A/N: I hope you all like this chapter! I had it finished a couple days ago but my internet was down this week so I haven't been able to post it. With that in mind, I'm dedicating this chapter to Jeremy, the rogers guy who fixed my internet... So yeah, please enjoy! Let me know what you think!

The visit to the trio's new house had been an awkward one. Godric had escorted me around the house like a tour guide, pointing out the renovations and changes they had made along the way. He had set up in the master bedroom, which initially surprised as I had expected Eric to claim it, or Pam to throw a fit over not getting the spa-like bathroom that was attached to it. He had decorated it in light fabrics and paints, and dark woods. A huge king bed was situated against one wall, covered in soft looking blankets and plush pillows. Two light blue arm chairs sat in the opposite corner of the room with a large dark wood book case and coffee table. The book case was filled with old looking books most of which weren't in English, and antiques he had collected throughout his life.

Eric's room, in the corner of the house with the rounded tower, left no doubt to Eric's origins. His large bed was covered in a fur blanket and the chest at the end looked like it could have been as old as he was. There were so many little details around the room that I could have spent a long time looking over each one but it felt like I was prying into his personal life so we had quickly moved on.

Pam's bedroom was done as I had expected, ultra-feminine though in an elegant way. Though the room attached to hers through the bathroom would function as a guest bedroom, she was using it as a dressing room/closet as well. Racks had been lined along the walls filled with expensive clothes and a tall cabinet was filled with shoes. A vanity sat between them with a large mirror and a comfortable seat poised in front.

Godric pointed out the attic had also been turned into guest bedrooms. I didn't understand the need for so many extra bedrooms when the location of their nest was so secret but I supposed they would have preferred to have them just in case a friend visited instead of running the risk of needing them but not having the room.

The games room in the basement had been converted into a safe room, with a large steel door and a pass-code. One wall was dominated by various TV screens that showed the feed from cameras positioned around the perimeter of the house and facing all entrances. There was also a camera in every room of the house except their bedrooms.

After he had showed me around I had been at a loss of what to do. To my embarrassment my stomach had growled rather loudly as we had been heading up from the basement. Godric hadn't seemed to mind and showed me to the kitchen. For some reason they had stocked their fridge with not only various types of blood but also fruits, vegetables, and meats.

"Why do you have food here, Godric?" I questioned, pulling out the ingredients I needed to make a small stir-fry. It had been the first thing that had come to mind when sorting through the abundance of food.

Part of me felt bad for using their food since I should have had something to eat before coming to see them but another part of me thought that if they were going to stock their fridge with things they weren't going to eat then someone had to use it and I might as well make something good out of it.

Godric shrugged and fished out a wok from one of the cabinets, guessing what I was planning on making. "We thought that you might want to visit us here when you are not working and perhaps Evan would accompany you sometimes so the fridge and cabinets are stocked with various food items for your use" Godric rubbed the back of his neck as if he were embarrassed "none of us have eaten human food in quite a long time so we weren't certain what would be appropriate to buy. I hope we did not miss anything important."

I stood there staring at him for several minutes, unsure of what to say. No one had ever gone to such lengths for me before and I didn't know how to react. Why had they cared so much? Did Godric want me to visit him often or was he just being nice? I realized I was probably being impolite and cleared my throat. "Ah, wow, thank you Godric. This is amazing. I hope it wasn't too much trouble for you. I'm sure you didn't miss anything" I assured him, giving him a big smile.

Godric returned my smile with a smaller version of his own and watched while I chopped up vegetables and went about cooking my meal. Godric heated up a bag of blood for himself when my meal was almost finished and we sat at the bar together and ate in relative silence.

"Your interview with the journalist went alright, little one?" Godric asked while I was washing dishes.

I stiffened slightly at the unexpected question but forced myself to remain calm and kept my focus on washing the plate in front of me. "Yes, it was fine. We just sat in a café for a short while. He's writing about human involvement with vampires. Trying to dispel the mentality around 'fang-bangers' I guess" I shrugged.

Godric hummed and didn't comment right away. I was just beginning to think that he wasn't going to ask any more questions about the ordeal when he spoke again "he was satisfied with what information you gave him at the time?"

I turned and cocked my head at him "what do you mean, Godric? I didn't tell him anything secret about you all or anything, if that's what you're worried about."

"No, little one, I didn't think you would. What I am asking is will you be meeting with him again? Or did he get what he needed for the article he is writing."

I narrowed my eyes at him, wondering why it mattered to him. "I think he got what he needed for his article but we are going out to supper on Monday" I clarified.

Godric scowled for a moment before he schooled his features back into a neutral expression "I see. And you will be safe on your date?" the cold neutrality in his voice was something I wasn't used to and it made me wonder what emotion he was trying to hide.

"Yes of course. Though Jim seems like a perfectly respectable man" I turned back to the sink to finish the dishes, hoping Godric would drop the subject.

"Yes, well, some think members of the fellowship of the sun are respectable men" Godric mumbled under his breath.

I turned back to face him, giving up my hopes of the conversation being dropped and narrowed my eyes at Godric "what's that supposed to mean?" I demanded.

"Only that I thought you would have learned that people are not always what they seem to be. You do not know this man. There are many people who would try to use you for information or for your gift" Godric warned.

My eyes widened at his comment and I gaped at him, my feelings hurt "is that really the only reason you think someone would ask me on a date? To use me? Is it so hard to believe that maybe Jim is actually interested in me?" I questioned him.

Godric's harsh gaze softened "Of course not, little one. I just want you to be cautious. After what happened with the fellowship, you shouldn't be too quick to trust strangers."

"What would you prefer I do then, Godric? Never go out again? Spend the rest of my life alone because I'm too afraid of what might happen? I might not be a vampire, but I'm not helpless either. I think I can defend myself against one man" I huffed.

Godric frowned and looked down at his hands. He stayed that way for a long moment before looking back up at me "of course, you're right. I was being unreasonable. I do hope your evening with this man goes well little one."

I gaped at him, not having expected him to let it go so easily. "Thank you" I mumbled after a minute and turned back to finish the dishes.

Godric didn't say anything for a long time before he excused himself and walked out of the kitchen. Several minutes later, I was putting the last of the dishes back in the cabinets when the door opened. Eric was leaning against the door frame, watching me with a disappointed expression on his face. "I'll drive you home when you're ready. Godric had some business to attend to" Eric explained.

I nodded and gathered my things. It was nearly three in the morning and I was surprised by how quickly the night had passed by. Eric led me to a sleek black sports car and opened the door for me. It was the quietest I had ever seen Eric and he didn't speak until we were a good distance away from the house and even then it was in a quiet, almost confused voice "why are you doing this?" he asked.

I turned to look at him and tilted my head to the side "doing what, Eric?"

"Going out with that man. You can't actually have feelings for him Alyssa" Eric huffed, looking at me from the corner of his eye.

"Why can't I? You haven't ever met him, so I don't think you can really say."

Eric shook his head "I spoke with him briefly when he returned to pick up his car. Godric had mentioned you had gone with him so I waited until he came back to make sure you were OK. He is quite possibly the most boring man I have ever had the displeasure of talking to. What is there for you to like about him?"

I rolled my eyes at him "he's not boring. And I don't know him enough to say if there's anything there. But I don't see why you care if I go to dinner with him."

Eric threw up his hands in frustration "what about Godric?" He demanded "do you feel nothing for him anymore?"

My cheeks flushed red and I looked away from him. "I never said I did to begin with and it doesn't matter what I feel for Godric since he clearly doesn't feel anything for me."

Eric sputtered for a moment and cursed under his breath "If you honestly think Godric doesn't feel anything for you then maybe you deserve to be with the boring journalist" he spat.

I turned in my seat and glared at him "what's that supposed to mean?"

"Even the dimwitted men of the fellowship were smart enough to realize how much Godric felt for you. Why do you think they took you rather than Ginger? She's been around more, she would have been the easier one to crack for information" Eric snapped at me.

I shook my head at him "they just misread the situation, Eric" just like I did "what else would they think when Godric was walking me home every night?"

"The truth, woman! Why do you think Godric makes sure you get home? Do you really think it was my idea to walk you home? Do you think I walk all my employees' home at the end of a shift?"

Eric had stopped the car outside of my apartment building so I picked up my bag and reached for the door handle. "If he cared so much then why did he stop talking to me for so long? Why did you start walking me home? It's fine Eric, you don't have to try and convince me of something that doesn't exist" I told him quietly.

I stepped out of the car before he had a chance to reply and quickly made my way to the door. I went to push it open but suddenly Eric's arm snaked around my arm and stopped me. He stood behind me, only a couple of inches between his chest and my back. His hand held mine to the door and his other gripped my shoulder.

"You are going to listen to me, woman. He is scared. Scared that you will reject him and scared he is going to put you in danger and he'll lose you. And now he's scared that this damn journalist is a better match for you because he's safe. So you better think twice before you go out because if you fuck things up and hurt my maker, I will make your life miserable, do you understand me?" Eric threatened.

Chills ran up my spine at the threat so I forced myself to take a deep breath. I squeezed my eyes shut so I wasn't faced with Eric's pissed off reflection in the door. "I've tried, Eric. I've tried getting close to him but every time he starts to act like he might be interested in me, he shuts down and keeps me at arm's length. I don't know what you want me to do" I breathed, shoulders slumping in defeat.

I would have given anything to believe that it was as easy as telling Godric that I cared about him and I thought even Eric must realize that even if Godric did care about me, that wouldn't be the end of things.

Eric spat a long string of curses before releasing me though he still hovered just behind me "Keep trying, Alyssa. Go on this date if you have to, but don't give up on him yet" his tone had changed from angry to as defeated as I felt. He was practically pleading with me.

I didn't know how to respond so I decided it was best if I didn't. I pushed the door open, half expecting Eric to stop me again but he didn't, and I made my way up to my apartment without hearing anything from him again.

I did decide to keep my date with Jim and met him at a small restaurant for dinner on Monday evening. I had donned a light blue peplum dress and a knit black cardigan that was just about the same length as the dress. The restaurant he had picked wasn't fancy so I didn't feel like I needed to dress up too much. He was already there when I arrived and he stood to pull out my chair for me as soon as he saw me. I blushed slightly as he pushed me into the table.

I didn't have much date experience but I thought it probably wasn't a very common thing for men to do judging by the pleased look on the waitress's face.

"Can I get you two something to drink while you look over your menus?" She offered, holding a notepad at the ready.

Jim smiled at me "do you drink wine, Alyssa? Would you like a glass?" he offered.

I thought about it for a moment and nodded "Yes please, red."

Jim nodded and ordered us two glasses. I flicked through the menu idly.

"I hope this restaurant is OK, Alyssa" Jim said over the top of his menu.

I peeked up at him and shrugged "I've never actually been here before. But I don't mind trying new places" I assured him.

Jim seemed reassured "I've never been here either. Some people I work with suggested it actually. I'm pretty new to town."

Conversation flowed smoothly between us and I found the night passing quicker than I had anticipated. First dates had always made me anxious. I didn't know what to expect, or how my date would behave. I found myself worrying for hours before about what we would talk about and what I would do if we ran out of things to talk about. How would I fill the time if we got stuck in an awkward silence?

So to find that Jim carried the conversation easily and dinner passed smoothly.

Jim walked me home after we finished eating as it was already dark out. I paused at the door to my building, unsure of how to proceed. The date had gone well, of that there was no doubt. But what came next? Would he kiss me? Was I supposed to kiss him? Did I want to?

He was fairly attractive, and had been a gentleman the entire night. We had found many things in common and I had enjoyed talking to him. But I had also found my mind drifting frequently while he talked. There was plenty to talk about, he was chatty, but almost none of it really interested me. And he was attractive, sure, but only passably so.

I was saved from fretting any longer when Jim stepped forward and hugged me briefly before stepping back.
"I had a very good night, Alyssa. Thank you for coming out with me" Jim spoke, a warm smile on his face.

I fiddled with the sleeve of my sweater awkwardly, glancing up at him briefly "I had a good time as well. I'll see you later?"

Jim agreed and bid me a good night. I turned and pulled the door open, stepping inside quickly. I needed to talk to Evan, I decided. She was good at helping me sort out what I was thinking and what I would do next.

"He sounds boring" Evan huffed, curling her nose up at me.

I shrugged "I guess he's not thrilling. But he's nice."

"Oh sure" she exclaimed "that's exactly how you want to describe your boyfriend when people ask what he's like. 'Well he's nice….and not ugly.' It's what every girl dreams of!"

I frowned at her "alright, there's no need to get snippy with me."

Evan threw her hands up "I just don't understand! Why are you going out with this guy when you have Godric?"

"I don't have Godric. He hardly speaks to me anymore" I groaned.

"But Eric said he was in love with you" Evan pointed out, taking a bite out of her burger.

It had turned into a nice summer afternoon so I had fried us hamburgers and we had taken them out onto the front lawn of the apartment to eat. It wasn't exactly a picnic but it was as close as we were probably going to get without taking a bus somewhere.

"Eric could be wrong" I countered "he could be misreading Godric."

Evan shook her head emphatically "not about Godric he wouldn't be. That's his maker. They have a bond. And besides, if he's going to talk to anyone about how he feels, it's going to be Eric, right?"

I had to admit she had a point. Eric, if anyone, should know what Godric thought and surely even vampires were included in the need to vent to someone about feelings. Eric was the only one I could think of that Godric would even talk to about something like this. And Eric wouldn't just make up information like what he had told me. He didn't seem like the type for idle gossip. Especially when it came to his maker.

"What do I do, Ev?" I groaned, burying my head in my hands.

"Well" she hummed, drumming her fingers on her knee "we need a plan."