Chapter 32:

I didn't want to extend this chapter too long since it can be broken into two. Easier that way.

As always, enjoy and R&R if possible :)

P.S. The movie is now on Netflix so I'm trying to include aspects of humor from that interpretation. Just tidbits here and there for those that are attached to the movie. Re-watching it was nice.

Okay, on with the show!

Erin slowly pulled away from Larten, lifting her eyes to meet his. They still glistened with spent tears, but they were bright, their spark coming through before suddenly changing to concern.

"Were you hurt that night?"

There was a lump in his throat. She was being too easy on him. He really couldn't stand it. He backed away from her forcing a dry laugh.

"I leave you, you end up severely hurt, you suffer even now from what happened, and you ask if I was hurt? Are you really that selfless, that forgiving? I left you, Erin. I left you both in pure cowardice and you do nothing but forgive me without any sort of an explanation." Larten was growing angry, he needed the reaction he deserved.

Erin shook her head.

"You did what you needed to do. Why would I hold that against you?"

"Dammit woman!" Larten yelled as he shattered her coffee table with a single kick.

Erin jumped in shock, slight fear in her expression.

"I have come to clear my name. Do you know how tortuous it is to a vampire when they do not keep their word, when they abandon their duty, when they do not receive the punishment they deserve for their actions?! The shame that comes from that?" Larten shouted furiously, "I am here to right my wrong to you and I cannot stand- "

Larten was interrupted by a sharp slap to the face.

He raised a hand to his cheek and looked at Erin with wide eyes. Her face was contorted in pain and anger before softening.

"There. Feel better?"

"I deserve much worse than that."

"You might but I don't have the energy to deal out whatever punishment you want. You will have to work towards gaining back some of our trust and, honestly, I won't let you off so easy, but right now I am too tired and too relieved to have you back to hate you like you want me to. I'll have to save it for later." Erin slowly eased herself back onto the loveseat.

Larten continued standing, unsure of himself.

"Sit, Larten." Erin said sternly.

Larten immediately followed her command like a schoolboy.

"Relax, please. Your energy is too much to handle at the moment. Can we please just…be for a minute? Just be and let me feel relieved and happy that," Erin's eyes were slowly closing, "you're back."

Erin murmured, falling asleep, her breathing slow and rhythmic. She was still in a delicate condition and Larten needed to remember that.

Larten stood and gently picked Erin up minding her shoulder to carry her upstairs.

He laid her on her bed throwing a blanket over her.

He glanced around her room. He inhaled deeply enjoying the smell he had missed, delicately feminine.

A small moan came from Erin. Her eyebrows were knit together. A possible nightmare starting.

He grabbed her desk chair and sat by her bedside grabbing her hand, gently massaging it with his thumb. This seemed to calm her. Her features relaxed. He didn't let go, though. He would get his bag when night fell, but for now, he was going to be right where he was when Erin awoke.

A few hours passed, Larten still by Erin's bedside when he heard the front door open and a loud scream.

"ERIN?!" Came a shriek, someone stumbling about.

"ERIN?! Where are you?!" A desperate high-pitched voice cried.

Erin's eyes started to flutter open but Larten lowered his mouth to her face and breathed the knock-out gas to ensure she would stay asleep.

Larten quickly flew down the stairs met with a metal bang against the side of his head and another one.

"Agh! Quit, you insufferable brat!" Larten yelled, wresting Brigid's crutch out of her hands.

Brigid was breathing hard, fear in her eyes suddenly turning to shock.

"What the hell are you doing here?" She asked out-of-breath.

She was shaking from the adrenaline coursing through her veins. She had seen the smashed coffee table and immediately went into a panic. The last person she expected to see was Larten in front of her holding her crutch, irritation all over his face.

Brigid couldn't form words which concerned Larten given that Brigid was never silent.

"Maybe you should sit down." He said, handing her crutch back.

She didn't move.

Larten gently pushed her shoulder towards the living room. Brigid turned, sitting on the couch. Larten took the opportunity of her being in shock to lay her leg out onto the couch and place a pillow underneath her ankle before sitting down into the loveseat.

This slowly snapped Brigid out of her shock. She looked at him as if he were an experimental animal in her biology class. It made Larten uncomfortable. He shifted, waiting for her to speak, but she could only stare.

Larten cleared his throat, composing himself.

"Erin is asleep upstairs. I smashed the coffee table on…accident."

"So, Erin's okay?" Brigid managed to finally speak.

"Yes."

"It's not quite yet sunset. How'd you get here? What-what are you even doing here?"

Larten smiled to himself. Here was the Brigid he knew.

"I flitted and let myself into the house. Vampires can handle that much sun easily though it is not comfortable. And I'm here-" Larten shifted, plucking at his collar nervously.

"I'm here to resume my duty." He finished rather lamely.

"You're duty?" Brigid repeated, mocking him.

Yes, she was becoming more herself every second and now under her scrutiny, Larten was beginning to grow annoyed.

"Yes," he said imperatively, "my duty to you and Erin. You both are still under my protection and I am here to make amends for my behavior."

Brigid continued to look at him suspiciously and that's why Larten was entirely thrown off his guard when she replied: "Okay."

Larten blinked. Surely, he misheard her. What game was she playing?

"Okay?" He asked, completely confused.

Brigid shrugged.

"Okay. You're back. Erin is fine. I'm fine. Back to normal. Great."

This was some sort of cosmic joke. It was Larten's turn to stare in shock.

"What?" Brigid asked defensively, narrowing her eyes, "You're here now. Good. I'm sure that will make Erin very, very happy. I, however, am going to make it hell as much as Erin will allow me."

Larten's look of shock turned to anger.

"Did you really expect anything else? I will be watching you. I'll be watching you every second." Brigid hissed quietly, her hazel eyes piercing Larten's.

Larten stared into hers before looking away to scratch his scar.

"That is only fair." Came his gruff reply.

"Glad we understand each other then. Now hand me the remote." Brigid commanded.

Larten pursed his lips.

"Just because you are watching me does not mean I am your servant."

"I know you're not, but the remote is closest to you and I'm injured because of you so, hand it to me. You don't deserve a 'please' just yet." Brigid thrust her hand out, waiting.

Larten gave a small grumble of frustration at having to cater to a mere child in his eyes, but he did so, Brigid immediately flipped the tv on and ignored him completely.

He sat stiffly not quite sure of what to do with himself.

Brigid let out a frustrated "ugh," and snapped in irritation.

"Go sit with Erin, Larten. I really don't have the patience to have you around me at the moment so, beat it." Brigid jerked her head towards the staircase, keeping her eyes solely on the tv.

Larten "hmphd" rather loudly exiting the living room, scratching his scar in annoyance. He knew he would have to endure this, but it would be a battle none-the-less.

Walking up the stairs Larten grumbled to himself about the whole thing until he heard his name weakly being called out.

He rushed into Erin's room. He glanced around for a reason for her to call his name, but everything was normal.

She was still asleep from his knock-out gas and seemed only to be dreaming again. She murmured Brigid's name, too.

"Don't…hurt…I'll save…"

Larten's vampire hearing allowed him to hear what Erin imperceptibly said in her dream-state.

He resumed his position as before and placed a cool hand on her forehead. Again, she calmed. He moved his hand onto the bed; large, calloused fingers covering her soft hand. She was still fighting. After all the trauma, she had been through she was still…Erin. Nothing in her had changed. Of course, she had nightmares, she, and Brigid included, were very much on their guard, doing their best with what they had in their situation. Yet, here, just now, she had said his name. It was the second time she had said his name in her sleep. He hoped the vampire gods would let him hear her say his name in her sleep when she was dreaming peacefully.

It was around 9:00 P.M. when Erin began to stir. His knock-out gas trick had worked well. He interlaced his hands on his lap watching as her eyes began to open. She winced as she rubbed an eye and with a small grunt slowly tried to raise herself up in bed.

"Slower." Larten said firmly, placing a hand on her upper back to steady her into a sitting position.

She ran a hand over her face. Sometimes a vampire's knock-out gas could leave a person groggy upon waking from its effects.

"How do you feel?" He asked calmly.

Erin looked over at him, complete confusion all over her features, before her eyes started to focus and her face changed from pure confusion to confusion with a bright light behind her eyes as if she had woken up to a special surprise.

"You're really here." She whispered, her throat dry from sleeping.

Larten grabbed the glass of water on her bed stand and gave it to her.

She gulped it down, Larten placing it back on the bed stand.

Her good hand was suddenly clasping his as if to see that he really was real. Larten hated, but secretly his heart thumped wildly, when she looked into his eyes with such warmth.

"I know I keep saying this, but I guess it's still sinking in that you're back with us. It wasn't the same afterwards, you know. No sudden bursts of red at any moment." She tried to laugh before grimacing in pain.

She removed her hand to help swing herself out of the bed.

"Ah! Uhg, I haven't been sleeping in a bed since I ended up with this. Too hard to get up." She moved again trying to avoid putting pressure on her left shoulder.

"Quit." Larten snapped, placing his hands around her stomach and pulling her up to stand. They remained there, steady and solid.

"Ooh. That was better. Thank you."

Larten could see the obvious pain and discomfort she was in.

"I am going to help you down the stairs." He said grabbing her arm to keep her steady.

"It's okay, I can do- "

"I said I am going to help you down the stairs." He repeated.

Of course, she would be like this. He would have to set some ground rules that would greatly limit her arguing with him.

Larten led her into the living room and left to find her medical kit.

Brigid glanced at Erin as she eased herself onto the loveseat.

"Looks like someone is trying to win back their favor." She said derisively.

'Brigid-" Erin began when Larten re-entered the room.

He went to set the kit onto the table. He flushed furiously.

"Forgot about that already?" Brigid sniffed.

Larten glared at her.

"Brigid. Please" Erin said.

Brigid turned back to the tv.

"Here. Just set it on this little vase table."

Larten set the glass of water down and opened the kit looking for her pain medication once more. He handed her one which she took with a small gulp.

"I think it would be easiest to leave this on the kitchen counter." Larten said stiffly.

"Larten, come sit down." Came Erin's voice from the living room.

"You must excuse me. I left a bag of necessities in your garden that I need to retrieve."

Larten walked into the dark garden. There was no breeze, but the chill of coming winter could be felt.

He sighed, grabbing his bag, and walking back inside. Brigid was craning her neck to look at the bag.

"What'd you bring? What are a vampire's necessities?"

She was pissed at him, but still always curious.

"Clothes." He dead-panned.

"Your fighting knives, too." Erin said matter-of-factly.

Larten stiffened.

"Really?" Brigid turned to Erin.

Erin sighed.

"Yes, Brigid. Can you please refrain from the catty remarks you're going to make during the rest of the night? I've glimpsed enough to know you're not happy, but for now, let's have some peace."

"Fine. But I want to know when he's getting us a new coffee table. Are vampires capable of shopping for furniture that doesn't come from a funeral home?"

Larten was suddenly behind the couch resting his hands on the edge next to Brigid. He leaned over giving her a heated look.

"Yes. I will replace your coffee table."

Brigid rolled her eyes and waved her hand to shoo him away.

"I was just asking. No need to get upset about it." She sniffed.

Larten's nails dug small holes into the couch gripping it hard to keep his temper. He straightened when Erin stood up slowly, sighing.

"Brigid have you eaten yet?"

"Yeah, I have." She picked up her crutches and swung her leg off the couch, heading for the stairs.

"And now I'm going to shower, sleep, go to school, and save my catty remarks for tomorrow night. Can't always be around to defend him! I'll get them in." She said sulkily, working her way up the stairs.

"Brigid, be careful." Erin called up to her.

"Yeah, yeah, good night." Brigid's room door closed behind her.

Erin turned towards Larten frowning.

"I'm sorry she's acting this way. She doesn't-well, she does mean it, but please don't let it bother you."

Larten's face twitched, but composed himself.

"I understand her feelings entirely."

"But what if- "

"What if I cannot handle it and I leave?"

Erin swallowed and looked in another direction, her eyes watering as she stiffened her chin and blinked them back.

Larten gave a laugh, Erin turning to look at him in surprise.

"A testy child is not going to drive me away. I am afraid she will just have to let it out and then make peace that I am here. You must get use to the color red all over again. I brought the rest of my wardrobe and was actually wondering, if you would not mind, that I hang my cloak in your laundry room once more. I really do not want it to be wrinkled." He smiled at her, pulling his cloak out from his bag with a flourish.

Erin laughed at his small show, leading him to the laundry room.

"There. Perfect." Larten admired.

He looked at Erin out of the corner of his eye. She was still smiling. He would have to pull out his bag of tricks to keep her entertained and smiling. He smirked to himself at how he could amaze her. (Well, anyone, really. It was a natural gift of his and he was quite proud of it. Erin had revealed she had seen this in him when she first went to the Cirque and saw him perform.)

"Do you want to hang the rest of your clothes up in here or in my closet like before? I still have the few shirts and trousers you left." Erin asked.

That caused a sharp stab in Larten's chest. She had kept his clothes. Had she held onto them in blind hope?

Larten bowed.

"I will keep them in here for now, miss Erin."

Erin tilted her head at him, her eyes teasing.

"What did I say about the word 'miss'? Surely a vampire's memory is better than that."

Larten nodded his head.

"It is, it is. But you are still quite young." He jested.

"And you are barely at the 200 years mark making you roughly in your late 30s, thus the same age gap as me. Please. You're just starting your vampiric 20s!" Erin laughed.

Larten scratched his scar.

"It does not feel like it sometimes." He said quietly.

"Tell me about it." Erin joked, taking him back from a somber reverie.

"Let's hang the rest of your clothes up."

"Actually, I think it would be best if you rested on the couch while I hang them. I can tell your discomfort is growing."

"I'm fi-" Erin started.

Larten placed a rough finger on her lips. He felt a sharp intake of air as his finger grazed the contrasting softness of her lips. He could not deny that he, too, had felt a small jolt at the touch.

He placed a guiding arm behind her back leading her out of the laundry room.

"Now, I am no doctor or nurse. I am a simple vaudevillian vampire. However, I was once taken care of by a very dutiful and perceptive nurse and now it is time I put what I learned to the test." He sat her down.

She bit her lip and gave a small shake of her head before looking down at her hands.

"I guess we'll see how you do then." She quipped.

Larten nodded.

"Good. I am glad that is settled then." He said, briskly walking back into the kitchen to unpack his clothes and his long knives. He would need to find a good place to keep them so they would be easy to access quickly.

Larten's face darkened. They would run dark red before he let Erin be harmed again.