Still don't own the characters.
So! We come to part 3 of the story I never meant to let get so out of hand.
If you're new here - This is a sequel to Building Something New + No Place Like Home.
Which means it's Vlad/Ingrid/Robin/Bertrand sexing/bonding and plenty of it! Not every chapter, but any chapter. And you should probably go back and read them, there's character development, death and a whole lot of other stuff you won't follow if you start here.
This could go on forever - rather than list all the warnings ever, just assume my four Draculas will probably do it, they are all naughty vamps. And there may be more deaths yet, who knows!
Now that's established, on we go!
-YD-
"What's a Lazarus Spring?" Robin was clueless, though the others all seemed to know what it meant. Bertrand managed to answer through his shock "A myth, a legend. A spring that can bring vampires back from dust." The four of them stared at their suddenly grown son, who really was a perfect blend of the four of them - he couldn't help noticing. "And what, the surprise baby Adam is a fountain?" He was met with shrugs, nobody seemed to know what to make of it. "No, I'm not a fountain. My blood carries ancient magic, forged from powerful vampires and an even more powerful bond." Vlad was the first to step forwards, picking up the child who smiled brightly at his father. "That's what I said just before, I said it was like love came to life when he was born - all four of us." "And then what, he switched himself on?"
Adam, or Lazarus apparently, turned to the rest of them. "I had to be born of the Chosen One, but I also had to be born of people who proved love was more powerful than anything. Because I'm not... Ready yet. I won't grow like a normal child, my maturity is many many years away and I needed parents who could commit, who would protect me with their lives without a second thought." Vlad was still staring at the boy as though he was holding a soul, precious and unique - which Adam certainly was. "Are you one of a kind? I mean, am I going to wake up huge again?" "No, your body was merely a conduit for me, you won't fall pregnant again." Vlad adored Adam, but they had all seen how terrified he had been about it. Adam's speech was reminiscent of Bertrand, clear and concise, no baby talk or childlike vocabulary.
"So do we call you Lazarus now?" "No, Adam will suffice, a name chosen with love." Nobody seemed sure what to do now, other than stare avidly at their son. The other kids decided for him, Maddie and Ella waking to cry one after the other. It was instinct for them by now, shifting between feeding and changing. "You see? You prove that even DNA is irrelevant where love is concerned, the way you each parent me and my siblings, blood or adopted. I had to be made from three, but four is even better I feel." "Three? Oh. Half fang, full blood and dimidius?" Bertrand, ever the logical one, asked. "Exactly. There are few vampires who could love one as completely as you, yet you all formed a bond and a family that belies every expectation." He had them there, they were definitely a one of a kind nest. "Are you going to stay a little boy them shift up a few years, or age much slower?" "Slowly, Lazarus is the eternal youth after all."
They each took a turn holding Adam, familiarizing themselves with his face that showed them all, Robin's own dark eyes staring back at him from beneath a curled mop that screamed Bertrand. After Ingrid, then Bertrand had their turn, Adam requested to be put down. "I think we should perhaps introduce me to the rest of the family, it may present something of a shock and I believe tonight has been a new beginning of sorts." Vlad and Ingrid went off to get everyone in one room again, and Bertrand headed off to get Adam new clothes. Kneeling down to be more at the eye level of the boy, Robin had to ask. "If you only needed three, was I surplus to requirements?" "Of course not, you were the first to show DNA was less important than friendship when you first met the Draculas. And Bertrand" Adam may be the only one he had heard pronounce that flawlessly "was the protector, the warrior in my blood." "How much do you know? I mean, you weren't around then obviously." "I have the memories I need from all of you, to allow me to explain and allow you all to understand. I wouldn't have arrived if you weren't all ready."
Adam thanked Bertrand for the clothes, steady on his feet as he dressed himself. "Much better. Shall we?" Bertrand lifted Adam up, then took Robin's hand in his free one as they headed to the games room - they really ought to knock through more walls to make bigger spaces. Unsure what to expect, they stepped through the door and found everyone there, though Sally and George were clearly barely awake. "Wow, that's impressive, I thought Ingrid was exaggerating." "No Olga, she was not." They all looked at Adam in surprise, he hadn't been told names. "So our baby brother is now not a baby? Somehow I'm not all that surprised." Alex was sat calmly chewing on a biscuit, scratching Wolfie behind the ear absentmindedly where he sat on the floor by his chair. "You're not? Cus we were!" Alex gave Robin a strange look, as though he was being silly.
"My mother and father are also my aunt and uncle, my uncle is a dog right now, my adopted brother is half human. My sisters were carried by men, and my grandmother is a human. What exactly about our lives isn't surprising?" Adam wriggled free of Bertrands arm then, dropping to the floor neatly and approaching Alex. The two seemed to size each other up for a minute, then Alex broke into a smile and grabbed Adam in a tight hug. "There's more than just the sudden growth spurt by the way." Vlad had his arm around Ingrid where they stood at the back of the room, and Robin wondered what was bothering Ingrid - she was rarely this quiet. "Adam, would you like to explain yourself?" They all watched in surprise as Adam literally leapt from the floor to the table, sitting on top of it and facing everyone calmly.
"I wasn't just a quirk of biology, I was born to be something. The Lazarus Spring flows through me, though it will take many years before I mature enough to access it's powers. I was born of the four vampires for a reason, created through power and love that transcended any barriers between them." Everyone gave Vlad and Ingrid a pointed look then, which Vlad answered with a wide smile. "What? Surely this is old news by now?" Most of the rooms occupants shook their heads at him and resumed watching Adam. "It wasn't just about that, my parents willingness to love and accept is shown in other ways than them. Assan and Wolfie - not their responsibility and yet they became part of the family regardless. I am the only one to be made from all of them, yet no child here is loved less for not being everyone's blood. The humans are probably the safest in the world here, though you will both make fine immortals."
"Speaking of humans who have no clue what you're talking about" Robin thought George had been remarkably constrained to let the boy finish talking before she asked "what's a Lazarus Spring?" "It was a myth until a few weeks ago apparently, it can revive a vampire from their ashes. Wait, does that mean you can bring back my brother?" "If you have his ashes, then when I am fully matured, in theory yes." "In theory?" "There is more to it than simply handing me a dust pile and expecting a fully restored vampire a second later. However, I cannot share more than that with you now, it is not the right time." Ivan nodded in acceptance, a strange sight for a near six hundred year old vampire to be listening so intently to a little boy. "I was thinking more of how at some point you guys get to explain the events leading up to him coming back. I want an invite to that show." There were many widened eyes at the thought of explaining to the Count, though apparently they had plenty of time to work it out.
It transpired within hours that not only could Adam walk steadily and talk fluently, he was also fast, strong, could read, write and play chess against Robin. That was an effective distraction while they added another bed to the boys room - Adam would not fit in his cot anymore. "We'll have to make this room bigger, if any of them grow anymore it'll pop open." Bertrand smiled in agreement as they arranged the furniture around again. "There's nothing in the room to the left, perhaps tomorrow we can clear this out and hand the boys hammers, see how long the wall lasts." Chuckling to himself at the image Bertrand painted, Vlad thought it sounded fun. "Sounds good, I'm sure they would love to be involved. We'll have to get more paint though." "Already done, Robin and I envisioned more renovations and guests, one of the school classrooms is full of every shade of paint our excitable mate could find, plus tools and various other oddities he swears are useful." "Well, his dad is a plumber. He would know."
Sure enough, Bertrand showed Vlad a room full of painting and decorating equipment. "Wow. We will tell them tomorrow, they'll never sleep if we tell them today." Adam was quiet and polite now he was done explaining himself, and went to his new bed with no complaint other than he didn't have matching pyjamas like his room mates. "We will sort that out, they all grow so fast we have to keep getting new stuff anyway." This appeased Adam, who curled up on his side and was asleep before they were done putting the others down for the day. Now Adam wasn't in the nursery, they felt safe to leave the girls alone with their baby monitor after a change and a feed, like they had before Adam came along. Stripping down to boxer shorts and lazing on their bed, Vlad felt their bonds settle in contentment as Robin and Bertrand laid either side of them and Ingrid used Vlad's body as a pillow.
"We know something is bothering you Ingrid, talk to us." She shifted against his chest, clearly emotionally uncomfortable. Surrounded by them physically and emotionally, she relaxed somewhat. "It was just what Adam was saying, about how we were all so much about love that everything else was irrelevant. Its a tough thing to believe when it comes to me I guess, since apparently I'm secretly maternal enough to be ready to spend an indeterminate amount of time raising a slow cook mythical creature." Vlad knew Ingrid loved their children and the three of them, as much as he knew he loved them all too. He was just better at accepting that. "Ingrid, you're selling yourself short here, and that is very unlike you. Adam said he wouldn't have been born if we weren't all ready for this, and I already know you're an amazing mother."
Robin grinned, though Ingrid couldn't see him from where she lay. "We all know your Alex's favourite, and the only thing that settles the girls more than your voice is Vlad singing, but that's some kind of magic." Vlad swatted at his mate, who smiled unapologetically. Bertrand was quiet for a moment, but he was apparently forming his words slowly. "Yes, you have a darkness, we all do. But when you found out you were having Alex, you made the choice. To be a wife, a mother, you chose to follow your heart and become part of this weird, wonderful family. Unless you feel that the last few years have been a mistake, you are more than ready for this." "Of course I don't think it was a mistake." "Then don't doubt yourself, we believe in you." Ingrid sighed, shifting to get more comfortable on top of him. "Alright, alright enough with the feelings." Stroking over the scars he placed on her neck, Vlad smiled. "You're the one who tells me off for not talking about my feelings." "I'm not half human, and I'm the boss, I make the rules." There was no denying that, Ingrid would always be the Queen Bee.
"True. Which reminds me, we got you a moving gift." Ingrid looked up at the three of them in confusion, not in on the surprise. "Robin?" He was on the side the drawer containing it was, so he rolled over to get it. Vlad could feel as much as see his male mates smiling as Ingrid looked at the papers. "Is this for real?" "Absolutely. Paperwork to show we believe in you, that you're strong enough to get through this. I can't actually sign clan head over to my wife, but the land and whatever's on it is yours. As is Alex's regency." Technically, only Vlad had to sign the paperwork, but in the name of teamwork against Ingrid's (admittedly well hidden) insecurity, they had all signed it. "Alex helped write the contract up. I think I took out all the extra stuff he put in about ice cream." Even Ingrid chuckled at that, still staring down at the signed papers. "I don't know what to say." "You don't have to say anything, you do need to sign them in acceptance though." Bertrand held out a pen, and none of them commented on Ingrid's slightly shaking hand as she took it. "It's official, Ingrid is queen of the castle. Well. School. You know what I mean." "She was before, now it's in writing." They barely got the papers out of her hand and safely away before Ingrid was kissing the unlife out of each of them in turn - nobody in the world could wear out three vampires like Ingrid could.
-YD-
I really shouldn't be starting this, I have three active stories but these are my favourites!