The next morning, I woke up thirstier than I had been the night before. Kat was still fast asleep in my arms, a small smile showing as she continued to dream away. I felt my own lips tilt up in a smile, then slowly untangled myself from her grip and got off of the bed. After standing there, watching her for a few moments, I heard a quiet voice.

"You need to go hunt. I'll stay here with her until you get back." Drew stepped forward from the far side of her bedroom, his eyes narrowed in thought as he drew closer to her bed.

My lips curled up in distaste, nodding a bit. "Tell her I'll be back in an hour or so if she wakes up." I said quietly, turning to the window, but then I stopped. "I know you kissed her last night, Drew…"

His sigh of resentment was barely loud enough for me to hear. "Yes, I kissed her. She was upset and was worrying about how that boy was her first kiss, and I got caught up in the moment and kissed her. I'm not sorry about it, either, Christian." His words were quick and spoken quietly, determined to let Katherine rest.

"I know you aren't. But you can't just mess with her like that. She isn't old enough. You were twenty-eight when you were turned, and she's only thirteen. I know we agreed we'd both try and get her to fall for either of us, but wait until she's at least sixteen, Drew." I turned around, my voice filled with slight anger as I cast my eyes upon her sleeping form. "She's still a child. She has no idea what it is she wants."

He took a threatening step toward me. "She has never been a child. Since the day she met you, she's been a little miniature person, just waiting to fill her form. She makes the decisions a young woman would make. Kat is growing up, and I don't think you know how to handle it."

A growl rose in my throat as my voice rose a tad bit. "I do know how to handle it. I treat her like a big brother or best friend would, because that's what she needs right now. Now you need to go, Drew, before you make me do something that I won't regret."

"Will you two stop bickering?"

Kat sat up in bed, frowning sleepily as she stretched and let out a yawn.

I instantly sank down to sit at her feet, contrite. "We weren't arguing, sweet. Just…minor disagreements."

"Yes…disagreements. I need to be going anyway, Kat. I'll stop by and see you tonight or tomorrow." Drew blew her a kiss, then disappeared out the window, chuckling at my dark muttering.

I snuck a glance at Katherine, curious to see her expression. "Sorry that we woke you. I meant to let you sleep for a while longer."

She shrugged, her tousled curls growing more unruly as she ran a hand through them. "It's fine, Chris. I needed to be up anyway. You promised you'd take me wherever I wanted to go today, remember?"

"Of course I remember. Get dressed and we can start our day, Kitty." I tickled her feet lightly, and then got up off of the bed. "Wear a dress." I called to her before exiting her bedroom and going downstairs.

Twenty minutes later, she walked down the stairs, clothed in a pale green sundress and her pale blond curls done in braids with matching ribbons. "How do I look?" She asked, a little self-conscious as her cheeks flushed pink.

"Pretty as a peach, Kat. Promise. Now, how about we go get some lunch?" I opened the front door for her, smiling as she slipped her hand into my own. I gently squeezed her hand, marveling at how small it felt in my own for the millionth time.

Her lips tilted up in a bright smile, nodding swiftly. "Can we go get sushi?" She asked hopefully, her faint French accent coloring her words.

My head shook in amazement, a laugh sounding. "Of course. Even though you eat way to much of it, you silly girl." I opened her car door, then flitted over to my side and started the engine. I glanced over at her as she shut her door and buckled up, an idea forming in my head. "After we eat lunch, how about we go shopping? I know you need a dress for the dance in a couple weeks and I'll buy you anything else you need." I had a bank account, filled with millions of dollars that I'd never spent over the years, but was happy to spend on Kat.

"Sounds like fun! Thanks, Chrissy." Her eyes lit up at the mention of shopping, and she smiled up at me happily. Simply seeing her so joyful always made me happy. I'd do anything just to see her smile like that.

I shook my head as the car glided down the quiet roads, a soft smile showing. "It's no problem, kiddo. When you're happy, I'm happy." I reached across the seat, carefully ruffling her hair and chuckling as she pawed at my hand. A few minutes later we arrived at the sushi bar, and we both headed up to the door. "Après vous, chérie." I grinned at her, speaking in her native language.

"Je vous remercie, cher Christian." Her words lilted, speaking perfectly with a knowing smile. She always loved to test her wit against me, just to see if she could win. We entered the restaurant, taking our usual seats at the far table. The waiter was familiar with our order, and he gave us a smile as he went to place our order.

I decided to test her further. "Que voulez-vous faire des emplettes pour aujourd'hui?"

She smiled devilishly, and I knew that I had lost the battle. "Beaucoup de choses. Je n'ai pas une limite, je dois faire? Ce serait décevant, Chris."

"Alright, you naughty child, you've beaten me again. No, there's no limit on what you can buy today." I tweaked her nose; shaking my head as she took a sip of the coke the waiter had brought her. "I suppose you need more books? You read them faster than your poor little brain can comprehend them."

"I know, I try to slow down but it's just so hard. The mission today is new books, new clothes, and maybe a new pair of Converse? My old ones are getting kind of ratty." She wrinkled her nose slightly, her eyes narrowing as she took a drink of the soda, tapping her foot against the floor.

I chuckled, taking a long drink of the water the waiter had brought for me. Although I only received nourishment from blood, it was nice to still be able to act normal and eat regular food. "Like I said, Kat, we can get whatever you want. Just try not to tire yourself out too early." I gazed at her knowingly as her eyes dropped in hesitation.

She squirmed in her seat, finding the subject a tad bit uncomfortable. "I know… I just can't help myself sometimes. It's nice to be able to get out of the house and enjoy myself. I mean, I never get to stay the night at anyone's house except for yours."

"It isn't even really a house, cher. It's just an apartment that Drew and I share. Besides, you know I spend the majority of my time at your house." My hand patted hers gently, desperate to see her smile again. "That's Lily's decision not to let you stay anywhere else. I would let you in a heartbeat, because I know it would make you happy." I squeezed her hand gently before moving my hand back to my side of the table, frowning. "Be happy, chaton."

"I am happy, Chris. Promise." She flashed me a quick smile, then fell silent as the waiter placed the two plates in front of us.

We were both quiet as we ate, Kat focused on eating her caterpillar roll and I my rainbow roll. Finally, once we were both done and had paid for the check, I stood up.

"Ready, chaton?"

She nodded, obediently following me out the door and to the car. Her forehead furrowed for a moment, and then she smiled faintly. "Drew's in the passenger seat… I'll just sit in the back." Before I could respond, she was in the backseat, looking fragile against the black leather.

I sighed, sliding into the driver's seat. "Hello, brother. Nice of you to drop in on us…" I muttered, my eyes darkening slightly.

"Thank you, Christian. I thought I'd come shopping with you and our belle fille." He threw her a smile, then frowned. "What's wrong, Kat? You're looking all sad and mopey. What did Christian do to make you mad?"

"Fuck you, Drew."
Her voice lashed out, filled with venom that we'd never noticed in her. My eyes flashed wide, turning slightly to glance at Kat, then Drew. She was flushed, her eyes filled with angry tears, and he was seething.

"Excuse me? What did I do to deserve that?"

We were both shocked to hear the sound of her bursting into tears, and then we were both in the back seat, trying to console her.

"Sh, Kitten, what's wrong? What happened?"

Her voice finally sounded, filled with self-loathing and anguish. "I forgot to go visit Mama's grave yesterday… I always go, and I let myself forget!" She broke down again, sobbing brokenly.

"Oh, baby girl… I should have remembered to take you, it's my fault." I felt awful as I pulled her onto my lap, stroking her hair and wiping the tears from her cheek. She continued to cry for what felt like hours, and then she was asleep, exhausted. "Can you drive, Drew?"
He nodded wordlessly, getting into the driver's seat and heading in the direction of her house. I held Kat protectively, humming quietly as she continued to sleep. Once we arrived to her house, I lifted her up and carried her upstairs to her bedroom and laid her down on the bed, tucking her under the blankets.

After a few minutes, Drew came up as well, leaning against the wall. "Poor thing.." He murmured quietly, shaking his head. His eyes were filled with regret as he let out a sigh. "Now I understand why she was so agitated. She was trying to remember what she'd forgotten.."

I stood up, ignoring him as I headed toward the window. "We should go. She won't want to talk when she gets up. If she does, she can come by the apartment." I slipped out of the window as I spoke, and when I hit the ground, I was running. I could hear Drew behind me, and I knew that our monthly routine was starting up. Kat didn't like waking up with an audience after she'd broken down, and she had always come by later in the day after she'd taken a break. Sometimes she needed to be left alone, and I had to learn how to respect that.

Once we arrived at the house, we both just lounged around, bickering as always. It would be several hours before she'd stop by, and there was nothing to do until then. I lounged in my bedroom after a while, gazing up at the ceiling. Kat had pinned all the pictures of the two of us up there, promising that we'd fill the empty spaces before she turned eighteen. A smile appeared as I caught sight of Halloween the previous year, before she'd turned thirteen. She was dressed up as a fairy, and I was clothed as a vampire. She'd giggled over the irony for days.

Finally, after what had seemed like hours, a tiny knock sounded on the door. Drew answered it as I walked out of my room, and I paused as he engulfed Kat in a hug. She came to me next, and I hugged her gently as she buried her head against my shoulder.

"I don't want to go home tonight…" She whispered softly, looking up at me with red-rimmed eyes.

I nodded knowingly, gesturing around. "Then we'll have a sleepover. Just the three of us."

And just as always, she'd be back to normal the next day.

*Après vous, chérie.- After you, darling girl.

Je vous remercie, cher Christian.- Thank you, dearest Christian.

Que voulez-vous faire des emplettes pour aujourd'hui?- What do you want to shop for today?

"Beaucoup de choses. Je n'ai pas une limite, je dois faire? Ce serait décevant, Chris.".- Many things. I don't have a limit, do I ? That would be disappointing, Chris.

Chaton- Kitten

Belle fille- beautiful girl