Chapter Three
    
        The next few days that followed were rather dull. Jack acted 
the same, while Jill, fearing if she might be thrown out, cautiously 
cooperated with anyone that spoke to her. Everything was fine, as long as 
no one mentioned Raff, or Jack and Jill in the same sentence. Topaz and 
Mai had been going out to hunt every night together and Vallov kept to 
himself. Jack usually stayed in his room until it was time to eat, then 
and only then did he leave the sanctity of his room and speak to Jill. 
Jill, on the other hand, spent her time wandering around the house and 
yard until early morning thinking of how everyone basically avoided 
her. It wasn't that she was upset, but more surprised that even Topaz 
was leaving rooms when she would walk in.

    "I don't see why she has to stay here." Mai said one evening 
when Jill was not there. "She does nothing but cause problems for 
everyone." Jack, who was lounging on his favorite couch, kept silent. 
Topaz, trying to defend Jill, said, "Mai! We can't just kick her out 
the door and say, 'Sorry Jill, but you're on your own'. C'mon 
Jack! Say something, don't just sit there quietly!" He continued to 
stay quiet. "Feh, fine. At least I tried." Topaz finished, standing 
up. "I'm hungry. Let's go Topaz." Mai declared as she rose to 
her feet. They bade Jack goodbye and left. "I don't know. Mai hates 
her, that's no mystery. But maybe it's not our feelings that 
she's having problems with. She might be uncomfortable here. I did kind of 
force her to become a vampire subliminally, sort of. Maybe she really 
didn't want that." Jack thought getting up and going to the stairs. 
"Maybe I made a mistake in pushing her. Or visiting Orlock, that 
could be it." He continued as he ascended to the top floor. Walking to 
Jill's door, he hesitated, not knowing whether Jill would yell at him 
or simply look on acridly.

    In her room, Jill was just finished getting dressed to go 
downstairs. She sat on the bed thinking of what, other than smack Jack, she 
could've done to upset everyone. Jack, having decided to chance it, 
knocked quickly. Having realized that it maybe someone finally coming to 
talk and not just another dinner "invitation", she said abruptly, 
"C-come in!" The door opened to reveal Jack as her face fell. Time for 
dinner, or so she thought. "What?" she asked coldly. "I-I wanted 
to ask you something." Jack managed to get out after being taken back 
by her bitterness. "Do you like it here?" he asked calmly. "Oh 
no," she thought, "he's really going to throw me out for hitting 
him!" "W-why do you ask?" she said aloud. "Well.. I.. Er.. That 
is to say..." "Hmm, it's just that you don't seem to enjoy being 
here." he explained. "I don't know what I can do to help, but if you 
have a problem, come talk to me. You're my fledgling, just ask me for 
help and I'll see what I can do." "I don't have a problem." 
Jill said shortly. "Don't lie." Jack replied looking irritated. 
Jill hesitated, thinking whether to tell him or not. "It's really not 
that much.." she started, "but everyone acts like they don't want 
me here." "Is that all?!" he exclaimed, holding back laughter. 
Jill looked shocked and puzzled, "What?! Is there something else you 
were expecting?" "No, no, no, it's just that I thought that you 
were unhappy being a vampire," he said, finally calming down, "but if 
that's all your problem is, then, you don't have to worry."

    After an hour of talking, both Jack and Jill made their way 
downstairs to the den. "Now that you understand how everyone else is, you 
don't have to worry about them hating you. Well, Mai still hates you, 
but Topaz, Vallov, and I still like you!" Jack was saying as he sat on 
the couch. Jill sat beside him. "So have you changed your opinions 
about us?" he continued. Jill thought about it and replied, "Yes, I 
think I know how Maila feels, and I understand why Topaz acts like he 
does, but you" she paused and looked at him, "are still a 
psychotic pervert." she said smiling. "That's not funny." "Yes it 
is." "Your sense of humor is quite obscured." "Yours is reality 
challenged." Jill retorted. Jack couldn't help but smile happily, 
something he had almost forgot how to do. Topaz and Mai returned later 
that night and every one ventured off to bed before sunrise. Jill thought 
for sure she'd never get to sleep, but the next thing she knew Jack 
and Topaz were laughing merrily while Mai gossiped with her. Before long 
it was night fall again and Jill woke up. It had just been a dream.

Chapter Four

    When the moon finally shone from behind the clouds, Jack and Jill 
sat on the roof counting stars. Since their talk three days ago, they 
had started talking more and getting to know more about each other, 
respectively. Some might even call it puppy love, but as Topaz called it, 
"claiming territory". Mai had almost stayed in a room with Jill for 
five minutes before running away. Things actually seemed to be getting 
better. The atmosphere created by everyone was a joyous and peaceful 
one. No one was screaming or yelling at anyone one else. Eventually, 
everyone got to the point of friendliness when everyone was in the same 
room.  Jill and Mai actually sat down to work out their differences once. 
Happiness abounded in the little house.

    Then one night as Jack and Jill sat on the couch listening to one 
of Topaz's reports about rebel vampire activity, Jack's hand crept 
slowly towards Jill's. Topaz, noticing this, quickly finished and 
excused himself from the room. "Now that we're alone," Jack said with 
a sly look, "what do you want to do?" "Wha? Just what are you 
getting at?" Jill asked blushing. "Oh, you know, maybe make out a bit, 
or go for a walk, or something." he said nonchalantly. Jill got to 
her feet. "I'm going to bed." she announced. "Good! I'll come 
with you!" he said excitedly, jumping up. She shot him an annoyed 
look, but made her way to the stairs. As Jack began to follow, Topaz 
emerged from the kitchen. "Mai and I are going out for a while. We'll be 
back by sunrise. Is that okay?" He asked looking back from Jill to 
Jack. "Sure! Have fun!" Jack happily replied. And as soon as the door 
closed shut, Jill continued up the stairs with Jack following.

    Before Jill passed Jack's room, he pulled her in. "So nice of 
you to stop by!" He said. "it was a spur or the moment thing, I 
assure you.” she retorted calmly. Sitting down on the bed, jack gestured 
for Jill to join him. She sat down beside him. "Well, now what?" 
she asked curiously, but before she could make a smart aleck remark, Jack 
kissed her. "That's what.” he replied smiling. "Oh, I see, well 
then why don't we, um, continue?" she asked blushing. "Impeccable 
idea!" he exclaimed, kissing her again. Out a ways from the house, 
Mai and Topaz were walking. "I wonder what those two are doing." he 
said, more to himself than to Mai. "How should I know?" Mai 
shrugged. They looked at one another then kept walking.

    After what seemed a decade of kissing, Jack and Jill lay naked in 
the bed. Both were smiling and embracing each other. "Jill, you are 
beautiful." Jack said as he kissed her nose. “I know. But thank you 
for reminding me." She said and smiled. They lay there for a few 
minutes more before Jack asked her, "Jill, are you sure this is what you 
want? I mean, you won't regret this later on, will you? Because if 
you're having doubts, then--" he cut off as Jill kissed him. 
"Don't worry, I think I'll manage. And if I do regret it, I'll just 
blame you." she said. "Besides, we have all eternity to get over it, 
right?" Jack sighed. "Yeah, yeah, we do have all eternity, so let's 
not waste a minute of it."


The End!