[A/N: Again, I'm terribly sorry for the delay. I finally got my laptop back. Phew! Here you go! Enjoy :)]
Simon cocked his head to one side, listening. He held two fingers up in the air and Timothy nodded. They both leaped silently off the steeple of the Catholic church they were crouching on and onto the ground. Timothy crouched down low and placed his forefinger on the ground. He pointed to the right and they took of running towards an abandoned building.
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Natalia reached down to fasten the strap on her heels when she noticed a ring on the middle finger of her right hand. It was a beautiful ring with three stones– a diamond in the middle with a sapphire on either side of it, all set on a delicate rose-gold band. She looked at it thoughtfully and wondered how it got there. She shook her head and got of from the bed. She was surprised to see Ryan waiting for her outside. She smiled widely and pulled him into a tight embrace.
"Well hey yourself," he said lightly.
She laughed. "Hey. What are you doing here?"
"Well, I thought I would drop by and see how you were doing but I guess you're doing okay."
"Yeah, they let me go early."
His face brightened. "Great!" He looked down and noticed that her hands were full. "Do you need help with all that?"
"Oh! Uh, sure." She handed him half of her stuff. [A/N: lack of a better word] When she did she, 'noticed' the ring on her finger again. "I wonder how this got here?" She said holding her hand out in front of her. Ryan scratched the back of his head.
"Oh, my mom wanted me to give it to you. It was my grandmother's. If you don't want it I can take it back."
"No! I love it. Really."
"Okay. Come on and I'll take you home."
"Oh you don't have to do that. I feel fine."
"H's orders. Even if it wasn't, I'd still take you."
She sighed and rolled her eyes. "Always such a gentleman," she muttered.
"Hey," Ryan said shrugging. "It's part of my job."
Natalia rolled her eyes again. "Whatever. Just take me home."
Ryan laughed and opened the passenger door of his Hummer for her.
__________
Timothy crept around old crates and boxes and saw William feeding off of a small girl. He looked over at Simon and jerked his head in the general direction of William. Simon pulled out his gun, which was loaded with a bullet filled with an electrical charge– the only way to kill a vampire. He aimed for William's chest but when he fired William turned and the bullet struck his forearm. He immediately went unconscious, but was not killed. Timothy swore under his breath and ran over to William, scooping him up to carry him back to The Brotherhood headquarters.
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"Are you sure you don't want me to stay?"
Natalia bit her lip, "If it's not too much trouble."
"It's never too much trouble. I'll stay," Ryan said taking her hand.
She nodded and puled him to her bedroom.
"So, are you feeling better?" Ryan asked when they were in bed.
Natalia grinned and crawled over to Ryan and straddled him. She leaned down and kissed him. The kiss grew more urgent and a few moments later she pulled away.
"I'll take that as a yes."
She leaned down to kiss him again. As she slipped her tongue into his mouth, Ryan fiddled with the straps on her tank top. She smiled against his lips and removed her hands from his hair to slip the straps off her shoulders. Ryan pulled it over her head and she began unbuttoning his shirt. He leaned forward and pulled it off. She reached for his belt, but he stopped her by placing his hands on hers.
Her face turned red and she ran her hand through her hair. "Oh God. You don't want me I-"
Ryan put his finger on her lips.
"It's not that. I do want you. God I want you. But I don't want this to be a one night stand I love you Talia."
"I love you to Ryan. And I promise you that this won't be a one night stand. I'll be here."
He smiled, and they began a night that neither would forget.
__________
Natalia awoke and stretched luxuriously. She groped the sheets for Ryan, but he wasn't there. She smiled when she smelled eggs and bacon cooking downstairs. She wrapped a sheet around her and went downstairs. When she stepped into the kitchen, Ryan had just got finished sliding and omelet with ham and cheese onto a plate.
"And he cooks too," Natalia teased.
"Sleep good?"
Natalia laughed and leaned against the counter next to Ryan. "I suppose. But it's hard to sleep when someone's pinning you to the bed."
"Hey! You're the one that insisted on taking a shower. I just couldn't resist."
Natalia laughed and rolled her eyes. "Whatever."
__________
William regained consciousness late that night. The Brotherhood had placed him in a holding cell with silver probes sticking through his skin so he couldn't escape. He struggled against the probes, but could not move.
Phillip came through the door. "Brother," he began. "You are awake."
William smirked. "I suppose I am, Phillip."
Phillip raised his eyebrows. "Why? Why did you do it? You harmed and Innocent and killed more."
"The control, brother. To feel them struggle, helpless against you as you drain their life. To feel their blood flowing into your mouth fresh blood. Warm. Not stale, and cold. That, brother is why I did it."
Phillip nodded. "You will receive consequences."
William laughed. "It was worth it. You should try it sometime. I see the way you look at humans. Give into the thirst. Stop pretending you're something that you're not."
"Never," Phillip said, and walked out the door.