Here we go! Another chapter! I'm gonna try and update every Tuesday or Wednesday depending on what my week looks like, but I want at least have a new chapter up every week for you guys. Also to help with the flow of the story since we're going to be getting into the actual plot now after all this time. This chapter is mostly some Gregory/Nancy bonding so I hope you all enjoy that!

Disclaimer: I don't own The Little Vampire and all characters belong to their owners respectively.

Special thanks to:

Crystal-Wolf-Guardain-967

To my Guest review! Thank you so much!

Your reviews are always appreciated guys!

- Chapter 13 -

Nancy came back into awareness with a groan. Her muscles were aching and her leg was still asleep. With a large yawn she rubbed her eyes trying to rub some light back into them. Parchment crinkled beneath her as she tried to sit up.

"You're finally awake."

Nancy bristled at the unexpected voice, her brain jumped into overdrive. Who the hel- She turned to see Gregory's surly face sat beside her on the ground. Of course. But wait, how was he doing that? Her pentagram! She looked down to her hand only to find the lines of the complicated pentagram smudged into the dank earth of her cave. 'So much for that I guess,' she thought with a scowl. She looked over at him with a squint of her eyes. Damn bastard. That she was marginally happy to see, though she wouldn't admit that to him of course. Stupid teenage hormones. "...What you doing here?" She asked rudely, but she feared it sounded more exhausted than mean.

Gregory's split eyebrow twitched in annoyance at her brusqueness. "Watching you drool all over yourself I suppose," he answered her cruelly, trying purposely to rile her anger since she had started in on him so quickly. It was always 'Tit for Tat' with the Witch, neither one of them ever wanting to yield. Both of them so delightfully immature.

Nancy simply smiled at his attempt and reflexively wiped at her chin. "'...Prick," she grumbled at him with a small smirk. Another huge yawn broke from her throat.

"Why were you asleep jus' now anyway?" Curiosity coloring his naturally disinterested tone.

Nancy sat up at his questioning. Angrily blowing away wayward curls from her eyes. "...It's complicated," she said at last.

Gregory grinned toothily at her "Tryin' to avoid me after yesterday?"

Nancy chuckled in good humor. She looked to his smug face to see that he was just teasing and replied, "If I wanted to avoid you, don't you think I would have tried a little harder?" She started to massage her sleeping leg. "Give me some more credit geeze."

The Vampire boy's face scrunched in confusion at her last sentence but he ignored her strange jargon in favor of asking, "So what has happened then? You look even more sallow than you normally do," he paused. "And you are not undead, so I believe for normal mortals that would be a cause for worry."

Nancy gave a small laugh at that and thought about teasing him some more. Aww, he's worried about me. I don't know if that makes me sick or flattered. But thought better of it, this weird thing they had going was brand new and she didn't have the patience to deal with Gregory's temper right now anyway. She figured she should just tell him the truth and save herself the trouble. Plus, it might be nice to just talk about this stupid mess she had gotten herself into. "Well, for starters, I ran into your father last night."

Gregory scowled at the mention of his father. His mind suddenly reeling at the thought of him finding out about his evening with the Witch. He swallowed thickly. "What did he want from you?"

Nancy's smirked at his discomfort and decided to tease him a bit after all. "Oh nothing," she brushed some dirt off the back of her hand. "Just wanted to know where the two of us disappeared off to last night..."

Gregory's face seized with panic as he sat up and roughly grabbed hold of her shoulders. "Did you-What did you-?!" he blurted out.

But Nancy lost her composure before she could take this little joke further. Her face scrunched up in laughter at her Vampire boy's expression.

Gregory released her in sudden understanding. He scowled at her in contempt. "You-you-" he struggled in frustration. "Witch!" He yelled at last kicking dirt from the floor at her hysterical figure.

Nancy laughed even harder at that. "Oh Christ! I'm so offended," she said at last as she wiped away mirthful tears from her eyes. She smiled wanly at his annoyed face. "Oh stop it," she ushered him to sit back down with her. "I'll tell you what really happened."

Gregory eyed her wearily for a few moments longer before he heeded her words and sat back down. He angrily pushed a red dread lock back from his face. "That wasn't humorous Witch," he growled at her teasing grin. "Truly, my Father would not allow you to stay here if he found out."

Nancy blinked owlishly at that. Gregory really did care about her. That was a tough one to swallow. She'd have to dwell on that thought later when these problems got sorted through, but for now there just really wasn't time. She sighed. "That might come to pass either way."

Gregory's face relaxed out of a scowl and evolved into curiosity. "What do you mean by that?"

Nancy settled down and told him of her lie and her empty promise to Frederick to foretell the coming of the next comet. Her eyebrows pulled together in thought. "So you see, I've really dug myself a hole here."

Gregory remained silent for a time, seeming to process her plight. "...Dug yourself a hole?" Gregory repeated at last, clearly confused.

Nancy breathed through her nose in part humor and frustration. "Never mind that! I don't know what to do!" she crawled at her tresses.

The Vampire sat silent as he watched Nancy's semi-mental breakdown. Not clear on how he could aid her. "Surely the matter isn't that grave, you are in fact a Witch," he thought back on his first hand experiences with her power. She did in fact have power. He failed to see how predicting the stars could be harder than manifesting fire.

"You don't understand," she spoke crestfallen. "I don't have a coven, it's much harder for me to do anything without magic allies to fall back on."

Gregory thought back to the Witches and Warlocks of his original time. She spoke the truth, in his memory he honestly had never seen a single magic folk travel alone. That just made Nancy even more of a mystery to him. Before he could even begin to question her on the subject she interjected.

"So my only option is to invoke Manon, and let me tell you," a chill swept over her form and she wrapped her jacketed arms around herself. "I really don't want to do that."

Gregory grew wary of her expression. She looked haunted. "What will happen to you if you do? Will it harm you?"

Nancy's troubled eyes focused on him. "In a way." She took a breath and rubbed her arms. "Witches typically try to avoid invoking at all costs, it's a final resort kind of deal."

"I see," Gregory spoke, trying to wrap his mind around everything.

A small breeze swept through Nancy's cavern making her candle wicks flicker in the dim light.

"I need to think of something to keep your Father occupied," she mused aloud, taking the time to prop herself up from off the ground so that she could pace away her anxiety. Some kind of cheap parlor Witch trick. Something that really looked the part, but didn't serve a purpose.

Gregory watched her pace with a frown. She really was troubled by this, and judging from what she just shared with him, she should be. His mind rolled with thoughts but ultimately kept coming back to one. She was fascinating, and he didn't want her to leave. All their usual banter aside he really did enjoy her company, and after last night. Well, he really enjoyed her company. "Do you need more materials?" he interrupted her hurried steps. "From the forest I mean."

Nancy halted at the Vampire boy's hidden offer. Her brain quickly calculated the increased possibilities if she were to gather some more materials to prepare. Yes, that would help. That 'really' would help her out. She looked up at his disinterested expression and smiled widely at him in thanks. 'He may look like he doesn't care, but he does.' She smiled to herself at the sight Gregory's mouth twitching into a small secret smile before he turned his spiked head to lead her back up to the surface.

- O -

Exhilarated by her flight with Gregory Nancy skipped happily through the green pasture he dropped them into. The gleam of the half moon cast her shadow over the white fences that surrounded the stretch of land. It was truly beautiful. She twirled once more in delight before pulling out her stone tablet.

Gregory watched her from afar in amusement with her antics. He was just pleased that she hadn't tried to break of his hold again while they were flying. He was still not quite over that moment to be honest. He thought of it every time he took to flight. Nancy's large grin as she plummeted from the sky. No trace of fear on her face. Content to free fall. He didn't think he'd ever have the courage to attempt something like that. Not even in his half living state. Nancy was truly peculiar. He looked over to his object of fascination as she approached him with her glowing blue tablet.

"What are you looking at?" she jeered at him, stopping beside him but never looking up from her tablet.

Gregory ignored her. "Have you found what you need yet?"

She smiled genuinely at him. "Everything except for horse hair, which, according to my natural magic," she gestured to a barn in the distance. "Should be that way."

Gregory raised an eyebrow at her in interest and turned to follow her and her brisk walk across the field.

Nancy hummed to herself a bit as they walked quietly through the Scottish countryside. It had been a really productive night thanks to Gregory. She couldn't believe her luck and she still couldn't believe the bond that had formed between them. To think that he had almost killed her that first night that they had met. She smiled sardonically to herself. How romantic. She supposed that suited her just fine, it oddly fit in with all the other bizarre fucked up moments of her life. Of course she'd be getting freaky with the homicidal Vampire boy, it just made sense. She turned her head to appraise said Vampire boy as he walked beside her. His leather weathered coat rustled with his movement. She really couldn't deny that she appreciated his 1960's grunge look. "Gregory, I've been meaning to ask you this," she began a bit nervously, fiddling with the spiked collar around her neck.

He turned his head curiously to regard her.

"Where'd your clothes come from?" she said carefully.

Gregory almost cracked a smirk as he said, "Why? Would you like to purchase them?" He peered at her smugly from the corner of his eye.

Nancy shook her head trying to hide her own smile, "No no! I just mean, well...you look different than the rest of your family, less Byzantine, Edwardian, Victorian," she waved her hand dismissively. "...Whatever you are..." she mumbled.

Gregory let his pointed smirk show as he directed his gaze at her. "Where did the blood on your dagger come from?" he asked suddenly.

Nancy swallowed uncomfortably, trying to soothe her now dry throat before choking out, "...From dead people."

"Same answer," Gregory stated smugly looking down at Nancy with his haughty smirk.

The explosion was instantaneous,"You freak! That's terrible!"

The vampire boy couldn't stop the snickering that left his mouth.

"At least I have the decency to leave those I kill untouched," she pointed accusingly at the sallow boy. "But you! It's like shopping to you really!"

Gregory actually laughed aloud at that. His uncharacteristic mirth catching on to her as well.

Nancy giggled to herself as she bent down to the side of the stable door and extracted the horse hairs that she needed. 'He really should laugh more,' she thought with a small smile. It really suited him. All she'd really seen from him were smirks and half smiles, to witness him actually laughing really was a treat. She wiped her eyes from her laughter and strolled back up beside him. "Well, I'm ready when you are grave robber," she smiled wanly at him.

He smirked at her playfully before offering her his pale clawed hand.

- O -

The wind howled around them as Gregory flew them back against the gales. Nancy's wild curly hair blew around her as she gazed below at the dark line of trees beneath them. They flew back in amiable silence together. Both teenagers teeming with conflicting thoughts about their good time together. Just as they began their descent Nancy's eyes caught the sight of a familiar white van cruising along the intersection just outside the forest. All breath left her lungs at the sight and she couldn't stop her fingers from tightening painfully around Gregory's hand.

He looked over at her in annoyance. What was she-but her face robbed him of his thoughts. She looked more horrified than he'd ever seen her. Her eyes wide and unblinking, her mouth quivering. He looked over to what had captured her terrified attention so raptly. His eyes zero in on a white car with a pair of humans in it. He blinked them into his focus. They appeared to be arguing over something. Quickening his decent he lowered them easily back down into the solitude of the graveyard. Even after their feet touched back down into the mossy earth Nancy kept her steadfast hold of his hand. He watched her carefully. "Witch," he called to her.

She didn't respond.

Just as he began to tug his hand away from her hold she seemed to come back to her senses. "Ah, woah," she breathed heavily. "Looks like we're already back," she spoke nervously. Her hands playing fitfully with the long line of beads around her neck.

Gregory eyes her wearily. "Who was in that car?"

Nancy balked at his question, nearly tripping over herself trying to put some distance between them.

He continued. "There was a man and woman in that car. Who are they to you?" He approached her shaking form. "Why do you fear them?"

Nancy recoiled at his questioning, tears gathering in her eyes. "Please, Gregory please," she turned to face him. "I can't tell you, I promise I will when I can-but I-not now, I can't-"

Her emotions caught him off guard and he found himself nodding at her. He closed his eyes in thought. Would the mysteries surrounding her ever cease. Before he could say any more he opened his eyes to find the Witch gone, already back down in the catacombs, away from his questioning.

- O -

Nancy wiped her eyes clear of her tears as she gathered her magic ingredients together. True to Vampire patriarch form Frederick requested her audience with the whole of the Vampire family in less than a few minutes. Gregory had definitely saved her sorry ass once again. She'd kiss him again if she weren't so worried about him finding out all of her secrets. They were close. She didn't have as much time as she thought she would. With a final flourish she prepared her filler spell for Frederick.

- O -

"Eleka nahmen nahmen
Ah tum ah tum eleka nahmen
Eleka nahmen nahmen
Ah tum ah tum eleka nahmen,"

Nancy chanted, her voice hollow of feeling.

Anna squealed in delight as radiant colors danced along the dark corners of the cave walls. Freda gasped in approval as the cave crystals glittered in the light of Nancy's magic. Even Rudolf looked to be dazed by the light of Nancy's powers.

Frederick continued to look on unfazed. Waiting with bated breath for the Witch to follow through on her promises.

Only Gregory looked worried. Time had hardly passed from their time on the surface and he hoped that she had truly managed to get all that she needed for this ruse to work. Not to mention her mental state. She looked near tears over the appearance of that car, he could clearly still see the strain on her face.

"Eleka nahmen nahmen
Ah tum ah tum eleka nahmen
Eleka nahmen nahmen
Ah tum ah tum eleka, ele--"

The walls of the catacomb suddenly illuminated with purple light as the spell shifted. The stars shone brilliantly on the ceiling above them and Frederick stood awestruck as the comet they sought blazed brightly on the cave wall.

Gregory blinked in surprise, he thought she said this was a ruse, it wouldn't work unless she had invoked! Did she-He looked to see her face. No, she looked surprised too. What was happening?

Before Nancy had a moment to count her lucky stars she was overcome with a terrible pain. Her eyes burned and her stomach blazed with pain. The magic around her shifted again and turned on her. She flailed helplessly as she was thrust onto the floor. The image of the comet was lost as she was thrown to the floor with a great force. Feeling the prickling of her hex returning she felt the feelers of beetles crawling beneath her skin. Screams tore from her throat at the sensation and she was helpless as the magic worked its way through her body.

The Vampire family watched in horror as the Witch writhed on the ground in agony. Gregory jumped forward at her anguished cries, but Frederick held him back with a firm hand. Worried that her wayward magic would wound them as well.

Gregory growled at his Father and thrust himself out of his grip so that he could rush to Nancy's side. He could hear Anna crying from somewhere behind him as he held Nancy's arms down while she seized with the turbulence of her own magic. With bated breath he watched as her convulsions began to cease and she began to lay limp on the floor of the cave. Ignoring his family's frightened and worried cries he gathered Nancy up into his arms and carried her back to her cavern.

- O -

With utmost care he lay her back down onto the wrinkled parchment on the floor of her cave.

"Will she be alright?" Anna bleated from behind him. "Will my dearest Nancy be-"

"Shut it!" Gregory snapped at her ceaseless questioning. He himself didn't know the answer and Anna's worry wasn't helping matters.

Anna erupted into more hysterical sobs as she left Gregory to care for Nancy alone. She had followed him with hopes of seeing Nancy awaken, but to no avail, the Witch remained motionless.

Gregory stared down at Nancy's prone form with a frown. 'Foolish Witch' he thought angrily as he tenderly moved some of her wild hair away from her face.

Her nose wrinkled at the contact.

Gregory withdrew his hand cautiously as her eyes fluttered open.

Nancy inhaled a deep breath and coughed into her arm as she came back into awareness. Blinking away the last dregs of her pain she wiped her eyes clear to find Gregory beside her for the second time today. "Hey," she said with a grimace.

He growled at her in greeting.

"I guess I deserved that," she started to shrug, but stopped half way as pain erupted down her back. "Ow, ow, ow," she rubbed her arm. "Well, that didn't go as planned."

Gregory glared at her. How dare she make light of this. He was beyond angry with her, and himself for helping her with this foolish idea in the first place. She didn't tell him there were risks with this spell as well. He wanted to throttle her for withholding that information. She had led him to believe this was safe. He never wanted to see her in pain like that again. Never. Of that he was certain.

"Gregory," she called to him gently.

His head turned sharply back to her at the utterance of his name.

"I'll be okay, I swear to you," she swallowed. "You should go, be with your family, they'll want answers." She pushed his arm away from her. He had a lot of damage control to do if what she suspected happened had indeed happened.

He looked reluctant.

"Go," she goaded him once more, pushing at the sewn together scraps of his leather coat.

He closed his eyes in defeat and stood up to leave her. "I trust you'll explain everything to me soon," he spoke to her coldly, sounding eerily like Frederick to her ears.

Nancy nodded to him carefully and he left her at last.

Tears rolled down Nancy's face as waves of fear and anxiety hit her. Things really were taking a turn.