Dhampir in Disguise

by gempire

As usual the summary is inside to avoid spoilers of previous stories.

26. Chapter 25

Disclaimer: Twilight is the property of Stephenie Meyer

I'd like to dedicate this chapter to Noble, Fadewind, Bibika94, Alphabloodwolf, Alexsandra, Lsb123 and BellaNessieCullen

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I awoke the next day and the left side of my face felt on fire, although it was not in a perturbing way. It was a nice heat that I wished to bask in forever and I hummed slightly as I snuggled into it. The heat was down the entirety of my front too, and there were strong arms about me. I inhaled deeply the scent of Mal and I enjoyed it immensely. What a foolish girl was I to ever think the hand of man could ever create this delightful bouquet? 'Dhampir by Jeremy' was a heady scent indeed.

I turned my head until my nose brushed his bare chest, the light down that adorned it brushing softly against my cheek. His scent was stronger still and without thinking I placed my lips to the centre of his chest and held them there as I inhaled his scent again, the taste of it was now on my tongue too and it added to this sensing.

Mal stirred and his arms that had slackened only slightly in sleep, now moved into places on my back that felt somewhat more sensual as his face brushed the top of my head and he inhaled deeply. I still had my eyes closed and I was reacting with instinct alone as my body moved closer to his. My face turned to the side once more and I tilted my head until my lips made contact to that soft spot beneath the chin. The sound of Mal's gulp echoed in my ear, and as I started to move my own arms so my fingers followed his spine. He let out a moan that vibrated in my own chest since we were so closely placed.

Mal's hands left my back and now they were on my shoulders as he pushed my upper body away from his. My eyes snapped open and my world was filled with green fireworks, so intense was the look in his eyes. He was breathing hard, and looked as if he was caught in the headlights of an oncoming car. It was an expression we both shared, although I was more afraid that I had overstepped some bound and he would back away and we would not share this level of intimacy for days.

Mal moved suddenly. His right hand went into my hair, supporting the back of my head, as his left arm snaked beneath my right arm, beneath my open shirt so that his hand lay across the bare skin of my back and it offered the illusion of support as his mouth went to my throat and he began to kiss there. His lips, his tongue, a slight feel of teeth, but nothing to bring me fear. At least not fear for my life, but I felt the thrill of fear that accompanied this step over the cliff of our desire.

I found that my hands wished to grip his shirt and I used it to pull myself closer to him, and although I had to raise myself somewhat, I was able to place my lips to his throat and I returned his kisses. I attempted to emulate what he had done to me, although I went further up and introduced his ear into proceedings.

"Oh Liza." Mal moaned. "This is…"

"Hmmmh." I replied, I was enjoying the taste of his skin too much to give a coherent answer, I was lost in the fact that this was the most sexual thing I had ever knowingly done and I wished to go further.

Mal sighed and his hands trailed over my back and I felt his thumb travel briefly below the strap of my bra. Was he planning to undo it? I realised that I really wished this to be the case. His hands left my back for a moment and trailed up and down the back of my thighs as I moved my lips to his as I wished for a little response. As I wrapped my arms about his neck, tangling the fingers of my left hand into his hair, I was well aware of the passion now growing in my body. I realised that I could make this more, and Malachite was the perfect person with which to accomplish it.

I was caught up in that thought and did not think of the fact that we were out in the middle of the woods that were not as secluded as those at home. Anyone could happen by. Besides, we had no means of protection and did I wish my first time to be unplanned and outside?

A fantasy blew through my mind, of Mal above me, the sunlight glinting gold from the highlights in his hair. How I wanted to make that true and I would continue with my plan while a small part of my brain that still had a hint of sense was trying to caution me into stopping for we did not want to be pregnant. Since it was clear I was not going to stop that sensible part of my brain had taken to praying that Mal would stop us, as always. However that seemed doubtful this morning, I had caught him at a time when his guard was down and for once he was not going to be the one to stop us.

I cared not. I was tired of letting my need for planning to ruin my life. I wished for once to be spontaneous and reckless. I would be all of these things with Mal. This once with no protection was no guarantee that I would become pregnant, and if this were the case, well I would have to alter a few of my plans, but in twenty years time I could return to what I planned now. That was the joy of living forever.

I took hold of Mal's hand and I moved it up to the clasp of my bra, although this was somewhat awkward, but at least it allowed me to show off my flexibility. Mal was hesitant; I suppose he was wondering if I really wished him to do this. I nodded my head, my lips brushing from his chin to his nose for a few sweeps before I resumed kissing him. With this confirmation Mal proved to be as eager as I for I felt his other hand move up to aide the other in freeing me, and there was no shake in those hands. Mal was confident and so was I.

Mal froze, and his hands fell away from me as he pulled his face from mine. I looked at him to find that he was frowning as his hands went absentmindedly to my shoulders in an attempt to keep me back for a moment while he leant his head on one side as if he were listening to something.

"Alec just walked into my shield." He whispered.

"Your shield is up?" I whispered in return and I realised that I could sense something somewhere to the west of our location.

"I didn't know it was until Alec walked into it." He said, and then he looked down at me and gave a nervous laugh. "And not a moment too soon."

"But we were about to make love." I stated, looking up into his green eyes, which were cooling back to normal now he was no longer caught up in the moment.

"I know." Mal said. "And that would have been so risky. I mean we haven't even discussed kids yet, and we were about to jump into the deep end."

"There's no guarantee." I stated.

"But there's the possibility." Mal said firmly. "You haven't even straightened out what you want to call me yet. Do you really want to shunt me from friend with potential straight up to the father of your kids?"

"I would like you to myself for some time." I admitted.

"Then we need to stop this until we're better prepared." Mal said, and kissed my head tenderly. "Besides, Alec is working his way around my shield. He'll be able to see us soon."

"Then we should dress." I said and I shot to my feet and began to button my shirt.

"Great." Mal said, sounding preoccupied for a moment. "Um…could you stall Alec while I wee." He stated.

"Of course." I said with a frown, wondering why he couldn't wait until we reached our building, of course they may still be locked.

Mal was already gone into the deep thatch of bushes by the time I looked to him. My frown deepened until something occurred to me and I decided not to continue with that train of thought for the time being. Besides Alec was here, I caught his scent on the strong wind that I had not felt earlier.

I decided that Mal's shield had kept the wind at bay and now he had collapsed it, or perhaps made it smaller. A more personal bubble perhaps. I thought as I looked into the patch of bushes. I tore my eyes away and shook my head, reminding myself that I had decided not to think of that for the moment.

"Are you hurt?" Alec asked.

I blinked and looked up at him in incomprehension.

"Should I be?" I asked.

"Your mouth is bleeding." He stated as he reached out for it.

But I held up my hand and stopped him with a gesture before I placed my fingers to my lips. I could feel nothing there, but when I pulled my hand away I could see the merest suggestion of red.

"It is lipstick as well you know." I snapped irritably as I pulled the end of my sleeve over my hand, licked it and attempted to wash my mouth clean.

I remembered then the little mirror I always carried in case of an emergency. I pulled it from the back pocket of my jeans and examined my face. It looked clean now, and I snapped the mirror shut in annoyance that Alec had commented, I bet no human would have noticed.

"I was worried about you and Mal when I came to the dormitory building to find it locked. I followed your scents here." He said, his eyes sweeping the area with interest.

"Did it not occur to you that Mother would have known if something bad had happened to me?" I demanded irritably as I felt a restlessness within.

There was a build up of energy within me that demanded to be released. I felt angry and I glared at Alec feeling that he was to blame. I felt so very hot and the morning was still cool as of yet.

"There is quite some colour in your cheeks this morning Liza." Alec observed. "Your blood is flowing hotter than normal, it ads a particularly delicious edge to your scent. It is very alluring."

"You are not allowed to feel allured by my scent." I growled, glaring at him.

"I can not help what my senses tell me." Alec said and I was sure he wore a leer.

"You can and you know it." I snapped, feeling my temper rise.

"Perhaps I choose not to." Alec said with a grin and I felt myself growl as I imagined punching him on the nose. "You know I find you attractive and am I not allowed to try and woo you when it is clear the boy is lacking?"

"Mal is not lacking." I said through gritted teeth as I tried to stay abreast of my anger. "People keep interrupting."

"So you're still pure my precious flower." Alec said, and he reached a hand toward me, and I batted it away.

"Do not touch me or will attack." I said coldly.

"As long as you 'attack me' the way you did in my bunker then I have no arguments." He said with a grin.

I saw red at that point and I lunged forward and brought my hand up beneath his chin. His teeth clicked together and he staggered backwards, although it was more to do with the suddenness of my attack and not because of my strength. I had to keep the surprises coming if I wished to win this fight. Alec could subdue me at any time with his power; I had to keep him distracted so that he could not concentrate to use his power.

I delivered a perfect roundhouse kick to his temple and he staggered to the right. Before he could do more I punched the right side of his head and he chuckled.

"You dance with me once more Elisabeta." He whispered, and I punched him square in the nose.

Had he been human I would have broken his nose, how satisfying would that have been? However he was vampire and I did very little damage, but it shut him up. I felt the rage flow through me and I wished to shut him up permanently. Volturi be damned, he had insulted me.

I leapt at him and kicked both my feet out with such force to the centre of his chest that I knocked him to the floor. I did not allow him a moment to recover as I leapt on top of his chest, although my weight would not hinder him much. I had to keep up my volley of punches and I did so until I was sure that he was sufficiently distracted and I placed my hand beneath his chin and began to push it upwards.

Arms locked about my waist and I was pulled away from Alec. Mal's scent surrounded me, and I felt myself relax. The anger I felt toward Alec now left me and I felt safe with Mal at my back. I wished to turn to him and hug him and never view the world again.

"What the hell is going on here?" Mal demanded. "Did he hurt you? Shall I kill him?"

As I thought over my actions I realised I had been wrong to try to kill Alec. What had he truly done to me?

"He was winding me up." I stated. "Until I snapped."

"But your tension has all gone now has it not?" Alec asked as he got up from the floor and straightened out his clothes.

"What?" I demanded, glaring at him.

"You were full of tension that needed release before you face the humans. I am sorry I was not half an hour later, but I was worried about both of you. I disturbed you too early and although Mal had means to ease his tension, what could you have done Liza? With all that pent up energy you may have revealed something in front of the humans. Now all that tension has dissipated, and I was honoured to be your punching bag." Alec finished with a bow of his head.

"Are you frigging crazy?" I demanded. "I could have killed you!"

"No Liza. There was not a moment there where I was not in control. I merely wished to give you the chance to let off steam, knowing that you would not hurt me." Alec said in tones that suggested he'd given me the greatest gift ever.

"What the hell?" Mal demanded. "You think Liza wants to use you as a punch bag? You really don't know her but."

"I am not a violent person." I said softly. "I prefer not to fight. Why would you make me hit you?"

"Because you cannot hurt me." Alec said.

"Perhaps not physically, but does it not hurt you emotionally that I could raise a hand against you?" I asked. "With exception to Tony in our sibling scrapes when we were growing up, I have never raised my hand in anger against those I love. Or even those I consider friends."

"I never thought of that." Alec murmured. "I am sorry I compromised your integrity. I thought I was helping, but clearly not. I will not do so again."

I regarded Alec for a while as Mal continued to hold me. I placed my hands to Mal's and he slackened his grip so that I was now standing on my feet, as he entwined his fingers with mine. I took great comfort in this gesture, and his scent continued to give me a centre of calm.

"I'm sure you were trying to help, but I was close to killing you Alec. You pushed me too far. If Mal hadn't been here this encounter would have ended with one of us dead, for as riled as I was I would not have stopped until you were dead. Or until I died in the process." I said in a firm voice.

Alec stared back at me for a long moment, and then he gave the impression of looking ill.

"You would have." He gasped. "Please forgive me the both of you. That was not my intention."

"Well in future stay out of our sex life." I hissed. "And then I will not kill you."

"I will remember that." Alec said in a steady voice and the look he gave me was one that seemed to state that he finally realised I was destined for Mal, and regardless I would never be his.

"Let us see if the door is open now." I said as I moved out of Mal's arms, but I kept his hand.

I did not look at Alec or order him to follow as Mal and I began walking toward the edge of the trees. We strolled down the hill toward the building, taking in the morning air. Alec walked beside us, and when we left the shade of the trees he pulled up the hood of his top and placed his hands in the pocket at the front. There was no part of his skin visible to sparkle in the sun.

"The hoody's working so far." Mal commented when we were in a dip that hid us from the buildings.

"As long as I do not intend to use my hands outside." Alec replied, and he pulled his hands from the pocket and the dip filled with reflected light for a moment before he placed them back into his pocket.

"Perhaps gloves will aid you." I suggested.

"Would it not seem strange I wear gloves in this climate?" Alec asked.

"It's a little strange you'd wear a hoody all the time here." Mal stated. "I mean unless it was to do with your social group."

"In what way?"

"You could be a Goth or an emo or something." Mal said. "You can wear those fingerless leather glove things and then paint your nails black."

"What about my fingers?" Alec stated in a way I decided was being difficult, but the truth was his comments were reasonable.

"Perhaps some thick foundation would help." I mused. "Or you always have accidents with your ink pen."

"Or you could be an artist on the side, just doing the more serious stuff to get your parents off your back. Then you can use paint and charcoal too." Mal added.

"So my reputation will be that of the grubby boy?" Alec asked, sounding unamused.

"You have no aversion to dirt." I said dismissively.

"The act of Sasha's neatness was built on truth." Alec replied. "It is bad enough I am forced to wear this misshapen sack, I must go around with things forever coating my hands."

"Then you'll have to keep them in your pocket." I snapped, feeling irritated once more, while part of me wondered if this was how most people felt when confronted with my many qualms.

"We'll work something out." Mal said diplomatically. "Right now we need to go into stealth mode. There's a lot of activity going on around our building."

Mal was right, there was a lot of noise drifting to us on the morning air and when the buildings came into sight there were many people, although none of them students. They were workmen and cleaners and such. As we neared the building a car pulled up alongside us and Mother stepped out.

"Did you sleep outside last night?" She asked.

"The building was locked." I explained.

"Right. Well your things are in the trunk. Call once you're settled in and I'll come pick you up for lunch. Just you and me, last mother-daughter meal, before you get back into the swing of things." Mother stated.

"That sounds wonderful Mother. I will phone once I am settled. Perhaps my car is returned and I can take you out in the Audi." I replied.

"Yeah, she could probably do with a run if the cops had her cooped in the pen all Christmas." Mother observed.

"Yes." I said sadly as we both avoided giving Alec an angry look. "I will see you later Mother."

"Yeah." Mother replied and hugged me. "See you later Lamb."

I turned from Mother to find that Mal had already retrieved my bags from the trunk as well as his own.

"And I'll see you in the spring." Mother said as she gave Mal a sisterly hug.

"Yeah." Mal said, tapping Mother's back before stepping away.

Mother nodded her head with a smile, and then slid back into the car. It left while we picked up our belongings, Alec had some too, but he managed to carry them without his hands showing.

We went to our building to find that the door was propped open with a fire extinguisher. We stepped inside to find the elevator doors were open and there was a man inside fixing something, although he was beneath the car itself.

"At least we'll have a lift this year." Mal said conversationally as we began to climb the stairs.

"I think I will still use the stairs." I stated. "They have taken this long to fix the elevator, and I do not cherish being stuck in it should it break down again."

"There's no guarantee it'll break down with you in it." Mal stated.

"Yes. But knowing my luck it will." I replied.

"I hate elevators." Alec stated. "They remind me of Volterra. And they are very confining." He added as a man carrying an industrial mop and bucket passed us on the stairs.

"We will help you work through your claustrophobia cousin." I said in response, for a response was merited.

We continued on up to the fifth floor common room and I decided to go with Mal to his room first before we took my belongings to my room. Truth be told, I was somewhat apprehensive of being on my own in these halls for the moment. It was partly to do with the fact that the story we had invented to explain our sudden absence could very easily have been true.

We reached Mal's room to find one of the admin officers standing there with an iPad as he observed a man measuring Mal's doorframe. There was a large sheet of chipboard resting against the wall next to the door. We slowed as we approached the room and the officer looked up at us.

"Can I help you?" He asked.

"Yeah. I'm Mal Rogers. This is my room." Mal stated slipping into the Texan accent he used in college.

"Oh right." The officer said as he ran his fingers quickly over the screen of the tablet. "Your room won't be ready today. We've been waiting for the police to clear the compensation to replace the door. We're measuring today, but we won't be able to fit it until tomorrow. Although your belongings are safe because of the chip board, the university can't afford the risk of you staying in a room with no door."

"Damn." Mal replied.

"Fear not my friend." I said gently. "Dove will not return until tomorrow, you could use her bed for tonight."

"Dove…Bradshaw." The officer said as he consulted his computer once more. "And you must be Liza Summers."

"Yes." I agreed.

"Says here you got a cousin transferring?" He remarked.

"That would be me." Alec said, still with his hood raised and his hands in his pocket.

"Alec Summers right?"

"Yes." Alec replied in a minimal voice.

"Well I might as well show you to your room while I'm here." The officer said as he stepped away from the door. "I'll be ready for your estimate in a minuet Pete."

"Yes Mr Dunbar." Pete replied.

"This way Mr Summers." Mr Dunbar said cheerfully, but I could detect the hint of worry in his voice as he ushered us down the corridor.

It all became clear when he stopped by the door of the room that had belonged to Malcolm Donaldson. All three of us hesitated and Mr Dunbar winced slightly as he realised we recognised the room.

"I know the last guy who stayed in here was murdered, but the guy's been caught and it was a personal grudge anyway." He stated. "Besides, you asked for a room on the same floor as your cousin and this is the only one that's empty."

"Then I will have to take it." Alec stated.

"Ok. I got your key right here." Mr Dunbar said, pulling out a set of keys from the case he was carrying.

"Thank you." Alec said as he took the key and inserted it into the lock. "Will I be expecting a roommate?"

"No." Mr Dunbar said.

"My arms are all but falling off. I am going to my room for a moment Alec, I will return to you promptly." I stated, and before he could properly respond I led Mal down the corridor to my room.

"But there are two beds." We heard Alec state as we neared the common room.

"Yeah, but you have the room to yourself. Just like poor Malcolm did. That's one of the reasons nobody realised he hadn't packed up his things, although he did have a roommate to start with. We had to find alternative accommodation within the first month…"

I listened to no more of the conversation as Mal and I stepped into the common room and turned right to enter the corridor that led to my room.

"Why the quick exit?" He asked.

"Alec was questioning the capacity of the room. If we had stayed longer he may have made the suggestion that you could stay in his room tonight so that you are nearer your own. He would have embarrassed us into having to comply by asking in front of Mr Dunbar." I explained.

"Yeah. I guess he would do that. But just cause he asked in front of Dunbar and I said yes at that point, doesn't mean I couldn't change my mind later." Mal remarked.

"Yes. However, we need not endure such headaches now." I stated as I took out the keys that were safely stored in my purse and unlocked the door. "Dorm sweet dorm." I declared as the door swung open to reveal the room I had left in such a hurry almost a month ago. "I think I shall be somewhat busy over the coming days to rearrange the mess the police made in my closet. And of course await the return of the rest of my belongings."

"I know what you mean." Mal said. "And I can't even go in my room yet. I kinda wished I hadn't locked it now."

"At the time you were trying to delay the police so that we could make our escape." I stated as I placed my bags onto my bed. "I am sorry for the inconvenience I have caused you." I added as I turned to Mal and hugged him about his waist.

"As long as I was keeping you safe I didn't care." Mal said. "Well there was one thing I cared about, but I brought that with us. I thought it was lost, but look, it's amongst my things." He said, stepping away and tapping what looked like a child's pull along suitcase but he'd tied it about himself with cord.

"What is it?" I asked, following it with my eyes as Mal placed his rucksack down on the floor and removed the suitcase and placed it on Dove's bed.

"This is the one thing I always take with me." He stated. "Although I did think it was lost. Or that Alec had destroyed it."

"Why didn't you say?"

"I didn't want to be a bother." He stated.

"Mal, you would not have been a bother." I said firmly.

"Yeah. And also I didn't want to think about it. It's only bits of paper and such, but I'd mourn if I really lost it. Does that sound stupid?" He asked as he knelt beside the bed and unzipped the suitcase.

"What are on the papers?" I asked, kneeling down beside him and wishing he would open the suitcase so I could see.

"Personal letters. Cards. That type of thing." He said.

"Then no, it does not sound stupid. You would have had every right to mourn the loss of such papers, especially if there are some mementos in there from your parents." I said softly, taking his hand.

"Well, even the case is special." He stated. "It was one of the last things my parents ever bought me. We were going to go to Cornwall for a week, maybe I would go to the beach for the first time if it was cloudy enough. Then the night before we were going, the Volturi turned up. It was only Tobias at first, but Dad knew it was pointless making a run for it, the guard would be around somewhere and we were all dead if we run. But Tobias was giving his assurance that Aro wouldn't harm us, he just wanted my parents to take me to Volterra to be registered. At that point I think Tobias was still hoping that Aro had changed, if only to keep the hope alive that he'd get Essie out of Volterra one day. Anyway, I don't blame Tobias, Aro knows how to manipulate people and really how could he know what would happen?"

I felt wretched in that moment, even though it occurred more than a decade before I was born. My father had led Mal's parents unknowingly to the slaughter. Aro would have killed Mal too had Mother not intervened. Mother may have saved Mal, but it was Father who led him into danger in the first place. I looked so much like Father, how was it possible for Mal to look upon me without feeling betrayal?

"Liza, what are you thinking?" Mal asked in a firm voice, and I lifted solemn eyes to his, but could not answer. "Let me guess. Is it something along the lines of how can I stand being in the same room as you after what your father did to me. Especially since you look more like him than Essie."

I looked away sadly.

"Oh Liza bach." He crooned, pulling me into a hug. "I might have hated Tobias at first, but when I got to know him, and also got to understand the workings of Volterra more, I could forgive. Besides, you're you, not him. I wouldn't pre-judge you on your parents. That's wrong and irrational."

"Yes I know. But in case it's escaped your notice, I have the tendency toward the irrational." I spoke into his chest.

"I know. But just remember that no matter what, even if we're arguing, I'll never hate you. I'll never stop loving you, even if I'm angry with you, I still love you." He said as he ran his fingers through my hair.

"You have never been angry with me." I observed, pulling away from him as I looked up into his face.

"I have." He said. "But I can only think of the time you were balancing on the rail of the bridge, needlessly putting your life in danger."

"I would not have died." I said with a nod of my head.

"How do you know? We don't really know the limits of the dhampir body yet. What if you knocked yourself out and drowned?" He demanded.

"Then you would have jumped in and saved me." I stated. "Or floated me out."

"You have an answer for everything don't you." He said with a grin.

"Yes. I pride myself on my ability to talk myself out of any given situation." I stated as I reached up to kiss his lips. "Now can I see your letters?"

"Ok. But I get to have the last word later." He said with grin and nudged me.

I laughed and nudged him back.

Mal sighed wistfully, and then opened the suitcase to reveal a mass of papers. I went to reach in, but paused and looked at Mal, awaiting his permission. He nodded his head to indicate for me to continue. I reached in and pulled out the thing at the very top.

"A menu?" I asked.

"Look closer." Mal said.

I did and saw that it was the take-away menu for our favourite Chinese restaurant.

"Oh." I said.

I looked further in the case and found that there were some cinema stubs from the movies we had viewed together. There was a flyer advertising the Halloween dance and the water stained note between Sir Mal and the Duchess Eliza.

"Those last few additions probably make me look obsessive." Mal said, looking a little embarrassed.

"No. It proves that you have liked me for longer than I realised." I stated. "How blind was I?" I mused as I placed them to the side and dipped into the suitcase again.

The next layer were letters from his uncle Brendan. Although I was certain Mal would have no objection for me to read them, I thought some things should at least remain private for him, and correspondence with his only known blood relative should be just that. I explained this to Mal when I felt his questioning look when I put the envelopes aside.

"There's nothing in there I don't want you to know." Mal stated.

"I know. But it would still be wrong of me to pry."

"Ok." Mal said.

"I take it the next layer are those things pertaining to your parents." I said, wishing to brace myself if that was the case.

"Well there's a few things from your parents first." Mal said, taking out a handful of cards. "They're from the second time I was in Volterra. I kind of…ripped up all the other cards after Essie 'spurned' me."

"You were seven at the time. Tantrums are allowed." I said kindly whilst trying to think of Essie as being some girl in his past that I didn't know, and not my mother.

"Probably should avoid mentioning that now shouldn't I." Mal said apologetically.

"I wonder if this is how Granny Ness feels when she thinks of the fact that Grandpa Jake had feelings for Great-Grandma Bella before she was born?" I observed. "I suppose it is by focusing on that point. It was before I was born, had we been the same age then it would have been me you'd approach on your seventh birthday."

Mal smiled and reached out to push back a strand of my hair.

"Definitely." He replied. "And I don't think I ever really fancied Essie. It was misplaced affection. I was too young to know that you can love someone and it doesn't mean you want them. I didn't realise that you can be fond of someone and just be fond of them. I thought it meant you wanted them if they weren't your family."

"To summarise, you mistook love for being in love." I stated.

"Yeah." Mal agreed.

"I am glad that you realise that now." I said with a nod of my head.

"Yeah." Mal repeated sounding somewhat uncertain.

"Because it would never do for you to be in love with your future mother-in-law." I said primly and I watched Mal carefully for his reaction.

The corner of his mouth curved up and then he smiled fully.

"My future Mother-in-law?" He asked.

"Yes."

"So you are planning on marrying me one day?" He crooned, leaning closer to me.

"No. I thought you'd make an ideal husband for Billie." I replied sarcastically.

"I'm so over red heads." Mal said, playing on my sarcasm. "It's brunettes I like now."

"So it is only my hair colour that attracts you?" I asked leaning my face closer to his until my lips were lingering a few inches away from his.

"Of course it is." He replied, still joking.

"Well that's too bad." I said, pulling away from him. "I do not find shallow men attractive in the least."

"Oh well then." Mal said with a shrug and made as if to stand up.

"Very well, I will concede that someone who admires my beauty could possibly turn my head." I said, placing my hand to his arm. "Especially if he happens to have golden brown hair and sparkling eyes of emerald."

Mal chuckled and placed his hands to my cheeks and placed his lips to mine, holding them for a long moment before I moved my head slightly and it turned into a true kiss. It was delightful, and we smiled at each other when we pulled apart.

"Right, now we've reached the bottom I got to do this properly." He said, reaching into the suitcase.

"Do what?" I asked.

Mal held up his hand a moment while he pulled out a silver picture frame, holding the picture to his chest before he turned to me. He was sat cross-legged opposite me as he gave me a look of solemnity.

"Liza, I would like to introduce you to my parents." He said gently and turned the picture around and handed it over to me.

I took the picture and at first glance I thought it was Mal posing with a woman with very straight, pale hair. As I looked closer I could see that although the man had the same light brown hair as Mal, his face was more on the square side and the set of the eyes were different. As I changed focus to the woman I could see the shape of Mal's face in hers. It was clear that Mal was a component of both his parents, and as I looked at their faces captured in time I felt a wave of sadness that I could never know them to know who he most resembled in personality.

"Your mother is beautiful and your father has kind eyes." I stated, continuing to inspect the picture to see if I could draw more from it. "And they were clearly in love."

"Yeah." Mal said with a sad smile as he moved to sit next to me and we looked at the picture together.

"This was taken when your mother was human." I observed for it was obvious from the blush in his mother's cheek and her cornflower eyes.

"Uncle Brendan gave me this one. I like it cause you can see how startlingly blue Mam's eyes were. And they're so carefree in this picture. I only got glimpses of this because they were always worrying about the Volturi. I mean, they tried to be cheerful, but there was always that worry just below the surface. That need to stay below the radar." Mal sighed and turned the picture over. "I guess we weren't as careful as they thought we were."

"Aro has eyes everywhere." I whispered and put my arms about Mal in a comforting embrace. "You could live in a cave at the bottom of the Atlantic and he'd still know all your business."

Mal was very sad now.

"I'm sorry." I whispered. "How can I help?"

"By being with me always and giving me a new family." He said and kissed my head as he placed his arms about me.

At the moment this wasn't a lover's embrace, he was like a child clutching at his teddy. I felt so saddened that I could not help him in a more practical way. What would I not give to be able to go back in time and save his parents? To avoid any form of paradox I would go to the point where his parents are about to be killed, then I would pull them out, possibly substituting them with true criminals, and then take them back to the point where I left, and Mal would have his parents once more.

But such wishes are foolish; there is no means with which one can time travel. The best I could do was to love him and hope to heal his heart and banish his loneliness. We would be family, and one day we would expand it. I was so certain of Mal in that moment that I could see into our futures and we were walking hand in hand with two curly haired tots chasing sheep across green hills. I wished I had Mother's telepathy to share this vision with Mal. Perhaps next time I found myself sharing a dream with him I would show him.

"I'm good now bach." He said, and tapped my back before pulling back, although his arms were still about me. "You're a lot better to cwtch than Loki."

I smiled and then frowned.

"Where is Loki?" I asked, feeling somewhat aghast that I hadn't given any thought to him all Christmas.

"He spent Christmas in the slammer. I just hope they didn't think there might be something hidden in him." Mal said sadly.

"If that is the case then I have some good news my love. I am the best teddy bear doctor in the world." I stated in all seriousness.

"You're so smart." Mal observed and kissed below my ear and it felt amazing.

There was a knock at the door. I shot up as Mal gathered all his papers and put them quickly into the suitcase. I went to the door and held it closed just in case as Mal ensured all his papers were in the suitcase safe and he had placed it beneath the bed before I opened the door.

"Hello Mr Dunbar, how may I help you?" I asked when I saw him standing there.

"Can I come in a moment?" He asked.

I allowed him to enter the room and closed the door.

"Due to the problems last term the University Board has decided to step up security. We've fitted locks to the outer doors of all the buildings and only the people who live there can have an access key. I forgot to issue yours to you earlier." He said as he pulled two key cards from a pack of, it was hard to be sure how many, possibly a hundred.

"But how does this protect us exactly?" I asked. "This is to do with the whole Malcolm Donaldson, Gob Johnson incident am I right? But Gobbo resided in this building, albeit on the first floor, he would have had access regardless."

"That's why every card is registered." He said as he swiped a card through some form of electronic reader attached to the side of his tablet. "Elizabeth 'Liza' Summers. Student number 5090109078." He mumbled as he typed it on the screen. "This is your card." He stated as he wrote my name onto the plain white plastic with permanent marker. "Don't lose it or you'll have to pay five dollars for a replacement."

"Yes Mr Dunbar." I said, taking the card from him.

"And now yours Mr Rogers." He said, and swiped another card and registered it with Mal's details before handing the card to Mal. "These cards are registered to each student. You need to swipe it to go in and out of the building. That way we know if anyone has gone in or out and at what time. It will make you all feel safer."

"How?" I demanded. "Gobbo was living in this building. Had he wanted to kill Malcolm he could have done so in a heartbeat. What good would these cards have done us then?"

"Look. I'm just an admin elf, I don't make the rules. After what happened last term the college has to been seen to do something to step up security. What more can we do other than to make you live in a police state?" He asked testily.

"I am sorry Mr Dunbar. This is a good idea." I stated diplomatically for fear that the official's head would explode.

"Right." He said, still rather hostile. "Well you're sorted out. Your cousin has a key. Every time you go in or out it'll be registered. Now I got to go sort out a ton of stuff before everyone else gets back."

"Yes Mr Dunbar." I replied. "But before you go there is something I must ask you. Are the showers working? We have travelled down without the means to freshen up and I would like to do so now."

"Let me check my schedule." Mr Dunbar said, consulting his computer tablet. "They're cleaning in the ladies' bathroom for the next half hour, but if you need a shower sooner the men's is free. You can use it for today means no other students have arrived yet."

"Thank you Mr Dunbar." I said with a nod of my head.

"You're welcome." He said with a salute. "Well I better get going." He added and with that he left.

Mal and I listened to his footsteps until they reached the end of the corridor. I turned back to Mal and smiled.

"I think I shall only unpack my shower paraphernalia and the clothes I need to meet with Mother." I stated. "I will leave the rest for tomorrow."

"Are you going to shower straight away?" He asked.

"Yes. I like the thrill of the forbidden in showering in the boys' bathroom, even if I have had permission." I said with a grin.

"I could do with a shower too." Mal said, pulling at his clothes a little. "I got a little sweaty last night."

I chuckled and kissed his cheek before I went and unopened the right bag and pulled out my toiletry bag along with two towels and the clean clothes I intended to wear. I placed them all neatly on my bed before I opened the closet door. I winced as I did so; I had forgotten how bad the mess was within. I closed my eyes, threw my bags inside and closed the door firmly. I was determined I would not look in there until the next morning when I could do some thorough organising.

I then picked up everything I needed for the shower from my bed and turned to Mal.

"Are you ready?" I asked.

Mal nodded and I saw that he had all his things wrapped up in a towel. Since Mal had one hand free he operated the doors as we made our way that long distance to the boys' bathroom in Mal's corridor. That treck felt like a good few miles carrying the things I would need for the shower. There were very few people around today working, I wondered how embarrassing this would be if the common room was full. It was an unbearable thought. I revisited my thoughts that they could make all the bathrooms unisex; it would not be too difficult given the fact that all the showers had their own cubicles, and as for urinals, it would be easy to partition them off with a new wall. Tony could do it in an afternoon.

As we were stepping into the bathroom Alec emerged from his room.

"What are you doing?" He asked.

"We are going to shower." I stated. "To freshen up after our long trip down."

"That is a good idea. I should shower too." He stated, and went back into his room.

I rolled my eyes and stepped into the bathroom with Mal. There was only the slight thrill of guilt this time at doing something wrong. Having had Mr Dunbar's permission to enter nullified the feel of the forbidden. I pushed those thoughts aside for now I could shower and feel refreshed; it was truly something to look forward to.

As I walked toward the furthest shower cubical from the door, the one that was set against the outside wall, I did consider inviting Mal to join me in the shower. I ran through the scenario in my head and it was beautiful, but also something I should leave until we had a more private setting.

"I'll go in this one." Mal said, taking the cubicle next to mine.

"Thank you." I replied, glad beyond relief for it stopped Alec being able to use that shower and be next to me. The thought of that was perturbing; it made me feel vulnerable in some inexplicable way. Possibly because a vampire could tear through anything, but with Mal as a barrier Alec should behave.

I ensured the lock was fully in place on the cubicle door before I started undressing and placed my clean clothes on the bench and my towels beside them. I then began to undress, putting my discarded clothes on the bench also, for as dirty as they were it was clear the cleanliness of the boys' bathroom was not as godly as that of the girls'. As I turned on the water I heard the main door of the bathroom open.

"Liza? Mal?" Alec called.

"We're in the end two." Mal called.

"I wished to make sure you were here." Alec replied, his voice getting closer. "There are too many humans here, I need the company of vampires."

"It is best we do not hold this conversation whilst shouting over the top of the water." I stated. "Shower and we will talk later."

"Yes Liza." Alec replied and then I heard the door of the third cubicle along open and shut.

I stepped under the water and washed thoroughly. I was somewhat averse to washing Mal's scent from me, but we had slept outside and I needed to become clean once more. The water felt good and so very warm, it relaxed and revitalised me all at once. I felt so much better as I came out from beneath the shower and wiped and dressed.

I wrapped my dirty clothes inside the big towel while I kept the other towel as a turban about my hair. I would brush and dry it in my room as always.

I stepped out of the cubicle to find Mal and Alec waiting for me.

"I must dry and style my hair now." I stated.

"Me too." Mal joked as his hair dripped onto his collar and he dabbed the tips of his hair with a towel.

"Shall we?" I asked, taking Mal's hand and we made to exit.

"Liza, please may I come to your room?" Alec asked. "I do not like being alone with all these strangers."

I considered for a moment, but there was no time for Mal and I to do anything in the time I had to style my hair before organising a time to meet with Mother.

"Very well." I said with a sigh and Mal sighed too as we began walking once more.

I wished I'd refused Alec once we got back to the room. He took up a seat upon Dove's desk chair as I sat in mine in order to blow dry my hair and style it. It was unnerving how he watched me and I kept fighting the urge to reprimand him. However there was no good reason I could think of other than he made me feel uncomfortable. Was that reason good enough? It was hard to be certain.

"Alec, you want a game of snap?" Mal asked as he started shuffling through a pack of cards.

"Excuse me?" Alec asked, turning to Mal and I hid my sigh of relief.

"Or fish or poker or whatever. I'm tired of solitaire and I remember you were always playing Felix and Demetri in Volterra and beating them. I want to know if my skills have improved since then." Mal said indifferently.

"Did I ever teach you cards?" Alec asked.

"No. You ignored me unless Aro instructed you to baby sit." Mal replied. "It was Essie and Tobias who taught me. Oh yeah, and Auntie Jane."

"Did Jane teach you all her little tricks?" Alec asked, sounding intrigued by the idea.

"As far as I know." Mal replied.

"Then we shall see." Alec observed as he went to sit cross-legged on the bottom of Dove's bed and faced Mal who put his little suitcase between them to use as a stable base.

Without Alec's scrutiny I relaxed into styling my hair while I made a promise to make it up fully to Mal later. I liked the fact that he knew without my having to tell him that Alec was making me feel uncomfortable. It seemed to be a good indication to me of how compatible we are.

Finally my hair was finished and I phoned Mother to arrange to meet up.

"If you park at the multi story I will come meet you and we can go to the coffee shop near the college buildings." I stated.

"Ok Lamb. Whereabouts the parking lot do you want to meet me?" She asked.

"I'll be at the street entrance." I replied.

"Ok. I'll see you in half hour?" Mother stated.

"Yes. Half an hour should be sufficient." I agreed.

"Great." Mother said and I could hear the smile in her voice.

"Yes." I agreed.

"Bye Lamb."

"Goodbye Mother."

I hung up and turned to find that Mal had put the cards away and the suitcase was placed back under Dove's bed.

"I think that we should probably not stay in your room when you're out. I know you said I could stay here tonight, but…" He began.

"Yes. It would seem rather bad form." I agreed. "Where will you go?"

"I thought I'd give Alec a tour of the campus so he'll know where to go next week."

"That sounds great." I said with a smile. "What say you Alec?"

"It will do me well to know my way about." He said. "Do you by chance have a pair of gloves I could borrow?"

"I thought gloves would look out of place." I commented.

"Yes. But it will give me opportunity to use my hands if I have need to."

"I may have a pair of dress gloves." I stated. "I packed them for the ball. They are very long so you may wish to remove your hoody before you pull them on."

Alec nodded and I went into my closet and pulled out the suitcase I had brought with me. I found my dress gloves. They were white satin and came up to my elbows; they would suit Alec's purpose better than my woollen ones. I turned and gave them to him.

He pulled them on one at a time, making no comment to the fact that they were female garments. Alec's arms were longer then mine, they ended and inch below his elbows. He was so pale that one could almost imagine the gloves were his skin. When he pulled on his hoody it was only by looking carefully at his hands you would know he wore gloves. He placed his hands back in his pocket for good measure, but now should he have need to he could use his hands.

"We'll walk with you toward the car park then we'll head to campus." Mal stated.

"That sounds like a good plan." I agreed and took his hand.

We left the room and I remembered to lock the door behind me. I also ensured that my new key card was safely stowed in my wallet. I should hate to lose it and have to pay for a new one. I then placed my wallet into my purse and ensured that it was secure about me.

I smiled at Mal and took his hand before we made our way down the stairs with Alec following behind. The people working on the elevator had reached the first floor, but other than that we saw no one, although the outside door was still propped open. I could see this becoming something permanent after a while and people grew tired of forever reaching for their cards. I said as much to Mal once we were clear of the doors.

"Probably." Mal agreed. "But I guess the Board won't really care as long as they've made their gesture, they can't help it if people don't comply."

"I guess that is true. I suppose as long as it's in the day it won't be so bad. Although they would have to employ some form of patrol, to ensure the doors are closed at night." I reasoned.

"I hope not." Alec said from behind.

"Why not?" I asked. "It makes us safer."

"Yes. It also means they can monitor our every coming and going. If I should wish to go out at night to run I will not be able to without the university making a record of it. From what that man was saying every time I swipe this bit of plastic their computer will know if I go in or out and what time I do this. The duration between each use. It is intolerable. It is worse than being under the brothers' scrutiny."

"We will find a means around it during night time hours." I stated.

"And what of a patrol?" Alec demanded.

"Are you really telling me you'd have trouble getting around a few slow humans?" Mal asked.

"I would find a way around them, but would prefer not to." Alec said sadly.

"We'll work something out." Mal conceded as we slowed. "Do you want us to wait with you?" He asked.

"No. Mother will not be long." I assured him.

"Then I'll see you in a bit." Mal said and we kissed for a moment as Alec looked on with something of a glare.

I ignored his animosity and merely wished him a good tour with Mal. Then the boys left together and I knew that how I treated Alec for the rest of this school year would depend on his behaviour with Mal this afternoon. If he misbehaved I'd treat him with nothing but contempt.

Alec still being a pain? Mother thought, and I turned to her and smiled.

"Mother." I said, hugging her. "It is good to see you."

"Hey Lamb." Mother said, hugging me back, leaning down to my height. "I only saw you this morning."

"I know, but the boys were here then and we hardly had time to talk." I said, stepping away.

"That's true." Mother replied as she straightened up with a grin. "So where you taking me?"

"I was going to take you to the coffee shop, but I am somewhat hungrier than I anticipated." I replied. "I will take you to my favourite restaurant instead. Would you like pizza?"

"Pizza sounds good." Mother said, tapping my shoulder.

"It's this way Mother." I said with a smile and I led her to the restaurant.

Thankfully it was open, I had worried for a moment that it only catered to students and would be closed during the holidays. However my reasoning had been wrong for they had a quite some trade this lunchtime, and none of them students.

We sat down in a booth to give us some privacy for our chat.

"So what were you and Mal up to last night?" Mother asked, and she gave me a level look that demanded the truth.

"We were preparing to talk to the detective of course." I said primly.

"You really gonna get technical Lamb?" Mother asked, raising her eyebrow.

"Very well." I said with a sigh as I ran my napkin through my fingers nervously. "We merely slept last night. The reason we were up in the trees was due to the fact that our building was locked and we had no means to enter it."

"Not even with you and Mal combining your talents?" She questioned.

"He had already walked through walls twice, not to mention the shield he employed whilst at the meeting. He was exhausted, so was I, and we merely slept." I stated.

"But something happened when you woke up?" She asked, although it was clear Mother already had a fairly good idea.

"You really wish me to say?" I asked, feeling my cheeks burn.

"You can tell me anything, you know that." Mother said softly, tapping my hand.

"Yes." I replied and took a calming breath before my confession. "This morning Mal and I were caught up in the scent of each other. Mother, it was so intense." I sighed wistfully as I remembered the feel of his warm skin beneath my lips. "Had Alec not appeared when he did…" I trailed off, giving Mother an apologetic look, as I was unable to finish that sentence.

"Oh." She said, managing to cover her look of worry as she worked out what had almost occurred. "So you're getting that close huh?"

"I am very close to him Mother. I am so in love with him I can hardly express it to myself let alone anybody else." I stated. "Yet at the same time I wish to shout it from the rooftops, that I am in love with Malachite Llewellyn."

Mother was smiling at me, and I realised I had said the latter somewhat louder than was called for. I dropped my head as I felt my cheeks burn once more, my hair thankfully falling to cover my face.

Nobody took any notice. Mother assured me, tapping my hand.

"Have you told Mal how you feel?" She asked aloud.

"I have told him I love him." I said quietly, talking down to the table now, lest I give another outburst of passion. "He said he loved me. He said it and meant it and it was not an, 'I love you too', but a definite I love you. I know he has only been in my life for a few months, but I cannot imagine living my life without him now. Is that foolish? Am I building myself up for heartache?" I asked, looking up at Mother in appeal.

"Mal really loves you Liza. I can tell you that truthfully. And I can't deny he's been good to you. I mean he was willing to give up the life he had here for you, even before there was any guarantees that you wanted anything more than friendship with him. If that's not love I don't know what is." She said solemnly.

"Thanks for the reassurance Mother." I whispered and smiled at her. "I know these things of Mal, but you know how I worry myself needlessly."

"You shouldn't though Lamb. At least not with Mal."

We paused our conversation for a moment when the waitress came to take our order.

"So, did you and Mal really nearly have sex this morning?" Mother asked once the waitress had gone.

I looked at Mother in shock that she was returning to the subject I had so successfully navigated us away from.

"Come on. You can be open with me Lamb. Have I ever given you any reason you couldn't talk about these things with me?" She asked.

"No." I replied. "Well, apart from the other day."

"Ok. I got that completely wrong. But like I said, I was trying to force you into discussing it with Mal. But I guess labels don't really matter. You're both clearly together, even if you can't name what your relationship is." She stated.

"Why do I always make things overly complicated?" I asked sadly.

"Because everyone has to have a fault, and that's yours." Mother said in a serious voice. "But we love you for it." She added with her biggest grin.

I rolled my eyes as I smiled.

"So how hot and steamy did you kids get?" Mother asked, leaning across the table and grinning widely at me.

"Do you truly wish me to answer that?" I demanded.

"Well I don't want a play by play, but how did it start? I mean you were sleeping outside, I'd have thought the first thing on your mind would have been a hot shower." She observed.

"I did not sleep on the floor." I stated. "Mal allowed me to sleep in his lap while we cwtched each other."

"Cwtched?"

"Hugged. Snuggled up together." I translated.

"Oh. So you were facing him." Mother said, and she was seeing it in my mind now. "Both with your shirts open to ensure a proper transfer of body heat so neither of you froze to death on such a warm night." She chuckled. "You're reasoning is like mine sometimes."

"Would you have done the same?" I asked.

"Well the body heat thing wouldn't really be a good excuse with Tobias, but I would have thought of something. Although Tobias would have stopped me going beyond his comfortable point lest he ravish me when it was still against the rules." Mother said, slipping into a good imitation of Father at the end.

"I have no idea how you managed to hold off for a year with the desire so strong between you." I stated, and then we paused once more as the waitress put our drinks on the table.

"Well it was. There were many times I nearly gave in, but Tobias has had millennia learning to control his urges." Mother said with a shrug. "Although there were a few times when he nearly did give in to the chemistry sparking between us, but there was always one thing that held him back."

"What was that?" I asked, surprisingly unperturbed by this conversation.

"My safety." Mother replied. "What would happen if he got me pregnant? It was so uncertain back then. Plus he wanted to make sure that for my first time I was somewhere comfortable and secluded so we wouldn't be interrupted. Outside was out of the question even after we started making love, until it looked like we might die the next day."

"I almost lost my virginity out of doors and there was no protection." I admitted gravely. "I wished to go ahead and I did everything in my power to try and ensure this. Mal was so responsive to my suggestions, as if I had mesmerised him and he would have stayed in that state had Alec not turned up."

"Man! No wonder you were pissed with him this morning." Mother observed with a snort.

"Well that made me annoyed with him, but I wasn't particularly angry until he decided to volunteer himself as a punch bag to relieve the tension I had built up with Mal. He made me a violent person, and I am not that person." I said firmly.

"He's an idiot." Mother stated sagely. "You need me to put any alpha orders on him? Shall I make him never bug you into hitting him again?"

"As tempting as that is, I think enough spells have been weaved on his mind. I want proof that he has changed of his own accord, or how can we possibly judge him capable of functioning in the real world if we keep conditioning him with mind control?" I asked.

"I guess you have a point there. But I don't like the thought of you having to keep control of him on your own." Mother stated.

"I have Mal to help me, and I won't hesitate to contact you in future. Not to mention Catalina is but a phone call away. I am certain she is looking for any excuse to put Alec in his place." I replied in an attempt to put Mother's mind at ease.

"Yeah. She is. All that trouble could have been a lot worse. It was just a good job that we had such a low life at our disposal. Can you imagine what Catalina would be demanding now if we hadn't been able to clean up so good?"

"I dread to think." I said darkly.

Our pizza arrived, Mother and I sharing a whole pizza with salad on the side.

"Mal and I often come here." I stated, after taking a mouthful of pizza. "He always teases me for using a knife and fork. But it is only teasing and he's not serious. Besides, he has seen me eat with my hands now. But in public it must be done in the least messy way possible."

"People can think what the hell they like." Mother said, taking a bite of pizza, a long string of mozzarella forming between the separated pieces that she disconnected with her fingers and put it in her mouth. "This is the only way to enjoy pizza."

I laughed as I ate some more of my pizza.

"That is what Mal says. He shares a lot of your mantras when it comes to the consumption of food." I stated.

"Do you find that weird?" Mother asked in concern.

"I find it rather endearing." I replied with a smile. "He clearly admired you as a child. I'm glad you influenced him in such ways, for how could I detest these indicators that you saved him from the Volturi and therefore saved him for me."

"Ok. I guess. But what about…" Mother began uneasily.

"When he kissed you?" I asked without concern. "We have discussed that. He long ago realised that he was confused by his feelings of love for you, a woman who was not related to him. He thought it meant he was in love with you, he did not realise he could merely love you as a friend. Well more than a friend. He loves you as if he you are a close member of his family. Do you know the reason he has been in hiding all these years, wandering alone and not knowing the change in the institution?"

"But he didn't betray me." Mother said with a frown, taking the answer from my head.

"He believed that he did. That he betrayed you, and Father, by abandoning you in Volterra." I explained.

"He really thought that?" Mother asked, looking upset.

"Yes." I answered, wishing I had not broached the subject now.

"Oh god! Now I feel guilty for being Esther-Marie and driving him away all over again. Of course he'd want to leave after what I did to Trinity. I condemned her parents to death just for the crime of having her. Right in front of Mal. Of course he was horrified and he'd want to leave." Mother raged at herself.

"That is the thing that turned him away?" I asked.

Mother nodded.

"He never gave a reason why he left other than not being strong enough to see you in that state. He never spoke ill of you. He has a lot of honour in that way." I stated.

"Mal is very honourable. I just wish that I hadn't driven him into hiding." Mother said despondently.

"If he had not been in hiding he would not have been here at the right time to save me." I offered.

"Well I guess that's a positive we can take from it." Mother said, managing a smile that quickly faded. "But I still feel guilty. I'm gonna have to talk to him."

"Oh, please allow me to speak with him first. I should hate for him to think I'm discussing him at such depth behind his back." I said with worry.

"Relax Lamb. I'll say I wrangled it out of you." Mother said with a shrug. "But I need to put his mind to rest, or I'm gonna worry about it until I see him again in the spring."

"Very well." I said with a sigh. "Perhaps it will help him with his own demons."

"I think you're helping him exorcise most of those demons, but this is something I have to do for me as well as him. I mean, I've made it up to my family I hurt through being Esther-Marie so long ago but I forgot that there are still some people I haven't had chance to do that with. The biggest one being Mal."

"Then do this for you as well as for Mal." I said firmly. "Shall I ring him? He could meet us in the park."

"Yeah. Ok. But we'll finish our lunch first."

I nodded and continued eating.

"You will like the park." I observed. "There is a duck pond and a bridge. There are trees surrounding it and it's such a peaceful place. I like to sit there when I read."

"It sounds great. I'd like to see it."

I smiled, and then felt my face fall.

"What's wrong?" Mother asked softly.

"I haven't been to the park since they found Malcolm's body there." I stated.

"You'll be ok." Mother said, taking my hand. "I'll be there with you. Not that there's anything to fear."

"I hope so. I like the park. I should feel inclined to hurt Alec most grievously if he has taken that place from me with his careless attempt to frame me." I said sadly.

"Yeah." Mother said, and I was sure she was imagining hurting Alec herself.

I wished to change the subject for the duration of our meal.

"Where are you planning on taking Billie?" I asked.

"Well we have to take her to Disneyland, she wants to see Ariel and the crew from a Bug's Life. We're also going to Insect World where they have the biggest collection of bugs you can imagine. There's even a section where they allow you to handle them."

"Sounds…delightful." I said, trying not to let my horror show.

"Well Billie's nuts about bugs, so why not." Mother said with a shrug. "And even though I'm not worried about the bugs myself, I think I'll pin my hair up before I go there. I don't want to be smuggling any of the little critters home."

"No." I said with a slight shiver. "Although I'm sure Billie would be delighted."

"Yeah. I'm just dreading the time she asks for a pet tarantula." Mother said with a mock shiver.

"Perhaps you should get her something mammalian to tempt her away from the arachnids." I suggested.

"Yeah, but that opens up all kinds of possibilities. She might want a rat, and although I got nothing against rats, I'd always have a worry that I might fancy a midnight snack."

"Then perhaps something bigger. A dog perhaps. It would become a companion for Billie." I said with a smile.

"Yeah. Actually I was contemplating a dog. I was thinking of asking Alex if I can buy one of the pups the next time Scruff has a litter. Them little mixed terriers are always cute and so full of energy. Exactly the type of dog Billie should own." Mother stated.

"I think she would enjoy that." I agreed.

"Yeah." Mother said, setting her plate aside. "So are we having dessert?"

"I was thinking of an ice-cream cone on our stroll about the park. Mal is most partial to ice-cream." I stated.

"Still?" Mother asked in astonishment.

"Yes. Especially chocolate."

"God. I remember back in the day I had to buy him a chocolate ice-cream every time we went to the market." Mother said with a laugh as she motioned to the waitress for the bill.

"Did it become a means to bribe him?" I asked.

"Only in the hottest days of summer, but mostly he wanted to get away from the castle himself." Mother stated.

"That proves he is sane." I said with a tiny chuckle as the waitress appeared at our table with the bill in hand and Mother settled it with cash and a generous tip.

We left the restaurant and stepped out into the afternoon sun.

"I will ring Mal and then we can walk to the park." I suggested.

"Sounds good." Mother said.

I nodded and rang Mal. He agreed to meet us and stated it would take him ten minuets to reach the park for he and Alec were on the far side of the university buildings. That was fine for it meant Mother and I could stroll along the street to the park and take our time when purchasing the ice-creams, four altogether, for it would look strange if we did not have one for Alec. Although I was at a loss as to what he would do with it.

"Alec's still gonna be hanging around ain't he?" Mother asked as we paused in the middle of the bridge, watching a group of ducks make a crossing of the pond.

"I can distract him if you like." I stated as I licked at my ice cream, and then Mal's for it was beginning to drip. "I have an idea of how he can legitimately wear gloves in such a warm climate."

"How?" Mother asked, licking her ice cream.

"If he were to state that he had severe dermatitis on his hands and had to keep them covered up when out of doors, that would be a good reason. And to carry on the pretence I thought some bandages would help for when he is needed to take his gloves off in class."

"That could work." Mother conceded as she took a lazy lick of her ice cream while the one for Alec dripped into the water. "Make sure you get some ointment too. The right scent can be a big help, even if human senses aren't as good as ours."

"I will pick out an ointment too." I stated. "How long would you like with Mal?"

"I'm not sure. How about I text you when I'm done?"

"That seems the best course of action." I conceded.

"Hi." Mal said as he and Alec neared us.

Mother and I turned from the barrier of the bridge to look at them.

"Mal, Mother wishes to speak with you." I stated as I handed his ice cream to him. "You both need this."

"Ok." Mal said, giving me a questioning look.

"Alec we are going shopping." I stated.

"We are?" He asked from the depths of his hood.

"Yes." I said firmly.

"What for?" He inquired.

"You shall see when we get there." I stated, slipping my arm through his and pulling him away from Mother and Mal so he could not linger.

"Oh Alec, here is your ice cream." Mother said holding it out.

"Oh I'm sorry Aunt Essie, did Mother not tell you? I am lactose intolerant. Violently so. If I were take but a lick of that I shall be ill all night." Alec replied.

"Oh, right. She didn't tell me. I mean you think she would when I asked her if there was anything important I should know. Well your mother's always been a bit of a ditz." Mother said wondering what to do with the other cone.

"I really like ice-cream." Mal said, taking it from her and licking it.

"Well that is settled." I remarked. "Come Cousin Alec, we have purchases to make."

I finished my ice cream as we strolled back to town before I led Alec to the pharmacist.

"Are you ill?" He asked in concern.

"No." I replied.

"But this is an apothecary. It is where one goes when one is in need of medication." He stated as if I did not know this.

"Yes." I agreed. "But there are also bandages and ointments on sale."

"What need have you of these things? Do you suspect danger?" He asked, suddenly on alert.

"Alec, please be at peace. I have an idea for your concealment, but I will explain it in your room when we are away from the possible prying ears of mortals." I said, whispering the latter.

Then with a firm grip on his elbow I pulled him into the pharmacy. It was cool inside with air-conditioning and the mixed scents of medication and beauty products filled the air. I liked the scent for it seemed to speak of cleanliness in my mind. Now to find what I needed.

I went up to the counter where a young woman in a white tunic was sat flicking through her phone. I had to clear my throat for her to look up.

"The pharmacist is at lunch." She stated.

"I have no need of the pharmacist." I replied. "All I require are some hypoallergenic bandages. A supply of emollient cream and cotton gloves."

"No prescription?" She asked.

"No. My cousin is not yet registered with the doctors here in Riverside. Besides, he has his steroid creams and such, but he has left them at home. It is for this reason I purchase the things I have asked for now as a precautionary measure while his mother mails his true ointments to us." I stated, giving the girl a look of annoyance.

"I'll get what you want." The girl said grudgingly as she rose to her feet. It was apparent that she hoped we had a prescription so that she would have no need to cater to us.

I followed her to the bandages first, where I put seven of the boxes of two into my basket. The girl seemed to question the amount.

"He requires clean bandages every night to stop the sheets of the bed from chaffing his skin." I stated. "I have no idea when Auntie's package will arrive."

The girl nodded then found the cotton gloves.

"You need seven pairs of these too?" She asked.

"Yes please." I replied.

The emollient was behind the counter; the girl took down the biggest pot of the brand variety.

"The generic is sufficient." Alec said in a quiet voice that suggested he was painfully shy. It added something to the fact that I was doing much of the talking for him.

"Yes, the generic one if you please. It is as good as the brand, but we have more for our money." I stated.

The girl grumbled slightly, unhappy that we hadn't fallen into her sales trap. She had expected us to take what she gave, which was bad salesmanship indeed. She ran our purchases through the register and it came to quite a considerable amount. Alec handed over the money from his wallet. There was no need to tell him the importance of buying with cash instead of card; it was better to leave a sparse a trail as possible.

We left the pharmacy and Mother was yet to text me so I thought I would give Alec the full briefing of my idea to kill time.

"Now we take these to your room." I stated.

"Yes." Alec replied and we did so.

Alec opened his door and gestured for me to go in first. I hesitated a moment, but reminded myself that Malcolm was no longer a threat and this was no longer his room. I stepped in and Alec followed, closing the door. He placed the bag on his bed then pulled down his hood.

"I do not like the restricted field of vision." He stated.

"You will have to learn to deal with it in the day time." I stated. "As for your hands I have thought of a good plan. Remove your hoody and the gloves."

Alec obeyed immediately and he looked at me expectantly. I was certain he wished me to order him to strip further, but I decided to ignore him.

"Sit down." I stated as I drew out the pot of emollient cream and removed the locking tabs.

Alec sat down as I pushed on the leaver and a caught the emollient in my hand as it left the spout.

"Put out your arms." I ordered.

"Are you going to explain now?" Alec asked as he held his arms out in front of him.

"Yes." I replied as I began to apply the cream to her his impervious skin.

The cream stayed like a slick of oil on top of his stone skin as opposed to being absorbed as it would with human skin. As it was with the skin on the palm of my hands.

"You could state you have eczema or dermatitis. That way you can cover your arms in bandages and wear the gloves when outside." I expanded as I began to cream his other arm.

Alec made a sound of contentment and I gave him a sharp look.

"I am sorry, but this is most enjoyable. Your hands make the cream warm and I feel it permeating my being." He stated.

"This is not meant to be enjoyable. It is an arduous task you must perform every morning and night to ensure the skin of your arms does not dry out." I said coldly as I reached for one of the twin packs of bandages.

"Would it only effect one area of my skin if it is so severe?" Alec asked.

"It can." I said. "Your arms are most sensitive and that's why you bandage them. Sometimes your face can be susceptible, but as long as you cover it as best you can when outside you can avoid an outbreak."

"And thus enabling me to wear my hood. But I could merely wear the gloves and not have to worry about these bandages." Alec stated as he watched me neatly wrap up his left arm.

"Yes, but you will need to remove the gloves to write in class. Then everyone will see that you have no signs of eczema or any other form of dermatitis. With the bandages it will leave it to their imagination."

"And you will help me do this every morning?" He asked.

"No." I said firmly. "I am merely demonstrating today. I know you will be more than able to do it yourself."

"Yes, but it will not be as much fun." Alec said in an almost flirtatious purr.

"Fun?" I demanded. "Alec, need I remind you that you are on probation. You are not here to have fun. It is merely a necessity as I am now forever subject to your presence for saving you from execution." I said darkly as I bandaged his right arm.

"Will you always hold that over me?" Alec asked sadly.

"It is too early for me to let go of such a thing." I stated. "Perhaps one day I may see you as a friend once more, but for the time being this is merely a task I have been ordered to carry out."

Alec sighed and dropped his hands to his lap.

"Do you wish to come with me to meet with Mal and Mother, or would you prefer to stay here?" I asked, hoping he would opt for the latter.

"I will stay here." He said despondently.

"If you do decide to go out make sure you text me and remember to don the hoody and gloves." I ordered.

"Yes Liza."

I nodded my head and left his room, glad that he had opted to stay behind. As much as I wanted a peaceful time here, and part of that depended on keeping Alec happy, it would be wrong to give him any ideas. How could I trust him enough to be my friend after he tried to frame me for murder?

I needed to walk to clear my head and decided a circuit of the pond would do just that. As I reached the park however my phone bleeped and it was a message from Mother requesting that I meet her and Mal on the bridge. I therefore climbed onto the bridge rather than walk around the little path.

Mother and Mal were there within a matter of minutes and Mal greeted me with a smile and took my hand. He seemed lighter than before, as if a weight had been lifted from him. Mother seemed more at peace than she had been after my revelation and I was happy they had been able to speak.

"This afternoon has been enlightening Lamb." Mother said as she hugged me. "And I'm gonna miss you over the next couple of months."

"And I will miss you too Mother." I stated. "But I will contact you every day. I promise."

"I know." Mother said happily.

"We will walk you to the parking lot."

"Thanks." Mother replied as she straightened. "Where's Alec?"

"In his room. He was thinking me his friend again, but I thought it best not to engage him in banter lest he get the wrong idea." I explained as we began to walk toward town and the parking lot.

"Ok. But you might want to watch the animosity. He's only behaving for your sake at the moment. It'll be a while before he does it because it's the right thing." Mother warned.

"But it may be detrimental if I allow him to think he has a chance with me in the future when he has not." I stated. "Whenever I show the merest hint of friendship toward him he sees it as an opportunity to make a pass at me."

"He'll give up if you turn him down enough times." Mother stated. "You just got to make him want to be your friend more than want to get even."

"Perhaps I should have taken you up on that offer to alpha him." I said despondently.

"You were right Lamb, he has to make this decision on his own."

"I'll kill him if he tries anything." Mal stated. "Even if it means we have to go into hiding from the Volturi."

"Hopefully it won't come to that." Mother said firmly as we stopped at the entrance to the parking lot. "Well I guess this is goodbye." She said. "But any messing from Alec let me know and I'll be down here like that."

"Thank you Mother." I said, leaving go of Mal's hand to hug her once more.

Mother hugged me a tapped my back before letting me go. She then pulled Mal into a hug.

"And you take care of yourself and don't you ever go into hiding from me again. You hear?" She said, hugging him firmly.

"I promise that I'll always stay in contact with you." Mal said. "Because I'll always be with Liza."

Mother laughed as she drew away.

"It just seems so weird to think of you two together." She said, but as she said it she took Mal's hand and my hand and brought them together. "But the more I think about it the more it seems right."

I smiled at Mother, accepting her words and actions as the blessings they were. Mother beamed back at us.

"Make sure you take care of each other." She stated. "And I'll see you both in the spring."

"Goodbye Mother. Give my love to Father and Billie. And Grace and Tony when you return to Tregarran." I stated.

"I will." Mother said with a smile.

"Bye Ess." Mal said.

Mother nodded her head with a smile, and then hugged us both together before turning and entering the parking lot. She tried to hide it from us both, but I knew she was attempting to hold back her tears until she was out of our sight and earshot.

"Essie still tries to act like a tough nut then." Mal observed.

"Yes." I agreed, and then looked down at our entwined hands before looking up into Mal's face. "What shall we do now my love?" I asked with a smile.

"How about we go back to your room and make the most of having a place all to ourselves?" He asked, pulling my hand up to his lips and kissing it, as he looked deep into my eyes.

I felt my stomach roll with thrill and fear, but mostly with the thrill.

"Let us." I breathed.

Mal gave me a grin, and then whisked me around so that we walked hand-in-hand back to our dormitory building. I felt light as air wondering what lay ahead for us.

"I think we need to discuss something." Mal said, stopping suddenly and pulling me into an alley.

"What?" I asked.

"This morning, you really were ready to make love. I was too. I think that if this is going to happen more often we need to take precautions. We need to think about these things if we want to be in a grown up relationship. We cant run the risk of this morning happening again. Not until we're older and want kids." He said firmly.

"You're right of course." I stated. "Although I have been thinking about the setting. It would not have been right. I wish to be somewhere comfortable, where there is but you and I for miles around and no chance of interruption. In short your cabin would be perfect."

"Yeah. I know that, but that's seven days away. And there's so much sexual tension between us that if we do happen to find ourselves in this mornings situation again, I just want us to go with the spontaneity. I want us to be prepared for everything."

"That is the grown up thing to do." I said, looking up into his eyes. "What do you suggest we do?"

"Since it's just you and me at the moment and Alec isn't here to get a bee in his bonnet and start operation sabotage because he knows how serious we're becoming, I think we should pop to the chemist on our way past. You don't have to come in with me, just wait outside, or walk on and I'll catch up with you. But I thought I should let you know that I intend to be prepared from now on."

I looked up into Mal's earnest eyes and I felt safe in his presence. I was safe from everything, including embarrassment. After all, we would be doing this for us; it wasn't something just for Mal. It was something grown up and responsible, so there was no reason to feel embarrassed.

"If I am unready to purchase contraceptives then I am unready for sex." I stated, strengthening my grip upon his hand. "We will go to the pharmacy together."

"Thank you." Mal said, placing his free hand to my cheek and kissed my lips.

"Although we will have no use for them today." I reminded him.

"I know. But I don't want to be caught unawares again. This morning was overkill on my libido and next time that happens I want to be able to just go with it without feeling guilty."

I nodded, and then smiled expectantly.

"Shall we?" I asked.

"We shall." Mal replied and we left the seclusion of the alley.

It was not as embarrassing as I thought it would be. It was after all a sensible thing to be doing, and catering to a college campus this particular pharmacist was used to such trade. Mal and I also purchased cold finger food from the mini-mart to eat later to avoid having to leave my room again other than to use the bathroom. It limited the risk of Alec 'accidentally' bumping into us and would have to think of a reason to call at my room.

I decided that I wished to take full advantage of this opportunity to be completely alone with my Malachite. Even if it was only to make out.

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