Harper giggled and took off after him. They sped through the woods and Harper could smell everything. The rotten leaves and logs were the most potent. There were some rodents hiding close by and an old carcass of something that died a while ago. Harper could tell that there were hunters stomping around out here, last fall. Deer. He could smell the deer.

Anders stopped right before a clearing and Harper stood beside him. "This is cool. I can smell everything! Are we hunting deer?"

Anders nodded. Deer weren't tough to catch and they were fairly tasty. They were an easy first kill for Harper. "Whenever you're ready, my dear." He smiled a pointed smile at Harper. He returned Ander's pointed smile with his own pointy smile. "You are so sexy!" Anders almost melted and had to remind himself that he was teaching Harper to hunt right now.

Ander's started the hunt by chasing deer around the woods. He was herding them. Harper took off running and caught a deer that Anders had herded straight to him. Harper drank his fill and glared. "Hey, that was cheating. I could have caught this one without help."

"Sure. You're an accountant. I wasn't sure." Anders teased as he walked up to him. "Are you okay?" Harper was still bent over the deer carcass. IT wasn't easy to just kill a deer and not be upset the first time.

"Uh, yes. I feel much better. Thanks. I'm not sure I could have gotten it. I have no idea how to hunt." Harper frowned as he stood up.

"You have instincts that take over. Trust me. You are a hunter. A vicious killer so you have to stay attentive to your hunger or you will kill someone before you realize there was an accident." Anders warned. He wanted to be gentle with his man. He didn't want to scare harper.

"Oh." It was all Harper could think to say.. just oh.

"You want to try for more or are you okay?" Anders didn't want to rush this hunt. He was too afraid to screw this up. This was Harper so it was important to get it right.

"Uh. Right. I think maybe one more. Just to be safe." Harper smiled. "I really don't want to kill anyone."

Anders nodded. "Close your eyes and listen. I hear a larger animal close."

Harper listened. It was a cat. A large cat. Mountain lion? He opened his eyes and they were black vampire eyes. He was hunting this cat down and Anders didn't need to help. He watched Harper just in case but Harper had the cat and was drinking on his own. He would be just fine. Anders smiled and watched while he thought of what kind of engagement ring to buy him. He was still leaning towards having one made.

Harper stood up and Anders was worried he would be upset but Harper smiled into Anders pretty brown eyes. His favorite brown eyes. "That was cool. Did you see that! I can't wait until I get hungry again!"

Anders chuckled and felt relieved. "Yes. See, you're a natural."

Harper stopped and stared into the woods. He knew there were vampires close by.

"Easy. That's just Charlie, Lee and Krista." Anders knew they were close. "It's fine if you want to join us." He said to the trees. Harper knew he was talking to the band.

Charlie appeared first. "Didn't want to interrupt. Are you okay, Harper? The first time is a little unnerving." He remembered the first hunt he went on with Anders. He was surprised that his friend killed an animal and drank it and then was surprised that he followed.

Anders smiled and wrapped an arm around Harper. "Harper is great. He's a natural. Who knew that an accountant would make a great hunter! I would expect that from a lawyer but an accountant. They are so boring and tame." He teased.

Harper laughed and glared at him. "I'll show you tame if you don't behave!"

Anders buried his face in his hair and laughed. "Sounds like a date!" He threatened and Harper laughed.

"Gross!" Charlie and Lee said at the same time.

"Wow. Really Harper. Are you okay? When I was turned and hunted. I was so confused and shocked..." Krista stopped and looked down. Harper saw a tear.

"Krista, are you okay?" Harper was worried.

Lee cleared his throat. "Uh, she didn't uh, When she was turned... it's not a good story." He didn't finish or explain.

"Hey, if you ever want to talk, Krista. I mean girl talk, I'm around." Harper smiled. Krista wiped tears and smiled back. Lee wiped her tears gently with his thumb and kissed her gently.

"You have me now. No more worry. I love you. You know that and you are very sexy when you hunt." Lee whispered in Krista's ear but they all heard it.

Charlie made a face. "Gross!" Krista smiled at Charlie. She was grateful that he lightened the mood. Lee chuckled and held onto Krista, tight. He loved his woman.

They made their way back to the house after they decided that Harper was fine and full. They looked like crazy people coming from the woods just after the sun had set. Harper figured this wouldn't look normal for regular people. He would never be regular again. He smiled at that thought. This was his family. He almost laughed as he looked around.

"What?"Anders was curious.

"I was just thinking I would never be normal again and realized that you guys are my family." Harper smiled and looked down. He wasn't sure that they felt like that.

Charlie smiled. "Damn right we are. If Anders screws up we are still keeping you. It will be awkward but we can work through it."

Anders smiled. "I'm an idiot most of the time but I know a good thing when I have it. I'm never letting him go. You have to find your own."

"Uh, you didn't tell him yet, did you?" Charlie asked.

"Nope. Not my place or business, Charlie. You can tell Harper but I doubt it would make a difference." Anders smiled and rested his arm on Harper's shoulders. His arm was draped over his shoulders, all relaxed.

"Tell me what?" Harper was curious. Vampires was the biggest secret he knew.

"I'm gay." Charlie blurted out.

Harper just laughed and Charlie looked at him with a shocked expression. "Sorry. Don't tell Zane!"

"Who?"

"Oh, my receptionist. He's married but...he doesn't need any temptations!" Harper laughed again and shook his head. "Don't worry. I won't tell."

Charlie smiled. "Thanks." Harper nodded. he never thought it was a big deal. Clearly Anders was gay or something if he was with him?

"What's the big deal anyway?" Harper had to ask.

Charlie sighed. "Anders never came out. In fact, I didn't think he was gay."

Anders chuckled. "I am gay now! Harper messed me up and turned me!" He smiled and leaned into Harper. "Charlie is afraid that if he comes out that we will lose fans."

They were in the yard when Pierce came to meet them. "Hey, I have a flight to catch and some business to take care of. Harper, may I ask you to look over some financial papers for me? We may have another problem but I am dealing with it personally."

"What problem?" Anders asked. "Like we need another."

"Right. Well, Harper, just look over those files for me and let me know what you think. Call me. I left a burner phone on the files." Pierce hugged Anders and was in a car, leaving the drive. Jack and Hale were on the back porch talking when they reached the backyard.

"So, do we know anything else?" Anders asked before they reached the guys.

"Nope." Hale said. "We need a way to read that file."

"Oh, I need to call Zane." Harper stated and walked inside.

"How was he?" Hale had to ask Anders about Harper. No matter what happened, Harper would say he was fine. He never wanted Hale to worry.

"He's fantastic." Anders smiled.

"You're right, Jack." Hale laughed.

"What?" Anders had to ask what Jack was right about. Did Hale and Jack have inside jokes already?

Jack smiled. "I told him you were in love."

Anders ignored them and walked into the house. He was in love but he wasn't ready to talk to his...Jack... about it. He wasn't really ready to call Jack dad either. He sat beside Harper and listened to him talk to Zane. He didn't know about Harper being a vampire yet. Anders wondered how Zane would take that.

"Zane?"

"Hey, boss. You got a package while you were out. Uh, I have no idea what to do with it. I can overnight it but I don't know where you are." Zane sounded flustered.

"Hey, are you okay?" Harper knew he wasn't.

"Yes. I think so. Smith and I had a weird fight. I don't know. He left last night and didn't come home. I called and he said he wasn't ready to talk. He's being a dick. Are you okay?" Zane sighed and took a breath.

"Yes Sweetie. Better than you. I'm sorry." Harper watched Anders write something on a piece of paper. "Hey. Send that package overnight." He gave him a post office box address written on the paper. "You got that."

"Yes. Sorry about my drama. I know you have things going on. I'm sorry. I just have petty relationship problems." Zane missed his boss and his friend. "When are you coming back? It's quiet around here."

"Uh, I don't know yet. Sorry. I will let you know when I find out. I..things got complicated. I still don't know what happened to Eve. There are some things I need to tell you but I think they can wait. Thanks for holding down the fort for me. You are a lifesaver. Just stay quiet and out of trouble. I will call when I can." Harper hung up and felt horrible. "I should have told him about the vampire thing."

"One thing at a time. Let's deal with Eve and then the vampire thing." Anders kissed his cheek. Harper smiled and watched him crush his phone. "I know you can do it but I like to."

"Neanderthal." Harper squealed as Anders grabbed him and dragged him to their room. He was showing Harper what a neanderthal really was as they both laughed up the stairs.