Life Used To Be So Simple.... <3

He smiled at her humming.
_____

"I don't blame you, when I went home to Bulgaria, I did the same thing in my father's crypt."
_____

Alexander kept stroking him.

Genevieve stopped humming after a few moments, face scrunching up as she tried to remember the rest of the tune.

---

"Sometimes I can't remember her face. Father refused to keep any portraits. We kept the tree a secret for as long as he could, but there was a point where he almost burnt it down."

---

Michael didn't manage to sleep for long, jerking awake a few minutes later, head snapping up and ears shifting forward as he stared between the trees.

He used their hands entwined together to remind her of the tune as he tapped his fingers against hers.
___

"Someday you will remember her clearly."
____

"It's ok Michael."

Genevieve blushed a little before smiling at him almost nervously as she started humming again.

---

"I know plenty well that for as long as I live I won't remember her face, Coraline. I've accepted that, as has Genevieve. I'm just content with her memory."

---

Michael's ears twisted back before the flicked forward again, his attention elsewhere.

He smiled back.
____

Coraline nodded.
____

Alexander carried on stroking him.

"You know the song?"

---

"No more talk of this. Let's just take Lloyd where he wants to go."

---

Michael's tail slowly drooped to tuck between his legs as he sensed something that agitated him. Abruptly, despite lack of clothes for him, he shifted human, staying crouched and tense

Alexander stood. "Michael what's going on?"
____

"Ok." She put Lloyd on the ground when they got to the field and he ran off.
____

"I've heard it before."

"There is a pack of about fifteen to thirty, I can't tell exact numbers...but they're approaching the town, about a days ride on horseback from here. We're downwind and I can catch their scents. I shouldn't leave the house for the next couple of weeks, hopefully they'll think my scent of that as a passerby."

---

Jean-Claude watched Lloyd, a fond expression on his face.

---

"Do you know other French rhymes then?" Genevieve changed to a different tune to hum. "This one?"

"Yeah I know that one."
____

Coraline looked at Jean-Claude and she smiled seeing his expression.
____

"Alright then, two weeks where I get to keep you in my house...That doesn't seem like a bad idea."

"Do you prefer the original one, or the shorter version?"

---

"He's growing fast, hmm?"

---

Michael smiled a little shyly and almost awkwardly, before yawning and stretching, trying to force one more shift. Because of his lack of clothes, he thought it easier to be wolf.

"Hmm, I prefer the original, what about you?"
______

"Yeah he is." She smiled.
______

Alexander watched him.

"The original. I don't understand why someone would want to take the beauty away from the song but cutting it short."

---

"He'll be much bigger soon."

---

With a lot of wincing and cracking of his bones, Michael attempted shifting once more before giving up, shivering in pain.

"Yeah he will."
____

"Yeah, me neither."
____

"It's ok Michael, we are nearly home, so you will be ok."

"I want to be selfish and keep him as ours, hide him away from the world.

---

Genevieve shrugged. "People have their choices." She suddenly shied into his side.

---

"I'm not that much of an exhibitionist Alexander. I'm uncomfortable being without clothing outside sometimes."

"Here then." He slid his jacket off and held it out to him. "Wer this, the house is literally 3 meters away."
______

"Yeah I guess they do." He held her close. "What's wrong?"
______

"I know, and trust me, I do to but we can't."

Michael slipped it on. It was a little bigger on him than on Alexsnder but not too much. Before living with them, he'd been skinnier, but now was a healthier weight. "I didn't want to get arrested for indecency should I be seen."

---

"The men over there by the liquor store made me feel uncomfortable the other day, I don't want to be seen by them."

---

"I'll try my best, I'm sure."

"We can stay in the forest, hardly anyone comes in here because of the vampires anyway."
_____

"What did he do?"
_____

"I'm sure you will."

Michael fell silent and then added, "I also don't want to stay outside for any longer than necessary." He glanced to the side, frowning.

---

"Common derogatory terms. Then they insulted my mother and, well...I don't want to burned at the stake. I have some self preservation instincts."

---

"I just want him to be safe."

"You won't be, but I will be his living nightmare."
_______

"Come on, this way."
_______

"Trust me, he will be."

"I'm sure it would've have been well taken had I walked over there and torn his head off. It isn't worth it. I just find it easier to ignore them."

---

Michael nodded, waiting for him to lead the way.

---

Jean-Claude nodded, turning to watch Lloyd again.

"Ok then."
___

Alexander led him to the house.
___

Lloyd was running towards the river.

"I doubt they'd try anything with you here. You're pretty intimidating to people who don't know you."

---

Michael trailed after him silently.

---

Jean-Claude noticeably flinched before he started running across the field towards Lloyd, scooping him off of the floor within moments.

"I hope they don't."
_____

Lloyd looked at him wondering what he had done wrong.

Coraline ran to them. "Jean-Claude, what;s wrong?"
_____

Soon had them back at the house.

"I'm sure they won't." Genevieve tucked herself against his side, a little tense despite her words.

---

"He was getting close to the water." Jean-Claude took a few steps back. "I wasn't comfortable."

---

Michael had hunched his shoulders, trying to make himself as small as possible in Alexander's jacket.

He sid his arms around her.
____

Alexander opened the door to let him in.
____

"It's ok Jean-Claude he knows what he is doing."