Chapter Three:
One Week Later
"You need to eat, Mackenzie." Godric sighed as he watched the girl push her food around her plate at the large dining room table. He had hired a personal chef specifically for her, and yet all of the man's hard work had only gone into the trash over the last few days. Mackenzie hardly ate, refusing everything that's been put in front of her. Isabel, his lieutenant, had even given her a tub of chocolate ice cream, every kid's dream, and still she refused to eat. Godric was beginning to worry now. "Please, my sweet. Eat"
"I'm not hungry she insisted, a permanent pout on her lips.
"You haven't eaten in days. Do you not like the meals that have been prepared?" He tried to find the root of the problem. Maybe if she just didn't like the cooking, he could reach out to her nanny in Shreveport. Perhaps bringing the woman to Dallas would be able to help the girl.
"I'm just not hungry." She sighed, letting her fork fall onto the plate as she sat back with her arms crossed. "Can I go watch TV now?"
"No, Mackenzie." Godric shook his head, rubbing the bridge of his nose as he began to tire only an hour after he had woken. The last time he had spent this much time with Mackenzie, she had been four, and she had screamed anytime he was around. It was much different this time around. They had a solid relationship, one that he had hoped would work in his favour once he moved her here.
But he was beginning to realize that raising a child, when he had only been turned as a young adult, was not as easy as he once thought it to be. He wanted to indulge her and had in the past, giving her everything she's ever wanted. It was easier before. But now he was realizing that she needed balance, she needed rules and discipline. Perhaps not to Eric's standards, but to some degree, his progeny understood children better than he did.
Godric just wasn't sure he was prepared for the backlash that was sure to await him.
"Please." She tried suckering him in with those batting eyelashes like the pro that she was.
"Not until you finish your dinner."
"But..." her bottom lip jetted out even more. "Pretty please, Godric? I'm not hungry."
"But you need to eat." He insisted. "Once you've eaten at least half of your plate, then you can watch television."
"But...but..."
Godric sighed as he stood and moved around the table and to her side. He kissed her on top of her head, and as much as her actions were starting to break through his strong exterior, he knew he had to remain strong. "That might have worked on me before, love, but I'm your guardian now. I have rules just as Eric does."
"But Eric was mean!" her bottom lip was trembling now. "You're not mean like he is. Please can I watch TV?"
"Eat your dinner and you may."
"But I'm not hungry!"
"Then you can return to your room. Without television." He lifted her off her seat and nudged her in the direction of the door. "Go on love. If you don't want to eat your supper then it's off to bed with you."
She looked gobsmacked. In her tiny little mind, she thought she could get away with anything around Godric. He was her favourite, after all. He had always given in to her in the past. But now, now he was just like Eric. He was punishing her for the littlest things.
"You're just like him." the tears began to form in her eyes. "You're just as mean as he is."
It broke Godric's heart to hear her words, but he knew she didn't mean them. She was just upset that she wasn't getting her way. It was still difficult to hear, just as it was for any parent to hear that a child hated them.
"Room, Mackenzie. When you've decided that you're hungry and would like to eat, then you can come back out. And maybe then, and only then, can you and I watch television together. Is that understood?" He tried to be as firm with her as he could.
She didn't respond and instead just stomped out of the room. He listened, ensuring that she went straight to her room and not to the living room, and was pleased when she did as she was told. The slamming door, however, caused the vampire to cringe, knowing that he certainly didn't have a very happy seven year old under his roof at the moment.
"She's still not eating, I see." Isabel stepped into the room with a shake of her head. "Poor girl."
Godric raised an eyebrow as he collected the plate of food, dismissing the horrible odor, and walked it into the kitchen. Isabel followed, a sigh escaping her lips as concern filled her eyes.
"She's been acting this way for a week now. It's getting out of hand." Godric placed the plate in the fridge in hopes that Mackenzie would change her mind later. "I don't know what to do with her."
"She just misses Eric, that's all." Isabel offered some insight.
"I doubt that." Godric shook his head as he turned towards the Hispanic lieutenant and leaned against the corner with his arms crossed. "She barely speaks of him, and whenever she does, it's to state that she hates him."
"And why do you think she hates him?" Isabel sent him a knowing look. "She misses him, Godric."
Godric didn't believe it. Though he had to admit, it would explain everything. She hadn't verbally expressed her sadness. She hadn't cried, she hadn't screamed. She had just been there, with that sombre look on her face and the refusal to eat a thing.
"I remember when I was only a little girl, not much older than Mackenzie," Isabel leaned against the kitchen island, a faraway look in her eyes as she remembered a time when she was human. "My mother had just passed away giving birth to my younger brother and my father was devastated. My brother and I were sent away to my uncles as he grieved, and I hated him for it. I loved my father dearly. We had always been so close. I felt betrayed that he had sent me away like I was nothing to him.
It surprised Godric to hear about such an intimate time in Isabel's human life. The two hadn't shared much history in the short time they've known one another, and he was surprised that she was opening herself up now. But had had discovered years ago when Mackenzie first entered their lives that Isabel had taken a quick liking to her. He suspected she brought out a very human side to the woman, just as she had done to the rest of them. Even now, as she lived with them, Isabel quickly had taken on a motherly role for the girl, and Godric was thankful for it.
"But despite the fact that I hated him, that I would curse him out to my uncle whenever I could, I still missed him. I missed him every single day. It was why I acted out as I did." A smile tugged at her lips. "The day my father came for my brother and I, I remember locking myself in my room until he came to me personally to apologize, to promise me all the jewels, all the dresses I could ever imagine. Of course I wanted none of it, I only wanted him."
"So you're saying Mackenzie is acting this way because she misses Eric?" Godric frowned. "I knew she would be distraught. She had become adjusted there and I knew tearing her away would be difficult. But I never believed she would act in this way. I expected her tears, not her defiance."
"Tears won't bring Eric back." Isabel pointed out. "But I know when I acted truly like a monster, I always believed that perhaps my uncle would tire of me and send me back to my father. Maybe the little one is thinking the same way."
"I never thought of this before." Godric nodded. "It's quite possible. She's a smart little girl. Perhaps she's thinking just that."
"You know the rule, Mackenzie." Godric stood perplexed as he stepped into the living room only an hour until he was due to have a meeting with a fellow Texas Sheriff. "You take your toys into your room when I have guests over."
Mackenzie ignored him as she sat in the middle of the room, muttering in different voices as she played with her Barbies. There were toys everywhere. Colouring books littered the white couch, which he spied a fresh green crayon mark on one of the cushions. Barbie clothes were strewn across the floor and he was floored to find a package of cookies beside her on the floor, quite a few already missing.
"Mackenzie." Godric stepped further into the room, shaking his head at the state his house was in. This wouldn't be suitable at all for a meeting with his colleague, especially when no one was supposed to know she was here. If she was recognized, if she was discovered, he would never forgive himself. Because he knew Eric was right. He knew that if the wrong people got their hands on Mackenzie, they would do anything possible to gain access to her memories, to finally learn what happened the night her parents died. They wouldn't care about putting her through agony. They wouldn't care about her at all. She would just be the final piece to the puzzle.
And Godric just couldn't let that happen.
"Mackenzie, you know I have a guest coming over tonight. And you know you're to stay in your room, with your toys, when I have guests." He picked up what toys he could as he crossed the room to the pigtailed blonde still not giving him the time of day. He sighed as he reached her, kneeling down to her level and scooping her right up into his arms.
"Godric!" she screeched, wiggling as much as she could to try and escape his grasps. But Godric did the only thing he could think of doing, and that was to take her to her bedroom.
She fussed the entire way, however, voicing her displeasure louder and louder with every corner he turned until he entered her room and placed her on her bed. She attempted to dart back out of the room but Godric caught her and set her back on the bed, a firm frown on his lips. When Mackenzie realized she wasn't getting out of the room, she tried batting her eyelashes, jetting her bottom lip out to try and sucker him in. Godric would have none of it, however, and just crossed his arms over his chest and shook his head. Realizing her attempts weren't working, she started pouting, crossing her own arms over her chest as she glared up at him.
"You're supposed to be the nice one." She grumbled.
"And you're supposed to be the sweet girl I know you to be." Godric retorted, kneeling before her. "But you've been anything but that lately, now haven't you?"
"I was eating." She pointed out, as if that fact alone would get her out of trouble.
"And while I'm pleased you seem to have your appetite back, you know the rules; no sweets until after dinner. And you certainly haven't eaten dinner in many days."
"But I was eating."
"Junk. You were eating junk. And causing a mess when you know I have a guest arriving shortly." he tapped her knee. "You know you're supposed to clean up your toys. And I know you were the one who drew on the couch."
"It wasn't me." she insisted with a shake of her head, her pigtails bouncing as she did so.
"Oh?" Godric raised an eyebrow. "Then who was it?"
"It was...um..." she looked panicked for a moment, as if trying to rack her brain on who she could wrongfully accuse. "It was Stan."
Godric stifled the laugh that was threatening to escape. "Is that so? Stan just happened to grow a fascination for crayons and drew on my white couch. Is that what you're telling me?"
"Yes."
"Somehow I don't believe that's true. You know it's wrong to lie, Mackenzie." He stood, picking her up as he did so before setting her down on his lap as he sat on the edge of the bed. "What's gotten into you, love? You've never acted this way before."
"You were never around before." She kept her arms crossed as she refused to meet his gaze. "You never knew how I was."
"I would like to think I know you pretty well, little one." He clasped a finger under her chin, turning her gaze until her blue orbs met his. "And you are the sweetest little thing I've ever met in my life. So why are you acting this way?"
"Because I want to."
"Is it because of Eric?" Godric asked cautiously, remembering what Isabel had suggested was the real reason behind Mackenzie's sudden attitude change. "Do you miss him?"
Her nose scrunched up in disgust. "No. I hate him."
"I don't believe that. I think you miss him."
"No." She shook her head from side to side. "I don't. I. Hate. Him."
"You hate him because you miss him." he offered her a warm smile. "And it's okay to admit that, Mackenzie. You have a right to be angry with him, but you also have a right to miss him."
"He was mean." Her expression hardened. "He didn't want me anymore."
"Is that why you've been acting like this? Because you're upset with Eric? Because he didn't want you living with him anymore?" He knew by the hesitation in her eyes that he had hit the nail right on the head. "It's alright if you feel that way, love. I understand."
"I...I hate you too." He was surprised when she admitted softly, her cheeks growing a light rosy colour.
Godric couldn't believe his ears. He knew she was angry and upset, but he thought it was all directed towards Eric, not him.
"You hate me?" he tried not to sound hurt.
"You...you took me away from home." She mumbled, bowing her head as her hands fidgeted in her lap. "You took me away from Eric. I...I hate you."
It broke his heart to hear the pain in her voice, to hear her say that she hated him. He knew it wasn't personal, that at the end of the day, she didn't truly hate him, just like she didn't hate Eric. But it still hurt.
"I'm sorry, Mackenzie. I truly am." Godric sighed. "I never knew you felt that way. Is that why you've been acting the way you have?"
She stilled for a moment, as if afraid to admit that he was right. But after a moment, a small sigh escaped her lips and she nodded.
"Oh love." Godric drew her closer, his fingers coiling around one of her pigtails. "I'm sorry. I really am. I never meant to hurt you. I never meant to make you sad or angry. I've only ever wanted to make you happy. And it seems I've failed at that. And for that, I'm sorry."
She risked a glance up at him, tears forming in her eyes. "I just want to go home."
"I know you do love. I know you..." he was interrupted, however, by the door bell ringing. He frowned as he glanced at the clock in the room, noting that it was still early for his associate to arrive. At the sound of knocking on the front door, he knew he should have answered, but he just couldn't bear to leave Mackenzie now, not when they just had a breakthrough. He could have Isabel entertain their guest for a few minutes, it wouldn't hurt.
He strained his hearing as he rubbed Mackenzie's back, the girl beginning to curl around him as she held tightly onto him. Isabel, as he expected, eventually greeted their guest. Only it wasn't a guest that Godric had been expected. His frown deepened, his forehead wrinkling as he tried to understand why they were here. Why now? Why tonight of all nights? What had changed for this to happen? And what did this mean for the sombre girl in his arms?
Knowing that he would have to greet his guest sooner rather than later, Godric sighed as he began lifting Mackenzie off his lap. But despite her confession that she hated him, that half the reason she had been acting out was because she was furious with him for taking her from the only home she truly knew, she just didn't want to be put down. She wiggled, her tiny hands curling around the fabric of his shirt in an attempt to stay put.
"No." She shook her head, squirming on his lap until her arms had latched around his waist, her cheek pressed against his chest. It broke his heart to see her like this, to see her fearful that he would leave her too, and so soon after she admitted her hatred towards him. He knew she was afraid, he could smell it rolling off of her. And that tore at his heartstrings. He just wanted to stay in that room, with that little girl in his arms, for the rest of the evening. How could he possibly leave her?
But at hearing Isabel call for him, he knew he would have to. If for no other reason than to learn why exactly Eric had turned up on his doorstep.
"I'll be right back, love." He promised her, using all the strength he could muster to peel her off of him and to set her on the bed after he stood.
"No." She cried out, her bottom lip quivering as she stared up at him with those round blue eyes filled with tears. "Please don't leave me."
"It'll just be for a..."
"I'm sorry for hating you. I don't. I really don't. Please don't leave me too. I'll be good, I promise. Just don't leave me." she reached out to him with her hands, begging him to forgive her, to love her like he always had.
"Oh little one." Godric quickly knelt before her, lifting his hands to wipe away the tears as they slid down her soft, porcelain cheeks. "I'm not going to leave you, I promise you that."
"Then don't go. Please." She was pleading as if her life depended on it. There was desperation in her tone and it ripped him to pieces to see her like this.
"I'll be right back, love. I promise you." He vowed. "I will never leave you, Mackenzie. Ever. You are one of the most important people in my life. I could never leave you. I just need to go talk to my...guest. But I'll be right back, alright? I promise."
"B-but..." she started hiccupping as the tears multiplied. "I don't want you to go."
"It'll just be for a few minutes, I swear. Isabel will be with you the entire time." as if on cue, the Hispanic woman appeared in the doorway, a sympathetic smile on her lips. "See, love? You won't be alone. You two can play while I'm away. And then when I get back, you and I will spend the rest of the night together, okay? Is that a deal?"
She looked unsure at the proposition, her eyes watching him hesitantly. But after a long drawn out moment, as if knowing that Godric had never lied to her in the past, she nodded slowly. Though she still didn't look happy about it at all.
"That's a good girl. I'll be right back, love." He offered her a warm, loving smile as he stood and kissed her on the top of her head.
He shot Isabel a look of appreciation before slipping out of the room, using his vampire speed to reach the front door the moment he was out of Mackenzie's sight. He came to an immediate stop in the front hallway, gobsmacked that his Viking of a progeny was standing there looking as uncomfortable as could be just inside the door. The moment Godric appeared, a look of apprehension crossed Eric's face as he watched the older vampire carefully. He knew his sudden appearance wouldn't be welcomed. He knew showing up here out of the blue wouldn't put him in the good graces of his maker, especially now after he had just sent Mackenzie away to live with him. Hell, Eric didn't even understand why he was there, why he had come here at all tonight. But there he was, and while every fibre in his being told him to turn around and return home, he just couldn't.
At least not without Mackenzie.
"Eric." Godric's gaze swept over Eric. "This visit is a...surprise."
"An unwelcome one?" Eric raised an eyebrow. Godric had always been very guarded when it came to their bond. He had always kept his walls up, always kept secrets hidden from his own progeny. But on that night, Eric could barely feel a single emotion emitting from his maker. He wasn't sure at all what Godric was thinking, and he wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not.
"Never." Godric shook his head. "You're visits have never been unwelcome, my son. Just usually untimely."
"My apologies." Eric's frown deepened. "Shall I leave?"
"What would the point be in that? I suspect you came here for a reason."
"I did." Eric nodded hesitantly. "Perhaps we should speak in private."
"Mackenzie is in her room. Isabel is keeping her company. We're as private as we can possibly get." Godric waved at him to continue. "Go on, my son. Tell me what troubles you. What brings you to my nest tonight?"
"I think you already know, Godric."
"I have an idea." Godric nodded, though he wasn't sure if he was thrilled at the reason Eric was here. It had only been a week, the same time frame it had taken Eric the last time to realize he and Mackenzie were better off with one another than apart. But was a week truly enough time to realize this? Two years after a night much like this one, Eric once again tossed her away without a care in the world, without caring who he might hurt. What would happen this time? Would it be another two years before he was fed up again? Or perhaps this time it will be three or four. Either way, Godric was unsure of Eric's arrival. He was unsure if sending Mackenzie back home was the best idea. He knew this was what Mackenzie wanted; the way she had been acting lately was a testament to that. But was that truly the best option? Would she only be left heartbroken again and again when Eric couldn't be who she wanted him to be? Was it right of him to put her through that time and time again?
Would it be wrong of him, however, to keep her from her home, from Eric just because of his uncertainty?
"I thought about what we last spoke about." Eric shifted uncomfortable as he shot a glance down the hallway. He could hear Mackenzie ever so faintly as she sniffed and tried to wipe away her tears. He wondered if he was the cause of her distress. He wondered why he would even care.
But he did care.
He didn't understand it, and he hated Pam for being right, but a part of him did care. He didn't know why. She was only a human girl. The only reason he had kept her around like he had was to protect all their asses, to ensure no one knew of what happened that night over two years ago. But he couldn't exactly deny that the thought of someone using extreme lengths to dig that memory out of Mackenzie didn't ignite the rage inside of him. He found that he wanted to protect not only his maker and progeny, but also her. And in part, that angered him. She angered him. Why did she have to make him care? He was a monster; a blood thirsty monster. He wasn't supposed to take care of some little girl. He wasn't supposed to be a parent. That had never been part of the plan. But that damn girl had to be involved with this mess and no matter how many times he threw her away, he just kept finding his way back to her.
And he hated that.
"And?" Godric prompted him to continue. "I told you to think long and hard about this, Eric. I warned you of the consequences if you rush into any sort of decision. Don't do this to her again. If you don't want her, then let me raise her. If you don't want her, then stop putting that girl through this agony."
Eric knew he was right. He knew he had been the cause of Mackenzie's pain for too long now. She had been put through enough in her young life. She didn't deserve to be pulled from house to house whenever he decided he was going to care. But this wasn't exactly easy for him. He was a vampire. He wasn't supposed to have any of these human feelings. He wasn't supposed to care or to give a damn about any of it. But he did. He had to face that. Because Pam had been right. He had been miserable since the moment Godric had taken Mackenzie the night of her party. He hadn't been able to think straight, he had nearly killed a dozen women while feeding, and he had been reckless on more than one account. And that just wasn't who he was. But Mackenzie had gotten into his head and no matter what he did, he just couldn't erase her from his thoughts.
"I know." Eric bowed his head, the strange sensation of shame rising in him.
"Is this it then? Will this be the last time?" Godric knew he was being hard on his progeny, but he had to know if this time would stick, if this would be the last time he would have to house such a sad little girl. "Or do you plan on breaking Mackenzie's heart for a third time? Or perhaps a fourth and fifth as well."
"I don't plan on hurting her again."
"How can you be so certain, Eric? Two years. It's only bee two years since the last time you came to me, assuring me of the same thing. And yet here we are."
"It won't happen again." Eric raised his gaze to meet his maker's, determination evident in his ice cold orbs.
"Is that a promise that you'll keep, Eric?"
"I keep all my promises."
"Not all of them I'm afraid." Godric sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose. "I just can't bear to see her like this again. She's distraught, Eric. She's been utterly lost without you. She's only a young girl. She doesn't understand why you couldn't possibly want her. She see's you as her..."
"I know." Eric's expression hardened. He knew how Mackenzie saw him. He wished she didn't. He wished it was Godric she looked up to, and not him. But since the moment he swept her out of that burning home, she had become attached to him for god even knows what reason. Eric knew he couldn't be her father, however, not even if he tried. It just wasn't in him. It wasn't who he was.
But he realized now that he couldn't just be nonexistent in her life. He couldn't just let Godric raise her and visit once in a blue moon. He may not have wanted to be her father, but he knew he wanted – needed – to be a part of her life. He just wasn't sure how exactly.
"Will you keep me from her?" Eric wondered as he watched his maker closely, as he watched the decision beginning to form in his orbs. "Will you refuse to give her to me?"
"Honestly? Yes, I should." Godric answered truthfully, but at the clear disappointment and hurt in his progeny's eyes, he quickly continued. "But I also understand the strength it took for you to come here tonight. I know you better than any being, breathing or not. I know your hunting style, I know which blood you prefer, which legs you would rather be between. I know your darkest secrets; I know the past that you so painfully endured at the end of your human life. I simply just know you, Eric. And as you stand here before me on this night, I know that you don't wish Mackenzie any harm, physically or emotionally. Perhaps you're right; perhaps you aren't equipped to raise a human child. But you're here."
"I'm here." Eric affirmed.
"And that speaks volumes." Godric agreed. "But I need you to be sure this time. You cannot decide in a month from now, or a few years, that you cannot handle this, that you can't deal with her. You need to decide now if this is what you truly desire. You can't just send her away again. I love her, I truly do, but I cannot put her through this pain again because you've decided you've had enough."
"I don't know what I'm doing, Godric." Eric admitted, that mask of his he had worn for a thousand years cracking. "I have no idea how to raise a child. I never married as a human. I never had any children of my own. I only held my human sisters in my arms, I never dressed them, I never fed them, I never sent them off to school. This is all new to me."
"This is new to us all." Godric nodded. He had never punished a child before. He never had to with Mackenzie in the past. He hated it. He hated being the reason for her tears, for her troubles. He wanted to indulge her, not send her to her room. He wasn't used to being the parent. This was new to him just as much as it was new to Eric. But if they were going to give Mackenzie a resemblance of a good life, then they would have to learn to adapt. Because she deserved that. She deserved to be happy, to be loved. She was just an innocent girl who happened to be in the centre of this mess, she didn't deserve anymore heartache.
"I'll try." Eric promised. "I'll try harder with her. I can't promise you a miracle. I can't promise you anything more than I am. But I...I will try. For her."
Godric couldn't help the smile that was twitching at his lips. He had hoped Eric would come to his senses. He had hoped that one day, Eric would admit that he cared, even in the slightest. And even though Godric was still wary of handing Mackenzie back over to his progeny, worried that she would only find her way back here after another argument with Eric, he knew in his heart that Mackenzie belonged in Shreveport with Eric. They were a family, and they had been for the past two years.
"She's in her..." Godric never had the chance to finish however, as suddenly the girl in question came darting down the hallway, making a mad dash for Eric.
"Eric!" She squealed in delight, throwing her arms around his legs, pressing her tear stained cheek against his jeans. "You're here!"
Eric look astonished at the sudden reaction from Mackenzie. His eyes grew wide as he looked down at the girl holding him captive before back up at his maker, silently pleading for him to help him. He didn't know what to do. He didn't know what to say to fix everything. He felt frozen to the spot.
Godric however, just leaned against the hallway wall, a pleased smile playing on his lips as he watched Mackenzie mumble to Eric, her apologies, her pleading to go home all being jumbled together. He could hear her perfectly, however, and he prayed to a god he wasn't even sure cared to listen to a two thousand year old vampire that Eric wouldn't choose this moment to run away, to decide against what he had come here to do. He could see the hesitance in Eric's face as he looked between Godric and Mackenzie, unsure of what to do. He was uncomfortable, Godric understood that. But Eric needed to adjust to this. If he couldn't handle this, they needed to know now, before Mackenzie was hurt any further.
After a moment, and to all of their surprise, Eric let out a long, heavy sigh before reaching down and tugging the girl up into his arms. Mackenzie wore her own look of surprise as she found herself for the first real time, in the arms of the man she had so desperately wished would come for her, to take her home. And now here he was.
"Would you like to go home, Mackenzie?" Eric caught her wide eyed gaze.
Her eyes widened even more in shock, but the elation covering her face spoke wonders. She didn't speak however. She didn't utter a word. She was too afraid that he would change his mind, or that she would say the wrong thing and ruin this moment. All she ever wanted want for him to hold her, for him to care. She knew, even at such a young age, that Eric wasn't her father, that he never wanted to be. Godric loved her more than Eric ever would. But she still loved the man that had saved her life, that had given her a home for two years. And despite everything, that would never change. She loved him as any child loved a parent; unconditionally.
"Well I would hope so." Godric decided to interject, taking a step forward and reaching a hand out to twirl a lock of Mackenzie's hair. "Unless you'd rather stay here, love."
Her head whipped between the two as if watching a tennis match before she rapidly began shaking her head no, her cheeks a soft rosy colour as her hands curled around Eric's shirt.
"I want to go home." She stated with certainty.
Godric eyed Eric, and while he would never point it out to his progeny, he found Eric's lips twitching ever so slightly upwards.
"Good." Eric nodded, tightening his arm around Mackenzie before gazing down at his maker. "I'm..."
"You don't need to say another word, Eric." Godric shook his head, his smile widening. "This is all I've ever wanted. And this is what Mackenzie wants. Truth be told, I much rather visit this little one and be a loving uncle than to be the father of a troublemaker."
Eric raised an eyebrow. "What exactly has happened in the past week?"
"Nothing!" Mackenzie blurted out, panic written on her face. She eyed Godric, wondering whether or not she was going to get into anymore trouble for all the rules she had broken. "I-I didn't do anything. I swear!"
"Hm, is that right, little one?" Godric teased her, ticking her side. "Well I suppose we don't need to tell Eric then, just as long as you promise me one thing."
She looked uncertain. "What?"
Godric shot his progeny a silent question before Eric nodded and handed the girl over. Mackenzie squealed as the sudden change in height difference, her arms instantly wrapping around Godric's neck. Godric couldn't help but grin as he held the girl in his arms, tapping her nose playfully to gain her attention.
"You must promise to not hate me any longer. It pains me that I ever caused you pain." He hoped that she would agree, that when she left this house, she wouldn't hold a grudge. He only did all of this to protect her, to give her the best life possible. He hoped she wouldn't hate him for that.
But as the smile spread across Mackenzie's lips, as her arms tightened around him in a hug, he knew that those painful words she spoke to him were a thing of the past.
"I love you, Godric." she murmured.
"And I love you, my sweet little one." He brushed his lips across her forehead. "Promise me that you'll be a good girl for Eric."
"I promise." She agreed with a nod. "I'm sorry I was a bad girl."
"I know you are, love." He sent her an assuring smile. "I'll see you again soon, alright? I believe we'll have to make up for that birthday party of yours."
Her eyes brightened at the mention of party. "Cake?"
Godric chuckled. "Of course, love, but only as long as you eat your supper and clean up your toys."
"I will, I will, I will." She promised, her pigtails bouncing up and down as she nodded. "I'll be a good girl from now on."
"Good." He kissed the top of her nose before setting her down on the ground. He sent Eric a gaze, and was surprised to find a smile playing on his progeny's face. The moment Eric realized he was being watched, that infamous scowl of his returned, though Godric saw right through it.
"Come along now, Mackenzie." Eric held out a hand for her to take.
Mackenzie shot her guardian a look before hugging Godric around the legs one last time. Godric chuckled, patting her head lovingly before she unwrapped herself from the younger of the two and hurried over to Eric. Her tiny hand was enveloped completely by Eric's, and Godric almost wanted to laugh at the height difference between the two. Mackenzie was only a speck of dirt compared to Eric's tall, Viking, stature. It was amazing how the two had become attached to the other at all.
"Time to go home now?" Mackenzie looked up at Eric with all the love in the world.
Eric felt uncomfortable at the look, but he fought his instincts, fought the voice in his head telling him to leave without her, and instead gently squeezed his hand and nodded his head. "Yes Mackenzie, It's time to go home."
A/N: I just want to say thank you thank you thank you! the response I've gotten for this fic is just outstanding. you all rock so much, and makes me want to write just that much more.
I've had some questions asked, and I thought I would answer some of them as best as I could:
timeline: yes, this fic starts out before vampires come 'out of the coffin'. eventually, it will lead to the Great Revelation, and we'll see just how that effects all of their lives once it happens.
Eric/OC vs Godric/OC: I think it's more or less going to be no one/OC. I never really thought about a romance for this fic, it just never crossed my mind. But it's a possibility. you never know what might happen once Mackenzie grows up. But I will say this, in no way will it ever be Eric/OC...I see him more as her father, though Eric may never admit that. I know they aren't related, but in their minds, he's raising her, he's acting as her parent more so than Godric and Pam. so yeah, that definitely just won't ever happen.
my other fics: don't worry, I haven't abandoned them. I've just gotten a little writers block, and that really is how this came to be. I don't like to just stop writing. if I do, it takes even longer to get back into a fic. So be thankful for this story. it means I'm constantly writing and constantly breaking through that damn writers block.