Sorry it took me so long to update! My best friend got married this weekend and everything's been a bit chaotic. I'll warn you now that there's a little naughtiness in this chapter, but the story is rated mature so you should have known that it was coming! Plus this stuff doesn't really phase me, so I hope you all feel the same way. Unless it phases you in a good way, of course. Enjoy!

Godric watched with quiet awe as Eve walked through his home, surveying the stark landscape. He wondered what she thought of the sleek furniture, the strange artwork, the modern technology. This was a far cry from her cozy home, and he hoped that she would find some sort of peace in his dwellings. Godric, after bickering with Jack over the use of a hotel, demanded that father and daughter stay at his nest while their home was incapacitated. Godric was using his powers as sheriff more and more, yet he couldn't bring himself to stop. He reasoned that he would use any means to protect Eve and the things that were important to her.

"What's this?" Eve asked, picking up a stone statue of three intermingled figures. Godric smiled as he approached her, enjoying her unabashed curiosity. Part of him was jealous of all the things she had yet to discover and learn.

"Those are the Three Graces," he explained. "That was given to me a long time ago by a friend in Italy."

"A vampire friend?" Eve asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Of course," he smiled, and she studied his face with a calm fascination.

"I'd love to pick your brain someday. I can't imagine what kinds of stories you have locked inside of there." Godric's face fell into a frown; he knew that her statement was innocent enough, but he shuddered to think of the demons in his past. He resolved at that moment to hide the darkest depths of his history from Eve.

"Did I say something wrong?" she asked, her brow furrowed in confusion. Godric considered her intently for a moment before lightly chuckling. He ran his thumb across her cheekbone, marveling at the silkiness of her skin under his own. Eve closed her eyes and nuzzled further into his hand, demanding more of his touch.

"Am I interrupting something?" Jack's voice broke through the haze of the moment, causing Eve to gasp and step away from Godric. She stood shamefaced for a second before setting the statue back down and muttering a quiet no. Things between Jack and Eve had been tense since his confession of being involved with the vampire mafia. Eve couldn't bring herself to give her father the benefit of the doubt, especially when he had hid such heinous crimes from her for so long. She felt betrayed by the one person who had always been there for her, and loss of such a trust was not easily regained.

"Eve," Jack began, sensing the discomfort that his daughter now felt towards him. Godric saw the sadness in the man's eyes and wished to be invisible: he was never one for emotional confrontations. Fortunately, Eve spoke for herself.

"Dad, I know you want things to be OK," she said, tripping over her words. "But I have a lot to think about. I would just rather sleep on this and talk tomorrow." Jack opened his mouth to protest but stopped, not wanting to make matters any worse. He simply nodded and looked from Eve to Godric, his eyes blazing with silent accusations. Ordinarily, Godric would use his common sense and reasoning to remedy the situation. But the truth was that Godric enjoyed the attention that Eve lavished on him, as if he were the only person she truly needed in the world. It felt good to be selfish; to truly want something all for himself.

A loud knock shattered the eerie silence in the room. Godric tensed, his head whipping in the direction of the door. Uninvited guests were rare in his home, and after a night like tonight, he knew that no good could come from this. Another knock came as he approached, this one louder and stronger. Godric motioned for Jack and Eve to step back as he placed a palm against the door, closing his eyes to enhance his other senses.

"Who is it?" he called.

"It's Boyd!" a muffled voice yelled on the other side. "Sheriff, we need to talk." Godric's ears twitched as his mind deciphered the tone and pitch of the voice, deciding if he was being deceived. All of his logic agreed that this was indeed Boyd, and he slowly unlocked the door and turned the handle.

His fellow vampire wore his perpetually carefree grin, but his eyes were worried and anxious. Boyd always made the best of situations, and Godric knew that only the most serious of matters could trouble his friend. Silently, Godric motioned Boyd inside, not daring to let any important words slip into the night. He could never be sure of who was listening just outside his own door, waiting for him to slip up.

"What brings you here tonight, Boyd?" Godric asked casually after closing the door.

"Sheriff, there's a situation, and…" Boyd trailed off as he saw Eve and Jack standing in the living room, looking from one vampire to the other. He turned an inquisitive glance towards Godric, knowing that his sheriff never had company. "Is this a bad time?"

"No," Godric began, contemplating the best way to explain his guests. He considered lying, but knew that Boyd would see past any false front. "Boyd, this is Jack and his daughter Eve. They're staying with me while their home is being…repaired." Jack approached awkwardly and shook Boyd's hand, Eve following suit. Boyd muttered a few casual greetings before turning his attention back to Godric, his eyebrow arched in utter confusion.

"Sheriff, is there somewhere private that we could talk?" Boyd asked. Godric thought for a moment, looking to Eve and Jack. He saw the exhaustion on their faces, mingled with the anxiety and sadness that the night had evoked. Even a vampire of his own strength was weary after all that had happened, and he decided that neither of his guests should be subjected to any more chaos – at least not tonight.

"Eve, Jack, perhaps you two should retire to your rooms for the night." The two nodded and said their goodnights as they went to the guestrooms that Godric had shown them earlier. Godric watched Eve carefully as she turned down the hallway, throwing him a quick smile before disappearing after her father. He longed to give her a proper goodnight; to kiss her and touch her. But he knew that he had to maintain his calm and dignified demeanor in front of Boyd. It was bad enough that Silas saw his true feelings for Eve; he didn't need the whole world to know.

"Very well, Boyd," he said after hearing the two bedroom doors click shut. "What is it that you need to discuss?"

"Well, sheriff, I'm not sure where to begin. I tried to talk to you about this at the restaurant, but things got a little muddled. Speaking of which, was that girl…"

"Yes," Godric cut him off, knowing that Boyd had instantly recognized Eve from the diner. Boyd shrugged his shoulders before going on, sensing that his sheriff didn't want to elaborate on the subject.

"You see," Boyd continued nervously, not wanting to anger Godric. "There have been more human disappearances than usual lately, and we believe that Silas has something to do with it." Godric stiffened at the mention of Silas's name.

"Why was I not informed of this earlier?" he asked calmly, his blood beginning to boil.

"Well, in the beginning, we thought that maybe it had something to do with those damn shape shifters or whatever you want to call them. But after we heard about what happened tonight at that house…"

"You knew about that?" Godric asked, shocked at how quickly the news had spread. He was suddenly more than angry; he was worried about how many vampires knew about Jack and Eve.

"Vampires aren't very good at keeping secrets, sir," Boyd replied sheepishly. "And we think that some of his men purposely spread the word. I have a theory that Silas has been using these human deaths to provoke you, and now he seems more eager than ever to anger you. Word is that he's going to keep killing until you sacrifice your position…or yourself." Godric thought over Boyd's words, trying to put the pieces together.

"Was he going to use anything else to provoke me?" Godric tried his best to ask about any mention of Eve while at the same time hiding his true intentions. Boyd studied his sheriff's face and Godric knew that his question was more transparent than he had intended.

"Not that we know of, no." Boyd replied.

Godric let out a sigh of relief, but his friend's answer provoked more questions in his head. How long had Silas been planning this? How long had he been killing humans? Why hadn't he mentioned Eve? Godric knew the familiar look of lust and hunger that he had seen in Silas's eyes; knew that he noticed Eve's significance to Godric. Perhaps he wasn't as wise as Godric thought, or perhaps he was smarter than anyone could anticipate, masking his true objective with these senseless murders. Whatever the reason or means, Godric wouldn't be at peace until Silas was stopped. He had been given a second chance at life and happiness, and no man, vampire, or any other creature was going to take that away from him.

"We have to stop him," Godric said, and Boyd slowly nodded. "But we can't let anyone know what we're doing, Boyd. You know our laws – you know the consequences of killing another vampire." Boyd smiled slowly, and Godric saw in that instant that his old friend not only supported him, but agreed with him. He wanted Silas dead just as much as Godric did, and would do anything to aid in his demise. They were protecting more than a position or title: they were protecting their people.

"I have an idea, sheriff," Boyd said slowly, trying to gauge Godric's reaction before he showed any sort of glee or excitement. "If Silas is so keen on killing humans, perhaps we could send one to him that's been…spiked, so to speak."

"What are you talking about, Boyd?" Godric asked, and a devilish grin danced across his companion's wide face. Even in the most trying of times, Boyd could find a reason to smile.

"There's a new practice called Silvering in which silver is injected into a human's bloodstream. It doesn't harm the human, and Silas wouldn't be able to drink enough of their blood to truly hurt them. He'd be dead after two gulps. The only problem is putting the human in his path."

Godric had never heard of Silvering, and he wondered if something so new could truly be effective. He wouldn't sacrifice a human life – not if he could help it. But he knew that Silas wouldn't be the type to harm the human before drinking their blood; he wanted to hear his captive's screams as he drained the life from them. For Silas, the idea of feeding was almost sexual, especially when he was forced to use his brute strength. Godric shuddered at the thought, his mind absently placing Eve in place of one of Silas's helpless victims. That mental image alone was enough to push Godric over the edge of reason; his decision was made before he could argue with himself.

"We'll do it," Godric said with a nod, and Boyd finally let his full smile show.

"How do you propose we get the human to him?" Boyd asked, and the answer instantly came to Godric: Jack. He would use Jack's role in the mafia to deliver the human straight to Silas. Godric knew that the man wouldn't refuse the job, especially when Eve's wellbeing was on the line.

"I'll take care of that, Boyd," Godric said absently as he focused on the rain that had begun falling outside. "You should go now – we'll discuss this tomorrow." Boyd nodded as Godric escorted him to the front door; he wanted to stay and discuss the matter further, but he was aware of his sheriff's eagerness to attend to his guests.

"They say you just know," Boyd said to Godric as he opened the front door.

"Know what?" Godric asked, caught off guard by the comment.

"When you find your human – they say you just know."

X X X

Thunder rumbled and lightning crashed as Godric walked down the hallway, the floors lightly creaking under his feet. He stopped outside of Jack's specially darkened room and listened closely to the familiar silent slumber of a vampire. When he was sure that Jack was more than asleep, he crept further down the hall towards Eve's room. The sun would be up in a few hours, and he wished only to check in on her, to make sure that she was sleeping soundly.

He opened her door quietly to see that her window was wide open, and his heart began to pound out of his chest. It wasn't until his eyes found her sleeping form in the darkness that he was able to calm down, assuring himself that she had simply forgotten to close the window. He darted across the room and pulled the panes shut before any more rain could soak the floor. The storm outside raged louder and louder and Godric wondered how Eve could sleep through such madness. He stared outside for a moment longer before turning his eyes towards her; her skin was illuminated by the pale moon, each bolt of lightning changing her face from blue to white. Her expression was serene, like a sleeping baby without a care in the world. After everything that had happened, Godric knew that only the strongest of people could still find serenity at the end of the day, and he admired Eve for that. She would never be the type to give up; never be the type to break down.

It was then that Godric realized how intensely exhausted he was. He may have possessed superhuman strength and speed, but he, too, became overwhelmed with everyday occurrences. More than anything else, his mind felt weak. It had been so long since he had properly used his brain to think and feel as he once did, and the muscles seemed to pull and strain harder than usual. He knew that the next few days would be a whirlwind, and that rest would be his greatest ally. He zoomed back to the door and began to slowly pull it shut behind him.

"Godric," Eve's voice broke through the darkness and Godric froze, wondering if he had truly heard her. His heart raced and his fingers tingled as he waited for her to say something more. He was too flabbergasted to say something first, embarrassed at being caught in her room.

"Is that you?" she whispered.

"Yes," he replied evenly, opening the door so she could properly see him. She sat upright now, her hair tousled from sleep. She was the most beautiful creature that Godric had ever seen, utterly effervescent in her dishevelment. "I apologize. I was just…"

"Stay with me," she said resolutely. Godric blinked at the determination in her words, and her eyes began to plead with him. "Please."

The rain pelted the window as Godric slowly approached the bed. His mind was a jumbled mess of words and feelings, and he wondered if he would even be capable of speech at that moment. As he lifted a corner of the blanket, he saw Eve's vulnerable body underneath: she wore an oversize Oxford that fell past her hips, her pale legs sticking out the bottom. Her thighs were slightly parted, and Godric's mouth watered at the sight of the creamy, ample flesh. He pulled into the deepest depths of himself for control as she slid over in the bed and the shirt rode up, showing a sliver of her purple underwear. Hesitantly, swallowing hard, Godric climbed into the large bed and allowed Eve to nestle her body against his. Every inch of him went hard as stone as she burrowed against him, the scent of her hair filling his nose with flowers and musk. Without thinking, he wrapped his arms around her body and pulled her closer, not allowing for a single inch between them. He felt her full breasts press against his chest; felt her hips gently thrust into his. A few seconds ago, he would have been ashamed of the stiffness that swelled between his legs. But now, as he held Eve close, running his hands lightly up and down her back, he knew that he was in the right place with the right person. Every woman that he had ever been with melted away, each conquest easily forgotten. Godric knew that they had simply been practice for his time with Eve; that nothing would ever compare to the elation he felt when he was with her.

"You're so cold," she whispered, and Godric laughed, placing a kiss on top of her head. She looked up at him then and he saw a challenge dance in her green eyes. "Are your lips cold, too?"

Before he could answer, Eve boldly pressed her open mouth to his. Her lips closed around his and she lightly sucked, setting off a wild hunger in Godric. The beast in him took over as he matched Eve's fervor, sucking and nibbling on her soft lips. She bit down hard on his bottom lip and pulled it towards her, causing every nerve in his body to tingle wildly. The hunger intensified and he coaxed her mouth open with his own, slowly sliding his tongue inside. He licked and lapped at the inside of her mouth, their tongues dancing and swirling with one another. She bit down on his lip again, this time harder, and a growl rumbled deep in his throat.

Godric was in a daze as he gently pushed Eve's shoulders down against the mattress, crawling on top of her lush body. He continued to shower her with feverish kisses as his hands slowly explored her body, brushing the silky skin of her thighs. His palms found her breasts and he kneaded them greedily through the thin fabric of her shirt, her nipples becoming hard and pronounced. She whimpered and writhed with pleasure, and Godric was nearly undone by the sounds that his hands elicited from her. His body began to grind against hers in rhythm with his busy tongue, each making a lazy figure 8. Slowly, expertly, Godric undid a button on Eve's shirt, and then another, and another, until his cool hand was able to slip inside. He found the velvety skin of her breast and began to roll the peak between his fingers, relishing the quivers that danced through her body. He suddenly wanted to taste every inch of her; to lick and lap and make her scream until she was hoarse.

As his hands roamed her body, his body shifting positions to better taste her, he felt something unexpected: her heartbeat. It danced wildly under his palm, stilling his entire being. Eve pulled away when she realized that Godric was no longer kissing her, her brow furrowed with worry.

"What's wrong?" she whispered, her eyes full of concern. But Godric couldn't bring himself to speak. He simply listened as each beat grew stronger and stronger, the thuds bounding through her chest to reach his hand. His eyes were hazy with lust and fascination as he studied Eve's face, a smile slowly creeping across his mouth. She smiled back at him and he found his awe deepening. This was what it was like to have a human; to care for a living creature. At that moment, he literally had Eve's life in his hands, and if he wanted to, he could reach inside of her and end it all. But Godric hadn't been that monster for centuries, and as he looked into Eve's adoring eyes, he vowed to never be that monster again. Life was too precious.

"You should sleep," he said suddenly, and Eve's face fell into a frown. Through the veil of passion, Godric could read the pure exhaustion in her eyes. It took all of his might to control his lust and subdue the beast within, but Godric knew that now wasn't the time to make such a strenuous physical demand.

"Will you stay?" she asked, her tone indicating that she was ready for rejection. He chuckled and brushed a tendril from her damp forehead, lightly placing a kiss in its place.

"Yes," he replied, and she beamed before stifling a yawn. Godric laughed as he pulled himself off of her still shaking form, pulling her body closer to his. Her back locked against his chest, their nooks and crannies meeting as perfectly as two pieces of a puzzle. Within minutes, Godric could hear Eve's steady breath. She was asleep, and he was truly and utterly happy.