A/N: Greetings from the lovely Electric Violinist and her partner in crime. We did make a plan for this chapter, but it seemed to go completely out of the window. So we hope you enjoy what we created instead. Thank you again for the people who took the time to review, we really do love to hear what you think. Please drop us a little comment in the box below if you like what you read :)

"We don't have to move, do we?" Ste muttered.

They were lying in the crypt; Brendan on his back, Ste with his head on Brendan's glorious chest and an arm around his waist, as they had been for hours. Brendan had put a comforting arm around Ste's shoulders, holding him close.

"No," replied Brendan, "we can stay here forever if you want."

Ste splayed his hand over Brendan's muscles, amongst the smattering of dark hair. "I'd like that," he said.

It wasn't as cold as Ste would have imagined. He assumed it must be a warm day outside and between that and presumably Ste's body heat, Brendan felt like a comfortable temperature to rest on. In fact, he felt almost human. Which was nice, but right now Ste felt superhuman. Like he could fly, like he could touch the stars. Brendan had that effect on him.

"What happens when your sister or Mitzeee come looking for us?" he asked, with a smile. He knew they couldn't really stay forever, but it was a fun game.

"I'll send them away," said Brendan, simply, "I'm their maker, they are compelled to do as I say."

Ste lifted his head. That suggested more questions than it answered. "Why did you make them?" he said, "I assume you mean you turned them into vampires? You hate being a vampire."

Brendan nodded, "With Cheryl I was very young, only just been turned myself and she was dying. Better I turned her than… he did."

"Who…?" Ste started but Brendan carried on, like he was avoiding the question.

"Mitzeee ... I found her dying, in an alley. She was too young to die. I'm not sure it was the right thing. She deserved a life, but not this one."

Ste's stomach was twisting and he couldn't help wondering what he would chose, to be a vampire or to die. It wasn't something he could address yet.

But another question was nagging at him. "So if vampires have to do as their makers instruct them, is there someone out there who can control you?"

Brendan smirked. "Apparently not!" he said, proudly.

"How come?" Ste asked.

"Only time that witch has done a spell that worked," said Brendan, "She freed me of that tie. I tested the spell once and when it worked, I ran, taking Chez and Anne with me. Never looked back."

"So why didn't you free Cheryl and Mitzeee?" asked Ste, wondering how harshly he should be judging Brendan, but realising not one answer had so far changed the way he felt about the vampire.

Brendan sighed, "I let Anne and Cheryl come and go as they please, they just choose to stick with me make my un-dead life a misery. Besides I don't know if the witch could do it a second time if she tried. It was more important to break his hold."

"Why?" asked Ste, "was he…"

"I just mean, that if he controlled me he controlled all of us," said Brendan, "I don't order them around much. I'd need to get a word in edge ways if I wanted to do that. Only dire emergencies, you know, to save their lives."

Something told Ste that Brendan was holding back part of that story. He felt like making Brendan tell him the truth, but it also felt wrong to try. Brendan would tell him when he was ready. And it wasn't like he could force the vampire to tell him anything.

A slight chill was permeating the air. Maybe it reflected Brendan's thoughts, now he was thinking of his maker. It made Ste snuggle closer, pull more of his body over Brendan's to keep them both warm. It felt like it worked. Brendan pulled him even closer, until he was lying on top of Brendan, every inch touching. He laughed.

"I'll squash you," he said.

"What, a little thing like you?" smiled Brendan, "barely notice you're there."

"Ha!" cried Ste, offended, and tucking a hand between them, finding proof of Brendan's lie. "So you just go around feeling this turned on?" Ste teased, holding the hard cock in his hand in a way that he hoped would entice Brendan but not too much.

Brendan groaned so Ste smirked at him, and let his hand trace the shape it held, making Brendan grown louder and grab Ste's head, pulling him in for a deep kiss. Ste enjoyed the kiss, but pulled away.

"Stay where you are," he instructed.

Brendan frowned at him. "Why?" he asked. Ste just grinned at him, and crawled backwards, enjoying Brendan's beautiful chest with eyes and fingers. He kissed a nipple. Brendan gasped, but must have enjoyed it, because he didn't make a move to stop him. Ste kissed further down, trailing a line to Brendan's belly button, then further and further, until he had to kneel between Brendan's legs or fall off the stone.

"This what you want?" he asked and bent his head to kiss Brendan's cock.

Brendan shuddered. "I want to throw you against a wall and fuck you 'til you scream."

Ste grinned at him, "Later," he said, and swiped a tongue around the head of Brendan's cock. He loved the noises Brendan was making, almost pleading, desperate, but letting Ste have his own way. Ste couldn't have been happier, as he licked and kissed, then took the whole thing into his mouth. If Brendan's reaction was anything to go by, he liked that too. He cried Ste's name loud enough to wake the dead around them, but only when Ste thought Brendan was ready to explode did he pull away.

"Well, what are you waiting for?" he said, "Fuck me!"

He didn't see Brendan get up, just felt his back hit the wall as Brendan practically threw them there. Then all he could see was Brendan's face, filled with such intensity it sent a shiver up Ste's spine, then he felt Brendan enter him and nothing else could even enter his consciousness anymore.

"Tease," Brendan growled into his ear, as Ste clung to him for his life, "I hope you're ready for the repercussions."

Ste was, he really, really was.

Brendan fucked him mercilessly. And Ste did scream. He screamed Brendan's name over and over until he was hoarse and they were both ready to explode. Which was when a nutter ran in and pulled Brendan away.

"Jesus!" Ste shouted, falling to the ground unceremoniously.

"Unhand him, you fiend!" shouted the nutter, and Ste saw a wooden stake in his hand.

"Brendan!" he screamed, with fear this time. He couldn't lose Brendan this soon after finding him. He ran at the invader of their special place, but he needn't have bothered. Brendan grabbed the wrist that held the stake and slammed that against the stone nearby. The assailant dropped his weapon and Brendan shoved him against the wall.

It was Walker.

Brendan growled at him. "What the hell do you think you're doing, Walker?"

"Protecting an innocent!" the slayer shouted, struggling against Brendan's hold on him, "you nearly had me fooled, had me thinking you were well meaning, but you're just a monster, aren't you?"

"No!" Ste snapped.

"Got him fooled, too," Walker sneered, "but I know what you were doing! I heard him screaming."

"We were having sex!" Ste shouted, indicating his naked form.

Walker simply looked disgusted, "You open your legs for all the monsters, do you?"

Brendan roared. Ste saw his sharp fangs spring out, ready to kill.

"Brendan, stop!" he shouted.

Brendan didn't let Walker go, nor his teeth retract, but he didn't continue his attack. "He insulted you!"

"So?" said Ste, "Let him go, he's just an idiot!"

Brendan glared at Walker once again, but stepped away, let him free. Ste saw Walker's eyes dart around the room, searching for his weapon once more, but Ste wasn't going to let anyone hurt Brendan if he could help it. He beat Walker to the stake, and grabbed it away, out of his reach.

"You try anything, if you try to hurt him again, it won't be him you have to worry about," he told the slayer angrily, "you try to hurt either of us and you die, you got that?"

Walker glared at him in silence, but didn't move. Ste took that as acceptance, and continued.

"Brendan hasn't hurt anyone," he said, "he's not a monster. He's a good man."

Walker's expression told Ste he wasn't about to agree any time soon. Ste didn't care. He'd said all he needed to about that.

"There are three vampires that are out there hurting people. I met two of them last night, they kidnapped me and a witch, but we escaped." He checked the door, seeing that it was dark again. He and Brendan had spent the whole day together, dozing and cuddling and having sex, but now it was time to face the monsters. "We need to find them and stop them. Are you going to help?"

Walker glared once more between them.

"If anyone hurt your brother, it's them," Ste told him. "I know they killed Theresa and Will."

"He killed my brother!" Walker snapped, pointing at Brendan.

"I don't even know who your brother is!" Brendan snapped, the words clearly frustrating Walker further.

"That doesn't help, Brendan!" Ste told him, annoyed.

"I didn't kill him!" snapped Brendan, "I've not killed anyone in ages."

Ste didn't want to delve too deep into that statement. He turned back to Walker.

"We need to find them, and you've done lots of research into vampires, haven't you?"

Walker nodded, still clearly suspicious.

"We stand a chance if you help us, Simon," Ste told him. "But you don't stand a chance against one naked, surprised vampire alone, you think you'll handle three?"

Walker glared again at Brendan, and Ste wondered if they'd already had this conversation, but maybe it was repetition that worked as Walker gave a second stiff nod.

Ste nodded back. He hoped they would be enough.

The walk back to the club was strange. Brendan had decided not to fly, not trusting Walker alone and not wanting to carry two humans. And it would feel wrong, letting another man in to that wonderful world of flying with Steven.

The boy almost clung to him, keeping himself firmly between Brendan and the slayer and one hand at all times touching Brendan somewhere. He hoped the boy wasn't scarred. It must have been a terrifying experience, being kidnapped and of course they were about to ask him to relive it. They needed to know everything they could about these vampires.

Brendan stopped as they reached the steps that lead to the club and turned to look at Walker. "Let's get this straight Walker, the only reason you're still alive right now is because of young Steven here. If I get a whiff of any funny business, your brother dying will be the least of your problems. Do you understand?"

Walker scowled darkly at him. "Fine."

Brendan made sure Walker went first up the steps, there was no way he was turning his back on the other man even for a second. Then he made Steven go next, ready to protect the boy if anything or anyone came from behind. They stepped into the club and Brendan immediately sensed that the place was full of beings, Steven was pretty much the only non-supernatural one there. Anne was in front of them in seconds, her face revealing nothing.

"I've closed the club for a few hours and called a meeting of our most trusted allies." she said coldly. "I've also left a bill for my dry cleaning in your office and yes my favourite shoes are now ruined Brendan, thank you for that. I've also had about ten showers and I still smell worse than Cheryl's dog."

"Thank you Anne." said Brendan smoothly. He knew the only reason he wasn't getting more of an ear-full was because of their guests. Brendan was a prominent figure in the vampire world, it wouldn't help anyone if other vampires thought there was mutiny in his own ranks.

Anne's eyes travelled over to Walker. "What's he doing here?"

"I invited him." said Steven.

"You?" asked Anne, pulling a face. "Why on earth would you do that for? And how did you get Brendan to agree...' she sniffed loudly. 'Oh that's how."

Brendan stared coldly at his child, knowing his silent death threat with his eyes was not going to be effective this time. "Take him to my office, it's time to see how he deals playing with the big boys."

Anne begrudgingly nodded at the order, escorting Walker away from them. Brendan glared at Walker the whole time he was in sight, he didn't trust him but Steven seemed to think they needed him. Anne returned less than a minute later with a smug look on her face.

"You reek of sex Ste." said Anne loudly, "The smell is practically rolling off you in waves. How many times did you two do it?' she sniffed again. "At least seven times I'd say."

"He reeks of what?" said Cheryl's shrill voice from across the club. She materialised in front of them all in seconds, her eyes filled with excitement.

"Anne." said Brendan with a warning in his voice.

"Sex." said Anne loudly. "While I was disposing of yesterday's little problem, Brendan was seeing to his own personal one. I hope you're going to be in a better mood now you've gotten rid of all that sexual frustration; he's been a nightmare to deal with Ste, you've done us all a favour by finally opening your legs."

Steven's cheeks turned a delicious red.

"Anne." said Brendan, giving her one last chance to shut her mouth.

"I'm surprised he didn't snap you like a twig, you're that skinny.' continued Anne, unaware her maker was about to murder her.

"Brendan." said Steven calmly, seeming to sense his displeasure. His hand on Brendan's arm had an instant calming effect.

Anne seemed to notice the expression on both Brendan and Ste's faces. "What?"

"And you call me the stupid one." said Cheryl, smirking at Anne in a knowing way. "Everyone's in your office Bren, they want to know what you're going to do about this situation."

"Do the monkeys always need the organ grinder to tell them what to do?" asked Brendan in frustration.

"Warren's in there." said Anne so quietly that probably only Brendan and Cheryl heard.

"Foxy's in there?" groaned Brendan, instantly feeling his good mood darkening. One of the best days of his un-dead life was fast turning to the worst. He half wished he'd just stayed in that crypt with Steven now, life would have been a lot easier if he had. "Hasn't he got anything better to do?" he glanced in the direction Walker went, "couldn't the slayer have sorted him rather than getting in my business?"

"Who's Foxy?" Steven asked Cheryl.

Cheryl pulled a face, as if she'd smelt something particularly bad. "He's another vampire, almost as powerful as our Bren. He runs and controls his own area, but he's been after Brendan's patch for years."

"Cheryl and him used to date." inputted Anne. "They sounded like rutting pigs when they went at it. It's not one of the most pleasant of memories or sounds."

"What happened?" asked Steven.

"Warren tried to buy me off Brendan." answered Anne, cringing at the memory. "When Brendan said no the two of them had a massive fight, almost wrecked the village. Don't you remember the apparent storm damage that was reported in the papers a few months back? That was them. Warren's been after DOA ever since, he seems to think I'll fall into his arms if he gets rid of Brendan. I'd rather stake myself."

Steven's face screwed up with concern, in a way that Brendan didn't like.

"Isn't it time I met my adoring public?" said Brendan, making sure his face was a mask that revealed nothing. He really didn't want his children airing their dirty laundry in front of Steven. "I'm sure Foxy has kept an empty space next to him reserved just for me. Maybe afterwards the two of us could braid each others' hair, put on pyjamas and eat ice-cream together." he said sarcastically.

Anne shot a pointed look at Brendan, which he didn't like one bit. "You haven't marked him." she stated simply.

"No." growled Brendan before she could say anything else.

"If he goes into that room full of vampires without being marked, you know what'll happen. You might as well have left him to the wolves." said Anne regretfully. "You need to mark him once and for all."

Steven paled, his trusting eyes now on Brendan. 'What does she mean by marking me?"

"She wants me to bite you Steven." said Brendan, trying to sound more confident than he actually felt. "Once I bite you it's a sign to other vampires that you're taken, that I'm your mate. It means by our laws that they can't touch or come near you without my say so."

"Oh." said Steven faintly.

"I'm not going to do it," said Brendan firmly, scowling at Anne for even suggesting it.

"Brendan..." started Cheryl.

"No." he growled.

"You know it'll secure his safety amongst our kind." said Anne. "Warren will see it as a sign of weakness if you don't do it. I'm suggesting this because I care about you both, not to prove some silly point."

"Just do it." said Steven suddenly, putting to rest the argument.

All three vampires looked at him with an expression that could only be called shock.

"Steven..." started Brendan.

"It's my choice, innit? I trust you, so please just do it." he closed his eyes tightly, as if he expected Brendan to jump on and bite him immediately.

Anne grabbed Cheryl's arm, seeming to understand how truly delicate the situation was. "We'll give you two some privacy, you know where we are when you're ready. I'll keep them entertained."

Cheryl opened and closed her mouth as if she wanted to stay something, but closed it abruptly spotting the look on Brendan's face. The two disappeared towards the office, where Brendan could sense the chosen members of this mixed up war council were waiting. He wondered if Foxy had heard their conversation and was sitting there with that ugly smirk on his faced, Brendan knew he should have killed him years ago. Maybe he'd do it later, there was plenty of room in the cellar of DOA for another body.

"Steven, you don't have to do this." said Brendan, looking straight into his innocent blue eyes. "You could go home and be with those kiddies of yours."

Steven shook his head. "It won't hurt that much, will it?"

"No." answered Brendan mechanically, trying to ignore the fact he was salivating at the thought of it. "Some humans even get addicted to the feel of it."

Steven smiled weakly at him. "So I might enjoy it then, you never know right?"

"Steven." said Brendan, sensing how uneasy the younger man was feeling.

"Please,' said Steven weakly. "I don't want to talk about it, I just want you to do it."

Brendan stepped forward with a determined look on his face and ran a long finger down Steven's neck. Steven closed his eyes and shuddered at the contact. He soon replaced the finger with his lips, kissing along the line he'd just traced.

"You know I'd never purposely hurt you." Brendan whispered into his neck.

Steven's hands slid into his hair to answer him, his fingers lightly holding him in place. Brendan kissed his neck again and Steven seemed to melt into him, pressing his body as close as he could get it. Brendan could taste Steven's salty skin, hear the fast beating of his heart and smell his growing arousal. Steven made him feel so warm and alive. With each kiss the boy pressed his erection into Brendan's leg, making similar noises to the ones he'd made earlier in the crypt. Feeding off a human had never been this intense before.

Brendan's tongue began to trace the vein on Steven's neck which was practically pulsating with blood, begging to be bitten. His fangs began to slide out; the vampire in him was desperate for just one taste of Steven's sweet nectar. Brendan hoped he'd be able to stop himself once he'd started, a part of him just wanted to drain every drop from boy until there was nothing left. Devour every part of Steven that made him Steven.

"Are you sure?" he whispered into Steven's neck.

Steven let out a frustrated groan and pushed Brendan's head into his neck. Brendan began to shudder, until he couldn't control himself any longer. He slid his fangs straight into Steven's sweet golden skin. Brendan nearly came right at that moment: with the taste of Steven in his mouth and the unearthly noises the boy was letting out. He had never tasted anything so delicious in his entire time dead or alive. Brendan began to suck harder, lapping up every drop the boy had to offer.

"Oh God." cried Steven, nearly screaming out in pleasure. His nails digging into Brendan's hair, as if trying to anchor himself to this moment.

Brendan pulled Steven even closer, rubbing his cock up against his to create a delicious friction. They bucked into one another as Brendan continued to attack the holes in Steven's neck with his tongue. They were clinging onto each other as if they were trapped together in some raging storm, with only each other for comfort. Brendan's hands slipped down into the back of the boy's trousers, cupping his bum and guiding his erratic thrusts. He nearly stripped the boy naked then and there, wanting to fuck him until he was hoarse and incapable of speech. That would show other vampires exactly who he belonged to. As Steven's heart rate began to drop, Brendan pulled away from him suddenly and took his hands away from Steven's beautiful warm skin.

"Are you okay?" he asked roughly, knowing perhaps he'd taken just a bit too much blood. His whole body felt alive from it, like he was still a human and the warm blood pumping around his body was his own.

"Yes." said Steven in a whisper. His pupils were nearly twice their usual size and he almost looked drunk from the sensation of it. He stepped forward and kissed Brendan straight on the lips, not even attempting to avoid his fangs. Brendan instantly tasted the fresh smell of Steven's blood once again in his mouth, he wanted more so desperately.

"Steven you need to stop." said Brendan as he reluctantly pulled away, making sure to this time put a bit more distance between the two of them. He could see Steven was too pale and was swaying slightly from the blood loss. "I can't take even another drop from you, or you might end up in hospital." He tried to ignore the urge to feed further that was rising up inside of him. Brendan was almost relieved at the sign of Steven's healing puncture marks, it was one of the perks of being a vampire - his bite would heal quickly and leave a mark, but nothing too inconspicuous. It meant he would be less tempted to take a bite, now the smell of fresh blood was fast disappearing.

"I didn't want you to stop," said Steven chewing his lip and looking as if he was desperately trying to control himself, it seemed he was now finally coming down from the high the experience had given him. "Is that normal?"

"Yes." answered Brendan.

"Did you want to stop?"

"No."

Steven looked confused. "Then why did you?"

Brendan almost wanted to laugh at how silly the question was. "I could have killed you and I couldn't let that happen, because I made a promise to myself that I would protect you Steven." He looked Steven straight in the eyes for what he next had to say. "And because I can't live another day in a world without you in it." he reached into his pocket and found the item he was looking for. He pulled out the necklace, even though just touching it made his fingers feel as if they were on fire.

"What's that?" asked Steven, staring curiously at the item in Brendan's smoking hands.

Instead of answering him, Brendan slid the necklace around Steven's neck and secured it into place, kissing the place where the little cross sat just above his heart. It was one of the few items connecting him to his human life and it felt right he had it some how. It looked good on him.

Steven slowly touched it, tracing the tiny cross with his finger. "I can't take this."

"Yes you can Steven. It means more than that mark on your neck ever will. It means wherever you are, whatever you're doing or whoever you're with, there will be a part of me with you to protect you. It means you belong. You belong to me and with me Steven, don't ever forget that."

Review?