I Hate Myself but I Love You

Chapter 22

I don't know how long we both stand there for with Laura in my arms. I'm too content to move away and she's... I'm not exactly sure. She's been through a lot, not to mention that she's now undead, so I don't know what she's thinking. I never really have; that's one of the many things about Laura that absolutely fascinate me. But what I've seen, what she's showed me, are all parts of her and therefore beautiful. Nothing, no matter how bad, could negate the breath-taking radiance that is Laura. She is a ball of sunshine in an obscure universe.

Laura pulls back; her hands still on my waist and my arms are resting on her shoulders, my hands linked behind her neck. My eyes drop to her lips that are slightly parted in what I recognize as her realization expression.

"Where's everyone going to sleep?" She questions. I smile, the gentle one I reserve only for her, and laugh quietly. Laura frowns at me, "What?"

"Sorry, cutie." I manage to stop laughing, but being this close to her keeps the smile on my face. "It just reminds me of what you said after we first kissed." I make my eyes comically wide and do my best Laura impression. "'So you're a giant black cat, huh?' "

She pouts at me, "I do not sound like that."

"Yes you do."

Laura swats my side gently before putting her hand back on my hip. "Can you at least answer my question? We can't all fit on that tiny bed."

"I wasn't exactly expecting guests, sweetheart." I ponder for a moment. "The humans can take the bed and I can curl up on the floor near it to make sure Xena doesn't decide to have a fresh midnight snack. You can join me, if you want. But I think I'm going to grab some mattresses from a nearby town."

"Carm!" She looks at me with wide eyes. "You can't just steal people's mattresses!"

"Sure I can. But that's not what I meant. There's a store there that I can buy them from."

"Oh." Laura blushes. "Uh, sorry for assuming. I just-"

"It's fine." I cut off the ramble before it can fully start. She doesn't look convinced. "I promise."

Laura nods, "Do you want me to come with? I can help you carry stuff now."

"There are a lot of delicious smelling humans there full of blood. I don't know if you can control yourself; you are still pretty new to the whole vampire thing."

"Alright." I can tell Laura's trying to keep the disappointment out of her voice.

"There is one thing we could do. I have to warn you, it's not exactly pleasant."

"Is it painful?" I shake my head. "Then that's fine, do it."

I go to the cupboard and pull something out, making sure to be fast so she can't see what it is.

"Sorry about this." I grimace and cover my nose and wave the open deerskin pouch (made it myself. I went through the vampiric version of rebel teenage years and tried to live on my own in the woods for a few years before Mother needed me again) under her nose.

She stumbles back, clutching her nose and groaning. I hold my breath and close the pouch, putting it in the pocket of my leather jacket for later, just in case.

"What the Hufflepuff was that?"