*****

That smile.

I knew that smile from the first moment I saw it. *That* was Sara's smile. The long auburn curls held back in a binder, the few stray wisps that still managed to work their way free and flutter in the wind; but mostly the smile was hers.

This wasn't Sara however, it couldn't be, she was killed decades ago and to my knowledge didn't have kids, so who was this woman?

I watched from the cover of the apartment's moon-cast shadow. Watching as this woman walked through the darkest, and certainly one of the more dangerous, parts of town: alone.

She hadn't gotten twenty feet when four vamps jumped in front of her and two more behind her. She looked at them and heaved a sigh, "Come *on*" she said as if disgusted by their lack of grace (which *was* pitiful). Then she drew herself into a fighting stance, "Fine. Let's get on with it."

"Ooh, someone doesn't know what she's gotten herself into," the tallest one taunted as they all shifted into their demon faces.

"Really?" she wielded a stake, "I think I do."

With that, they all lunged at her at the same time. She jumped out of the way in a move that made her look as if she'd been rigged to stunt wires, and the fledge's smashed into each other. She shielded, kicked and staked as if she'd done it her entire life. She fought the way I had taught Sara...

****************************

I met Sara one night as she was trying to ward off several slovenly drunks who couldn't seem to keep their hand to themselves. v I had walked up to her, taken her arm and asked the guttersnipes if there was a problem.

One snorted, "Just want to get this pretty little thing into my bed," he slurred.

"Well the young *Lady* is spoken for, and not at your disposal. If that's the kind of company you're looking for I suggest you head for the brothel down the street."

With that I turned and steered her towards a small restaurant only to have my shoulder grabbed by one of the drunks. I turned and punched him right in the nose breaking it. Two of the other guys charged at me, I sidestepped one and the other hit my fist in his gut head on.

I stood there for a moment and waited to see if they were going to continue the fight. They all looked at me warily but got up and left.

"Where shall escort you m'lady?" I queried as I dusted myself off.

"Where were you going to take me if they hadn't grabbed you?" she inquired. There was a hint of interest in her voice.

"That restaurant there. I was hopin' if I could get you there and have a bite they might just leave without makin' a scene."

"Do you mind if we still go?" she seemed a little hesitant, but was more forward than most women I knew.

"Do I get the pleasure of your company?"

She blushed, nodded and we went in.

We enjoyed the night talking and after dinner I walked her to the boarding house where she was staying. Leaving her at her door I continued home to my Sire as happy as I had ever been; I had found my mate.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

The Auburn dusted the first two vampires who attacked her, and was fighting another, when six more vampires appeared from down the alley and started towards the fray. I leapt into action. Even if she would stake me on principal alone, there was no way I could let anyone of Sara's descendant's (if indeed she was) die without doing everything in my power to prevent it.

The fight was short lived once I joined in. The few who knew who I was ran, sensing this girl was under my protection. The fledglings who didn't recognize me, were easily disposed of.

As the dust settled she sized me up, the stake in her hand still ready to strike if necessary.

"Why'd you do that?" her voice was calm and inquisitive. This girl was so much like my Sara, confidant, passionate, and intense, I could almost hear her mind running though everything that was going on, even as she questioned me.

"You remind me of someone," I said casually as I pulled out a cigarette and lit it, desperately trying to hide the fact that I was shaken by this spitting image of the only person I'd ever truly loved.

"Who?" a small smile played at the corners of her mouth. Cor, she even sounded like her.

"Doesn't matter. She's gone." I inhaled and held the burning smoke in my lungs for a moment as I watched her watch me. I exhaled and flicked the ash from the tip, "Stay out of these alleys at night luv. The worst kind of creatures are drawn to the Hellmouth, and it wouldn't do to have your pretty face crushed because you were walking down the wrong street now would it?"

I took another long drag from the cig and dropped it to the street, crushing the burning tip out with my heel. I offered her a quick grin and turned to leave.

"No, it wouldn't. William."

*****
TBC