Christian greeted Penny warmly when she walked into the living area. He watched her select a green tea and made a mental note for later. He set the paper he was reading down, laughing a little. ”I wasn’t sure what you would like, so I decided more was better than less.” He grabbed one of the iced coffees and took a sip of it.

”Did you sleep well? I hear people can have difficult nights and mornings after drinking.” Amusement danced in Christian’s eyes as he looked for any signs of Penny suffering from a hangover. He pushed the food closer to her, wanting her to take her fill.

”Ah, I was looking at the classifieds for you, but then I realized I don’t know what your qualifications are,” Christian confessed. He glanced at the TV and saw what Penny was watching. He frowned slightly. Most vampires didn’t have a tight cover story like that. Then again, these vampires had integrated themselves into society quite well.

”Mmm, I wouldn’t worry about it. Most of these cases tend to get forgotten or thrown out. We can go over being a little more discrete next time. I think you did yourself a favour by moving and selling the house before you killed them. They may question you about your time there before you moved, but I doubt they can tie anything to you.”

"My head hurts a little bit, but it's not too bad, actually. I'm a little surprised," She laughed quietly. She took the newspapers Christian had set down on the table and flipped through them. There were a couple of inexpensive RV's listed, but they looked like they needed a lot of work and Penny didn't want to have to worry about that. She had enough money to buy a new one and a truck that should be sufficient to carry it. She'd be really low on funds after, but that's what a good job would be for. Maybe she could get something that let her work from home. Penny felt a light flick on in her brain and she looked at Christian with wide eyes.

"What if I did like, bounty hunting? Like, P.I work? I don't exactly have the qualifications, but if I'm gonna learn how to fight to be a hunter, then why not find people that are missing? It doesn't matter if they're missing because of what goes bump in the night or just really awful humans, but it could be super rewarding. I'm sure that some people put out rewards for missing people? I'd be able to travel too with a camper." Penny looked at Christian for validation or denial. "I'd get a job to save up money before I do end up working that," She added.

She flipped through a few more pages in the newspaper, but put it aside when she didn't see anything of interest. "Maybe I could work at like McDonalds or something. Not my ideal job, but I heard they start people with no experience for a decent pay." She muttered to herself, going to grab her laptop and returning to the table with it. She opened it up and pulled up an RV website to browse. On the third page, she found one that looked really nice and was within her price range.

"What do you think of this camper?" She turned the laptop around so Christian could see it. Penny realized how domestic this whole scenario was and it gave her a warm feeling inside.

”I was thinking something similar,” Christian confided. ”Oh perhaps an emergency call service or working for a police station. The only thing I worry about if you were to be a bounty hunter or PI is running into the police and being arrested. Bounty Hunters aren't known to have a legitimate or upstanding business. The police are well within their right to arrest you if you interfere with an investigation,” Christian said. ”Of course, the decision is ultimately yours.”

Christian picked up the TV remote and turned the channel to something less attention grabbing. He slipped his iced coffee and watched Penny type away on her laptop. The activity seemed so mundane but in the company of friends it was welcoming and comforting.

Christian smiled, leaning forward to look over Penny's trailer choice. He chuckled softly. ”It looks well, but I confess I do not know what would be considered a good or poor trailer. Should we go and see it?” Penny would be living in it after all. It had to be homey enough for her.

“I was thinking more of a… consultant of sorts. Maybe a PI ir biunty hunter eventually when I get good at avoiding the cops.” The Penny from three years ago would've had a conniption hearing that sentence. Penny smiled at that thought. She has definitely come a long way.

“Sure. Let’s go see the trailer together.”

After Penny had gotten ready for the day, she and Christian popped over to visit with the owner of the trailer that Penny liked. It was a fairly new trailer and didn’t really need any renovations unless Penny wanted a different look. Penny wasn’t too concerned with color or look though. She just wanted something that was sturdy, safe, and going to last her a long while.

The inside was fairly spacious and very clean. Penny nodded, satisfied. The cupboards in the kitchen were big and the eating nook had plenty of natural light and soft blue cushions. A few curtains, a new mattress, and her small amount of belongings would make the place feel like a home.

“Well I’m pretty satisfied with this one. It’s has storage space, it’s almost new, and the would-be couch is comfy enough. I could put some new cushions on there to make them more comfortable. Especially for you if you’ll be hanging out all night. The bathroom isn’t even too bad.” Penny looked to Christian to see what he thought. This was his first time shopping for something so mundane and human. Penny looked forward to his opinions.

Christian hung back while Penny spoke with the salesman. He didn't want to seem like he was interfering or the one who knew anything about what needed to be known about a trailer. He wandered around the outside, looking at the slides and the stands it sat on. He looked at the electrical and the plumbing before he wandered inside.

It was like a miniature home. It was quaint and tidy, if only because it was for sale rather than having someone currently living in it. Christian found the small appliances and storage spaces whimsical. When comparing the space to a normal house or even Penny's hotel room, he was unsure if she would find it suitable, but Christian found the space to be charming. He could see Penny cooking a meal while he sat on the half couch, an array of mismatched pillows surrounding him as he read a book.

Penny’s voice jarred the strange image from Christian's head and he turned to look at her after stepping out of the bathroom.

”It seems well enough. Stable. Warm,” Christian said. He looked at Penny apologetically, having no clue what made for a good trailer. ”But you need something to pull it still,” he remembered.

Penny nodded and tapped a finger on her lips in thought. She had the money to buy a nice used truck, but she remembered her older brother had a truck he wanted to get rid of. That was like a month ago, so she didn't know if he still had it, but it was worth a shot. "I have an older brother that was trying to sell his truck. I'm not sure what the specs are on it, but I can call him and ask."
Penny had two older brothers. She wasn't very close to them since they were a good eight to ten years older and loved practicing an avoidant attachment life style, but she figured it didn't hurt to ask. "It was about a month ago, so I'm not entirely sure if he still has it, but I can call him."

Penny pulled her phone out of her pocket and scrolled down her contacts to 'Luke Lowe'. The phone rang a few times before a voice answered. "Hello? Penny?"

"Luke, hey," Penny responded. Luke's voice was deep for a guy and his tone usually made it sound like he cared about every little detail of your life. Earlier in life, he wasn't like that at all- caring, but as they've grown older and gotten further away from their mother and their childhood trauma, he began reaching out to Penny more and more. "Are you still trying to sell your truck? I know you called me about a month ago for it."

"I thought you didn't want it?"

"Well, I didn't, but circumstances have changed. Can I buy it off you for cheap?" Penny crossed her fingers in hopes he'd say yes.

"Are you kidding? It's a brand new truck, Penny. Barely any miles. I haven't sold it yet, but it's only a year old. I paid a fortune for this thing."

Penny felt disappointment replace her feelings of hope. "Fine, at least let me pay half. I have the money for pay for it in full, but Luke, I've had a really hard time lately. Can you just do me this solid?"

There was a sigh on the other end and a pause. "Fine. Half. That's seventeen grand," Penny nodded, a smile breaking out on her face. She looked at Christian and gave him a big grin with a thumbs up. "Listen, I heard over the news what happened in your little town. Are you okay? Those dead and missing students were your neighbors, right?"

Penny felt a pit form in her stomach at Luke's inquiry. He sounded like he cared and wanted to comfort her and Penny appreciated it, but it just felt weird. Her smile straightened out and she nodded, though he couldn't see it. "Yeah. I sold that house before it happened. I guess I just had a bad feeling- and for good reason. That's why I need a truck. I'm buying a trailer. I'm going to just travel a bit and live as I please."

"Just be careful. There are tons of weirdo's out there just waiting to prey on a young, cute, woman like yourself. Especially if you travel alone."

Penny began to feel irritated. Why did he care so much? He wasn't there for her when her mother took a metal rod to her back so why was he trying to be there for her now? "I won't be alone," She snapped. "I'll stop by tomorrow for the truck. Text me your address." Before he had a chance to say goodbye, Penny pulled the phone away from her ear and hung up. She felt her face heat up and she felt embarassed for the show she put on in front of Christian. "Sorry for that. My brother is.. he likes to pretend he cares, sometimes." Penny gave Christian a small smile before gasping. "Crap. I told him I wasn't traveling alone. He's going to be curious when we go pick up the truck."

Penny sat down on the small bench in the camper. "Like I said, he likes to pretend he cares. He may grill you. Perhaps you'll want to stay invisible when we drive down."

Christian hung back while Penny spoke with her brother. The space was small, though, and Christian had excellent, supernatural healing. When he heard her brother mention the killings, Christian turned his attention back to Penny. He noticed her face fall and her posture shift from the topic's discomfort, and Christian found himself moving closer to her side.

The conversation continued, and Penny tried to regain control of it. Christian heard it all, but his focus remained on Penny this time. Even when she declared she wouldn’t be travelling alone. Something danced inside him, a warning perhaps, but it also brought a smile to his face, which grew when she informed him what she had said.

”That’s alright. It might ease their minds to put a face to who is travelling with you.” He smiled softly at Penny, looking down at her slightly since he was taller—especially when standing as close as he was to her.

Christian didn’t realize he moved as close to her as he had. He glanced away from her and stepped back when something flashed across his vision. Christian rested a hand on his temple, blinking away the uncomfortable feeling.

You have work to do…Work you’ve been behind on. Finish it and come see me.

Christian looked at Penny, some emotion flashing across his eyes before he shifted it into a smile. ”I have to go…When would you like to leave tomorrow?”

Penny mourned the space that opened up once Christian stepped away. It felt cold and empty, making Penny hold back a shiver."Hmm, I think he's a few towns over," Penny's phone dinged and she looked down at it. Her brother had just texted her his address. "Yeah, it's about five hours from here. I don't want to get there too late, so probably around nine in the morning." She stepped out of the camper and into the daylight.

She hesitated and gave Christian a small smile. "If you have work to do or can't come with me, that's completely fine." She didn't want to be a hindrance in his work and so far, she was kind of starting to feel like one. Not because Christian has given any hints towards being displeased with her -he hasn't, at all- but because she hasn't seen him go to work at all recently. A pang of guilt and disappointment lingered in her chest. She didn't want him to go, but if he got in trouble then he may not be able to spend as much with her anymore. Besides, she was a big girl. She could handle a day or two by herself. She had lived alone for years before Christian ever came along.

”I will meet you tomorrow. I’ll have the rest of the day and all night to ferry souls to the other side. Take care until then,” Christian said before he vanished from Penny’s room and reappeared in a retirement home a few states over.

Hours passed for Christian until Death summoned him. Christian spent the time before that reaping various souls for various reasons. However, they all seemed relatively normal, from natural causes or long fights with illness. It put Christian on edge for his meeting with Death. It was usual for Christian to see people who had died from violent means and natural ones. To have so many people on one side of that spectrum was unusual. So when Christian walked into the room Death was inhabiting, Christian was on edge.

Death raised his gaze to look at Christian. A small smile slipped unnaturally onto his face, and his eyes seemed to glow as he beckoned Christian to sit.

“How is your Penny?”

”She isn’t mine.”

“Ah, does not seem that way. It seems you spend all your time there, rather than with your charges. Did you not feel the peace from releasing souls to the other side before you returned to me?”

”So it was on purpose.”

Death smiled and rose from the chair he inhabited.

“Another lesson.” He turned and pulled a black book from a shelf behind him. Death set the book on the desk and pushed it towards Christian.

“Her pattern keeps changing. You keep interfering. You keep shifting the future by remaining in her life. You are upsetting the Order.”

Christian shifted uncomfortably in his chair, staring at Penny’s book on the table. The book contained every way Penny was destined to die. Death opened the book, but before Christian could look away, he saw that the pages were blank.

“There is no more certainty when it comes to her. Life and death is usually more efficient than that.” Death pulled the book back and placed it on the shelf. “And I do like efficiency.” He turned back around and levelled a stare at Christian. “There comes a time when every reaper needs to be put down. When they lose focus.”

Christian looked at Death, feeling a deep sense of fear from the words he said and the way he continued to look at Christian as if there was a secret he wanted Christian to uncover. It was within reason that Death would want to remove Christian from the playing field, but Christian didn’t want to die. He didn’t know he could die.

“I am no stranger to the whims of humans. It is exciting watching them live their lives. It is thrilling to be around them, but it is not our path, Christian.”

”But it could be. So many ask to live in the moments before we claim their souls. Penny asked the same, but–”

“There was a light within her that didn’t want to remain extinguished,” Death stated, completing Christian’s thought. Christian met Death’s eyes, shocked he understood so clearly. Death smiled, Christian’s amusement entertaining to him. “I am just as fascinated with humans as the rest of my children are. I have saved them and sacrificed others, but only because I know the outcome of those decisions. I see the books, I know their path, I know the end of the world. You, Christian, do not. Your choice has changed something significant. Your choice will colour the outcome of this world. There are consequences, but your chosen path is now cemented in this world. To reverse it would do more damage. You will remain, and Penny will remain, but let this be a warning to you. If you make a decision that alters the Natural Order again, I will not be so kind. Now go. You have more work to do before meeting Penny’s brother.”

Christian remained seated for a few more minutes, shocked by what Death told him. A chance. Permission. Forgiveness. It was more than Christian expected and better than he could have asked for. Christian stood, ready to speak.

“Do not thank me, Christian. You may believe this is a blessing, but it is a punishment. You will understand soon enough why.” Death snapped his fingers, and Christian was gone. He arrived in a new location, in the dark and the cold. He heard crying and screaming, followed by a familiar tug that signalled a life had ended. Christian sighed but couldn’t remove the smile from his face. Death said it was a punishment, and Christian knew he should heed those words, but it was difficult to feel anything but happiness in this moment.

Christian remained in high hopes until time indicated he needed to return to Penny’s side. After reaping another soul, Christian teleported to Penny’s brother's house. He remained across the street, invisible to all but one person in this world. He watched Penny’s brother work on a car for a while, until he went inside. Shortly after that, Penny arrived in her rental vehicle. Christian walked across the street just as she parked and opened the driver’s door for her.

”How was your drive?”

It was weird to wake up and not have Christian there with breakfast and some morning conversation. This realization kind of scared Penny. Even going to sleep without him there made her a little nervous and on edge all night. She eventually went to sleep and didn't have any dreams, but Penny decided that if she could have Christian nearby in the future, she would. She hoped it would get getter the longer they spent time together, but only time would tell.

The drive to Luke's house was uneventful, besides the cow that tried to cross the road and made her stop halfway over, but she had made it safely. Luke lived in a modest house on a small farm. While the lifestyle seemed pleasant and simple, it wasn't for Penny. She liked the city and the noise. A beat up car with it's hood popped, sat elevated in the dirt driveway. As Penny pulled up, she saw Christian off to the side and she gave him a wave, slightly jealous of his teleportation abilities. Man, how convenient that would be.

He opened the car door for her just as she parked and she jumped out of her seat and wrapped her arms around her friend. "It was pretty uneventful. How was work?" She pulled away just as she heard footsteps a few feet feet away. Luke walked down his porch with a beer in hand and waved in greeting.

"Penny! Glad you made it!" He walked up to them and went in for a hug. It was awkward and just one armed, but Penny preferred it that way. She wasn't too close with Luke and believe it or not, hugging wasn't really her forte. Christian seemed to be an exception, Penny noted. "I'm Luke. It's nice to meet you...?" He held his hand out for Christian to shake.

Christian's arms automatically wrapped around Penny's waist, returning her hug with a generous amount of pressure. He found the contact and motion came to him easily. Christian had hugged souls before and hugged Penny before but this one seemed different. It settled him in a way he didn't realize he needed. The news that Death presented him with didn't seem daunting anymore. He was looking forward to telling Penny about it.

He chuckled when Penny asked him how work was, it was almost like she read his mind. ”I'll tell you about it after,” he whispered into Penny's ear before she released him. Christian turned to greet Penny's brother. He smiled and shook Luke's hand.

”Christian, it's a pleasure to meet you.”

"Right," Luke sounded skeptical as he scrutinized Christian. He made sure to squeeze his hand for extra measure before letting go.

"Okay, that's enough. Christian is a friend. Now, can we please go look at the truck?" Penny interrupted the staring contest and crossed her arms.

Luke held both hands up in a surrender pose, attempting to appease his sister. "I just worry, okay? You know how mom and dad were."

Penny's face fell and she glared at Luke. "You don't get to bring mom and dad into the conversation. You weren't there. And no, Christian won't beat me." He abandoned her. Both him and Liam, her other brother. As soon as they turned eighteen, they left and didn't even bother to take her with them. Penny looked up to and adored her brothers when she was younger. When her mom was throwing a fit and threw things at her, Penny hoped her brothers would step in to save her, but they never did. It made her feel worthless and unloved.

Luke went quiet at her accusation before sighing, his shoulders drooping. Penny wondered if he was going to push the issue and try to apologize or if he was going to avoid the confrontation altogether. Luke turned away and waved at them to follow. Penny shook her head. She wasn't surprised- it's what he did best.

The truck was a shiny black and bigger than she thought it was. It shined in the sun, though there was some dust and mud caked around the tires. "Seventeen grand, Penny. This bad boy has four wheel drive, off-roading, and is big enough to pull whatever trailer you want."

Penny opened the door and climbed into the truck, placing her hands on the steering wheel. It was a very nice truck. Leather seats with seat warmers, a screen in the middle, cupholders... Penny turned the keys in the engine and let it run for a few minutes before turning it off, satisfied. She jumped out of the truck with a nod and pulled a thick envelope out of her bag. "Seventeen grand, in cash."

Luke accepted it with wide eyes as if he was surprised Penny had this much in cash. "How do you have this?"

"I worked for it." That's all she told him and it was all he needed to know. In reality, she worked a secret part time job when she was fifteen. She'd often skip school for it. Sure, she got beat when her mom found out she missed school, but Penny knew that if she failed school, she could always just get her GED later. Money mattered the most- especially since she was planning on leaving when she turned eighteen. Then she worked her butt off after leaving her childhood home behind.

"You didn't steal it, did you?"

Penny balked at his accusation, hurt that he would even assume she was capable of such a thing. "What? No, I didn't steal it."

Luke shook with head with an incredulous laugh. "Fine, fine." He pocketed the envelope and gestured to the house. "You both drove like five hours to get here. Do you want to come in and relax for a bit? I was about to throw some burgers on the grill."

As if on cue, Penny's stomach growled and she realized she needed to pee. While she didn't really want to have dinner with Luke, she figured it couldn't hurt. "Okay, but we're leaving after. I already got us a hotel room."

"Alright. Head on in. I'm going to finish cleaning up some of these parts laying around and then I'll wash up and start on the burgers."

Penny nodded and walked into the modest farmhouse with Christian in tow. She closed the door and let out a heavy sigh, eyes closing. "Sorry," She apologized to Christian. She wasn't sure what for. Perhaps everything, but she was slightly embarassed Christian got to witness her family drama.

The act of Luke sizing up Christian brought a genuine smile to his face. The squeeze to his hand only brought a sparkle to Christian’s eye before he released Luke’s hand. Christian found it amusing that Luke was trying to determine what kind of person he was during this quick interaction.

If only he knew…

Of course, the actual truth would probably kill Luke. Or just make him think Christian was some crazy person, which wasn’t the first impression Christian wanted to make. While Christian continued to find the male ego fascinating, he felt the air around Penny shift into something darker, and looked to her, alarmed.

Christian won’t beat me.

Christian stepped closer to Penny, resting his hand lightly in the middle of her back. He didn’t want to come across as if he were crowding her, but he wanted to know she had his support with whatever was going on here. There wasn’t much time to ensure Penny was okay before Luke seemed to deflate and led them to the truck they were here for. Christian dropped his hand while they walked, but remained close to Penny, feeling rather protective of the human he had grown attached to.

While Peny examined the truck from the inside, Christian walked around it, looking for dents and scratches and trying to look like he knew what he was doing. Once the deal was made, with the incentive of staying for something to eat, Christian followed Penny into the house. The continued silence started to worry him, and he frowned at the back of Penny’s head until they were inside and she addressed him.

The frown instantly dropped when Penny apologized to him, replaced by a horrified expression that she felt the need to apologize.

”I think the girl who survived a den of vampires can handle a little family dinner and drama,” Christian said, attempting to joke. But not wanting Penny to think he was trying to make light of the situation, Christian pulled Penny in for a hug, tucking her head under his chin and held her. ”Do you want to discuss it?” His tone was gentle and open, wanting to give Penny the space she needed to express herself.

Penny felt herself melt into Christian's warm hug and his solid frame. She buried her face in his chest with a smile. "My homelife is just a sensitive topic. Especially when Luke or Liam- my other brother- brings it up. I thought I'd be over it by now, but I guess my mother still has me in her clutches." Penny tilted her head back to stare up at Christian, her chin resting on his chest. "But I don't mind telling you. We can talk at the hotel tonight. For now, let's just get through dinner." Penny pulled away with a determined look on her face and her hands on her hips, her mood significantly better after Christian's efforts to comfort her.

While Luke finished up whatever he was doing outside, Penny used the bathroom and wandered around the house for a bit. The house seemed lived in, but there were barely any pictures anywhere. There was one picture on the mantle of the fireplace- Luke and a girl embracing and smiling at the camera. Penny frowned and placed the picture back where it was. She wandered into the kitchen and looked through the fridge and freezer for the hamburger meat. She found it in the fridge and she hummed in satisfaction. "I think I'm going to start shaping the burgers so they're ready for Luke to put on the grill. Do you wanna season them while I do so?" She asked Christian while washing her hands.

She pulled the ground hamburger out of it's package and started separating it into small servings before shaping them into patties. She'd put them on a greased tray for Christian to sprinkle seasoning on top of.

"I said I would make dinner. You don't have to do that, Pen." Luke's voice came in from the doorway to the kitchen. Penny hummed and finished shaping the last patty before glancing up at him and then washing her hands.

"Well, I'm hungry and you were taking forever, so I decided to do you a favor. Besides, I'm not the one grilling them."

"Well, thanks." Luke washed his hands before grabbing the tray and stepping out onto the back porch. "Oh, Christian, do you mind helping me for a minute?"

Penny raised an eyebrow at that and glanced at Christian. "You don't have to." But she knew he probably would.

------

"So, Christian," Luke started as he fired up the grill. "Penny says you're just a friend, but there's clearly something else going on between the two of you. Penny doesn't trust people. At least, not easily." He narrowed his eyes and sized Christian up. Christian was slightly taller than him, but Luke was buffer. Luke was confident he could win in a fight if this man was hurting his baby sister. "What did you do to make her trust you, hmm?"

Luke wasn't the best big brother when the time came for him to be, but he genuinely cared for Penny and he wanted to make sure she was okay. She had always been a bad liar and a naive little girl. Honestly, it pissed him off half the time when they were younger, but now he realized she just wanted a solid person to lean on. Luke regretted that he wasn't there for her. He just wished she saw how genuine he was.

Christian made his way into the kitchen and waited for Penny. He didn’t feel comfortable wandering the house without her. He was looking forward to their conversation at the hotel later. Christian wanted to get to know Penny better, but was also concerned. It seemed her past hadn’t been the most pleasant.

Christian smiled and stood beside her when she returned to the kitchen. At her suggestion, Christian looked around the kitchen. ”Um, sure…Where are those exactly, and what do I do?” He followed Penny’s example, though, and washed his hands.

After brief instruction, Christian sprinkled the appropriate spices onto the prepared patties. He remained focused on his task even when Luke joined them, and finished just before Luke picked up the tray. Christian turned to put the spices away when Luke asked for help.

Christian turned, looking at Luke and then Penny. He smiled gently at her, knowing what this conversation was going to be about. It would be a first for Christian, but he had heard stories from human souls about the art of backyard grilling and the community it evoked.

”It’s okay,” he assured Penny before he joined Luke outside.

Christian walked around the deck, taking in the backyard and the setup before he joined Luke near the grill. He watched the man turn on the BBQ, committing everything to memory. It seemed like an important task to learn. Christian turned his focus to Luke when he addressed him. He smiled at Luke’s attempt to intimidate and put Christian through the paces.

”I was honest with her. I don’t see much point in lying or playing games. If she asks me questions, I answer her. If she needs me, I’m there for her. I confess I wasn’t expecting much more than your sister’s friendship, but…” Christian looked back toward the house, his smile shifting into something softer. ”There definitely seems to be something developing, but I am in no position to rush it,” he said, looking Luke in the eyes for further assessment.

Luke flipped a couple of the patties before setting his eyes back on Christian with a frown for a few seconds. He watched the soft smile that adorned this man's face when he talked about his little sister and he realized that she would be okay. "You seem genuine enough. Just... be good to her- whatever you two end up being, friends, lovers, partners, I don't care. Penny didn't grow up in a loving family. She's had it rough and it made it difficult for her to have meaningful connections." Luke turned his attention back to the grill, though he still had a frown on his face. "If you so much as lay a single harmful finger on my little sister, I will make you regret it," He pointed the spatula at Christian's chest in a threatening manner.

----

Penny watched through the window with her arms crossed as Luke discussed her with Christian. She worried for a second, wondering if Christian would handle things okay, but then she remembered Christian could most likely take Luke in a fight and felt less worried. They seemed to just talk and Penny sighed in slight relief, though she was still irritated Luke was trying to get involved.

By the time she was finished setting out three of everything, Luke and Christian walked back inside and Penny gave them a smile. "How was the grilling?" She asked Christian, smiling at her little joke - but also because this was probably Christian's very first time seeing and watching someone grill something. She wanted to know what he thought of it.

Christian felt his cheeks warm, and his eyes grew wide. He didn’t realize he could blush. Christian ran a hand over his cheeks and mouth to compose himself. There was an understanding that Luke was doing the typical big brother looking after his younger sister speech, which Christian understood but didn’t think was necessary. Even if Penny hadn’t survived a nest of vampires, Christian got the impression Luke didn’t really know his sister. Christian didn’t think Penny would let anyone walk over her. Then again, Christian was starting to get to know Penny, and by coming here, there seemed to be more layers to her than he realized. Lovers not only sounded weird to Christian but was way too soon even to consider.

Christian cleared his throat and nodded, hoping he came across as nervous about being beaten up rather than anxious about advancing his relationship with Penny.

”I understand,” Christian finally said, smiling awkwardly. Once they finished outside, Christian followed Luke in, shutting the door before reuniting with Penny. He felt his cheeks flush again when she asked him how it went.

Christian couldn’t deny he was interested in Penny. He was currently interested in developing their friendship and helping her improve her hunting skills, but he also enjoyed the feeling he got when she relaxed in her arms. Or the way she seemed to smile just for him every time he walked into the room.

”Interesting…I learned a lot,” he said, truthfully. ”Do you have a barbecue? If I practiced I’m sure I could have the technique down.”

Penny shook her head regretfully. “I don’t, unfortunately. But most RV parks and campsites have some. I can also start saving up some more money for one that we can take with us.”

In truth, Penny did still have some money after the camper and truck, but she’d prefer to save the rest for living expenses and gas than spend it on a grill. Luke set out all the ingredients for burgers and Penny followed behind, building her own. She quietly helped Christian with his too, explaining in almost a whisper that he could add whatever he wanted and keep out whatever he didn’t want- though Penny knew it probably didn’t matter since he couldn’t taste food anyways.

To say dinner was awkward would be an understatement. Luke brought up small talk and Penny was amicable- as in, she answered his questions and even asked some of her own, but there was a sort of tension in the air that couldn’t be ignored. “Who is that woman in the picture with you?” Penny asked. She didn’t want Luke to think she cared and she really didn’t want to care, but deep down, despite the hurt her brothers caused, she still cared a little bit.

“Oh, that’s Melissa. She’s my fiancee. On a business trip right now though. She’ll be back in a couple days.”

Penny stared down at her empty plate, shocked that Luke had a fiancée and didn’t even bother to tell her. “For how long?” She asked, still looking down.

“We’ve been engaged for about a year now, but I’ve dated her for three.”

Penny felt that usual pang of hurt in her chest and she frowned. Of course he was getting married and didn’t even tell her. She stood up, her chair rubbing loudly against the wooden floor and grabbed her bag. “Well congratulations, Luke. I hope you’re happy. Really. But we better be going.”

Luke stood up just as abruptly and held his hands out. “Wait, already? Why don’t you two stick around a few days? You can meet Melissa. I have a spare bedroom-“

“Seven years, Luke. For the last seven years you’ve reached out on and off, claiming to care and saying that you want to get closer and bond. At first I thought, ‘sure, why not? He and Liam left me alone with an abusive mother and an absent father, but now that I’m an adult and finally moved out, they want to bond over our trauma’. Then when I thought we were getting somewhere, you drop off the face of the planet. You’ve been dating this woman for four years and don’t even bother to say anything? The last time you called was a year ago and you didn’t say a word about her!” Penny’s chest felt tight and her throat ached- as it usually did when she was holding back tears. She was so frustrated.

“Wait- you’re upset I’m getting married and didn’t tell you?” Luke sounded incredulous.

Penny grew angry and she shook her head. “I’m not mad you’re getting married! I’m mad that you keep saying you care, but then you never act on it! If you want to be involved in my life and vice versa, telling me you were getting married would’ve been a great start!”

“Penny, I-“

“C’mon Christian.” Penny gave Luke a watery glare before stomping out the front door and letting it slam shut. She sped walked to her new truck before coming to a stop, her breaths heavy. She felt the tears well up in her eyes and she groaned, holding her palms to her eyes. She was so pathetic.

Supper was a little uncomfortable. Christian could feel the tension in the air, but was used to one-sided conversations. He was also used to no conversations. Sometimes it took a while for a spirit to come to terms with their death and make the decision to cross over. Like the teenage girl Christian had helped after meeting Penny. He spoke when spoken to, adding a bit of information here and there, but Christian mainly left the conversation to the siblings. At least, until the conversation turned.

Christian stood when Penny did, focusing mainly on her while brother and sister went back and forth yelling at each other. When Penny stomped away, Christian moved to follow but paused. He turned back to look at Luke.

”I’ll talk to her, but I can’t make any promises. Thank you for the meal,” Christian said before he hurried after Penny.

Penny was already at the truck by the time Christian made it outside. He got to her quickly, watching her rub her eyes. Christian sighed and glanced around.

”You can’t drive like this. Let’s go for a walk. Just down the road a little ways and back. Come on.” Christian offered Penny his hand to take, and a small smile, hoping to convince her that a walk was a good idea right now.

Penny dropped her hands to her side and turned to face Christian as he suggested they go for a walk. Her eyes still burned and she really just wanted ti leave Luke’s property and go back home, but Christian was right. She was too angry to drive. She put her hand in his and squeezed it slightly as he pulled her along down the road. It was warm and soft. It was funny how holding someone’s hand could make a person feel safe and comforted. It was silent for a bit before Penny decided to break it.

“I want him to care. And I care, even though I wish I didn’t. I’m sorry this has been so uncomfortable for you. I don’t usually yell or get frustrated so easily.” Penny felt her face heat up in embarrassment over how she acted. She thanked God it was dark outside so Christian couldn’t see the coloration.