Written by Jennifer: I left Kimberly's office, feeling better now to have one problem resolved, but I didn't feel like returning to my lair just yet. I headed out into the night...in no particular direction at all...I just walked. Before I knew it I was knocking on the private back entrance of the Raven. "Coming!" A familiar voice rang out from the other end of the door as it opened and Daniel's sleek form appeared in front of me. He looked at me suspiciously. "May I help you?" "I...is Armand here?" Rhonda's voice could be heard in the foreground. "Daniel, baby, who is it?" "Just a friend, Rhonda...I'll be there in a minute," he yelled over his shoulder. "Well, is he?" I asked, more sternly, I had a look in my eyes that let him know that I was not going anywhere. "He's up those stairs." "Thank you, dear," I whispered, brushing my lips over his cheek and rushing up the stairs. I didn't have to knock because Armand knew I was here and had already opened the door for me. "I wasn't sure if you'd come...not after what happened," he whispered. I looked at him and sighed, ready to say something but my tears overwhelmed me and came flooding out before I could form any words. "My gosh, Jen, what happened?" he said rushing to my side and helping me over to his couch. "It's this whole mess...everything...Shanta is being so difficult!" I shrieked. "How so? What happened?" I glanced up at him, his dark eyes had a look of bonafide concern in them...but did he really feel this way? Did Armand really care about someone else this time...or was it all a facade? I didn't care...I was hungry, exhausted and was in no mindset to try and rationalize...so I spilled my story to him. He sat there, just staring at me for a long time...not saying a word. When I was finished the blood tears had all but dried onto my soft white skin. He leaned forward and kissed my tears away...cleaning off all the blood. "So, now, you know," I whispered. "Now you know. I don't even know what I'm doing here...I just started walking and before I knew it I was standing outside of your door." "There was a time when you loved me." "Yes there was a time...a time before I knew you...I was swept away by your whole manner...till..." "Till what?" "Oh, I don't know, Armand...you know you've really gotten the short end of the stick wih your immortality." "How so?" "You were left without a maker at the begining of it all...and after that you only sought revenge for all the wrongs that had been committed to you in your mortality...but that's not the way it should be. You are who you are...there's no changing that...you would be so much happier if you didn't try so hard." "But...I...I don't know how...it's all I know." "But it's not Armand...it's not all you know or else you'd be happy. I know all too well the pain of unrequited love...that's because like me you're afraid...you don't want to be committed so you go after someone you know you can't have because then it's safe. You're lucky...you have Daniel. Most people don't like to play our games...they get tired of them and leave, or they find out from others what we're like and don't even try to play." I sighed and stood up pacing around the room. "If you know me so well...why then? Why are you not with me?" he questioned. "Because there's a difference. I'm in love with your sensuality...your romanticism, but that isn't enough...you've got a vicious jealous streak, one I have in myself...but I can't accept it in others. It's hypocritical...I know but that's the way I am. More than that, I'm in love with Lestat...with his power, his vulneralbility, his curiosity, and his courage. Whenever I see my darling Lestat in action, my maternal instincts kick in...I want to be there to comfort him and soothe his aches and pains...that's what pulls him to me." "I love that about him, too..." "And, right now, my maker is in the same position...only she's shutting us out so I can't soothe her pains...and I'm being selfish about all this." "No, you're not." "Yes, I am, Armand...they were the ones who almost died, but all I can think about is myself...when I should really be grateful..." "But that's not your fault...sometimes we have no control over our emotions...they just overtake us and care little for what we want or think." "Could it be? Are you really giving me advice as if you care?" He stood up and crossed to me, I was standing propped against the outside window with my arms crossed. He lifted his hand and caressed my face before kissing me. "I do care, Jennifer...my Princess.." he murmured. His words hit a nerve with me since the only man who called me that was Lestat. I opened my eyes and realized he was offering his neck to me. "You haven't fed," he whispered. "But, I..." "No, don't talk...just take...take what you need...I've already fed twice this evening...and you need your strength, young one." I laughed, in spite of the situation, before I wrapped my arms around his body and sank my teeth into his neck. The need to feed was near unbearable, but now as his blood ran hot into my mouth something in me snapped. I lost control over everything...time, reality, reason. All I could focus on was his body and his blood. I could see all of his fears and dreams rushing into my thoughts like waves. *So this is Armand,* I thought. *You're not scared yet?* *It'll take a lot more than that to scare me, my love.* The blood was coming quicker now. I could feel his heart beat in its strong rhythm, pumping harder and harder with each drink of blood. His will growing weaker as he let go of everything placing all his trust in my hands and my teeth. The swoon was threatening to take me under...and if I let it, all was lost...so just before...just as it climaxed, I let him go...my teeth slipping from the wound...the taste of his blood hot on my lips. He looked at me and smiled...not much had changed in his face and manner...he was still as young and beautiful as ever. "You look much better now," he said brushing my hair from my shoulders. "Your color is coming back." "I feel better too...only I'm so tired." He reached out and grabbed my hand and then led me to the couch. He lay down on it and then reached out for me. "Come on...we both need to rest." I climbed into his arms and buried my head against his chest as he wrapped his arms around me...almost as if he were afraid that I might fall to the floor. "Thank you, Amadeo...for everything." "You're welcome...though I didn't do much." "You listened..." "And you let me listen...no one has ever done that before...so I want to thank you," he said, kissing my hair. "Rest now for when you awake the army, your partner and your General will be waiting for you...and things will be resolved...I promise you." "I hope you're right," I whispered, nodding, but was already falling under...sleep was taking over as I snuggled deeper into his embrace.

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