It's just forever (Invite)

[Hannah Lynn (DELETED 8242)]

Regrets. Did she have any? Didn't everyone? But Hannah felt as if she had no more regrets than the next person. She slowly shook her head. “No? I don't think so. It's just...I imagined that if I ever became a vampire, it would be different. I wouldn't wake up alone. With a stranger.” She didn't know what it was like for other vampires, but Hannah had the idea that whoever made them a vampire wouldn't just abandon them. But, wasn't Freddie abandoned? “It's not your fault. I'm not saying it is. No one knew this would happen.” She closed her eyes and pressed the side of her cheek to his chest. This was done for two purposes. The first being, as if Hannah didn't fully believe he were here. That he was real. She hoped this wasn't some crazy dream or death thing before everything was ripped away and there was...nothing. The second to keep the filmy shadow out of her line of vision.

“Don't be mad, but no.” She admitted with a shrug of her shoulders. “I wasn't ready to be a vampire. But, here we are and there's no going back. I'm not mad at you, or anyone.” She hoped he didn't think she blamed him, so Hannah tried again. “You're here now. That's all that matters. And you said you're going to help me. However you can.” She almost laughed because she had helped him, but there was still a long way to go for Freddie and what he knew about vampires, or even himself. Only now, instead of learning about himself, they now had the burden of learning about her and the things she could, or couldn't do.

“Where do we begin?” Hannah asked quietly, slowly opening her eyes in hopes things were how they should be. “Freddie?” Hannah looked up at him and turned her head a little to the right in order to see him completely. “I...I'm having a problem with seeing things. It's like there's a shadow or something over here.” Hannah pointed off to the right side of her body, then tried to smack it away, as if it were something really there, before she frowned. “Is that normal?” It was unlikely he would have the answer, but still, she sought one.

[Lancaster]

Freddie’s hand continued to caress Hannah’s hair, smoothing the locks with his fingers. She’d feel rather than see the way he shook his head, the way he frowned. ”I’m not mad. Of course I’m not mad,” he said. They hadn’t intended for this to happen, and nor could he think it was his ‘fault’. They were both a part of this relationship, and if they hadn’t proceeded with it the way they had, Hannah would be dead. Being a vampire had to be better than being dead, right?

If only Freddie knew. If only he remembered his past, and the way he had been turned; the way it hadn’t been a choice, but a way to save his life. If only he could tell her how much he’d hated it, how much he’d held it against the woman who’d killed him. How much he’d even held it against his own sire, until he’d let it go. That he understood. The memories weren’t there, however, but the sentiment remained. Freddie understood, even though he had no idea how, or why. But he did. It was deep-seeded and secure.

When Hannah batted at something over Freddie’s shoulder, he turned to look. He could see nothing but the dimness of the room that surrounded him; his gaze flicked across the surface of the bed, the bedside table, the corner, the cupboard from which he had crawled with Hannah’s clothes strewn across the floor of it. Did she see it? What did she make of it? He turned his attention from the mess and back to Hannah, again taking her face between his hands, his eyes peering into hers. First one, then the other. His own eyes were still rimmed red, still glistening with tears that hadn’t yet abated.

He shook his head.

”I don’t… no. It’s not normal. Maybe it’s a side-effect. You were in the morgue. You were dead. I… maybe I need to give you more blood? How do you feel otherwise…?” he asked. If she’d turned only with the blood still lingering in her system, maybe it hadn’t been enough, and her body hadn’t completely healed, hadn’t completely adapted. But would it do her damage if he gave her more?

”Have you…fed yet? If not my blood, you might need blood in general. In might pass…” he said. And if he didn’t, they could try to figure out what was wrong afterwards, by process of elimination.

[Hannah Lynn (DELETED 8242)]

It wasn't normal. She wasn't normal anymore. Freddie hadn't said that, but it was what went through Hannah's mind. Not that she had been 'normal' for a while. Gino had more or less robbed Hannah from being just a normal human being with no need; no desire for blood. Still, even though Hannah was a blood thief, or had been a blood thief, for the most part, Hannah felt normal. She still did normal things. Camping. Working. Hiking. Breathing. Even that was normal and something she didn't need to do anymore.

Hannah let the air out of her lungs as Freddie asked her how she felt. “I...don't know. I don't feel anything." Hannah said after a few seconds of thought. “I'm tired.” She wasn't, how could someone who had been dead be tired? So what was she feeling? Other than sorry for herself. “I feel stupid, mostly.” Her shoulders lifted into a small shrug, before Hannah laughed, just a little bitterly. “I mean, this whole time I was worried about Gino and looking over my shoulder for him...and then one night I go for a jog and WHAM. Die.” Hannah slumped against Freddie's shoulder, as she absorbed it all in. Her arms wrapped around his neck as Hannah clung to him, then she frowned.

Blood. She would need it to survive, just as much as he needed it to survive. “No, I...all I could think about was you.” Hannah pressed both her hands to the side of Freddie's face and then pressed her forehead to his. “I just wanted to come home.” There had been an overwhelming sense of relief that had filled Hannah the second she saw Freddie, even if he had thought the worse.

There was a glimmer of hope when Freddie suggested blood might fix the problem with her sight. She smiled at that, and reigned that feeling deep inside of her. It was better than feeling sorry for herself, or feeling potentially helpless. Something Hannah wasn't used to, or comfortable with. “Let's try that.” Her lips pressed against his in a hopeful, but appreciative fashion, because he was probably right. Freddie would know, because he was a vampire. “Do we have any blood in the fridge?” If they did, it had to be vampire blood, something she realized after asking her question. And if it was vampire blood, then the only vampire's blood she would ever want, was his. “Never mind.” Hannah said, dismissing her initial thought. “Will it be okay, if I bite you? If we both drink vampire blood?” What would happen if they both needed vampire blood some night?

[Lancaster]

For a few solid moments, Freddie was silent. Hannah was tired, and when she said she felt stupid he only squeezed her tighter. It was a good thing, though, that she had now been declared dead. It was the perfect plan. Gino shouldn’t go looking for a woman who’d been declared dead. But there were things they would have to organise, and be sure of. His mind was jumping ahead instead of focusing on the particular question he’d been asked, but he circled back around to it. He grunted.

”You could. I don’t know if maybe you need more, and it would probably be best. But also I don’t know how… I mean, I drink the blood of vampires but I don’t know how I got that way. I don’t know if there’s… something particular you have to do, or whether it’s just a choice. I don’t know if it’s… permanent or whether you can feed from anyone. But I suppose it doesn’t matter regardless. I can still get my blood the same way I have been, and you can get your sustenance from me,” he said. Again, his fingers ran through Hannah’s hair.

”Maybe you’ll feel better afterwards. And we should go visit Seth. Gino should think you’re dead, right? We don’t want Seth saying the body disappeared. He needs to… I don’t know, mess with the paperwork. Say you were taken for cremation, or something. Did he say anything to you about that?” he asked. He didn’t move. There were probably blood bags in the kitchen, and he could try to convince Hannah to drink from those instead. But what if she needed greater sustenance than that?

Perhaps it was the notion that he could provide for her, at least in this. She had helped him more than he could thank her for. Now it was time to return the favour. Body and soul. He then took hold of Hannah's shoulders and held her at arm's length. "And you're not stupid. This could just be a blessing in disguise."

[Hannah Lynn (DELETED 8242)]

A blessing in disguise, Freddie said. Right now, Hannah couldn't see past getting through tonight, so it was hard to see what had happened as a blessing in disguise. But, maybe in time, she would come to see it at that. Right now, it just seemed that there was a lot of unknown variables. For instance, what would she do for a living? Or...unliving? She wasn't sure what to call it right now.

“Seth!” Hannah said unexpectedly, cringing a little at what he had told her before Hannah made a mad dash home. “He says my dad is coming to identify the body...” How was she going to lay there and pretend to be dead? Hannah shivered just thinking about hearing her dad's reaction to her death. No, Freddie's idea was better. “I think a mix up...I can't go back there...” She shook her head, then curled herself around Freddie, thinking about blood. Thinking about the choices presented to her. There were bags in the fridge for emergency purposes-vampire blood. Then, there was Freddie's blood. Or, blood from a shop somewhere in the city, a few blocks from the apartment they shared. Which required going out and getting the blood.

So, ultimately, in Hannah's mind there were only two choices. The blood in the fridge, or Freddie's blood and of the two, Hannah had a strong opinion on which type she believed would taste better. It made the most sense; it was practically the only blood she knew before her death. Why should that change? “I want to...try yours.” Hannah finally concluded vocally, pulling back to look him in the eyes. It was more than likely possible that Hannah could drink any source of blood, but she didn't want just any source of blood. She wanted the familiarity of Freddie's blood.

[Lancaster]

There were plenty of places in the apartment that might have been more comfortable than where they were curled, but Freddie could not think of moving. There was a sense of urgency in Hannah’s words; Seth, her father. Explaining her death so that she remained dead, for the sake of her enemies. And yet, when she curled in closer, the last thing Freddie wanted to do was move. His fingers continued their reassuring stroke through Hannah’s hair, his heart twisting as he imagined it, as he felt her pain. Her father! He would think that his daughter was dead. That had to be the worst thing for a father to discover. His job was to protect his family, to keep them safe. To leave behind a legacy for them, because they were supposed to outlive him.

Freddie didn’t know whether he’d ever been a father. Would he have been able to abandon his children, if he was? He didn’t think so. But he didn’t know who he once was. Maybe he had never been so good.

The sympathy for Hannah’s plight remained in the background, lingering. He would help her through it, as much as he was able. On the surface, however, he could not keep his happiness away for long. Every time he looked at her, every time she pulled back to look at him, he remembered what he had been so certain of not long ago. He’d been certain she was dead, and never coming back. But here she was. Here she was! He was never letting her go again.

”Okay,” he said, nodding. She wanted his blood, and he would not say no. He couldn’t say no to anything she asked for. He leaned forward to press a whiskery kiss to her neck, and to her shoulder. In the process, he revealed the arch of his rough neck to her. This was not their first rodeo. They’d done this on so many occasions before. But now… now, he assumed, she would need more than she had before.

[Hannah Lynn (DELETED 8242)]

Freddie didn't need to say anything more than his acceptance of the idea. Hannah assumed he would not mind, he never had before, but this time was different. Wasn't it? “Okay.” Hannah said after Freddie had said it first. He placed a reassuring kiss on the side of her neck.

Everything would be okay. That was the feeling Hannah got as she remained where she was, wrapped up in his arms. There would be hurdles, that was life, but the kiss on her neck solidified that things would be okay. They would be okay. His neck was offered to her as it had been so many times before, but this was different. When Hannah was a blood thief, she didn't need vampire blood, more specifically she didn't need his blood, but she found herself wanting it. Often. A lot. Or maybe it was something more. Hannah wanting him in any and every way she could have him. This time though...vampires needed blood. She knew that from living with one.

Fingers curled in his hair, as they had done countless times before, only this time his hair felt softer. And it were as if Hannah could find each strand of hair as the individual pieces that they were, instead of the mass that everyone saw. When she leaned in closer, Hannah's eyes locked on his neck, more specifically the spot she was going to sink her new, genuine set of fangs into. Skin she had bitten into before, the same skin, looked slightly different. Everything seemed acute. Clearer. Sharper.

Hannah licked her lips as the fingers in his hair dropped to rest comfortably around each shoulder, as Hannah made her move. She had never had an issue with feeding from him as a Blood thief, but this time? It seemed easier. Were her fangs sharper now that she was a vampire, or was she just that...hungry? Her fingers pressed into Freddie's back as Hannah latched her mouth around his neck and drank him in.

His blood tasted different this time too. Not bad, the exact opposite. Savory. Delicious. As Hannah continued to drink from him, she finally made a move from what could be seen as a slightly helpless damsel in distress, to someone with far more confidence and abilities than originally thought of. Not quite an Amazon, but as she drank from Freddie, Hannah knew that she had made the right choice. There was no repulsion in her mind; only the primitive drive of needing blood. Freddie's blood.

She was on her knees, one outside of his seated position, the other between his legs as Hannah found herself on the ground, in two senses. Figuratively and literally. The fingers on his back slid their way down past his shoulders and mid back. When they found the hem of his shirt, Hannah yanked at it. She might still need his blood, but Hannah wanted him too. Nothing had changed, outside the fact she needed blood-his blood to survive now. But she wanted Freddie none the less. Maybe even more. Was it because she had almost died and the thought of losing him rattled her to the core, or was this a side effect of being what she was now? Answers she would figure out later. “I was so scared.” Hannah said after she pulled her fangs out of his neck, before she decided there was zero reason he needed a shirt. She stretched and pulled the shirt until she heard it rip from behind him, her lips crushing against his. “I-I can't imagine life, any life, without you.” God, she hoped he was in the same mood she was in, because Hannah felt as if she were going to explode into a million little pieces if he wasn't.