Running Wild (Sequal to I'm Not A Vampire)

"Matt"

**BLADE'S POV**
        After a few weeks, Drake finally started getting a little better. Or at least, he did around Scarlet. She had a strange way of reviving him, bringing him back to himself. I loved the way he lit up around her. Every day when he came over, he seemed genuinely aware of his surroundings, and happier than I ever saw him when she wasn't there. 
        A few months after we'd chosen Scarlet's name, Drake, Ashlyn, Sophie and I were all sitting in the living room, gathered around Scarlet. She was learning to walk, and we had formed a protective circle around her, about five feet wide, as she wobbled around on her two little legs. Whenever she would stumble, whoever was nearest to her would catch her before she fell. 
        "Um, Blade, I don't think we're getting anywhere," Ashlyn said after about a half hour of us catching Scarlet when her little legs gave out from the weight of her body. "Maybe we should stop."
        "Aww, come on," I pouted at my sister. "Just give her a chance! She's almost got it."
        "We've been giving her a chance for thirty minutes," Sophie pointed out. "Maybe she's just not ready to walk yet."
        I was about to open my mouth to reply, but Drake beat me to it. "Just a little longer, guys. Blade's right, she's almost got it."
        Ashlyn shot him a doubtful look, but complied. Ever since Drake had started recovering from his pit of depression, she'd been a lot easier on him. I got the feeling she was still steaming about him being checked out for months, but for my sake she let it drop. I was grateful for that, because there were two things I just couldn't stand; not having the ones I love near enough to reach them, and having them turned against each other. 
        Scarlet was making her way toward Ashlyn slowly, one shaky little step at a time. She got to the center of the circle before stumbling over her own little feet. Ashlyn lunged out to catch her before she landed on her ass. "Shh, it's okay honey," she whispered when she let out a startled yelp. She stood her back up on her little feet, positioning her in front of Drake and I. "Go on, go towards Daddy."
        Scarlet looked at me, then at Drake. Her eyes rested on Drake for a little longer, and then shifted slightly, as if she was looking at something behind him. I watched a little gleam come into their blue depths, and the next step she took forward was as steady as if she'd been walking for years. She practically ran to Drake, crashing into him like she'd intended to keep going. "Woah there," he laughed, brushing her jet black bangs away from her face. We all clapped and moved closer to them, cooing our praise like one does with babies.
        Scarlet grinned, recognizing she'd done something good. She allowed us to hug and stroke her for a minute before turning to Drake and opening her mouth. "M...M...."
        I felt my eyes get wide, and gripped Drake's arm. "Drake," I breathed. "I think she's trying to say something!"
        Drake looked at me, then back at his daughter, who was still trying to get her mouth around the words. "What is it, Scarlet? What are you trying to say?"
        "M...M-M...."
        Ashlyn grinned evilly at him. "If she calls you mom, I'm gonna laugh my ass off." When Drake stuck his tongue out at her, she snorted. "Real mature."
        Scarlet frowned, like she was in deep concentration as she struggled to work her way through the word. "M...ma...Matt."
        We all froze. I watched Ashlyn's jaw drop, and Drake's face drain of color. "Sh-she didn't just say...?" he began.
        "No," I answered his unspoken question. "She couldn't have."
        Scarlet frowned at all of us, seeming confused as to why she was no longer being praised. "Matt," she repeated. "Matt."
        I couldn't speak, I couldn't move. I was frozen in shock, staring at my daughter with disbelief. There was no way she could know about him, it just wasn't possible. We hadn't talked about him in front of her since he'd died. We didn't know anyone else named Matt, hell, we hadn't even said the name around her. And yet, she said the name as if she had heard it as often as one of ours.
        "Drake, are you okay?" I looked over to see he was shaking, and his face had gone as white as a piece of paper. Everyone else was staring at him with concern. "You don't look good," Ashlyn was saying, peering at him in slight alarm. "Like, seriously."
        "Yeah," his voice was little more than a strained whisper. He handed a puzzled Scarlet to me and stood shakily. "I-I'm fine. I have to g-go, though."
        I frowned and gave Scarlet to Ashlyn, following him out of the living room and into the front hall. "Are you sure?"
        He turned back to me and nodded. "Yeah."
        "Do you want me to walk you home."
        "No, I'm fine. I just need to be alone for a little while."
        "Okay, then. If you're sure...."
        Drake nodded. "Yes, I'm sure," he opened the door and turned to go, but I quickly put a hand on his shoulder, stopping him.
        "Drake," I murmured. "Are you sure you're okay?"
        He gave me a small, obviously forced smile. "Y-yeah, Blade, I'm fine," he replied in a small voice, giving me a soft kiss. "See you later."
        "Bye," I whispered as he walked out the door and shut it behind him. My stomach turned in worry. I didn't believe him, it was very obvious he wasn't fine. But I couldn't say anything to him. What if it just made it worse? I sighed and my back against the door, sliding down it until I was sitting on the tile floor. I didn't know what to do for him. I wasn't sure I could stand to loose him like that again, but I didn't know how to stop it. I was just stuck.

**SCARLET'S POV**
        It was dark outside. I didn't like the dark. It made me scared. There was no moon tonight. That made me scarder. I liked the moon. It was pretty. But it wasn't there. I couldn't see. I started to cry.
        "Shh," a familiar voice came from above me. A pair of eyes blinked in the dark. Familiar eyes. Blue eyes. My daddy. "It's okay, Scarlet, I'm right here."
        I stopped crying. I lay in my bed and watched him. He began to sing. I liked it when he sang. It made me not so scared. It also made me sleepy. I closed my eyes. The singing got softer. He was leaving. There was a creak. Then there was a thud. He had shut the door. Everything was quiet. Then there was cold. It wasn't bad cold. It was good cold. I knew this cold. I opened my eyes.
        The man stood over my bed. I liked the man. He was nice. He was there when it was dark. Always. I was never scared with the man. "Hi, there," the man said. His voice was soft. It sounded like the wind. I liked it.
        I smiled. "M-Matt," I said. I hoped I wouldn't make him sad. I made my daddies sad.
        The man smiled. He didn't seem sad. "That's right, Scarlet," he said. "You know my name."
        I stared at him, He had black hair. Like mine. His eyes were like mine. They were blue. Not like my daddy Blade's. Blue like my other Daddy's. Blue like Drake's. Blue like mine. "Matt," I said.
        Matt nodded. He reached down. He touched my cheek. His hand was cold. But I liked it. "Go to sleep now," he said. His voice was gentle. I obeyed. I closed my eyes. I slowly fell asleep. His hand was still on my cheek. I didn't mind. I liked it. It was still on my cheek when I began to dream.