Chapter Forty-Three:

"Let me get this straight, Miss Summers," Nan scrutinized Mackenzie with her calculating gaze. "You're trying to make me believe your family sold your blood for V."

"Northman," Mackenzie grunted for what felt like the hundredth time. "It's Northman."

Nan rolled her eyes, not caring. "You do realize the absurdity of this, don't you?"

"I'm just telling you the truth," Eric's hand squeezed hers as the headache began to set in. She was growing exhausted. It had only been last night she had discovered the truth about her parents, of how Eric had come to be her guardian. Knowing what her parents had done to her, it pained her to talk about. But she would do anything to get Nan out of their lives for good. If she had to relieve her childhood a thousand times, just so she would leave, then Mackenzie would.

"Eric has already explained this," Godric could feel Mackenzie's exhaustion and frowned at the woman across from them. "And Mackenzie has retold her story countless of times. I believe you've heard everything you've needed to, Ms. Flanagan."

"Not quite," Nan leaned forward and narrowed her orbs. "I'm still not convinced she won't fuck this all up."

If Mackenzie could just get up and leave, she would have. But the vampires that surrounded them with guns still caused her to worry, despite Godric and Eric's assurance that she was safe. She didn't want to have to prove to Nan that she meant vampires no harm.

"She's just a girl," Godric spoke for Mackenzie. "She just wants this nightmare to end."

"She has no desire to ruin your precious mainstreaming," Eric added with an eye roll.

"I want to hear it from her."

"And I've said it a hundred times!" Mackenzie blurted out angrily. She should have been worried at the glare Nan sent her, but she was too tired to care. "What more do you want from me?"

"I want to make sure you don't leave here and go running straight to your family and…"

"They aren't my family."

"They're your blood."

"That doesn't make them family," her hands curled into fists in her lap. "Eric is the one who raised me. He's my family, not those people. They kidnapped me and tormented me for days; you don't do that to family. Blood or not, they are not my family."

Eric had to fight back a smirk at the fire in Mackenzie's tone. There was never any doubt that she was a Northman.

"I don't care if you don't believe me. I don't care if your Authority doesn't believe me. I am not going to go off and claim vampires have ruined my life when it's not true. Eric saved my life 14 years ago. Maybe you don't like what he did, keeping me and covering it up, but it happened. And I for one am happy for it. I wouldn't be here right now if it hadn't of been for Eric, Godric and Pam. They are my family," Mackenzie spat out, her fury growing. "Believe what you want to believe, I really don't care. But I'm telling you the truth."

"You're still dying," Nan mused, settling back in the chair.

Mackenzie stiffened at the comment that sounded much more like an accusation than anything else. If it had been a week ago, she would have agreed with Nan without hesitance. But now, she wasn't entirely sure that she was dying.

Shooting Godric a quick glance, his orbs told her what she needed to know. The Authority didn't know of their blood bond, nor did they need to know.

"Yes, Ms. Flanagan, I am. But that isn't any fault of vampires, so I really don't understand what this has to do with everything," Mackenzie did her best to remain calm. She had learned too well from her family how to respond in a situation like this.

"It might just be the key to fixing this."

Eyebrows furrowing, Mackenzie glanced at Eric quizzically. What the hell was Nan talking about?

"Whatever you're thinking in that sick mind of yours, the answer is no," Eric growled, his hand falling protectively onto Mackenzie's knee. "We've played your game and answered your questions. It's time for you to go. Now."

"I'm not done."

"Leave or I'll stake you."

"Just try, Northman, just try."

Godric sighed as he rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Enough, Eric."

"Godric, she's…"

"I said enough," Godric's voice rose, sending his progeny a pointed look.

Eric's eyes narrowed but quieted, his hand remaining on Mackenzie's knee. She laid hers on top of his, grasping his hand tightly.

"My child is correct, however, Ms. Flanagan. We have answered your questions. I see no reason why we need to drag this out," Godric stood, the vampire guards stationed around the room tensing. Each expected the ancient to suddenly snap, to kill them all within only seconds. "We've been more than accommodating to the Authority."

"I'm not done," Nan repeated with venom. "I need reassurance that this won't blow the fuck up."

"What do you want? What the hell more do you want?" Pam snarled from behind the couch.

Nan ignored her as she stared pointedly at Mackenzie. "I want you to be America's next little darling."

Mackenzie had to blink, uncertain if she had heard the woman right. "What?"

"You heard me," Nan brushed off the imaginary lint from her skirt. "You're going to go live tomorrow and spit out whatever the Authority wants you to say and convince the world just how much you love your little fuck up of a family."

The blood drained from Mackenzie's face. Live on TV? "I-I can't…"

"Oh you can. And you will," Nan suddenly stood, her orbs narrowed. "Or else I'll make your lives a living hell. Roman may not want any of you dead, but I will damn well make him rethink that even if it's the last thing I do."

"No," Eric hissed. "Not a chance."

"There's no choice in the matter, Northman," Nan glared. "She started this mess; she's going to end it."

"But I…" what was she even supposed to say? How was she supposed to go on live television with a smile? She was barely able to keep it together in that moment. She was never going to be able to do so while there were cameras pushed at her face with an entire nation listening to every single word she managed to mumble.

"Fix this fucking fiasco and we'll forget about all the shit you've put the Authority through," Nan began towards the door before Mackenzie had even agreed. "I'm not asking."

"This is not over," Godric stepped forward. "We haven't agreed to this."

"Oh this is plenty over," Nan turned on him. "She does this interview and we're done here. If not, it's your asses. Do you really want a choice?"

Mackenzie's shoulders sagged in defeat. She knew she couldn't refuse. If she did, they would all be screwed.

But how the hell was she going to manage this?

"Okay," she agreed in a small voice, wincing at the surprised and dark looks she was receiving from her family. "Okay I'll do it."

Nan smirked. "Good."

She turned and walked out of the room before another word could be spoke. Godric dropped immediately back onto the couch, dumbfounded by what had just occurred. Eric meanwhile, jumped to his feat the moment the door slammed shut. The rage spilled off of the Viking as his hands curled into tight fists at his sides. He searched the room for an object, any object at all, to toss across the room, to shatter into a million pieces. Pam stopped him, however, with a roll of her eyes and a hand on his shoulder.

"We really don't need to destroy another room," Pam tried to calm her maker.

Eric growled at her, sending her a dark glare before storming back and forth before them, the entire floor shaking from his pacing. Mackenzie just sat there, watching her guardian with glazed over orbs. She was lost in her thoughts, kicking herself for agreeing to the interview. Was it really going to solve anything? Her psychotic family would continue to seek her out. They were never going to leave her in peace. The Authority could come for them at any time, and despite Godric's assurance that they were safe, it was still a possibility – one that worried her. No, this interview wasn't going to fix anything at all; she was just throwing herself into the lion's den all in the hopes that she could just go home.

"Mackenzie?" Godric gently touched her knee, pulling her out of her thoughts. "Are you all right?"

She nodded numbly, though her entire form was rigid in concern.

"You don't have to do the interview," Godric could feel her hesitance. "This is entirely your decision."

"Of course she shouldn't do the interview," Eric grunted, ceasing his pacing as he came to a rest before them. "It was an idiotic idea to begin with."

"Eric," Godric warned.

"The whole point of everything we've done for her has been to keep her out of the public eye. Now you just want to shove her into it? This will only put her in more danger," the Viking ranted with narrowed eyes. "She won't do it."

"It's her choice."

"And I'm the parent."

"Technically she's 18," Pam chirped in before glancing at the teen in question. "But I do agree with you; she shouldn't do it. She's been through enough."

"If she wishes to do it, then she will," Godric stated pointedly. "We've all made too many decisions for her. It's time she's allowed to make her own."

"She doesn't understand the implications. She doesn't…"

"She's sitting right here," Mackenzie muttered with a frown. "She can hear you all talking about her."

Eric just rolled his eyes as he resumed his pacing. Pam snorted before muttering about getting herself cleaned up, her clothes still splattered with dried blood. Godric, meanwhile, remained at Mackenzie's side, offering his hand to her. She gladly took it, searching for even an ounce of comfort after the night they had all had. All she wanted was to climb into bed and sleep for a week. Or two.

"If this interview is what you want, Mackenzie, then you will do it," his thumb caressed the palm of her hand, causing a chill to run down her spine at his touch. "It's entirely up to you."

"No it's not," Eric grumbled, coming to another stop. "This isn't her decision at all."

Mackenzie sighed as he and Godric began arguing, an act they were all too good at doing ever since they had rescued her from the basement of the fellowship. She was tired of the bickering. She was tired of the fighting. She was tired of all the confusion. She was just tired.

Having enough, Mackenzie suddenly stood, dropping Godric's hand as she maneuvered her way around the vampires and towards the door. She didn't make it very far, however, as Eric suddenly appeared before her.

"And where do you think you're going?" he raised an eyebrow down at her.

"I'm tired of you two fighting," she tried to move around him, but he merely followed her movements, blocking her path. "I'm tired of everyone being mad at each other. We're supposed to be a family and we're not exactly acting like one."

"Members of families don't claim each other," Eric mused, his gaze darkening as he glared over her shoulder at his maker. He hadn't forgotten the shocking claim. Those three words would haunt him for all of eternity.

Godric sighed and shook his head. Now was not the time to argue over something so trivial. "This isn't the time, Eric."

"Then when is the time?"

"I taught you many things, my son, including survival and death. I chose survival tonight for all of us. Claiming Mackenzie was necessary. It may just save her life one day."

Mackenzie grit her teeth as the two vampires argued as if she wasn't even standing there between them. Even if she was curious about this claiming, she didn't even care at the moment. She just wanted a moment of peace. They had been fighting before Nan had appeared and they were still fighting after she was gone. When would the end be in sight?

"Don't you dare say claiming her was necessary," Eric snarled. "You're merely trying to take her away from me, just like you have been doing ever since we've gotten her back."

"You're being ridiculous, Eric. I am not trying to take her away from you. I was only trying to…"

"Don't make yourself out to seem like the hero," the enraged Viking hissed. "You knew I wouldn't approve. You knew I would hate this and you did it anyways."

She couldn't take it any longer. They had all barely just survived; their lives were still threatened if she didn't perform exactly to the Authority's liking during the interview the next day. And here her vampires were, arguing over something she didn't even understand. She had had enough.

"Oh stop it! Just stop it!"

When both ignored her, Mackenzie threw her hands up in frustration and instead moved back over to the couch. She plopped down onto it and put her head in her hands, the tears beginning to form. She hadn't cried a single tear during the whole ordeal. She may have vomited, she may have been petrified and appalled, but she hadn't allowed her emotions to get the better of her. Her façade was quickly falling, however, and she had no energy to stop the tears as they slid down her cheeks one by one.

"Mackenzie?" the arguing suddenly stopped, Godric appearing at her side. "What is it, my love?"

"Please just stop it," it was a whimpered plea as she kept her face hidden. "Please. I can't…I can't handle anymore tonight."

Eric's anger crumbled the moment he smelt the salty tears. His heart broke and he appeared on her other side. He cursed himself for only adding to her pain. She had endured more than any human ever should in her short lifetime.

"Please don't cry, Mackenzie," he tugged her hands from her face, frowning at her red and blotchy eyes. He began wiping away the tears with the pads of his thumb, hating more than anything in the world to see her upset. He had never been able to take her tears as a child, and it was even more difficult now that she was older. "You know I hate it when you cry."

"Well too bad for you then," she mumbled, pushing his hands away as she rubbed at her eyes. "You're acting like assholes."

Eric raised an eyebrow but didn't disagree. She was right, after all; They had all nearly met the true death, and instead of worrying about their fates over the next few days, he and his maker were arguing over a mere claim.

"I'm sorry," he murmured, pulling her into his arms, encasing her form with his long arms. "I'm so sorry, Mackenzie."

Godric sighed heavily as he stood and began his own pacing. "We never should have let it ever come to this."

"I agree."

Godric took one glance at Mackenzie and it tore him apart. She had nearly been taken from them tonight, and the mere thought caused his inner beast to roar. Perhaps they would have to discuss his personal claim over the girl, but she had always been, and will continue to be theirs. They were a family, despite their mistakes and faults, despite all the pain and heartache, despite everything. They were a family.

"Perhaps the interview isn't the best idea," Godric admitted.

"Ah, so now you agree with me," Eric rolled his eyes. "What happened to letting her make her own decisions?"

"Well perhaps this one isn't a good one for her to make," Godric frowned.

"She is still sitting right here!" Mackenzie tried to pull herself out of Eric's arms, only for the Viking to keep her in place. "Oh let me go, you ogre!"

"Well that's not very nice, Mackenzie," Eric snorted. "I'm only trying to do the nice thing and comfort you here."

"Ass," she muttered under her breath, well aware that he could hear her.

"Careful."

She shot him a glare before turning her narrowed gaze onto Godric. "I'm doing the interview."

"I don't think it would be the wisest idea," Godric shook his head. "You're hesitant of it, I can feel that you are, Mackenzie."

"Maybe I am, but that doesn't change the fact that I'm doing it," she argued. "Nan sad that it could fix all of this. Maybe it will. Maybe if the Authority and everyone else believes I'm just a poor innocent dying girl who was attacked and tormented by humans with vampires coming to her rescue, then they'll leave us all alone," she had her doubts, but she would pray to any god that would listen that she would have her end result. She didn't know if she was still sick or not, but if she was, she at least wanted to spend the last of her days not looking over her shoulder, worried that someone would attack. That was no life to live.

"Mackenzie," Eric began.

"I'm doing it," she stated with determination. "What are you going to do, lock me up so I can't say anything? The fellowship already tried that and failed."

Eric frowned at her casual mention of her kidnapping. "You know I would never."

"Just let me do this. It could fix everything. I just want everything to be fixed already so we can go home and forget about this nightmare," as her orbs grew sad, both vampires' hearts melted. "Please, just let me do this. All I want to do is go home. If we make them happy, then they'll leave us alone. Please."

Eric didn't like it one bit. He didn't want her to be forced in front of a camera, to endure question after question concerning the last few days. How could she even want to do this? But one gaze down at her, and he knew he would bend to her will. She was the only human, the only being in existence, that had him wrapped around her finger. And she didn't even realize it. He would find a way to make the world stop turning if she pleaded him for it. She no longer needed the big round eyes and manipulative tears that he was sure Pam had taught her as a child. Mackenzie merely had to ask and he would do it.

"I'm not happy about this," he grumbled but nodded.

Godric raised an eyebrow at his progeny. "You're allowing her to do the interview?"

Eric shrugged, tugging the teen tighter against him. "Isn't this what we're supposed to do? Let her make her own decisions?"

It was almost humourous to Godric that Eric had agreed so easily. He may never admit it to another soul, but Mackenzie had changed Eric. For the better, Godric noted.

"I can really do the interview?" Mackenzie glanced between the two vampires. "And then we can go home? All of us?"

"Home would be nice," Godric admitted with a small smile.

"And then we'll go home," Eric agreed.

Mackenzie sighed in relief, her shoulders sagging. "Thank god. I could use my own bed."

"Speaking of which," Godric nodded around the room. "I'll get us a new room. I don't believe anyone would care to return to ours."

Mackenzie shuddered as she remembered the bloodied room. The last thing she ever wanted was to step into that room again.

"Already done," Pam stepped out of the bedroom towel drying her hair. "It's down the hall. They'll be waiting with your things."

Eric shot her a grateful smile. "Thank you, Pam."

She shrugged. "I'm selfish. I don't like sharing things."

He snorted, rolling his eyes as Pam dropped her bloodied clothes into the garbage. "I'll see to it that gets replaced."

"Don't worry about it. I've already sent Flanagan my bill."

"You should sleep," Eric leaned against the bedroom doorway, his lips forming a frown as Mackenzie sat on the king sized bed looking lost in thought. "You've had a long day. We all have."

"I'm not tired," she shrugged, lying to her guardian. She was exhausted, but her thoughts wouldn't let her sleep. How could she? All she could think about was the interview the next night – the interview that could change their lives entirely. If she didn't prove to the Authority that she wasn't a threat, then their lives would be in danger. She couldn't possibly sleep with that responsibility weighing on her shoulders.

And the nightmares.

She was petrified of the nightmares she was certain to have. She knew she couldn't just witness vampires bursting into piles of goo without having nightmares.

"That's a lie."

"Still not sleeping."

Eric sighed as he pushed himself away from the doorway and moved into the room. He settled on the edge of the bed, scrutinizing Mackenzie. She was staring down at her lap as she pulled her knees up to her chest, her arms circling around them. He saw the worry and fear, though she was trying desperately to hide her concerns from him. It caused his chest to clench knowing he was at fault for her pain. He should have been able to shield her from this, to do a better job. Perhaps if he hadn't of sent her to New York, none of this would have happened. Perhaps if he had been a better guardian, the parent that she deserved to have, they would have been happier.

"You need to sleep, Mackenzie. Tomorrow isn't going to be easy. You're going to need your rest."

"I'm fine," she insisted. "I'm just not tired."

"Liar," Eric's frown deepened. "Tell me what's wrong."

"I said I'm fine."

"You are anything but fine," he shook his head.

"Well of course I'm not!" she snapped, her expression crumbling. "But I really don't want to talk about it."

His head tilted to the side as he watched her closely. Mackenzie shifted uncomfortably on the bed under his stare, knowing full well that he could see right through her façade. She hated that he knew her so well, even despite the years they had been apart. He had always known exactly what she was thinking.

"Mackenzie," he moved closer, grasping her chin and forcing her gaze to meet his. Her orbs still sought out anything else of interest. She knew she would break if he kept looking at her like that. Eric may have been the emotionless vampire most of her life, but he had always been able to invoke her emotions. And she was tired of crying. She didn't want to cry anymore. "Look at me, Mackenzie."

"I don't want to," she murmured, shaking her head.

"Just look at me," he jostled her chin, but still she wouldn't meet his gaze. Sighing, Eric cupped her cheeks, his thumbs caressing her warm skin. He frowned for a moment, his hand reaching up to feel her forehead. She felt warmer than normal. "Are you feeling sick?"

Mackenzie shook her head again, but it didn't cease Eric's worry. He didn't know what he would do if the cancer returned. He may detest his maker for having a bond with his daughter, but the possibility of Mackenzie being cured caused him a sense of joy he never thought was possible.

"Hey," he tried to grab her attention. "I need you to look at me, Mackenzie."

"I can't," her bottom lip began to quicker, her voice cracking. He could see the tears rimming her eyes and he immediately wanted to yank her into his arms and never let go.

"Yes you can."

"I don't want to cry anymore," he was reminded too well of a much younger version of the girl, one that had been frightened by the monsters under her bed. She would cry some nights for hours, pleading him not to send her to bed. He used to curse having to drop to his knees to look under her bed, but now he wanted nothing more than to return to those moments. It was so much easier comforting a wailing six year old than the broken 18-year-old before him.

"I don't want you to cry either," Eric cringed when she bit down hard on her bottom lip, trying to ward away the sobs. "You know I hate it when you cry. But I need you to look at me."

Her hands starting shaking violently, Eric grasping them as she slowly let her eyes fall on Eric's the moment their orbs locked, the sobs slipped from her lips.

"I don't want this," she cried out, her guardian tugged her quickly against his chest. "I don't want to do this anymore."

"Shh," he tried to soothe her.

He didn't know what he was doing, however. He never did with her. It was always a guessing game. Most of the time he got it wrong. He should never have sent her to New York. He never should have just abandoned her like he had. She could have been just as safe with him than across the country. He could have given her the best care when she grew sick. He had failed her on so many accounts, and he was failing her again.

"I wish I could fix this," Eric brushed his lips across her forehead before resting his chin on the top of her head. She was curled into him, making herself as tiny as possible as he tried his best to console her. "I wish I could do this for you."

"Why is this happening to us? Why can't they just leave us alone?"

"We've evaded them for so long, Mackenzie. I was foolish to think I could avoid this forever," he would never forgive himself for not being more careful. He shouldn't have pushed Mackenzie away. She never would have gone to the hanger and her family never would have kidnapped her. They could have been happy. They could have been a family.

Instead Mackenzie had been put through pain not a single soul ever should have.

Eric could feel the anger start to rise. He desperately wanted to hurt something. He wanted to cause her family the same pain they had caused her. He wanted the Authority to suffer like they were causing his daughter to. He wanted revenge. He wanted justice.

He just wanted Mackenzie to stop crying.

"Eric?"

Eric sighed as he glanced over his shoulder to find his maker standing in the doorway full of concern. He could see the desire in Godric's eyes to approach, to offer his comfort, but he was hesitating. Eric was almost pleased at that, but quickly shook the thought away. Mackenzie was hurting. She was in pain. He may detest how close his maker and Mackenzie had grown in such a short amount of time, but she had always depended on Godric. Their relationship may have changed since she was a young girl, but her dependency on his maker would always remain.

"Come," Eric nodded, lifting Mackenzie and moving her back into the middle of the bed. He settled beside her on the bed and motioned Godric to the other side.

Godric still hesitated, his gaze never leaving Mackenzie's sobbing form as she clutched onto her guardian. He had felt the anguish the moment the first tear slipped down her cheek, and it had been excruciating. He had nearly torn apart the sitting room just knowing that she was in here, aching over everything that had occurred. All Godric wanted was to take her into his arms and promise her the world, to beg for her tears to cease. But could he do so innocently? Would Eric ever permit his bond with Mackenzie?

"She needs you – us – right now," Eric insisted through clenched teeth. "Just for tonight, I don't care. I don't care that she has dreams of you, or you of her. I don't care about your bond. I don't care about anything other than her. She needs you. She's always needed you more than she's needed me."

"That's not true, Eric," Godric shook his head, though his shoulders dropped in relief as he crossed the room and cautiously sat on Mackenzie's other side. "You just never realized how much she did need you before."

Eric frowned, but didn't respond. Instead, he whispered into Mackenzie's ear, running his long fingers through her hair. Godric slowly reached out until his fingertips met with her back. He drew small circles up and down her spine, hoping to offer her even the slightest bit of comfort. Soon, her sobs began to quiet, her form growing still. Godric sighed as he shifted closer so the two vampires were cocooning her. What she needed now more than ever was to feel safe. Whatever resentment Eric may have towards Godric in that moment, it didn't matter. She was all that they cared about.

"You don't have to do this if you don't want to," Godric murmured in her ear. "We can find another way. You don't have to do any of this."

"Yes I do," her voice was tiny and muffled as her face stayed hidden against Eric's chest.

"We promise to protect you. We can find another…"

"I just want to go home," she was breaking both vampire's dead hearts. "And if I do this, I can go home."

"Home," Eric agreed, his arm tightening around her. "And you'll never leave again. I swear it."

"Never?" she asked hopefully.

"Never."