Unnatural Attractions

Va'Shanna Remirez sat beside Nick on the sofa as he stared at his brother, Father John Vari. She was dressed in her usual tight, leather pants, and she wore a velvet crimson top. Her feet were bare, and her hair was pulled back in a loose french twist. An uncomfortable silence had settled in for at least three minutes now.

"Well, um, you see..." Nick chuckled dryly, putting his index finger to his right temple. "V and I are..." His clear, hazel eyes slid over to V, who remained quiet but encouraged him to go on.

"We're getting mar...mar..." Nick blinked his eyes softly. Memories of when he was eighteen and in love with Serena Valassa passed through his mind. Of when he proposed to her, how she rejected him, telling him that they were too young. He sighed mentally. He was never good at this.

Nick silently nodded as John shot up from his seat. The younger brother, John - naturally, paced back and forth. Forth and back. He walked over to the window with metal blind shutters. How could Nick let himself be committed to a life such as this? A vampire and a *human*?! This couldn't be happening!

"Don't John me! You're getting married to a....a....THING!" John's eyes, which were a deeper shade of hazel, almost blue, slid over to V. "No offense," he said quickly, not wanting to releash her 'wrath'.

"None taken," she sighed and wandered into the kitchen as the Vari brother's voices raised slightly. Picking up the phone, V dialed a number and waited. After Angel's rather long message ended and the BEEP sounded, she said,

Angel groaned as she picked up the phone after hearing Va'Shanna's voice on the answering machine. "V.... what's wrong?" She looked over at the glowing numbers on her digital clock on the night stand. "Jesus Va'Shanna... its 10:30!"

"Fine.. this had better be important. I'll be over within an hour." Angel sighed as she hung up the phone and got up off the mattresses on the floor, rubbing her eyes some as she quickly showered then dressed an a black leather mini skirt and deep purplish red halter as well as nearly knee high boots.

Meanwhile, in Va'Shanna's apartment, she waited for Angel's arrival while listening to her now fiance, Nick, and his priesty brother John, argue over Nick and V's engagement. If only Angel could have walked faster to the apartment. John and Nick were almost at each other's throats, like normal siblings would be.

Angel kept to her word, she was there knocking upon the door within an hour. When V opened the door, the two brother's stopped arguing as they looked over towards the strange woman in the doorway. A smile had graced her lips as she looked to V, then to the two cuties in the back.

"I think Nick better tell you." Va'Shanna motioned towards the two men, Angel's eyes followed and looked them both over, a sweet smile crossed her lips as those fiery eyes seemed to dance with the opportunity to possibly playing with minds.

"So... which one of you cuties is Nick?" Angel stepped towards the two men, hands on her hips as they swayed gently from side to side, a playful smile crossed her lightly painted berry lips. John stepped behind Nick, peeking out behind his brother's form. Angel gave him a quick wink which set John's eyes to wide. Nick raised his hand a little to the name call.

"Ah.. so what is there to tell me?" She smiled softly as V moved to Nick's side. When Nick hadn't said anything, Va'Shanna poked him in the ribs with her elbow. This action caused interest as Angel lifted a thin brow in curiosity.

"Is she... safe?" Nick was obviously concerned about this, not many vampires could be trusted and at times... even those who knew his beloved.

"I told your brother." She tossed back at him. Indeed, she did have to tell his brother about the engagement because Nick was having so much trouble getting it out. At the time, he had her rolling with laughter because of the difficulty getting the words out.

Meanwhile, in the living room. John and Angel stood watching Nick get dragged out and into the kitchen by dear V. Then John sat down on the couch as Angel took a seat upon a chair across from him. Winking softly at him, knowing that with someone in a priest uniform, a wink from her would set them to an uncomfortable state of mind. So it did, he looked to the ground.

"Kitrina Liam. Most call me Angel, I prefer the nick name though." She smiled sweetly as she then noticed Nick and Va'Shanna had reentered the room, Nick sitting down on the couch next to his brother and Va'Shanna standing near Angel.

"Um, Angel.. um.. me and V wanted to tell you that.. we are... um..going to be.. mar- marr-married." To get that last word out took a lot. Angel's reaction seemed to be completely opposite of that which John had given.

She blinked some, looked up at V, then to Nick. A bright smile washed over her lips as she looked up with equally bright eyes at V. "Wow! Congratulations! Now why haven't you ever introduced me to this guy before? I feel really loved... but who cares! You two are getting married!"

Va'Shanna did seem to relax that Angel did think she was nuts for doing this, and Angel wasn't finished, when her mind randomly put John as the priest, it was suddenly thrown together on this. "And Father John is the priest who will marry you two together, and he's here to help plan the wedding, right?"

"Well, I think family should stand behind each other.. especially their siblings. It should be considered a sin.. don't you.. Father John?" She smiled innocently at John, with a quick wink with it. Va'shanna caught that wink and smiled a little. Nick on the other hand was trying to hide his smile and laughter at Angel's comment. Angel heard a soft sigh escape John.

"There are things here that you won't understand." John leaned forward a little as he threw a glance towards the standing vampire that lingered over Angel's chair.

"What's won't I understand?" Angel actually looked a little irritated at this assumption that she wouldn't understand whatever was supposedly going on.

"Ms. Angel... Va'Shanna is a.. a.. she is a monster." He said this after a moment of pause, looking to Angel as a look of realization drifted over her angelic face. Angel stood and moved towards him, sitting gently upon the couch arm next to John. He looked away and scooted a little closer to his brother.

Angel placed a gentle hand on his cheek to turn his face to look at hers, she spoke softly and in a calm voice. "Father.. there are monsters.. there are vampires around you every day. In your very church to pray." When he looked to her with disbelief she rose and walked back to the chair she was in, once more crossing her slender legs.

"You're a.. You're a...-" He looked to the angelic being in the chair across from the couch which he sat upon, wide eyes looking at her face which was still calm, nearly empty of any emotion.

"Ever wonder about those people who sit in the darker corners of the church? Away from all light except maybe the gentle play of the flames from the candles? Who sit silently in prayer till the last golden ray leaves the sky. Then rise to give their thanks for the time to allow them to think their lives over, to pray for their mortal souls, then leave, walking out into the night." She looked at him, a soft smile touched the corners of her lips as she saw that he knew what she was talking about, that he had seen these dark people who sit for long, silent hours in the corners, deep in prayer."

"No... no.. Vampire's can't come into churches! It's holy ground! It's impossible for them to enter a sacred building." John didn't want to believe what that.. that thing across from him had said.

"Grounds and buildings don't matter. Even creatures, such as vampires can still have religions." Angel proved this by pulling a small black box from a purse near her, opening the box, she provided John with the sight of a vampire carrying around a rosary, confirming what she had said. Though the sight of the rosary seemed to hit a nerve with Va'Shanna as she stepped away, remembering her own little town in Ireland, which was catholic based, like most of the European countries."

John obviously wasn't ready to believe and seemed to panic within his mind. Angel quickly put the box with the rosary back into the purse, she looked to John with a regretful look. "I am sorry if I have upset your beliefs, maybe it was better that I not say anything.." She rose from her seat and moved into the kitchen so John wouldn't have to look at her, nor would she be tempted to torment him more on the subject.

Angel moved out from the kitchen and looked to Nick and V, an innocent look on her face. "I didn't mean to scare him off or anything...."

"Oh.. okay. Well, I guess I should be going then .Congratulations you guys." She smiled softly to them both as she moved towards the door, she needed to go visit a certain priest.

>I promise.< She smiled gently before stepping out and down to the street, heading for home to change real quick, she certainly couldn't go to a church in that attire.

Father John Vari sat at his desk working late again, when a soft knock was sounded on the door frame of his office, he didn't bother to look up. "Come in."

The woman with long flowing blonde hair that lay about her shoulders in gentle curls and a white dress that hugged a slender form gently, stepped in silently. "May I have a seat?"

"Of course." John looked up to see Angel standing there, indeed her nick name did earn her justice, all she lacked in appearance was wings and a halo.

"For judging you because of what you and... Va'Shanna are. For being vampires." He also looked down at his desk, playing with the pen in his hand before lifting his gaze back up to her.

"Its okay, we're used to it. See, many people judge us because we are vampires, they see vampires as the blood sucking demon from beyond the grave. In many cases it is true, but there are some, like Va'Shanna and I, who try to make amends for what we have done in the past." She smiled softly at him.

"Don't doubt yourself, you're really handsome, I'm sure that there are plenty of women looking for a guy like you." She smiled softly to him.

A random knock at the door moved John's gaze from Angel to the door where old Father McCall stood. Angel looked to the floor with a soft blush upon her cheeks and a gentle smile.

"I just wanted to tell you that I'll be heading home now. Make sure to lock up and don't stay here to late John, get some sleep." He smiled to both with a nod before leaving the same as he came.

"I can always work on this later, I don't want to detain you." Obviously, John had no clue as to how his words came out meaning not one thing.

"It's okay. Maybe I'll see you later, father." She stood, straightening the bottom of her dress as she moved to the door, stopping to look over her shoulder at John. "Goodnight Father, sleep well." Then she left, leaving John alone in his office once more.

When Angel had gotten down to the street, she looked around to see which direction she would head off in, but that thought was put on hold as she heard a loud crash coming from within the church, more around the area of John's office. The sudden sound sent her running back inside the church, regardless of the heels she wore.

John lay on the floor holding his cut hand close, grumbling about the darn lamp being in the way, which lay broken about him. Angel suddenly showed back up in the doorway, looking around the office for others, but only John's heart beat rang in her ears.

"You're bleeding... let me see, I won't hurt you, I promise." She smiled softly to him as she ripped a piece of the bottom of her dress off before gently taking the hurt hand that John hesitantly gave over to her care. Angel examined it to make sure no pieces of the pottery were in it before she wrapped the cloth about it in a make-shift bandage. "There."

"Thank you." He looked up to her, happy she didn't do anything that would have... hurt him, a vampire ignoring their prime nature to blood, and she just bandaged his hand up.

"You're quite welcome. Since you are more or less in one piece, and you are okay, I'll leave you to your.. work.. again. Goodnight John." With that, Angel was gone again, leaving John to stare at the door once more. It took him long enough to decide to go after her, he guessed it was a family thing. By the time he had gotten out of his office and jogged down the steps of the church, Angel was already down the street, almost ready to turn a corner. This sent him into a full out run down the street after her.

"Angel!" John screamed towards her, caught her attention, made her look back to see the running John. This surprised her that he was running after her. She waited for him. When he got there, he bent over, hands on his knees as she almost gasped for breath. He breathed heavily since he wasn't used to running like that.

"Just.. per-per-perfect." He slowly regained his breath. "Um.. do you drink.. coffee? No.. um.. wine maybe? Over dinner?" he gradually got out.

Before Angel could reply, a woman nearby started snickering. Oh how did Angel know exactly who it was, dear Va'Shanna. Anyway, Angel blushed softly to John's offer. "I'd love to John."

"What?!" Nick didn't find this as amusing as V did, he actually seemed rather ticked off about this. He scolded at V for snickering and looked at his brother in disbelief.

Angel motioned to a bar across the street before yelling at the boys just so on an off change they heard: "We're going to get a drink."

Nick's hand batted at them as he continued arguing with his brother. Angel giggled some as she started across the street towards the bar, motioning for V to follow. Va'Shanna followed, shaking her head slightly. "Men."

Angel giggled softly and sweetly as she leaned against the bar looking at the tender. "Be a dear and…get us the drinks...pretty please..." With her leaning against the bar in a white dress and al...

The older vampire sat down on a stool, crossing her legs lengthwise. Angel followed suite, crossing her legs at the knees, a sweet smile on her lips. "John is a dear though……"

"Yes...he is." V remembered the time that Nick had almost died because of her...John's menacing glare when he found out what happened, then how his glare suddenly had turned caring and he even...worried about her. V shivered mentally. Humans!. "That's why I don't want anything...bad to happen to him."

Angel took hers and took a sip of it. V lifted the glass to her lips and downed it. Angel had finished off the drink rather quickly. "Should we check on the boys?"

She giggled some. "Have at it. I'm sure Nick is going to start telling you tonight about how much he dislikes me, the one that can't be trusted with his brother……"

V's eyes looked at Angel. "He's very protective of John. Believe me...I know." She paused briefly. "Plus," she said, looking at the whiskey, "I'm sure I can get him...calmed down."

Angel started for the door as she looked to V, who followed behind Angel. She stopped as she looked across the street at the two brothers. Currently their voices had lowered and they settled for the glaring eyes and deadly silence. She crossed the street towards the two. Nick looked up towards the blond, then looked over at the familiar red head. She stepped towards the wall and leaned against it looking back at Nick. Nick didn't say anything to her. Then again, he really didn't have to; the silence and tension spoke for him. She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear as she shifted her gaze to John. He stared back at her as a dreamy grin spread across his lips.

Angel had a "I'm sorry" look on her face as she looked to Nick quickly then back to John. Basically she was saying to him: 'I'm sorry for getting you into something like this..'. John walked over to her as V watched the three with silence. She tucked more hair behind her ear as she looked to the ground some.

John looked from her to his brother. "Nick, I'm not saying that I want to marry her or anything like that. I just want to get to know her...better. I'm allowed that much freedom."

She looked to V with a slender brow raised. Nick's eyes only narrowed slightly more. He remembered when he did that with V. He only wanted to get to know V better since she was a vampire...but it had lead to things that he wasn't expecting to happen.

"I suggest we get indoors...I'm sure there are *some* drunks and homeless people who are trying to get something called...sleep," V murmured, looking at Angel.

A few minutes later, she stepped up onto a porch and unlocked teh door, stepping in and opening the door more so the others could enter. When neither of the Vari brothers moved to go in, V stepped in, followed by Father John and Nick. She closed the door behind them and locked it, not wanting some stray people wandering in. The area was quite spacious. It was basically one huge room with a second level that you could see from the lower level. A wooden staircase led upstairs. Down stairs, there was a kitchen area, an area with a table and chairs, a black leather couch and black leather chair to match. Black marble coffee table. A black and white marble fireplace.

The upper area could be seen……but not by much. Part of the upper area had Japanese papered wall standing up to block of the bathroom area. Then from the ceiling hung a sheer dark purple curtain that surrounded two mattresses on the floor with black silk sheets. There was one huge window that went from ceiling at the top level down to the floor, a thick black and purple curtain hung there, slightly parted so the moon could shine through. Lots of candles stood about the apartment unlit.

Nick let out a soft whistle. She moved to grab a few books that were on the coffee table and took them up stairs to be put away in a large book shelf, lots of old books.

Nick shook his head, watching as V sat down on a sofa. She moved to grab a long match, striking it, she lit one candle on the mantle and the other candles matching it lit up, the black ones. Then she lit a white one and all those lit, purple soon followed before the match was thrown into the fireplace where it soon lit a bright fire.

"Okay." She sat down in the large leather chair, pulling her feet up into it. Quite a contrast she had there: the leather of black and her pale skin, blonde hair, and white dress lying in it.

V looked up at Angel, then over at Nick. She looked over at Nick then John. Neither of the brothers looked at the two women. She sighed softly. "V……you want anything?"

"Okay……I'll be right back.. Just going to get into something more comfortable." She rose from her seat and headed up stairs to step behind another Japanese wall, no shadow showed, but she changed quickly.

John clasped his hands together in the meantime. "You know……you two can sit somewhere..." She came back downstairs, hair in a ponytail, her dress was replaced by a pair of dark crimson satin pants and a matching top.

Still, neither of the two men moved. She sighed softly and moved into the kitchen to get herself a glass of red wine before she returned and sat in the leather chair again. V leaned back in the couch.

"I know that, but just because the moon is lowering or you can't see it doesn't mean the sun will be coming up. You can't *always* see the moon……"

"John... I've been on this earth a whole lot longer then you. I know the routine of the moon. I've had to learn it in order to survive."

"Exactly……the smell of dawn approaching." she stood and wandered onto the second landing, moving towards the window and pushing the curtain closed over the window to hide it completely.

Nick put his arm around V as they started for the door. She got downstairs quickly and went to the door to open it for them. "I'll talk to you tomorrow night."

V nodded as she walked out with Nick. John wandered over to the door, to leave. She smiled softly to him as she leaned against her open door. He looked at her, then away. "I should...um……go...and……get some sleep."

But he was already out of earshot to hear her. Angel closed her door and locked it. She went into the living room, finished her wine and blew out the candles, then up to bed she went with a soft yawn.

In the meantime, John jogged up to Nick and V. When he got there, he wasn't so winded as the last time he ran to catch up with someone. V cocked her eyebrow at him. "John?"

Father John ignored Nick's glare as he asked, "I was wondering if I could……um……if you could……could maybe give me Angel's number?"

"Sure……I guess." She pulled out a pen. "Do you have paper?" When he shook his head, she asked for him to open his hand up. She wrote Angel's phone number in the palm of his hand. "Call her late……she likes to sleep like the dead. No pun intended."

As Angel climbed the stairs to the second level, a soft smile slipped over her lips as she thought of the events that had happened over the evening. The mattresses on the floor were thick, the top one was a pillow top, so really soft. Anyway, she pushed back the comforter and the silken sheet backs as she climbed into bed. Resting her head back on thick, lush pillows, she stared at the ceiling.

It had been strange when John had gone from basically a stiff to a caring person. It was all still strange to her, this was the first time she had ever heard of a priest falling for a vampire. Though, she did have to admit, she did like him sort of. But that was irrelevant.

Nick, oh boy Nick... he was a hand full. Angel was surprised that Va'Shanna could keep him some what under her control, but then again, they did seem to be very much in love. Really, it was sweet to see that, she remembered when her and... no, she wasn't going to go there, to much pain and hurt.

Angel turned over pulling the sheets and the comforter close to her. Dear Va'Shanna, best friend through the years and the only mother she knew. If Nick so much as breaks her heart, oh Angel would make sure that he paid for it. It was strange now that she thought of it, how vampires take someone and stay with them mostly through their lives. Va'Shanna and her had roamed country side after country side, moved to the new world and gained new lives. Va'Shanna had gone her separate way from her and they meet up later. Angel had met... Maverick, and brought him across, her first chylder, just as Angel was Va'Shanna's first, or nearly her first.

Angel had been with Maverick for a while, to the point of marriage. Then a while after that, they parted. She didn't seem to fond of the idea of getting close to men again cause she was hurt to much. And then she found out that dear Maverick had gotten together with Va'Shanna's sister, Jolie. That hurt her even more.

After that, Angel had settled into self hate, and hate of those around her. Feeding on the scum of the communities. Blood banks. Finally when she met up with Va'Shanna, she had found something good in her life again. Her sire, her mother, her friend.

Angel smiled some as she drifted to thoughts of shopping with V for things for the wedding, possibly even drag Nick and John out shopping as well. A whole new fun will be there for the wedding, yes.. family.

She sighed softly as she slipped into sleep, outside, dawn had opened her hand to the world, waking those mortals that enjoyed the sun's rays. To begin a life once more in the morning hours of the busy city.

Angel slept through 9 o'clock at night. She loved sleeping in, an arm lightly hung off the side of the bed as she lay on her back, golden hair lay across the black silk pillow, the sheets up under her arms. As 9:30 rolled around her phone suddenly started to ring. She stirred from her sleep and rolled over as the answer machine started to talk and then a beep, then...

"Alright.. bye." As she hung up the phone, she went and showered and then dried her hair then dressed in loose black pants with a white spaghetti strap shirt with a low back, her now dry hair hung down about her practically bare shoulders. She went down stairs and to the kitchen where she got a warm mug of blood as she waited for John to arrive.

There was a soft rap on Angel's door. John, outside, ran his hand through his hair. /Okay..okay.. I can do this, might still be a happy virgin, but I can do this! If Nick can date, so can I!/

"Come on in." She stood to the side, opening the door more as John stepped inside. She then closed the door behind John, locking it so those weirdos can't walk in. Then she walked into the living room to pick up the empty mug and walk into the kitchen to put it in the sink. "Can I get you anything John?"

"Okay. Make yourself comfortable." She washed out the mug and put it in the dishwasher, then came back to the living room and sat down in the chair, which was across from the spot on the couch that John was settled. "So, John, how was your day?"

"How are things going at the church?" She smiled a little, hoping since she told him about those few vampires sitting in corners of churches, that he might have looked for them.

" Good." Angel smiled softly at John, finding it slightly amusing at how nervous he was, she then got up and stepped over to sit on the couch next to him.

She leaned closer to him to whisper in John's ear. " What are you nervous about?" Her hand moved onto the higher portion of his arm, she was listening to his heart race.

"Then why are you stuttering? Why are goosebumps rising along your skin?" She smiled softly as she still whispered in his ear, her lips only a few inches from his ear.

The vampire smiled softly, lingering in her spot for a moment as her hand slowly moved down his arm. John's eyes watched her as he shifted some.

She then stood and went to the fireplace, lighting a large fire before looking back at him, a soft smile on her lips as fiery eyes of blue watching him.

His blue eyes slightly grew bigger as he watched her sit down next to him and relax into the black leather of the couch, her fiery eyes of light blue watching his own blue eyes.

She leaned closer to him, smiling softly as she rested her head against his shoulder, her hand once more brushing its fingers over his arm and hand.

The vampire came back with a glass of water which she handed John and sat down in the chair again. She brushed back a few strands of hair as she looked at the fire.

She pulled her legs up under her as she sank back into the leather. She seemed to be studying the flames as they danced about in the pit of the fireplace.

John took a deep breath, then said, "Angel...I don't think I can have any sort of a relationship with you, besides being good friends."

Angel nodded softly, not moving her gaze from the fire. " A priest has no business being with a vampire. A demon from the depths of hell. Isn't that what most call us?"

"Besides, I'm sure your brother will be all too pleased with your decision. For no human should be with a vampire, a monster, a blood sucking fiend."

That's what John had hated about Nick. How much he loved and trusted Va'Shanna. John was never, even through their childhood, pleased with Nick's decisions. And now he found himself falling for a creature of the night too. He didn't know what to say, so he kept quiet.

"Father, you might want to be careful about who you speak with, don't want you to get in trouble." She rose and moved back to the large window from the first floor, pushing back the curtain to show the moon shining in from above the building next to hers.

Angel looked back at him, a thin brow raised. "Your God? There are actually more gods then you realize. I should know.. I've seen a few, and they are not nice creatures. " She placed a hand on her the side of her left thigh were an interesting scar rested, more like a scar.

"You probably should." She sighed and crossed her arms as she leaned against the heavy black velvet of the curtain at the window. "Goodnight Father Vari." She looked at the floor.

She looked at the door when she heard it close and then moved upstairs to change, god.. she needed to go out. While upstairs she picked up the phone and called V, while pulling on nearly knee high boots, zipping them up the sides.

One eye slid open as the phone rang loudly. She swore softly, then untangled her arm from under Nick and reached over to the phone. "This better be good..."

"Nice to talk to you too. Look, I don't think Nick as anything to worry about John and me. Nothing is going to happen. That's the problem with priests, too entangled in their religion to have fun." She smiled lightly as she knew what V had probably done with Nick

"He became a priest. Righteous to a T. No fun for the little priest. He didn't feel like anything could become of 'us', so basically.. He's a priest. I'm a vampire. Religious man and evil dark creature from hell not good mix. Angel laughed softly as she searched for a rubber hair band.

" I'm fine, you know me, takes a lot more then that to get to me. I'm going out to the local bar.. if you want to join you can, other wise.. have fun with little Nicky." Smiled lightly.

V. went silent for a moment when Nick touched her in a certain area. Then, when she thought her voice wouldn't betray her, she whispered. "Er...catch up later."

Ange hung up and finished putting her hair into a ponytail, some makeup, she was good to go, slipped some money into a boot and grabbed her leather jacket. She grabbed her key and headed for the door, stepping out, then closed the door, locked it and slipped the key into her boot as she pulled on her jacket and headed towards a down town bar.

V.'s hair cascaded down her shoulders as she led Nick over to where Angel sat. She wore a short, if not skimpy, thin crimson dress and boots. She never was the type to where high heels or skinny heeled boots.

Nick, as usual, wore those snug fit blue jeans and a black shirt. "Interesting," This was all Nick said as he sat down. V., being herself, sat on his lap.

Angel set the glass down on the table and basically looked at the table for a few minutes, not saying anything. Even as she sat on his lap, she crossed her ankles.

"Nothing. He called me at 9:30... I asked him to come over.. he did.. we talked. He decided nothing beyond friendship. He left. I came here. But I guess it just wouldn't do for a priest to be with a demon from hell." She smiled lightly and downed the rest of the wine. Licking her lips afterward.

He wasn't sure if he was really glad that his brother said that...or if he was slightly sad for him. Nick watched Angel, wondering if that was meant for a jab at him or his brother, or both.

V. raised a slight brow at the waiter that was fawning over Angel, staring at her. Angel smiled softly and gently leaned back in her chair, why not? Flaunt it! Yes, she had noticed the waiter watching her. As Angel did so, the waiter suddenly dropped the drinks he held in his hand for other costumers, sheepishly, he disappeared behind the bar.

Nick's eyes narrowed slightly as he patted V. on the side, indicating for her to get up. Va'Shanna stood up, allowing him to stand and slink away to find a pay phone.

"After so many years hell, centuries I could go on without feeling much love for anyone or anything..and recently all that has changed."

She looked at Angel. "I have no clue. As Nick would say, 'you could just be finally starting to feel what it means to be human'." Then after a moment, she added, "Or something like that."

Va'Shanna leaned back in the chair comfortably, watching Angel, waiting for her to continue. Angel sighed lightly looking at the table. " I've just never cared to venture to love anyone after... after.. him. And even though John is a priest, I for some reason feel attracted to him."

V looked at her, "M'he' had a certain caring for you. Protection, even. Maybe that's what John has for you...maybe it's something more or both and that's what's attracting you to him."

"He was a... a... yes he cared for me only because I was his sire. John.. he's a priest that's.. suppose to hate us... why does he suddenly crack down now?"

"If you say so. I highly doubt that John will have much to do with me. He has to deal with you cause you're going to get married to his brother. John has made it clear he doesn't want anything to do with me beyond a friendship." Angel looked up at her with those fiery eyes of light blue.

" And he can curse me for saying this but god damn him." Angel turned to look at the waiter with a playful smile, turning her mind over to a playful tone. The waiter broke eye contact.

Angel smiled sweetly at the waiter wanting him to come over to them. He concentrated on filing drinks. "Awww, he doesn't want to play with me... " Fake pout.

"..." Angel got up quickly grabbing her jacket from the back of the chair and headed for the door, a concerned look on her face. Nick was already walking towards the door with V, following behind him.

Angel pulled on her jacket as she ran down towards her apartment hopefully to try to get John's scent, the concrete below her feet was wet, but she wasn't noticing.

Angel finally got to her apartment and looked around for any sign of John, and started trying to find his scent, bloody bloodhound here. Then she noticed it had rained which practically washed the smells of earlier away cause she couldn't get anything. She whispered to herself. "John....."

In the meanwhile, John stood beneath the bridge of NY bay. Of course, he was on the ground, kicking rocks into the ocean. John was torn, he suddenly had a fascination for a woman no, vampire. A DEMON. He was a man of God. He was so confused. His emotions were mixed so badly. John craned his neck a bit as he heard footsteps behind him. Naturally, he turned around and he found himself faced with two men with mean looking knives.

Angel sat down on her front porch, feeling really bad now, and if anything happened to him, Nick was going to kill her. >Oh god V.... I can't find him...< Something wet slid down her cheeks, when she wiped it off.. tears? She was crying.

Angel neared the bridge, just hoping he hadn't jumped or anything, then as a last resort. >John...< If it hit his mind and he was dead.. it would bounce back as an echo.

Well it didn't bounce back at her so he wasn't dead, she moved quicker looking around, couple, a priest being mugged, skaters, drunks....wait! Priest.. mugged? Hell no, not her priest.

"John!" She ran towards them, well... mini skirt, tight halter, calf high boots, she slid in quickly beside John, grabbing John's arm and glaring at the men.

"Whore? Like hell I am." She growled as she moved quickly towards the one with the knife, punching him harder then a normal human. Of course, the other launched himself at her, trying to help his friend. Angel back handed the other who had launched himself at her, growling lightly, she grabbed his neck from behind, bending forward as her fangs extended towards the man's neck. No one touches her priest and gets away with it.

She looked up at him then let the man drop to the ground, turning away from John, looking down at the ground. The two thugs ran off after they recovered enough to run.

"Wandering around... and.. well you weren't dead...and besides...Nick um.. basically accused me of you running off.. probably killing yourself..." She bit her lower lip hard, eyes closed tightly and her arms holding tight about herself.

"Well.. Nick basically accused me of making you kill yourself... when he couldn't reach you anywhere... and well... bridges.. people like to jump..."

"It's okay," He assured her, a slight hint of his Brooklyn accent coming out. She looked up at him, tear kissed light blue eyes looked up into his eyes, she whispered softly " John..."

A hand moved to his shoulder gently as she looked into his eyes, her smaller form next to his. His head lowered a bit. Angel's eyes looked over his face then back into his eyes, her hand tightening just a little on his shirt.

Against his better judgement, he kissed her softly on her lips, which in turn, against her own better judgement, she returned the kiss. That's when headlights flashed on both John and Angel.

A door opened and Nick hopped out of the van just as his brother pulled back enough from the kiss. Angel looked down, back up at John then over at the van, they had to interrupt now, of all times, now.

John stared at the ceiling, lying on his bed. He was only clad in his boxers. Thoughts ran through his head. Giving Angel a kiss he shouldn't have. He was a priest, NOT his brother. *What am I gonna do?* he asked himself. Maybe it was good that he wasn't his brother, so outrageous...and just daring. *Dear lord, I am becoming like Nick! Going out with a vampire....* There was a soft knock upon John's front door, interrupting his thoughts. *And I* John sat up in his bed, grumbling, he threw his legs to the side and stood up. He slipped out of his bedroom and walked towards the door. *Angel? What is she doing here?* He thought after looking through the peephole. "Yeah?"

Angel stood there in dark blue jeans with a white T-shirt that said "I only look sweet and innocent" in blue letters. Her hair up in a ponytail: "John?"

He started to unlock the door, then he remembered that he was half naked. "Um..hhold on!!" He looked around for his jeans, which were over the back of the couch. He jumped into them, zipping them up before he unlocked the door. "Hey."

"Came to see you silly. I haven't seen you in a while so I stopped by to see how you were doing." She smiled softly in that innocent way she had.

"Thank you." She kept that sweet smile on her lips as she slipped inside a hand brushed back a few strands of short hair that she kept out o the ponytail.

"It's not." He moved into the kitchen. Angel let those fiery eyes of hers wander about the living room, a soft smile on her lips as she still stood. He came back, glass of water in hand. "Here."

"And I love books. God, I love books. I actually have a few of the old books from my younger years, very old but somehow still intact." She smiled as she looked around his place for any books, just to get an idea of what he read besides the bible, obviously. The books that he had were either mystery or horror. Thick, big books.

"Thank you." Angel sat down on the couch and emptied the glass of water before setting it down on a near by table if there was one. He sat down also. The real reason Angel had come was because a question plagued her that she wanted to ask him. "Um John, that night a few weeks ago... why did you kiss me?" Her gaze had turned to the ground.

"But…but I thought that you decided that we could only be friends... friends don't kiss each other." John let out a sigh at her words. She then continued. "John.. I am confused on what to feel right now. Please, tell me what I'm supposed to feel about you…tell me what you feel about me?"

Angel sighed softly as she closed her eyes and looked back at the ground, a saddened look crossed over her face. "John.. why do you have to be a priest? To be restricted not to love."

"And you can't change who you are. Priests can't love another person because its not in the Image of Christ." Angel stood and moved to stand at a window, her eyes closed as her arms wrapped around herself.

"John.. I'm pretty sure that I love you too, but because I'm a vampire, it wouldn't work even if you were allowed to love another other then Christ."

Angel sighed softly and closed her eyes before whispering softly. "Father that resides within heaven, the almighty lord that looks upon his creation with fatherly eyes and love. I ask guidance to what must be done upon this interception unto my life. Love for a man whom can't love me because he is in your service. What must I do?" Was Angel... praying? Johns mouth dropped open. Angel looked up and over at John after she finished, a sad look was gently brushed over her face. John licked his lips and closed his mouth.

"You looked surprised." Angel's voice was softer then it was. He shook his head. "Um.. I guess I should probably leave..." Angel's eyes once more returned their gaze to the ground as she slowly moved towards the door.

She sighed softly as she opened the door and stepped out, closing the door behind her. He didn't go after her; he couldn't, he was a priest.... and she was who...what she was. He couldn't mix that. She even said that herself. "Good bye, Kitrina." He mumbled.

She had waited outside his door, and when he didn't come, she mentally kicked herself for allowing her feelings to move that far for a priest. She then raised her head a little and walked away, not happy with what she was doing.

Thank god for vampire hearing, she turned quickly and snatched the arrow from the air, her fiery eyes looking over it quickly then over the buildings and the shadows around her. Boots clicking on a high roof could've been heard, at least to vampiric hearing anyway. It was obvious whoever the person or thing was, that it was moving to another direction. She smirked a little. *Oh good, fun time.* She herself moved into the shadows, leaving the arrow in the spot she once was, broken in two.

Despite her being in the shadows, yet another arrow flew in her direction. This time, the arrow had a note attached to it. Angel ducked it and looked at it, what the heck? Why were they shooting at her? She bent down and took the note up and read over it. 'Both of you demon bitches will pay for what happened.', the note read. The boots had trailed away in the distance and the roaring of a car zooming off could also be heard.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" >Va'Shanna.< Angel reread over the note and grabbed the arrow too and moved towards V's place.