China leaned down and pushed Faye's hair back, kissing her forehead. Faye started to move, twitching her arms and legs and breathing without constriction.

Keltoh fought against his hand but failed.I wanted to see that China was okay. And then I find that you did this to me...

Silva sighed in relief as he sat back, breathing heavily. Faye was completely healed, except for faint scar's on her arm. Healing took a lot out of him and pain still coarsed through his body from the girl's injuries. He stood up and held his arm against his chest. He suddenly caught snorts of fear coming from the meadow and realized Senshi was still down there with the colt. "I'm going to go get Senshi." he told China before standing and moving down the trail.

Rome's eyes flashed at Keltoh's words. His hand tightened before losening slightly. "No harm will come to China while I am alive and that goes for my daughter as well. I will kill anything that tries You made your decision a long time ago and so did China. What happens between her and I no longer concerns you." he snarled.

China sat with Faye, stroking her hair back from her face.

She would never have a child with me. She couldn't. It rips them apart inside, you know. I can't believe you'd do that to her.

Silva moved down the trail, keeping an eye out for the fight. He went to Senshi's side and quickly untied the frantic little colt from the saddle, but hobbled him so that he wouldn't go far. Without the colt's extra weight he managed to get the huge horse to stand up so he could have a look at the damaged leg. He cursed as he saw how bad the damage was. If Senshi had been any ordinary horse on another ranch he would have been put down immeadiately, but lucky enough he was the demon of a spellcastor. Silva cast a temporary spell that would numb the pain, but that was all he could do with the little bit of energy he had left. He sent Senshi slowly up the trail knowing the horse would stop when he saw China and Faye. Despite only being able to use three legs the horse managed to get up the steep incline. It took Silva longer to get the sick colt up the trail.

Rome's eyes flashed again, but his expression became confused. "What do you mean?" he demanded angrily, thinking the vampire was trying to fool him.

China saw Senshi and felt a twinge of safety from the big horse. She got up to help Silva. Faye was unconscious.

It hurts her. Physically, literally. When she was human she was diagnosed with a disease that prevented her from having children. Vampirism helps slightly but she's probably burning every day now.

Silva gratefully accepted China's help with the colt. He watched as Senshi limped over to Faye's unconscious form and nuzzled the girl's face gently with his huge black, velvety muzzle. Silva felt even more regret at leaving Faye when he noticed how miserable the stallion looked. The huge horse was blaming himself for what happened to Faye.

Rome suddenly snarled and pulled back his arm, his hand clenching into a fist. He brought his fist foward with inhuman speed and stopped it only inches away from Keltoh's face. He suddenly threw the vampire to the ground, cursing angrily. "If I ever see you again I will kill you. Get off of my land. Now!" he snarled.

China sighed.Let's bring her home.

Keltoh spat at Rome's feet and blurred away. He couldn't believe that Rome could live with himself.

Rome watched Keltoh leave before he turned and walked up the trail. The red hazy light didn't leave his body and his eyes didn't change back. "We are all going home." he told China. He walked around both the people and the horses, a red mist forming a circle around them all. He walked to the center of the group where Faye was and looked worriedly down at his daughter before whispering a quick spell. One minute they were on the rock ledge, the next they were in front of the barn. Rome immeadiately lifted Faye into his arms and motioned for China to follow him inside. He took his daughter up to her room and put her in bed.

Silva led Senshi into his stall in the barn and let the horse lay down. He would have to wait to heal him when he had more energy. He took the colt to a smaller stall and gave him some medicine, before returning to the ranch house. Once he was in his room he started working on his own arm. He re-aligned the bone and then wrapped it tightly so it wouldn't move.

China caught his arm.Rome, what's wrong?She was worried about him.

Faye was dreaming of Silva. He was so complex... she didn't know why she thought of him like this.

Rome looked down at the floor, his red eyes hard. "Keltoh told me that you had a disease when you were human that kept you from having children. He told me if you had a child you would be in constant pain." he whispered. "I want the truth. Is what he said true?" he asked.

Silva sat down on his bed. He couldn't help but think about what could have happened to Faye. He wanted to apologize to her for everything he did, but he was afraid she might hate him.

She looked at him and then looked down.I didn't want you to worry more.She whispered, looking down.

Faye stirred and woke up. She lay there in her room for a while before getting up and sneaking past her parents to stand in the doorway of Silva's room.

Rome looked at China before turning on his heel and storming out of the house. He was furious with himself. He had always said he would protect China from harm, but now he was the cause of her pain. He changed onto a panther, the red eyes remaining even though the red haze disappeared, and took off into the trees. He raced across the ranch until he reached the hills. He stopped among the trees and changed back, tears flowing freely from his eyes. He hated himself. He fell to his knees and screamed up at the sky.

Silva felt someone nearby and looked up to see Faye in the doorway. He was on his feet in a flash. "Why aren't you in bed? You shouldn't be up. What if you hurt yourself? What if you aren't strong enough to be moving around yet?" he asked frantically, moving towards her. He kept his good arm stretched out slightly as if he was waiting to catch her if she fell.

China tried to stop him but she couldn't. She curled up in a corner of her chair and cried.

Faye stepped forward.I can support myself. I am, after all, capable of handling myself.She said, not harshly but with deep hurt in her words.

Silva lowered his arm and took a step back. "Of course. My apologies." he said quietly. Even if she didn't sound mad her words felt like a punch in the chest. "I'm sorry for treating you like a child when you clearly are not. I'll remember that from now on."

She stepped towards him, clearing the space.But I am. I'm supposed to be. Why did I leave my childhood so quickly?

Silva didn't meet her eyes. He had to fight the urge to pull Faye into a hug with her so close to him. "It's because of what you are." he told her.

I know I'm not human but what am I? I'm a half breed. Your lucky. You get to be normal.A small blur of tears formed and she angrily wiped them away.

Silva reached up and brushed a tear off her cheek with his finger. "I'm not normal. I'm a half-blood, but I'm nowhere near as strong as you." he told her softly.

She reached up and caught his hand.Don't stop.

"What?" Silva asked her, confused by what she wanted.

She put his hand back on her skin. His touch felt like fire.That.She whispered. She reached up and stroked his cheek.

China was in the forest, searching for Rome. She was terrified that She had caused his furyRome? Rome! She started sobbing again. Rome blamed himself. She had made the choice. If anything happened to Rome she would die. Literally. She sank down to the ground and sobbed deeply.

Silva sighed and his eyes softened. He touched her cheek and then gently trailed his hand down to rest against her neck. "I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have yelled at you." he whispered.

A black panther slowly approached China and laid down in front of her. His red eyes not leaving the ground. "Why?" came Rome voice, sounding almost strangled.

She sighed and closed her eyes, in her own personal heaven. She stroked her fingers down his arm. Unlike her mother, her touch was not bold and strong and sexy. Her touch was gentle, feather light.Don't worry. She grinned at him slightly.If you want you can convince me to... forgive you.She bit her lip.

China jumped when She saw the panther. She tried to get rid of the tears that were still spilling down her cheeks.Why what? Her voice was not sad or regretful or even angry. Her voice had a massive lump of fear in it that made her words run together.

Silva smiled softly and without even hesitating he dipped his head down to kiss Faye lightly on the lips. He didn't know why, but it seemed right. Like kissing her was simply an instinct.

"Why did you keep it from me? Why didn't you just tell me?" came Rome's voice again, sounding miserable. The panther didn't move an inch, his red eyes remained on the ground.

She wasn't even surprised. She slid her arms around Silva's neck. Her lips, like her touch, were soft and yielding, allowing Silva to lead.

You had too much to worry about. I don't mind, Rome, I really don't! I would anything for my daughter. She reached out to touch him.