Chapter One:

A smile crossed the two thousand year old vampire's lips as the contagious giggling rang through the house. He had missed her. He had missed hearing her laugh, seeing that shy little smile grace her tiny face. It had been too long since he had ventured out of Dallas, out of Texas, to visit his unique family. His Sheriff duties had consumed him, and he had found himself becoming bored of all the politics, of all the hassle his position brought. He would rather be here, enjoying the sweet moments with those he cherished instead of listening to the complaints of his underlings.

"Godric!" a squeal sounded at the end of the hallway, jolting the vampire from his thoughts.

Godric's smile widened as his blue orbs fell on the girl running at him with the widest grin on her lips. He felt so unlike himself, so unlike the monster he once was around her. She was only a little human, a teacup, and yet she had brought so much joy into his life in such a short amount of time.

"And how is the birthday girl?" Godric lowered himself to one knee as the girl threw herself into his outstretched arms.

"I'm five!" She proclaimed proudly, her grin spreading from one ear to the other. Her sky blue eyes sparkled as she giggled and hugged him tightly around the neck as he lifted her up into his arms and stood.

"Yes you are." There was a spark in his eyes that hadn't been seen in over two thousand years, and even then, as a human, he wasn't sure he ever felt such happiness, such freeness. He had been collected as a slave at such a young age, not much older than this beauty in his arms, that he wasn't sure if he had ever been truly happy like he was in that moment. "You've grown since I last saw you."

"I'm a big girl now." She declared. "See how old I am?" she pushed her hand into his face, displaying her five fingers. "How many fingers are you?"

"I'm too many of those." He playfully nipped at each finger, his fangs carefully retracted into his gums. He's had too many conversations with his progeny concerning their secret, concerning the lives they were hiding from her. But she was still too young to understand what they were. All they would end up doing would be scaring her if they ever told her. For now, it would be best to keep their vampirism a secret for as long as possible. At least until the time was right. If it ever would be.

"You're old." She giggled as tugged her hand away before poking him in the shoulder.

"Yes I am." He flashed her his human teeth. "Now where is Eric, little one?"

Her nose crinkled as her smile faltered. He knew that look too well.

"Mackenzie?" He tapped her nose. "Where's Eric?"

"I don't know..." she chewed on her bottom lip nervously. She was fidgeting now in his arms, attempting to slip out of his grasps.

Godric raised an eyebrow as he knelt down, setting her feet on the ground but kept her caught in his arms. She tried to feign innocence, batting her eyelashes in a way that he knew a certain gran-progeny of his had taught her. But he knew her too well, even in the short span of time that he's watched her grow up.

"Little one, where's your..." Godric trailed off, correcting himself as he knew just how much his child despised being called anything in relation of a parent to this little treasure. "Where's Eric?"

She just shrugged her dainty little shoulders and popped her thumb into her mouth in a way that reminded him of the first time she had come to visit him.

"Come now, little one." He took hold of her wrist and tugged her thumb from her lips. "Big girls don't suck their thumbs."

"But...but..." she looked over her shoulder, an unsure expression crossing her face. "He's mad at me."

"Now why would Eric be mad at you?" Godric wondered, clasping a finger under her chin and turning her gaze back on him. "Have you done something you weren't supposed to, Mackenzie?"

Her bottom lip stuck out as she pouted. "I-I didn't mean to make him mad at me, Godric."

He had to struggle not to smile whenever she spoke his name. "What did you do, little one?"

"She's been giving me a god damn headache, that's what." A grunt replied.

Godric raised an eyebrow as he gazed over Mackenzie's head to where the tall former Viking was sulking on the stairs. Eric's eyes were narrowed, his arms crossed over his black t-shirt as he glared down at the little girl inching behind Godric's form, hiding herself from his wrath. Godric shook his head and caught Mackenzie before she could dash off into another room.

"What exactly has she done to give you such troubles?" Godric questioned, lifting the wiggling girl back into his arms as he stood.

"She refuses to listen." Eric answered bitterly as he all but stomped down the remaining stairs. "She refuses to do as I tell her."

"And what exactly did you tell her to do?"

"She wouldn't put the dress on that Pam had nicely picked out for her." the blonde's lips pursed together. "I struggled with her for nearly an hour tonight. She just won't listen and I'm getting tired of it."

Godric shook his head at his child's lack of patience. He wondered why he even let the girl back into his care, knowing that Eric Northman of all people did not have the right temper for children. But as he remembered back to the heartbreaking sobs, crying out Eric's name when he wasn't there, Godric knew that even if he wanted to, he wouldn't be able to keep the two apart for long. Mackenzie how somehow grown attached to the Viking.

"Is this true, Mackenzie? Were you giving Eric a hard time tonight?" Godric directed his question to the bundle in his arms.

She wouldn't look him in the eye as she squirmed some more. She hated being in trouble. She hated when Eric sent her to her room, to be alone for hours. She didn't want to be punished again, not on the night of her birthday.

"Mackenzie." Godric stroked her pin straight hair that was half heartedly put into a terrible braid. He sent Eric a look, motioning to the hairstyle, and the Viking just shrugged his large shoulders in defence. Pam may not have enjoyed having the girl around, but Godric at least knew she wouldn't have let her leave her room without looking perfect in every way. Eric had clearly had enough for that night. "Were you giving Eric a hard time? Were you not listening to him?"

"But it's pink!" she exclaimed, picking at her dress in displeasure. "I don't like pink. It's icky. I like blue."

It took all his strength not to snort in response. "Pam is still picking out her clothes, I see."

"She's a little girl. She's supposed to wear pink." Eric defended. "Talk to Pam about it."

"You know she doesn't like wearing the clothes she picks out for her. Perhaps that's half your problem." Godric reasoned.

"She should still do as I say." Eric muttered bitterly. "I'm the adult, not her."

"And it's her birthday." Godric pointed out. "Shouldn't she be allowed to wear whatever she pleases?"

"Well maybe one day when she's no longer living under my roof, she can have that luxury."

Godric rolled his eyes at Eric's childishness. He was a grown adult when Godric had turned him, and yet Eric acted more like a child than anything.

"I'm sorry." Mackenzie pouted, her eyes wide with sadness.

"Hush now." Godric soothed her with a small smile. "Why don't we go put you in something a little more comfortable?"

"Godric..."

"It's her birthday Eric." Godric shook his head as he passed Eric towards the stairs, sending his progeny a pointed look. "Why make her miserable today of all days?"

"She shouldn't have been a pain, no matter what day it is." He argued, his hands curling into fists at his sides. "She should still listen to me."

"And we'll have a long discussion about that." Godric sent the shy girl a look to ensure that she understood he was talking to her. "But you need to learn patience, my son. She's just a little girl."

"A little girl I never wanted in the first place." Eric hissed.

Mackenzie grew stiff in Godric's arms at Eric's harmful words. Godric sighed heavily, wishing his progeny hadn't of spoken those words out loud.

"Just get her dressed." Eric grumbled. "And hurry it up. I never wanted to have this party in the first place. If she gives me one more ounce of grief, that'll be it."

"Just go entertain your guests, Eric." Godric replied coldly as he carried the saddening girl up to her room.

"There we are." Godric smiled at the blonde girl before him. "No more of that terrible pink dress."

Mackenzie swayed in her new blue dress with a frown on her face, her forehead crinkled in thought. He couldn't even begin to understand the workings of her mind. What could a five year old possibly be thinking about? But she wasn't necessarily a normal five year old. She had gone through terrors that no child, or adult, should ever endure.

"Where's that smile that I love so much?" he tapped her nose, hoping to draw out the contagious smile that could brighten even a room full of vampires. "Come now, little one. It's a day of celebration, not for misery. Be happy, my sweet."

"He doesn't like me." she mumbled so softly, human ears never would have heard her correctly. But his ears weren't exactly human.

"Oh little one, he cares about you, he does." Godric tried to assure her, her grief breaking his already dead heart. He knew Eric did care for her, he had to. Or else he wouldn't have shown up in Dallas to retrieve her months ago. But unfortunately, he cared in his own little ways, ways that a child of her age just couldn't understand. She wanted to be hugged and kissed and tucked into bed every night by her adoring parents. She wanted a father, one who saw her as the little princess that she was. And while he knew Eric could be that for her, if he tried, Godric also knew that Eric had repented his humanity for so long that it was going to take longer than a handful of months to change his cold exterior.

"I don't mean to make him mad." Her bottom lip trembled.

"I know, my sweet." Godric sighed, taking her in his arms. "Eric is...he has a temper, one that has never been your fault."

"B-but he hates me..."

"He doesn't hate you. Far from it." he ran his fingers through her now loose strands of hair. "He just...he doesn't often show it, not like you or I might."

He could feel her tears wetting his cotton shirt and it tore him apart. He cursed Eric for putting doubt in this child's mind. He remembered too clearly that day he had come to retrieve Mackenzie. He had looked lost without her, and they had only been together for a week at that point. Eric may never admit it out loud, but he had grown just as attached to Mackenzie. Godric just wished he would learn to show it.

"Shh, little one, dry those tears." Godric put Mackenzie at arm's length, thumbing away the few tears that stained her porcelain cheeks. "Today is your birthday. You're five, remember? That is a big year."

She didn't look convinced however, and just continued to give Godric the saddest look he's ever seen. It's only been a handful of months since she's come into all of their lives, but already she had him wrapped completely around her finger. If someone had told him a thousand years ago that he would be at the mercy of a five year old human girl, he would have laughed in their face in disbelief. But it was difficult not to fall for this treasure. He only wished that when the time came, when they were forced to reveal their true selves to her, she would be just as accepting as she was now.

"Come now, love, let's get you back down to the party. I believe there are some presents with your name on them." He wiped away the last of her tears before standing, lifting her up into his arms as he did so.

"And cake?" she asked in the tiniest voice, a look of hope in those round blue eyes.

Godric smiled as he brushed the hair from her eyes, adjusting the hair band in her hair. "Yes, love, cake too."

"She's tuckered out." Godric mused as he leaned against the living room doorway where Mackenzie was curled up on the couch, fast asleep with still a trace of icing on her lips.

Eric snorted as he stood just outside the room, his hands slipped into his jean pockets. He raised an eyebrow as he peered into the room, his only concern being the multi thousand dollar couch Pam insisted on being ruined.

"You could have been a bit more patient with her tonight, my son." Godric gazed at his progeny with disappointment. "I know this was never what you wanted but..."

"But what, Godric?" Eric pulled his focus away from the expensive couch and onto his maker. "I never wanted this, period. This was never part of the plan."

"No one forced you to keep her." Godric made sure to point you. "You could have sent her to an orphanage the moment she was out of that burning house."

Eric refused to answer, stubbornly looking away. Godric just sighed as he shook his head. He knew this had never been in Eric's plans. This had never been in any of their plans. But they couldn't erase the past. They could only accept what's been tossed into their life, and at the moment, it was that precious little girl.

"Has the family continued to..." Godric questioned after a moment.

"Have you not watched the news? Why do you think I haven't put her in school yet. I can't risk it."

"I heard you had a meeting with the Magister recently." Godric knew he was entering a very dangerous subject with Eric, but he needed to ensure that his family was safe. However it was difficult even for him to protect his progeny when he didn't even entirely know what happened that night four months ago. "Are they still investigating?"

"No." Eric sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "I was able to persuade the magister that I arrived at the scene after the fire had already been started."

"And the vampires involved with the parents?"

"One was disposed of that night. The other, the one who stepped forward, has left the country." Eric informed, a strained expression crossing over his usually masked face. "I'm starting to wonder if it would have been easier just to destroy that house, and everyone inside of it, completely."

Godric was startled at his confession. "Eric! How could you say that? Mackenzie is only a child."

"Don't you think I realize that? I have to live with it – her – in my home every single god damn day. It's getting to be too much, Godric. It's just too much." Eric allowed the frustration he had built up to boil. "I can't deal with it anymore."

"Then why didn't you just let her burn along with her parents?" Godric's tone had turned ice cold. Only a handful of months had passed since Mackenzie entered their life and already, he felt protective of her.

Eric looked disgusted even at the mere thought, and that gave Godric hope. "Because I'm not a monster, Godric. I'm not her parents. I couldn't have just let her die. She was innocent. Don't tell me you wouldn't have done the same."

"Of course I would have." Godric nodded. "I have made many mistakes in my life that I wish I could erase. But I never...I never could have done what those humans did to her."

"She's just a little girl." Eric murmured, his gaze falling back on the blonde five year old curled into a ball. He felt strange as he watched her sleep, as that peaceful smile of hers spread across her lips. He hated dealing with her. He hated having to put up with having a human child around. It inconvenienced him. He had to tip toe around in his own home. And yet he knew in his heart that he never could have just let her die that night. The moment it came to his attention that a child had been involved at all, he knew he had to put an end to that terror. He was a thousand year old Viking, and he enjoyed fucking and killing. But even he had his boundaries.

"You were never responsible for her, Eric. You never had to take her. You could have left her at an orphanage. You could have given her to a family, any family. This was never your responsibility." Godric watched Eric closely, watched his reactions, watched as that guarded wall began to crack.

"There are too many searching for the truth." Eric shook his head. "There are too many trying to discover what happened that night. And she is the key."

"But her family..." Godric reasoned. "They weren't her parents. Perhaps they weren't capable of the same cruelty."

"No." Eric grunted, his eyes narrowing. "I couldn't have taken that chance. There is only one besides Pam and I that know of the events that night, and that is Mackenzie."

"A memory that she doesn't even seem to remember." Godric reminded. "She's asked me time and time again what happened that night. She doesn't remember Eric."

"But there are means to make her remember, to gain access to her memory." Eric pointed out. "You know better than any that there are ways, dangerous, excruciating ways."

"So you're...protecting her?"

"I'm protecting all of us. If the Magister, or worse, the Authority were to find out..."

"From what you've told me, Eric, you've done nothing wrong." Godric stepped forward with a frown. "You stopped what could have been an utter disaster."

"Only to cause a much, much bigger one." Eric nodded into the room. "What do you think they'll do to me, to us, when they discover I took her? She is the only evidence, the only living proof of what happened that night. It will be the truth death for us all. And I will not let that happen."

Godric sighed as he shook his head. He understood Eric's reasoning. He may not have known entirely what happened leading up to that night, or even the details of that house fire, of what caused Eric to bring this girl in their lives. But this was the mess that they were all in now, and it was one that they would have to deal with.

"She is the key to this all, Godric. She may be some average, human girl, but she knows everything. And if that knowledge gets out..." Eric paused, his voice strained as his eyebrows furrowed together. "I fear for what will happen to us."

A/N: I know, I know, I shouldn't be starting another fic. but this idea hasn't left me alone for eons now so I decided just to give it a shot. There are many questions left unanswered after this first chapter, all that will be revealed in time. I have the next few chapters written, I just need to do a little revising and should be up in the next few days. Hope you've enjoyed this first chapter!