Blueblood

Story: Blueblood

Chapter 2

Author: Eric McQueen (mcqueen.richarderic@gmail.com)

Adult Readers, Sexual Situations, Sex

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Gabriella

"Are you insane!?" I shouted as he was about to walk away grabbing his arm to stop him. "You put yourself as a target and he will try to kill you! You told me on the serum, you're not a whole vampire. Not really. It's not your plan to commit suicide, is it? You just got back!!"

Colin smiled weakly. "I've been around a while. Death skipped me a long time." He put his hand on my shoulder. "It isn't my plan, but if it happens..." he shrugged.

"You ARE crazy!" I shook my head. "I know what you said. I heard about what happened, but I'm just supposed to sit around where you can be killed? I just met you!"

Colin sighed. "I realize that." He sounded almost tired. "Look, like you pointed out, I don't know if he's still around. He could have died. One stake, fire or even getting trapped outside he'd be ash now." He said with a grin. "And just as I moved on, he may have, too. He could be on the other side of the world!"

He was right, but that didn't make me feel better. "I know that, but I also know you came back knowing the fact you did would flush him out!"

"If he's still around." Colin reminded me.

"But you're doing this on purpose!"

Colin began to get angry. "So what? I was forced to feed on blood for a fucking long time!" He shouted. "I was forced from my home! I was tired of fleeing from sunlight! I was forced to live underground like a rat or something reviled, which I was!" He sighed and put his hand on me again. "You can't know what I've been through."

I shook my head. "You're right, I can't," I admitted. "I'm just being selfish, what you went through had to be Hell!"

He nodded sensing I got it or at least acknowledged I was beginning to understand. "It was Hell, but you can't imagine the joy I felt when I saw my first sunrise in a hundred years. It was beautiful." Then he chuckled. "But you saw me eat and at least realized how much I enjoy it now. I won't go back to that if I have to stand in the sun when I become a vampire again!"

"Yeah." I folded my arms and didn't quite glare at him, but I frowned. "You can tan and eat all you want and don't gain an ounce! That's just not fair!" I grinned at him.

Colin laughed. "It's not! It's not fair at all! But after all I went through, it's a little compensation."

I grinned as I chuckled. "I suppose you're right again."

Then Colin looked at me hesitantly. "I just don't want you to leave." But I saw a look, of longing and he was just so lonely.

"Aw, Colin," I said coming closer. "I'm not leaving, but what happened to you...it's just so...alien!" Reaching over touching his arm and again, he was warm. "You've been good so far." I chuckled. "You've not been an asshole once yet."

Colin smiled a little bowing his head a bit. "I swore to keep control of that." He grinned scratching behind an ear as he looked at me again.

"You said you lost others because they didn't stay," I said. "You seem like a nice guy. Wasn't there anyone you loved or loved you after the transition? What was it that drove others away?"

A look of pain was in his green eyes taking the green and literally seemed to darken the light inside. He turned not really looking at me as he confessed. "I loved Josiah. I didn't know as a child he was...not supposed to be my friend. My father bought his mother. His mother was in the house. These days, we all know what servants in the house were called because her father was another plantation owner. Meaning he was white. She was a very lovely woman, always kind." He chuckled as he remembered. "She was like a second mother to me, but as Josiah and I grew up we developed feelings for each other and..." he shrugged. "It just happened. I did love him. There were a few other people later. Mostly male." He grinned. "A woman once and well..." He shrugged. "She was aroused, and she wanted me...but even as a vampire, I found people that I developed attractions to which surprised me I could. I dared to think what I was wouldn't matter. In the long run, it did matter. I still was a vampire. Then when I began the serum and it progressed, there was one I thought he could overlook it." He chuckled sadly. "Then I realized, he loved the vampire in me, not me. He wanted an Anne Rice vampire or Buffy's vampire boyfriend...it couldn't work between us. He wanted the tortured vampire with a soul."

The pain in his face was so...real. I moved closer to him. "Colin, I've never known you to be other than who you are. The picture I saw was just so...positive to me. You were here back in the early 1800s. You say you're wanting to become more human." I said daring to put my arm around him. "You showed me what happens when you take the serum and that was horrible. Why?" I laughed. "It was almost like when they showed the footage about severe injuries I saw in the military. I didn't faint, I didn't leave the room. I could handle it." I moved even closer. "I saw you in pain and I understand you wanted to test if I wouldn't leave." Our faces were only an inch apart to the point I could feel his breath on my face. He breathed and he didn't back away. "I'm not leaving, Colin. I like you, Colin." I saw him smiled. "I'm falling in love, which is why I'm asking you. Give us a chance." Now his smile grew wider. "I will be scared for you about what this Brett could do to you. I'm getting it. I will be scared, but I'd like the chance to show you. I don't want to get to know anyone, but you." I watched as a tear came down again on his cheek, but the smile on his face never faded. The sparkle returned to his vibrant green eyes, and he seemed to relax even more.

"I'll take the risk," Colin said as his voice came weak and almost cracked as the emotion was right in front of me. "I saw you and knew I could take a risk." He closed the distance that remained and gently as he could, touched his lips to mine. That was the most arousing thing I've ever felt, but it only took a few seconds as he increased the pressure and kissed me a little harder. It became more probing as it deepened, and I felt his tongue touch my lips as it became more, and I let him in. He was solid and real as he wrapped arms around me pulling me closer. Feeling his body pressing against me felt so perfect. My hands came over him as I felt his back, the musculature, and his warmth. He was a beautiful man, and my desire was growing as I was more aroused. What was really more amazing, as I felt his arousal as the front of his pants began to grow hard and his desire was vivid and just there! He pulled away a little, not letting me go, but his forehead rested against mine. "I'm almost there, Devon. A little while more time. Okay?"

I nodded. "Take your time, Colin. I swear, I'll be here. I'm not leaving."

Colin was now crying as he embraced me. "I have been alone so long. I don't know why, but I need you." He said against my ear. "I want you so badly, but I want more than just sex. I want you to really love me."

I ran fingers in his hair as my other hand moved over his back. "I think you'll see it even if I don't say it."

His chuckle rumbled next to my ear. "I might, but I'd like to hear it anyway. I know you'll say it when it's real."

"I will."

A voice cleared itself and we turned, not letting each other go to see the man we'd hired to clear the grounds. Only the man wasn't bothered, but a little shocked. Why he was shocked was not important to Colin, and I didn't really give a damn if he was. "Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt, but...did you know there was a basement here?"

Colin let me go and nodded. "I knew there was."

I looked at Colin. "You never showed me that."

"Dark, nearly underground." He muttered. "You think I want to go there?"

I shrugged. "I'm good."

"Well, I think someone has been squatting here." The man said. "It looks like they've been living here." He hurried on. "I haven't seen anyone, but there's evidence it has been recent."

"What?" Colin said shocked. "Show us!"

The man nodded and jutted his head in a direction and walked off. We followed quickly.

Now, understand, a basement in this part of the world isn't truly a basement. We were too close to the waterline and any basement was only shallow and really on the ground. It was only a few feet into the ground and only halfway under any ground. This house, like most houses here, had the first floor elevated and on the second floor really. Because the floor of Wentworth Manor was marble it had been protected. There were often hurricanes and flooding would happen, but fortune was the eye of the several major storms went north of the island and north of that was where the flooding was the worse due to the storm surge. We got to what had been a door beneath the stairs in the back portion of the house where servants could access the other floor to do their job but unseen. They never go up and down the main staircase in front. We took the stairs down and even in daylight it was dark. The man that told us about it held a flashlight. I immediately could smell damp earth and something else. Death? Someone was dead down here? I'd smelled it before while as a medic and having lost men and women during the war. We tried when death occurred to take care of the veterans, but when we were under attack, the bodies would wait until it was clear and we could ship them home. We had men whose jobs were to preserve as best they could, but it didn't take long before that smell could be picked up. THAT was the smell here. I felt dread and fear. Was Brett here? Would he attack us now? I touched Colin not wanting him in danger.

What we saw though was...well, it was feminine! A chair and desk, a table with those awful doily things I didn't like at all! Pictures and then I saw another painting...smaller but it was Colin again! But he was holding a baby with a woman standing beside him as he sat with the baby in his lap. It was a good painting! The woman was pretty with dark hair, but Colin looked like Colin!

"Colin," I whispered to Colin and pointed to the painting. "Take that before away before this guy sees it and wonders."

I watched Colin's eyes grow and he went over and put the picture face down. This time, the picture was clean and could be seen clearly who was in it and then he turned to the man. "We'll take care of it." He said, but I could see his mind working, but his tone told the man to leave it alone.

"Okay." The man said and went back upstairs.

"Gabriella?" Colin said in a whisper like he was praying it was the truth.

"Could Brett have changed her, too?" I asked.

He shook his head, but then he shrugged. "He could have. Brett Marshal was obsessed with the intent of destroying my family. What better way than turning her to make her suffer as I did, to make me suffer. He knew I loved her."

I touched him gently. "Where is she now?"

"Staying here in the dark somewhere. We make our places." He said softly looking around the basement. "I'm staying here tonight."

I turned him to me. "Not alone! I'm going to be here, too."

Colin shook his head. "If she is a vampire, it could be dangerous!"

"But not for you!?" I asked.

He shook his head. "She can't feed off me. She could on you."

"You won't protect me," I said narrowing my eyes.

"Of course, but I don't know if it is Gabriella," Colin said. "She will smell your blood. The hunger is very strong!"

"But you can do for her what you've had done for you! If you stay here, I stay here. You said you came to make yourself a target, what better target than a man with blood?" I held my hand pointing that out, challenging him to deny the logic.

"I don't like it," Colin said with minor irritation.

"And I don't like you making yourself a target!" I began tapping his chest with that finger with each word. "But I accept it, now accept my decision!" I said firmly.

Colin smirked. "This isn't in the employment agreement."

"So?" I shrugged. "You'll have to tie me up to stop me!"

He bowed his head and sighed. "Fine." Then he looked at me and his face was again denying me to not do what he was about to say. "You do exactly what I say when I say it! No arguments!"

I nodded. "I promise." I watched Colin reluctantly nod.

His renewed love of food was still alive and well. He had some food prepared for us. It was nearly sunset when we went back to the basement and would wait.

"It's time," Colin said softly. "The sun has set." He said it as he could see it. We had a lantern to see in the dark.

My fear shot up. My mind instinctively was screaming to flee, but I couldn't leave. There were parts of the vast basement that was shrouded with junk and other things. Then we heard something, like a stirring of someone moving in the unseen parts. Then a figure moved into view, moving around some junk and this time, I saw she was a vampire. Not like Colin, but a real, bloodsucking fiend. This was a monster. In a dress that looked as if she was buried in that was long and may have been light blue at one time, but now was dirty, tattered with dark dried something I assumed was blood from meals she'd taken over the long Hell she was in and just hung on the woman. She wasn't a baby like in the picture. She wasn't a little girl. Now age was what was odd. Colin had stopped aging at about forty. This woman looked like she had been in her mid-thirties. Her hair may have been as dark as Colin's, but was unwashed, but her dead eyes fixed on me first and she opened her mouth when she saw me, or smelled me, as prey and let out a hiss and now, I saw fangs. Not the movie version of the sharp teeth. There were four above, the longest and sharp one next to her middle teeth and besides those, shorter, but long one on either side. One each on her lower jaw. She most certainly could pierce a throat to suck the blood out. She was advancing on me as Colin stood in front of me.

"Gabriella! Stop!" He said with a mixture of emotions. Happy to see her still moving, sad for what she became and fear of what he might have to do to stop her. "Please, Sweetheart. Look at me! It's Daddy. You remember me, don't you?"

Her eyes went to him, and I saw her desire for my blood vanish a little. The look of disbelief, but he was there! Her father was standing before her. Now her face had doubt and her mouth closed as she looked. "Daddy!?"

"Yes!" Colin nodded as tears again now flowed. "I'm Daddy. I'm your Daddy." He walked closer to her. "Smell me. You can't feed on me. You know that, and I won't let you feed off him!" He pointed to me. "I will not let you."

Her eyes widened as she saw him, and she reached to touch him. "How? You died a long time ago!"

Colin shook his head. "I did. I died a long time ago. Just as you did. I became what you are now, Sweetie." He reached out taking her arms in his hands. "But I can help you. I'm not a vampire anymore." Then he gave a shrug and nod. "Well, I am, but I can go out in the daytime now. I eat real food! I got back almost a regular life! I'm even finding love again." He motioned toward me. "My life is coming back and I'm going to build the Manor back the again. I can give you a life again. I swear it. Let me help you!"

She looked at her father so mournfully. "But it's so strong, Daddy. The hunger is just so strong! I can't stand it!" She said pitifully.

"Can you trust me?" Colin asked. "I can help you. I promise I will!" He looked at her and I could see him in her a little in the mouth and a little in the face shape. She was his daughter, but I will also admit, she looked more like a hag to me now. I guess being a vampire that's what happened. Bathing and grooming were sort of forgotten. "Please, Gabriella. I can help you." He smiled. "You'll see sunrises and eat good meals again."

"How?" Gabriella asked fearing to hope.

Colin nodded and kept himself between me and a cooler I thought just held food, but he produced one of the vials I'd seen in his little refrigerator at his suite. "With this. I take it every day. It will help you live an almost normal life. Please."

She nodded. "I'll do anything. Just make the hunger go away!" She pleaded.

Colin nodded. "It's going to hurt. It hurts a lot." He warned.

Her face was almost in what should be tears, but as I thought, real vampires didn't apparently have tears. "I don't care!! Make it stop. Please, Daddy." That time, she did sound like a little girl. "Please."

Colin nodded again. "You have to trust me." He waved to the chair she used. "It'll be over soon. I'll make it stop." He pulled her dress open revealing her chest, not a breast, not that it was important. He cleaned her chest as best he could. When he pulled out this needle, it was way longer than the one he even used on himself. He looked at me. "I will have to give the first one in her heart itself." He explained to his daughter and me and turned to her. "I'm so sorry, but I have to do this."

"I trust you, Daddy. Do it!!!" Gabriella shouted. "DO IT!!!"

He thrust the needle in her chest and directly in her heart and pushed the plunger down. What I thought there was the pain for Colin was bad, but I was not prepared for Gabriella's pain. In seconds her eyes bulged as she suddenly inhaled and then let out a horrible scream!

She screamed for much longer than Colin had suffered his pain. I watched her writhe in agony. Her eyes shut like Colin's had been the first time I watched him take the serum. The difference was Gabriella's pain continued and just got worse!

"Jesus, Colin!" I shook my head. "Is it working?"

He nodded, but as looked at his daughter the tears came without stopping now. He was hurting as his daughter hurt, but he had to. "Yes." He sobbed. "If I don't, she remains what she is." He looked at me. "The serum has to begin in the heart. That's why I had to give her the serum directly in her heart first. What's happening is her heart's starting to wake up and it will beat again and move..." he waved at her, "...that sludge in her body again." He looked at me. "It must be done. It takes a while before her organs will work again even a fraction of what it used to in the beginning. It will get better, and her organs will come back." Then he smiled sadly. "It will never come back fully, but come morning, she will find her hunger is gone."

I understood he had to do it, but knowing it was not the same as seeing it. "How long before she can go outside?"

"Day after tomorrow for a few minutes, it will be about a week before she can go outside for a long time." He pointed to the cooler. "That contains more than food. The serum works but takes time to get evenly in a person's system."

I nodded. "If you need me to, I'll go get more food."

He laughed a little, but he was still crying. "You will have to." He chuckled. "You know me." He looked again at his daughter. "Tomorrow, I'll reintroduce her to real food."

I watched as she continued to squirm. "If she has the sort of appetite you do, I'll have to."

He shook his head. "Not at first. As her system comes back, she will have difficulty at first and I'll give her more as she gets back to some level of normalcy." He smiled at her and then looked at me again. "What I'd love is for us to arrange a shower or bath. Maybe some clothes?"

That was quite an order. My mind went through what I could do. "Freshwater, a tub?" I thought out loud. "The clothes I can get. Soap and shampoo?"

Colin nodded with a smile. "Can you do that?"

I nodded. "I can't guarantee hot water but let me work on it."

Colin nodded as he moved his hand over to her face where she still was in pain. He looked at me. "This will take a few hours. Then she will rest." He touched her hair, which I didn't even want to get near, but she was his child. Then he smiled bigger. "See?" He pointed to her throat where I saw the slight movement. A pulse was beginning. "It's working."

I nodded with a smile. "I'd better get busy!"

Colin walked over and took me in his arms as he wrapped them around me. "You'd better wait until morning. She might not be the only vampire here. She was living here, so who knows if who made her is out there or others that were made by the same vampire who turned me or Gabriella. There could be more made by Gabriella, just...wait, please?"

I nodded. "Sure." Then stupid me remembered my phone. "Of course!" I had one of those phones with the internet on it. I used it mostly to check my email, find somewhere I needed to go and then get directions to those places. "I'll look and see what I can do."

He chuckled. "I knew you would." He leaned in and kissed me. "Thank you."

I ran my hand over his face. "I like you, Colin. I know I work for you, but I feel we're moving from boss and employee. At least I hope you consider me a friend now."

He moved his head next to mine as his lips brushed my face. "We are friends." He moved away a little to look in my eyes. "You've been amazing. I knew there was something special about you." Then he grinned. "This makes things a little more difficult." His comment was serious as he got a stern look.

His remark surprised me. "What are you talking about? What's difficult?"

He pressed his lips to mine again kissing me and I could sense the feeling he had for me. "It's nearly impossible NOT to fall in love with you now."

The chuckle just came out of me. "I'm so sorry about that. You're an amazing man, Colin. How can I not fall in love with you?" I pointed out the irony.

"See? We have a problem." Colin grinned, then he sighed dramatically, only to be dramatic. "But we'll just have to deal with it."

"I look forward to it." Then I pushed him lightly away. "For now, look after Gabriella and let me work!" I said mockingly cross.

Colin looked at Gabriella. "We'll move her tomorrow night." He looked around this basement. "I'll look for something we can use." His hands rested on his hips as he looked. "She lived here a long time. I used to know what was down here in the basement." He looked back at me. "She won't be awake for a while and even when she wakes up, she'll need rest." He smiled. "The first real sleep she's had in a century."

I looked up from my search on the web. "Another question?"

Colin looked at me sideways with his eyebrows risen, god I loved that. "You need to ask permission now!?"

I rolled my eyes. "It's polite!" I shot.

He smiled. "And we Southerners are always polite."

I nodded laughing. "Just like when people hear, bless your heart. What we really are saying is, you stupid bastard or even dumbass."

He laughed more heartily. "That's right. So, what's your question?"

I sighed. "This whole dead and undead thing. Your heart wasn't beating you said. Hers wasn't beating and now it is. You were dead, but you moved, and you did breathe."

"You have to breathe to make sounds. We used air to talk or growl or...you know." Colin said sitting in a chair near me. "As Doctor Holms explained to me. What happened to Gabriella and me was more like...a virus or infection. No, our hearts pretty much stopped. Yet the body function centers there. Vampirism was the means of any flow of what I can describe as sludge. The sludge is dark, and it looks the color of coagulated blood. Vampirism is the reason it flows. Yet, to exist, we need living blood to feed vampirism. That's where the hunger comes from and fangs to get the blood." He looked at his daughter who was still moaning. "I know the hunger she spoke about." He looked sadly at her. "I know her suffering. It's such a strong...compulsion...the hunger. It's irresistible." He looked away from me, again the shame on his face. "Taking a life was all you thought about." He waved at her and her bloodstained dress. "I can see she fed. I dread finding out what she did feed on, but I know it wasn't her fault. Killing a vampire, they are right about sticking a stake in the heart. That is the center of function. Sunlight will also kill. Now that her heart is beating again, the organs will function again and she will again become warm, sweat and even cry when needed." He shook his head. "It won't be an easy transition."

I moved closer to him. "But she has you. You're her father and you've been through it. Who can help her through this more than you?" My hand stroked his back just before we began looking around.

As I looked around, I saw that whatever Wentworth Manor had been. It had been huge. This basement was below a house that was a very good size. I couldn't understand how people missed this place. I didn't know it was here. My mother didn't even know about the property until Colin called to buy it. I also did realize what WAS here. There were things down here that had to have been expensive and now even more so as they became antiques. Furniture, pottery as in vases and other things like that. I even found some crystal things from candlesticks to plates.

"Colin." I began making him look. "We need to get most of this out of here. A lot of this is valuable!"

He nodded. "I am surprised it's all here, but yes, we will." Then he let out a little cry of victory. "Yes!" He began tossing things out of something. "I found an old tub!"

I went over to him. It was an old cast iron tub, but it was filthy! It had been down here a long time and filled with other things. "I'll find water." Then I grinned. "Surrounded by water on this island, but that water was not really good for bathing. In the morning, I'll get some fresh water. I'll cancel the crew today, so we won't be disturbed, but this basement needs to be secured. The workman that found it knows about it, but it needs protecting."

Colin nodded. "You're right." He smiled again. "Do you know who to call?"

I gave a mocking shocked look. "Don't start doubting me now!"

He laughed patting me on the arm. "Sorry. Just checking."

Later he found a trunk that had some clothes that were still well preserved. It was shortly after that she made a sound, but she wasn't in pain. Colin raced over to her.

"Gabriella." He said softly touching her face. "Can you hear me, Gabby?" He grinned at her. "Wake up, Sweetie."

I watched as her eyes fluttered and at last opened. I was happy to see that her eyes no longer had that dead look. Where it had been dry and had no reflection, now there was a little moisture and some light reflected now. She turned her head, looking at Colin. "Daddy!?"

Colin nodded pulling a chair over and sat by her. "Yeah, Gabby. It's Daddy."

She ran her hands over her face as tears were trying to come out, but there wasn't enough yet. "Daddy!!" She tried to sit up but couldn't yet. Instead, she groaned, but she sounded more like a person. A human person.

"Easy, Sweetie." Colin crooned. "It's okay. You're going to be stiff a while. Your strength has to come back." He shook his head. "You're not there yet."

She shook her head. "I'm not dreaming? You're really here!"

Colin nodded. "Yes, I'm really here." Then I watched as he bent down and kissed her on the cheek, which only a father could do as I saw how horrible she looked right now. That was love. "I promise you; I'll never leave you again."

As I said before, the odd thing was she didn't look much younger than Colin. My understanding was he was turned in 1851, she must have been turned a decade or so after Colin was bitten, but she knew who he was, and he knew her! It was sweet...in a gruesome sort of way. She needed to be cleaned up. I looked at my watch. "Well, the sun's up." I grinned. "I'd better go up and get the water and things. I'll be back."

Colin nodded reaching over taking my hand before I got anywhere, bringing me closer. "Again. Thank you."

I smiled. "Not a problem." And I was about to walk off, but he kept hold of my hand and pulled me into a kiss. I almost pulled away. He did it right in front of his daughter. Did she know her father was...gay!? If she didn't, she did now! Looking at her, I didn't see anything but relief. Was it relief she was feeling because she wasn't hungry for blood or happy to have her father back. Maybe she didn't give a damn he may or may not love me, a man! I was the one shocked, not either Colin or Gabriella. "Now. Stay put! I'll get the water, something to clean the tub, shampoo, and soap." I looked at Colin with a slight knowing grin. "I know we have food, but shall I get something for you? A lot of something?"

Colin chuckled and looked at Gabriella. "You'll be surprised at how good food tastes now. I'll get you to try something. It will take a few days, but you'll be eating again."

She smiled. "I almost can't remember." She chuckled as she rubbed her stomach. "I'm just happy not to have those horrible desires and that overwhelming hunger."

Colin nodded understanding. "I know." Then he looked at her. "I warned you. It hurts a lot! Once a day you and I will have to take the serum or become that horrible creature again. I've lived for almost twenty years in the world. Walking in the sunshine, eating good meals..." he chuckled holding his arm up. "...getting a tan even!"

She chuckled but was very tired. "Is there water? It's been a while, but I think I'm thirsty." Then she smiled. "I mean for water, not blood." She looked as Colin got up to get water. "You go through the agony every day?"

Colin nodded pulling a bottle of water out of the cooler. "Yes, but it gets shorter the longer you're on it." He came back with the water. "My pain now is about five minutes. The trick is, you know it's coming and just..." he shrugged. "...put up with it."

"That's okay." She nodded. "That was pretty bad last night. When can I go outside? I'd like to see the sun."

"That will be tomorrow morning. You will be able to see and be in the sun for a few minutes. It might be uncomfortable, but you won't burn. As time passes, you can do it all day!" He grinned laughing at her. "I have! I'm proof!" He said as he put the bottle to her lips, and she drank. At

Gabby. There will be more. Give what you've drunk a chance to get in you."

Okay, I'm gay, but I never considered myself anything but a regular guy who happens to like having a male as a companion. Nothing drastically different...and then I noticed my vision blurring. Was I crying? I inwardly groaned. I was turning into a big gay marshmallow. I shrugged. No crime here with having emotions or expressing them. It was touching and I was touched! Sue me. The next hours were very busy for me. I called the crew telling them to hold off until tomorrow to continue clearing the Kudzu and things. I knew who to call about securing the basement, but I didn't fully trust anyone with this job so I went into town and bought some little cameras to place in the basement that would remain hidden even from the security. No one would take a thing from here. I got a truck that delivered water in huge tanks and told them it was needed to clean some things. They were to deliver it and leave the tanks. We could heat the water outside, using what remained of the fireplaces. Getting shampoo and soap that was needed and I got that. I even bought what I assumed was a nice dress. I wasn't a drag queen, but I thought it would look nice. It would be a hell of a lot better than what she was wearing the past century. Then I hit my own head remembering... "Mom." I'd forgotten to call her. I was busy! I quickly dialed.

"Oh, thank God!" Mom said in relief not even saying hello. "Are you okay? You didn't come home last night."

"I was busy and forgot. I'm sorry. Colin and I stayed at Wentworth Manor last night. There is a lot of valuables down in that basement! We had to stay."

I heard Mom chuckle. "Colin, is it?" She knew about my...gayness. "You know he's your boss? You're a grown man and it's none of my business, but are you being careful. There are dangerous diseases out there."

I chuckled to myself. "There sure is." I thought about his disease...or condition...whatever! "I'm careful."

"And he is returning this affection?" She asked.

"He is," I admitted. "You were smitten with him, too! I'm not immune!"

She let out a little growl. "It figures though. He's gay."

I gave a shrugging nod she couldn't see. "Well...he had a daughter, so let's say he played for both teams."

"Then you need to be doubly careful." She warned.

I grinned at her always being the mother. That was her job! "I know and I will." I chuckled. "Now, I'll be in touch. We're staying at Wentworth again tonight. Security is coming after that, and we must store what's here somewhere else. So, understand when I say, I've got to go. Very busy, Mom." I smiled. "But I'll tell you this, we'll go out to eat. You, me, Colin, and I've just met another person in his family. Hopefully, she can go, too." Then I smiled. "But don't be surprised when they eat a lot. I've not seen Gabriella eat, but if she's like Colin, it will be kind of shocking!"

"Really?" Mom said as I could hear her happiness. "They're big eaters."

"As I said, Colin is." Then it was my turn to growl. "And he doesn't gain an ounce! I'll talk later, okay?"

But Mom had one more thing to say. "You sound very happy. I hope it all works out. We'll talk later."

The water truck delivered the tanks, and I used an old metal tub to heat the water and took it down to the basement. I cleaned the cast iron tub as best I could. It was a few minutes later I saw Colin take his serum again. Knowing what he would face, I wasn't as shocked, but it still hurt me to see him in pain. As usual, he just sat and let it happen, but five minutes later, he seemed fine again.

"I have another day!" Colin said as his breathing eased.

"Will you have to order more? Now that she's on the serum and you're taking the serum...it will run out."

He nodded. "I know where to get it. I'm way ahead of you."

I chuckled. "Of course, you are."

He shrugged and looked at Gabriella. "Don't worry about her, she will have no fangs or appetite for blood now." He glanced at his cellphone. "I have an extra battery in the car. I'll be right back." He said running up the stairs.

I turned as Gabriella let out a sound, but it was a satisfying sound of contentment.

"Good morning," I said smiling at her. She looked more human as the hours had passed. She was just...dirty.

I had filled the tub, added the hot water, and then turned. "If you want; your bath is ready." I bowed smiling. I waved toward a section we had put up so she could bath in solitude. "I have shampoo, soap and even a dress for you. Sorry if it's not the right size or color..."

Gabriella laughed as she rose from the couch. "After a hundred years in this!?" She waved over herself her voice was almost normal now. "A burlap sack would be welcome." She looked at me with a smile. "You have been such a help! How long have you known my father?"

I looked away a little. "Maybe a week or so."

She smiled with a nod. "He falling in love with you, you know?"

I grimaced. "Don't tell me you read people, too."

She laughed. "It's so obvious! It's written all over his face!"

"And that doesn't bother you? It was punishable in the nineteenth century!" I said incredibly. "Wasn't it?"

She nodded. "It was, but Daddy was honest with me and mother. He liked mother and they got along well, but he said he could only love a man." She shrugged. "Who was I to judge? He's a good man and he deserves love. If that means you...good."

Colin came down the stairs. "Hi, Gabby!"

She almost went to him but stopped as she looked down. "I'll hug you later. First, I need a bath!"

I grinned as she went behind the partition to do just that. Looking at Colin I pulled him close to me. "Gabby?"

He chuckled as he nodded. "She was always a talker. As soon as she could make sounds it was nonstop." He shrugged. "She was a gabber, she was named Gabriella, it just made sense to make that her name."

"I can hear you both!" She said in a sing-song voice and laughed. "That's how I knew he was real. He was the only one to call me Gabby." We heard her remove her clothes. "There's some hot water in a few buckets back here."

"To wash off before you get in," I explained logically. "You can even wash your hair before...you wash your hair!"

She laughed delighted. "You are a smart man, Devon. That is your name if I'm remembering, right?"

"Devon McGee," I said clarifying.

I heard her pour some water, I assumed over herself. "I can see why Daddy loves you." Water on the floor would dry.

Colin looked surprised at her candor. "Gabby." He said in a warning tone, but not angry. "Don't be saying things I haven't even said!"

She laughed even harder. "Please, Daddy." Then she growled a groan. "Oh, my god, my hair! It's full of shit!!"

"Gabby!" Colin said in shock. "Language."

She laughed again. "You've said a lot worse." She said as I heard the water pour again. "Augh!" She said again disgusted. "I might need more hot water." A bare arm held a now empty bucket. "I have the water in the tub, but I need more rinsing before I get in."

"Coming right up," I said running upstairs to get the water. It was good I made plenty. When I got downstairs again I heard Colin and Gabriella talking.

"...and you'll find the time will be shorter," Colin said as I heard more water pour from a remaining bucket. "But it works." He shook his head. "It's just not a cure. We'll always be...what we were."

"But we're not what we were." She sighed as I heard someone sink into the water. "Oh, this is just Heaven!" She said luxuriating in the water. "I'm staying in until the water is cold, just so you know."

Colin chuckled. "We have more. Enjoy it." He went to the cooler. "But you might want to come out and try some real food for a change."

"Oh, that's just mean," Gabriella said irritated. "Just give me a few more minutes."

"Don't worry. Take your time." Colin said happily as he turned to me, and he was very happy. His face would split if he smiled more. "She's alive!"

I grinned walking up to him as my arm went around him. "I'm glad."

When she got out...I couldn't believe it. She was gorgeous! Her hair was wet and needed...whatever women did to their hair, but the dress I gave her was a little large but didn't hide she had a very nice figure. Her hair was dark like Colin's, but her mother was dark headed in the picture I saw, so I couldn't say whose hair hers came from. The most important thing was...she looked human again. She smiled at her father.

"Daddy!" She hurried over hugging Colin tightly. "I thought you were dead. I never knew what happened to you." She and Colin shared an embrace I knew would be a while. I saw this was going to be a father and daughter moment and went quietly upstairs.

It had been a long day and then I had been up all night as well. Colin had been up as long, too. I was tired and Colin was with Gabriella. Going to Colin's car that we'd parked in the shade of the trees was really the only comfortable place to rest at all. It was still hot, but Colin's car was comfortable and clean. It didn't take long for me to drift off. I was awakened by the feeling of someone kissing the corner of my mouth gently making me remember what had happened and quickly fully awake.

"Is everything okay?" I asked quickly worried there might be a problem.

Colin looked tired but happy. He smiled as he nodded. "She's asleep again. That will happen these next few days. Her body is coming back to life." I watched as he propped on his elbow looking at me. His emerald, green eyes held something I could see as happy contentment and something else as he looked at me. Was that love? "This is just one more thing you've done with me to make it more impossible NOT to fall in love with you, Devon." He sighed. "You give willingly and easily. No thought of what you can get. I owe you so much."

I laughed lightly touching his face and it was a handsome face. "I wish I was that generous. I was trying to get something from you. You."

Colin raised his eyes as he chuckled. "Okay, so maybe there is something you get from this." He smiled as his hand touched my face and jaw. "I'm not a man. Not really." He looked back at me. "I am a vampire. The fangs won't come out on me. I don't feed on blood now, but I'm still a vampire. A relationship with me will be...different."

"I'm not really sure what you mean, but I haven't left. I won't." I said quietly.

Colin pressed his forehead against mine. "I want to be clear about it. I can love, but I haven't in almost two hundred years. I've liked some and thought I might be able to love again, but they would leave me."

I shook my head. "I don't see why. You're a good being. I'm not leaving. When I saw Gabriella, that was scary. That was you before the serum, wasn't it?"

He nodded. "It was, but unlike her, I did bathe." He chuckled. "The life of a vampire is one of simply surviving. You wake up and all you can think about it where to find blood. You focus on that and where you can get it. You look for prey and feed. In Gabriella's case, plumbing stopped, and she couldn't bathe." He smiled. "I did love and after feedings when I had time afterward." He shrugged. "New York was perfect for life at night. I was always afraid when I did love, I wasn't sure that what I'd give the other person would be dangerous. I was a full vampire and my...seed...what you refer to as cum...was the cum of a vampire. Would it be harmful to another person? In my mind, it was almost like having AIDS. I couldn't die, but was it dangerous for my partner? I don't want to hurt you."

I frowned. "You never have..." realizing what he meant by loving. It wasn't the emotion he was talking about, but the physical action. "You've never had sex in over a hundred years!?"

He shook his head. "Not without a condom. Whether it be orally or if we loved, I always wore a condom."

"I want you, Colin," I said quietly. "If there are limits to that, I'll deal with it."

He grimaced. "That's the problem, I don't want limits now. Not with you." He looked at me. "If I give myself to you, I want it to be completely. I haven't given myself to anyone since Josiah."

"Is there no way to find out if what you give me is dangerous?"

"Dr. Holm said there wasn't. He said he gave his seed to others, and they were fine. I just wasn't sure." Colin swallowed. "When I'm ready, we'll find out."

I nodded. "I understand." I looked at the sky. It was mid-afternoon. "You said we'd stay here again tonight. That we'd move her then. Is that still the plan?"

He nodded. "I'll call the hotel. We need another room, suite or something."

I gave a nodding shrug. "I'll find you a place. A house probably. Is there a limit to what I look for? It might be expensive."

He shook his head. "I'll have it." He opened his phone and frowned. "I need power for my phone. I've only got ten percent power remaining."

"You have a USB port in this car, you know?"

He grinned. "Which would be great if I remembered to bring the cord."

I pulled my phone free of its cord I had plugged into the car and held the unattached end up to him.

Colin chuckled. "Thanks." Plugging his phone in he nodded. "Here we go." He grinned at me as he looked at me with the sides of his eyes. "Thanks again."

Rolling my eyes, I reached out with both hands pulling his head to me, and I kissed him deeply. Probing the inside of his mouth as I practically consumed the man. He was responding reluctantly at first, then returned the pressure and I knew he was returning the emotion. "I'll say this. We are friends. I hope to be more when you're ready. If we do, we'll be lovers. One day I would like to be partners...I want a marriage. I'm not asking for you to marry me, that would be too soon." I smiled as my fingers combed through his hair.

He smiled. "I want that, too..."

"Helping each other is just what friends do. Thanking me is nice, but..." I kissed him again lighter. "...cut it out for now."

He threw his hands up in futility. "I'm grateful!"

"I know!" I said loudly but smiling.

"Good!" Colin said equally as loud, but he was smiling as he called the hotel.

"Is there another entrance to the basement? We'll need to get those things to storage. I've arranged for a storage unit. It will have to be a big one."

He thought as he waited for an answer from the hotel. "There was, we'll have to see if it's still there." He made plans to move himself to a larger suite if necessary, one with two bedrooms. The hotel would look into it as was going to move his things for him. He clicked his phone off.

"Are you a top or bottom?" I asked casually while I searched the internet for some real estate.

He looked at me suddenly as his eyebrows rose. "What?" He hadn't expected the subject.

I grinned but didn't look back at him as I searched. "Do you prefer to be on top? There are many men that do."

He chuckled understanding now. "Oh. Yes, there are. There are men that prefer to be on the bottom." He leaned toward me. "When I make love, I want it all. Top, bottom...whatever and all of it."

The smile came on my face. "So, do I."

I texted the man in charge of removing debris and told him the job was back on the next day. I called security firm and arranged a guard for tonight and some other nights until we cleared the basement of its valuables and then I contacted another company that would send a truck and men to begin taking the things from the basement to storage.

"You said you trusted me," I said to Colin.

He nodded. "I do, why?"

"There's a house available, but I need to move quickly. I've arranged for a showing tomorrow." I looked at him. "It's downtown on the Battery. It's furnished, but with all this stuff we're taking out of here it may not be needed to be fully furnished."

He nodded smiling. "You know, I'm sort of busy. Sure, I trust you."

"I'll do the best I can. Now, show me the other entrance to the basement."

The manor was surrounded by the Kudzu and brush. Pulling the debris away from where he remembered where it was before, we saw the wall of where the side of the basement had been. There was a large opening there a crew could come and go with the many items once it was clear. Then opening would let light in and we needed to move Gabriella before we did that.

The sun was setting before Gabriella woke again. Colin offered her something to eat which she hadn't even considered in the past century. He presented her with some fried chicken he had in the cooler. She sniffed it and her eyes widened. Looking at her father her mouth opened, her face was disbelieving. "The smell! It's wonderful." Then she touched her stomach as I heard a sound. "Oh, my God! My stomach just growled!" She grabbed the chicken and bit.

"Take it easy, Gabby," Colin warned. "Your stomach says it's ready. It will take a few more days to be ready to fully digest." He touched her face. "Then we'll have a wonderful dinner...outside in daylight and you'll be fine."

She nodded but bit a little more. "This is so good! It smells wonderful and tastes amazing!" She looked at me. "Did you made this?"

I shook my head. "No, it's KFC."

"Who?" Gabriella asked.

"Kentucky Fried Chicken," Colin said smiling.

"It's from Kentucky!?" Gabriella asked amazed. "That's so far away!"

Colin gave a sad sigh. "Things have changed in the world, Sweetie. There are things that have happened in the last hundred and fifty years. I know your life has been hunting and consuming when awake. Out here it's kind of isolated and you said you fed on farm animals near here. Did you never look in windows of houses and see things you didn't know about? Wonder what they were?"

She shook her head. "My life has been the same since I was turned."

Colin gave a shrugging nod. "Well, there are many things out there you won't understand. Whatever you want to know about, it's okay to ask me or Devon. First, we're going to let you eat a little more. Then we have to take you to Charleston." He frowned. "You've seen cars and planes, right?"

Her brows came together as she thought. "Cars." Then she nodded. "Those strange carriages pulled by something other than horses people are sometimes in? Yes. Planes?"

Colin nodded. "Those are also carriages of a kind. They carry people and freight quicker and easier. In the sky. People fly now."

She was surprised, but she'd been on the outside of the world so long it would be surprising. "People fly?"

"Yes." Colin nodded. "I've flown."

She marveled at that. "Was it scary?"

Colin chuckled lightly. "It was very exciting the first few times, but I guess a little scary the first time."

"I've seen these things in the air at night and didn't know." She sighed but was a little excited about it. "The world moved on and I need to catch up!"

I chuckled. "Wait until you watch TV. That will teach you a lot!"

"TV." She repeated having no idea what I was talking about.

Colin nodded as he smiled. "You'll see in a few hours."

I pulled out my phone and activated the security system I put down here. Gabriella looked at my hand. "What is that?"

"It's a telephone...kind of," I explained then remembering the telephone hadn't even been invented before she was turned. "If I need to speak with someone that isn't here. I dial a series of numbers that belong to the phone they have and can speak with them. They can be across town or on the other side of the world." Then I grinned. "It can do other things, too. Since there are dangerous people out there, I put up eyes in here that can keep an eye open to who comes and goes, even see if someone takes something. I can see through these eyes I put in on this."

Colin tried to figure out how to explain it. "It's like...a crystal ball. We can see other people, talk to other people and watch them on that." He pointed to the phone. "I have one, too."

"I don't think there are many people that don't have one now," I explained further. "It's how we live, work and play. This means of communicating is key to life now."

She nodded. "But it's science even though to me, it's magic."

Colin smiled as she was understanding she couldn't understand and understood she couldn't yet. "That's right."

"Hello!" A voice came from the door that opened upstairs. A male voice I knew was security.

"Well, let's go," Colin said standing up. "Tonight, you'll see a lot. Questions will be asked, and I will answer, but not with these men, okay?"

She nodded crossing her heart. "I promise not to seem...odd."

Colin stroked the side of her face. "You're never odd." Then he chuckled. "Last night you were, but not now." He tilted his face. "You look so much like your mother."

She smiled but looked at him questioning. "Is that a good thing?"

Colin nodded. "Your mother was a beautiful woman. She was kind and generous. I liked her as a friend and cousin."

Cousin!? I couldn't help it as I blurted. "Cousin!? Your wife and you were cousins!?"

Colin chuckled as he looked at me. "Not my mother's sister's child or my father's brother's child, but she was a third cousin." He shrugged. "This line had to be somewhat pure. Marrying cousins was a way of doing that."

I rolled my eyes and turned as I thought. Turning to Colin again. "That makes Gabriella not only your daughter but a fourth cousin?"

"She is." Colin nodded smiling at the look on my face. "There were others' DNA in my wife so more diversity in Gabriella." He shook his head. "It was in the late 1830s! It's what we did as bluebloods!"

I nodded. "Bluebloods."

"That's what the aristocracy..." Colin began.

"I know what a blueblood is. You guys were bred to think you are superior!" I muttered as I shrugged. "I just never liked a cousin enough to...marry." I waved at him. "You deal with Gabriella, and I'll deal with the rent-a-cops upstairs."

I heard as I climbed the stairs. "I must look terrible. I don't know where Mom's hairbrush is." Gabriella said.

"Are you kidding, you're perfect!" He ran fingers through her hair. It was long dark brown, almost black like Colin's that came below her shoulders. She had finger combed it to get some order. "You've got the Queen Guinevere look. There are women now that will pay good money to have what you have naturally."

It was funny. It was sad what happened to both of them, but they were amusing. Humor was a trait Colin had passed to Gabriella along with his mouth characteristics and hair color, but Gabriella's eyes were brown now that I could see the color.

We had three men posted around the house who would remain all night and day changing shifts as needed. No one was to come in or out of the basement. One at each door and one in the basement. We took the pictures of Colin. If one was found we missed, the men really didn't see Colin, so what would they know?

Gabriella didn't say much to the men but hello when we introduced her. Even I could see the guards were attracted to her. Her color was coming back, and she looked very human now. Approaching Colin's car, she looked a little hesitant at it. I then realized she'd never been in one and probably imagined being in one and not even sure how to get in. I opened the front passenger door for her. She looked surprised as the overhead light came on.

"There are lanterns that light on their own!?" She asked.

"A lot of them are all over now." I motioned for her to sit in the car. Once in I pulled the seat belt around her. "This is security for you." I looked at Colin who was about to get in himself. "But your father won't go too fast at first."

Colin snickered. "I do have a lead foot. I'll try to control that as I do about being an asshole."

"Good man."

Gabriella rubbed her hands over the upholstery. "It's so soft and comfortable."

Colin chuckled. "Of course, it is. It's a Mercedes!"

I didn't have to see her to imagine her face as we rode in the car. She looked at everything we passed. At first, Colin did what he said and went slow, but once on the highway he went the limit, and she was trying not to be startled at the speed we went. Wentworth Manor was off the highway a good few miles. There were farms and houses nearby so she didn't need to go far and may not have been out this far in decades. Maybe in a century. There were a few bridges and downtown Charleston could be seen.

"It's like jewels!" Gabriella said in awe. "It's so pretty!"

Even I would agree with that. Many people thought of Charleston like that. It was an old city. Not like cities in Europe or other countries, but one of the oldest cities in the United States. The modern world was here as well, but at night, the lights we take for granted now was nothing like Gabriella had seen. They lit the sky and reflected on the water from the rivers and harbor. It was a jewel.

"It is very pretty," I said quietly.

She looked down at herself. "I'll need more than one dress." She looked at her father. "There was a dressmaker on King Street..."

"Whose probably out of business as he died a long time ago." Colin nodded chuckling. "They have other dressmakers now. They're called department stores." He ran a finger over her face. "But I'll take care of it. Tomorrow I'm having a hairdresser and there are stores in the Charleston Place Hotel we can get clothes for you. Don't worry, honey."

"Thanks, Daddy," Gabriella said.

I cleared my throat. "I love that you're both together again and all, but...Colin, you were turned in 1851. How old were you?"

"I was about to be forty," Colin replied.

"And Gabriella," I began. "It's not polite, but how old were you when you were turned."

"Thirty-four," Gabriella said as I saw Colin nod.

"He's right. A forty-year-old man wouldn't have a daughter that's thirty-four." Colin smiled. "I would have been seven or eight."

"Now, wait." I sat forward. "You could have married her mother, an older woman..." I suggested.

Colin looked at Gabriella and both shook their heads. "No." They both said.

"How about Uncle Colin?" Gabriella asked her father. "I'll be your niece!"

Colin chuckled. "My niece I will always call Gabby."

I waved to them. "Hello, you two are cousins, remember? Cousins!"

She smiled. "I know you will." Her attention went to all the things she'd never seen. I couldn't imagine them all. Her whole life ended when she was in her thirties. The world had moved on and she had not. Except for her desire to stop the hunger for blood, she apparently hadn't done much else.

When we came into the lobby of the hotel she was brave walking through like she'd seen it all before, but she did a turn as we walked. The hotel was a top hotel, and it was designed to look like it was. The hotel's lobby was vast. There was a staircase rising to a second floor and the ceiling in this part was open to both floors. There was a marble floor with a circular mosaic design the stairs going up from both sides of the design. High above was a chandelier that sparkled with light, reflected by crystals making everything bright. She turned as we walked up to the wall for the elevators. Colin took her hand after he pressed the button and we waited, and the ding surprised her, and the door opened.

"We get in and we go to our floor," Colin explained quietly following me in bringing her with him. After he pressed the number four and the doors closed, Gabriella was very uneasy. "It's common, Gabby. Millions of people do it all the time and taken as just a part of life no one gives a thought about now. Just relax. I know it's a lot, but you'll be fine."

She nodded but gasped when the elevator moved up. These were unknowns and she was having a natural reaction.

I was startled when we went to the same suite he had before. Inserting a key card, he led us both in.

He pointed to a door on the left side of the suite which was now open. Adjoining rooms did exist and he had gotten the room next to his suite.

Now she just gushed. "This world is so...different! Lanterns all over. Pictures that move! I saw the tavern where they were watching the moving pictures that looked like a game being played! That lobby was like a fairy story. That room that moved to bring us here! That carriage we rode in was so fast and there were so many on the way! I don't know a thing about any of it." She said almost in mourning.

Colin nodded. "I know, that's why I'm making sure I stick with you. I'm not leaving without you ever again. It will be fine. You're safe. This is the world now. I'll help you through it." He sighed as he held her arms. "It's late now. I'm taking the serum soon and you'll see it's not going to be bad all the time." He chuckled. "Well, it is pretty bad, but it only lasts a few minutes. I'll give you yours and it won't be as bad as last night. Your body has begun coming back. You've got a pulse, you're getting warm." He caressed her face. "You have color, and you are beautiful again."

She nodded. "It's okay, Daddy." Then she laughed realizing what she'd said. "I mean, Cousin Colin."

Colin smiled. "But in the morning." He pointed to the little balcony. "You will see your first sunrise in a hundred and fifty years." He let her go. "And then, breakfast!"

I chuckled as I sat on the sofa. "That will be...interesting to watch. He eats a lot. That and his coffee addiction."

Gabriella laughed. "Just as before he had before he became a vampire. He had a big appetite and he's always depended on coffee." She kissed Colin's cheek. "It's nice to know some things won't change."

I witnessed Colin telling Gabriella some things about how the modern world works in terms she could understand. I had been up a long time and was getting sleepy. The excitement of the past two days was wearing off. I was awakened as I heard Colin groan. He was in a chair again with his eyes squeezed tightly. Gabriella was watching as her father went through this daily torture. I had seen it now many times, but it still hurt me as it hurt Colin. It took five minutes, and he opened his eyes and sighed.

"See?" He asked Gabriella. "It's pretty painful, but it goes away quickly." He looked at a clock. "We've got to do it now for you. I want you having more of the serum in you when you see the sunrise."

She swallowed and then nodded. "What are we waiting for?" She began opening her dress.

Colin stopped her with a smile lowering her hands gently. "Not that way now. You're now circulating blood. It will be in your arm now."

He prepared her and inserted the needle. Once more, she shut her eyes as the serum was going through her body. To me, it was just as intense as the first time as she held agony on her face. And one more time it lasted longer than Colin's pain. This time it lasted over an hour before she finally sighed and seemed to drift off to sleep. I watched Colin wipe his face of tears that were again coming and now he could wipe them away.

"She'll sleep a while." He said smiling as he wiped his face again. Looking at the clock he smiled at me. "You need rest."

I chuckled. "I'll be fine, Colin."

Colin shook his head. "You've napped and maybe slept a few hours, but it's been two very busy days." He came over putting his arms around me. "Stay here tonight." He motioned toward his bed. "I'm not ready yet for anything, but we could share if you don't mind."

I smiled. "And I'd sort of like when we do...we have more privacy."

He smiled and then he lifted his arm and sniffed. "I need a shower." He smiled. "You can shower, too. I'll put her in her bed as you do that."

I hadn't noticed any body odor, but he was a clean man and he always smelled nice. He would know if he did, and it would make him more comfortable.

"I have nothing to wear." I pulled on the clothes I'd worn the past two days.

He nodded. "There's a bathrobe in the bathroom. I'll have what you're wearing cleaned." He smiled kissing me. "I'll even get you something new when I get some things for Gabriella. For now, do what you need to do and I'll be there soon." He looked at me. "Okay?"

I motioned toward Gabriella. "What about her? She has nothing to sleep in."

"But I do. A t-shirt and pajama bottoms. She'll be comfortable."

I nodded. "Okay."

I did as he suggested. I couldn't really enjoy the great bathroom which was a pretty good size. It was a suite, and the bathroom had a clear free-standing shower and a separate bathtub that was big enough for four people. Two sinks with a huge mirror before bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and soaps sat on the counter waiting to be used. I was draining fast. I barely had enough energy to put the robe on after the shower. I went to Colin's bed. I was fast asleep in what had to be seconds. It seemed like I had just gotten to sleep when someone was kissing me softly on the neck. I rolled over smiling at Colin's face. Damn, he was handsome even with his hair messed up from sleep.

"I just wanted to wake you so you could see this," Colin said getting up. He had come to bed and was bare-chested wearing only pajama bottoms. He went in the other room and came back with Gabriella who wore one of her father's t-shirts and pajama bottoms. "I know you need more sleep, and you'll get it, but I thought you should see this." He said to his daughter.

Opening the door to the balcony he stepped outside as the horizon was beginning to glow. I saw Gabriella take her father's hand. For a long time, sunrise was something to fear for her. "It's okay. You'll get some tingling a little, but it will get better as the days go on. You don't need to be in the dark now. You can go back to bed and just rest after you enjoy being able to see this." He pointed to the Eastern sky.

Getting up I went toward them on the balcony as the horizon grew brighter. Gabriella was still so conditioned to run and hide she was now terrified.

"You won't burn," Colin assured. "I told you. There will be a tingling...like when you hit your funny bone, but that's all. This tingling will grow a little, but you will not burn. I'm right here with you." He said in his daughter's ear. He looked again at the sky. "It's okay but look..." he pointed to the horizon. "It will be beautiful. The most beautiful thing you'll ever see."

The first bright sliver of golden yellow began to slowly show and more rose. Colin was smiling at Gabriella as her eyes grew larger. She was watching it! I came up to really look at her. She now had moisture and her eyes were now reflecting light in that moisture as now more moisture came in her eyes. I looked at the sun as it got higher and then looking back at Gabriella I saw tears coming and a look of wonder and pure awe as she was also watching. More of the sun appeared and she looked down at herself, her hands rubbing over her arms I assumed the tingling began, but it didn't hurt her. More of the sun appeared as now the sun was lighting the sky more. A crescent and then half of the sun was showing.

"It's beyond beautiful," Gabriella said in a reverent whisper as she grabbed her father's arm, pulling him closer to her. He wasn't protecting her, but she wanted him to know she was indeed moved beyond any words she could express.

It was a few minutes and now the sun was in the sky, round and blazing just above the horizon.

"I never..." Gabriella said softly, "...thought I'd see it again." She cried now let the beauty of what she saw be expressed on her face. "I forgot what it looked like." She smiled at Colin. "It is so beautiful."