Sorry for the delay in getting this uploaded. My Nan passed away so I have been distracted

Chapter 26

Godric didn't know how he was going to get Kathryn to talk him. She was barely speaking to anyone as it was. Godric hated this he had really wanted to surprise her but he had screwed up along the way and he had to find a way to get her to at least speak to him. She wasn't responding to text or phone call. Gillian had called him herself and told him not to give up but that he might have to tell her what he was planning. He did keep trying and he and Gillian were becoming slightly exasperated with Kathryn as she wouldn't let the secret thing drop no matter what. Even text messages were not successful.

G to K

Kathryn will you please talk to me

K to G

Are you going to tell this secret that everyone knows except me?

G to K

Eventually yes

K to G

Well call me when you are in a sharing mood.

E to K

Will you please talk to G?

K to E

Not until he tells me what is going on? Or you tell me?

E to K

"I cannot tell you Kathryn even if I wanted too"

K to E

"He commanded you?"

E to K

"Yup"

K to G

What the hell are you up to that you commanded E to not speak to me about it?"

G to K

You will see. Come and have dinner with me. I miss you.

K to G

Are you going to tell me anything?

G to K

Nope not yet. I need to know you are not angry with me first.

K to G

Of course I am mad at u. I don't like secrets. It will be dinner 4 1 4 a while at this rate.

G to K

U r being silly

Fortunately the situation was about to resolve itself with the help of the vampire King of Venice. It was winter and the canals of Venice were freezing over and King Giancarlo created a large ice rink at his palace that was open for vampires and their humans to skate on. Kathryn was not aware that vampires loved to skate but it appeared in Italy they did. Naturally Giancarlo invited Godric and Eric to the opening but as he was unaware of Godric's and Kathryn's little spat he invited her too. Kathryn loved to skate and replied to Giancarlo saying that she would be delighted to attend. Kathryn wanted out of the house and so she found her skates sent Lukas to get them sharpened and looked for an outfit to wear. She decided to wear black jeans and a purple top with a black winter coat.
When she arrived the king spotted her immediately.

"No Godric?" He asked her.
"No" she said.

He did not press her further as he sensed that all was not well but instead invited her to skate with him. She was an accomplished skater having learnt as a child many years ago and so was he and he twirled her round and lifted her a few times. He then put her down and skated with her through the other circling vampires.

"So is there trouble in paradise?" She looked at him and smiled.

"More like a disagreement"

"Kathryn may I give you some advice?"

She nodded.

"Do not let the sun come up on a disagreement it is unnecessary. Vampire can go years without speaking to each other and what good does it do?"

"Several suns have risen on this disagreement your majesty."

" Then take my advice Miss Black and ensure that the sun does not rise again without you two having made up." He kissed her cheek and let go of her hand. He went very silent for about a minute.

"Is everything alright your majesty?"

"Yes it is fine. Come we will skate some more?" They skated for about half an hour before he guided her to the middle of the rink.

Bending to whisper in her ear he said "Do you know how to tell a vampire is sorry?"

She shook her head.

"Well they wear a suit and glare at the local regent". He kissed her hand and zipped away on the ice.

Kathryn was standing in the middle of the rink alone. Frowning at what Giancarlo had said. She wasn't entirely sure that she understood. Godric didn't wear suits and he was all about respecting authority so she couldn't imagine him glaring at Giancarlo. But it would appear the King may have been referring to Eric as he and Pam were coming towards her with extremely determined looks on their faces.

Eric stopped behind her and Pam appeared in front and glared at Kathryn.

"What are you wearing?" Pam asked folding her arms.

"Well hello to you too. Clothing that is appropriate for skating" Kathryn retorted.

"You need to change now!" She ordered.

"In the middle of an ice rink? I think not Pamela."

"Hold you arms out Katy May"

She turned and smiled at Eric.

" Hi. You haven't called me that in a long time. But I have no desire for you and a rink full of vampires to see me in my underwear"

He pulled off his coat and held it up in his hands put his arms around her and said "No one will see a thing Kathryn I promise. I will shield you from prying eyes and I will close my eyes and Pam will be quick"

Kathryn sighed and held out her arms and some how in about 30 seconds Pam had stripped her, got off her skates and redressed her in a beautiful white dress knee length dress with a flared skirt and got tights on her as well as put her skates back on. Kathryn was also wearing a dress coat over this dress which didn't close.
Pam looked at her approvingly "Much better. Nice underwear by the way"

"You wish Pam. Now what?" she asked turning to Eric.

"You can skate a few laps with Eric before you get cold" and she zipped away with Kathryn's clothes.

"I am already cold" she muttered to Pam's disappearing back.

Eric took her hand and skated with her round the rink guiding her in and out of the flow of vampires skating round. He was a good skater which surprised her.

"I want those clothes back Eric!"

"I will ensure that clothes are returned to you"

"Those clothes specifically Eric"

"I am making no promises. You know what she is like."

She glared at him "What is going on?" She asked.

"I cannot say you know that. Besides its nearly midnight"

"So?"

" I am required elsewhere." He guided her back to the middle of the rink.

"Wait here. Stay in the middle but skate around a bit if you get cold"

"What am I waiting for?"

He merely smiled at her and skated away. Kathryn skated around making smallish semi circle in the middle of the rink. She was a bit cold in this dress and coat but as the clock struck midnight the vampires drifted off the ice and Kathryn was left alone. She sighed and some arms snaked around her waist

"Are you cold little one?"

She smiled to herself recognising Godric's voice.

" A bit. Pam made me change"

He pressed himself close to her and said "I will warm you up. Besides I want to tell you you a secret. Will you listen?"

She turned in his arms and said "Finally" and kissed him.

Running her hands down his jacket. "Godric are you wearing Armani?

Godric looked embarrassed. "Pam made me. How do you know it was Armani?

" I shop with Pam and besides someone told me vampires wear Armani sometime when they wish to grovel" she replied

"I am pretty sure his majesty did not say the word grovel" he smiled back. He held out his hand for her. "Skate with me?" he asked.

She smiled taking his hand. He skated with her around the empty rink a few times and then he guided her back to the middle of the rink.

He then went down on one knee putting his free hand over the one of hers he already held. Kathryn was confused what the hell was he doing? Oh oooohh.

"Kathryn I want to be with you forever, for infinity, and for eternity. I want to have a family with you. Jag älskar dig. Kommer du gifta dig med mig?"

Kathryn was stunned. A thousand things were racing through her mind. Godric was asking her to marry him OMG. Was this seriously what he had been keeping from her? Was he mental? He was 2000 years old and he couldn't come up with a good cover story. But then when did vampires ever come up with a story. They tended to have an attack first, glamour later kind of attitude. They had never talked about marriage, children yes but marriage no. She just assumed that they would just be "companions". The term had never really bothered her but to be husband and wife would be perfect. Taking a deep breath she said

" Yes Godric of course I will marry you.".

Standing up he took a ring box out of his pocket. He opened it took out the ring. It was a purple amethyst surrounded by two diamonds.

"Its beautiful" she breathed

"I know you like purple." He replied and he slid it on her finger put the box back in his pocket and put his arms around her and kissed her.

They were standing in the middle of the ice on a clear Venice night engaged. Could life be anymore perfect?

"Is this what you were planning?"

"Yes"

"You suck at planning surprises"

"But it was a good surprise though?"

"Yes but if you are going to do something like that then at least think of a cover story or get Felicity to think of one. She is good at lying".

"I will remember this in the future"

"I feel a bit silly" she said "Mum said I would when I found out what you were doing"

"Don't worry you can make it up to me on our wedding night. Besides as one of your brothers helpfully pointed out earlier this evening. Looking at it from your point of view you didn't know what was going on, so why wouldn't you get mad. I didn't really think about how you would see it and for that I am sorry. A cover story would not have made you mad."

"Who else knows what you are doing?"

"Well your family and Eric, Pam, and Conor and now the King"

"The King knows" her eyes widened.

"Yes he called Conor through their bond when he was skating with you and told him to tell me you were here and that his father ordered me to come down and speak to you. So with some mass rearranging of what was originally planned I figured that I would propose tonight in case you decided never to speak to me again and the King was more than accommodating hence why everyone disappeared at midnight."

"What was the original plan?"

"One day I will tell you but not today in case you prefer the original plan".

"Oh I don't know I quite like this plan as it is. What's next?"

"I take you home and run you a lovely hot bath because I imagine that you are freezing"

"I am it's a lovely dress but Pam did not think about the weather."

"You weren't originally meant to be outside. The coat was an emergency purchase. "

He took her hand and guided her off the ice.

"Where are your shoes?"

"Inside. These are my skates not the King's. So I changed inside"

He disappeared and retrieved her shoes which were a pair of Ugg boots and she changed into her shoes. He took her hand and Eric and Pam walked towards them. Pam gave her a disdainful look and glared at the Uggs.

"I didn't know that I would be wearing a dress this evening ok. Besides you bought them for me and they are warm. "

Pam humpfed and Eric came up behind her and put his coat around her shoulders. It was far to big but at least it kept out some of the cold.

"Congratulations" he whispered and she smiled back at him. She noticed that there was no trace of sadness in his eyes. She was glad it meant he might actually be over her. Godric drove her back to Eric's house in a black Mercedes while Pam and Eric flew. He was not silly enough to fly her he sensed she was really cold so although the car was slower it was warmer and he could crank up the heating as well once he had figured out how it worked. Vampires didn't need to use it after all. When they got back to Eric's house they found Pam had run them a bath upstairs and he stripped her and put her in the bath and climbed in behind her.

"Are you warm yet?"

"Getting there thank you"

"Kathryn now we are engaged I want you to stay here more permanently and I want to be married soon."

"Yes I will although Gillian will probably want to be involved in the wedding planning. She has never had to do it before. I would be the first girl"

"You look on her as a mother don't you"

"She was more a mother to me than Renee ever was"

"How old is she?"

"A little younger than Lucien. His first wife died and then he met Renee that ended and he met Gillian and they had Felicity".

"Do you think they will have more? She doesn't look much older than you. "

"Probably he loves little kids but some of the boys have children so they have their hands full with grandchildren. If I am going to be here permanently. Do you have day staff? I meant to ask but I forgot".

"A woman comes in and cleans once a week on a Thursday and the woman's niece does the laundry and the ironing but that's it. You can cook and shop for yourself unless you want someone to come in."

"No thank you. Ok so wear clothes on a Thursday then. Do they know you and Eric rest here?"

"No they don't. They were told that their duties only extended to the ground floor and Eric told them we travel extensively so will be rarely here."

"Who cleans up here?"

"I do" Kathryn burst out laughing.

"What is so funny?"

"You with a bucket and a mop and a pair of marigolds"

"What are marigolds?"

"Rubber Gloves"

"Well you can always take over if you want?"

"I want to see you vacuuming first"

"How come you don't do laundry and ironing?"

"Because it is the type of thing that can be done by others. I could never let strangers up here it would be too dangerous. Are you getting warmer?"

"Yes"

"Good" he said and found some soap and began washing her.

She sighed "I am sorry I was mad at you"

"I know but I should have thought about it from your point of view."

"Your turn" and she washed him.

When she was done he let the water out of the tub and wrapped a towel round her.

Godric stepped out of the bath and helped kathryn out and he wrapped her in a towel before wrapping himself in a towel. He kissed her and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear and she smiled back at him. He knew he could not hide anything any more from her. The last time that he did the consequences had been so dire. He was lost in thought and didn't realise Kathryn was speaking.

"What did you say?" He said distractedly "When was the last time you fed?" "The last night we were together" he looked down at the floor. "Godric I forgive you for that so forgive yourself" He had waited a long time to here those words and for her to mean them she had been mad the last time she said felt like an eternity. Wrapping her in a bathrobe he said " I'll feed you first sweartheart and wearing only a towel he walked her downstairs. "Light a fire in the drawing room and I'll bring you something to eat." Godric walked into the kitchen and heated some soup for Kathryn. He returned to the drawing room to find a blazing fire with her sitting on the rug in front hugging her knees. He handed her the soup and sat down next to her. He could not feel the warmth of the fire but he could tell she did. She had also put some of the cushions on the floor to sit and lean against. She finished the soup and lay on her front watching the fire. "Godric what are you thinking about?" "Hmm we have had a lot drama in our life recently I would just love to take you away to a remote place that's just us and make love to you until you beg me to stop." "What happens when the sun comes up and you need to rest?" "I will drink your blood and then I won't need to." "You clearly have put a lot thought into this. We can have a honeymoon if you want" "What's a honeymoon?" "The bride and groom go on a little holiday after they are married and normally don't get out of bed for two weeks" "I like the sound of this holiday" he said leaning forward and rubbing her back. "Can we have one now?" "A honeymoon? She asked rolling on to her stomach. "Mhum" "We aren't married yet Godric." she said sitting up. "Well we can practice for the honeymoon" he said undoing her robe and pulling her into his lap so she was facing him. The robe was hanging open and he gently ran his hand down the centre of her body between her breasts to between her legs. "You are so beautiful" he breathed He raised his legs so she could lean against them and slipped the robe off her shoulders and lifted her up so he could throw the robe to the side. Kathryn reached down and opened the towel that had been covering him. "Touch yourself for me" he said leaning back so he could watch. He watched as her arousal grew and yelped slightly when she took him in her hand and pumped him. He moaned running his hands over her body and settling on her breasts he squeezed them. When he couldn't wait any longer he pushed himself up and laid her gently down on the rug in front of the fire and they made slow gentle love until he felt the sun begin to rise and leaving the towels where they were he carried her upstairs to his room where they fell asleep in each others arms as the sun rose.

A/N: Ok may be the canals of Venice do not freeze over but can we just pretend for this chapter that they do?