she whispered into his back. His shoulder blades tensed as courage overcame his previous bemusement as though the feel of Rose's lips between his shoulders flicked a switch.

"Steve get out of here," he commanded as though the boy was nothing but an impudent child. Rose groaned inwardly as Steve narrowed his eyes and grinned mischievously.

"Well look at this," he growled, "my two best friends... Ganged up on me have you? Together?"

"Together?" said Darren in confusion. His mind raced as he tried to think how Steve and Rose might know each other.

"Together," confirmed Rose, moving her arms up until they rested on the boy's shoulders. Steve roared and crouched low sending birds into the air in fright.

"Then I'll fight you both. Kill you both," he added. Darren pushed Rose out of danger with one hand and lifted his chin defiantly in Steve's direction.

"Let her go," he said. Steve seemed to consider his words but Rose quickly leapt forward and kissed Darren lightly on the cheek for luck. Steve gritted his teeth as his nails shot out from his finger tips.

"No."

"But why...?" Darren cried before he paused mid-sentence with a finger raised in the air in exclamation.

"He turned you!" He finished, turning to Rose, "He turned you into a Vampaneze!"

"You didn't tell him?" said Steve raising his eyebrows. When Rose refused to comment, he continued, enjoying their silence immensely.

"Oh yes, I changed her," he smiled, "turned her into something better. Though you never really said thank you, Rose," he added. Rose opened her mouth to reply but Darren interrupted.

"Thank you? Why would she say thank you? Look at her – she's a monster!"

"Cheers," muttered Rose but no one heard her. Steve and Darren circled each other as Steve let out a small snarl.

"She's not a monster," he scowled.

"No, you are," growled Darren crouching low, ready to leap. Steve was quicker. He launched into the air and was already halfway across the clearing before Darren noticed he was no longer standing in front of him. A sharp pain seared across Darren's chest as Steve's pointed nails left a trail of blood. Three deep scratches shone in the moonlight through Darren's torn shirt. He hissed in pain, spat onto his palm and dragged the medicinal saliva across the wounds, healing them instantly. Then suddenly, another sharp pain burned across his arm. Steve had left an open wound there two. Ignoring it, Darren spun to face the boy who was standing dangerously close to Rose.

"I want you back," Darren heard Steve tell Rose. The girl crossed her arms and refused to look at him.

"Get away from her!" Growled Darren. He sprung into the air, hands outstretched, ready to sink his nails into the boy. And suddenly, Steve wasn't there. Rose leapt out of the way just in time to avoid being hit by the sprawling Darren.

"He's back over there," she cried in frustration. A voice behind Darren laughed to hear the irritation in Rose's voice.

"Clumsy!" Steve sang. Darren picked himself up and snarled. The boy was taunting him, making him look like a fool in front of Rose whom he was only trying to protect. It was most unlike Steve to play games like this. He usually preferred an instant kill, either for revenge or a meal.

"What're you playing at?" he asked in Steve's general direction. Steve was flitting on the spot, eager to fight.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Steve paused in his relentless movement to watch Darren's thoughtful expression, "I'm about to destroy you!" He spoke slowly and clearly as though explaining this to a child. He grinned at Rose over Darren's shoulder.

"No, no you're not. If you really wanted to kill me you'd have done it by now. Is this your idea of offering me another chance? You fancy being my friend or something?" Darren's sarcasm did not escape Steve's notice and though the two were mortal enemies now, the insult still stung. Steve flit up to Darren and brought his snarling features inches from him, his teeth bared.

"'Course not," he growled, "There's no way..." His anger froze on his facial expression as Rose's voice travelled over to them.

"Steve?" The boy hastily straightened up, looking past Darren as though he'd forgotten all about him and met the girl's gaze. She stepped forward hesitantly and offered the beginnings of a smile.

"Please don't hurt him," she asked. Steve's brow furrowed.

"But he upset you," he said, turning his fiery gaze back to Darren who seemed to be trying not to wilt under it, "He made you cry. I saw." Rose's forehead crinkled under her thick fringe as she wiped her eyes. Steve realised she was thinking back to her earlier conversation. Suddenly the girl's cheeks flooded with a feverous blush and he guessed she must have remembered.

"Oh... that. No, Darren didn't upset me – well, he did – but he didn't mean to."

"No?"

"No. He was going to leave Rebecca," Rose turned to face Darren who had frozen and was trying to fit his head around the surreal situation, "you were just going to ignore everything Darren and... you can't... you need closure..." Rose's words drifted off into a mumble as she felt the blush creep back in. She looked so alone and almost embarrassed in her small patch of moonlight, both boys wanted to comfort her. Both stepped forward before turning to look at each other with murderous expressions.

"Don't touch her!"

"Stay back!" They said in unison. Rose glanced up in surprise.

"It's okay," she addressed both of them, "I don't think he'll hurt me Darren. And Steve... Steve, why are you here?" Steve shrugged as prickles of annoyance ran along his spine as he watched Darren move over to Rose and stand beside her. He guessed he should just tell her the truth.

"To kill me," guessed Darren. Steve shook his head, surprising the other two.

"Not yet," he said, "figured I'd do that somewhere dramatic... you know, with witnesses." Rose fought the urge to roll her eyes while Darren shoved his hand in his pocket to stop it flying to his throat.

"I wanted to talk to you," he said to Rose directly, "without an entourage."

"Nope, not gonna happen," said Darren quickly. Rose's expression suggested her decision was in turmoil. Her bottom lip had turned white where she was biting down on it hard. Steve found himself staring at it and almost missed her reply.

"I don't think that's a good idea..." she began, looking at Daren who nodded vigorously in agreement. Everything about her, her pose, her expression, suggested there was a silent "but..." hanging in the air. Steve grabbed his opportunity to manipulate her indecision.

"Please Rose? Oh come on, I know you still care about me, I still care about you. Just listen to me." Darren gritted his teeth, a retort already forming in his mind. He opened his mouth to reply but Rose's voice came out instead.

"Oh you've changed your mind then?" The girl's voice was mainly sarcastic but there was a hint of hope between her words. Steve hesitated.

"Ye-es" he whistled. Both Rose and Darren narrowed their eyes in disbelief at his tone. Steve almost looked sheepish.

"So... you've decided not to follow Mr Tiny?"

"Well... no, not exact- "

"You've moved out of the Vampaneze's headquarters?"

"Nope, um, I'm still- "

"You're giving up on that so called destiny of yours then?"

"No, I- " began Steve. Rose gave up.

"So what exactly has changed?" she cried. Steve looked from her to Darren and back again before mumbling something under his breath. Darren had to strain his ears to hear the boy's answer but even then he couldn't decipher it. Rose, on the other hand, had sighed and laughed to hear his reply.

"Really?" she cried as she ran forward and sank into his embrace. She tilted her head back to look into his dark eyes to search for the truth.

"Yeah, but you're not part of it..." said Steve. Rose's smile remained fixed to her face though the face around it hardened. She waited for the boy to continue.

"You're all of it." Wrapping his arms around the girl and burying his face in her hair, Steve's gaze rose to meet Darren's. Both enemies seemed to reach a silent agreement that tonight wasn't the night for a war. A wave of temporary peace swept over the Cirque as Rose kissed Steve passionately, ignoring the rest of the world for a few blissful moments.