Chapter 5

"I wanted to thank you…for earlier."

Tav's fingers paused at the edge of her book and she tilted her head back to look at her companion standing behind her. His brilliant white hair seemed to shine under the moonlight and his predatory red eyes nearly glowed. She should be afraid but instead a soft smile crossed her lips. He had come early tonight, to spell her off of her watch it seemed. No doubt because he finally found the words that she knew he was gasping for during the day.

"Of course. Always."

He shifted on his feet, crossed and uncrossed his arms. He had more to say. Tav turned back to her book and waited. She was slowly becoming more and more aware of steps in the care and handling of their fanged companion. Patience, it seemed, tended to be the key.

She had to suppress her girlish giggle when he flopped down next to her. He sat close, their sides nearly touching. Unless he was feeding from her, touching remained at a minimum since their one-night escapade.

"You didn't have to, you know. Anyone else would have been happy enough to have given me up to that dreadful gur," his voice lilting, the up and down melody of his words had begun to sound like music to her. "And I mean, no one would blame you. Travelling with a vampire? You all must be crazy. Although, I guess I am a good shot, and definitely the best one here to look at." He pushed back a stray strand of hair- trying to maintain that perfect appearance he somehow was able to keep up while tramping through the wilderness.

"I think you underestimate our friends," she said without looking up from her book.

"Well, I guess you are right. You do need your best lockpicker still. You obviously haven't picked up the knack yet." His tone sounded cheerful and upbeat despite the self-mocking and belittling of his words.

No need to rise to it. No need to fall into the bait of his words. Just give him another minute.

Silence fell between them again. Slowly, Tav felt his knee fall and rest against hers, his side pressing into hers.

"It's been a new experience," he finally whispered. "Having someone to help keep my secrets. When that gur showed up…well. Just thank you for not giving me up. Again. And," he trailed off. The back of his hand slowly fell from his own lap and came to rest against her leg. He traced the decorative seam on her trousers with his knuckle. "And for helping make sure he didn't make it back to Cazador with information on me."

Her book was forgotten. Tav closed the novel and rested it against her leg. "While your methods may not be what I would choose," she trailed off and he let out a short dry chuckle but continued his lulling movements, "I will support your decisions. To a point." Tav pinned him with a serious stare. "No running off and killing for fun now but…to protect you and keep you with us. To keep you away from him? I will always support that."

Tav risked it. She leaned into him and let her head rest against his shoulder. Rather than tense up against her, Tav was rewarded with a soul deep sigh from him. The sounds of the swamp were the only things either heard. He seemed to be as reluctant to let the moment end as she did.

"And I should be thanking you as well," she broke the silence.

"Hmm?"

She looked up at him with her cheek still resting on his shoulder. "This book has been quite the palette cleanser. Gale's books have been not ideal for easy reading at the end of the day. Plus," she pulled back and made like she was looking over for the wizard. "I'm not sure if he knows or not but I don't need to learn magic like a poor wizard does. Being a sorcerer and all that."

He threw his head back with his laugh. Tav had to slap her hand across his mouth to stop him from waking up their companions. It took a minute before his belly laugh stopped. Her own face hurt from her wide smile.

"You," he finally said, "you truly are something else, dear." Ruby eyes shone brilliantly, alight with life. His smile was a true one, reaching all the way from the deep creases around his mouth to his eyes and brow. Tav raised her hand up with a need to brush back his hair into its normal place but stopped. He seemed to notice and pushed it back himself.

Tav reached behind her and picked up the book. "Goodnight." It almost hurt to stand up and walk away.

"Goodnight, darling."

"Hey, you."

Astarion nearly jumped out of his skin. He whipped his head up and over and had to stop his jaw from dropping at the sight before him. If it wasn't for the very familiar scent, he'd assume it was an illusion. Tav.

Syltava. His mind corrected. In all her finery.

She was a sight to behold. Gone were the slightly baggy white tee, black shorts and run down shoes that had become her staple at the Siren. Instead, head to toe in black in a simple sheath dress cut just at her knees with demure capped sleeves and a high but asymmetrical neckline -only her left collarbone was left uncovered. The peak of the asymmetrical dip carried down in a seam and stopped at her narrow waist with a simple draped bow. Some simple draping across the skirt and to the tie gave the flat black dress its movement and damn if the thing didn't do its job in flattering every part of her. Her pale rose hair was only pulled back at the side of her face leaving the majority to flow loose past her shoulders.

I could make something even better.

He had missed her last few words while taking in the sight of her. She stepped out behind the service desk and strode towards him, slightly wobbly a pair of strapped stiletto heels.

An overly warm hand touched his cheek and her violet eyes narrowed with concern. "Are you okay? You seem a bit paler than normal. Did you not sleep well?"

Astarion had to shake his head to clear his stupor. He reached up and took her hand in his, holding it tight. "Fine, darling. Just fine. Just taking in the breathtaking beauty before me. I don't often see something this nice unless I'm looking into a mirror."

Red flushed over her skin. She pulled her hand away and he earned a playful swat. "Save your flattery for someone else," her eyes rolled. She walked away from him. He leaned in to catch the sweet scent of her that stirred up in the movement. Gods he needed to stock up on blood before he did something really stupid.

"So," he shoved his hands in his pocket to stop himself from pulling her closer to him. "I guess this is where you are on the off days from the Siren. I always wondered what you got up to."

"Work," she sighed and ducked behind her till area, shuffling some paperwork. "That's all I seem to be able to do."

"So, I guess this is why the wine suddenly got much more tolerable at the Siren after the first few nights?"

She raised a brow and the corner of her mouth ticked up. "You noticed, huh?"

"Darling, that shit you served the first night was worse than sewer water. And I can say with first hand authority because I've had to crawl around in those sewers a few centuries ago and have no want to return to it." He couldn't help the full body grimace at the memory of the taste.

"Sewer water, eh? Well, I'm glad I could save you from that when you come to slum with us at the Siren. Now, what can I do to be of service to you, sir?"

"I'm looking for one of your coworkers. Syl? A…friend of mine recommended her."

"Did she now?" Mischief gleamed in her eyes.

You are an idiot. The voice in his head rang. Shit. Syltava. He rubbed his hand over his temple and her boom of a laugh rang out. "You're Syl, aren't you?" How the hell was he supposed to know this woman would have the exact same name as before?

"That I am. Syltava is my full name. Not that I ever use it." She tapped away on her keyboard and read over the screen. "I've got a few ideas that might suit your bill. Cat said you needed something for the…younger crowd?"

He nodded. "The young whelps that come through my shop have more money then ever to spend and always demand the most expensive of refreshments during their appointments. Money doesn't seem to buy taste."

"Ah, I wondered why someone would need such an odd amount of the stuff." She remarked. "Let me go find what you need," she stepped out behind the counter and towards the store's shelves. "So," her voice came from behind a shelf. "How do you know Cat?"

He slowly wandered around the show room, noting some good vintages he might ask her about later. "I've known her for centuries. It's been so long that I think I forget how we met." It sounds like Cat hadn't felt the need to call him more than a friend. Might as well keep the story the same. For now, at least. "How about you?"

Some clinks came from the shelf area as Tav continued to collect wine. "Back in Waterdeep. It's where I moved from. I had a short stint teaching a few dance classes and Cat was my student. We hit it off. Discussing wine, believe it or not. She took me out drinking and the rest was history."

She walked back into the room with a small crate in hand. "I really missed her when we moved. I heard she's coming by to visit her family in a bit. Maybe we should all go out together?"

"Sounds like a good idea," he lied. Absolutely not. Then something she said made him stop. "We?"

She mindlessly hummed under her breath and pulled out a few of the bottles for him to look over. "Yeah, Percy and I. Well," she paused and looked off into the distance for a moment, "Percy still is staying in Waterdeep to finish out his school year and some work with his clients then is going to fully move in with me here. I just went ahead to get set up."

"And who is Percy?"

A wave of her hand was his answer. A simple and tiny diamond ring that had most definitely NOT been there before rested on her finger. "My fiancé. We were supposed to be married last fall but then his mum suggested in the winter, around the holiday season. Cute for pictures and all that. Then his dad suggested in the summer so that he could focus on his school work and working through most of the busy season. So right now, it's set for the summer."

The floor seemed to fall out beneath him. His heart stopped again and he forgot to breathe. In his mind, he swore and cursed at every god known. Especially Gale. The little shit. He could have warned him. How could she have gotten engaged? There was no way she loved the other man. She belonged with him. Of course, she was meant to be with him. The gods had literally put her in his path once again.

We've done it before. We can do it again.

That's right. He was Astarion Ancunin. There was no world where he wouldn't rise to the challenge. He would show her that they belonged together. Centuries before, he had attempted to woo her for his safety, to keep himself alive and away from his master. Her easy love during their adventures had shown him another way.

Now it was his turn to return favour.

His practiced smile crept across his face and she mirrored him. Her eyes didn't match the smile. Concern and slight confusion reflected back. "What is your deal?" she nearly whispered.

The question came out of thin air. "Deal, darling?"

The smile on her face faded and she played with the edge of her skirt, betraying her nerves. "Yes, deal. I'm not single. I won't have sex with you. That was what you were after, right?" Violet eyes rose to meet his. "All the flirting, the hints. This isn't the first time it's happened to me you know."

He pulled back and frowned. Did she think so little of him already? "That's fine. Would it shock you if I said I just liked being around you?" Truth in the statement helped him deliver that with confidence. He did want to be around her. Sex was a benefit but he could wait. She had for him, a near millennia ago.

She leaned back and met his eyes. Astarion could feel her trying to read his mind. No parasite, dear. That won't work this time. He hoped. Hells, who knows, maybe she could.

"It might," she pursed her lips and shifted on her heels. "But I think I feel the same."

He let out a long breath. "I'm glad. Friends?"

Tav nodded. "Friends."

"And," he held his hands up in defense. "When you come knocking on my door, begging for some of this," he gestured to himself, "then I promise I won't hold it against you."

That obnoxious belting laugh was his answer.

"So how are classes going?"

"I don't really want to talk about them."

Tav frowned and switched her phone to her other hand then shoved between her ear and shoulder. Work was over with and she actually had enough energy to make herself real food for once. Moving from the boiling water on the stove to her counter, Tav began cutting her vegetables.

It had been a happy surprise to have seen Percy's number cross her phone as she had arrived home. She had missed hearing his voice.

"Come on. Yes, you do," she goaded. Usually, she couldn't stop him once he got started.

"The undergrads are giving me an aneurism. I seriously don't remember being that dumb when I was younger. Classes are going okay; my final writing is coming along. Oh, gods did I tell you about…."

There he goes. Tav smiled and listened carefully as Percy spoke. Half of it, she had no clue what he was talking about. Percy was in a Master's Program for Business, focusing on Medical Non-Profits. It was really beneficial work, good work for the world. He was following mostly in his family's footsteps. The Envors were a fairly well-known family in Waterdeep for the last few generations. Percy's grandfather -Percival Thomas Thorn Envors I- had been an influential lawyer and business man and it had followed his son and grandson's. Both Percy's father and brothers followed similar pursuits. His mother- an elf originally from Baldur's Gate- was still a successful lawyer, fairly ruthless from what Tav had heard from Stirling- Percy's younger brother.

It was a lot for essentially an orphan barmaid to live up to. But Percy was always there to support her.

"So how has your week been? That weird guy show up again?"

She snorted. "I would say peculiar, rather than weird and yes. Actually, we've become friends. He's been fun to talk to." Tav moved around the kitchen and poured veggies in to cook. She opened the oven door to check on the fish, nearly done. "And get this…he's friends with Cat. Do you remember her?"

"Mhmm, that burlesque dancing vampire?" he questioned.

Eyes rolled at the nickname he had given Cat after the pairs first meeting. "I think you mean my old dance student who has a sun allergy, but yes. Her."

"Do you think that he's a good choice of friend? If he's like Cat, that is. I know you liked Cat but she could be a bit…different."

"Nothing wrong with different," she defended. "Need I remind you that I was the one working at a burlesque club when we met?"

"Yeah, but you grew up and changed. Don't you think she's a bit too old to be that silly?"

Tav walked into the tiny living room and folded her long legs under her as she sat. "She is who she is, Percy. Nothing wrong with that. I could say the same about Stirling some days and he's your brother."

He sighed. "You're right. As always, Syl. Just…" he paused and Tav could hear a pen tapping in the background. "Hey, maybe we need to go over the guest list soon. You weren't going to invite your new friend, right?"

Tav shoved her hand into her hair then dragged it down her face. "What if I wanted to?"

"I think we were already needing to cut down anyways."

That surprised her. They had spent the last few weeks before she moved organizing the seating. Not to mention, she had a scant amount of people invited compared to him. Of course, she realised she had no family to invite and only a few friends compared to his overly large and extended family. His parents also came forward with a list of people they needed to invite –'for appearances'- according to Percy.

"I guess, but it's getting pretty close to the-."

"Oh and did I tell you that I was able to help secure funding for the family medical building I was telling you about last time! Man, they made me work for it but I was able to get them enough funding to add ten more suites for families."

Tav felt a soft smile cross her lips. "That's great! I can't imagine how much of a relief that is for the families."

"I know. But…it's put a bit of a wrench in our plans. I'm going to be wrapped up in the red tape with this for months. It isn't over, over so I can't walk away from it and the only reason they agreed was because of me. So, I can't leave. We are going to have to push it back again. A few months only though, this time. I'm so, so sorry Syl. Really."

A wave of calm strangely washed over her. How could she be mad? What horrible person would be mad about their wedding getting postponed so that ten families could get their children life changing surgeries and get the funding and living place to recover during their journey? There was no way she could be upset. It would take a monster to be mad about that.

"No, of course you have to stay and work on that. Those families need you! I completely understand," her heart was stabbing in her chest. "This is why I love you, Percy. You care and work so hard for everyone."

"Thanks. I love you too, hen. But…I got to go. I've got an early morning tomorrow."

"Of course," she nodded to herself. "Love you. Have a good night."

The phone went dead. Tav sat stock still, staring at her black screen. A hiss and squeal came from her stove.

"Shit," she said to herself. Pulling off the veggies and cleaning up the overboiled water as quickly as she could. Fish came out of the oven. Overcooked.

Somehow, dinner didn't seem as appetizing anymore.