Blueblood

Story: Blueblood

Chapter 4 Dr. George Holms

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

Adult Readers, Sexual Situations, Sex

Freedom of expression is precious. To do that Nifty needs help. Your donation is greatly desired. Give to http://donate.nifty.org/ or this story ends and all the others! That would be a crime!

Dr. George Holms

Colin now was even more at ease with me if that were possible. The basement at the manor was finally emptied and now the reconstruction could take a more earnest step farther.

"We need to invite your mother to dinner," Colin said. "If just to assure her you're still alive." He grinned at me.

I worked on the laptop. "We can do it Friday night?"

Colin nodded. "If she wants to." He dumped contents from an envelope out and sighed. "The problem with living this life is this." He held up a license and papers. "A new license and other papers have to be done."

I took the license. "Okay. Why?"

"To get a new one in South Carolina, I need an old one." He brought out his other license. "It's the same, but the date of birth changes."

I chuckled as I looked at it. "This makes you thirty-seven."

"If they printed the truth, someone would have a meltdown," Colin griped.

"But it's legal?" I asked.

Colin shrugged. "As legal as it can be. Many people fake licenses all the time, they have an alias and all. Things were so much easier before computers."

"And now there are computers, so how is it possible?"

His eyebrow rose. "We helped build them." He grinned. "The mainframes and all that."

"You did?" I asked.

"Well, not me personally, but we had a couple of people in the works that created backdoors we could access to make changes like this." Colin explained. "We had to."

"But that would have been recent," I said as I worked it out in my mind. "Before you were just some unknown person in the dark."

Colin nodded. "But I'm out now and we needed to create a background for me to have an ID. I'll have one created for Gabriella soon."

We met my mother in the lobby and went to the restaurant. Mother was a little worried when she saw Gabriella. Gabriella looked very nice in a nice almost floor length blue dress evening dress and made up to perfection. Mom told me in was princess length...whatever. Gabriella wore a necklace with a large blue sapphire and on her earrings and a bracelet with the same gems. She had poise and coincidence in her stance. She knew who she was. She was the picture of a sophisticated modern woman.

"Mom, you know Colin." I put a hand on Colin and turned to Gabriella. "This is his cousin, Gabriella Wentworth."

Mom now smiled wider. "Oh, it's great to meet you, Gabriella and such a lovely name!"

Gabriella nodded. "Thank you. It was my maternal grandmother's name. My father insisted I have it." Her eyes sparkled at Colin who just rolled his eyes.

"What a beautiful dress!" My mother complimented.

Then they were just women meeting.

While my mother knew I was gay. I told her Colin, and I were attracted to each other, and she just cautioned me about possible diseases.

"Are things working out for you, Mr. Wentworth? I was sure my son could help you." My mother said smiling as she put her napkin in her lap after she sat down. Of course, Colin held the chair for her to do so.

"Absolutely, Mrs. McGee," Colin assured her as he sat. "He's my right arm here. He's helped me out tremendously."

Mother smiled hearing that. "I'm glad." Her eyes came to me, and I saw the look of wanting to ask the question about Colin and myself, but her eyes went to Gabriella.

I chuckled nodding. "Yes, Gabriella knows, Mother," I answered her unvoiced question. "We had a pretty busy few days, but yes, Colin and I are..." I looked at Colin. "...what? We're not really dating...it seems we sort of skipped that part."

Colin laughed taking my hand on the table. "We've been out." He gave a shrugging nod. "Well, to eat at least, but we got along so well, in spite of what we've been doing, it just sort of happened." He looked at my mother. "Believe me, Mrs. McGee, I would never hurt Devon. He's become very important to me. I hope our age difference isn't a concern for you."

I squeezed Colin's hand a little tighter when he mentioned an age difference. I saw the corner of Colin's mouth turn up a little.

My mother nodded. "Well, I am concerned. He's my son. You're probably a decade older..."

This time it was Colin that squeezed my hand when she said that.

"...but I've known many couples that have that or more differences in age." She smiled. "His father and I were about that far apart in age. I always told my son to respect who he was with and make sure they respected him."

Colin nodded. "Oh, I respect Devon, Mrs. McGee." He smiled that charming Southern Gentleman's smile. "Can we move past the formal mister and be more informal. Call me Colin."

Mom smiled with a nod. "And I'm Betty."

"Since we're dropping the formalities, I'm Gabriella. I've known Colin for years, Betty. I'm thrilled he found someone as wonderful as Devon." Gabriella smiled. "If Devon were a little older, I'd be trying to get him from Colin."

"Gabby," Colin grinned as he scolded shaking his head.

"That's his name for me since I was a little girl," Gabriella said in mocking whisper to my mother. "He claims I was always gabbing, hence the nickname." She brightened. "He raised me. He's more of a big brother or father figure to me."

Things were smoothing out nicely. Gabriella may have been out of circulation a century, but she was enough of a southern belle she did beautifully, and Mom was very happy with what she saw. Colin was charming and he was clearly devoted to me. Though when mom saw how much he ate, her smile broadened and I merely shrugged the, I warned you look.

We ended the night with me walking my mother to her car as the valet brought it to the hotel's entrance.

"I hope things work out with the two of you," Mom smiled, but also a little sadly. "You've been away from home for so long, now you're back and you have someone new in your life." She hugged me. "My little boy has grown up."

"I'm not gone, Mom," I said kissing her on the cheek. "I'll be here in Charleston. I'm a phone call away and I'll be around. You can visit me, or I can visit you."

Mom nodded. "A visit is just a visit." She sighed, "It won't be coming home anymore, but that's what life's all about." She got in her car. "He seems like a very good man."

I nodded. "He is a very good man."

Mom nodded. "Call me." She said as she drove away.

When I got up to the suite Colin was getting the serum ready for himself and Gabriella. He had taken his jacket off and stood with his sleeves up ready for his own. He turned when I came in and smiled.

"That was a nice dinner tonight," Colin said. "I enjoyed your mother's company."

I walked over to him, my arms going around him as his head came to rest briefly on mine. "She enjoyed you and Gabriella, too. Your daughter was very good tonight. No one would have suspected she has been out of things as long as she has been."

Colin nodded as we kissed. "She was taught by the very best."

"Mrs. Prentiss," Gabriella growled as she came into the living area in a lacy nightgown and robe, also blue. "I loathed that woman." But Colin chuckled.

I was surprised by hearing this. "Mrs. Prentiss?"

"She was the instructor at the Prentiss School for Young Ladies," Gabriella said in a mocking tone imitating a ladylike genteelness. "All of the well-bred young women of Charleston went to her finishing school." She came in and did a very stiff walk that was clearly put on. "How to walk, talk and manners for dining and other things. How to sit and be ladies..." she sat with her legs crossed at the ankle, placing her hands just so on her lap. "...slapping us on the wrists with her fan if we didn't conform to her standards. It was torture!"

Colin laughed more. "But it paid off! You were great!"

"Perhaps, but she was a sadist." Gabriella insisted.

"When she was thirteen, I sent her to the Prentiss School for Young Ladies in Charleston. A young woman needed instruction and Mrs. Prentiss gave that to her." He shrugged.

I tried to figure this out. "But you were pretty far south of Charleston. It would take all day by carriage and not much shorter by boat!"

Colin nodded. "All of the plantation owners had houses here in downtown Charleston. We had one on Broad Street."

I grinned. "Don't tell me, it was South of Broad?" Everyone in Charleston knew to live South of Broad, you had connections or money, and many had both. Those with money hoped that living South of Broad, they would gain those contacts for connections. The famous families in Charleston history lived there.

"Of course!" Colin nodded with a chuckle.

"You are bluebloods!"

Gabriella chuckled with us. "The bluest!"

Colin got things ready for Gabriella and gave her the injection in her room while she lay in bed. He wasn't concerned about her reaction as much now. The pain was again pretty quick, but this time only lasted about ten minutes.

"This is good!" Colin said happily as he wiped her face with a clean cloth. "It's working. She's maintaining the level she should have in her system now."

"Of course, it is." I nodded as I took his hand. "Now, it's your turn." I led him back to the bedroom this time. "Get ready for bed."

Colin grinned. "But I'm not tired yet."

"No one said you were going to sleep but get in bed." I pointed to the bed. "You were pretty energetic after the serum last night. I want to be ready tonight."

Colin grinned as he allowed me to push him toward the bed. "You just want to get me naked. Well, the serum is a stimulant for the heart and makes blood flow. I'd get erections all the time after my injections, but no one to share it with."

"Now you do!" I said kissing him deeply. "It's just a shame you have to go through such pain before." I rubbed my head against his.

"That you're here makes it so much better," He unbuttoned his shirt.

"I hope so," I went to our door and shut it. When I was coming back I saw Colin. He was a very handsome man and his life before he became a vampire had been rugged and his muscles were rippling as he removed his shoes and socks. The broad back also moved as he worked. I grinned when he didn't give a thought about tossing his shirt over a chair and removed his pants. Men born at home in his time were not circumcised, but he was a beautiful man with manly hairs in the right places. And he was all man. My man, now I thought which made me smile.

He turned around and waved a finger at me. "You're overdressed."

"I'm getting to it," I said getting the syringe, needle, and tourniquet. I quickly stripped and came over to the side we weren't going to share together giving me more room to give him the serum. I prepped his arm and got the serum in the syringe. "I'm sorry this will hurt you. I love you, Colin."

He smiled. "I know."

I injected the serum, and it was just a release from the tourniquet and the pain came. Again, his eyes never left mine. Even in pain, his emerald, green eyes were beautiful. I kept his face clean of sweat as he was nearly grunting with agony. It had to be done, I told myself. If he had a future, this was what he needed to be done. It was five minutes and he relaxed and smiled.

He glanced down at himself. "See?"

I looked down as he had a raging hard-on. "Well, let's not waste it!" I rolled us over and grabbed the lube.

The thing was the serum had a lasting effect on Colin. He came in the usual gush but was still remained hard! It relaxed a little, but then back full strength and we didn't stop! Maybe the serum wasn't all bad.

After...I'm not sure how long, I came in him again. He enjoyed being the one made love to if not more than being the one making love. He was very sensitive. A really good part was he enjoyed cuddling afterward.

"I don't know how I managed all those years without you," Colin said softly as he was giving small, but heartfelt kisses to me.

I smiled. "We didn't know each other before," I said reasonably. "Now, that we do, we'll enjoy each other."

"You're so beautiful," Colin said as he caressed my cheek lightly with his fingers. "Inside and outside."

Colin decided it was time to test whether or not the serum was working in Gabriella, so we all went to the house he'd leased. Traveling by car was still a new experience for Gabriella and she was not used to the rapid travel yet but held her composure well. When Colin pulled to a stop in front of the house, Gabriella smiled seeing it.

"Diana Calhoun." She said.

"Who?" Colin asked turning to her on the passenger's side.

"Diana Calhoun," Gabriella repeated. "Her family lived here back in our day. I've even been here when we both were at Mrs. Prentiss' School. She was related to the vice-president John C. Calhoun. A niece I believe." She chuckled. "She thought that fact gave her more importance."

"Did it?" I asked from the backseat.

"For her, it did," Gabriella said as she got out. She smiled as she looked up at the sun that was blazing overhead. "It doesn't hurt at all now."

Colin smiled hearing that. "Good."

Walking through the house, I heard the echo of our footsteps as we walked. The house lacked the things that told everyone someone lived there. I was right about Gabriella's need to be there. She was beginning, knowing what she and Colin had in the basement at Wentworth Manor and was already planning where things could go. She smiled even bigger when we came to one bedroom. It was spacious having lots of room and its own bathroom, but there were a lot of windows allowing sunlight in. She did a turn in the middle of it.

"I want this room, please." She smiled at her father.

Colin shrugged. "It's yours then." He looked at me. "Is there one you favor you've seen?"

I shook my head. "The only requirement I want is you in it." I smiled receiving a kiss from Colin.

The road access to Wentworth Manor was now clear enough for larger equipment to be brought in and more clearing was being done. The ruins of the old house could now clearly be seen, and we sifted through what was left to find something we could keep. We contacted the architect that had drawn up the plans for the new house and got his input more about the rebuilding. An engineer was hired to oversee the dismantling of what remained of the house and work was starting to tear up what was left.

We moved into the house Colin had leased and checked out of the hotel.

Help was needed for the house he had leased so we hired someone to help clean and cook. Gabriella could cook, but she had to learn how to do it with gas and electric appliances first. Things like vacuums hadn't been invented when she ever cleaned a house. Not that she would have if they were.

Now that we had an address, Colin and I got our new licenses online.

Once things were in place...relatively...we invited my mother for dinner at the leased house. She was in real estate and was fascinated with the house! The fact I was living there was a bonus!

It was one evening when Colin came and sat by me in what we had made a family room. It had been a parlor before for courting or just visiting.

"Devon," Colin said throwing his arm around me relaxing against me. "We need to go to New York."

I merely nodded. "Okay."

"You need to come with us." Colin continued. "You will meet Dr. George Holms and I need to get things prepared for Gabriella. She will need a foundation to get an ID here in Charleston. Dr. Holms will be able to explain more about the serum and how to get it if needed." He sighed. "I'll need to make sure we have enough for Gabriella and me. We can never run out."

"Whenever we need to."

He smiled. "He will better explain what Gabriella and I are to you."

Colin took extra precautions with Gabriella. He didn't think a commercial flight would be appropriate for her yet. He chartered a private jet to take us to New York.

Gabriella looked as we arrived at the airport all the planes that were there.

"And we're going to fly," She said trying to make her voice not sound shaky.

"People do it all the time," Colin assured her. "If you think I drive fast, prepare yourself for this. It will be very fast." He smiled. "We'll get you some new clothes while there. Even take in a show on Broadway." He smiled at me. "And that goes for you, too."

I saluted him. "You're the boss."

Colin frowned. "No, I'm not. I don't want to be your boss." He shook his head. "You're not really on the payroll anymore, but I hope we're partners now."

I smiled kissing him. "Yes, we are."

As prepared as she could be, her eyes grew as the luxurious jet got ready on the runway and there was the sudden burst of speed. What anyone who'd flown before knows, the nose came up and at last the wheels lost contact with the earth and we slowly began our rise into the sky. My thinking was I could get used to this lifestyle.

Once in New York...or was it New Jersey? I have no idea, but we were taken from the plane to a helicopter and then flown again to downtown Manhattan, very little traffic this way. We didn't check into a hotel but landed on one of the many buildings in Manhattan.

A young woman with blonde hair greeted us as we got out of the helicopter. She was dressed in one of those black power suits that professional business women wore today. She smiled at Colin.

"Hello, Colin." She looked at Gabriella and me. "I understand you have newcomers."

Colin nodded. "Ursula, this is my daughter Gabriella Wentworth." He indicated to Gabriella. "She is one of us." He said to tell me that Ursula was also a vampire. I would learn later that Ursula didn't need to be told as they could sense each other. Colin's statement meant more than Gabriella was a vampire. Colin vouched for Gabriella being a part of this group of vampires. The good guys.

Ursula smiled broadly as she shook Gabriella's hand. "How wonderful to have found you after all these years." She said sincerely.

Colin smiled at me. "And this..." he brought me forward. "...is a man that is so important to me. I love him and he's a part of me now. This is Devon McGee. Devon, this is Ursula Pritt, she's the organizer for George and the others here."

She smiled and her face didn't show surprise or change at all when Colin introduced me. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Devon." She said shaking my hand. She looked at Colin. "Do you wish to go to your rooms, or do you want to speak to George?"

Colin shrugged as he looked to me. "I'm fine. Do you want to rest?"

I shook my head. "I'm fine, too."

Ursula took us down an elevator to a series of offices. What was unusual was there were no logos around. It seemed to be an active office with workers doing various tasks and working on computers or discussing things with someone else. There was no reception desk or anything that told anyone what was done here. She led us to what was a vast laboratory. In this lab was a man who looked up from a computer he was working on. He was a tall man that looked in his mid-thirties with red hair. He smiled as Colin came over.

"Colin!" He greeted getting up and hugged Colin. He turned to Gabriella. "And you must be Gabriella. Colin told me about you. I'm George Holms. We didn't know about you."

Gabriella nodded. "I didn't know about you, either." She shook his hand.

Once the introductions were done, George smiled at me. "This is a very different world Colin has you in, isn't it?"

I nodded. "That's not saying too much. I was surprised it even existed. I still don't believe it sometimes."

George nodded. "It's not normal. Colin told me you've been very helpful to him. I'm sure you have a lot of questions."

"I do," I admitted. "Are all these people like you and Colin?"

George looked at the other people here. "No, not at all. They are like you." He smiled. "People that have met us, love is frequently the reason they're here. Some are merely friends; Ursula's husband works here."

"How many are there like you and Colin on the serum?" I asked.

"Only about twenty-five..." he smiled at Gabriella. "...make that twenty-six now."

"How many are there that aren't on the serum?" I asked.

George frowned. "We're not sure. A guess is about a few thousand. Maybe. Like with Gabriella, who was made one of us, but unknown to us...but we search for others." He explained. "We search the internet and news feed concerning deaths that may indicate a vampire is out there. As much as we do that, there will unquestionably be more. There are literally thousands of undocumented deaths in this country alone. It takes time to sift through the details."

"What is Colin now? He's not a vampire now, he says. Yet he doesn't age." I asked.

"Becoming a vampire isn't hard, but it's not a virus or bacteria. There is a venom that is inserted in a person that makes the blood flow faster and all that makes a human, human. If he doesn't die, the venom changes him to a vampire." George explained. "It isn't just in his blood; it becomes what he is. It writes itself in a person's very DNA. Everything he is becomes a vampire. What I managed to do is create a formula that attaches itself to the vampire venom in a person's blood. It puts the vampire on the backburner if you will. He is still a vampire. The serum allows the vampire's body to return to making cells and replenishing what he uses and can function outside, eat and be basically human. His organs work again but limited. It suppresses the hunger and changes that being a vampire is like the fangs and making of venom. It's how vampires survived all these thousands of years and how it makes more vampires." He sighed. "If we stop taking the serum. We will become again that blood-sucking creature that can only come out at night."

"I've found out you can't fly without a plane." I grinned. "No changing into smoke, wolf or a bat..."

George nodded with a grin. "That's right."

"Religious items don't repel you. What about those movies where you're shot and can't die."

"That's just Hollywood." George chuckled. "We can be shot and hurt, even die if it's in the head or heart."

"So, it doesn't have to be wood."

George shook his head. "Just in the heart." He shrugged. "Or in the head."

"So, how was Colin turned by accident?"

George frowned. "It wasn't an accident. He was turned, but the purpose Brett Marshall had was to torment Colin. Normally, a vampire will consume all blood from a victim, but Brett's need to torture Colin was so great he left Colin alive so he would burn with the morning sun. He left Colin outdoors with no retreat. It was only Colin's ability to cover himself that Colin survived. That was the accident of Brett's part."

"And we still don't know if Brett's alive?" Colin asked.

George shook his head. "We're still looking, but I haven't found a thing. There are vampires that are content to be what they are. Colin was not. He came here looking for a way out."

I looked around at the many computers, gadgets, and things in the lab. "This has got to be costly to maintain."

George shrugged. "It can be. I met Colin in 1944. The war was about to end, but I found him in the underground parts of Manhattan. Like me, he didn't feed off of people. Together we formed the workings of this. We began investing and own many patents, pharmaceuticals, stocks, and other investments. I was working on the serum even then but got a working formula about thirty years ago. I took it myself and swore I was going to die afterward!" He shook his head. "It hurt so badly, but it then I found it worked!" He said triumphantly. "The more I took it, the better it worked. I gave it to Colin. That's when we made this place."

I hesitated to say it. "Not all people are nice. A vampire's tale is not always about nice people that are turned into vampires. There are criminals out there. How can you be sure that all those on the serum are good people?"

George shrugged. "We can't."

I shook my head. "I told Colin my concern about someone using this serum as a fountain of youth. There are people out there that want to be young and live forever. Being turned and then on the serum sounds like a good deal."

George nodded. "I know." He sighed. "That thought occurred to me as well. We try to be careful and only tell a few. Will we be threatened by someone like what you mentioned? I can promise there will be. I've put things in place to keep that from happening. Keeping the formula a secret is one thing. Keeping the formula in certain places I don't even know where they all are is another. No one person knows where they all are." He looked at Gabriella who had been listening and smiled. "But you need some things. Like a background." He motioned for us to come with him. "That was one of the things we built this place for. We have a department to do just that."

And that's what they did. They created a background for Gabriella like birth records, social security number, and an ID. She would have to learn to drive if she wanted to, but that idea didn't seem to interest her yet.

Colin took us to what I found out was his suite of rooms here. It was more of a luxury apartment but didn't really reflect a home. Spacious and had luxuries, but no photos or anything personal.

I watched as I sat on the bed as Colin moved around with familiarity about the place. He lived here for years.

"George seems like a nice guy," I said.

Colin nodded. "He is."

"So, what was your role in this?" I asked.

"I was the business end. He was the science." He came over and sat by me. "He was doing the splicing and probing, I did the business part, making the money."

"I can't understand what you've been through," I said quietly. "But I'm here. You lived here for years, but I see nothing of you here. Why?"

Colin nodded with a sigh. "I really just slept here."

"That's all? Was there no one you wanted to share this with?"

"No." He shook his head. "George is younger than I am. He was born in 1896. He was turned in 1933. He lived about seventy plus years less than I did as a monster with constant hunger in the dark." He said sadly.

Now, I sensed Colin was in pain again, but this time, it wasn't physical, but emotional. "I'm so sorry."

"Until you came along, I hadn't really thought of letting anyone share my Hell."

I nodded. "But it's not Hell anymore."

"No, but I still remember it," Colin said softly. "I almost didn't include you. I never want you to go through what I did." He said so pitifully it almost broke my heart. "I love you, but I really need you."

I pulled his head toward me, burying my lips to his neck and then bringing him around to kiss him. "Life can be so much more for you now," I said running my fingers in his hair. "I love you, Colin. I'll do everything I can to make you as happy as possible. Is there anything I can do?"

Colin nodded with a smile that really didn't reach his eyes as he was thinking of the past. "Just love me."

"I do," I swore. "And I will." I wrapped my arms around him and brought him down on top of me as my hands running across his broad back as I held him. "I love you, Colin." He let out a grunting sound that was almost a sob. It was the sound of relief of a man drinking water after suffering from thirst so long. "I've got you, Colin. You're not alone now."

"I need you, Devon," Colin said on the verge of tears. "I love you so much."

"I'm here," I said to him. "I'm not letting go."

Whatever happened in the past for Colin had an effect on him so deeply. Being what he had been was horrible making him afraid to connect with anyone. He was taking a big risk connecting with me. Loneliness was making the fact I was here so much more important to him. He didn't seem to be able to let me go. When we went to sleep, he was spooned up behind me, which was more practical as he was taller. His arm held me to him while we slept. I didn't like so much as a teddy bear in bed with me when I was a child, but he needed me. I was his teddy bear this time.

I woke when I was cold. Turning over I saw that Colin was gone. I wasn't alarmed but wondered where he'd gone. It didn't take long to remember when I saw what time it was what he must be doing. It was nearing dawn. Getting up I slipped on a pair of pants and shirt as I walked out of the bedroom to look for him. This apartment had a terrace and I saw the shadow out on it I knew. I approached him quietly. "Good morning," I said.

He smiled but didn't turn around. "Good morning. You were sleeping well, and I didn't have the heart to wake you." He did turn then. "The dawn is still a thing of wonder for me. Not as it was at first after so long without, but still, it's impressive." He held his hand out to me.

I took his hand as he drew me to him in a comfortable embrace, kissing me, but then looking again at the sky as the horizon began to glow. "When you can't be in it for so long, I can't imagine how it would be to be in it again." His chest was bare, and he had put on some pajama bottoms to come out here. It was late Fall, and it was getting chilly now. Especially in Manhattan. "Can you catch a cold?"

Colin's eyebrow rose. "I haven't had a cold since 1849."

I nodded as I patted his chest. "Well, I can get a cold." I groused. "Enjoy the sunrise. I'm going back to bed." I said starting to go back in when he held me.

"I'll be there soon," Colin said kissing me. "Thank you, Devon. You're being here means a lot to me."

I smiled at him. "I want to be here. With you." I assured kissing him. "But I'll be here with you..." I pointed inside rubbing my hands over my arms to warm them up. "...in there."

Finding a warm spot, I began drifting off again until I felt Colin slip in bed. I let out a muffled yelp when a cold foot hit my leg.

"Sorry about that." Colin chuckled as he pressed his cold body to mine. "But you're warm and will warm me up." He kissed me.

Getting closer, my arms came around him bringing him closer. "I might be able to do that."

Colin again got a look in his eyes. It spoke of longing and gratitude. "I can't say it enough. I love you, Devon."

There was more, I could sense it. "Whatever you need...if just my loving you is enough, fine, but I'll listen. I don't pretend to know what you've been through, but I'm here and I'll listen."

Colin nodded and sighed. "I have...regrets. A lot of them." I watched as a tear formed in his eye. "I said I never killed when I fed, but I have killed." He began shaking. "First was Ashley, but that was self-defense. Then I killed again, that second time, he was a vampire." He frowned. "He was maybe sixteen or seventeen. This was after the Civil War began. I was feeding on men that were dying. Men I knew would die, but this...kid came up. He was a lot like Gabriella was when you saw her the first time. I don't know how old he really was, but he was young when he was turned, and he was killing. He looked so young, but from how he was dressed he had been around a long time...but he was a monster. He could have been a hundred years old. All he was about was feeding. He wasn't being picky at all, killing those that had a chance as well as the dying."

"That was a decision you made to save lives," I clarified. "He was killing indiscriminately. You saved lives."

Colin looked pained in his eyes. "Did I? I didn't even try to talk to him. He had been so young when he was turned, and he couldn't help it."

"What do you think you could have gotten if you had stopped him? Could you have stopped him later? You didn't talk to him." I said. "How long did this take?"

"About thirty seconds. I didn't even try." He said sadly. "I refused to kill. I only drank when I was certain a man would die. I just...did it! I stabbed the vampire in the heart. I killed him." He rolled back breathing heavier.

I sat up on my elbow to look at him. "Help me understand what you're having a problem with. You saw a killer and stopped him."

Colin nodded. "If I had talked him out of it. If I kept him safe and protected..."

"He could be killing today!" This was something Colin had thought about for over a century. It had eaten at him inside a long time. "If you constantly think about the what ifs you can't get past them."

Colin looked again in pain. "I could have done something else!"

I rolled on top of him. "Colin." I thought about what I could say. "I wasn't there. I don't know what happened. I do not believe you are a killer. You never were, even after you were given little choice, you thought about who your targets were. You didn't just kill."

"But..." Colin began.

"You regret doing it," I nodded. "That I understand. There are other regrets, am I right?"

Colin nodded. "Yes."

I bent down, my head against his. "I'll listen. I always will. I can't offer any guidance or absolution. I'm not leaving."

He smiled despite his pain. "It's hard to believe you're okay with this."

I sat up settling on top of him. "Okay with it?" I began playing with his hair. "No. I will never be okay with it. It just is. You aren't that creature anymore."

Colin frowned. "Because of the serum. If I don't take it, I will become that creature again."

I nodded. "That's why we're here, to make sure you do what's needed to be done to keep it from happening." I smiled. "But from what you've told me, even when you were, you were still an amazing man. I'm glad you took the chance with me."

He chuckled. "You didn't give me much of a choice. Your charms won me over in minutes. I was helpless." He pulled me closer. "I've got a million of things to tell. We have a lifetime to go through them."

I grinned as my arms came around him. "I plan to be here."

Colin smiled kissing me. "I knew you would be." He embraced me again. "Now, Gabriella will be in class today."

"In class?" I repeated.

"She has a lot of things to be educated about. Ursula had a program set up to ease Gabriella into this new world she now lives in. She'll be busy a while. You and I will go and see Manhattan. What do you say?"

My hands were rubbing over his chest, letting his chest hairs tickle my fingers. "As long as you're with me. I think that sounds great."

He looked at me seriously. "Marry me, Devon."

I sat up shocked. "What!?"

"I love you, Devon. I want to make our lives as much a part of each other's as possible. I want a friend; a lover and I want something solid." He was looking doubtful now. "If you don't want to, I'll underst..."

"Shut up, Colin," I said quietly thinking about what he didn't ask but stated. I watched his eyebrow rise. Mr. Spock from Star Trek the original series could not do it any better. "Marry you." I thought as I rolled back and lay flat thinking. "I always wanted to find someone to marry. This is just...sudden. We've really just met; it's been an intense few weeks..."

"Think about it," Colin said softly rolling over to stretch out beside me. "We can marry now. There is the question of my past and whether we would legally be married..."

I put my hand over his mouth to stop him. "I'm not worried about that." I looked at him. "You were so frightened about even allowing yourself to love me. Now, you want to marry me?"

Colin pulled my hand down and smiled. "It didn't take too long to get over that." He chuckled. "I let you in and now I'd like to make us more together as a couple. If you agree." He shook his head. "I feel...such a connection with you."

I smiled at him. "I feel it, too." I brought my arms around him. "I will marry you."

Colin grinned as he rolled putting me beneath him. "As your future husband, we will shop for you today. I want to share everything with you."

"Do I become a Wentworth?"

Colin laughed. "If you want to. You're a McGee. Shouldn't you keep that?"

"For what? Unless they change human biology won't be passing the McGee name on to anyone." I pointed out. "It's not that important. I'd be very happy being married to you, Colin." I grinned. "But when we marry, it will be in the new house."

Colin chuckled. "That will be a while yet."

"Good things come to those who wait," I said. "It will give Mom a chance to plan."

Colin chuckled again. "Of course." He gave me a smile. "Gabriella will want to be involved, too."

"That would be the way it will be," I said logically but smiled. "It's a dream of mine to find the right man, but to be proposed to by a nearly naked man in bed with me? That's different." I chuckled kissing him, which he returned deeply wanting more. I was glad to give him what he wanted.

When we finally got up out of bed, we had our breakfast and Colin had his precious coffee. Then he took me shopping. I didn't see the hurry to do it, but I went along with him. I was going to be a part of his life now.

Back at...whatever it was where Dr. Holms worked and Colin lived a while...we spoke with George again.

"Colin's condition needs to be monitored and the serum has to be constantly improved and updated," George said with a sigh. "It's a very potent venom. It has properties like a virus or bacteria, but it's more of a chemical poison. It reproduces by a vampire's own body which makes it hard to get rid of, because Colin is the one making him a vampire now. The serum attaches itself to the venom and makes it not work. The problem is the venom is generated by each of us and becomes unique to the vampire. Colin's body creates the venom and will continue to do so until I can cause his body not to make it." He shook his head. "The problem is the venom changes with the person. Colin's venom is different from Gabriella's. There are similar qualities, but each makes the venom their own. That is a challenge." He smiled. "But I'm doing it. The serum you're using, Colin is working because she is your daughter and shares some biochemical properties with you. The vampire venom that made Colin a vampire is the same venom that made Gabriella. I will refine it, I will take blood samples from her and make her serum specifically for her."

"But there is no way to make them...not a vampire," I said.

"Not yet." George admitted. "The best we have is to make the venom inert."

"How old is the oldest vampire?" I was thinking again of the movies and stories read of vampires that were hundreds of years if not a thousand. "There are stories about it coming from Europe or even ancient Egypt."

George smiled with a nod. "I know of those stories, but I've only known of vampires that have been around a few hundred years." He shrugged. "Colin is the oldest one I know of."

Colin nodded. "Until we locate Brett and find out who made Brett a vampire."

George nodded. "There might be a greater number of vampires out there. If they are older and like us, adapted their lives to blend with the rest of humanity, they have precautions in place and will be well hidden."

"But the number of vampires on the serum will increase in demand." I pointed out. "I know you have precautions in place, but there are creatures out there, like Brett Marshall that is a vampire, will you give him the serum if he asks for it?"

Now, George frowned. "I thought of that, too. I don't know. He was a killer before he became a vampire. We'll just have to determine case by case. In Brett's case, I have to say no."

"Colin said right before we got to Gabriella, that she could smell he would not be a target. That she couldn't feed on Colin but could on me." I said. "Is there something I can take that will do the same for me?"

George smiled. "Something to make you less appetizing?" He gave a shrug. "It's worth looking into. The serum acts as a stimulant but puts a scent in the body that makes him...unattractive. I'm not sure what would happen if a person took the serum. It could get you a heart attack." He nodded. "I'll look into it." Then he smiled. "Of course, I'll need a blood sample from you."

I held my arm out. "Just leave some for me to use."

We met for dinner at the...the lack of a name...vampire central? Vampire Headquarters? VH? They didn't have a name. In Colin's apartment Gabriella came in and sat at the table seemingly exhausted.

"What's wrong, Gabby?" Colin asked.

"The world." She moaned putting her head in her hands. "We covered everything; it seems. Aeronautics, television, fashion, suffrage for women's votes, racial conflicts. This world has done a lot in one hundred and fifty years! We've been to the moon!" She waved above her head without looking up. "The moon!"

I chuckled. "And next is Mars and then beyond."

Colin touched his daughter's hand. "And there a fifty states now." He grinned as she darted her eyes to him and glared.

"I'm sure we'll cover that tomorrow." Then she watched as a woman brought dinner to the table. Apparently, they had a staff that worked more than just keeping vampires alive. The vampires and friends ate now and vampires like Colin needed food. Gabriella smiled at last. "So, what have you two been up to today?"

"We shopped." I groused.

"I proposed to Devon," Colin said as he dished out some beans for his plate.

Gabriella dropped her fork. "You did?" She asked amazed and looked at me. "Can you do that legally now?"

I nodded. "We can. How do you feel about that?" I asked carefully. She was fine with the fact that Colin was gay, but how would she feel about him marrying me? "I said yes."

Now she let out a squeal, but it was one of delight! She jumped up coming over and hugging her father. She let him go and came to me and hugged me. "I am so happy for you both!" But then she held me back a little. "But you're not a cousin." Then laughed as she hugged me again. She looked at her father. "I never dreamed this was possible, to regain that part of ourselves. Do you think one day, I'll find someone?"

Colin nodded. "I don't think you'll be able to help it. You're a special woman." But he frowned. "But no one of us has ever been able to have children. Remember?"

She nodded. "But to find love? Someone to love and that loves you is what you always said you wanted." She smiled at her father. "I could see almost instantly when I saw you two, that's what you had. I'd like that, too. I had that with John, although a century ago, but he was killed during that awful war."

Colin smiled. "Your marriage was too short, I know. There could be someone out there for you, in fact I know there is." He smiled at me. "Devon said he wants to marry in the new house. We'll have to get things going if we're going to do that."

The new serum for Gabriella wasn't finished yet, but Colin's had worked so far, and he gave her the serum that night. This time, she only had pain the five minutes but went to sleep afterward. Colin came back to the bedroom as he pulled his shirt off as I got his ready.

"She's still having a reaction." He frowned. "Keeping her going taxes her so. The serum for her should do what it does for me." He slipped his pants off and stretched out on the bed.

"It doesn't tax you?" I asked as I prepped him.

"Not for a while." Colin shook his head as I inserted the needle. It still hurt so much, but I was used to seeing it, but it still bothered me. After the pain, he grinned and pulled me down to him. "Now, for some time with each other."

I chuckled as my arms came around him. "I love you, Colin."

He smiled kissing me doing his way over my chin and neck. "I love you, Devon. My soon to be husband."

We were given a batch of serum made for Gabriella as well as more for Colin. We spent only a few days in Manhattan and flew home. Gabriella was reading some books Ursula had given her and Colin was looking over the house plans on his laptop.

"We need to tell Mom," I said on the plane to Colin and really to myself.

"Sure." Colin nodded. "We can do it whenever." He looked up from his laptop. "About the wedding, right?"

I chuckled. "Yes, about the wedding." I rolled my eyes. "I don't even know how to begin to explain about that other part of you and Gabriella. I'm not going there until we have to."

Colin chuckled. "Okay, I was just making sure."

My eyes widened and spoke to my mother who wasn't here. "You were worried about our age differences. Mom, well he's a lot older...about one hundred and eighty years older!" I moaned to myself. "It was hard for me to believe with evidence, I can't figure a way to tell someone and have them believe it."

Colin closed his laptop and pulled me into a hug kissing me on the temple. "I know, but I hate deception. I don't want to lie to her."

I sighed as my arms came around him and rested on his chest. "I don't either but tell me how it can be explained."

Colin shook his head. "I can't." He frowned. "Once it's told and believed I think she will be fine." He looked at me. "I'm a nice guy."

I grinned rubbing his chest as he rested his mouth against the top of my head. "You're a very nice guy, Colin. It's that little problem at the beginning that hurts."

He ran a hand over me. "I could take her with us to meet George and have him explain medically."

I nodded. "Let's do that when we're backed into a wall." I grinned. "Who knows, a year or so from now, you could be head over heels in love with someone else!"

Colin let out a gasp in shock. He sat back looking at me as if I'd lost my mind. "How could..."

I chuckled and kissed him deeply stopping him. "I'm kidding. I know you love me, Colin...beyond the shadow of any doubt. A lot can happen in a year or so. I hope you know how much I love you."

He grinned. "I do love you. There is no way I could fall in love when I waited for you two centuries. Believe that."

Then we heard a frustrated grunt as Gabriella threw the book across the plane.

Colin and I looked to see what was wrong.

"Gabby?" Colin asked carefully as his daughter put her head in her hands again.

"There's just so much I don't know!" She growled. "I was really isolated out there. I knew a little about electricity, but not a lot. I saw the light in the windows of houses but never questioned them. I saw cars. Now, there is just so much! Automatic sliding doors scare me. Planes scare me, cars, flashlights...there is just so much now!"

Colin got up and went to sit beside her. "But you're getting it. You're on a plane right now! Are you scared?"

She nodded. "Terrified. I know people do this all the time now, but I'm scared. The world is terrifying."

I sat on her other side. "Gabriella, there are people today that are terrified of flying and they've known about planes all their lives!" I smiled to her.

"Really?" Gabriella asked.

"Sliding glass doors are just new. Before long you'll be walking through them without a thought." Colin nodded. "And where did you see a flashlight?"

"George did an exam on me and used a little one on my eye." She shook her head wiping a tear that was now coming down. "It was brighter than a flame, but I just knew it would burn my eye."

Colin nodded hugging her to him. "I wanted to do it slowly, but George needed to see you. It will take more than a few weeks, Gabby. I will be with you or Devon. I wouldn't leave you to deal with this yourself."

I nudged her with my shoulder. "I can practice being your step-daddy!"

Gabriella looked at me and then burst out laughing. "Yes, you will be." Then she grew serious a second. "But I'm not calling you Daddy."

I nodded. "That would be confusing to people. Just call me something not profane and we're fine."