Chapter 44:

Terribly sorry about the long absence. Limited internet access. Here's something to go off of until it heats up next chapter! ;)

"When did you and Brigid discover your abilities?" Larten asked cutting a strip of wrapping paper.

Erin had solicited his help by shoving a pair of scissors into his hand to cut strips of paper when she needed it.

"Hmm. Well, for Brigid, she came out of the womb a genius mathematician. If it has numbers, she can manipulate it. But it wasn't until she was in elementary school that she was processing so much data through advanced algorithms that coincidences started to connect and her guess rate of probabilities were always almost 100% dead on of what would happen given x, y, and z. Y=f(X) is the basic root of all equations, right? But, scientific data can only go so far in predicting something 100%. The future is never fully and completely known. So, Y=f(X)+E is what's used due to our incapability of knowing how something will turn out as predicted. Brigid's ability is that she can formulate this scenario, that scenario, over and over, and have a pretty trustworthy outcome either way."

Larten nodded with a grunt.

"I believe I understand. That child has rambled on and on to me before about math and so many things I cannot keep them straight. It seems that once she opens her mouth nothing can stop what pours out. She will have to learn to keep things to herself." He huffed.

Erin chuckled. "Her mind runs a million miles a second on top of being overly-excitable."

"What about you then?"

"Mine were…terrible. I had to hide them. It was only when Brigid was in middle-school and I was finishing my nursing degree after our grandparents passed that I actually started to talk about them with Brigid. She became my confidante at such a young age which I wish she hadn't, but we only have each other." Erin sighed. "Anyway, I was roughly three or four when I realized that what I felt, saw, or something would 'blip' like on a radar in my mind was not normal. There was a boy at my daycare who was severely abused at home by his step-father. I could feel his fear, his physical and emotional pain, emotions and thoughts that are beyond a child's reasoning. I could also feel his mother's when she would come to pick him up. One night I had a severe headache and images of the boy being found dead. Well, you know how it goes. He was eventually and I had experienced all that he had until the end. I never told anyone what I continued to experience although there were plenty of parent-teacher conferences concerning me throughout the years. I don't know how else to explain it. It's just always been and finally I was able to cognitively cope with it as I grew older and was able to understand what my mind did." Erin shrugged.

"Then why go into medicine caring for the sick and dying?" Larten asked credulously.

"To make use of it and have some control over it rather than controlling me. That may sound silly, but even suffering at your own personal expense can be used for good."

"I must say I do not envy you."

Larten was surprised when Erin burst out laughing.

"And I don't envy you for being a stuffy vampire who is terrible at wrapping presents!"

Larten scowled as Erin reached for the box that he had been trying to wrap.

"As I have said countless times-" Larten growled.

"Yes, yes, I know. Vampires don't celebrate Christmas." She winked at him. "But I know something you can do: would you mind starting a fire in the fireplace? I think there's a draft."

Larten grunted in consent as he stood and went to the fireplace.

"I'm going to change into pajamas. Be right back."

Larten didn't even acknowledge Erin leaving the room. He quickly had a fire going.

"Ah, that feels lovely."

Erin shuffled onto the carpet in front of the fire. Larten leaned back on his hands, both were silent as the fire crackled. Erin laid her head on his shoulder. Larten sat still, thinking.

"I think I'll save the rest of the wrapping for tomorrow. I also need to bake more bread and cookies. And-" she sighed, "a million other things that I can't remember."

"What else could you possibly need to do?" Larten asked exasperated.

"Well, my work has a Christmas party every year that you're expected to attend. You don't have to, but inter-department politics kind of force you to go."

"What do you mean?"

"If you don't show up without some solid, valid reason you will be talked about and given the cold shoulder back in the department and have extra drama to deal with because people are just like that and it's exhausting so I just go to save myself trouble later on."

"That is childish."

"I agree. But you know how things are in groups and keeping up appearances. The generals and princes, right?"

Larten spun his head around to look at her in surprise.

"See? Politics."

Larten sniffed. "We are not that bad."

"Yes, you are." Erin said quickly pouncing on him tickling his abdomen.

"Ah! Quit, woman!" Larten yelled suddenly standing over by the Christmas tree breathing hard through his nose.

"Now that's not fair. I don't have vampire speed. You're cheating." Erin pouted playfully.

Larten grinned deviously.

"I am not cheating." His voice came from behind her. Erin whipped her head around, but he was gone and nowhere to be found.

Erin stood cautiously.

"Larten?"

Erin looked all around her before screaming as she was scooped into a pair of arms, tossed into the air, and caught spinning in a strong grip.

"Don't do that!" She laughed.

"You are laughing so I know you are not serious. I will do it whenever I please." He tossed her into the air again, catching her in his arms once more, grinning smugly.

"If I'm going to be in your arms like this there should at least be music playing. Can you dance? Besides, vampire…dancing? Is that what you call it?" She asked blinking rapidly. "Sorry. That was a random blip in my head."

"There is nothing wrong with how we dance." He said defensively.

"I didn't say there was! I was only wondering if you could dance other than that."

"Dancing is-" He began gruffly.

Erin spun out of his arms and turned on Christmas music. She grabbed his hand placing it on her waist holding his other one and began swaying from side-to-side in time with the music.

Larten blushed slightly, but as she looked into his eyes, warm and sparkling, a wide smile as she looked into his face, he returned the smile holding her closer.

"Back to the work Christmas party. It's in a couple of days. Brigid will be here to entertain you while I'm gone. Of course, you can do whatever you like, but just so you know."

"Am I not invited?"

Erin looked at him quizzically. "Vampires don't celebrate Christmas and vampires don't attend human work Christmas parties. Why would you want to go? I don't even want to go."

"You are right in what you say, however, if you were to request that I accompany you then I must. It would be the proper thing to do."

"No, really. Stay here. I'm only going to make an appearance and leave as quickly as I can."

Larten huffed. "As you wish."

Erin sighed and nuzzled against his neck and collar bone.

"I'll be back to you as quick as I can."

Larten said nothing, resting his cheek against her head. They continued to sway slowly, quiet, the orange glow of the fire silhouetting them.