It was not the brightest thing he could be doing, going out in public, but if stayed cooped up another night without feeding he was going to go crazy.

When he was mortal, the discipline to stay still would not have been an issue, even without food; but the thirst and the call of the night had gotten the better of him. Besides, what is the worse that could happen, death? At this point, he was not so sure that would be a bad thing at this point.

Anyway, he had stumbled across Mel’s as he was making his way around the outskirts of the city but it seemed that it would be a good place to be out and lay low.

He walked into the checkered floor diner with color in his face from freshly feeding earlier in the night and thought that a good cup of coffee and some time with his thoughts would be a good thing at this point.

Looking around he noticed a few groups of what appeared to be the college crowd and a few other obvious regulars and then he caught the glimpse of a forest green knee popping out slightly from a booth on a more sparsely populated side of the diner.

Approaching the counter he ordered a cup of coffee, taking it in hand and moving over to the booth where a familiar face sat.

With a warm smile for an old friend and mentor he said, “Is this seat taken?”

Catherine had been sitting there for what seemed to be quite some time. She had decided to leave the apartment, where she had been cooped up. She decided to go to a place that was unfamiliar and try to clear her mind, so far it was working after all, she had a good book to distract her.

The only thing that was missing was the presence of someone. Catherine was a social vampire and she hated more than anything to be alone. She had spent most of her youth in that position and she had learned to despise the feeling. She had fed earlier that night and instead of returning to the apartment had stopped by the library take a book out and had settled here. Despite the fact that she knew no one here it held a certain warmth that she appreciated. Besides she had been amused when some of the college boys had hit on her. It made a refreshing different feeling. It seemed that mortals found her beautiful.

Hearing the voice and ready to rebuff what seemed to be another guy trying to hit on her, she lifted her eyes from her book and her face broke into a smile. "Max! On no not at all, please sit down. How long has it been?"

Sliding into the booth and setting the coffee down onto the table he replied, “I would say close to a year.”

Taking his jacket off and tossing it to the empty part of his seat he said, “You are looking good.”

Seeing Catherine was nice. It felt good and familiar. There was something about her, more than the fact she helped him when his world turned to chaos, but rather a sense that their paths were intertwined, destined to connect in their futures.

He took a sip of the coffee, “so whatcha’ reading?”

Her entire demeanor changed. She seemed to be free of the burden she had carried for so long, after all it was nice to see the face of someone that she had met before Julian and before the chaos that had seemed to follow them. "It has been a year hasn't it."

She smiled at his comment. "Is there ever a time that a vampire doesn't look good? I doubt it, well unless you count the blood thirsty hunger that changes who we are inside and out, in some cases." She tilted her head as she looked at him. "You look quite good yourself." He was the same person she remembered and she was comforted by his presence.

She glanced at the book open in front of her and shrugged. "It's called Kadin. It's a romance about the Ottoman Empire and something to do with harems. It's enlightening and distracting, something that I desperately needed." She bookmarked her page. "So what have you been up to?"

He laughed as it occurred to him that the last time they could have seen each other might as well had been a week since they parted ways.

“Really nothing has changed. I am still getting in trouble with women regardless of their mortality, still getting into fights and still having trouble not turning into the big bad beastie.”

The fact his former government employer filled him full of holes last week was not something she really needed to know. The fact he was still the same go lucky cavalier seemed the better answer looking at the weight she was carrying when he first sat down.

Taking another sip, “I have been paying your kindness forward when I run into new vampires in my situation though.”

Catherine could tell that he was hiding something yet she didn't question him further she had enough on her mind and didn't need to add any to it. If he wanted to share he was more than welcome to. She couldn't help but laugh a little a this comment on women. "Are you sure it's a little trouble? If I remember correctly I had to smack you upside the head a few times to keep you in line." It wasn't like it hurt for long anyways. He was a vampire and healed quickly. She doubted that she had done any lasting damage anyways.

She nodded approving of his thoughtfulness. "Well I was lucky with my sire and I thought that I would share it with others that I thought needed it." It was at that moment that she remembered a quest he had started. "Speaking of which, did you ever find your sire?"

“No, but I suspect that he is in my life. Just call it a feeling.”

Looking out the window as though speaking to her reflection he asked, “Speaking of finding things. Did you ever find what you were looking for?”

He was of course making reference to the awkward night that had let to their time out when things had began to become just a little to friendly for comfort putting their relationship on the edge of something that just didn’t seem right at the time.

“I thought I had found that someone, but as I have learned relationships with mortals are not easy.”

Catherine shrugged. "I have a feeling that he or she is watching out for you. Your sire is probably like most sires, ready to do anything to keep their fledglings alive." That was how she had lost her own sire. He had put his life on the line to save hers and had end up dying, leaving her devastated and utterly alone.

"I did, find something and he was mortal, but he insisted on being changed, because his twin brother is also a vampire. It's a complicated story, so now he's my fledgling/lover but it's a tense situation. His vampire side hates my guts and wants to wring my pretty neck, his words not mine. I try to convince him that my neck is perfect the way it is. I don't think that he believes me. Basically one part of him loves me, while the other would rather have me dead." she gave a soft sigh. "Why can't it be easy and uncomplicated?"

“I don’t know why it can’t be easier.”

“I really don’t.”

Suddenly smiling in that way that suggests he is always looking for trouble he said, “Does he need to be made jealous or just get a good old fashion ass whooping? Nobody goes dichotomous on my girl.” With that, he closed with a wink.

“Seriously though, you look like you aren’t sleeping well and on my last visit to your coven not there anymore either.”

Catherine could help the smile. "Are you going to come to my rescue? Save the damsel in distress?" Her eyes were lit up at the thought of him dressed up in armor. "I can just see it now, you in armor coming down to save me on a white steed." She had a vivid imagination, which was perhaps why she was still alive. She could have given in to depression a long time ago, yet she fought to continue on, even when it got difficult.

Her face all of a sudden turned very serious. "Despite the fact that his vampire side hates me, I'm seen as his possession and he doesn't seem to care what I want. I don't even think he understands me. I don't think he realizes how much he truly hurts me, not physically, but emotionally." She let out a sigh. "I do love him, but a part of me is wondering if it is worth it. I do want to help him and ease his transition but he isn't making it easy on either of us and the way I feel isn't helping either."

She paused her eyes thoughtful and down on her book. "I've always slept with the sun, now though I find myself waking up in the middle of the day and unable to sleep. If I'm exhausted I fall back asleep but if I'm only tired i end up staring at the ceiling until he wakes up." She paused again and looked up at him. "Maybe I should move on."

“Well if you taught me one thing it was to take care of yourself first otherwise you can’t take care of the rest.”

Pausing with another sip of coffee, “It is possible to help him, take care of him, but not extend yourself. Why not move back to the church and then connect with him at night; give it some time to go naturally one way or the other. Maybe the old saying ‘familiarity breeds contempt’ is something you are up against.”

“But to be fair he should have remembered the old saying, ‘be careful what you ask for, you just may get it.’”

Max unsure that he was truly comfortable about talking about her love life troubles, especially since he wasn’t her love life trouble he threw out a bit of other small talk.

“I noticed that development is making its way out here, in fact I passed the beginnings of a clock tower that will be going up as part of a new park.”

CAtherine could sense his unease and realized that he was right, she needed some time to herself, perhaps on that level they could reconnect. He was right though and she was glad that she had asked him. "Perhaps I'll go back to the church or find my own place. It's something that I have been wanting to do since I've been on my own, perhaps I should do that."

She knew that he changed the conversation and most likely it was on purpose, then again she couldn't blame him. The conversation that she was having was meant to be talked about with other girls not a man that she had previously thought of having a relationship with, though perhaps that idea should be rekindled. It could produce interesting results and she couldn't help being a little curious to what would happen.

She nodded emphatically at the change in topic. "Yes I've been up there a few times at night, simply to look down on the city. It is quite a sight. If ever you have the chance you should check it out."

Grabbing his coat and pulling it on while standing he dropped a couple of dollars on the table and then held his hand out.

“Come on my dear, there is no better time than the present.”

He knew that she was involved, that she was vulnerable, and that he was a terrible flirt. He knew that there were still feelings there, especially for him, and he could not sit there one more minute without going postal or worse—the angst of the moment was telling him to hold her maybe even kiss her and frankly, he wanted to, but he was not going to mess with this.

“Walk me to the tower and let’s watch the night fade away.”

She watched him surprised when he put his coat on, yet she stood up to follow him putting her own hand in his. She trusted him greatly and there wasn't many that she gave that trust to. There was something about him that made her trust him completely. There was also the fact that there was some sparks between them. Yes she was involved and she was also somewhat vulnerable, but if it happened, it happened. She was tired of feeling like a possession, she wanted to feel like the woman that she was, wanted someone that would treat her the right way. She always woke up pissed off and annoyed, she wanted to wake up with a smile for once.

She knew that he was a flirt and perhaps a part of her wanted that feeling, wanted to know what it was like to feel desired. It was definitely time to move on, she was a beautiful woman with energy to spare and all that energy was going down the wrong way. She picked up her bag and slipped her book into it. she gave him a beautiful smile. "Then let's go to the clock tower."

He took her hand and walked with her.

“When was the last time we just enjoyed a moonlight stroll,” he asked rhetorically.

For some reason the terrain seemed so much nicer than it had before. The moonlight accenting the curves of the hills as they made their way in the night. As they walked, they passed the occasional couple that ironically also walked hand in hand. A chill crossed Max as he was suddenly self-conscious of the fact he was actually holding her hand.

How did this happen, he asked himself. They had never actually gone so far as to play out the flirt before. Smiling, he stopped and turned to her. He had to make himself clear.

“Catherine, chance has crossed our paths tonight and I need you to know that I still honor what you have asked for me, but I need you to know that you are a beautiful woman, a woman I do desire. I recognize that this is not our time, if we are to have a time, but let us both see our part in this play through until the curtain falls with the rising of the sun.”

With that, he gave her a kiss that was friendly and tender, on the lips.

Catherine had realized at the time that they had left the diner that they were holding hands, yet had said nothing. She enjoyed even the smallest touch of affection whether it be platonic or sexual. To her this was simply a symbol of friendship, but deep in her mind, she was being told that it was different, yet she did nothing to change it, nothing to remove her hand from his.

When he stopped, she stopped as well and listened very closely. She wasn't even surprised when he kissed her. She simply watched him with amusement. "Cryptic opinion, beautiful but cryptic." She couldn't help but being amused, he was basically reciting poetry to her and she was amused by it. She tugged him along to continue their way to the unfinished clock tower. "I do have one little question though. What makes you think that this is not our time?" Yes she was with someone, but that had never stopped her before. She was a Nephim and by nature a sexual creature. Besides she wanted a normal relationship, not one covered with obstacles.

With quiet resolve, he simply said, “because I am being hunted and I won’t risk another in the crossfire.”

“I have been lying low, healing and though I know they will be back soon I just had to get out—risk it you know.”

He didn’t stop walking or even look at her while he spoke.

“But we knew that the day would come when my mortal life would come looking for me.”

Changing his tone quickly, before she had a chance to respond to his words he yelled, “Come on we are almost there,” and began to pull her playfully up the hill.

Catherine raised an eyebrow, though she said nothing. She could take care of herself and if need be she could hide and keep out of the way. She was very adept at hiding, that was how she had escaped those that had killed her sire. People were trying to kill him and she knew that she could get caught in the middle, but she was sure that if they spent time together, someone that was trying to get to him would figure out that she was important to him. If that ever happened she would have to show them who was boss. She had some ideas floating through her head. It was a pity that she didn't have complete control over her telepathy.

She smiled as he pulled her up the hill. How was she suppose to keep her hands off him if she was having fun? Fun times could lead to other things and well, because of the seclusion of the clock tower from the rest of the city other things could happen.

She stayed in step with him easily and they were soon at the base of the clock tower. She turned her head towards him, then up the tower to look back at him. "Now what?"

“I don’t know,” he said eye balling the structure.

“Tell me Catherine, do you think it is hard to erect a tower like this? How long would it take to get up this? Is this tower in just the right spot?”

Max began laughing pulling her to him. “I hereby declare this our special place. A place we meet and go, maybe even together sometimes,” he said with a toothy grin.

Looking down, he whispered, “Oh look another tower.”

Catherine tried to keep the smile off her face but she was failing miserably. There were so many innuendos in that sentence that she had trouble keeping a straight face. She managed to keep her face mostly blank but at his last comment she couldn't help but laugh.

Finally managing to get some kind of control of herself she looked down and then back up at his face, her eyes sparkling and she whispered back at him. "Well you are right another tower. Should we do something about this one or let it be?" She was considering shadow walking herself up to the top of the tower and making him catch up, but she was truly wondering where this was going and she didn't want to miss out.

“Well look who still laughs.”

With that simple sentence, he kissed her pulling her into the base of the tower. “Ah shadow, you never looked lovelier.” He always thought what she was able to do with shadow was cool and he was even a little jealous of her for it, but he would learn to master his own talents soon enough.

Looking around he realized that the basic structure was completed by the stairs were not completed yet. “Oh man, I wanted to climb the stairs.”

He suddenly realized his chest was tightening, something that happened when he felt in danger. However, this danger seemed to be different, unknown to him. Why did he have to make this so complicated, she dug him, he dug her.

He fell to his knees, “I can’t do this,” he said as he lifted up her sweater and kissed her navel.

Catherine felt thrilled. She felt desirable, truly not something she had felt since being with her sire all those years ago. Everyday with him had been like rediscovering herself everyday. After decades together he continued to love her and take care of her. He had showed her who she was and how to be that person. He hadn't expected anything from her and she had been lady of the manor as long as she had been with him. she kissed him back it truly was the only response that made any sense.

She watched him confused as he fell to his knees and she could feel the goosebumps rise on her skin as he kissed her navel. She followed him down and knelt across from him. Her voice was soft as she spoke. "What can't you do?" She didn't know what he was going to say or what she wanted to hear, but she hoped that she would like it.

Taking her face in his hands, he stared into her eyes for a few minutes, briefly interrupting his vision of her with the occasional soft kiss to the lips.

Ever since Max had met her, he had felt something for both as beast or man. Even though he was aware of the pure intoxication that came from one of her coven and even though he knew of her ability to walk his mind if she so chose-he knew that his feelings were his and not put there by anyone or anything.

Finally, he spoke saying, “I cannot walk away this time anymore than I can stay.”

Kissing her again, “Let tonight be a down payment for the times to come, I promise to stay alive,” he said with a wicked smile, “long enough to see those days come.”

“Is this something that works for you?”

Catherine looked back at him, her brown eyes watching him. She could bewitch him if she so desired, yet why bewitch someone when she wanted a meaningful relationship? It wouldn't be meaningful and she wanted that more than anything. Every time he kissed her, she kissed him back and she meant every kiss she gave him. He had always meant so much to her, even back then when they had barely known each other and she had always known that it would come back to this, to them.

She watched him and shook her head. "Does it work for me? No it doesn't, but I don't seem to have a choice. I would prefer to help you and to stop whoever is following you, yet I have a feeling that you don't want my help. It would be too dangerous. do I look like a glass sculpture? I won't break and I might be able to help you." She paused looking at him and she kissed him. "Can I help you? Please say I can."

“Catherine my problem is bigger than any one person can help me with.”

Looking away with sadness in his eyes, he reflected on the fact that his past had found him and that he knew he would soon have to leave the city that lay stretched out on the horizon below. There were a couple places he could go to start working on this solution. Perhaps he would begin with Jennifer in New York and see where that led, but why was he thinking about that when he needed to be here in the now.

Returning his gaze, he forced a smile back onto his face, “I have had time to think about this and learn about what I am and even though I am young for our kind; time is my ally. Patience is my ally for this one.”

Not able to withstand her gaze he sat back against the wall he allowed his momentum to pull her into the cradle of his arms so that he was holding her his lips by her ear now.

“Besides my damsel in distress has her own issues that her knight, no matter how shiny, is not going to be asked to help out with, now doesn’t she?”

He tightened his hug affectionately.

Catherine let out a sigh. He was right and perhaps there wasn't anything she could do and as he mentioned, she had things to do of her own. Such as take care of moving out of Julian's place, after all she needed her own space and own breathing area. She wasn't getting what she needed there and what she needed was someone to understand. Max understood what it meant to be burdened with the past, though his was slightly different from her own.

She let out another sigh. "You are right. I have my own problems to deal with and I have to deal with them by being strong and it's better if I am not distracted, that could be more dangerous." She moved her head that was placed on his chest and looked up at him. "Promise me that if you need help that you well at least send a word. Once I've cleared the matter and the problem that I have, I want to do something worth while." She wanted to help. Yes she was moving away from her fledgling but they had differences that she hadn't noticed before and his transformation wasn't helping matters though he was getting better at controlling it.

“If I need help I will ask.”

Taking a few moments with his thoughts and looking out at the city, he continued, “and even if it takes a few hundred years I promise I will be back someday.”

He hoped it would not take that long, but he had the feeling that it would be a very long time until he returned to this city. Max knew though that when he did he would be more in control, more powerful, but at his core still the man who had a deep love for this woman.

“There is something you can do for me,” he whispered, “but I don’t truly know how dangerous it would be.”

Pausing to decide if this was something, he could really ask of her, but unfortunately, she was the most powerful vampire that he knew personally enough to make such a request. He thought of asking his current host, Chi, but he had not returned to her place since the night he was attacked and he really did not know more about her than he was to pass along a belt weaved of silver to her.

Clearing his throat, “could you help me to find my sire before I am forced to leave the city. I know he is here, I can just feel it.”

Catherine nodded, that was all that she asked. She simply asked that if he needed help and there was something that she could do that she do it. When he gave her, the said request, she simply stared at him. Find his sire? Was that even possible? Mortals had it so easy with the genealogy trees and family life. It wasn't the same with vampires, he relationship between sire and fledgling is difficult to ascertain.

She glanced at him, her eyes uneasy. "I don't know if i can help, but I will try. Besides there is only so much of this city that has to be discovered. Eventually we will find him. I'm not all that old Max, but I will do my best." That was a quest that was going to rpove difficult to perform indeed. "Do you have any idea where to start?"

“I know that it is an improbable task even if you dedicated your full attention to it, but while you are out there I would appreciate it if you kept an eye out.”

He thought about anything that could assist her and he only knew what he had told her before, “All I know is that I was attacked while on a stakeout in the business complexes downtown. I really don’t have much more than that and the fact that as I lay there drained and dying he spoke of my honor and warrior spirit and felt that this life was to be some form of reward.”

Looking out again he noted the early stages of the ending of the night. “The sun will be up in a couple of hours. I don’t want to leave. I want to fold my arms around you and find peace.”

He did not know how they would do that though. They both had places to get back to, but perhaps for one day they could…

‘That was selfish,’ he thought.

Catherine listened carefully as he told her what he knew. "Sis you meet any vampires before then or recently? Perhaps one of them is your sire or knows of your sire. Any thing could help really." She wanted to help and thinking of something else might help her find a solution for her and Julian. A change of pace was exactly what she needed.

She didn't hear his thought despite her burgeoning telepath powers, yet she felt the same way. "Would it be selfish of me to want the same? To simply want to be here in your arms in peace and be able to simply enjoy the moment." She was content in his arms for once couldn't they enjoy each others company. "Can't we simply enjoy it for now?"

“Catherine I meet so many vampires being the way I am.”

Talking about it began to agitate Max so he stood up and walked over to the edge of the entry looking at the lights. Speaking over his shoulder, he continued.

“I am looking over a young lady who is as troubled as I was and even more dangerous than I am to herself. I am crashing at this ancient’s apartment right now as the result of a strange encounter with another one. My life has been immersed in vampires and now my damn former employer, for lack of a better term is after me and I fear it is because of more than the fact that I dropped off active duty without permission.”

Turning back to her, he showed vulnerability that she had never witnessed before.

Catherine watched him and she showed him no pity knowing that that was not what he wanted, but rather showed him sympathy. "So i suppose the whole becoming a vampire thing change things, it usually does. I remember that when I was changed, it allowed me to escape my husband. For me the change was for the better, no one really cared about me in my mortal life."

Her eyes narrowed, not in anger or in jealousy, but rather in speculation. "I believe we should go talk to this ancient, they usually know a lot more than they are letting on and something told me that this ancient might actually know your sire. They meet so many people with their time on Earth." She wondered if he would decide to maybe ask her questions or if he would brush her suggestion off.

Seeing the vulnerability on his face, she went to him and gave him a tight hug. She knew that he needed comfort and she was the type of person that would offer it to him.

He stood there hugging her thinking about her suggestion and finally whispered in her ear that it may be a good idea. “There was something odd there.”

After a while they broke the embrace and he began to walk her back towards the city as the sun would be up soon and they both needed to find there respective shelters for the day.

Max provided Catherine with the address of Chi’s apartment and told her a bit about the ancient, at least the little he knew.

“So should we do this tomorrow,” he asked of her.

Catherine followed him as he mentioned something odd was there. The entire story with the belt caught her attention. The belt had been hers and she had given it to someone that she clearly valued in her life and was glad to have in return.

She followed him and decided to head to the Nephim coven instead of back home. Julian had often said that Catherine should take some time away from him. Well since he insisted so much, she was going to do exactly that. Besides the catacombs of the Nephim coven were very comfy and would suit her needs for now. She would get her stuff from his place later.

Catherine nodded. "I think we should talk to her, the sooner the better. Besides if she does know something, it is better to know now."