Disclaimer: I don't own True Blood, just my OC. (:

The monster was the best friend I ever had.

- Boris Karloff

Chapter One

What About Mother

It was cold that day. It always was during this time of year, but that particular evening the wind was picking up.

I had nothing to protect myself from the breeze. The holey, tattered white dress I wore exposed bits of my dirty skin to the crisp October air. I was unbearably skinny, having nothing to eat, though when I did manage to scrounge up something, it was nothing to keep me well nourished and satisfied.

I wandered the streets during the day. Small cuts embroidered the entirety of my legs in a criss cross-like pattern. The blood had dried hours ago and healed into unsightly scars.

I was alone at "home", if an empty and decaying building could ever be called a place of refuge. I discovered it while traveling hand in hand with my mother. After some time she started complaining of severe chest pains and suffered from a terrible cough. She leaned against an old, worn fence for leverage, breathing in short ragged intakes while I clung to her calf, asking what was wrong. Her delicate features were pinched with pain and beads of sweat covered her forehead. She explained in a strained voice that we needed to find a safe place for the night so she could rest and I could eat. There was still some leftover bread crumbs in the satchel she was carrying.

We ended up finding an abandoned house near a sleepy dead end neighborhood. Mother set a play area for me in a quiet corner then sauntered upstairs to find a bed to rest in. She had told me not to go anywhere until she woke from her nap, and I didn't. Well, truthfully I had tip toed outside to scavenge for something to keep me company while I waited, but I made sure I was quick. I felt bad for going against her orders but I had nothing to do in the spare time. I was only eight years old and boredom found me very easily.

I returned to the house after my search, self found gift in hand, and nestled myself into the corner to wait for mother.

Minutes turned into hours.

I made frequent trips up and down the stairs to check on mother, but every time I opened the door I saw her sleeping figure. I called for her many times but she wouldn't move. My innocent mind didn't think anything of it because I grew up with the notion that mother was strong. Nothing could take her so easily. I brushed the negative thoughts away and skipped back down to play. She would be up and healthy in no time, surely. She was a heavy sleeper anyways, something I inherited from her.

So I waited some more.

Then hours turned into days.

I survived on nothing but dirty tap water and whatever food I could find in the dumpsters. I didn't care about any sicknesses I could've potentially been stricken with. I needed something, anything to stop the ache in my tummy.

Then one night, the pattern changed. I didn't know how late it was, but all I knew that there was pitch darkness outside. Not even the sky was lit with stars. I didn't dare to leave the house once dusk fell. Mother always taught me to be mindful of the dark.

I was sitting cross legged in the corner of the living room, or what remained of it. I was admiring a tiny wooden doll I had found in one of the trash heaps down the street during my raid, which resulted in the many nicks and bruises on my body. I named the handmade toy Lily. Her body was entirely made of wood with no given clothes. One of her stick legs were damaged, nearly snapped in half but I handled her with care, stroking the tendrils of red hair glued crazily on her head. She was my new companion now.

Mother was still upstairs, getting her much needed rest. I sneaked into her room at least an hour ago. She wouldn't wake up despite my futile attempts. I shook her, gently pulled at her hair, and even resorted to jumping up and down on the bed in quick motions while singing for her to get up but nothing worked. I only sighed in defeat and padded back downstairs.

Perhaps she was just dreadfully tired and needed to be left alone. She was ill and needed to get better. Bothering her would not help anything.

So I did the only thing I knew how to do during that time. I waited. After doing so much, I could only do more.

"Come, come, Bonnie Lynn, tell us, tell us where you've been," I sang a little tune I had once heard some of the street kids chant. It was pretty so I pretended I was performing in a choir in front of a large audience while wearing a beautiful sun dress.

"Were you up, were you down. Chasing rabbits 'round the town. Come, come, Bonnie Lynn, tell us, tell us where you've been. Come, come, Bonnie Lynn, we've a bed to put you in. It is soft, it is warm. It will shelter you from the storm," I couldn't remember the rest of the words so I just hummed the end, lightly swaying my head from left to right.

As I played, the front door opened and closed slowly, muted footsteps walking down the foyer toward me. My heart rate thudded wildly, feeling like a caught animal. I cowered back against the wall, clutching Lily tightly, my only form of protection. I held my breath, balling my hands into tight fists to keep them from trembling.

Then the footsteps entered the room, stopping just short of the threshold. The pair of eyes staring across at me were surprisingly gentle, in contrast with his rather edged appearance.

I hadn't been in such close proximity with another human being in days, maybe even weeks. I felt so tiny looking up at him from my fetal position. He had the face and build of a young boy and was well dressed in simple, dark attire with a complexion like milk. He could've easily passed as my elder brother.

I held up my toy high for him to see, my fingers noticeably shaking. "Are you here to fix my dolly? She's broken." My small voice was steady despite the quiver I felt in my stomach. I scampered back further into the wall when he approached me and knelt down to my level. His eyes never left my face.

His voice was smooth, gentle as a night's breeze. "Are you here alone, little one?"

I shook my head no, hoping he would go away since I answered his question.

He stayed right in his place. "Where is your mother?"

I sniffled and pointed one finger up at the ceiling. "Mama's broken, too," I whispered. His gaze followed my gesture then went back to my face, regarding me with veiled concern.

Something about the look he was giving made me think he knew somehow what I was feeling and I had to look down. I held Lily close, pulling the hem of my dress tighter over my knees. A slender finger tilted my chin up, bringing my face back to lock eyes with my unknown acquaintance.

"What is your name, child?" His caress was as soft as his tone.

"Madison," I whispered. "Mama called me Maddie."

"Maddie," he echoed, sounding curious despite his vacant expression. "Unusual," he murmured.

I scrunched my nose up. "What is?" I snapped defensively, a bit insulted. I momentarily forgot the sudden wave of fear I was harboring for the stranger, my inner spitfire coming out.

The corner of my visitor's lips twitched a little into a smile, but it didn't touch his eyes. "Your name."

"Oh really? What's your name then?" I demanded. My mouth always hindered me in trouble many times with Mother.

"Godric."

"That's weirder," I noted.

He looked amused at my offended expression and chuckled gently. "I suppose it is." He lightly ruffled my hair and tucked a strand behind my ear. His thumb brushed over my damp cheek before rising fluidly. His eyes skimmed the length of the enclosed room, taking in all its bareness.

He looked at the stairs for a half second then down at me. "Is this your home?" He asked lowly, watching me intently.

I shrugged both shoulders. "It's where I hide."

The glint in Godric's eyes darkened, which made the spark of fear in me ignite. "From who?"

"Everyone."

He seemed concerned by what I had said, which confused me. I wasn't his problem. I was just an unfortunate, bewildered little girl.

Godric's gazed raised up to the ceiling again then back at me. "Your mother is upstairs, correct?"

I nodded and made a move to stand up.

"Be still, child. I will return shortly."

The next second...he was gone. Vanished within a flash. I scanned the room but I couldn't see him anywhere. I stood on my wobbly feet and checked around the dark corners, even in the dirty kitchen and the scary looking broom closet, but there was nothing. Nothing at all. Where did he go? I didn't hear anything except the sound of my own dull heartbeat.

Perhaps he had left the house.

I went back to my spot and curled up on the floor, picking Lily up off the ground. I started a halfhearted game with her for a few minutes, and hummed the song I had been singing. Footsteps shuffled on the floors above me, right where my mother was laying, but I didn't think much of it. I was alone once more, or I thought I was at least. I twirled a lock of Lily's hair around my finger, her faded and chipped face was carved into a jubilant smile. She was there for me, when no one else was. I played with her silently, minutes passing.

"Small one," a voice breathed from the staircase. My head snapped up and I saw Godric standing on the very last step on the stairs. He came toward me and extended a pale hand. He was here all along? I thought to myself.

"Come, child. I will keep you safe. No on will ever harm you."

I saw no hint of malicious intent within his youthful features.

But I recoiled from his advance. "What about mother?" I asked timidly. "Will...will she wake up?"

"No, little one. She will not."

My legs nearly gave out at his words, and my grasp on Lily became limp, almost falling out of my hands. Her bright expression couldn't make me happy. The prettiest toy or warmest bed could never replace what I had just lost. I was numb. There were so many things I still needed to learn, so many promises she had sworn to keep. But now what? What could I do? I had nowhere to go. I needed her to show me the ways. To silence my mind, ease the pains of growing old, how to open my eyes when I wanted them closed. How to live.

I wanted to see her again, listen to her voice as she told me stories before putting me to sleep, feel her careful hands as they braided my hair. Feel the warmth of her frail arms as she held me against her bosom. Glass mother and child.

I wanted to feel safe. I wanted the life she always told me we'd have. She left me too early. I would never see her eyes looking at me with love anymore, a splash of green and blue. The air I breathed always smelled of lilacs and freesias around her. Without her, it was bitter and heavy, like hospitals and sulfur. She was my everything. She was my God...

It wasn't supposed to be this way. She wasn't supposed to go. Not like this, not this early, not in the middle of all this mess and chaos she called reality. She couldn't just leave me...

What was I supposed to do?

I never even got to say goodbye.

Mama.

"I wanna go home," I mumbled, a quiet plea. Stray tears escaped my left eye and I wiped them away furiously. As soon as the words were out, I was lifted up and swung into Godric's arms. He carried me out of the house, one arm hooked under the back of my legs to support me, the other kept at his side.

I wove my short arms around his neck, holding on tightly to balance myself as he stepped out the front door.

My cheek fell to his chest, closing my eyes in exhaustion. The blackish-blue material of his shirt was smooth and clean, a foreign scent filling my senses. It was odd, but it had a refreshing aroma in contrast to the metallic, almost chemical smell in the air. His scent was a subtle mixture of musk, rich soil, and the faintest hint of vanilla. A very unique but pleasant blend.

"Let's get you somewhere safe, little one. Before the monsters come out to play." His voice was cautious and deliberate in my ear. I didn't bother to ask where he was taking me because I somehow already knew I wouldn't have to worry. He would take care of me. He was my savior, my sense of security. Untold prayers I dreamed of.

I felt so snug in his grasp, the air was brisk through my hair, and the rhythm of his stride gave me no choice but to drift. But as I fell into slumber, I heard the hushed voices of children playing in the alleys, their giggles and squeals that morphed into one startling melody, serenading the streets with a song I had forgotten the words to.

"Come, come, Bonnie Lynn, we've a bed to put you in. Dear, dear Bonnie Lynn sleeps the peaceful crib within. A mossy stone, a finger bone. No one knows but Lynn alone. Dear, dear Bonnie Lynn sleeps the peaceful crib within."

Maybe...maybe somehow, mother's promise would be kept after all.

Through this stranger.

A/N: Hey guys :D This idea has been floating around in my head for a few days, ever since I rewatched some of Godric's old episodes. I wondered what it would be like if he found a little girl and decided to take her in and raise her as his own. Maybe it will add to the sympathy he starts to feel for humans.

It won't be particularly happy since I don't want to change too much of what happens to him later on and still make him the empty, detached vampire he becomes. I prefer sticking to canon character endings, but you never know. I may change my mind later on! :D Originally, I was just going to plan this as a purely platonic story, but I thought it would be a little more fun to turn it into romance once Maddie grows up and hits her teen years.

This chapter takes place in the mid to late 90s. Next chapter might take place the day after, then fast forward to when she's twelve. I don't know how far this will go, but I'm willing to try!

So what did you think? Would you be interested in reading more? If not, I could always leave it as a oneshot. :)

Thank you for reading! I hope you liked it. :D Sorry if there's any typos.

*The little song Maddie sings is actually a rhyme from the video game Dragon Age: Origins. I don't own it.*