They finish up the paper work as lunch approaches. "Would you like to join me for lunch?" Melissa's lawyer offers.

Melissa looks to Timothy that replies to her mentally. "It's up to you. We have the time. I would like to talk to you some more about the community center and your other charities for that area. We can talk it over on the way to your hometown."

Melissa accepts the lawyer's offer of lunch and as they are eating she's glad she did. "Your other lawyer, Mr. Lister, he called and warned me, your adopted mother and your siblings have been looking for you. He warned me, that she would likely try to challenge the will if you should die. He said to be careful if you come back, they will likely be waiting for you."

"She doesn't look the same and they won't expect me to be with Pimpernel. She should be safe enough from those vultures." Timothy says and then worries that he over stepped himself when Melissa looks at him startled.

Then she smiles. "Thank you, no one has ever stood up for me against them before. Yet, I don't understand why you and my lawyer say that I look different." She projects back to him.

Fortunately they were just finishing their lunch. "I will explain to you once we are in the jet." Timothy assures her.

Shortly they are boarding the jet. "Tell the pilot that he's to go as soon as he gets permission." Timothy tells the hostess.

"Yes, sir. If you and Miss Heath would choose a seat and buckle up, the pilot received permission in anticipation that you would be on time."

Timothy smiles at her and Melissa watches as the female is all but ready to drop her panties right there and then. She has no doubt that Timothy is a chartered member of the mile high club and that the hostess is a frequent member as well.

She ignores them both and chooses a seat. She feels irritation as Timothy comes to a stop in front of her. "That's normally where I sit."

Melissa shrugs, "Well, you were busy flirting with the hostess and I wanted to find a seat. There was no designation. I'm already buckled up. You should choose one I feel the plane starting to move." Melissa says with an innocent look and overly sweet tone.

Not wanting to make waves at this point Timothy sighs and takes the seat next to her. It doesn't take them long to reach cruising altitude and the seat belt restriction is taken off. When Timothy asks her to go with him to the rest room Melissa merely raises her eyebrow, "I'm not interested in being part of the mile high club, Timothy."

Timothy smirks, "I wasn't asking. If I had I would be taking you to the bedroom in the back, far more comfortable and satisfying than a very cramped restroom."

With his words Melissa hesitantly takes his offered hand and goes with him to the rest room. He doesn't even close the door behind them. "When was the last time you looked into a mirror?" Timothy asks her softly as he leans over her shoulder so that he can see her eyes at the same level as his own. As he suspected she wasn't looking in the mirror.

"I haven't looked at one in years. I've been blessed with hair that is the perfect blend of curly and straight and no makeup could hide the freaky looking birthmark. So I didn't wear any, since I didn't need to look in the mirror to do my hair or makeup," Melissa shrugs.

"You haven't looked at yourself since you've changed then. Do so now, Melissa, and let Pimpernel rest in peace." Timothy's soft words and gentle hands as he pulls her hair back from her face makes her look at herself for the first time in years.

Melissa gasps. "You were beautiful even with that freakish birthmark, as you call it. Now you are stunningly beautiful. Even among other vampires you will stand out with your beauty. You have no need to hide yourself any more. Pimpernel Lancaster is gone, you are Melissa Heath and you have nothing to be ashamed about."

Melissa closes her eyes and tears leak out. Timothy starts freaking, "Shit, what did I do this time? I promise I didn't intend to hurt you in any way. Will you please tell me what I did so I don't do it again?"

Melissa instead turns around in his arms and hugs him. She leans her head against his shoulder and lets herself cry. 

Hesitantly Timothy wraps his arms around her and just holds her. He doesn't feel anything like anger or pain and he's not sure just what he should do. "Just hold me." Melissa's voice comes into his head at that point.

They stand there for an unknown period of time. Melissa just letting out her emotions that she's held in for years and Timothy trying not to panic at Melissa's reaction. He's never been good at comforting people unless he takes them to bed. Melissa had made it clear that she wasn't interested and at this point he's not going to push anything.

"Sir, Miss, you will need to sit down and do up your seat belts. The pilot says that there will be turbulence ahead."

"Thank you, Lacey." Timothy says and walks with Melissa in his arms over to the seats. He makes sure that she is comfortable before taking his own seat next to her.

As the plane rides out the turbulence the two talk about the plans for the community center and what programs Melissa has going to help the people. He especially likes the idea of the mini gardens on the roof of her building. The food not only helps the families but they also help reduce pollution.

She has plans on buying the other apartment buildings on that block and instigating the same program for those families.

Any produce not used by the families that grow them is offered to other families nearby before taken to soup kitchens and food pantries in the area. He is pleased by how much is actually taken to local food pantry's.

He likes that she has literacy programs and offers to help subsidize books and other things to help teach. Melissa, although pleased with his offer, is hesitant to accept, not wanting to count on the help if he is just saying that to get on her good side.

She hides her reaction when he takes his phone out and orders the funds to be released to her charity immediately.

"Thank you, Timothy. You didn't have to do that." Melissa tells him.

"I know, but when you invest in the people great things happen." Timothy tells her and is thinking of how she doesn't just give them everything, they are required to give back. Every one that receives help is expected to help where they can. Parents that receive the daycare are expected to help out in the daycare when they aren't working. At least a couple of hours a week for each child. For children receiving homework help they are expected to help other children that are struggling in a subject that they themselves can do. For those with help from the literacy they help those with lower reading ability to read.

He is impressed with the rates at which the people are progressing. He is also impressed with how the dependence counselling works.

He works with her on setting up more funding for scholarships. She explains that for the people to get a scholarship that they are required to not only keep top grades in their classes, but also do some sort of community service that is acceptable to her. She pulls up the list of possible services that there are.

"And it works?"

"Yes, you'd be surprised at the ones that are chosen the most. Prisoner lessons and visiting the elderly. Those that visit the prisoners often tell me that it has changed their lives. Many of the prisoners when released find themselves in my programs for one reason or another. They've told me their stories as well. They've told me many times that it was the visit of one of my scholarship recipients that changed them, made them want to be better. They could see that it was possible to get out of the slums. That if a teenager could do it, then they could too."

Timothy sits still and thinks things through. "How has this affected the slums overall?"

"Crime rates have dropped significantly. It hasn't stopped by any means, there are still gangs and still drug use that is there. However, the rise in gang related crimes has actually stopped and started going down. Those in the slums now have healthier alternatives, that are safe for them and they have chosen them."

"How have the gangs taken that?" Timothy asks intently.

Melissa gives him a sad smile, "They aren't happy. In fact I've had more than one threat on my life.  When you build your office buildings you will definitely want more than one security officer. I couldn't afford any so I had to board up the windows and doors. It wasn't perfect, but the community has come together and have fought back."

Timothy gives her a nasty smile. "I will be hiring vampires to do the night watch for the offices and community center. I will extend that to your charity buildings. I don't think the gangs will stick around for long once that happens."

Melissa is stunned and shows it. "Thank you!" For the first time she sees that there might actually be something good about being a vampire.

Timothy doesn't let the smug feeling out even the tiniest bit. He feels that she is starting to give the idea of being a vampire a chance. There is no way in hell he's going to do anything to jeopardize that.