I can see why mom adores the pond and the bridges that connect it. Even under the light of a half moon it looks gorgeous. I glance to Godric at my side—someone I hoped I would not have this exploration with—but turn away when his eyes meet mine. It's not that I'm afraid of him; I have faith that mom would never let anything happen to me and if something did occur there's something about mom's strange blood that makes me think I can take him. I know the chances are slim. I mean, two thousand year old vampire against a one-week-old one? I should be toast.

But maybe not.

Maybe not.

I roll my eyes at myself as we get closer to the center. I shouldn't be thinking of this but how can I not? This talk is coming from left field. I know I did nothing wrong so it must be a power play—some B.S. about him being the Alpha male and what not. I wish Sandy were with me. Together we could take him out—no doubt.

Godirc clears his throat but it's a weird gesture. Since turning it feels like we are so powerful not even dust is foolish enough to mess with us. He lets out a deep breath, which is an odd gesture since we really don't need to breathe. Is it possible the "head" of our vampire family is…nervous? It's laughable! Why would he be nervous to talk to me?

"Bernard," his voice is low but forceful as if he really doesn't want to say my name but he must. There's an undercurrent to it too that's strange. It's like my body moves with his control like the blood that is I me that was in mom that was in him recognizes the grand-maker—the original. He opens his mouth to speak and I am compelled to listen very intently, "The very moment I saw you in Amie's arms I hated your very existence. I loathed you, despised you, silently plotted your death all for one reason: you were and still are a threat."

I rolled my eyes at the end of his sentence. This talk isn't going very well. I grumbled in his direction, "I don't want to fight you."

"Oh, Little Bear," he says in an amused voice that forces me to yet again look at him. He sounds like a dad laughing at his kid that did or said something too stupid to scold or said something too stupid to scold, not to mention he used the name mom gave me. I don't know if I should feel red with anger or pink with cool mush. He explains, "You are not a threat to me. You are a threat to my relationship with Amie. I have never observed her stare at another being how she stares at you. When you speak her eyes transform into the gentlest shade of blue that I have only seen as my favorite fruit in my early childhood. I'm afraid you will take her away from me. I fear that at the slightest provocation she will flee our nest with you in toe and the only thing more terrifying than her out in the world is her out in the world with you…" his tone chilled on the last word and I could see the smallest hint of a smirk as he added, "And your eccentricities."

I don't know what he hoped would come of his little speech but it definitely didn't make me want to suddenly become his best friend or know anything more about him than I already did. I rolled my eyes away form him—the ultimate sign of disrespect in my house—as I replied, "With all due respect, I think you're being outrageously ridiculous. Beyond so. When mom looks at you I can feel what she feels and I'm not going to glorify you by explaining what it is but I can assure you she's not going any where, let alone because of me."

We reached the center where the bridges met and I could imagine an epic-fighting scene between Godric and me while mom cried and pleaded for us to stop. I had to admit I liked Godric a whole lot less than I did before this conversation. At least then he had this aura of greatness and he didn't seem so…petty. I opened my mouth to tell him we should just set up a schedule to share her but I stopped when I found he was staring at me the whole time. His eyes were narrowed on me in deep concentration and for a moment I was scared that maybe he could read minds—my mind.

"What is it?" I asked, my voice getting shaky although I didn't want it to.

"You are very bizarre, Bernard, very strange indeed. While most newly raised, your mother included, find it nearly impossible to control his or her emotions you manage to show the self-control of someone a thousand years your senior. From what I have seen, you and Amie are both a new evolutionary strain of our kind in both very different ways. Amie has innocence, a compassion for life that no other shares and you…I can't quite figure you out but if I am honest you give me hope. If I had not gotten to Amie she would be changed, ruined by life and its cruelties but you. I am very certain whether it was Amie or a stranger you would still be as you are. I know we have gotten off on the wrong foot but it is clear we both love Amie very much," Godric nodded his head before extending his hand toward me with a warmer expression than he had ever given me. "Maybe we can try and work together for her sake?"

I never wanted to agree with him and I never wanted to make friends with him but his words were impossible for me to deny. A smile forced itself onto my face and I reached my hand onto his and shook it firmly, "Okay. I can do that."

"YAAAAAAY!"

Our eyes jump to the owner of the voice and together we laugh as mom waits for us behind the window of the room she and Godric share. I hadn't known she was watching us but now I'm very happy that she got to see us try. Godric releases my hand so he can motion for her to join us.

This is a new life for us.

Things are going to get better.

I hope.