Worn from all the night activities including seconds on snacks Vladimir slept through the morning change. Alone in the mansion's king sized bed he's awoken by the sound of high heel shoes on ceramic flooring. Cracking open the eyes he softly mumbles, "Ella?"

Realizing the room in and now daylight Vladimir glances about. Just past the, now out, fireplace he glimpses a woman in the bathroom. Her perfectly average body barely covered in a white silk floral patterned robe. Switching legs back and forth she scrutinizes shoes worn with the aid of a full-length mirror.

Vladimir's unable to see her face. Ella's never Bob-cut her hair that short and never dyes it that black either... I'm still with Filomena that's got to be her in the flesh. Bringing his hand into view ensures this reality and not a dream. Get to meet the woman now.

Filomena straightens up turning to clip clop back into the walk-in closet. Revealing her profile Vlad's heart rate picks up, a strikingly pretty face with a nose just slightly turned up like his.

Wrapping up in the burgundy satin bed sheet Vladimir rises to formally greet her.

Walking to the bathroom he startles her coming back out of the closet.

"Holy shit!" Fil gasps touching chest with one hand and raises the other over the mouth to keep from screaming. Realizing whom it is she giggles, "it's just you."

"Sorry," Vladimir smiles at her pretty face and bright baby blue eyes, "I didn't mean to scare you just had to meet the person, good morning Filomena." He awkwardly extends a hand for a shake.

"It's okay,"ignoring his extended hand  Fil surveys his finely formed stature from shoulders down, "good morning to you, "glimpsing the shoes worn in the mirror walks past him lightly caressing the extended arm, "sorry if I woke you walking back and forth. But I just had to try on these shoes. Especially as they're in my size, most of them." She kicks back a calf displaying a rhinestone encrusted four inch heel, "these are a bit much and nowhere to wear them these days."

As she poses with the shoes in the mirror Vladimir studies her whole figure, "can't think of a nightclub or dance hall around. I take it you didn't sleep too well?"

She shrugs, "new place and all. Heard a heavy vehicle before sunrise and slipped out side to see what it was. Only saw lights of a truck on a road or two over."

"Oh yeah?" He was about to try and touch her but doesn't like hearing that, "could you tell where it was going or what kind of truck?"

"Towards the city," she shrugs figuring a group of diseased and dying out trying to find salvation, "I thought a transport truck but could be like a long highway bus. It had the orange lights along the top." Liking the shoes but knowing they're no use she returns to the closet, "gorgeous but impractical. Since you're up, are you up for a little human loving from Filomena the woman? Last night was amusing but didn't get me where I needed."

"That I recall I was getting pretty good at," he slyly grins as she broaches the internal query.

"Good," admiring his handsome face and toned torso she kicks off the heels and turns with an equally sly grin, "because watching you sleep Vlad I was tempted to take advantage of you. Even if I had to play a girl you were dreaming of."

Standing aside motioning towards the bed Vladimir replies smartly, "I think it's you I'd always been dreaming of waking too."

"Oh really?" Even if said as mere motivation she smiles widely appreciating the romantic sentiment, "Vlad honey I'm about to make you certain of it." She takes his hand to lead him back to the bed.

Most willingly he follows, "if that's the way it's to be. Um is there something specific in mind or wing it?"

Winging it makes her giggle, "I think starting off like last night would be divine. Wing it after."

"Okay." Displaying old world masculinity pulls her in, "I'll try and be gentle."

"Oh!" Pleasantly surprised she's drawn into his warm body, "I think I should be promising to go gently with you, again."

"Yeah?" He picks her off her feet to lay her onto the bed, "I get a feeling we'll be just fine here."

Getting a body rush from easily being picked up she shudders in his arms, "mhmmm I think so too."

Lying alongside her Vladimir lightly touches her jaw with two fingers. Catching the long front locks of her hair within the fingers he slides the hairs behind her ear. Gazing in each other's eyes they await wonderment.

With the lock of hair still between fingers the tips touch the back of her neck and head. Their mouths open eagerly awaiting to touch the other's lips. Softly touching mouths together sense the ridges and lines of lips as they kiss for the first time.

The sound of a truck's diesel engine and air brakes faintly make it to their ears, pausing Vladimir from continuing to kiss.

Hearing it too Filomena's still trying to kiss, "they'll just pass on by." She strokes his back to shoulder trying to keep attention on them.

Both hear the truck's engine sound increase and shift up gears climbing the hill the mansion is atop. He returns a kiss but it has no passion to it and she can tell.

She tries to stay in their moment, "nobody lives here. Doesn't look like the kind of place stocked with things. They'll be rolling by in a few minutes."

"I hope so," Vladimir follows her physical leads trying to mirror them.

Distracted by the advancing vehicle both slow up in motions. Vlad can make out the distinct sounds of a transport cab pulling a trailer.

As the truck's engine whines out the loudest it slows to an idle and its' air brakes engage,  stopping Vlad from kissing or petting.

Frustrated Fil sighs, "they'll be moving again shortly. Probably just figuring out where to go next."

"I told yous' there where cows around here!" Yells a youthful voice from outside.

Both stop moving alarmed by thought of losing the stash of cows. Two truck doors open and close follow by the muffled sounds of two males talking while walking towards the mansion.

"Oh Vlad who do you think it is?" Fil strains to hear the chatter, "they'll probably just take a few cows and leave."

"If the trailer they're pulling is meant for livestock they can take them all." Vlad sees things going badly if they stay and stop them. If turned away will they return again with others? If they're to be killed should he wait until they've loaded the cows?

Not a fighter Filomena would hate to lose the cows to others, "are there guns in this place?"

Vladimir nods, "in the garage behind a false wall."

"Wow Vlad you really know this place. Some reason why?" She stands to look out a window.

"Hey-ah, if you're going to look out the windows stay back so there's less chance of being seen." He gets up too taking the sheet for cover again, "I just flew near the place one night and had to check it out. I'll slip down to the garage and see what's really there."

"Okay, but I'm coming with you." Not wanting to be left alone she also has bouts of paranoia putting suspicion on Vladimir's intentions. I hate life's nasty little surprises.

Taking the central stairs down to the main floor garage they can see out the mansion's many large windows. On the front of the property two thin late teen boys stand near several grazing cows. Behind them a red transport cab idles on the roadway, a smaller male leans against the truck's push, bars. The oldest of the three is taking a noticeable interest in the mansion.

"Like I said Josh, COWS, right here. Take 'em back right?" Asks the loudest of the teens to the one beside him.

Still taking in the house Josh nods, "take every one here Chad. Plenty for us to eat. Even use some for trade with them city pukes for shit."

Patting Josh's shoulder Chad smiles, "yeah maybe trade for some more women. You guys killed the last two before I had a chance at any."

"I didn't kill them." Josh returns the pat, "good idea though."

"Did we have to eat them too?" Chad smile fades.

Josh shrugs, "what else were we going to eat?" He points to the house, "let's check this place out first. Keep anything good for ourselves if we don't tell the boss's boy Roy there."

"Yeah alright," Chad nods waiting for Josh to lead the way.

"Oh shit," mutters Vlad continuing down the stairs. "Filomena this may not be a great question to ask on an extended first date but I gotta ask. How do you feel about killing these kids to protect the herd?

Not a first choice she does see the logic, "Do you think if we chase them off they'll just come back later with more?"

"Yup." Vlad moves away from the youth to the garage on the other side of the building, "you any good with a gun Fil?"

"Not really," she follows glimpsing back on the boys' progress, "I fired several but not very accurate."

"You can be helpful just making noise." Vlad has to navigate around a few cows in the hall, "I think there's a little noise maker for yah. Just shoot in the air away from the property so the cows don't get hit."

"Oh I can be a distraction for sure," she sniffs and pats a cow in passing, "you want me to go out there naked?"

Surprised by the offer Vladimir glances back while stumbling over a wrinkled carpet runner and around a bovine, "maybe. Let's get to the garage here. Move cow would you jeez."

She teases, "okay I can only go so fast when right behind you."

Not getting the humor at all Vlad opens the door looking back for the teens, "right in here Filomena dear."

Kissing his cheek in passing she quips, "thank you honey bunny."

Closing the door behind Vlad locks it, "at the front here the one wall panel is hinged like a fancy kitchen cupboard. Where you press on it and it clicks open slightly."

Stepping to the side for him She marvels at the cars, "is the 2020 Jag? The Land Rover is so typical." Approaching the car opens the door to inspect the interior.

Locating the drywall secret door Vlad clicks it open, "I think it's actually the 2021. Nice eh? I wanted to take it for a spin but couldn't find the key FOB or what ever it needs. The keys for the Rover are in a small cupboard over there."

Opening the concealed closet reveals a standard American gun lovers stock, two hunting rifles, one with a scope, 12 gauge shotgun and nine millimeter handgun.

Picking up a pre-loaded clip Vlad slides it in the handgun handle and chambers a round.

Opening a box of shotgun shells he inserts five into the gun.

Leaning on the car Fil watches him, "It maybe kinda of red but are you going out in a sheet?"

He winks, "If you go out half assed naked so am I." He points out a couple pairs of rubber boots and raincoats hung by the garage's house door, "or that."

"Okay," grinning she winks back.

"I'm giving you the handgun," He hands it to her showing the safety while sliding it aside, "Don't put your finger on the trigger unless you're going to shoot something. And if you can't hit something, shoot the air."

Hesitantly and carefully she takes the gun, "okay."