Chapter 3

(Protecting Angel)

Tyler's point of view

I watched as Katie talked with Sasha while "Fox" ran around the playground happily. If it had been another child and woman I was charged with protecting, I might be annoyed at playing "babysitter". I didn't mind Katie and Dracula's daughter at all. Katie was nice and I have to admit she was a beautiful human woman. Angel was an adorable child that rarely fussed. In fact, she seemed to never cry or get upset unless Parker was around. The child did not like him. It made me wonder if she did, in fact, know Parker wasn't her father and resented the slayer being around.

"You no hurt mommy!" I almost jumped backwards at seeing "Fox" suddenly in front of me. The child stood before me with arms to her sides but fists tightened. The girl was just a toddler of two years old but her voice was commanding. "No let you hurt her!"

I quickly changed out of my wolf form so that I could address her concerns. I looked down at her from my human form but the girl's stance did not change; nor did she back up. Her face held the same intensity and her eyes the same warning. I couldn't help but smile at the child with her red hair in pigtails. "Fox" was clearly protective of her mother.

Calmly I knelt down on one knee before the count's daughter. "I will not harm you or your mother little one. I'm here to look after you both and protect you from danger when needed."

"You no hurt mommy?" she asked as her fists loosened.

"No hurt mommy or you," I told her reassuringly.

"Who are you?" The blue eyed child asked looking up at me with open curiosity.

"My name is Tyler. I'm your guardian so to speak," I told her. "My sole job is to protect you and your mother, little "Fox"."

I watched as her blue eyes widened and began to sparkle. "You know my daddy!" She squealed happily.

"Shush," I told her putting my finger to my lips but smiling at her. She covered her mouth with her hands and I had to laugh. "Yes little one. I am here by your father's request."

"Is he coming yet?" Angel asked.

"Not yet." I saw her look down in disappointment. Gently I lifted the toddler's chin to look at me. "Your father will come for you."

"Promise?" she asked. I nodded. "Promise?" she said again. At first I didn't understand until I realized she was holding her pinkie finger up. I internally laughed at the bond humans had come up with.

Gently I wrapped my pinkie around hers as I'd seen humans do. "I pinkie promise, "Fox". Your father will come." She released my finger a second later and surprised me as she launched herself into my arms embracing me. I was surprised at first but then returned the hug.

I hadn't been around a dhampier before. I had never expected her to be affectionate. Then again Dracula's daughter was very affectionate with her mother. Perhaps it was something she had learned from her mother. Katie was always affectionate with the child. I hadn't even seen as much affection between a pack female and her offspring.

"Angel?" I heard Katie call.

"You need to return to your mother. She'll be worried about you," I told her.

"Will I see you again?" The small child asked.

I smiled at her. "I am never far." She nodded pleased with my answer. "Tell no one about me."

"Not even mommy?"

"Not yet little one. This will be our little secret alright?"

"Okay." She kissed my cheek and headed back out of the trees toward the playground. "Thank you for protecting us." With a wave of her hand she was off.

I watched as Katie quickly approached the child. "Oh, honey, please don't do that. You scared me," Katie said reaching the child as she came out of the woods.

"I sorry mommy. Wanted to see doggie," She told her mother sounding sad.

"It's alright darling," Katie said and hugged her. "I just want to keep you safe. I love you."

"Love you too mommy," The child replied. I watched as Katie lifted her in her arms and began walking away. "Fox" looked up from where her arms were around her mother's neck and waved bye to me.

I was pleased to have had a couple of moments with the toddler but I also felt the need to kick something. I couldn't believe I'd become so distracted by my thoughts that a toddler had snuck up on me. Worse yet, she hadn't even snuck up. Shaking my head I quickly shifted back into my black wolf form.

I was sitting on my hindquarters when what she'd said came back to me. "Youknowmydaddy!" The only way she could know the nickname of Fox was if the count was now able to communicate with his daughter. Even in my wolf form, one couldn't have missed the smile on my face. This was good news.

Angel's point of view

It was late as I lay wide awake in my bed. I couldn't sleep once again. Mommy had tucked me in and read me a story and even sang to me as she always did. I loved the sound of her voice. Thinking of her voice though, I suddenly felt sad. I hadn't heard my father's voice in six months. I missed him.

It'salrightmylittlefox.I suddenly heard my father say in my mind.

Daddy!I internally shouted.

I heard him chuckle before he said, Don'twakeyourmotherlittleone.

I internally giggled but on the outside I covered my mouth with my small hands. Iwon't. I promised. Whyaren'tyouhereyet? I complained. I didn't want to be difficult but I wanted my daddy.

The slayers caused deeper injuries than I was prepared for.

Areyouokay?I asked concerned.

Iwillrecover.IhearyouwhenyoucalltomeFox, my father told me. Ihavealwaysheardyou.IhavenotalwaysbeenabletorespondtoyoubutIknowyouarethere.Mythoughtsarealwaysonyouandyourmother.

I miss you.

I miss you too little one. You and your mother.

ImetTylertoday, I told him.

Did you?

Uhhuh.Don'tthinkIwassupposedtobut…wantedtomakesurehewouldn'thurtmommy.I explained. WhydidyousendTylertowatchoverus?

BecauseIcannotbetheretoprotectyoumyselfrightnow.DoyounotlikeTyler? He asked.

Oh,Ilikehim.Whydidn'tyoutellmethough?I asked.

I'm sorry Fox. I still need to recover and when I speak this way too long it takes away my strength again.

Itcausesyoutotakelongertohealdoesn'tit?I said sadly.

Yes, but this time is worth it.

No!I said firmly. Wantyoutorecoverandcomeforus!Iwaittotalktoyouagain.

Fox…it will still be some time. They nearly killed me.

I understand. Rather have you with us then in my head though. We talk when you recover.

Itmaybealongtimebeforeyouhearfrommeagain,my father warned.

Okay.I was saddened at the thought of not hearing from him again for a long time but I wanted him to recover so we could be together. Mommyiswithme.We'llbeokay.Byedaddy.

Bye my little Fox.

My father's voice faded and I couldn't stop the tears from flowing. I wanted my daddy so much but I knew it couldn't happen; not yet. That didn't mean I didn't miss him.

Katie's point of View

It was late as I walked past Angel's room toward mine. Surprised to hear the sound of soft crying I quietly opened the door. "Ange…" My heart broke at the sound of her crying. I quietly closed the door and went to my crying daughter, "What's wrong sweetheart?" I asked taking her into my arms.

"I miss daddy," she wailed.

I was surprised by her words. She only ever wailed around Parker it seemed. "It's okay darling. Parker will…"

She pulled back and looked at me with angry eyes. "Parker not Daddy!" She said in firm clear voice.

"How do you know?" I asked her. I didn't know who would have told her for only Sasha and I knew the truth. Sasha, however, hadn't gotten upset and even taken the blame for the destroyed nipples when Angel was still using a bottle. I was still thankful she'd kept the secret.

Angel looked down and became very quiet. "It's okay baby. This is just between you and me," I told her. I swallowed before saying, "Do you know who your father is?"

I watched as my daughter gave a nod. "He speaks to me but it hurts him."

"How does he speak to you?" I asked her. Even now I didn't know a lot about vampires. If Dracula was alive and paying her visits during the night I wanted to know how.

"In here," She said and pointed to her head.

"In your mind?" I asked.

"Uh huh. Miss him. He said he would come for us. I want daddy to come for us now." She leaned into me sadly and I gently stroked her back.

"Did he say when?" I asked as a sense of both fear and even relief surged through me.

"Don't know," She said disappointed. "They almost killed him. He can't talk to me now for a long time so he can recover." Angel pulled away and looked up at me. "I told him I'd wait so he could get better and come for us." She looked down disappointed. "I want him now."

"It's alright sweetheart," I told her gently. "If your father says he will come for us then he will." I held her close and kissed the top of her head while I gently stroked her red hair. I heard her yawn and smiled. It seemed Dracula wasn't the only one that lost strength when he spoke with our daughter.

"You need to rest," I told her and gently tucked her back into bed. Gently I stroked her hair and very soon she was asleep.

Quietly I got up from her bed and walked over to the bedroom window. Dracula was alive and would come for us. Part of me was glad to hear he hadn't died but another part of me feared the knowledge. I couldn't help but wonder when the time came what would become of us?

The sky was pitch black now except for the stars. It was so unlike the last night I'd seen my daughter's father. Parker may be trying to play the role of daddy but Angel was having no part of it. I had never understood why she'd been so anti-Parker until now. It made me wonder if Dracula had told her to stay away from him.

Slowly I looked over at my sleeping child. I smiled at her. It didn't matter if Dracula was her father I couldn't love her more. I didn't even care she didn't like Parker. The truth was after being with Dracula and with the threats from the other slayers my feelings had changed. I didn't trust Parker anymore. I no longer felt the safety and love I'd once felt with him. Quietly I left the room and gently closed the door.

I entered my bedroom and closed the door. Walking over to the dresser I pulled out a satin gown to change into. I started to raise my knit sweater when I felt arms come around and a mouth suddenly on my neck. Surprised I turned around to see Parker.

"What are you doing here?" I said surprised to see him. "I thought you were hunting."

"Oh, I'm hunting," he said and stepped toward me.

I looked into his eyes and saw the look of desire. There was no doubt in my mind on what he was hunting for. "No, Parker," I told him. He ignored me and pulled me forward to kiss me. "I said no!"

Memphis' point of view

I entered the apartment to hear something crash at the other end of the apartment. I looked around and found Sasha asleep on the couch with the TV on. Concerned about Katie I started toward her door.

"No, Parker!" I heard Katie say. "Get off me."

I picked up the pace and quickly threw Katie's door open. Katie was still dressed but Parker had her pinned to the bed.

"Come on Katie," Parker complained.

"Get off her!" I ordered him. Parker looked at me and glared. "She said no." When he didn't move I grabbed a hold of his shirt and practically threw him away from the brown haired woman.

"What the fuck?" he demanded.

"Exactly!" I replied.

"I haven't gotten any since Angel was born!" Parker said frustrated. He turned angry blue eyes on Katie, "Why is that?"

"I just can't," Katie told him.

"You're recovered," he snapped at her. "There is no reason we can't have sex."

I wanted to smack Parker into a wall. Was he so blind he hadn't noticed the distance that she'd had with him since the others had threatened her over Angel? "If she says no, then it's no," I told him. There was no way I was going to let him force something to happen between them.

"I'm beginning to wonder if the kid is even mine," Parker said angrily. "All she does is scream any time I get near her."

At first I was annoyed by his comment and then what he'd said triggered something in my mind. If Angel was 42 weeks she couldn't be Parker's.

"I know she is because she was born at 34 weeks but otherwise I'd really question it!" He ranted.

34 weeks? I was confused. I'd been passing by and heard the doctor say 42 weeks to Katie. Listening to him rant now though about Katie and Angel being 34 weeks it all came together. I looked at Katie and saw her look away from Parker. Not once did she confirm anything he said.

"Parker, if you want to have sex so bad go find someone else," I heard her say causing my attention to revert back to the present.

"If I walk out the door I am not coming back," Parker yelled.

Katie and I both looked at the door as we heard Angel suddenly start crying. I looked at Parker. "If that's what you want." I turned and left the room to go to Angel's.

I opened the door to see the little girl sitting up in bed. "It's okay, Angel," I said gently and turned on the small lamp by her bed. "We didn't mean to wake you," I told her and brushed some hair away from her mouth. She calmed down before giving a very big yawn. Her mouth opened widely and I got my first look into her mouth. There were more than a few very sharp teeth.

My suspicions were confirmed. The child before me was not completely human. The adorable little girl before me was the daughter of Dracula.

"Memphis…"

"She has some rather sharp teeth," I commented before looking back to see a terrified Katie.

Tears instantly entered her eyes. "Memphis, please , she's just a little girl," She pleaded. "I…please don't hurt her," She begged. "I didn't know at first and I…I just couldn't."

Sasha entered the room with wide alarmed eyes. "Garbage disposal huh?" I said. She bit her lip.

"Memphis I'll take her and go. You never…"

"Katie, calm down," I told her. "Do you really think I didn't know there was a chance it was Dracula's child you carried and not Parker's?" I asked her.

"You did?" Katie said sounding hopeful. "You won't hurt her?"

I looked back to see Angel looking a little unsure. "Why would I hurt a beautiful little girl who hasn't done anything wrong?" I asked. Angel smiled at me and reaching over hugged me. "It's going to be okay, Angel," I assured her. "Try and go back to sleep." Angel nodded and when she laid down I kissed her forehead and we left the room closing the door behind us.

"I'm sorry," Katie apologized as we entered the living room.

"You were trying to protect her," I said with understanding. "How or rather why did you do it?"

"Why did I protect her?" she asked. I shook my head and then realization entered her eyes. "Dracula was letting Brock torture Danielle. I did it so Dracula would forbid Brock from hurting Danielle anymore."

Her reason made perfect sense to me. Katie had done the only thing she could to try and help Dennis' mother. I looked at Sasha. "You knew."

"I asked her not to tell," Katie said coming to her defense.

I gave a nod. "I trust Parker left?" Both women nodded. "In the morning we will to."

"We will leave?" The blonde woman said confused.

"I'd rather not have to kill Parker. If he goes after Angel I will take him out. We leave in the morning and we don't look back." Both women nodded. "Get some sleep. I want out of here early before he can return." Again the two women nodded and they headed back to Katie's room.

I walked over to the sliding glass door and looked outside. I needed to get all of us out of here but I had no idea where to take them.