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knew I wasn’t mind-melted to their orders, I was willing to take a shortcut and help them out with a solution, rather than asking them a million questions until they came up with it.
    Looking more at Gwen than Kieran, I asked, “Can we work to find a compromise, so Kieran feels welcome to impose upon those few hours a day you’ve set aside for your companion? He resents it’s no longer just the two of you and he begrudges the time you spend away from him. Do you have any ideas of how to go about helping Kieran not feel as if he’s lost you for a portion of every day?”
    Gwen didn’t appear to like this idea at all. She spoke fast and with a touch of an Irish accent I hadn’t heard before. “Kieran is a tyrant about this! I gave him an inch and he took a mile until I had to put me foot down and say the time from when I woke up until Mark went to bed belonged to Mark . When I said Kieran could impose, he managed to interrupt us every single day, and had Mark ready to walk out the door! And I didn’t blame Mark for being upset, Kieran was awful to him!”
    “Ah, so the two of you have already tried to find solutions to the problem, and this has led to the current arrangement.” I paused a few moments as I considered the dilemma. “It seems to me you’ve tried the two extremes but haven’t met in the middle. How does this sound — Kieran is allowed three nights a week he can impose on the time set aside for Mark. Not all of the time on those nights, but some of it. He doesn’t have to impose all three nights, and most weeks probably won’t, but if something comes up then he can. The option’s there should he need to take it.”
    They were both eerily still, like statues. I wasn’t even sure they were breathing. I inhaled and continued, “If there’s a function or event Kieran would like to attend with you in the evening, can you see Mark long enough to feed and then go to a play or whatever with Kieran? Or, if it’s rude to eat and run then can you drink bagged blood that one night and give Mark the evening off?” I shifted my gaze to her husband. “Kieran will not create situations, but if they arise then he won’t hesitate to make you aware of them. And, in exchange for this, Kieran will be nice to Mark and will make him feel welcome in your home.” I looked at both of them and asked, “Does this sound equitable to both of you?”
    They both thought it through, and then both slowly nodded yes.
    I looked at Kieran. “You will be nice to Mark and you will make him feel welcome. And you won’t intrude just because you can, but only when something truly comes up, or when there’s an event you really want to attend with your wife. Can you handle that?”
    “Yes.”
    I looked at Gwen. “Can you keep from blowing up at him for intruding? If you feel he’s encroaching too much then give yourself at least six hours after the interruption, and then calmly speak with him when you’re alone. If you cannot resolve the situation then you’ll make another appointment to come see me and we’ll talk about specifics and how to better handle a similar situation in the future. Does this work for you?”
    “Agreed.”
    “You should both proceed with caution until you’ve reached a place of trust and comfort. Kieran won’t take advantage, and Gwen won’t assume he’s taking advantage unless there’s ample evidence. Gwen will be sensitive to Kieran’s feelings and will make sure he knows how much he’s loved.” I looked back and forth to both as I spoke now. “And I can tell you both love each other, and are hurt by this rift. It’s easy to take the love we have for one another for granted after ten years, I can’t imagine how it is after several centuries, so both of you should go out of your way to show the other how much they’re loved and cherished, and to see that everyone’s needs are being met. Try to give each other the benefit of the doubt as you find a way to make your marriage