Chapter 70: There's a few more chapters so it's not the complete end yet! What would you guys like to see next?

Larten swiftly leaped over the garden fence. It was near dusk as he walked through the small yard to a covered back patio. The door was unlocked and he let himself in. He entered through the house and walked quietly into an empty kitchen. He sat his bag on the island and took a deep breath. The home smelled the same. Larten's ears perked up to the sound of feet coming down the stairs. Suddenly there was a body in his arms, laughing and holding him close.

"I saw you coming! How are you?" Erin held his face in her hands, happy tears in her eyes.

"I am well. I was happy to see we were coming near you." Larten grabbed her hands unable to stop himself from kissing them.

Erin's tears fell as she hugged him once more.

"Welcome home."

Darren walked down the sidewalk looking at the row of houses. This is where Mr. Crepsley had come to but why? Darren finally decided to make his move. He slunk through the front yard and up to a window hiding in the bushes. He peered in. He saw Mr. Crepsley sitting on a couch with a cup of coffee talking to a woman with long auburn hair. He couldn't make out her face but Mr. Crepsley was…smiling? Since when did Mr. Crepsley smile? And with a woman? Darren was all sorts of confused as he watched.

"Hey, kid!"

Darren spun around ready to run when he was suddenly looking up at a young woman who was grinning at him. Her strawberry blonde hair fell over her shoulder and she was wearing a pair of black yoga pants and a cropped white t-shirt. Darren tried to guess her age and thought she looked to be in her late 20s.

"Who are you?" Darren sputtered.

"I'm Brigid. I've been looking for you."

"For me?!"

"Yeah. I've been running around the block and park for ages looking for you. Come inside. Dinner is almost ready." She held out a hand.

Darren, still in his surprise, took her hand and was pulled up from the bushes.

"Nice outfit."

"Uh, thanks." He mumbled.

"Come on. Larten doesn't know you followed him but I know how to handle him. I'll keep you out of trouble as much as I can."

Brigid grabbed Darren's bag and smiled at him reassuringly. Darren was still stunned and was, he hated to admit it, dreading Mr. Crepsley's reaction. This girl had used Mr. Crepsley's first name, maybe she really could protect him.

She carried his knapsack as he silently followed behind through the garage.

"Home!" Brigid yelled opening the door. "I found something in our yard though."

The look on Larten Crepsley's face when he spotted his assistant standing awkwardly behind Brigid was almost comical. He went pale before the red filled his face and he teetered on turning purple. He was livid.

"Darren! What are you doing here?" Larten shouted.

"I thought you were meeting Gavnur or another vampire general and I didn't want you to get in trouble!" Darren countered back. "You never tell me anything."

"I told you, you were not needed." Larten spat.

"Okay, okay, let's take this down a notch." The woman on the couch said putting a hand on Larten's arm. She was wearing a long-sleeved black shirt with a pair of light jeans.

Larten spun on her. "Did you know about this?"

Brigid spoke up before the other woman could.

"Hey, it wasn't like we planned on it. We're psychic, remember? Besides, he's not doing any harm. Yell at him later."

"Gee, thanks." Darren muttered under his breath.

Larten opened his mouth again but the woman on the couch stood up next to him giving him a look. His mouth snapped shut.

"Why don't you introduce us?" The woman suggested.

Larten quickly gathered himself. "Erin, this is Darren, my disobedient assistant."

"Hello Darren. It's a pleasure to finally meet you." Erin came to shake his hand. She was older than the woman next to him and had warm, dark eyes. Darren felt himself blush as he shook her hand.

"How did you know I was following Mr. Crepsley?"

"I just said we were psychic, Darren, keep up." Brigid said.

"But-" Darren started.

"Are you hungry? You can eat with us." Erin smiled.

Larten went to object.

"He's already here, he may as well join us. Besides, we can't make him go all the way back to the cirque, it's late."

Larten shut his mouth but was not happy about it. Even after all these years they were both still annoyingly accommodating.

Brigid tossed Darren's knapsack onto a chair and led him into the kitchen. "Thirsty?"

"Uh, sure." Darren was feeling incredibly awkward. Not only had he followed Mr. Crepsley but he was seeing into a secret part of the vampire's life that he wasn't supposed to know about. He almost felt guilty but his curiosity was getting the better of him. The home was warm and welcoming and Brigid and Erin were nice. How could Mr. Crepsley of all people know them? Darren shot a furtive glance at his mentor who was glaring daggers at him while the woman Erin tried to soothe his temper.

"Man, you really pissed him off." Brigid whispered.

"He'll probably kill me when we get back to the Cirque. I didn't know he was going to some place like here."

"What do you mean 'like here'?"

"I don't know. I just never imagined Mr. Crepsley would be friends with people like you or come to a home like this."

Darren's eyes grew sad. It was like a home. His thoughts went to his home with Annie and all of his friends. It still hurt.

"Brigid, will you and Darren set the table, please?" Erin called out.

"We got it. Come on, sneaky." Brigid said ruffling his hair.

"Hey, quit!" Darren yelled as plates and silverware were stacked in his arms. Brigid and Darren went into the dining room which left Erin and Larten alone for a moment.

"You should have told me." Larten grumbled.

"Maybe I should have but I didn't. I was too focused on how happy I was to see you." She caressed his face. Larten laid his hand over hers. He still wasn't happy with Darren prying into his life, but the boy couldn't be completely blamed. Larten hadn't given Darren much occasion to trust him. This might help their relationship.

"Ready!" Brigid yelled.

Erin gave an apologetic kiss before leading him to the dining room where Brigid already had his chair pulled out at the head of the table. She sat Darren next to herself. The food looked delicious and Darren was suddenly starving.

"Dig in, Darren." Brigid said nudging him.

Darren accepted the permission to fill his plate. Chicken, green beans, red potatoes, grilled squash, and a crisp salad. He immediately began to eat.

"Darren, manners." Larten hissed.

"What?" He replied chewing.

"He's fine." Brigid said rolling her eyes.

Larten grumbled as he ate his chicken. Erin patted his leg under the table.

"So, how did you and Mr. Crepsley meet?" Darren blurted out. Larten looked at him severely. Had he crossed a line? But how did they meet? He couldn't help his curiosity.

"Well, we were targeted by a psychotic vampaneze and some vampire hunters and Larten saved us. He got injured a couple of times and we helped him until he was better. That's the gist of it."

Darren looked surprised. He understood why Mr. Crepsley had hunted Siobhan in his hometown but Mr. Crepsley intervened already once before with a mad vampaneze? Mr. Crepsley was only ever about the mission so how had they become so close? He had seen Mr. Crepsley smiling and comfortable which was completely out of character according to Darren's experience.

"Brigid, tell Larten about your job." Erin said to make conversation.

Larten looked towards Brigid and his face softened. She had grown up into a lovely young woman from the bratty teenager she had been.

"Well, to update you since it's been almost a decade, I got a job in theoretical mathematics for a consulting company and I just moved into a newer and nicer apartment close to work." Brigid beamed in excitement.

"Congratulations." Larten said sincerely.

"So, you live alone?" Darren asked Erin.

"Yes. My sister is all grown up and left the nest. It's just me now."

"Oh come on, I visit all the time. Don't make me feel bad."

"I'm teasing, sis, I know you still love me." Erin laughed, "So, who's ready for dessert?"

Darren didn't think he could eat another bite until he saw the chocolate and cream pies placed on the table. When was the last time he had a home cooked meal complete with dessert? Erin cut him a piece of each and winked at him. Darren immediately tasted them and it was heaven. Going back to the Cirque was going to be bland compared to this.

"Why was a vampaneze after you guys?" Darren said between a mouthful. Larten began to look uncomfortable but a touch from Erin reassured him that personal things would not be mentioned.

"Well, as I said, my sister and I are psychic in our own unique ways. The vampaneze, Murlough, wanted to attain our abilities by eating us."

"Oh. Mr. Crepsley and I also hunted a mad vampaneze in Mr. Crepsley's hometown. We-"

"Darren!" Larten snapped.

Darren's mouth shut immediately. He knew when Mr. Crepsley meant business.

"Why can't he talk about it?" Brigid asked trying to stick up for him.

"I do not think it is appropriate to discuss over dinner." Larten growled.

Brigid shrugged. "Fair enough."

Darren looked down at his empty plate. He was full and the comfort of the home was making him sleepy.

"Darren, you are more than free to stay the night."

Larten opened his mouth to protest but Erin gave him a look.

"Yeah, you can crash on the couch." Brigid said encouragingly.

"I…uh, sure. Thank you." Darren said awkwardly. He wondered where Mr. Crepsley would sleep.

Erin stood up and began clearing the plates. "Why don't we go sit in the living room."

"Come on, Darren, let's go watch T.V." Darren followed Brigid. He hadn't watched T.V. in what seemed like forever and he was a little excited. The warmth of the home was making him relax and Brigid and Erin were nice. Mr. Crepsley was Mr. Crepsley but he could see a change in the vampire. He wasn't as stiff and no nonsense as usual. He didn't understand the change in the vampire's usual demeanor but Mr. Crepsley seemed to listen to the woman, Erin, and the young woman, Brigid, seemed to get away with talking back to Mr. Crepsley. Darren had not been expecting the vampire to be so…at ease and familiar in these surroundings.

Brigid flipped the T.V. on and began searching for a good movie to watch.

"What do you want to watch?" She asked.

"I-I don't know." Darren answered, a little embarrassed.

"Oooh, I know a really good one. It's funny. You'll like it."

"Okay." Darren heard Mr. Crepsley and Erin enter the kitchen but even with his half-vampire hearing, he couldn't make out what they were saying.

"Please don't be angry." Erin said trying to soothe the vampire's sour mood. "There's no harm in him being here."

"He does not listen to me and rebels every chance he gets." Larten huffed.

"He's just a kid. I'm sure he looks up to you. But at his age he's still finding himself and that can be tough. I'm sure you remember how it was."

"That was a long time ago." Larten mumbled.

Erin leaned in a gave him a kiss on the cheek. Larten glanced at the couch where Darren was sitting hoping he had not been caught.

"So, you'll be doing that during your visit? Not allow me to show affection because your assistant will see?"

"It is not that per se." Larten stumbled over his words. He wanted the affection. He wanted to be kissed and he wanted to be free to do so. Dammit, why did Darren have to follow him! Erin touched his shoulder.

"We'll have plenty of time alone to catch up, but for now, let's just watch the movie. Will you sit by me? Don't worry, I won't embarrass you in front of your assistant." Erin said, batting her eyelashes.

Larten smirked. "As you wish."

Erin and Larten entered the living room.

"Move." Larten commanded Darren. Darren rolled his eyes and moved to the end of the couch allowing Larten and Erin to sit next to each other. They didn't hold hands and Erin stopped herself from snuggling up to Larten, however, Darren noticed their legs were touching.

"Brigid, are you staying over tonight?" Erin asked her sister.

"Yeah, do you mind? Larten is here and I have to remind him how annoying I can be." Brigid winked at Larten.

Once the movie was over, Erin went into the linen cabinet to pull out sheets and bedding for Darren to sleep on the couch.

"There. Nice and cozy. Do you need another blanket?"

"Uh, no, I'm fine, thank you."

"Okay. If there's anything you need just help yourself."

Darren nodded. His stomach was full and he was feeling drowsy. The sheets smelled nice and he fell asleep in no time. He didn't even hear Brigid, Erin, and Larten go upstairs; Brigid said goodnight and went into her old room which left Larten and Erin standing alone at the top of the stairs.

"Do you still feel comfortable sharing a bed? Unless you want to sleep in the closet." Erin teased.

The corners of Larten's lips twitched upwards. He wanted nothing more than to feel Erin in his arms again even after all this time.

"Come on, you." Erin said tugging on his hand to enter her bedroom. Both Erin and Larten knew they wouldn't be sleeping much.