Ashlin pov

It only took me a few moments to dress in what I thought was fitting for the meeting with Nan Flanigan. It was not too formal, but it was still somewhat professional: a nice white shirt paired with darker jeans, a leather jacket, converse, and my grandmother's necklace. With one last glance and pose in the suit mirror, I walked back out to the main room where Godric was waiting on a couch.

"You were quick." He said as I sat next to him, a quick glance over my chosen outfit.

I held in a snort at Godric's comment. "Eric will take longer. I timed him once for a boredom project. When he uses that supernatural speed you guys have, he takes about fifteen minutes, and at human speed, even longer. Has he always been so picky about his hair or have modern styling products made it worse?"

"It varies with the time periods; you should have seen him during the Black Plague, but what is a boredom project?" He annunciated the last two words slowly, with clear amusement in his tone.

I laughed, "Exactly as it sounds, hold on, I have another one that I used him for."

I shot up from the couch, running quickly to the bedroom and back, but returning with my phone in hand. I sat next to Godric again as I tilted the screen so he could see the picture of Eric that I was saving for blackmail, should I ever need it.

Godric's head fell back, and he started laughing as soon as he laid eyes on the picture.

"You braided his hair?! With ribbons?!" He tried to speak in between fits of laughter, moving forward to lean his arm against his knee when I took my phone out of his sight.

Eric walked in the room just as the photo was cleared from the screen, uncertain at the situation at hand. He held a frown on his face when he realized he was the butt of a joke when Godric was unable to stop another fit of laughter from emerging at seeing Eric.

"It was really too bad when he cut it off. I was hoping to figure out some different styles." Godric was sent into another fit of laughter at my statement, and I could not help but to laugh a little myself, but it seemed that Eric's frown only deepened.

"As much as I love being ridiculed, I believe that we have business to attend to?"

Godric calmed his laughter, wiping bloody tears from his eyes. "Yes, Eric, I believe you are right. If we are all ready, shall we depart?"

"Yep." I stood as Godric did, looking to Eric. "Hey, Eric, shouldn't you get Bill? He did some to the church after all."

Eric's frown shifted to a scowl as we stepped into the hallway, and he forced himself to go to Bill's door to inform him.

We walked into the lounge of Nan's suit, where the aforementioned woman was absent. Ever the T.V. personality, I would assume that she was purposely waiting for the show of it. Stan walked up to me, tilting his head and hat in greeting before looking at my face and gathering the words to speak.

"Miss Stackhouse, my sincerest apologies for the way I acted towards you the night previous. I hope I can have your forgiveness, but I will understand if I don't."

Confusion overtook Godric's features, but I held in my laugh in favor of answering Stan. "Thank you, Stan. I recommend thinking before you act in future circumstances, but today you have my forgiveness."

I smiled kindly at Stan, seeing the corners of his mouth twitch as if he wanted to smile. "Miss Stackhouse, I have gotten you a gift, to help you remember us here in Dallas."

Stan finally grinned as he pulled a beautifully beaded cowgirl hat from behind his back, and handed it over to me. My smile grew larger as he placed the hat on my head.

"Thank you Stan. This is really kind of you." Stan gave a curt nod before walking away as Isobel approached us.

Isobel gave a small laugh as she came up to us. "Godric, don't look so confused. Your Ashlin here, she put Stan on is knees for threatening her. It was truly something to see."

Before Godric could retort, Isobel pulled me into a quick hug. "Thank you so much for everything! We should probably get settled before Nan comes in."

Godric nodded to Isobel, his face now neutral. "I believe you are correct Isobel."

Eric was already sitting on one of the chairs glaring at Bill and another woman who sat on the couch opposite where Isobel was waiting for Godric and I, and Stan was leaning against the wall behind Isobel. It was only a few moments after Godric and I settled that Nan barged into the room with a few guards following along behind her.

"Do you have any fucking idea of the PR mess you've made?! And who has to clean this shit up?! Me. Not you Me. I should drain every one of you bastards!" Nan gracefully threw herself into the chair at the head of the room, pointing a finger at Godric. "This is your problem."

"Don't talk to him that way." Eric growled at her where Godric and I remained silent, waiting for the conversation to move past insults.

"Don't talk to me that way." Nan turned her attention to Godric. "Let's get to the point. How did they manage to abduct you?"

"They would have taken one of us sooner or later. I offered myself." I noticed Eric stiffen from the corner of my eye.

"Why?"

"Why not?" Godric's patience with Nan was wearing thin, but he still remained civil.

"They wanted you to meet the sun, and you were willing?!"

"What do you think?" I looked over to Eric, seeing the storm clouds gather in his eyes even though his face was still stony. Eric glared at Nan as if willing her to combust, but Nan paid no attention to him.

"I think you are out of your mind! And then I hear about a traitor?!"

"Irrelevant. Only a rumor, I'll take full responsibility." While I understand Godric protecting Isobel for being blamed for Hugo's actions, I didn't understand why he would shift the blame onto himself.

"You bet you will." Nan's voice was full of icy venom.

"You cold bitch." Nan's voice was comparable to a kitten's purr when Eric spoke with a similarly cold tone, but she ignored him again.

"Listen, this is a national Vampire disaster and nobody at the top has any sympathy for any of you. Sheriff, you fucked up. You're fired."

"I agree. Of course Isobel should take over. She has had no part in any of this." I kept my face stoic, any questions I had for Godric or his choices could be asked in private, without Nan's influence.

"What are you saying?! She's a bureaucrat. You don't have to take shit from her!" Nan clearly hit a sore spot for Eric, but I could not blame him, I too had the same question.

"You want to lose your area Viking?" Nan practically spat at Eric.

"You don't have that kind of power. "Eric's grin was nearly sadistic.

"Hey, I'm on T.V. Try me." Despite my reluctance to find trouble with another Vampire, I chose that moment to step into the conversation.

"Miss Flanigan, Eric is correct, you don't have that kind of power, even if you are on T.V." Nan quickly turned her glare to me as I spoke.

"Yeah, and why would you think that?" Nan spoke with a tone that implied I was below her.

"Well, Miss Flanigan, you are a representative of the AVL, a spokesperson, you don't have any power over them," I gestured to Eric and Godric as I spoke, my voice calm and steady. "The only people that would hold any power over them would be their superiors, the kings and queens of the states or the AVL themselves. You may be able to deliver the message of being fired, but I don't see any legal documents or letters proving that you have permission to do so. Does that make any sense to you, Miss Flanigan?"

"I don't care. This is beyond your reasoning, human.

Eric pov

Godric's anger flooded the bond, adding to my own. His posture stiffened, and I could sense his beast bubbling just under the surface, ready to show itself at the disrespect of Ashlin.

"Nan, that is enough. You will not insult my companions. Let's continue this in private, as the only reason they are here is seemingly for you to insult." There was a growling undertone to his voice.

"Fine, all of you, get out!" Nan's anger was weak compared to Godric.

I looked to Godric for confirmation, to which he nodded. Emotions flitted across the bond, and I knew that we would be speaking about his arrival to the church later. Ashlin and I left, leaving behind the Dallas nest with Nan.

I was aware of Bill and Lorena following behind us, but I didn't think much of it, focusing on getting Ashlin and myself to our room, but the idiot Compton managed to touch her arm before I could stop him.

Ashlin turned to face him, although it was reluctant and angered. "Yes?"

"Ashlin,, sweetheart, this isn't like you. Why are you going with Eric? He will only bring harm to you."

Lorena gave a sick laugh that would send a chill along any human's spine, and yet Ashlin stayed still. "Listen to him, little girl, it will be better for you."

I growled at Lorena, warning her to watch herself around my Valkyrie. Lorena's grin quickly faltered and she took a step back.

"Bill, I am not owned by you or anyone. You do not get to make decisions for me. I will never want a romantic relationship with you, nor do I see you as my friend. The only reason I have ever spoken to you is that my grandmother is interested in the Civil War. Don't push your limits, or I will be glad to show you what happens when you reach them." Ashlin's voice was harsh and almost had a Vampiric growl undertone.

The look of fear on Bill's face was glorious as he retreated back to his room, pulling Lorena along with him. Ashlin looked back to me and I caught a glimpse of her eyes glowing before they faded back to their original hue. At the tired look she gave me, I quickly unlocked the door so we could enter our suit.

Ashlin walked in before me, promptly collapsing on the couch, placing her hat over her eyes. The corner of my mouth twitched as I made my way over to her, sitting on the coffee table so I could be close to her. I rested my head on my hand and my elbow on my knee.

"He planned to step down anyway and join me in Shreveport. I just don't understand why he would let that bitch, Nan, talk to him that way." I mused, more to myself than to Ashlin.

"It's good that he is coming to live with you. I would like to get to know him a bit better. Did he ever say why?" She answered without moving or acknowledging my insult to Nan.

"No." I adjusted my stance, placing my hand down on my thigh and looking more directly at Ashlin. "Why are you laying like that?"

"It is comfortable. Does it bother you?"

"Yes. I wish to see your beautiful face." I leaned over her, lifting the hat off her head and placing it on my own.

Her infectious laugh reached my ears, and I could not help the sides of my mouth stretching upwards into a large grin. I leaned down and kissed the tip of her nose, earning myself another round of laughter to bless my ears.

"Jag älskar de musikaliska ljud som fallar från dina läppar. ( I love the musical sounds that fall from your lips. I whispered against her lips before connecting them to my own yet again.