Alrighty, Chapter 3 is up!

I hope you enjoy it!

Surprisingly enough, time flew by while I lived outside the Evans Manor. Hunting only took up a small portion of my time, and the rest of my time was devoted to Kat. As the months passed, I grew more attached to her, and I began to realize that I wouldn't be able to leave her. Ever. The thought haunted me, but I tried to convince myself that I would be able to leave her when the time was right. The feeble lie made me a little happier on the subject, but I was only half convinced. Plus, if Drew would be there, too, I would have a simple excuse to remain. Little Kat would need protected from that wretched fiend, and I was more than willing to be her protector.

The years began to pass, and I made my first mistake three short years later. That day was a mistake, but it was the best day of my life.

It was a sunny, beautiful March 4, and the year was 1995. Kat had turned three that day, and I was in the bushes, watching the small party through the window. My eyes were riveted to Kat, watching her laugh and smile with awe. Lily had pulled together several different friends of hers, and of Kat's, and everyone was waiting for Kat to open her presents.

With a soft giggle, Kat tore open her first present, squealing with delight as a plush animal tumbled out. She caught it up in a hug, cooing in baby talk, then grinned impishly up at the small crowd. But… she didn't speak. Unsuccessfully, Lily told Kat to say thank you, but little Kat shook her head and hid her face in the stuffed animal. I heard Lily sigh, then scoop up her baby sister and smile at everyone else. With that simple little display, the party was over.

I sighed in disappointment, wishing Kat would speak to someone besides her family. The precious little angel refused to speak to anyone else, and it was troubling to Lily. It was also troubling to me.

Focusing back on the kitchen, I watched Lily gather all of Kat's presents and walk towards the stairs. A smile played on my lips as Kat ran to her older brother, Max, and tug on his pants leg. She was so impatient, so adorable. I laughed softly to myself, shaking my head in wonder. Would I never get tired of learning about this little child?

"Up, Maxy, up!" Kat chirped, giggling as Max scooped her up and tossed her up in the air. After he had a hold of her, she snuggled against his chest, sticking her thumb in her mouth. "Tank chu." She mumbled, closing her eyes with a loud sigh.

"No problem, Kitty Kitty." Max said softly, picking up the small stuffed animal and nestling it in his baby sister's arms. He wordlessly picked up her lime green blanket, then grabbed her sippy cup off the counter. "Let's go take a nap, baby." He whispered, kissing the top of her head with brotherly affection.

Kat smiled sleepily, nodding. "Okays, Maxy…" She mumbled, shivering a little bit as he draped the blanket over her small body.

I watched with a soft smile, and then my brow furrowed. Katherine was still much, much to small. Lily had weighed her the other day, and she only weighed nineteen pounds. My daughter, Elizabeth, had weighed more than that by the time she was one. I rose from the bushes with a soft sigh, then walked into the woods, finally pausing as I reached a small creek still in view of the house. I sat down below a tree, closing my eyes with a soft yawn. After a moment, I reopened my eyes, focusing on the second story window of the house that faced the woods.

Kat had insisted on having this bedroom so she could "See pwetty tees!" as she put it one day. Lily had agreed instantly, moving everything of Kat's into the spacious bedroom with a simple flick of her wand. Now, I had a clear view into the room, and I chuckled every time I saw it.

They had decorated Kat's room lavishly. She had a little trundle bed that was only a foot off the ground, and her bed was different shades of green. The sheets were a pale green, the pillows were grass green, and the comforter was lime green, like Kat's eyes were. There were plush rugs everywhere, and the walls were decorated with letters of the alphabet, animals, and wizard fairy tales. It was the perfect bedroom for such an imaginative little child. I would watch Kat play for her dolls and animals in there for hours, or just watch her sleep. She was happy. At least she was for most of the time. When Lily wasn't there, however, Petunia would beat her constantly. It took all my will not to go in there and kill her, I will admit. I hated Petunia with a passion. She caused Kat many tears, and though Lily healed Kat every day, it would never erase the mental scars. It was excruciating to watch, but I made myself watch anyway. Kat would sob relentlessly in her room, hiding under her bed. And yet, I couldn't bring myself to let her see me.

I sighed softly, then closed my eyes again, leaning back against the tree. This family had issues with loving each other. Would they never learn to send Kat somewhere else for once? I mean, honestly. It wasn't that hard to figure out!

"Who awe you?" An angelic voice chimed suddenly, causing my eyes to open and a gasp to escape from my lips.

It was little Kat.

I gulped as the scent of her blood washed over me, sweeter than life itself. Dear God, but that was a breathtaking aroma. I inhaled, then realized I had stood up in surprise. "What was that, little one?" I asked quietly, kneeling down hesitantly.

"Who awe you?" She asked patiently, her blanket held tightly in one arm as she tilted her head to the side, watching me with curious green eyes. Her white blonde hair fell in a waterfall to her shoulders, a sight that was highly adorable.

I chuckled softly, smiling a gentle smile at the little angel before me. "My name is Christian, little one. What's your name?" I already new her name, but I didn't want to frighten her to badly. Kat was a fearless little child, but I still didn't want to take my chances and have her run screaming to Lily, or worse: Petunia.

"I ish Kitty Kat." Kat said proudly, then walked forward. "Chwistian." She said , giggling softly for a moment. "That hawd to say." She said after a moment, her face slipping into a pout. She shivered a little bit, slipping her thumb into her mouth as the pouting expression disappeared.

"Just call me Chrissy then, Kitty Kat." I said gently, then hesitated for a moment. "Come here." I ordered her gently, holding out my arms. "I'll keep you nice and warm." I added, offering her a small smile. A small part of me hoped she would run back to the house and forget she ever saw me. But the other, larger part of me was yearning for her to stay. I was tired of hiding myself from this little family. I wanted to be known. Plus, I would always do what was best for Kat. I would protect her with my life.

Kat's face lit up with a bright smile and she ran straight in to my arms. "Thank chu, Chwissy." She cooed, snuggling against my chest. "I like you." She added suddenly, beaming up at me. "You is nice." With that, Kat stuck her thumb back in her mouth, sucking on it as she stared up at me. "I still cold…" She whimpered after a moment, her small frame shuddering violently.

I wrapped my arms around her, scooping up the tiny little girl before I stood up and walked to a tree a little closer to the house. "I like you, too, Kat." I chuckled, smiling a crooked smile as I watched her in slight awe. "You'll be warm in a second, cutie pie." I nestled her closer to my chest, then tickled her gently with one hand. As she burst into loud giggles, I laughed softly, then let my hand fall back on her small back slowly, humming quietly.

"That's the lull'by sissa Lily singed to me!" Kat squealed happily, clapping her small hands together with obvious joy. "She say my Mama singed it to hew when she was a little giwl, like me!"

I laughed loudly at that, shaking my head in amusement. "Yes, I heard Lily singing it to you." I explained, allowing my free hand to gently stroke her silvery blonde hair. "I used to sing the same song to my daughter, before she died." I said this part matter-of-factly; it didn't hurt me to talk about my family's death anymore. It was cruel to even think this… but they were part of my past now, a past that didn't have Kat in it. Even the thought of that frightened me, for I couldn't imagine my life without Kat now. Life would have been as unbearable as it had been before I had found her.

"Youw daughtah died?" Kat asked softly, her green eyes solemn for once. "My mama died, too. I doesn't 'membew hew, though. Sissa Lily said Mama died when I was bown, and so did my big bwothew and sissa. Lily nameded them Alexandew and Paige befowe they died." She said all this without to much sadness; to her, it was just a part of her life, as were the beatings she received from Petunia. It sickened me to think this, but it was the only life Kat knew. This life made sense to Kat, because she was used to it.

"I know."

The words came out in a soft whisper, and I looked away, into the forest. "My daughter was killed by a cruel man, as was my son, my sister, and my wife. Their names were Elizabeth and Matthew. My sister's name was Marietta, and my wife's name was Mary." I glanced down at Kat, surprised to find that she was listening intently. "Lizzie had black hair with bright blue eyes, and Matthew had dark brown hair with brown eyes." I laughed softly, shaking my head. "Marietta had brown hair, too, but she had green eyes, like you. My Mary, though, had silvery blonde hair and blue eyes. I loved her very much." My voice, surprisingly, didn't break at the end. I wasn't that sad, but I still missed my family very, very much.

Kat's forehead furrowed and she patted her small hand against mine. "I sowwy." She whispered, her lower lip trembling. "You miss them and I miss Mama." She said after a moment, a small tear rolling down her pale cheek.

I wiped the tear away, pulling her closer to me. "Shh… don't cry, dear one." I murmured, pressing my lips to the top of her little blonde head for a moment. "Always hold your Mama in your heart." I told her gently, nodding. "She will always be there in your heart."

At this, Kat nodded a bit, smiled a tiny smile, and looked up at me with adoration. "I want you to be my fwiend." She said suddenly, sitting up. "I no have any fwiends. I isn't allowed to go to daycawe like othew kids, 'cause sissa says I'm special. Maxy does, too." A frown appeared on her lips, but she continued to stare up at me. "Please, Chwissy?"

"Of course, Kitty Kitty. I'd love to be your friend." I murmured, then looked up as I heard a noise. My heart sank a little as I recognized Lily from about half a mile away, but I ignored her. If she saw me with Kat, that was her problem. I stood Kat up on her feet, though, and she sat down on my lap with a pouting expression. I chuckled quietly, then scooped her back up and placed her on my shoulders as I stood up. "Hold on tight," I warned her, placing her small hands into my hair; it wouldn't hurt me, after all.

She squealed in delight, giggling softly. "Howsey wide!" She crowed happily, gently tugging on a strand of my hair.

At the exact moment I laughed, I heard Lily gasp in shock and fear.

"Kitty Kat!" Lily cried out, her face a mask of horror. After a moment, it turned to anger. "You filthy pedophile! Let go of my sister!" She pulled out her wand, her green almond eyes sparking with pure fury.

Kat began to cry after a moment, and I quickly pulled her off my shoulders, cuddling her to my chest. "Sh, Kitty Kitty… it's okay…" I murmured soothingly.

"Chwissy my fwiend!" She wailed loudly, and I heard Lily gasp again.

I glared at Lily, my fangs protruding as I snarled at her. "You upset her." I growled, slipping forward into a crouch.

Kat stopped crying, and I looked down at her, horrified with myself. "Vampiwe Chwissy!" She said in awe, then giggled and nuzzled against me.

I chuckled reluctantly, then glanced at Lily.

"Give her to me." She whispered, and I immediately placed Kat in her arms.

I kissed the top of Kat's head, smiling down at her as she began to protest. "Don't worry, Kitty Kat. I'm always here. Just say my name, and I'll come straight to you.

With that, Lily turned and rushed inside, slamming the door shut behind her. I laughed softly, then turned and walked back into the woods.

I would be within hearing distance if Kat still wanted me to be here.

So, did you like it? I DID! xD

Next chapter, Kat spends more time with Christian than Lily would like!

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