Suburbia.

Why the hell did I let them take her here? I mean, I guess she was safe...

No, she was safe. I doubt anyone would want to put up with this small town green grass shit longer than the time it took to fill your car up at the gas station on the way into town.

Which was the way it should be. She could grow up in this shitty town–honestly Leo should have just let me keep her but apparently, I am a 'liability.'

Liability my ass.

She was the last descendant of the first line of wolves and right now she was running around some playground with these awful snotty nosed children; the only 'protection' she had there was the teacher who looked like she was busy reading one of those pornographic historical fiction paperbacks. Yes, she was totally safe here...

Ok, who am I kidding? I was not safe. I was the furthest thing from safe. Besides Alex watching me like a hawk–to the point I was sure he even watched me take a shit, there were plenty of enemies I have made over the years that she didn't need to come into contact with. This was for the best. This is what Hadrian would have wanted.

I knew this was wrong. I knew I was supposed to stay away from her; if anyone followed me or found out then it could be dangerous. More like a pain in my ass, I tired of getting rid of bodies; after so many years it loses its luster quickly.

I knew this was wrong but I couldn't help but smile as she screamed out in laughter as she slid down the big red slide next to the jungle gym that some little brats were playing about. She looked so much like Willa, but she was Hadrian's daughter. It's a good thing that only I ever really saw him–one look at her and you knew.

She wiped her little sky blue leggings under her navy dress of those horrid wood chips that they use for the floor of these contraptions, then started to run after some blonde girl–her hair was in these little pigtails on top of her head that bounced around in curls. She had to be like five or six now, still such a vulnerable babe in our world.

It knew it was wrong, but temptation got the best of me. I mean, I never claimed to be perfect and I had to check on her every few years to make sure she was alright.

So here I was at six twenty-three Oakridge Way which was across the street from the Plainview Elementary Playground where Charlotte was current screaming while she ran from a group of boys with another girl. It was a convenient home, the tenant, God, what's that idiots name? Actually, I don't know his name but he's their next door neighbor. I also know that the pudgy lump put up less of a fight than I expected–I was pretty disappointed. I do love a good little tiff.

Right now, 'Pudgy' was in the closet keeping his damn mouth and eyes shut while I used his home. I also found these girl scout cookies in the pantry–silly Pudgey, you should know better than to leave the Thin Mints so exposed.

Although Wynona was going to be pissed that I ate some and didn't get her any. She loved her Girl Scout cookies–it was almost as much as I loved taking blood from the inside of her thigh. Note to self...

I sighed and ate another Thin Mint while I continued to overwater their perfectly manicured yard–I mean, I needed a decent looking reason to be outside across the street from a playground while staring at young children without looking like a total pedophile. So I was watering the yard... and eating Girl Scout cookies. Maybes the cookies weren't helping.

It was the middle of the day though, no one was home. It was fine–totally fine.

I moved a few feet and started to water some hydrangeas that I already watered. Mrs. Pudgy, who also threw a little fit apparently loves them because they are suffocating her entire yard. She's also in a close with her pudgy little lips shut and eyes–napping. She was totally napping.

Humans are so easy...

I was in a daze–almost zoned out before I heard a squeal. My head snapped up to hear something bouncing towards me–a red ball. Brows furrowing, I looked up to see a head of dark chocolate brown pigtails and blue eyes chasing it right as a car neared her.

Shit.

Dropping the hose and my box of cookies, I struggled to not zip over to her. Humans were so slow. I mean how in the hell do you go about life moving at a snails pace. God, it was excruciating...

She didn't even notice, nor did she notice me grab her and rush out of the way. It was the first time in a while I felt my heart racing again. It wasn't because of the car, it was because I hadn't held her since I dropped her off here at her 'parents' or her cousins about four years ago. I could feel my heart again and part of me hated it. Damn you, Hadrian...

I sighed and quickly put her down as she looked at me with wide eyes. "Did you not see the car?"

She shook her head. "No."

Course not. Humans....

"Right, well, haven't your parents told you that you have to look both ways when crossing the street?"

She bit her little lip then looked at the ball, her eyes lighting up. "It bounced away!"

Children...

I walked over to the ball and picked it up then handed it to her as she stared at me curiously. "You have to look both ways Charlotte, the streets are dangerous."

Her eyes widened a little as she stared at me some more, and it was then that I realized how idiotic I was. I said her name. I wasn't supposed to know her and I said her name. She wasn't even supposed to know I was here. I guess I would be compelling her later...

"Charlotte!" the teacher, a young woman with a mop of dirty blonde hair tied up in a bun on her head, stains of what looked like food and paint on her light blue sweater, and wide eyes looking at me through her glasses as she jogged towards us.

"She's quite alright, she just didn't look when she ran," I explained.

The teacher was gaping at me before she nodded slowly. "I'm sorry–I didn't, there's just so many of them."

"And she almost got hit by a car."

She closed her mouth and nodded as she cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "Right, Charlotte, come on then," she said as she held out her hand.

Charlotte looked at me again, curiosity still stirring in her eyes. Jesus, they looked so much like Hadrians...

God, I am an idiot.

I looked at the teacher and felt myself focus in on her. "You will stop reading those horrible poor excuses of pornography and focus on the children. Also–well, what's after this playground thing? Tell me."

"Snacktime," she said automatically, frozen in fear as she looked at me.

"Right, and what's are you feeding them? Tell me–go on."

"Chocolate chip cookies."

"Fantastic, give Charlotte and extra cookie–"

"Do I know you?" Charlotte suddenly said. "I like cookies!"

My brows raised high before I pinched the bridge of my nose. I mean I was going to have to compel her anyways...

I looked back up at the teacher who looked like she was either going to drop her panties or run away. "Alright, you are going to give Charlotte an extra cookie then you are going to send her home early. Tell them–I don't know make something very believable up. Her parents won't be home, so you can tell your superiors who I hope are more capable than you that her Godfather will be picking her up.

"You will do this but you will forget that I was here–" I paused and looked down at Charlotte with a half smile. "You too Charlotte. You don't know me. I wasn't here. The man who lives here gave you your ball back. But I am coming to get you from school. You will not be afraid because I am your Godfather."

"Come on Charlotte it's snack time," the teacher hummed out before she turned mindlessly and walked away.

I mean, I was sort of like her Godfather. I'm sure Hadrian wouldn't mind. He probably would and he probably wanted to kill me right now–oh well, he can piss off.

After that, the teacher and the herd of horrid children went back inside the school, I went back inside Pudgy's plain brick house. The whole yard was like a small pond now and I wanted some more cookies. Cookies, which Wynona said were my comfort food. It's her fault, she won't let me drink from a live donor unless it's her. I mean we have blood bags but God it's like eating stale potato chips. Not my style. All of Leo's progenies are pro-blood bags–fun suckers, that's what they were.

So I ate cookies. I think I ate a whole box before I found myself struggling to stroll over to the school. Human speed was literally one of my pet peeves. At least it was nice outside; it was nice to have the sun on my face.

I think there's more cookies in that house...

The same teacher was bringing Charlotte outside when I walked up. She waved to me then turned around, this zombie look on her face. I could see a vein in her neck pulsing as she neared, the breeze carrying the smell of her blood to me. That dry feeling in the back of my throat built up.

At first, I thought about having a little sippy-sip from Pudgy, but I knew Wynona would know. She always knew. Fun sucker.

At least Hadrian didn't care. I mean the man saw me feed off of humans before–half the time I did it just to see what he would do, but he just looked at me with that same look of being pissed off and half annoyed. He never saw me as a monster; half the time I think Wynona does, it's been so long since anyone looked at me like he did. Like I wasn't a total loss. He would always say, 'Are you finished? You're making a mess.'

A smile tugged at my lips while Charlotte jogged to me. I looked back at her teacher and sighed. Maybe I would have a sip from Pudgy after all.

"Hello Charlotte," I said as I knelt down to look at her.

"Hi!" she said breathlessly. "You're my Godfather."

"You can just call me Dominic Charlotte."

"Domnic?"

"No," I said with a little smile. "Dominic."

"Ok uncle Dom," she said with a smile that froze me. She used to call me that when she was very little. Very very little. Those memories were gone, I saw Leo take them. I rubbed my face, I was going to have to double check. She was so little then, she probably wouldn't even remember, but still... I couldn't afford some some 'glitch' to ruin this.

"Alright," I sighed out before I scooped her up. "What would you like to do?" I asked while I started to walk us back to Pudgy's house.

"Well, I have homework..."

I made a sour face. "And?"

"I have to do it!"

I shook my head. "You don't have to do it now–you know you can do it later."

"Mommy and Daddy say I have to do it when I get home first," she told me firmly.

I let out a long sigh. "What kind of homework?"

"Reading," she said with a smile. "It's my favorite."

"Fine," I huffed out. "We can do 'homework,' but we're having cookies."

"You have cookies?!"

"Girl Scout cookies."

She squealed and it was hard not to laugh. Jesus she was insanely adorable. She would have had Hadrian wrapped around her little fingers. He would have been too–and he would have loved it. He would have loved it so much...

Ugh, I am so depressing.

"Uncle Dom, where did you come from?"

I bit my lip then looked over at her. "Greece," I answered truthfully while I stopped at the curb and looked both ways across the street–lead by example, I read that in one of those silly management books where some guy who never really did anything is trying to tell other people how to do something. I was bored on a flight and it was in the bag of the guy next to me which he conveniently let me borrow...He also had a lovely neck pillow too.

Her little stormy-blue eyes went wide. "Wow! Cool!"

"It was," I said at the memory of Athens in all its glory. "Now, when you cross the street you have to look both ways. Got it?"

"Ok–can I go to Greece?"

"Maybe one day," I told her as we walked towards the door. "When you're bigger of course."

"How big?"

"Well, older?"

"How old?"

"Old enough to understand what the Parthenon is."

"Parthe–huh?"

"Exactly," I said with a smirk as we walked inside the house. I would have taken her to her house, but then I would have had to break in and the last thing I wanted to deal with would be a bunch of nosey neighbors reporting something like that. It's too much work to compel them all.

"Is Mr. Brown ok with us being in his house?" she asked as she looked around.

"So that's his name," I muttered to myself. "Yes," I said with a smile to her while I set her in a stool in front of the island. "I'm, uh, house sitting for him."

"Oh–did he go to Greece?"

I leaned against the counter and shook my head. "No sweet girl, he went to–well, get more cookies. It's a long journey, but I am sure he's fine."

She eyed me like she actually did know me. For a second I thought she did. Then she just shrugged and set her backpack on the counter. "Ok. Can we have cookies now?"

"Yes," I said with a big nod.

Somehow I found myself outside on a blanket with Charlotte and five boxes of girl scout cookies. She was reading to me some story about some chick called 'Cinderella.' I wasn't really listening to it, it was just–she was here.

The last time I saw her they were carrying her away from me after I compelled them. That was one of the hardest things I ever had to do. I was so tempted to just turn around and take her with me and raise her as my own. I never even wanted children. Children were horrid little banshees without control of their bowels or emotions.

But she was like this perfect little miracle sitting in front of me.

Guilt started to fill me. I rarely felt guilty about much unless I was thinking about anything in relation to Hadrian or Charlotte.

I promised myself that I wouldn't come checking on her all the time. I couldn't afford for anyone to catch on. But these few years–usually a few years went by fast for us, but these drug on. I needed to know she wasn't just ok but happy.

I wish we could have left her there, with Levi and the packs. She would have been so happy–she was so happy. They loved her. I was shocked when they just took to her so well, it was like she was one of their's to begin with.

She would have had such a good life. She would have had a family of her kind around her; I knew she was a human but she smelled so much like Hadrian that part of me wondered if the wolf side was just dormant in her. Maybe she needed a bite or something to wake it up?

That and we took her away from Ethan. That child is her mate. I know it. I know it in my gut like how I know that I'm never going to love anyone like I loved Lizzie.

That was the hardest part. Leo told me that if it was meant to be then the moon would find a way. But what if the moon didn't? What if they never found each other? Or what if they did? I mean what's the point then? She just walks back into our world where literally all kinds of shit and blood could hit the fan?

This was a good life for her. I had to keep reminding myself that. I had to otherwise I would crack.

"She–" Charlotte paused and bit at her little lip as she stared at the book. "Felt her heart tr–tre–Uncle Dom?"

"Let me look," I said as I sat up a little. I smiled and looked up at her. "Well, what does it look like?"

"Tre–mb?"

"Almost," I said with a smile.

She furrowed her brows some more. "Tremble?"

"Yes," I said like some kind of proud parent as she beamed with satisfaction. "Here, have a cookie."

She took the Thin Mint from me, which were the only ones she liked apparently. A girl after my own heart.

"Uncle Dom, why are you here?"

"Excuse me?" I was so caught off guard by her–she was like Hadrian, so able to strip down your layers past your bullshit. Or maybe it was just me...

"How come–how come," she said with a mouth full of cookie. "I haven't seen you fore?"

"I uh–I travel a lot for work," I said to her. She nodded like it made total sense. "It's hard for me to come visit."

"Will you again?"

God this is horrible. She was looking at me with those big eyes and... Hadrian's probably laughing his ass off right now. Fantastic.

"Maybe," I said. I mean I was more than likely going to. I had to check on her and if she didn't remember then what could it hurt? Right?

"Please?! Mommy never lets me have this many cookies."

"Well, your mommy probably has a good reason, but–I am a big supporter of cookies."

She smiled then bit into hers, the chocolate starting to get all over her little lips. She went back to reading her book to me; she was a good little reader. For only being on this earth for around six years, she could pronounce things pretty well, although compound words were a tad of a struggle. I just gave her more cookies which I think helped.

The day waned on. Her parents would be home soon but I still had around an hour with her. The sugar high was starting to wear off of her–we had run around the backyard with her chasing me while I pretended that she was not only terrifying but also catching up to me. A few times I let her catch me and knock me down; apparently, the sight of me falling dramatically into Pudgy's very green grass was hysterical. She just laughed and laughed and laughed without a care in this world. As it should be.

I took her inside after she tuckered out and put on a movie–The Jungle Book. Luckily for me it was on some television channel already. She loved Baghera which she had a hard time pronouncing until we practiced.

"Uncle Dom?"

"Yes?" she took a long sip of her water then set it on the coffee table, letting out a yawn as she looked at me. "How old are you?"

I chuckled at my own inside joke while her little eyes grew tired. I had no idea actually. I stopped counting after like seven hundred. "How old do I look?"

"I don't know, you're big. Big people are old," she said as she leaned her head against a pillow on the couch.

"How old?" I teased.

"Like thirty–old."

I almost spit out the water I was drinking. If she only knew...

"You're a funny one Charlotte," I told her.

"Ok," she said with a sleepy nod. "Is daddy thirty too?"

"No, your father is–" I paused and stopped myself from accurately answering the question. I sighed and scratched at my hair. "You know, I actually can't remember how old your father is. I should probably know."

"Will I be big like you then? When I'm old?"

"Probably," I said. I would surely make sure she made it to at least see thirty. If not plenty more years. I couldn't imagine that Hadrian would be pleased worth his daughter dying young. "Tired?"

She nodded. "Mhmm," she hummed while she rubbed her eyes.

I stood up and put a blanket over her. "Rest, I'll take you home in a bit when you're parents are back."

"Ok uncle Dom," she breathed out while her eyelids started to droop. Uncle Dom. My heart panged at that name. I would kill for her to call me that again and truly know what it meant.

Sighing, I pulled out my cell and headed into the hall. I knew the number by heart, it was the only one I knew. Only because Wynona made me remember it. It wasn't like I could mind-link with her.

"Hello?" she answered after the phone rang a few times.

"Hey you," I said while my eyes found the door where Pudgy was behind. I could smell his blood from here. It didn't smell as good as the cookies–it smelled much better.

"Dominic?! Where are you?"

I sighed. "I can't tell you." If she knew then she was exposed to someone using her to find out. I couldn't have that.

She let out a long sigh and I knew she was probably unhappy. Definitely unhappy. "Are you alright?"

"Course, why wouldn't I be?" I mean I was an old ass vampire, not a human. The worst that could happen was now–sitting across from my dinner without being about to eat it.

"You know what I'm talking about."

"I'm fine."

"Really?"

I hated when she did this. It was like she was trying to therapist me. I cared for her a great deal, I won't lie. But there were plenty of days I was tempted to compel her to forget about me so I could be on my way. There was too much that she didn't ever need to know.

"I'm not doing this with you right now."

"You're thirsty."

I rolled my eyes. "Wynona, I am a creature that's only real source of nutrients comes from the blood of others. I am always impeccably thirsty."

"You're thinking about it aren't you? What is this? Are you calling for permission? You told me you wouldn't..."

"I'm not Wy."

"Liar."

"Wynona I lie to everyone," I drawled out. "You know that, I don't understand why you're surprised."

"You don't lie to me! You're not supposed to lie to people that are your... well, your–" she paused because really we didn't have an official name. We were just, us...

I mean she wasn't my mate, I knew that much. No one was going to be Lizzie. She was special though–special to me. In a way she gave me life again, but that little girl on the couch was the reason I hadn't tried to end my life again.

"I'm fine. I've had plenty to drink–from bags."

"Why can't you tell me where you are?"

"Because it's dangerous," I told her. It was the truth.

"I can handle it, Dom, you should tell me things you know?"

I shook my head as I watched Charlotte breathing steadily in a soft sleep on the couch. "I highly doubt that."

"Dom..."

"I'll call on my way back."

"Fine."

"Wear that lacy number again, you know I love that."

"Are you serious?"

"Yes," I said.

She let out a long frustrated sigh. "We'll talk when you're back."

"Fine," I said before I hung up the phone.

I had a personal rule that I wasn't going to compel her while I was with her. I mean, what's the purpose of being with someone if you forced them to? If they didn't actually want to?

I always broke my own rules, though. She was definitely getting compelled to forget that I was even gone when I got home.

Things were so much easier with Lizzie...

I waited a little longer then scooped Charlotte off the couch. She stirred a little like a kitten in my arms and I found myself terrified that she would wake up. She just looked so peaceful and happy–I just didn't want to ruin that for her.

I picked up her backpack on my way out right at her 'parents' pulled into the driveway. The woman looked at me first with a horrified expression on her face. I rolled my eyes then focused in on her. "Do not scream, go inside now."

She turned immediately like she was told as the man ran to me. "You too," I told him. "Not a word, go inside."

Charlotte stirred and started to blink her eyes open. "Shhh." I smiled as she eyed me through her lashes. "It's alright, you can sleep."

She didn't need to be compelled to comply. She was so worn out from playing and her sugar crash as it was.

Her parents were both waiting in the entry way with wide eyes as I walked in with her and closed the door behind me. I dropped her backpack then walked over to the woman and carefully handed Charlotte to her; the moment she left my arms I was so tempted to snatch her back and take her with me. I would always be tempted to do that.

Damn you, Alex...

"Alright," I sighed out as I focused in on her parents. It was then that I remembered that I told the school I was her Godfather... shit. Guess I was compelling some people at the school later.

"I was never here. You picked up Charlotte early from school today and brought her home. You gave her cookies and played outside. You will not remember me. At all. You will also barely remember today, it's already like a fading memory."

They nodded mindlessly as I took a few steps towards the little girl waking in the woman's arms. "Uncle Dom?"

I sighed and reminded myself for the millionth time why she had to stay here. My fingers brushed her little rosy cheek before I kissed her forehead. She smelled so much like Hadrian it was almost frightening. Jesus Hadrian... this world really was shit.

I hated this. I focused on Charlotte. "You won't remember me. Your father picked you up at school and spent the afternoon with you here at home. Forget today once tomorrow comes."

She blinked and I was gone. I needed to compel some people at her school now, but I knew I needed a drink more–wanted a drink more.

Sorry Pudgy...