It was several hours before she finally came back. Littlespark had, as predicted, woken up. She had also needed to be changed. Aidan was in the bedroom with her lying on the floor when he heard the door open. He was trying to get her to hold still long enough for him to get the cloth diaper pinned on her. When she heard the door, she waved her arms and said “Mama!”

“Yes, Mama. Very good Spark.”

“Mama!” Littlespark said again, and suddenly she squirmed free and crawled at lightning speed into the main room. With a sigh Aidan picked himself up off the ground. He heard a sudden crash from the front room and Littlespark squealed, but it sounded like her delighted shriek, not her scared one. More curious than alarmed Aidan went to the doorway and looked into the room. Flame Song, in human form, was sprawled on the floor. The crash had obviously been the sound of her tripping. She had apparently been successful in her hunt, for a live rabbit, white in its winter coat and with a terrified expression on its face, was hopping around the room. And crawling after it, giggling and squealing and naked as the day she was born, was Littlespark. The sight was so ridiculous, that Aidan started to laugh. He laughed so hard that he had to lean against the door. He laughed until his stomach ached from laughing. Flame Song picked herself up from the floor and said irritably, “Don’t just stand there, do something!”

Aidan just laughed harder. Flame Song shook her head and went after Littlespark. Aidan finally managed to stop laughing and pounced on the rabbit. He held it carefully, tight enough to be sure that it didn’t get away but not tight enough to hurt it, and stroked its ears until it stopped trembling. “Why don’t you go and get a diaper on the child and I’ll go see if this is going to work,” he said.

Flame Song nodded and carried Littlespark back into the bedroom. Aidan decided to go into the kitchen. He carried the rabbit in and set it down on a counter. It stayed where he put it as if rooted to the spot. “You know I find that even with you, bunny, I’d rather not do this. But better you than Flame Song, I suppose.” He picked the rabbit up again. Waiting won’t make this any easier, he thought, and bit down on the rabbit’s neck. The fur got in the way a bit, and it was messier than he would have liked, but it didn’t take long for him to drain it dry. He licked blood off of his lips and looked at the dead rabbit. Somehow it was easier when Flame Song brought one home already dead, or when he found one dead or dying in a trap. Killing a defenseless bunny that he’d held and petted seemed so much worse. He sighed. At least it had worked. It wasn’t the same, but it had taken the edge off of his hunger.

After making sure that no traces of blood were on his face he went out into the main room. Flame Song was there with Littlespark again nodding off in her arms. “Did it work?”

“Yes. It’s not the same, it’s going to be like living on a diet of bread and water, but it worked.”

Flame Song smiled at him. “I’m glad. And really, this works out perfectly. There’s my dinner, all ready to go. You’re not the only one who’s hungry after a long day.” And she grinned. “Just let me tuck Spark into bed.”

Aidan plopped down on one of the cushions scattered on the polished wood floor and stared into the fire. Flame Song’s footsteps went into the spare room, and he could hear her crooning a soft lullaby to Littlespark. After a bit her footsteps emerged. He continued to watch the mesmerizing patterns of the flames. She went into the kitchen, and he heard the steps change from the crisp sound of booted human feet to the almost inaudible padding of firecat paws. There was a soft thud of the dead rabbit being pulled onto the floor, and then tearing and crunching sounds told him that Flame Song had chosen to not bother with cooking the rabbit. I guess my eating habits aren’t really any worse than hers, he thought with a smile. What a family we make. I wonder what Littlespark will be like when she grows up?

Flame Song emerged from the kitchen in human form again and sat down next to Aidan. They sat for a long time staring into the fire together. Flame Song idly reached out and poked at the burning logs with her finger. Aidan remembered his panic the first time he’d seen her do that, but as always the fire did her no harm.

“You know, you saved my life three times the other day. It was the fire-immunity I got from you, though I forgot about it, that let me live through that fire. And then you brought me inside before the sun could touch me, and gave me the blood I needed to heal. I don’t know what I’d do if you were gone.”

“I don’t know what I’d do without you either, Aidan.”

There was another long comfortable silence. Flame Song looked over at Aidan. The firelight created dancing shadows over his face. He would never be able to go out in daylight again, she knew. She sighed. If only… and then thought again of the Dark Lord Lavasida. He had accompanied them on daylight adventures often enough. How did he do it?

“Aidan, will you miss the sunlight?”

He sighed. “Yes. I’ve always loved the night, but I’ll miss the day a great deal.”

“I was just thinking. There has to be a way to sun-proof vampires. Haven’t you seen Lavasida often enough by daylight?”

“I… yes! Yes I have. He has an amulet that the dragon Queen gave him. Ciaran Drake, one of the old Clan members, used to have one too.”

“Well then, I’d say that’s definitely our next order of business. We need to send to Tara for an amulet for you.”

“Flame Song, what would I ever do without you?”

“I don’t know. What would you do with me for that matter?” She laughed softly and leaned closer to Aidan. She kissed his cheek and whispered, “I put the baby down in the spare room tonight. I thought we could use some time alone.”

Aidan got up and drew her to her feet. He kissed her and replied, “You know, I’ve always wanted to sweep you off your feet, and I’ve never been able to manage it.” Then he suddenly did just that, picking up the taller woman without any effort. He kissed her again more deeply and added, “There are advantages to being a vampire, you know.”

Flame Song put her arms around his neck and said, “Why don’t we go and see if we can find any more advantages?” Aidan carried her into the bedroom and shut the door behind them.