I just wanted to take the time to say thank you to everyone who has been reading and leaving wonderful feedback! I know vampire stories are not for everyone, but I appreciate every one of you who gave this one a chance! This is the 10th and final chapter and I hope I've done the story justice. A special Thank You goes out to stephmck! Thank you for the encouragement! Justin’s POV I could hardly sleep from worrying about Brian. I tried to hold onto Deb’s optimism that he would be all right, at least until morning when it would be safe to go to him, but my gut was telling me I should have already been on my way. In my head, I saw him in every horrible scenario I could think of… none of which ended with Ethan’s defeat. I pulled the blanket tighter around my neck and forced my eyes to close. I turned to thoughts less gloomy, trying to occupy my overactive imagination. Instead, I imagined Brian’s eyes, dark and intense, able to stare as if searching deep inside me. His hands, smooth and gentle, knowing all the ways in which to touch. His body molded to mine, the fit of which was incomparable to any other lover I’d had. I refused to believe I would not have the opportunity to feel his lips against mine in deep, hungry kisses again. I would, and soon. ~*~ I barely remembered dozing off but when I awoke, I felt I was in the midst of another dream, not unlike the nightmares I’d experienced the past three nights. Only this was more of a feeling, like something pulling at me from the inside, forcing me to respond. I tossed the quilt aside and dressed as quickly as possible, making my way downstairs where I knew the others would still be up wandering around, if not out doing whatever vampires did at night when they didn’t partake of humans. My body was almost shaking, the sensation so strong and by the time I reached the sitting room next to the foyer, I knew what I had been feeling. It was suddenly clear. “Justin?” Deb’s voice was beside me, thought I barely heard it, completely focused on what was beyond the door. Nothing else mattered at the moment. I felt a hand on my shoulder and I tried to shrug it off, without success. “Justin! What are you doing?” I heard the question, somewhere off in the distance and I answered, hoping it was spoken audibly and not just in my thoughts. I saw Brian. He was coming and he needed my help. The hand holding onto me tightened, and if not for her incredible strength, I doubt she would have been successful in stopping me. “Justin! Stop! Just wait a minute!” I blinked then, turning to look at her, panic racing through my body. “Please Deb! He’s out there! He’s in trouble!” She shook her head and looked at me. I could see sympathy and confusion. “Justin. If he were, I would know it. It’s just another dream confusing your mind.” I ripped from her hold, shouting, “No! This is real! I don’t know how, but I know it is!” Her eyes found mine, staring at my resolve, and I could tell she knew what I was saying was true. She clutched her hands to her chest and shook her head. “I knew it! I fucking knew what he did!” I didn’t understand, but at the moment, I didn’t really care. I just needed to get to him. I moved toward the door and she reached out, stopping me again. “You are staying here.” She turned, shouting into the other room, “Michael! Emmett! Get you asses out here!” Within seconds, the room was full and Deb had explained my predicament, ordering Michael and Emmett to head out in search of Brian. Her intention was to keep me safe, not wanting to send me out in the middle of the night, but I was left feeling totally useless. Ten minutes later, I was nervously pacing the foyer, the anxiety I was feeling heightened even more as time went by. Deb refused to let me out of her sight, watching every move, ready for me to bolt at any second. I would have, but if Brian’s speed was any indication of the way vampires moved, I’d have no chance in making it to the door without enduring her wrath. I barely noticed anyone else in the room, but knew they were all there, waiting to watch me fail. Luckily, before I went completely mad, Deb bypassed me, yelling, “They’re here!” before yanking the door open. In a flash, I was on the porch, watching as Michael and Emmett came through the trees on the far side of the yard. My breath hitched and I gasped, seeing Brian’s body as they carried him, motionless between them. My first reaction was to assume that he was dead. But then, that would have been impossible. Dead meant dust for vampires, which meant he was still alive or… whatever. If nothing else, it meant there was hope. Without anyone holding me back this time, I took off, running as fast as I could until I was with him, trying to help, though I knew they didn’t need me for that. My strength was nothing compared to theirs, but I couldn’t stand not touching him, feeling him… anything just to know he was real. The moment my hand wrapped around his and I felt his extremely cold skin, I knew there was a bona fide chance I could lose him. “Brian! Brian!” I yelled. Michael turned to me, his eyes throwing daggers, and snapped back, “You’re wasting your breath. He can’t hear you!” Stupid idiot vampire. Emmett shook his head, looking directly at Michael. “You go on and talk to him as much as you want, Justin.” Michael huffed and rolled his eyes. No one said anything else until we finally got him inside, laying him carefully on the sofa in the guest area. “Fuck! What the hell happened to him?!” Deb’s eyes were wide with panic and I could tell this wasn’t good. His clothes were rumpled and torn, blood soaking through every layer. Cuts and gashes marred his beautiful face, as well as every other part of his body not covered by the ruined material. I kneeled down on the floor next to the sofa, pushing the others back. Not caring who I offended, I pointedly ignored Michael’s glare. Running my fingers gently through Brian’s hair, pulling them away to see the blood covering my hand, my eyes watered and I fought to hold myself together. “Please! Can you feel me here, as I felt you? You were calling to me, Brian. I heard you!” I bent down, letting my head rest against his chest, wishing I could feel his heart. To have something… anything to let me know it wasn’t hopeless. It was impossible now to control my emotions and the tears slid down my cheeks, mixing with the blood coating his shirt. Staring at his face, I cursed myself when I imagined a movement beneath his eyelid, but then shot up when I heard a whispered, “Justin,” on his lips. Suddenly, Michael’s hand was on my arm, pulling me up, dragging me away. “This is ridiculous! Why don’t you leave so we can take care of him?!” “I’m not going anywhere!” I screamed back, trying to keep my focus on Brian. “How can you help? You’re not one of us! You don’t know anything about us!” I turned my head abruptly and looked down, where he was still holding onto me. “Get your hand off of me or I’ll show you exactly what I know about vampires.” “Would you two knock it off!?” Deb waited until she knew she had our full attention and then turned to where Lindsay and Melanie were standing off to the side. “Go get some wet towels and fresh linen. We need to get him cleaned up.” They left quickly and then Deb stepped closer. “He’s not healing. He hasn’t fed.” Michael was quick to volunteer, offering to hunt. She agreed and said, “Ted, Emmett… go with him. Bring back anything you can find.” The three of them headed for the door, then Deb turned to me. I searched her eyes and they acknowledged what I already knew. It had all been a ruse, biding time, waiting for me to do what we both knew I had to. I nodded and went back down on my knees, pushing my hand beneath his head to lift him up. The movement caught Emmett’s attention, followed by Ted and Michael, who came to a halt, watching me. “Brian, listen to me. You have to feed. You’ve lost too much blood and you’re not healing.” Though he’d only fed from my neck, I knew the position would be too awkward to arrange and I glanced up at Deb in question. Her only answer was to smile as she stepped back, joining the others near the door. Michael tried to move forward, but she grabbed his hand, stopping him. I took a breath. I could figure this out. I thought of all the pulse points, pictured the steady flow of blood and then slowly lowered my wrist to Brian’s mouth. I pushed it against his lips, trying to encourage him, but nothing happened. Frustrated, I leaned down next to his ear and whispered, “You have to bite. Please, Brian.” His eyes barely opened and I managed to see a hint of brown staring back at me until he closed them again, tightening his lips together. It was his refusal that angered me. I turned my head over my shoulder and said, “I need something sharp!” If Brian wouldn’t drink from me, there was only one thing I could do. I could bring out the vampire in him that needed blood more than morality. A blade was in my hand and I was slicing into my wrist without so much as a flinch. Brian’s eyes opened again, wider this time when he tasted it. My blood, flowing against his lips. “Drink,” I pleaded, “it’s the only way.” I could see the hesitance in his eyes, but he opened his lips slightly, allowing the warm sustenance to hit his tongue. I heard a low, feral growl and then watched, feeling victorious as his features changed. His hands gripped my arm, pulling my wrist as close as possible. The familiar heat overtook me when I felt the stab of his fangs as he pushed into my skin, drawing the blood out in quick, successive bursts. He was not slow and gentle as had been the other times, but instead, harsh and hungry, feeding for survival. I lost track of the time that passed, so caught up in the feel of Brian, before I had the sense to notice how dizzy I was, the room spinning around me when I opened my eyes. I forced out a whimper, trying to grip his hair… trying to pull him away. He was taking too much and no one was trying to help me. I was going to die and I’d done it willingly. I barely registered what was happening to me when Brian let me go. My wrist hurt, but his fangs were gone and I was being pulled upward, my body too weak to resist. I didn’t care. They could do with me what they wanted. Finish me off, leave me to rot… anything as long as Brian was all right. But then I felt softness beneath me and I managed to roll my eyes open slightly enough to see that I was on the sofa, Brian’s body firmly pressed against mine, his yellow eyes staring intensely down at my face. He was alive and he was beautiful and this meant I wasn’t going to die. I could let go now, at least for a little while, but first there was something I needed, even more than the unconscious sleep my body was demanding. Wrapping my arms around him as best I could, I tilted my head back, closing my eyes. I moaned when he penetrated the skin at the base of my neck and then smiled as the darkness pulled me under. ~*~ Brian’s POV “How long? It’s been almost two days!” Deb looked at me, her fingers sliding lovingly against my cheek. “Soon. His body knows what it needs and right now that’s rest. You fed quickly and Justin lost a lot of blood. It’ll take time.” I stood up, looking for something to throw, to destroy, just something to take my anger out on. “Why did you let him do it?! You should have stopped him!” “Stopped him? Who could have stopped him? He’s a determined little shit and you should be so lucky.” I shuffled back to the bed, sitting down on the edge of it, watching Justin’s sleeping form. “He’s different from the rest of them.” She snorted. “Well that’s a hell of an understatement.” I cast her a lopsided grin and then turned my body to face her. When I didn’t say anything, her smile faded. “What, Brian?” Shrugging, I answered, “I don’t know what I’m going to do.” “Well that makes two of us. I’ve known you to do some crazy things over the years, but this sure as hell beats ‘em all.” She glanced sideways at Justin and then caught my eye. “What were you thinking, huh? Does he even know? Does he realize what it means?” Guilt ridden, I shook my head. “Brian,” she scolded. “Save the lecture. I already know the consequences of what I’ve done.” “Do you?! He could feel you, Brian. When no one else could, he knew you were in trouble.” “I know!” I growled. She squinted her eyes, letting me know she didn’t appreciate my tone. Silence fell between us, but then I realized she was only trying not to yell back at me. Calmly, she asked, “How strong is this bond?” I closed my eyes, pinching the bridge of my nose. “Brian.” “Strong enough.” I looked up, glaring at her and knew she wasn’t satisfied. “So strong I thought I would go insane after he left.” Her mouth dropped. “Jesus Christ.” She stood up and began pacing the room. “What, it wasn’t good enough just to fuck him? You had to go and mess with things this boy has no hope of understanding?!” “I’ll talk to him. I’ll make him understand.” “That he’s bonded to you for the rest of his life? He’s young, Brian! And human! You think he’s going to want that?!” I’d already considered the alternative. I was prepared for what I had to do if he couldn’t live with this. I would end my own existence to preserve the life he wanted. I would let him be free of me. “I’ll talk to him, Deb.” “You’d better. If you won’t, I will.” I eyed her wearily. Deb was never one to stay quiet. She turned to leave and then came back to me, gently kissing the top of my head. “I don’t know what it is between the two of you, but Justin was willing to risk his life for you. You remember that.” I nodded. “I’ll have some chicken soup ready when he wakes up.” Smiling, I watched as she left the room. I was thankful it hadn’t gone as bad as I’d envisioned. ~*~ It was a couple of hours later when Justin finally began to stir. I was lying beside him, mesmerized as always by the rise and fall of his chest when his eyes opened and his lips rose into a crooked smile. I couldn’t help but return the gesture. The relief I felt was incomparable to anything else I could imagine. When his lips made to speak, I placed a finger over his mouth. “Shh. Don’t try to talk.” He shook his head and hoarsely whispered, “Brian.” “Justin,” I answered, a warning that he’d better listen. “You’re okay?” Nodding, “Yes. I’m fine, but you need to take it easy.” “What happened to you?” He choked it out and began to cough. I spotted the pitcher of water Deb had left on the bedside table and poured him a small amount. Helping lift his head, he sipped, sputtering even as he swallowed it. “We’ll talk about it later.” “Ethan?” I put on a stern face and repeated, “I said later, Justin.” He sighed, but gave in. I was extremely thankful he was too weak to argue. I leaned over him, the need to touch him warring with the knowledge that he was so very fragile right now. Deciding that a kiss would not put him in harm’s way, I let my lips press against his and felt him respond in earnest. What had he done to me? What was it he possessed that made me so careless to anything but having him? The same questions had plagued me from the start. Maybe I would never find the answers. Maybe I’d just have to accept it for what it was. I pulled back to find Justin staring at me with wide, frightened eyes. “What? Did I hurt you?” I rolled away, looking for signs of distress, finding nothing but the troubled look I was still receiving. “I heard you, Brian. Though you didn’t speak.” It was my turn to acknowledge shock. “What?” “I heard your thoughts. You wish to know what I have done to you? I will tell you it is the same as you have done to me. Call it possession if you choose, but I prefer fate, for I have accepted that there was no other choice for me but to want you.” “It’s impossible,” I protested. “Only vampires are able to bond that closely.” I watched him shrug before he said, “I only know what your thoughts betray. Is that what we are, Brian? Bonded together?” I didn’t have to say anything. One look into his eyes and we both knew the answer. I answered him vocally the best I could. “From the first bite, we were joined. Though, the intensity is more than I expected.” “But how? How did it happen?” “I wanted you, and you gave yourself to me. In turn, when you offered your blood, you gave yourself to the demon inside me.” “Surely it’s not really a demon.” “What else could it be? It is a demon I struggle with no matter what name you call it.” He seemed to consider that, and then continued with what was becoming a personal interrogation. “Tell me, Brian. Is it love that binds you to me?” If my heart were alive, I’m sure it would have answered for me. “That would be simple, wouldn’t it? Love is something a human would understand the meaning of. If love means I would go mad without you, or that I would sacrifice my own existence to ensure your happiness and well being, then yes, I suppose it could be called that.” “I was afraid of losing you. I’ve never known such fear as when I thought you might not come back to me. Even then, I knew I was yours, and that you were mine.” “And you’re not angry? I took you…” His hand slid sensually across my neck, “I marked you, knowing the outcome of what it would mean without giving you a choice.” “Should I be angry that someone would desire me so much?” I looked away from him. “I find it odd you’d think that way even if that someone is less than human.” He reached out to touch my face, sliding his hand down my cheek, brushing my lips with his finger. “You may not be human, but you could never be less.” He smiled and then kissed me softly. “And if you ever consider thoughts of ending your life on my behalf again, I shall have to find new and inventive ways of punishing you.” I smiled back. “I should be so lucky.” ~*~ Justin’s POV I’m exhausted, but not from lack of sleep or physical activity. Who knew being forced to lie in bed for two days by an overprotective vampire could be so tiring? I finally managed to talk him into going hunting after listening to Michael’s incessant begging for the last twelve hours. A week with Michael had grated on my nerves. How Brian has spent thirty years with him, one would have to ponder. I’d just decided I wasn’t going to be held prisoner anymore and had turned the bedding down when I heard footsteps outside the door. Knowing Deb as I now did, she was probably bringing my millionth cup of chicken soup. Everyone meant well, but submitting to such coddling just wasn’t in my nature. “If that’s you, Deb, I’m not feeling very hungry right now!” If I could stop her before she made her way in, I wouldn’t have to witness the look of hurt from my refusal. “I heard you had quite an ordeal. I’m so glad you seem to have made it through unscathed.” He stopped just as he made it inside and then closed the door behind him. “Ethan.” I shuffled to the other side of the bed, trying to keep the furniture between us. “You don’t know how I’ve worried about you, Justin. Knowing your mind was being poisoned by the likes of Brian Kinney? That he could tempt you in ways of the flesh? How could you be so naïve?” “Ethan, I…” “Don’t deny it.” He snarled. “I know you lay with him. Let his hands touch you in places that should only belong to me. Even now, the stench lingers on you.” “How? How did you find me?” He smiled wickedly, biting his lip as he moved closer to the bed. “I thought I’d taken care of Kinney. Did you know there are vampires out there who aren’t too fond of being taken advantage of? And that’s what he does, you know. Uses them for his pleasure and then discards them as if they were rubbish. When I offered up his head, there were many willing to oblige just to say they’d had a part in his demise.” Ethan sighed. “It was a pity they were too careless to finish him.” When he noticed my look of distain, he smiled. “Although, if things had worked according to plan, he never would have led me to you. I suppose it worked out rather nicely, don’t you?” “The others…” “Are not here. It’s just you and me. As it should and will be from now on…” ~*~ Brian’s POV “We need to get back, Michael. I don’t want to leave Justin on his own for too long.” He stopped walking and crossed his arms, glaring at me. “Is he all you care about? Is this the way it’s going to be from now on?” I looked at him, the person who had been my best friend for what felt to be an eternity and I knew he would never understand. I could try to explain, but it would be a waste of time. “Things change, Mikey. Justin is staying.” “I can’t believe you’d let a human change everything! They are only meant for one thing and that’s not companionship!” “Michael!” “No, Brian! It’s true and you know it! We’re better than them! He doesn’t deserve what you’re giving him. He doesn’t deserve you!” “I’m the one who isn’t deserving. To think he’d still accept me even knowing what I am and the things I’ve done.” “You’ll be better off when he’s gone. Just wait and see. And then I’ll still be here, just like I’ve always been.” “We won’t have to worry about that for quite some time, so you’ll have to get used to him whether you like it or not.” I stomped in front of him, aggravated by his perception of the way things were. It was time to go back. I’d had no need to feed, but knew Michael would never stop hassling me until I spent some time with him. Now, all I could think of was Justin. I tracked my way through the woods, following the same path we’d taken when we left. About a quarter mile from the house, I had a sense of dread come over me, so powerful it almost brought me to my knees. I began to run when I realized what I was feeling was Justin’s fear. I made it out of the clearing and into the yard in seconds, but not fast enough to stop whatever was happening. The fear had strengthened, bordering on sheer terror and that’s when I felt the excruciating pain. “Justin!” I slammed through the door, immediately noticing the empty room where there should have been at least one person to make sure he wasn’t in need of anything. “Justin!” My feet barely touched the stairs as I raced to the bedroom. The scent of Justin’s blood overwhelmed me and it only worsened when I opened the door. I prepared myself for the worse, and that was exactly what I received. Ethan, gripping Justin’s body tightly to his, was drinking from the same place where my mark branded him. The fury I felt had no boundaries. He barely had time to realize I was there before I was pushing Justin onto the bed and slamming Ethan up against the wall. There were no words and no displays of dominance. This was revenge. Quick and brutal, my teeth were in his neck, pulling and ripping as hard as I could. His blood began to spill and it nauseated me that I could taste Justin with every mouthful I encountered. I growled, a loud and wounded cry as I released him from my fangs and gripped his head between my hands, twisting until I could hear the satisfying crunch of bone snapping and breaking. I wouldn’t stop until it was finished, giving one last good pull, watching as he wordlessly turned to dust in front of me. Ethan was forgotten as I pulled Justin’s body onto my lap. Michael appeared in the doorway and I gave him no chance to speak. He saw the blood covering my face and the look in my eyes before I growled at him to get out. “Justin.” I could feel no breath as I cradled him to me, but I listened. Carefully. Until I heard it. The faint beat. But it didn’t matter because I already knew he wouldn’t survive this. Ethan had taken him from me. Unless… I pulled him higher, letting my lips graze over his before turning his head away. With all the desperation that was in me, I plunged my fangs into him, finishing what Ethan had begun. I fed, feeling his life draining with every bitter swallow until finally, his heart was mostly silent. There could be but only a few beats left before he was gone. I stretched my head to the sky, screaming my pain to anyone who would listen and then bit into my wrist before pushing it to his lips. “It’s your turn, Justin. If you can hear my thoughts, know that you must do this because I will not live… I refuse to live without you. Do you hear me?! Your death is my death unless you drink.” I waited, rocking his body slowly, pleading that I wasn’t too late. Pleading that he would know what to do. I bent my head down and closed my eyes in gratitude as I felt movement. Barely there, but hopefully it would be enough. ~*~ As I watch over him, waiting… I long for the rise and fall of his chest and his heartbeat so familiar to my ears. I am disturbed that the only sound to be heard is his silence. His future will take on a different path now, one that may or may not collide with mine. The only thing I am completely sure of… The choice will be his this time. My one hope is that he will someday forgive me ~*~ Epilogue Justin’s POV The pain had long since passed, leaving only numbness in its wake and I knew I was dying as the darkness and the bitter cold surrounded me. But he was calling to me. Of that, I was certain. Nothing else mattered. It was only his voice, distant but present that pulled me back from wherever my essence, or soul if you will, was trying to go. I had to fight to stay with him, but fight I would, for that’s exactly what I intended to do. Stay with him. I could feel his body beneath mine, cradling me, trembling as he whispered words I struggled to understand. They made little sense, but the resonance of his voice left me content and put my mind at ease. I wanted to reach out, to tell him that I was still here… that I would never leave him. “Your death is my death unless you drink.” Years later, he would say he gave me no choice, but I believe there was never a choice to be made. When I felt the first drop of bitterness on my tongue, I tasted my future. He saved me, and in doing so, gave me the greatest gift of all. Our future together. The End