Heya, Update a little early but I just had to when I saw I had 100 fan's all of a sudden! That's why this chapter is dedicated to my 100th fan.

Thank you all!

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My barefooted footsteps echoed on the tiled floor in the hall, careless about all the white sand I was tracking in. The house always echoed if mom wasn't there, it was her presence that filled this place and made it Home.

I tossed my bag to the floor, knowing mom would probably scold me for that later but not caring about it. With her easy smile and always laughing eyes I knew she could never be mad at me for long.

Faith in that knowledge only a nine year old could possess.

Thinking mom wasn't home yet because of the echo I ran into the kitchen. If I was lucky the cookie jar would be on the lower shelve and I'd be able to reach it if I climbed on the counter.

I skidded to a halt just inside the kitchen and stared at the scene before me. My nine year old mind couldn't quite understand what it was seeing.

Mom.

Seated at the kitchen table, as always dressed in a flowery summer dress that made her look like a fairy stepped right out of a fairytale. So graceful and elegant, movements lithe and sure, like those of a dancer.

I loved watching my mom move, loved it even more when she danced. My mom would smile then and it made her look so beautiful... My mom was light and she shone like no other adult ever did, because my mom had stories. So, so many stories.

But today there was no easy smile, no laughter in her vibrant brown eyes that looked so much like mine. Her light had dulled and her face was pale and drawn.

'Mom?' I asked hesitantly, my voice trembling as fear curled in my tiny stomach. Had someone hurt her? The fierce need to protect my flighty mother with her delicate features shook my small body.

She hadn't noticed me yet but at the hesitant call her head whipped in my direction. Panic and fear pulsating in the air.

'No Amy, run! Not my daughter! Please?' sheer terror reflected in my moms melodic voice, a voice made to sing.

Confused I turned around, I wasn't going to leave my mom alone. If she was scared I needed to help her!

A hand closed around my throat, tight and constricting and above that red eyes gleamed in a face made of shadows. 'Hello little Angel.'

I woke screaming and drenched in cold sweat. My mind filled with swirling darkness and painful memories. My heartbeat pounding in my ears, a wild beating against my ribcage. I was shaking and hot tears were streaming down my face, tears I hardly even noticed.

My mind still locked in the harsh grip of my memories, memories that I'd buried so deep that I didn't even know I had them.

As my breathing slowed down and my rapid pulse calmed I became aware of the strong arms wrapped around me. The muscled chest pressed against my back and the silky fingers running through my hair.

A distinctly male voice whispering in a language I couldn't understand but they were gentle soft words, meant to calm.

Nathaniel, my soulmate, held me as if he'd take on the world to keep me safe. He held me with such gentleness and love that it nearly broke me after the harsh reality of my memories.

'A ghrá mo chroí, ssh, it's alright. You are safe,' in his voice reflected his concern but even though he didn't know the reason for my distress he didn't ask. Anger, coiled beneath the surface at the thought that something had hurt me and he couldn't do anything about it.

When my tears subsided I slowly uncurled from his tight grasp so I could face him, but I didn't let go. I needed the physical reassurance, I needed to know that he was here, to anchor me to this place.

'I remembered Nathaniel...' A sob I tried to suppress,'I remembered things I shouldn't. They should have stayed buried.'

Because I had remembered the glorious days when my mother had been happy, when we had been happy together. Just the two off us. But most of all I'd remembered the day things had changed...

The day the darkness had come, a day I had wanted to stay forgotten. My mom had broken that day and I had been so young and helpless. I had not understood what was going on, why... I understood now that the darkness had come and that nine months later my baby brother had been born. Exactly nine months later.

I burst into tears all over again. That was knowledge I wanted so badly to forget, because I didn't want to see Hayden as the child born from darkness, darkness and light because my mom had been light. But mostly darkness....

Nathaniel said nothing, he simply held me close as he stroked my skin, my scalp in soothing patterns. He didn't ask what it was that I wanted to forget and for that I was grateful.

Light filtered into the room by the time I felt calm enough to fall back asleep and still he held me. As I drifted off I heard him sing the by now familiar lullaby in his native tongue, his voice husky and very male but still beautiful.

*

I awoke from a pleasant dreamless sleep a few hours later to find myself alone in the big bed. A dress clearly belonging to Missy was draped over a chair nearby, meant for me to wear today. Because all my things were at the empty house where Hayden still was.

My heart kicked uncomfortably against my ribs at the thought of my little brother. Guilt because I'd left him alone in the clutches of my father for a night. Abandoned him even though I'd promised not to.

But also fear that coated my tongue and made my skin crawl. Fear that the darkness that had killed my mom, created my baby brother, hid inside him. Ready to strike out.

A nauseating fear was spreading through me and it wasn't fair. I loved my brother to death, he couldn't be part darkness, couldn't be! But now that I'd remembered I wasn't sure if I could see him in the same light, treat him the same way, as I had before.

I splashed my face with cold water and then got dressed in the clothes Missy had laid out for me. I was grateful that my friend had thought to do so... I wouldn't have been able to put on the dress from last night again and I wasn't going to wear something of Nathaniel's if we were going back to the big house.

Downstairs I found nobody and that worried me but someone had laid out food for me in the large warm kitchen. It was still strange to me that they had such a beautiful kitchen when they didn't have to eat food...

After I had eaten the food I carefully send a thought towards Nathaniel: 'Nathaniel? Where are you?'

His reply was immediate and incredibly relieving. 'In the study a ghrá mo chroí.'

Moments later I pushed open the heavy mahogany door and stepped into the study. It was a surprisingly brightly lighted room, large open windows with french doors lined one wall. They were draped with heavy dark red curtains but those were opened to the fullest.

On one wall there was a large old fashioned fireplace with soft and incredibly comfortable looking leather chairs in front of it. The walls lined with oak bookcases filled with old leather bound volumes and crisper looking new books side by side.

Some spaces on the shelves devoid of books but instead holding a beautiful object of art, a precious stone or some other nicknack Nathaniel had collected. A testimony of the memories of a long life.

Right in front of the windows a solid cherry wooden desk stood, stark lines that looked infinitesimally male. On top of it a high tech computer and phone and stacks of paper.

Nathaniel was seated behind it, his forehead creased in concentration as he poured over the papers. It took me a moment to realize that he was in fact grading papers for school, obviously he had to do that as a teacher.

The fact that I didn't see him as a teacher any longer had made me overlook that... A blush rose to my cheek as I remembered what we'd shared last night before the dreams of memory.

When my eyes came back to him I found him staring at me with a knowing smirk on his face. 'Morning a ghrá mo chroí, you look delectable in that dress,' he said then he crooked a finger, 'Come.'

I wanted to resist, simply because I didn't want to be commanded like that. I wasn't some silly girl, I was his soulmate and his equal. But the memories still haunted me and I needed to be close to him, because he could give me solace, the kind I'd hungered for ever since my mother died.

So I walked over and around the massive desk to stand beside him and I didn't protest when he drew me into his lap and held me close in the circle of his arms. Nothing was said as I rested my head on the wide expanse of his muscular chest, breathing in the scent of him and the warmth that would keep me anchored to this world.

He played with the pendant on it's silver chain around my neck as he continued to work. The movement thoughtless, it was cute how my very old and very powerful mate had fallen for such an uncontrolled motion.

At long last he leaned back in his chair, sliding the last paper on top of a stack. 'All done,' he sighed as he returned his attention on me, sliding a hand into my hair rub unknown tension away. His other hand still playing with the pendant, my mothers pendant; shaped like an angels wing.

Content to just still and let him go through the soothing motions, even though I no longer needed them. Both my hands clasped loosely in his shirt, he hadn't bothered to fully button it, allowing me to see a perfect triangle of his chest. Skin that softly golden color.

'What's the story behind the necklace Ams?' Nathaniel asked softly. His eyes held curiosity only as he peered at the intricately wrought pendant, the lines so delicate and so perfect that the silver wing looked real, alive.

I smiled, this was a happy memory, as I told him. 'It was my mothers and her mothers before her. She always told me that a man came from the heavens one day, a man of gold. Golden hair and golden skin, as if the sun lived inside him...

The pendant was his gift to my grandmother and he told her to pass it on to her firstborn child. My mom always said that if we were in need of help, we could wish on the pendant and the man from the heavens would come to save us.'

'An angel...' Nathaniel nodded thoughtfully. 'It's funny how you say your mother describes this man as if the sun lived inside off him. That was what I thought when I first laid eyes on you Amelia.'

I smiled at the flattery, 'My mom never saw the man. Grandma met him just before mom was born. And the sun does not live inside of me! If it did I wouldn't miss it so badly, I love the sea and the beach and the days filled with sunshine. It's so much colder here.'

'When it's time to move a ghrá mo chroí, we'll move to somewhere warm and sunny, it's a promise,' Nathaniel whispered pressing his lips softly to my cheek. I could feel a driving need coming from him that said he wanted to do anything and everything to make me happy.

His voice turned curious again as he shifted the pendant in his hold, inspecting it intently with his beautiful stormy gray eyes. 'It's possible I suppose... Looks too delicate and real to be human made.'

A gasp escaped my lips, 'You're saying this really could be angel made? Angels are real?'

A chuckle as he nodded, 'Yes real but not in the way they're usually thought off. Sometimes they fall in love with a human. It happens.'

I hit his chest, 'That's not very funny. If that's true then I'm part angel. Don't be ridiculous!' Jumping out of his lap I smoothed the dress down, I felt uncomfortable in it. Not used to the off the shoulder model that suited Missy so well.

Nathaniel's looked lost in thought, almost as if he had not heard my last words. Then he shook himself and picked up a folder. 'These are the adoption papers a ghrá mo chroí, you can sign them now if you'd like. All we'd need then is your fathers signature.'

'You really think this is going to work?' I asked hesitantly. I pushed the tendril of fear away into a dark corner in my mind. Getting Hayden out of there was more important then worrying over the darkness that might have fathered him.

'Trust me.' The words were said with enough conviction that it left no doubt in my mind that he would manage to do this somehow. Of course I hadn't really factored in all the vampiric powers he had. Although putting my dad to sleep wouldn't really help in getting his signature... And he couldn't expose himself as a vampire either.

Thinking about it however I knew that Eliza and Jessica knew about vampires but I wasn't sure if they'd realized that Nathaniel was one. Come to think of it... I wasn't sure if Jessica had even seen Nathaniel, after all, last night he'd made them sleep before he'd even entered the room.

At the door Nathaniel handed me his coat, a leather one that smelled distinctly like him. I accepted it because I didn't really want to wear my own coat, it had bloodstains on the collar.

He smirked at me when I accepted it without complaint, 'I like it when you wear my things... Love it when my scent is all over you.' With those words he strode out the door and straight to his flashy red and very fast car.

I had to unscramble my mind first before I followed him out. His scent all over me? His tone had implied a lot more then just the scent rubbing off on me from his clothes.

The car ride was far too short and by the time we reached the house my fists were clenched tightly on my knees. My stomach a cold knot. I hoped no one was home except my father and I could just take my things and Hayden's things and leave.

I didn't want to face my father either but we needed his signature to get Hay out of there. Still I could hope I didn't have to deal with Jessica and Eliza on top of it all.

Nathaniel reached over and took my hand tightly in his. 'This is what we're going to do; we enter, pack your stuff up and get it to the car. They can't protest about that, after that we corner your father and get his signature. Then we pack up Hayden's stuff and leave. I assume it wont take long? Missy said your room was very empty.'

I breathed in deeply and nodded, 'I don't want Hay to think I'm going to leave him behind... If he sees me take my stuff first.' I didn't finish what I was going to say but Nathaniel nodded.

'We'll talk to your father first then, but you're not leaving my side got it? I'm not letting you alone in there with anyone but your brother. I don't trust them.' His voice took on a sharp edge and his stormy eyes became dark, so very dark.

I touched his face, rubbing my fingers over his jaw, 'I know, I won't leave your side. You're the bad ass vamp, they can't hurt me when you're there. You'll protect me.'

A smile tugged at the corners of his lips, 'Damn right I am. I'll always protect you Ams. Always.'

Shortly after that I found myself unlocking the front door and stepping into the big house. My footsteps echoed but I couldn't hear Nathaniel move as he stepped inside right on my heels. He was like a shadow, so silent.

'Where is your father you think?' he asked me in a low voice. The Irish accent replaced by the crisp British again now that someone else might possibly hear us.

I nodded down the hall, 'In his study if he's home. He's always working.' Nathaniel didn't miss the rueful tone in my voice. As he stalked passed me, a predator let loose, he ran his knuckles softly across my cheek to reassure me.

I followed him down the hall and pointed him to the right door, he stood still for a moment in front of it and then nodded. 'He's here.'

He must have caught my fathers scent or maybe even heard his heartbeat behind that door. That was the only way he could have known.

Nathaniel didn't knock as he pushed open the door and strode inside. His movements pure lethal grace, he was a hunter stalking prey. Although I imagined that vampires didn't stalk prey this way usually. Going for seduction instead.

My father looked up from the dark desk he was sitting behind, a phone pressed to his ear that he dropped in shock at seeing Nathaniel. Shortly after that his mask of cool reserve had been restored and he looked all business.

He cast me one look from the corner of his eye as I stepped into the office behind Nathaniel.

'Who are you?' the hostile tone in my fathers voice wasn't hard to miss. But Nathaniel's voice was all cool and collected, cold enough to give even me chills as he said: 'Let's talk business, you and I.'

It was something my father understood as he rose from his leather chair reaching out a hand across his desk to shake Nathaniel's. 'The name is Henry Talyor, but I think you already knew that.'

'Nathaniel Flynn,' said my Mate but he ignored my fathers hand and leaned his fists on the edge of the desk. Leaning in so my father sat back down, a crack appearing in that mask of cool reserve on the man I had to call father for three years now.

'What business did you wish to discuss?' my father asked. Had it been someone else he'd have insisted on having at least an appointment scheduled and there would have been a scolding for barging in like this... Clearly he found Nathaniel too intimidating to do so.

Nathaniel pulled the folder with the adoption papers out of his pocket and dropped it on the desk. 'I want you to sign this and I wont take no for an answer.'

'We'll see about that boy,' my father said coldly, seemed like he'd found his spine back. I swallowed nervously, I hoped this aggressive way of dealing with my father worked. But Nathaniel was very rich and owned a dozen different companies, restaurant's and shops. On top of all the real estate he owned. He had to be one hell of a businessman.

At the 'boy' my father had used at the end of his sentence Nathaniel simply stared at him coldly. Waiting for him to open the file and read what it was about.

It took only a short moment and then I had the satisfaction of seeing my father gasp, his eyes widening in shock. 'These are adoption papers... You want me to give you my son?' He sounded completely blown away by it.

'Not me, Amelia,' Nathaniel said, his words clipped and short. I could feel the cold rage he held within himself. My father had no clue how close Nathaniel was to snapping his neck, but I did and I didn't want Nathaniel to go down that path.

I stepped closer to him and softly placed my hand on his back. Just a touch. But I felt the muscles beneath my hand relax just the slightest bit.

Thank you,' showing me how grateful he was that I had acted to calm him down. I knew Nathaniel was furious about how my father treated me and my brother.