(A/N): Lisbet and Jerremyah try to get Evie to go to sleep, but keep getting distracted. Evie thinks about everything that's happened, and the strange new people she met today.

My sister's joint birthday/engagement party went really well! I got to hold an Olive Python, and pet a Quokka, a baby Crocodile, and a Tawny Frogmouth! I missed the other two snakes that were there, and the Monitor Lizard, (I saw the Pademelon but thought it was another Quokka, turns out, they're different) because I was helping my sister with things, but it was really, really fun! The Quokka (Queenie), and the Tawny Frogmouth (Bob), were really, really soft, and the baby crocodile (I don't remember his name off the top of my head, but I'll update you if I remember it) scales were way harder than I thought they'd be! I've touched a Shingleback Lizard before, and I thought it would be a bit like that, but Shingleback scales are like... slightly soft? Not soft, exactly but like... like your fingernails, but really, really thick. And a crocodile scales feel almost like rock! But like, really smooth rocks. Polished stone? Mum got to hold the Tawny Frogmouth, which she was ecstatic about (because she LOVES birds), and my dad also held the Olive Python, which he was really looking forward to. It was really cool, and most of all, I'm glad my sister had the party she wanted.

UPDATE: The croc's name was Nero, and the Olive Python was Kalamatta (Kali), like Kalamatta olives.

Evie

January 15th, 1966

The guest room they had made up for me was sparse, almost... military. The second I sat down on the edge of the bed, testing the mattress, Jerremyah disappeared once more. I shot Lisbet a curious look, but she seemed just as confused as I was- a second later, he reappeared in the doorway, with his arms full. He had the blanket from the end of their bed- to join the one I still had draped around my shoulders- and several pillows- I assumed also from their bed. What was he-?

"Here- not much I can do about the mattress- hmm, a cushioning charm could work-" He stepped towards me, and set his burden on the bed beside me.

"A- a 'cushioning charm'? What's that?" His face lit up.

"Let me show you- hop up, a sec." I did as he said- then hesitated, and turned back around to pick up the bedding he had just put down, and stepped back, out of the way.

"Alright- show me what you've got, Hot Shot." He flashed me those dimples once more.

"Now, this isn't the sort of trick I normally like to perform in bed, but desperate times calls for desperate measures." Oh, I'm sure. I glanced behind me, and saw that Lisbet was watching him work with a small grin. He pulled back the blanket and the sheets, just enough to reveal the edge of the mattress, and pulled his wand from its designated pocket, before pressing it against the mattress.

"Molliare." He pressed his hand to the mattress, and made a satisfied noise. He tugged the bedding back into place, and turned to take the extra pillows and blanket from me, placing it closer to the foot of the bed this time. "Go on, try it out- should be good." Tentatively, I did as he said, and the second my rear end touched the bed, I could immediately feel the difference.

"Oh- wow! That's incredible!" He looked rather pleased with himself. "Jerremyah-" He turned, fully focusing on me now. "Thank you so much. You didn't have to do that, so- thank you." I leaned forward, and wrapped my arms around his waist, pressing my cheek into his stomach.

"I-" It was almost a yelp- Clearly, I had shocked him, once again. I felt him twist, and I guessed that he was looking at Lisbet for help. "That- that's okay." He said, sounding more unsure than I had ever heard him. "Evie- I don't know what to-" I cut him off, which I think is what he wanted me to do.

"Typically, when people receive a hug, they're supposed to hug the person back." He was still for a second, then moved in my arms. I loosened them, in case he was trying to leave, but he just sank to his knees in front of me. He stared up at me for a few seconds, his face almost unbearably soft, before he leaned in, and wrapped his arms around me in return.

"'s that good enough?" He asked in a grunt, but I had a feeling it was only that way because he didn't have it in him to try to hide the emotion he may have been feeling, so keeping it low disguised most of it.

"Fantastic." I said, throwing Lisbet a wink over his shoulder that made her snort, before I buried my face into said shoulder. I heard them both suck in a breath- briefly, I worried that I had done the wrong thing- but then, Jerremyah drew me even closer- much like he had when he had been drinking from me. I shivered at the thought, and he made a bitten off noise that sounded like a groan.

"Christ..." What an odd reaction to a hug. I kept a hold of him though, rubbing his shoulder with my thumb- I could use a hug, and I figured he probably could as well, considering that he had been staked, fought with his mate, and been scolded numerous times by multiple women- all on his anniversary. Clearly, I wasn't the only one having a rough day- maybe I should hug Lisbet after this, too. Or... well, why wait?

"Lisbet?" She jolted, seeming surprised, and I pulled an arm away from Jerremyah to hold out to her. "You wanna join?" She hesitated, looking unsure, and I could tell that Jerremyah was keeping very still- probably so his presence didn't deter her.

"I- no, that's... okay. I'd rather just watch." Hm, she was making a bit of a habit of that.

"Like you watched Sidonie and Greygorry?" As she huffed out a laugh, Jerremyah stiffened against me slightly- oh, so Greygorry flirting with her didn't make him jealous, but the thought of her watching the two of them... in private, did? Odd.

"Mhm, maybe not tonight." Hmm? "We should let you get some sleep- might be the last you'll get, for a while." What? Why? "Then again, maybe I can loan you my... 'cuddle buddy'." Jerremyah made a choked noise, and I felt myself smile.

"Oh, I don't know," I started. "The bed might be a bit small for two people." He made another choked noise, and I pulled back slightly so I could look him in the face. "Are you okay? Do you want some water?" He blinked, then, his face split into a smile.

"No, Sweetheart, I'm fine." But... why was he making those noises? "I- I should leave you." His smile dropped, and he tilted his head, moving closer so he could whisper to me- despite the fact that I was sure he knew the others would all be able to hear him either way. "I think it's time for me to face the music, and apologise to my dearest mate." As I expected, Lisbet looked away- clearly, she had heard.

"Okay... Good luck." I gave him one last squeeze, and pulled away. His arms stayed around me for a second, and I was glad that I wasn't the last one to pull away- for once in my life. After he had pulled away, he stayed on his knees for a few extra seconds- just staring up at me. Then, he patted me on the knee, and rose to his feet. Briefly, he glanced back at Lisbet, before returning his gaze to me- now staring down at me, instead of up.

"Sweet dreams, dear Evie." I gave him the brightest smile I could manage, and that seemed like enough to convince him to go.

"Goodnight, Jerremyah. Goodnight, Lisbet." She flashed me a small smile in return.

"Goodnight, Evie. Jer- come on, now. Let's leave her to it." She stretched out a hand to him, and between the space of two of my blinks, he was over next to her, having taken her offered hand gladly. They started to walk out, but when they reached the doorway, he paused with his hand on the doorknob, and looked back to me.

"Grey said they'll be here at eight- is it okay if we wake you at seven thirty? That way, you can have breakfast, get dressed- Oh, fuck!" He whirled to Lisbet, who looked surprised. "Lis- pajamas!" She blinked, then her face dropped, and she groaned.

"Oh, hell!" It... really wasn't that big of a deal.

"I mean... I can just wear my dress-" I cut myself off as Lisbet disappeared- literally. She must have used her super speed, and a second later, I could hear drawers opening and closing in the room next door- their bedroom. "It's really not that important." He shrugged, then smirked.

"I suppose you could always sleep... naked." I rolled my eyes at him.

"You wish." He huffed out a laugh, and then sobered slightly.

"Seriously though... you don't need to feel like you have to do without, just because you think it might inconvenience us. It won't, but even if it did, we'd do it anyway." He hesitated for a second. "Even if we didn't like you as much as we do... you're our guest. Basic hospitality isn't too much to ask of us." They... liked me? Huh. Well, I liked them, too. In fact, I'd liked everyone I met tonight- Nuria and Minsi, too. Even Greygorry seemed nice.

"I like you guys, too." The corner of his lips twitched up, but it didn't have time to grow into a proper smile, because at that point, Lisbet popped back into the room, holding a bundle of clothing.

"Here- these should fit. Not exactly pajamas, but... well, being that vampires don't need to sleep, 'sleepwear' isn't really a necessity. These are soft and loose though, so they should do." She picked something off the top of the pile, and held it out to me.

"This is an old pair of my tracksuit bottoms- don't mind the paint." There was, indeed, some paint splatter on the fabric. "And this-" She held up the second piece, and Jerremyah made a choked noise- again. "I thought it was fitting." This was clearly a men's shirt- and just as clearly, Jerremyah's.

It was sleeveless, but I suspected it hadn't started life that way, and on the front of the black shirt, in bold white font, were the words, 'I'm a Dreamboat!', and underneath it, there was a graphic of a steamboat, with the smoke coming out of the smokestack in the shape of a series of 'Z's'.

"I'm sure it would look better on Jerremyah, but, I'll give it a go." Lisbet nodded, but Jerremyah just stared at me, before turning away, and clearing his throat.

"Right. Well. We should... leave you to it." Lisbet smirked, and I had the feeling something more was going on, but I couldn't for the life of me figure out what that might be. She handed me the clothes, and moved to join Jerremyah at the door.

"Night again, Evie." And then, before I had the chance to respond, she pulled the door closed behind them, leaving me alone- for the first time since I had first approached the bar. Or, well, that wasn't really alone, was it? It was just... 'not around people I knew'. So I guess, for the first time since I had showered, this afternoon.

I stared down at the clothes for a minute, before letting out a breath, and getting changed. They were soft, but a little big. Lisbet's tracksuit bottoms were a few inches too long, and Jerremyah's shirt- I had a feeling it was loose on him, and on me, it was practically a dress. I wasn't exactly dressed warm, but it was still warmer than what I had been wearing- not that I had to worry about being cold, considering the extra blankets Jerremyah had brought me.

I... I felt kind of bad, as I put them, and the extra pillows, on the dresser across the room- I doubted I would need them, the blanket already on the bed looked thick enough, and I'd only ever slept with one pillow anyway. Still, Jerremyah had gone through all the trouble of bringing them to me.

He had been rather gracious towards me- I guess I was right when I had thought that he was misunderstood. He really seemed like a sweetheart, and I could definitely see why Lisbet had fallen for him- other than, you know, the fact that he was a complete... well, Dreamboat. He was gorgeous- most girls would see the tattoos and the leather jacket and think he was dangerous- and they would be right, but not because of any sort of aesthetic choice.

Lisbet was gorgeous too- almost ethereal in her beauty. She seemed a little less eager to keep me comfortable, but I assumed that was because she was distracted by things with Jerremyah- and I had spent more time with Jerremyah, considering I had stuck my fingers in his back in order to get out that piece of fabric. Back in the club, Lisbet had been the one more concerned with my comfort, but now that I knew him better, I expected that it had only been that way because he knew Lisbet was already taking care of it.

Nuria was... god, I wasn't even going to think about the way she looked. She made me feel confusing things- Still, I thought maybe Lisbet and Jerremyah underestimated how much she cared. They had been unsure about whether she would help them, but she had welcomed us with open arms- well, open enough. They didn't have six locks on them, so I figured that was 'open', for Nuria.

Maybe it was the fact that she hid her smiles- her fondness- where she thought no one was looking. She had scolded Jerremyah for getting himself hurt, but less than thirty seconds before that, she had jumped to attention, asking whether we needed medical care. And, more than anything... for someone who wanted to be alone- away from strangers- she hadn't put up much of a fight before letting me into her home... simply because Jerremyah had asked her to. They thought she didn't care, because that's what she wanted them to think.

Minsi was sweet. Tough, but sweet. I wasn't lying when I told her she reminded me of my nana- if my nana looked like she would kill any man that pushed her too far. Being a werewolf sounded awful- clearly, the negatives outweighed the positives. Was that also true of vampirism, and they just hadn't gotten to that part, yet?

Jerremyah had his... control problems, but clearly Lisbet didn't suffer the same issues. Maybe he was just an oddity amongst vampires- hopefully, it was him, and not her, that was the outlier. I highly doubted Nuria had those sorts of problems- she seemed much too in control of herself to lose it like that. I guess, since I was apparently meeting two new vampires tomorrow, I could get a better grasp of vampires as a species, as a whole.

With that thought in my mind, I sunk into the bed, and tried to get some well needed rest.

January 16th, 1966

At seven thirty the next morning- well, I assumed that's what the time was, there weren't really any clocks that I could see- Lisbet came in to wake me up.

"Evie? Sweetheart?" I jolted awake, blinking blearily, and taking in my surroundings. At first, I didn't understand what I was looking at- what had happened, where I was, why I wasn't at home, and why the voice speaking to me wasn't Vi's. And then, I remembered.

Clubbing. Meeting Lisbet- turning her away. Meeting Jerremyah, letting him convince me to go back to his table with him to talk- meeting up with Lisbet again. Her using her mind control to calm me down, then feeding from me after Jerremyah had done so- the attack, and everything after that. Meeting Nuria and Minsi- I was in one of Nuria's guest bedrooms, under an old bank. God, this was all even weirder in the light of day! Lisbet seemed to take my groan as an answer.

"We've got breakfast for you- fresh stuff, too, not canned. And coffee." I perked up, and heard her huff out a laugh. "Yeah, I thought that might do it." She held out a disposable cup, which I assumed was my coffee. As I sat up, she made a noise in the back of her throat- she sounded surprised, and immediately, she started trying to smother her smile. What-? Oh, the shirt!

"You're the one that picked it." I grumbled, accepting the cup from her, and she shrugged. I took a sip of the hot drink, and moaned appreciatively. "Oh, just what I needed." She stopped hiding her smile now.

"Come on," She said, stepping back. "Breakfast is waiting." I threw the covers back and stood, wobbling blearily for a bit before slowly following her out into the hallway. It was only when we reached the end of the hall that we encountered the others, in the room we had first entered in the underground section of the bank.

I guessed that this room was the closest they had to a living room- there were a few couches, even a television set, but I had a feeling it wasn't used as often as maybe it should have been. I mean, it was usually just Nuria and Minsi here, so maybe they spent most of their time in their own rooms.

The second Jerremyah saw me, he smiled- then, his eyes took in my shirt- his shirt, on me- and he blushed- actually blushed! His eyes dropped to the ground at my feet, and after a second, he frowned, then disappeared. I felt a slight breeze, I assume from the speed of him passing me. I felt my eyebrows furrow, and I turned to Lisbet.

"What-?" She shrugged, looking just as confused as I was, and a second later, he reappeared in front of me- holding a pair of black slippers- clearly, these were Lisbet's.

"Here- can't have you walking around bare foot, you'll lose toes to the cold." It wasn't that cold- what was it with these vampires, and their worry over me being cold?

"It's not that-" He knelt down in front of me, much like he had the previous night. "-cold..." I finished, and even I could hear that it sounded a little lame.

"Foot." He said, tapping the side of my left shin with his fingers, and reflexively, I lifted that foot. He slotted the appropriate slipper on my foot, and tapped my leg again, until I dropped it to the ground. "Other one." The second he touched me, before he could even tap, I lifted it obediently. "Good girl." ...God damn it, it was too early for this. After he slipped the other shoe on, I lowered that foot as well- and a second later, he straightened up, and instead of looking down at him, I was now looking up. "There," He said softly. "All better." For whatever reason, I felt myself blush, and Jerremyah cocked an eyebrow at me, smirking. "You-" I cut him off, quickly skirting around him.

"Lisbet said something about fresh breakfast?" Minsi held out a plate with an assortment of pastries on it, and flashed me a smile as I dropped down beside her on the couch. "Ooh! Who had to sell their soul to Nuria to get her to let you go out and fetch these?" I shot the woman in question a playful look, letting her know that I was joking, and the corner of her lips twitched up.

"It's kind of hard to sell your soul to yourself- you can never get a good deal." My mouth dropped open, and I almost choked on my food.

"You- You?!" She shrugged. "You left the vault? But you-" She cut me off.

"If Lisbet or Jerremyah had gone, the other would inevitably follow- and they refused to leave you alone. Or, well, without at least one of them close by." Well... that was nice of them. "Minsi could have gone, but..." She hesitated for a split second. "My... security protocols, are strenuous, and I wouldn't want to put her through that too often." Minsi rolled her eyes, and Jerremyah chose now to speak up.

"And how many times did you apparate around the country, in order to throw off any potential pursuers?" Nuria grimaced, crossing her arms over her chest.

"That's none of your business." Jerremyah cocked an eyebrow at her.

"Protocol for unburdened travel used to be five- I'm assuming it was more than that, knowing you-" She cut him off.

"We don't have long before they get here, and Evie needs to eat her breakfast-" She said that as if I wasn't already scoffing down pastries and guzzling coffee like a pig. "-she doesn't need us arguing in her ear." I shrugged.

"I can multitask." I said, but with my mouth full, it sounded more like, 'Eh ken muliask'. I swallowed my food. "But maybe you can tell me why you need advice in the first place?" Lisbet and Jerremyah shared a look, and Lisbet sighed, before dropping onto the couch beside me. He stepped up behind her, leaning down and laying one arm along the back of the couch, planting his other hand on the couch arm just behind her. He wasn't touching her, but only just- and then she leaned back, pressing her back to his chest, and he looked... absolutely thrilled.

"Evie..." Uh oh. I wasn't sure I liked that tentative tone she was using. Jerremyah piped up.

"You don't need to worry- nothing is going to happen that you don't want to." Me? What did this have to do with me?

"What does this have to do with me?" They shared another look- they seemed to do that a lot.

"Evie... you know how after you said you didn't want us to wipe your memory, I said I might know someone who could help?" Yes? Why? Were they reconsidering?

"Yes, and I still don't!" I said, trying to sound strong, firm, and he reached forward past Lisbet to rest a hand on my forearm, gently.

"That's not on the table- you said no, so no is the answer." Well... at least Jerremyah seemed adamant that that wasn't an option.

"And... Nuria is the one you thought could help?" He glanced at her, past me, before meeting my eyes again.

"...Yes." Why did he hesitate?

"Why did you hesitate?" He bit his lip, and Lisbet took over for him.

"Nuria could help- if you wanted her to." Why wouldn't I want her to help me? "If that's the sort of help that you wanted. We're bringing in Grey- and Nicholai- in order to help you make that decision. We..." She hesitated, glancing at Jerremyah. "Our opinions are... biased. Hopefully, with them here, maybe you'll be able to see every side of the... issue." Their opinions were biased? Why? And what was this... 'issue'?

"You keep mentioning this 'issue'- what is it?" They hesitated, and I gave them a look. "Guys. Do you want to have this conversation now, or after they arrive?" Jerremyah grimaced- clearly influenced by his apparent animosity with Nicholai.

"Evie... the issue is... whether you might want to... become... one of us. A vampire."

(A/N): Lisbet: *gives Evie one of Jerremyah's shirts to wear, knowing full well what effect that will have on him*

Jerremyah: *is affected, but doesn't want to show it*

Jerremyah: *blushes*

also

Evie: *thinks about Jerremyah biting her while she's hugging him and gets turned on by the thought*

Jerremyah: *smells that reaction*

Jerremyah: 'Christ...'

Evie: 'What a strange reaction to a hug... oh well!' *continues hugging*

Molliare = The cushioning charm.