ooc. I finally made it. :D

Fredrich Barnes fornwed as he laced his skates up. He wasn't going to lie, he had never skated before in his life. But he was a doctor- if her could figure out med school, he could figure this out too.... Right? Well, he hoped so.

He also hoped he didn't fall on his ass in front of Helen. That would be embarassing. She had come with him, but seemed a little distant. She seemed a distant kind of person. Period. Fred wished that he could crack her surface. It was smooth and perfect, just like the ice.

Fredrich stood shakily, a smile lighting his features as he held out his hand to her. He had bought the pair of them skates. His were neon green and hers were a bright pink. He thought it was anice touch and he hoped the abnormally bright colors made her happy. It wasn't as if anyone could see the ridiculous skates: They were alone. Who else went to the frozen-over duck pond at midnight. Not many.

"Ready?" he asked her, unable to fight laughter. This was silly- and for some reason, he knew they would have a good time.

Ice skating? Helen breathed in deeply. She wasn’t going to lie; she was really scared about this. She’d never been skating before, and she’d seen multiple people seem like angels on the ice in her youth, when she was still alive, but it was something Helen was sure, with her grace, that she would never acquire. She held her hands firmly together, worrying about skating. Fred handed her the skates he had purchased for her, she thanked him, and slowly started to put them on herself. Would she even be able to stand in these darn contraptions? She frowned at the pink things, but Fred seemed pleased enough with them, so she didn’t complain. He was nice enough to buy them for her in the first place.

He seemed so excited; his smile was bright, and almost childish. Helen’s eyes showed a bit of distaste, but she didn’t say anything that would hurt his feelings. She looked up at him, after she had completely laced up her skates. “So… have you done this before?” She looked hopeful, but for some reason, his face said that he hadn’t. They were both going to fall, she could tell already.

Helen took his hand, and made another sigh of fear. She looked to him with a worried glance as she stared at her wobbling feet. “I’m going to fall!” She cried, her eyes widening. Fred laughed, showing her his good time, and Helen wasn’t going to ruin that, but honestly, she was really scared! Though, she had a hard time admitting to something like that. He would just… have to tell.

Unfortunately for Fred, Helen was the type where, she didn’t exactly spell everything out for people. You…just had to know.

Fredrich laughed softly as Helen tied up her skates. She was scared though- he could smell it. Vampire wiles. But he was a little sgittish too. Although- there was no need to fear.
"If you fall I promise the ice is not holy water and there are no stakes in the pond. AND.... your skates don't have any silver on them. You're safe" he grinned.

"However, your bum is not. The ice is hard." he added, stomping his foot lightly to prove a point. "But at least we won't drown. No thin ice." He teased. Fredrich was feeling a little goofy at the moment. She really was his friend- and he wanted to get to know her better.

"Have you ever done this before?"

"Have I ever given you cause to doubt me?" he questioned her. "Do you think I would lead you into troubled waters?" Fred smiled. She really wasn't enjoying herself. His smile faded a little. She had to loosen up.
Helen got on wobbly feet and Fredrich stood in front of her. He took her hands in his and slowly began skating backwards- baby steps, leading Helen away from the bank inch by inch.
"Helen...." Fred said, his voice low. "You really ought to try more things. Give this a try- See you haven't fallen yet. You won't fall. And if you do- I'll owe you a favor- any favor. Okay? Just give it a try. Please crack a smile!" Fredrich gave Helen the goofiest smile after he said that, hoping to make her laugh. She was as cold as this ice. Perhaps she just needed to be warmed- but Fred definitely had a fear of boiling her. He didn't want to make her mad- only happy. he was trying. He knew she was scared- but she should get out and live. Fred was living more than she and he was a mental trainwreck a few nights ago. He just wanted her to enjoy herself. Was that so bad?

Helen gave Fred a timid death glare, in a playful manner as he assured her the frozen lake wasn’t filled with fatal objects. She gave his hand a bit of a fearful squeeze. Your safe. Helen grunted, yeah, maybe, but not from gravity, she thought.

Though her constant negativity made Fredrich’s constant light to dim, and that saddened Helen a bit. She tried to manage a smile, but somehow her lips just wouldn’t do it. He started to move and Helen’s eyes went wide, and she squeezed his hands harder. Fear was glowing in her huge ice blue eyes. She was walking on little blades! It was like dancing on the edge of a knife! How could anyone possibly do something as crazy as this! Well, maybe it wasn’t crazy, but it definitely was scary.

Fred then tried convincing Helen otherwise of trying new things, and the like. Helen bit her lip a bit. But then, Fred’s face was almost split in two with the silliest grin Helen had ever seen. She couldn’t help but burst into laughter…. And there it was. A smile. IT was the first smile that had been on her face since she’d died, and her muscles almost hurt because of the unfamiliarity of it all. She would have blushed, but instead, she lost her balance and began to tumble a little. “Ah, Fred!” Though, she was still laughing.

Fredrich only laughed as Helen proceeded to squeeze his hands almost to the point of breaking bones.
She was a little wobbly but that was okay. Surprisingly- Fred had great balance and wasn't having much trouble with the blades.

All thoughts came to a halt when she laughed. She.... laughed! Granted it was at his expense but she laughed and it was- breathtaking. Fredrich shook his momentary stare off like a winter's frost and smiled as he gripped her hands and helped her steady herself. He let go of her left hand and began to skate closer to the middle of the ice.

"Helen-" he replied as she spoke his name. He gestured with his free hand for her to try to skate with him a little bit. "You're doing great." Fred wasn't quite sure he should remind her of her smile. Maybe she didn't like smiling and he forced it out of her- against her will? Oh- he hoped not. She looked happy when she laughed- without laughter- without smiles- no one was happy. And he just wanted her to be happy. That was all he wanted for her.

And why? Why did he care so suddenly for this woman? Maybe she was simply a rebound in his eyes- or maybe it was the fact that she helped him when he needed it most. She gave of her time and effort. All his other girlfriends just took and took- leaving him with nothing. Helen gave- and that was something- considering the isolation she put herself through. He wished he could destroy her walls and show her how it felt to be human again- to feel and know and enjoy life- thought it was not life they lived but death. Although, death could be fun. They could go scuba diving without air tanks. Vampires didn't have to breathe. That'd be a good activity. Wait- it was winter. Scuba diving was a no. Awww. Oh well- he'd think of something else-

Back to reality. Helen wasn't so bad on her skates he supposed- but it really was shockinghow afraid she was- Well, everyone had to face their fears. Running did nothing- and Fredrich wasn't going to spoil her and take her off the ice. She had to learn to deal with it. It'd be good for her. She should already know how to deal with fears- being a murdering vampiress and all. Well- maybe some people weren't as afraid of killing as he was.

Fred realized he was staring at her and felt a nonexistant flush creep into his cheeks. If he were still alive he would have blushed with embarassment. He still wasn't the most comfortable around women- less so now that his heart had been ripped apart twice.

For once, Helen actually enjoyed being a vampire, for she had lost the ability to blush. However, if she still obtained such, she would probably be the shade of a strawberry! Whenever Fred let go of her left hand her own hand flung to Fredrich’s right arm. “How can you walk on these things?” She looked down at her feet, watching them scooting along the cold ice.

Fred seemed to be back to his old chipper self again. Was it because he made her laugh? She continued to smile, getting used to the feeling. She stopped skating for a moment, and squeezed Fred’s hand softly. “Fred…” She bit her lip, “I haven’t smiled in centuries…” She looked down at her skates again, then back at Fred. “Thank you.” She then let go of Fred, and tried pushing off on her own. She wobbled, and flung her arms out like a plane to balance herself. “Whoah.” She breathed. She then straightened her back, from being akimbo as she almost fell. Taking little baby steps, she looked back at Fred, and waved. Though, it wasn’t too long after that that she lost her balance, and fell to the ice with a thud. “Umph…” She muttered.

Helen laid on the ice with her eyes closed for a moment until she started to laugh again. She must have looked completely ridiculous in front of Fredrich. But… She found herself not really caring if she looked like an idiot in front of him. Why? Opening her eyes, she caught sight of the moon, and beckoned Fred. “Come join me on this wonderfully freezing ice!”

She really did love the cold. The lack of heat reminded her of so many things. The lack of life, the lack of feeling, and the lack of love. She found comfort in the cold and darkness. Was that all her death would ever be? The lack of? Maybe Fredrich could change that for her… She decided not to be hopeful. Though, he made her awfully happy. Hell, he could make her laugh! And if anything, that was something.

She squeezed his hands lightly and mentioned that she hadn't smiled in ages. Fredrich gave her a huge smile. That made him unusually happy- happier than he had been in a long time! He could've kissed her if he wasn't so afraid she'd push him away.

Helen let go and began to skate on her own. She raised a hand and waved at Fred. He waved back and immeadiately began skating towards her as she kissed the ice with her ass.
She started laughing and Fredrich stopped in his track when he got to her. She did look crazy, lying on the ice- laughing. Fredrich smiled at her and shook his head as she asked him to join her.

"Helen- you're crazy" he whispered when he laid himself down beside her before his own rouch laugh danced out of his throat. "But I'm honored to be invite to lay with you on this ice. Good thing I can't feel this kind of cold anymore, eh?" he asked with a grin.

Fred looked up at the gray sky and sighed as it began to snow.
"I always loved the snow- It's so- I don't know the words- pure perhaps. And every flake is unique. There are no snowflakes that look alike. It's so amazing- It really makes me feel like there's more meaning to this earth than what we think...." his thoughts ran on as he watched the snowflakes fall from the sky to land on he and the focus of his attention.

"Helen- you're crazy"

Helen laid completely on the ice, and covered her eyes, giggling almost manically. She seemed to be letting go of all of her hurt for a small moment as she enjoyed herself on the ice. It was a strange moment for her, for the hurt that hovered over her like a cloud was gone, and she could not stop smiling. She nodded, "yeah, I probably am! I'm surprised they haven't come to take me away."

Fred came to lay with her, with a grin plastered across his face. Helen couldn't help but match his goofy grin, and she laughed a little. She grabbed his hand and held it for a long moment, before letting it go again, to make sure that he was still there.

That he was real.

The fear of him disappearing suddenly haunted her, though she did not show it. Perhaps he wasn't real. Maybe he was a figment of her imagination resulting of her prolonged loneliness? "Fred, you are real, right? Us crazy people sometimes have a hard time distinguishing our imaginary friends and our real ones." Helen laughed, smirking at her sarcasm that filled her voice. Though, to an extent, there was truth in her question.

"I always loved the snow- It's so- I don't know the words- pure perhaps. And every flake is unique. There are no snowflakes that look alike. It's so amazing- It really makes me feel like there's more meaning to this earth than what we think...."

Helen looked up at the sky watching the snowflakes falling, before she closed her eyes. "It reminds me of London... Where I grew up." She bit her lip, before continuing. "The winters were always so cold that you felt like a walking ice cube..." She breathed an airy laugh and then sat up. She took a long breath, despite the fact that her lungs no longer functioned. She still hadn't made the transition of not breathin anymore. Old habits are hard to break, you know.

"London was always so cold, and my grandmother would always have a pot of tea waiting for me by the fire when I would come home from the library. Then she would sit with me, and we'd talk about books, artists, anything really..." Helen caught herself, realizing that this was the first time she had ever spoken of her grandmother to anyone else. She rubbed her hands together, tried to smile, but it ended up with a pained frown. "Sorry I'm ruining things again." And very slowly, she tried to get up on her skates again.

Fredrich froze as she spoke of her history. He never knew... And he sensed that she didn't speak of her past very often. He was touched that she told him.
He frowned. "Thanks Helen..." he said before pausing.

"Not much snow in India...." he sighed. "I've lived with the heat all my life until I came to Demaitre." he shrugged. "I've grown used to the cold and I suppose I miss heat a bit." he laughed. "Now I'll never know heat again- since I'm ya know- dead." This statement had more than one meeting.

Helen filled Fredrich with a starange affection but it was not heat. No fire coarsed through his body when he was with her. No heat had ever made his blood rush as a vampire. And maybe the reason he felt no heat- no extreme emotions- was becauyse he was quite pessimistic and didn't really think she returned his strange affection.

He sighed. "Anyways... after this we can go back to my flat and well- we can't warm up can we? Well- maybe we can play a board game or something- you play checkers?" he asked her as she began to stand.
"Ruining things?" he asked, perplexed. She didn't ruin anything.
He suddenly got a devilish idea. Fredrich stood and grabbed her hands, suddenly pulling her with him as he skated very fast. Helen started to loose her footing and he slowed, putting one strong hand on her waist to steady her. He skated them over to the bank before grabbing her and assiting her demise as they both fell into a snow drift, the snow soaking through his clothes. He'd be cold if he were human still.
Fredrich laughed. "You're not ruining things. I just did. I'm so clumsy I just landed us in a freezing snow bank" Fredrich told her. "You could never ruin anything as well as I can." He smirked.

"Thanks Helen..."

Thanks? For what? Helen turned her head a bit, confused. "For...?" As soon as the word left her mouth, she realized why. Because she had shared her history with him. She did not quite understand why he would thank her for it... But perhaps it was his way of cherishing her trust. She had given him a piece of her life, a piece that she had held onto dearly for so long without sharing.

"Now I'll never know heat again- since I'm ya know- dead."

She never would have guessed that he was from India. Why would he leave such an exotic place for someplace... Like this? Perhaps he was just traveling like she was. You can't really stay where you died... People might recognize you. At least, that's why Helen left. The first days of her death, some people looked at her funny, and she knew she had to vanish - completely. She nodded, and touched Fred's hand. "It's weird whenever you curl up under a blanket, and feel nothing. When you touch someone else, and you know they are there... But it doesn't feel the same." She looked down at the ice, realizing that she and it had little differences. "We're numb."

Was she even capable of something more than sorrow and numbness? Was it even possible to be happy? Fredrich made her happy, and she hadn't felt in that such way in a lifetime. She wasn't sure if Fred really understood how big of a feat that was for him, and how much she appreciated his presence. If he were to disappear... She'd be devastated. But, if he knew his importance, would he then manipulate her? She... was too afraid of allowing herself the luxury of being vunerable. She almost did not survive the loss of her grandmother.

"Ruining things?"

Helen nodded, ready to explain herself, but before she could do so, Fred had grabbed her hands, speeding her up as they skated. Helen squeezed his hands tightly and her eyes widened as she became very scared. "Fred!" She breathed; the were going to fall! He put a strong hand on her waist, and she felt instantly safe - which was strange. It was just his hand, though he had steadied her, kept her from falling, until, well, they did fall! She let out a muffled yelp, as she lay in the snow beside Fred. She looked to him, feeling the ice melting into her clothes.

"You could never ruin anything as well as I can."

Helen opened her mouth to protest, but, Fred's words stopped her. She looked at him wide-eyed, unsure of how to respond. She was truly at a loss for words. What was she supposed to say? She closed her mouth, and a small smirk graced her lips. He truly was something else. The most of all, he was patient with her. She was whinney, and pathetic and times, and still he held fast, and stayed with her. But why...? She wished she could say something to let Fredrich know how she felt about him... But she could not do it. Her mouth would not form the words, and her voice would not make any sound.

Fredrich let a rich laugh escape his mouth as he stared at Helen, her mouth agape.
"I'm sorry for pushing us intot he snow Helen but really, you do need to cheer up" he said with a smile as he took her hand and kissed it.
"There is no reason to be so guarded with me- for I have no one else but you. You are my only vampire friend and as of now- I do believe that vampire friends are the only ones worth having- for the humans I drink with occasionally will die-" he frowned. "In about forty years"

"It's sad to think of people dying ya know?" he stated as he picked Helen up and steadied her on the snow bank. "But you know- there's always a positive- at least... that's what I'm finding. I'm astonished how much I've changed since Pru left"

His eyes darkened as he fell into a deep thought. He had been crazy- Helen had seen him crazy and very desperate- almost more like a child than a man. She couldn't possibly see him as more than a child- he thought. And that hurt... He would only be a child to her. He only assumed. He did not know. He turned away for a brief moment, studying the sky. Why was he so attracted to her? Well, he knew- she was different- different than Pru and Marian. She wasn't the cookie cutter house wife. She wasn't a slut. Harsh to comment on Pru like that- but she was a very "Loose woman". Fred returned from his reverie to find Helen standing beside him.
"Ah well- you want to try skating again?" he arched an eyebrow, cheery demeanor returning. "Think you could skate a figure eight?"

"I'm sorry for pushing us intot he snow Helen but really, you do need to cheer up"

Helen looked at Fred, a playful glare, and smiled, darted her eyes, a bit embarrassed. “I’m sorry… Fred, I… I’m just scared, ya know?” She bit her lip, looking back at him, then laughed sarcastically, “I’m scared out of my damned wits, and then…” She tilted her head, looking at him for a long time. “You show up. And make me smile, and laugh, and… It’s just I’m not used to it…” Her voice trailed off and she shrugged, smirking as Fred kissed the top of her hand. Jeez, he was affectionate!

"There is no reason to be so guarded with me- for I have no one else but you. You are my only vampire friend and as of now- I do believe that vampire friends are the only ones worth having- for the humans I drink with occasionally will die-"

That took Helen for a loop. She simply stared at him, watching him, he sounded so sincere… It was true, he wasn’t going to grow old, age, and abandon her like everything else had… He would stay the same with her, and be her friend. Her lip twitched in a failed attempt of a smile, and looked down at the snow, all in their hair and clothes. She brushed a bit off of her shoulder, and tried to think of something to say like ‘I’m glad we’re friends,’ or ‘you make me feel like there’s actually something worth living for now.’ But nothing came out. Not a word. Her eyes however, showed a subtle brilliance in them that hadn’t been there for centuries.

The two stood side by side, and Fred proposed that they start to skate again. Helen nodded slowly, but still hung onto him tightly. “Okay… Figure eight… How do I do that?”

Fredrich let a rich laugh escape him as Helen faltered over her words.
"You'r enot used to laughing- oh Helen.... you poor thing. I do hope all the smiles don't break your pretty face- might strain them too much," he teased, his voice taking on a serious tone. Fredich's eyes smiled as she smirked at him as he kissed her hand. He couldn't help it- he liked touching her- it made him feel close to her.

Of course- Fredrich wanted to be very very close with Helen, but not for the usual reasons. He was still half-befuddled over why Helen was all he could think about lately. Thoughts flickered across Helen's eyes but Fredrich could not read them. As she brushed off the snow from her jacket and asked to try a figure eight, Fredrich smiled.

"If you don't break both my arms bones Helen- I'd be terribly glad to show you." He smiled. "The grip is just a little tight." he remarked, his air casual and light. Her grip actually hurt quite a bit. Her eyes shone with something strange- what was it- um... a light possibly or a glint of something. Either way- it was happy, positive- and Fredrich assumed that was a good thing.

He sighed and put his right hand on her back, gently guiding her.
"All you do... is skate in an eight shape- like the number?" he explained, smiling- feeling ridiculous again. Well, he was always ridiculous around Helen so it wasn't anything new, but he didn't want her to think that he was a ridiculous man. He wanted her to think he was a good man, a strong man- hopefully a handsome man. Woah.. getting off track! Fred's inner sanity poked at his insane mind.
He guided Helen through the first loop of the eight and took his hand away.
"Think you can do it without me?" he asked, wondering if she could- be without him....

Helen laughed a bit too, as Fred laughed. He… had a nice laugh. Why was it that everything he said, when intentionally funny, made her laugh so easily? It was like he didn’t even have to try and make her happy… It just… Happened. Breaking her face… Whatever. Helen rolled her eyes and nudged him a little, smirking.

"The grip is just a little tight."

The vampire’s eyes widened and she released him, but still held her hands there gently. “Oh! I’m so sorry, are you alright?” Concern filled her eyes like a tide wave as she looked up to him, but didn’t see any pain in his face, just a joking matter in his words. She hadn’t gripped him tightly, but her hands were lightly on his arm… She didn’t want to let go. If she let go, would he run away? Stick his tongue out at her and call her a sucker for believing in him? No… She couldn’t let go, not yet. She’d actually made a friend… Who wanted her to trust him… But there was just something there that wouldn’t let her completely let go.

As he explained to her how to make a figure-eight, she rolled her eyes and shook her head. Duh. What a stupid question to ask… It was so simple! “Wow… Really?” She laughed, and moved her skates forward slowly with Fredrich. “That’s so simple… I can’t believe I asked such a stupid question…” Yeah. She’d be blushing right about now.

"Think you can do it without me?"

Helen’s eyes jumped to Fred in fear as he talked about her skating without him. She shook her head and refrained from crushing his bones again. “No… Please… I…I like you being near me…” She bit her lip, looking down at the ice as it glided past them as the two skated together. Slowly, but they skated! She probably could have if she wanted to… But just that satisfaction of having Fredrich so close to her, protecting her… Just was too good to let go of.

Fredrich shook his head as Helen had a spaz attack. She was ridiculously cute when she was concerned. And the fact that she was concerned about him- make him smile just a tad wider.
"I'm fine Helen. My bones aren't broken. I think that's pretty good." He flashed her a white smile.

Fred looked down at his skates and chucked. "No question is stupid Helen- you should know that. Besides, it's not like you're a professional figure skater and have to know these technical terms," he said gently, shaking his head.
"You are silly...." he murmured as the mere sugesstion of Helen letting go made her fingers twitch with restraint as she tried very hard no to break his arm.

"Thank you- for not breaking my arm. Why are you so scared Helen?" he asked. "A fall never hurt anyone." Fredrich inwardly was happy she wouldn't let go of him. He liked her this close as well. And when she bit her lip, he had the strongest urge to close the distance and bite her lip for her- do everything for her- repay her for what she had done for him.

Fredrich smirked. "So? You like being near me?" he inquired, arching an eyebrow easily. "You can't hold my arm forever Helen- besides.... a fall never hurt anyone like I said. What's so frightening?" He frowned, trying to understand her phobia. Sure, he wanted to keep her arm in his forever, but that couldn't happen realistically. And... Fredrich had a feeling that he needed to help Helen as much as she helped him. He was already getting her to warm up, smile more, laugh more.... it was great- perfect, the way she grinned... the way she bit her lower lip when slightly embarassed... everything- he noticed everything. And for some reason- it didn't scare him.

Fredrich had finally learned how to deal with emotions. Pru and Marian had taught him to get over himself and learn to take things as they came. It'd either work out or not- no need to beat yourself up about it when it ends... or if it never happens. And Fred was comfortably comfortable with having a crush on Helen.

"I'm fine Helen. My bones aren't broken. I think that's pretty good."

Helen giggled. What? She giggled? She mentally slapped herself. What was she doing giggling like an idiot? She nudged him slightly, giving him a playful glare. What a silly jokester he was… Maybe that’s why she laughed so much? He was a professional jester that went around making people who looked ridiculously upset feel better about themselves and… Yeah, Helen, get a grip. That’s stupid. She knew she’d be blushing right about now, and she felt pretty stupid, too. She was grasping onto him as if she let go she’d explode into oblivion!

"A fall never hurt anyone."

The lonely vampire’s mouth opened slightly to protest, but she closed it, thinking a bit. She’d fallen so many times before… Not on the ice, but just with life that if she could prevent it… She most definitely would. “But why would I want to risk it when I can just hold onto you?” She looked at him with playful puppy dog eyes. “Do you want me to let go…?” She would be a little disappointed if he said yes, but he seemed so objecting towards her hanging on him all the time. Maybe he just didn’t like clingy people… Which would be bad for Helen. She was just about as clingy as you get without really realizing it.

"You can't hold my arm forever Helen- besides.... a fall never hurt anyone like I said. What's so frightening?"

With her other hand, Helen pushed a stray tress of her hair out of her face, behind her ear, looking overtly towards Fredrich. Would she be honest? Sarcastic? Withdrawn? What…? She didn’t know how to react… She didn’t know if she was ready to be completely honest with him, and let him know how afraid she really was to letting him go, giving him the possibility of abandoning her. “I… Um… Well… If I let go…” Her voice trailed off, as she realized, when she was about to be completely honest with him… How ridiculous it sounded. She then stopped, skated slowly in front of him, still holding his arm, gently. “If I’m holding onto you, it makes me feel like you aren’t going anywhere… Like you’re tangible… Not a dream… I…” Here we go… The ultimate ‘I need you line,’ “I like us being friends.” There. She said it. Now really it wasn’t that big of a deal, it wasn’t like she was saying I love you… But for Helen? Whoa. It was big money.

Fredrich smiled as Helen giggled and squeezed her arm with his free hand.
"Good God you just giggled- are you alright?" he inquired, his eyes softening sweetly. "You look good when you giggle Helen," he admitted. "Good thing it's not often- I'd have to beat the guys off with sticks."

As Helen fumbled over her words- opening her mouth as if to speak- and then closing it, Fredrich watched her intently- studying the thoughts that swam through her eyes. But he had never been very good at reading people. Well, maybe he'd learn.
Fred laughed at her puppy dog eyes and touched his hand to her face, grinning. "Don't give me that look- and no- I don't want you to let go, but who says that what I want is best?" he retorted, happy with his comeback, not even phased by the fact that he just confessed to wanting her not to let go. Well... he didn't. He never wanted her to let go. He wanted to close the distance. He wanted to press his lips against hers- so fair and fragile.

Fredrich took his hand away from her and continued to lead them through the figure eight, falling silent for a moment.
He listened intenetly to her, but did not look up at her until she mentioned the part about being tangible and not a dream.
"I assure you Helen that I'm no dream. I'm here." His eyes met hers and his faltered for a split second as she added
“I like us being friends.”

He had to admit to himself that his heart sunk, but he got over it- recovering quickly.
"Letting go of my hand won't ruin our.... friendship. It will only enable you to skate better. No need to carry my bulk with you on your turns."

Damn. Was he in the friend phase? Or if Helen ever felt anything for him- she'd never admit it? God, he hated emotions- but he was still quite human and unable to isolate his emotions from his logic as older vampires could. Suddenly it felt as if the world grew a little colder. Friends... ouch. It kinda hurt.

"You look good when you giggle Helen,"

Oh, bless those vampiric qualities of being unable to blush! A small smile crept across her face as she looked sheepishly away. His next comment about batting men away? She glared at him playfully and shook her head. “No… You see this complexion? Guys aren’t sure if they are staring at a dead person, or a ghost, which, the prior is true… But it’s not like they really know that…” She bit her lip, feeling a bit stupid that what she was trying to say basically came out completely wrong. “Basically, if you want to hear it flat? I’ve never had such a problem. My… grandmother had taken it upon herself to set be up with suitors so… well… none of them liked me because I was pretty, or interesting, or smart… It was all for the dowry… You see…” She bit her lip a bit more, realizing that she was probably digging herself into a hole that doing one of those awkward ‘fishing for compliments.’ However on the contrary, was not her intention in the slightest.

"Don't give me that look- and no- I don't want you to let go, but who says that what I want is best?"

Helen laughed silently, and rolled her eyes, giving him a slight nudge. She used her free hand to push some pesky hair back behind her ear, and looked down at the ice, thinking of something to say… He… Was he flirting? She bit her lip, as she looked back up at him and with an innocent smile, “then don’t let go.”

She was awfully close to him, closer than she felt like she could comfortable be with anyone as they skated in their figure eight. She wasn’t really sure how you could tell it was a figure eight… They were just going around and crossing and it was just… She decided not to over-think something as trivial as a figure eight. Honestly, who cared? A lonely vampire with waaaay too much time on her hands. That’s who.

"I assure you Helen that I'm no dream. I'm here."

Helen squeezed his hand, and at this point, almost missed her ability to blush. Sometimes… A simple blush was all you needed to get someone to know you cared. It was so strange… It was like she was living the life she would have if she were a teenager… Without her grandmother’s help. As she pondered about it even more, if her grandmother hadn’t been so insistent on a partner to take care of her, then Helen would have had so many different experiences in life… rather than retreating to the library every chance she got. “And… I’m glad.” She let out an almost half laugh-sigh. “I’m tired of dreaming…”

She ignored his last statement about friendship, and him being weight… He wasn’t getting it… Maybe she should stop using skating as an excuse and just say something! No… she was still too scared of getting too attached… Despite what he’s said, done, the way he looks at her… Helen just wasn’t ready yet.

"Your skin isn't so ghostly as you think. It's a pretty kind of pale- fresh and unscarred by the horrible sun. You're like- that disney character... ah- what was her name- oh- Snow White.... Trust me Helen, melanin is unattractive," he joked lightly, perking up a bit at her smiles. It was true though, her skin was unbelievably pale. However, he liked it. She was so dramatically different from Marian and Pru. He wondered how this looked- he and she? He appeared to be thirty even though he was actually forty or so.

Well, Pru always said he looked young. Fred shrugged off the thoughts of his sire and nodded.
"Dowries were horrible things, but if they got you a husband I suppose they were good--" he laughed. "Helen...." She bt her lip and he shook his head. "Those suitors were probably mentally disturbed from the inbreeding of noble families- don't take it to heart," he smirked- trying to salvage his smiles and keep this light and happy. It was getting depressing there for a while.

"Don't let go?" he asked, letting a tiny smile reach his eyes before adding. "I won't let go unless you tell me to Helen," he said in all earnesty, his feet forgotton as they skated in pointless figure eights, Fred's mind less focused on skating than on Helen. His eyes met hers and he studied them for a moment as she sighed.
He leaned towards her as she squeezed his hand and murmured,

"If you're tired of dreaming, wake up." He pulled away from her and pulled her along, helping her through a fast turn on the ice, his hand steady on her slender back. Fredrich breifly wondered how long they'd been out here.
"Helen- how long do you think we've been skating?" he asked. "We'll have to watch for sunrise you know- get back to my apartment on time so we don't melt."

"Your skin isn't so ghostly as you think. It's a pretty kind of pale- fresh and unscarred by the horrible sun. You're like- that Disney character... ah- what was her name- oh- Snow White.... Trust me Helen, melanin is unattractive,"

Helen nodded slowly… Not really recalling Disney… Or Snow White… But hey, snow white would be a wonderful adjective for her skin. Helen decided not to bring up her isolation to Fred, or her failure to catch the allusion he was making. She merely went along with it and hoped that he wouldn’t continue to compare her to some character… Though he was subtly calling her attractive and though it was nice to hear that from someone, and get the attention, which she’d never ever experienced… She didn’t know what to say.

Every man that had ever complimented her either did it for one of two reasons. One, to get a good lay, or two, to get a good dowry. It wasn’t a great combination and Helen lost a lot of respect for the male gender for quite a few centuries. Well, for many, many centuries… until this one. Where money didn’t seem to matter so much, and men took a change and women weren’t supposed to be submissive and furniture in the household. It was so different now, and Helen was slowly reacquainting herself with the world. Helen looked up at Fred as he reassured her about the suitors and merely nodded. And he was probably right.

"If you're tired of dreaming, wake up."

In a cold sweat… Sure. Why not? She did it every night. Nightmares, restless sleep, yeah, she knew it all, and if she didn’t fall into a coma during her sleep, she’d probably be an insomniac. She shrugged, biting her lip, and looked to him whenever he suggested going back to the apartment. “I’m a bit cold and tired… Mind if we go now?” All she wanted to do was get back to the apartment, bundle up, and maybe read a book, if he had any. But being a doctor… he had to have something, right?

Fredrich sighed as Helen's walls came up, erasing her smiles, giggles, and laughter. His face fell as she bit her lip and suggested leaving.
"Alright Helen..." he said, unwrapping his arm from hers so that he'd only hold her hand, guiding her off the ice.
There was no need for her to ask to leave. She could just do it. Everyone else had left. Sometimes Fredrich wondered if he should tell her- but he didn't. She didn't need to know his insecurities. She already had seen him stark raving mad.

The seemingly now-sullen Snow White followed Fredrich Barnes off the ice and onto the snow where he sat down on a bench and began to untie the ridiculously neon-colored ice skates. He sighed, still trapped in human expressions and gestures.

When Fredrich's boots were on, he stood and gestured for Helen to follow him. So suddenly she was quiet. Was it something he had said? And coulsd he fix it- take it back? Make her smile again? Her unbreakable impassive mask made his stomach clench with a sort of guilt that he couldn't describe. he had to have done something- what was it. He no longer offered her his hand as they had gotten off the ice. He carried a pair of skates in each hand, his and hers. As they walked back he said quietly.
"Vampires don't get cold Helen."

And the uncomfortable guilty feeling grew, making him frown slightly as he contemplated what could possibly have gone wrong on such a wonderful night.

"Alright Helen..."

Helen could feel the disappointment constrict his voice and his actions. He started to unwrap his arm, but she caught it with her hand. She skated closer to him and latched on. "I... Don't want you to leave? I'm just tired... Really… We’ve been skating forever!” She smirked slightly, to a point amused at how easily he was put down. Was it not all right that she was done skating? That she did not want to spend hours on something that so reminded her of herself?

The vampiress followed behind him slowly, and the sounds of the blades of her skates cutting through the ice almost gave her chills. He was trying to desperately to get through her layers, to break through her barriers of ice and snow and to meet the wonderfully new Helen that… not even Helen knew existed. Could she open herself up to someone who constantly bartered her? She really admired his persistence, and most of all, his patience. She was not an easy person to read, nor was she a good person to pursue as a love interest. She was just too scared…

She sat down in silence. She would explain to him once she’d gotten her boots on. She unlaced her silly skates, smiling at them. And just for Fred’s satisfaction, she laughed softly. “These skates really were cute…” Agh, cute? Surely there was some word in her vocabulary that would’ve sounded better than, ‘cute.’ She was sure he’d respond well to it though. Pulling the skates off, she laid them gently beside the bench, and pulled on her combat boots, lacing them up swiftly. All right, now, it was time to set this kid straight.

"Vampires don't get cold Helen."

Helen smirked, and shrugged. She walked up to him and wrapped her arms around his torso. So much affection… She was going to explode… She shut her eyes tightly, making a leap of faith… She hadn’t exploded yet… “No, they don’t Fredrich. But… They still need affection.” Helen rested her head on his chest, the beat of his heart was absent, and she opened her eyes, looking up at him with those icy blue eyes of hers and she smiled. She let go of him and placed her hands on his face. “I’m just tired Fred, and I…” She laughed at herself, thinking it so foolish now. “Wanted you to be closer to me…” She bit her lip, and sat down on the bench, thinking herself the utter social failure. She couldn’t get across anything she wanted to say. Ever!

Fred fought a smile as she said the skates were cute. He laughed softly.
"Cute in a psychotic way? They practically glow in the darkness..." Fred commented, lifting the abrasively colored skates and starting to walk away.
He'd let her breathe for awhile. Obviously it was just a little much for her today- all the smiling must've taken something out of her.

It was fine. She was tired- he was- well, he didn't know how he felt. He couldn't describe the strange constrcting feeling inside his gut. There was no word for it.

Fred stiffened as Helen wrapped her arms around his torso, only relaxing when she spoke- a little wary of what she was doing and if it would kill her. Helen wasn't the affectionate type so this definitely struck Fred as odd. Maybe she hit her head or something when they fell....

“No, they don’t Fredrich. But… They still need affection.”

She laid her head on his chest and Fredrich mentally made sure his heart did not beat, for it it did she'd hear it skip. Unsure of himself, he wrapped his arms around her as well, hugging her gently, his fingers moving to touch her hair as she looked up at him, icy blue eyes meeting his. She smiled and he couldn't help but return the expression.
Her hands cupped his face as she pulled away from him. Her hands were so cold. Were his hands really that cold as a vampire as well? Did he truly have no human heat left in his body?

Fred nodded as she said she was tired.
"It's fine- we can go back. It's fine really...." he murmured, aware of his misunderstanding now. He was such an idiot, but he had always overanalyzed everything- as a doctor... you were trained to analyze and test- over and over again. But he didn't want to test Helen. He didn't want to analyze Helen. He just hoped that if he did it again- unknowingly- that she'd forgive him.

“Wanted you to be closer to me…” Her voice was soft and slightly embarassed. She bit her lip and Fred offered her a small smile before she pulled away, sitting down on the bench with a look of frustration on her face.
Fred waited a few moments, letting her collect herself before he sat down beside her, dropping the skates into the snow with a soft thump.
His left hand took hers and held it tightly. He wanted to move his other arm around her, but was quite sure she didn't need another push today.

"Helen.... I'm close now, how much closer do you want this? But I can't ask that." His voice was soft and gentle as he rubbed her hand tenderly with his thumb.
"You're tired. We're going back to the flat.... we can talk later okay?" He smiled at her and squuezed her hand tightly before picking up the skates again, taking Helen's arm in his, and walking back to the flat with her.

He knew she wasn't ready. He knew she was still far too scared of something he'd never do.
She was scared he was leaving.
But he wasn't.
Only if she asked him to.

She wasn't ready. So they walked home.