Chapter Five

I just want to say, I think the beginning of this chapter is kind of cheesy – just a warning. Anyway, thank you for sticking with me through this somewhat short story and thank you for reviewing, favouriting and alerting.

Disclaimer – I do not own The Little Vampire – I do own Athena and this was just a little experiment.

Athena, much to everyone's relief, did not die and escaped with a nasty scar. She was hospitalised for weeks on end after having surgery to make sure there were no splinters left in her and make sure there was no lasting damage to her heart. Tony and his parents visited every day and Athena smiled as she remembered a certain conversation with Mrs Thompson that had led to a major turnaround in her life.

*Flashback*

"Hey, Athena, how are you today?" Dottie (as she'd insisted on being called) asked as she sat on the blue plastic chair at Athena's bedside. The girl smiled at her tiredly, still recovering from the stab wound that had been a week previously.

"Tired," she answered breathily. She had only just woken up and was exhausted already, nightmares of Rookery plaguing her endlessly. Dottie seemed to understand and Athena guessed she was well experienced due to Tony's previous nightmares (which had stopped because the problem was gone).

"That's to be expected. But I brought some clothes for you and your favourite magazines that you told me about," Dottie said cheerfully and Athena smiled at her thankfully.

"Thanks Dottie."

"Do you mind . . . um, telling me about your parents?" Athena was caught off guard at the question and contemplated it carefully.

"Why do you ask?" she wondered aloud and Dottie shrugged.

"You hinted that you didn't have any and your flat isn't the most desirable location." Her mouth downturned in disgust and Athena nodded in agreement, well aware of how disgusting her flat was.

"I ran away when I was fifteen because my parents wanted me to become a vampire hunter like previous generations had been."

"So that's why you're such a good fighter." Athena nodded.

"Yeah, I learned it all from them then turned it around and used to help vampires like . . . like the ones we knew." Athena struggled to talk about Rudolph and the others because that always led to thoughts about Gregory which made her depressed. She had been his mate (it still annoyed her that he'd hid it from her and hadn't really acted like it had happened at all) and he had vanished to somewhere that she had no knowledge of. For all she knew, that Stone could have killed off the Sackville-Bagg family and Gregory would be forced to break his promise. Athena's heart skittered as she thought about his teeth grazing her throat in a non-food way.

"So, they're not around?" Dottie asked and Athena shook her head 'no'.

"I heard they moved to America or something. I don't particularly care." She was lying – she did care, if only a little. She may not have liked her parents very much but it hurt that they'd left so soon after she had. It was like they'd been waiting for it.

"I have a proposition for you." Dottie seemed exceptionally nervous and Athena cocked her head to the side in question.

"Go on."

"Would you like to move in with us?"

*End Flashback*

It had been a long, complicated process that took the better part of Athena's stay in the hospital and the two months she was out of the dreaded white building that smelled of chemicals too much. After many tedious arguments, social workers finally conceded and allowed the Thompson's to adopt Athena due to her parents' absence and lack of response to any contact. Papers were signed and relief was felt as Athena officially moved into the Thompson residence. Her own room was bigger, better and a lot cleaner than her old flat (which she'd passed on to another poor soul) and she loved living with Tony. They helped each other to adjust to life without vampires and told each other creative stories about made-up adventures. Tony told Athena how he had first met Rudolph and Athena in turn told her story. The two hadn't been close before the amulet incident but living in the same house and being adopted by his parents meant that their connection really grew, even before she moved in. Tony tried to teach Athena to draw (a fruitless attempt – she was dreadful) and Athena attempted to teach Tony some basic self defence (he kept falling over and Athena would dissolve into giggles). The older girl could see that Dottie and Bob were thrilled with how well they both got on and Athena was pleased too – it was nice to have a family after so long and she'd never had a sibling before.

"Hey Tony," Athena said as she entered the little boy's room. He, as he usually was, was spread out over his desk colouring furiously. He didn't wear his red cape that Athena had spotted and she knew why – it reminded him of Rudolph. Athena, on the other hand, had grudgingly accepted offered money from Dottie and Bob to buy a less rubbish wardrobe. The money had financed new clothes and a brand spanking new pair of biker boots with steel toes and red roses decorating them – she loved them to pieces. She wore them as she walked over to Tony's desk along with a pink and black tartan skirt that came to mid-thigh, a black tank top and her black leather jacket.

"You're dressed up," he observed before turning back to his drawings. Athena laughed lightly. She was 'dressed up' – as in, she was wearing a skirt which she hardly ever did.

"Yeah, I am. Come on, we're going to some market," she stated, nudging Tony's shoulder playfully. He grinned and rose from his chair, depositing his things and putting on his shoes.

"I'm ready!" he declared and she led the way down the stairs. Bob eyed her skirt disapprovingly and she silently joked about pulling it up higher. He merely rolled his eyes as Dottie entered.

"Everyone ready?" she asked and they nodded. "Let's go then." The group of four exited through the front door and Dottie locked it behind them. Tony and Athena playfully argued on their way to the car about what seat they got and Athena lost, having to sit behind the driver which she hated. Tony silently gloated about it the entire way to the market place and said it out loud as soon as they were in the bustling square. Dottie, dressed like a typical country girl, looked in her element as she shot towards the stalls and the three others followed after her, smiling gently. Athena didn't really pay attention as her eyes drifted over to a nearby moving truck. It was parked in front of a very large house that looked elegant but not as big as the castle she lived in. Three movers were hefting heavy boxes out of the truck and towards the house and two kids were 'helping'. Athena just shook her head and returned her attention to the market where Dottie was looking between two loaves of bread.

"They look the same to me," she pointed out helpfully and Dottie grinned at her playfully before selecting one and putting it into the bag Bob was carrying. Tony was fascinated by a yo-yo he'd been given and didn't really seem to be paying attention. Athena, seeing this, shrugged and skipped over to a dessert stall which smelled intoxicating. She glanced pleadingly at Dottie who laughed and Bob perked up upon seeing the desserts. He quickly joined Athena and they debated over which cake was best, neither noticing Tony walk away. Dottie suddenly shook them from their drooling and both looked up questioningly.

"Where's Tony?" she asked in a high pitched tone and Athena's well trained eyes immediately whizzed around the market place looking for him. She spotted him standing alone in the middle of the square, halfway between themselves and the house Athena had seen earlier. She nudged her adoptive parents and both followed her line of vision, watching as Tony whistled. Why on Earth was he whistling? The two kids that Athena had spotted earlier suddenly froze from where they had been walking away before turning back to face Tony with confused expressions.

"Holy . . ." Athena trailed off at Dottie's scolding expression but didn't really pay attention. Rudolph and Anna were the kids and realisation dawned on their faces just as Fredrick (dressed very business-like) and Freda (with deflated hair) appeared from the house and looked around. Athena's face hurt as a wide smile spread across her lips and she almost squealed with delight as Gregory came out looking absolutely incredible and chewing on an apple. His eyes were confused until they landed on Tony and dawned with realisation then utterly gobsmacked as they landed on Athena. She smirked as Anna and Rudolph ran towards Tony before she herself began waltzing towards Gregory. He smirked to mimic her and met her half way, pulling her into a fierce hug.

"I thought you were dead," he whispered in her ear and familiar shivers shot down her spine.

"So did I. But I'm not!" she cheerfully declared and Gregory laughed, pulling back to look into her eyes. Warm, fuzzy feelings spread through Athena's chest as their eyes connected and she grew giddy with happiness. "So, I'm your mate, huh?" she asked jokingly and Gregory laughed outright before putting his lips to her ear.

"Yep, you're all mine." Before she could register anything else, his lips had pressed to hers and what felt like the entirety of Bonfire Night exploded in her stomach and chest. She inhaled through her nose and threw her arms around his neck, pulling him closer as her mouth opened to let his tongue in. Their tongues wrestled playfully as she fisted her fingers in his gorgeous punkish hair. When they pulled away, both were panting heavily but Gregory lower his mouth to her neck and she gasped happily as he bit her gently. When they were finally looking each other in the eye once more, she was thrilled to see her euphoria reflected in his orbs.

"Now that was what I call keeping a promise," she giggled before their lips joined again in their happy reunion.

And that is that. Once again, thank you for being a part of this short little experiment, it's been fun! I'll hopefully be seeing you. Love Bianca :) x