Laval
Bouvier Residence

“Lach went back to TO?” Jay asked his brother who was leaning over the back of his bed trying to pull out the cord to his laptop.

“Huh?” Pierre muttered, glancing up at him. Jay tilted his head and lifted his eyebrows.

“Lachelle. She left?”

“Oh, right. Yeah. She decided it’d be for the best.” Pierre straightened as he lifted the cord and powerpack putting them in the case open on his bed. Jay leaned in the doorway, eyebrows raised. Two months had passed; Pierre had been home that whole time. The band had taken a tiny hiatus, but all of them had been working towards getting back onto the road again.

“You’re already heading back on tour?”

Pierre nodded as he checked his phone. “Yes. Soon. Heading to Pat’s first.” He smirked faintly. “He’s not coming with us. He’s got this new gig with Musique Plus.” He licked his lips the tips of his fangs flashing as he grinned at his brother. “Good times.”

Jay shook his head the corners of his mouth twitching. He didn’t say anything, though just watched his younger brother and marvelled at the fact that he was even there to be able to do just that. Pierre caught his eye and allowed his smile to soften.

“I’ll call every other night.”

Jay chuckled, “Don’t be stupid. You’ll be too busy to even think of us.”

Pierre’s brow furrowed. “No. I will call. Family is important.”

He stood still for a moment turning his gaze to the window and thought for a moment what Matthew and Serena were doing. His birth parents had returned to Huntington Beach, and last he’d heard they were doing very well – Serena had yet to forgive Matthew for everything, but that was to be expected considering all that had happened. But, other than that, they were going strong and apparently were trying to have another child together…

Pierre shook his head at that thought and looked back at Jay. “Well, that’s that, then. I better go.”

“Say goodbye to Maman and Papa..”

Pierre nodded as he picked up his bags and walked passed his brother, out into the hall. “Always.”

Jay followed him out then waited in the front hall as Pierre disappeared into the kitchen to find their parents. Voices drifted from there as Pierre made his farewells then he joined his brother at the door. He clapped a hand to Jay’s shoulder, giving it a hard squeeze.

“I’ll see you, bro.”

Jay nodded then pulled Pierre into his arms in a hard embrace. Pierre’s nostrils flared faintly but he pushed his hunger away as he patted Jay on the back.

“Take care of yourself,” Jay said, gruffly. Pierre smiled saluting his brother then turned to walk out the door.

* * * * *

When Pierre arrived, Pat was outside propped up against the side of his car, staring up into the sky mouth moving in a silent prayer.

“Pat?” Pierre got out of his car and walked over to him. “Hey?”

Pat blinked then smiled at his friend. “Hey, you’re here.” Pushing away from the car he met his friend in a hard embrace, both of them clapping each other’s shoulders. “Ready to hit the road again?”

Pierre headed for the house as he spoke over his shoulder. “Almost. I just…” his voice trailed off as he disappeared inside. Pat sighed and shook his head, following his friend inside.

“You just what?” he prompted as Pierre slumped on a chair in the kitchen.

“Had to come feed…” Pierre glanced at Pat. “For the last time.”

The Were blinked. “What do you mean, ‘last time’?”

Pierre rubbed at his face, and murmured, “I can’t expect you to keep feeding me, or coming to find us on tour.”

Pat laughed sourly and snapped, “Bullshit. That’s not the real reason.” There was an awkward silence after his statement. He knew that there was more to his friend’s reluctance to use him, than just being worried about inconveniencing him. Pierre glared at him as he curled his lip, revealing the tips of his fangs. The Were ignored the warning. “You saw me at the cathedral. You know what was said.”

Pierre growled, “You have Mare.”

Pat sighed and sat next to the vampire, leaning back with his hands behind his head. “We’re best friends. Have been for decades. But…we’re together because our families expect that.” He looked earnestly at the vampire. “It’s just for convenience…”

Pierre shook his head slowly. “This is the final time. When I come back from tour…I’ll find someone else.”

Pat’s jaw tightened. “And on tour?”

Pierre looked away, unable to meet his friend’s eyes. “The blood slaves in the City…”

“Shit,” Pat sighed. “My father’s been trying to liberate them for years…” There was resignation in his tone, realising that the vampire wouldn’t budge on it.

Pierre rubbed at his face wearily, finally meeting his friend’s sad gaze. “Patrick. I just can’t rely on you. I’m sorry.”

His friend laughed softly, as he rolled up his sleeves, offering one arm to the vampire. “Don’t be. You’ve made your decision, and we both have to live with it. Just…feed…” Pierre looked at him; Pat’s expression was expectant. “Pierre?”

Pierre sighed and shifted off the couch, kneeling in front of the Were. Pat lay his arm down across his knee; Pierre took hold of the proffered arm and leaned over it. He paused for a moment, nostrils flaring at the scent of blood that pulsed beneath the surface of the Were’s skin. He growled low, causing Pat to stiffen a little. But before he could change his mind and pull back, Pierre struck, scoring his fangs along the vein then latching onto his wrist and drinking hard.

Pat grunted at the intensity of his actions and had to steady his breathing, tightness in his chest, a lump forming in his throat, as Pierre sucked at the cut. The vampire didn’t meet his eyes as he finished, licked at the cut then pulled away. Pat swallowed hard as he rolled his sleeves back down and sat back, observing his friend.

Pierre wiped the back of his hand over his mouth then climbed to his feet, still without looking at Pat.

“Right, I…better head off. Meeting the guys at the airport in half an hour.”

Pat nodded slowly as he dragged his fingers through his hair. “Yeah, have a safe trip.”

Pierre acknowledged his statement with a slight tilt of his head as he picked up his keys and made for the door. He paused, though, and finally looked back at the Were.

“Take care of yourself, ‘kay?” As if it were goodbye forever.

Pat shivered and lifted a hand to the vampire. “You too,” he murmured. “See you…” Guarded hope in his tone.

Pierre flashed a tight smile then left without another word. Patrick stood and went to the window, resting a palm against the glass as he watched his friend pull out of the drive and away from the house.

Away from him.

Notes