I haven't seen too many stories that show who James was before he became a vampire or spoke much about his life, so I thought I'd try my hand it. What happened before Victoria? Did James have any regrets about his past life as a human? What is his story, and who did his life affect? Enjoy. :)

Chapter One: New Neighbor

Glass dishes clattered together, and conversation infused the air of the Irish Pub. The year was 1942, and although the world was involved in another catastrophic war, life in Atlantic City remained fairly normal. Sailors flocked the place, eager to spend an evening out at the carnival with their families. They came in and out of the Irish restaurant, laughing and simply enjoying life. Waiters rushed about, filling glasses and delivering plates full of delicious entrees.

It seemed, for a moment, that no one would notice the young woman standing at the entrance of the place, gazing into the dim lighting of the building. But then, one of the bartenders looked up and called eagerly to her.

"Miss Autumn! Come on in, lass!"

A brilliant smile lit up the place as Autumn trotted into the restaurant, semi-long brunette curls bouncing about her neck and shoulders. She was immediately placed at a small table, and her eyes glowed with pleasure as her uncle, the owner, sat down across from her.

"What'll it be, dearest?" Uncle Patrick asked, squeezing the girl's hand.

"Corn beef sandwich, please," she smiled, green eyes sparkling.

"Be right up, Hon, with a Coke."

Autumn watched her uncle leave and then sat back and looked about the crowded restaurant. Her inquisitive eyes came to rest on one of Patrick's new employees. The man was close to her age, and he had a dazzling smile. His blonde hair was cut short, and he was fast at work, his muscles in his lower arms visible as he filled up glasses of soda. He turned, laughing at a co-worker's joke, and then made his way towards Autumn's table.

She watched him move, strong motions fluid and smooth as he stepped past her to another table. She laughed at herself then and read the menu, shaking away all thoughts about the newcomer.

She was in the middle of reading the dessert section when a soft voice broke into her thoughts.

"Coke, Miss?"

Green eyes looked up into blue, and Autumn blushed slightly at the handsome waiter standing in front of her.

"Yes," she nodded.

"Here you be then, Miss Autumn. Your uncle informed me to tell you that your lunch is on the way."

"Are you new here? I don't think I've seen you before," Autumn asked, trying to hold conversation.

"I just started work here. I just recently moved here from Washington. My name is James. Anything else I can do for you?" James smiled.

"No, thank you. Welcome to New Jersey," Autumn smiled back as he moved to leave.

He was tall and strong, moving with strong motions as he turned and slipped past Uncle Patrick, who was approaching with Autumn's plate. The girl's eyes lingered briefly on James before they flickered to her uncle.

"Here's your corn beef sandwich," Uncle Patrick said, sitting across from her again. "Lots of studying today?"

"Yes," Autumn sighed. "Finals are coming up. I have two more tests, written and then skills. If I pass both I'll be a registered nurse."

"You're still working for me this summer, right?"

"Of course," Autumn said, reaching across the table and hugging him lightly.

Uncle Patrick and his wife, Aunt Ellen, were the only parents Autumn had ever known. Both her parents had died when she was a baby, and her kind uncle and aunt, having no children of their own, had taken her and cared for her over the past twenty-four years. Autumn loved them with her whole heart and she did whatever she could to help them.

Three hours of studying passed before a light knock on the table aroused Autumn from her studying. She glanced up to see James leaning on the table, a playful expression on his face.

"I have been given orders to make you stop studying and walk you home," James grinned, his whole face illuminated with a glorious joy.

"Walk me home?" Autumn asked, an eyebrow arched.

"It's almost eight o'clock. You've been here awhile. I'm finished with work for the day, and I live next to you, so your uncle suggested I walk you home. Is that all right?"

"I think so," Autumn said uncertainly, getting to her feet.

She watched the young man gather her study books and slide them easily under his arm. She noticed, standing next to him, that he was tall and strong, and he had friendly features. Oh, how Ethel and Sarah would squeal just to be near this man, never mind walked home by him! The thought of her two giggly classmates brought an amused smile to Autumn's face, and she grinned at her uncle as she and James walked by him, laughing lightly at her uncle's knowing wink.

James, for his part, was most pleased to be walking his employer's niece back home. Not only did that mean he had Mr. Patrick's trust, but Autumn was an exceptionally beautiful woman. He had watched her while she studied, and he had experienced a strange sensation of wanting to learn more about her and spend more time with her. She had the smoothest pale skin, the greenest eyes, and the most innocent expression of any woman he had ever seen. Truly she was a treasure to be had.

"What are you doing this far east, James?" Autumn asked, interrupting his thoughts.

"My mother died, so I came here to be close to my grandmother," James explained, gazing at the bright lights surrounding them. "I'd like to eventually get a job as a hotel manager. My, how it's beautiful here!"

"Stop for a minute," Autumn said, and he obeyed. "Now turn around. You haven't seen all of it yet."

They both gazed at the Atlantic City night life, enjoying the scenery. Brilliant lights illuminated the boardwalk, reflecting off the sands and ocean below. Music called from the great carnival, full of light and joy. The air smelled of popcorn and hot dogs, and all human senses were heightened. Excitement rain through James and Autumn's veins, triggered by the laughter and squeals of delight coming from the boardwalk.

"I've seen this place so much, I take for granted its beauty," Autumn said quietly. "The beach is my favorite place in the whole world. I just wish I had my family to share it with."

"What happened, if it isn't too bold to ask?" James asked, turning and walking again with her.

"Supposedly, my mother was a very beautiful woman. One night, out here, she was attacked. My father went to fight for her, but he and my mother were both killed by the assailant. They were neither shot or stabbed, but strangely, both bled to death. There wasn't any blood left as a witness, but that's how they died. No one really knows how that happened."

"And the murderer?"

Autumn shivered and wrapped her arms tightly around her.

"My uncle never lets me walk here alone at night," she said nervously. "There have been too many other killings of the same nature, especially recently."

"I will gladly walk you home every night, if you desire it," James spoke gently.

"Knowing my uncle, you're hired," Autumn laughed. "He's as overprotective and careful about me as my natural father would have been. And he seems to have great trust in you, as well."

They walked on in silence for several minutes, arriving at a large cluster of houses, lit by street lights. The homes were small two-story town houses, separated only by small lawns filled with colorful flowers and herbs. James brought Autumn up to the porch of her house and then opened the door for her. Instantly, the scent of cinnamon filled their nostrils, and they heard the voices of George Burns and Gracie Allen echoing through the house, infiltrating through the entrance hallway.

"Another cup of Maxwell House Coffee, George?"

"Sure. Pour me another cup, Gracie."

"Aunt Ellen, we're home!" Autumn called, gesturing for James to come into the house with her.

"Who's 'we'?" Aunt Ellen's pleasant voice called from the kitchen.

"Autumn, and our new neighbor, James!" Autumn replied, gesturing for James to put her books on a chair and follow her into the kitchen.

They found Aunt Ellen bustling about the kitchen, moving cookies from the oven to the counter. She greeted James warmly and had him sit down with some cookies and milk. She questioned him, and he told her all about how he lived in Mrs. Alexander's boarding house next door in one room on the second floor. There were five boarders in the house altogether, and James considered it his duty to assist the Alexander family in whatever home repairs they needed. Mr. Alexander was in the war, so Mrs. Alexander needed all the help with household chores and repairs that she could get.

James left fifteen minutes later, and Autumn helped her aunt clean the kitchen.

"I like him, Autumn," Aunt Ellen commented out of the blue. "There's something special about that boy."

"Really?" Autumn grinned.

"He's handsome and polite, you're uncle let him bring you home, and you aren't getting any younger, my dear."

Autumn giggled at that and shook her head.

James greeted Mrs. Alexander as he stepped into the boarding house. She and her sons enlisted his help in moving some furniture, and then he made his way up to his room. His room was directly across the way from Autumn's, and he had seen her twice before this evening. She opened her curtains every morning and then closed them at night, being more modest than most women he had met. She always looked so gorgeous in her window, resting against the frame as she read, or gazing up at the sky as she brushed her hair. She was charming and lovely, innocent as a child, with a purity that was rare, even for the forties.

Autumn appealed to James in a way no woman ever had. She was neither flirtatious nor arrogant, and he found that attractive and rare. He found he wanted to protect her, even after having known her only for a very short time, and he felt somewhat possessive, wanting her to himself so he could marvel more at her character and find out everything about her.

Not giving Autumn much more thought than that, James changed into his loose shirt and plaid pants, then snuggled into his bed. His room was small, originally a storage area, equipped with only a dresser, a chair, and a small bed, but it was comfortable, practical and warm, the only things that James really desired for a room.

James closed his eyes and wrapped his blankets more tightly around him. He let out a contented sigh and then lapsed into sleep, never seeing the shadow of a man flash past his window, silhouetted by the darkness and hidden by the curtains.