A/N: This story is in 3 parts but is complete so will be uploaded in a timely manner. This is my first leap into Hollows FF; I tried to stay as true to canon and characterization as I could whilst still being a Ravy fan. Reviews appreciated. =)

I have links to all the songs on Ivy's CD if interested. PM me and I'll link you.

Thanks go out to Ava Sinclair, Smellyia, LaRenne, Tnuccio, and Eloise_stories at LJ for their beta work and encouragement.

Pride Goeth

She knew the church couldn't be empty; Rachel had seen Ivy's bike parked in the garage, the garage she had built for her car. The witch huffed, slamming the car door, trying to drum up some righteous indignation on her way to the heavy wooden front because she wasn't expected home yet didn't give Ivy the right to steal her spot. A soft squeaking caught her attention. It had been a few years since she had splurged and spent her entire savings to gift Ivy and Jenks the Vampiric Charms placard hanging over the church door: Tamwood, Jenks & Morgan. Rachel stopped a moment, shielding her eyes against the setting sun, to gaze at its gently swinging shadow and smile. Wait; she had almost forgotten the feigned anger. Adjusting her face into what she hoped was a threatening scowl; she pushed open the unlocked door and stepped quietly into the hallway leading to the sanctuary.

A loud metallic drone filled the air, the buzzing whirr broken by what sounded like the beeping of a heart monitor. A voice, low and sultry, started to purr out singing one of Rachel's favorite Roberta Flack songs. Except this wasn't Roberta Flack. Rachel's frown went from angry to puzzled; it was unlike Ivy to listen to music this loud. Especially with the door unlocked and the knowledge that Rachel herself wasn't supposed to be back until Monday. It wasn't safe; there was no way the vamp could hear anything through the feedback that throbbed from the speakers.

Then again, no one expected Rachel home right now, hell for all she knew Ivy could be "entertaining" in the next room. The vamp probably took advantage of Rachel being away to have Nina stay at the church. Ivy had taken it upon herself to help Nina recover from trauma she had received from an undead master vamp. Nina didn't like Rachel much and the witch's feelings were pretty much mutual. Rachel didn't bother reflecting on why. She was afraid of what she might find, and some things are better kept hidden. Focus was what the witch needed now, so peeking in was better than charging in, ley line blaring. She tiptoed to the doorway and hesitated under the open arch.

Ivy sat against the far wall that housed the component stereo, a pair of expensive over-ear headphones blending into her curtain of midnight black hair. For the first time since their pairing, Rachel had managed to sneak up on her ever-vigilant roommate. Ivy's knees were pulled up, ankles askew, giving her the look of a cast-aside marionette. Her head was gently tipped back against the wall, ebony lashes closed against her porcelain cheeks. Both forearms rested on her knees with the same loose casualness and relaxation that softened her face. Her head tilted to the side and that grey silk voice rose to duet with the woman on the radio. Rachel held her breath, not wanting to break the spell, a familiar, fluttering warmth growing in the pit of her stomach. This was a side of her roommate that Rachel rarely saw: relaxed, soulful…and dare she think it, so breathtakingly beautiful. Tears pricked, so she closed her eyes against them; the lyrics sounded so hopeless in the vamp's soulful croon. She was singing in earnest now, smoky voice rising up to harmonize with the singer. Rachel could hear Ivy's heart poured into the words; her longing and loss, her pain and her love. Always her love.

The song rose to a crescendo and Ivy followed, voice breaking. Rachel's eyes flew open and she watched as two tears untangled themselves from Ivy's lashes and crept slowly down her face. Rachel knew the song, knew the twisted irony that Ivy sang. The lyrics were supposed to be a joyous affirmation of love. They were something Rachel had never done and internally swore to never do. Affirm. She slumped in the doorway, all previous irritation forgotten. Rachel knew in her heart that Ivy sang about her. Passion like this couldn't be about Nina, or even Ivy's ex. Glenn had left Cincinnati to go to Flagstaff and work for the Men in Black, taking Daryl with him to greener pastures and cleaner air. While she knew the vamp had cared deeply for Matthew, Ivy had only ever been this passionate about one thing.

Relief warred with guilt as the song started to drop off. Rachel was surprised she had been able to watch this long, unnoticed. Normally she couldn't move without Ivy knowing; it freaked her out how Ivy could pinpoint her location by just the thrum of her heart.

The dirty growl of the bass faded into another song, this one grittier and vaguely familiar. As the songs changed, Ivy stiffened, her posture no longer a model of repose. Rachel stepped forward softy, prepared to apologize for not announcing her presence, but her roommate's eyes never opened. The bass deepened and Ivy reached up to hastily wipe the tears from her face and jerk the silky free-flow of hair into a disciplined knot. Her features tightened, jaw clenched against the simmering emotion of the song. Rachel froze, then sank slowly to sit on the landing's single stair, all the while searching Ivy's face for any sign of awareness. Whisper quiet, she sucked in a deep breath to calm her racing felt a bit ashamed for watching when Ivy obviously thought she was alone with her music. Rachel knew it was her refuge; the vamp bared her soul at her baby grand when no one was home to hear it. She had never seen Ivy caught up in anything so deeply, so…magically, for lack of a better word. She had never seen Ivy seem so less, well…Ivy.

The new song was harsh and intense, but there was a forbidden yearning in the singer's voice. Rachel knew she had heard it before; she thought something Ivy had listened to after particularly rough days, but she'd never paid much attention. Now she focused now, trying to catch the lyrics and see why her roommate so frequently turned to this song as a respite.

The music swelled, the chorus thundered forth and Ivy's hands curled into fists against her sides, tears flowing freely. Rachel, shocked by how fragile Ivy looked, bit back a shuddering sigh. There was no sing-along this time; the vamp's body just coiled tighter and tighter. It only took through the refrain for Rachel to know why Ivy had chosen this song. Guilt rose up in a lump in Rachel's throat. Now there was no denying that Ivy had been singing about her earlier and worse, that this song was about her as well. Apparently this was Ivy's go-to mix when she was trying to get Rachel out of her system. Enough pain, enough tears…Rachel couldn't stand to see Ivy cry anymore. She let out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding, and moved forward.

Ivy's body had slumped in onto itself, long limbs clasped together as if to keep from flying apart. Her face, still tear dampened, had lost some of its tension. She looked defeated now, the initial anger short-lived. The song still swelled and released, but Ivy was lost in her own head. Rachel , now close enough to touch her, remained incredulous that Ivy hadn't smelled her yet. She slowly knelt next to the living vampire and raised a shaking hand to brush away a leaking tear.

Her fingers were barely in motion before Ivy exploded from her fetal curl, wide black eyes hollow in her pale, tear-stained face. She stood pressed against the wall, chest heaving.

"R-Rachel! H-how long…"

"I'm sorry. Ivy I should have…" Rachel blushed at the pulse of pleasure from her scar. She rose stiffly and started to back out of the room. "I shouldn't have touched you. I just couldn't…"

Both of them stood frozen, eyes locked. Ivy swallowed, pupils still dilated predatory black, and shook her head like a startled jungle cat. Rachel's tear-touched hand rested unconsciously against the tiny raised scars on her neck. The scars Ivy gave her that glorious day their auras chimed. The scars that marked her as Ivy's; something Rachel never seemed to want to be unless it was convenient.

The vamp's fingers scrabbled against the wall as she fought to take a deep breath. It had been ages since Rachel had seen Ivy vamp-out like this. Then again, this was the first time Rachel had ever caught Ivy this far off her guard.

"Don't move, please…"

Although it was almost a whisper, the sadness and steel cut through the pulsing music and held Rachel in her tracks. The witch frowned when she noticed that her hand placement just added to Ivy's torment and let them drop to her sides. Hurt flashed through the feral gleam of the vamp's eyes. A shot of irritation shot through Rachel. They had been past this old dance for months.

"I'll just come back, Iv. Give you a second to yourself. I screwed up….typically."

"No, just be still."

Closing her eyes, she let that small action attempt to convince Ivy how much she trusted her to handle the situation. It was the trust she gave that let Ivy get control of her instincts.

"I'm not afraid. I'm pissed. Ok, the fact that I sat here and creeped on you was uncalled for but God, Iv, you needed a hug." She peeked through slitted eyes to see if Ivy's posture had eased. "At least let me turn this music down."

An electronic click and silence roared louder than the throbbing bass. Rachel opened her eyes to see Ivy standing an exact eight feet away, all previous emotion returned to wherever the vamp kept the rest of her baggage.

"Why are you doing this to me?" Ivy's voice was as emotionless as her face.

For a moment Rachel was back in Mackinaw, sitting in Kisten's van and asking Ivy to stay and share blood. She could remember the fear in the vampire's eyes, the sadness, the unfamiliar confusion as Ivy asked the same question. Back then it had been to ride the adrenalin rush that Rachel needed to feel alive. No more fear or confusion now; the silky voice sounded beaten.

"Why am I doing- What the hell, Ivy? I live here too, remember? How about what are you doing crying alone in the middle of the living room?" Sanctimonious anger bubbled and threatened to boil over. Rachel lifted her chin and stared defiantly at the vamp.

"Just answer the question. You know damn well what I'm talking about." The response was a growl; black eyes ringed by a slip of brown bored into the witch.

"You know what, go on, put your headphones back on and go back to whatever the hell you were doing. You were crying and a friend would offer support!" Rachel turned in a huff, ready to stomp off to her room.

"Nina asked me to move in with her."

Rachel froze mid-step and turned back around slowly. Newt appearing right now in the sanctuary would have been less of a shock. Her mouth hung open, bravado lost. "W-what?"

"Nina wants me to move in with her." The frustration that edged Ivy's voice suggested a frequent argument, "She says she's done sharing me with you. She wants me to make a decision."

"You're actually considering this?!"Rachel bristled, hands clenched into fists by her sides. Before Ivy could reply, she continued the tirade, "I know Nina needs you, and that you're helping her with a difficult situation, but what about the firm?"

As Rachel deflected and denied, Ivy smothered all emotion behind her typical stoic mask. The living vamp's shoulders slumped in resignation but her eyes remained black, fathomless pools as Rachel's anger washed over her. "You can handle the office. I'll still take contracts and come here for some consultations. I don't need to live here for that."

"This is bullshit and you know it." The redhead blustered, an angry flush spreading across her cheeks. "I know she doesn't like me, but god Ivy, I'm not trying to steal you away from her. Is she this paranoid about everything?"

The room crackled with unspoken tension. Without a word, Ivy turned and fled to her room, disappointment and vampire incense trailed along behind her. Rachel bit her lip and weighed her options. She could follow after the agitated vampire and risk triggering her instincts further, or she could walk out and get a coffee while this blew over. Ivy never stayed angry for long.

Rachel stood on the landing, indecision pulling her between the Ivy's door and the church's exit. Still, there was something in the vamp's tone, in her posture, in her drying tears that screamed a warning that she knew she should heed.

A loud thump and muffled curse made Rachel's mind up for her. She walked towards Ivy's room with exaggerated loudness. No more sneaking up on vampy, there were enough stress and pheromones floating on the air.

She paused for a moment in front of the closed door and let her mind wander again. The church without Ivy. Impossible. Rachel suddenly realized she couldn't imagine anything without Ivy. She had been surrounded by her for so long. Change was hard for vampires, there was no way Ivy actually considered moving, right? An unsettling dread rose from her gut.

"Stop it Rachel." Ivy's voice rose strangled from the bedroom, the witch's fear just fueling the fire.

"Can I come in?" Rachel hesitated for the second time in a night. It had to be a record.

"Really, I'd rather you not."

"We need to talk about this." Rachel turned the knob, "I'm coming in."

The fading sunlight poured through the curtainless windows. Stacked boxes threw pillar shadows across stark white walls. Ivy stood in the center of the room bent over an open box staring at the framed picture of Rachel and a giant Jenks posing in Mackinaw. She turned away abruptly, but not before Rachel saw that her eyes were again red-rimmed with tears. She swiped at her face and sniffed, back still turned. Rachel felt her stomach plummet to her feet.

"You p-promised." It was all Rachel could get past the lump in her throat.