For NothingnessAlchemist. For getting my but in gear and for reminding me that I needed to post this.

Oliver didn't speak to Gabriel the whole drive home. Gabe sat in the back seat, looking at Oliver expectantly. He figured Oliver would yell, scream, anything. The quiet scared him. When they pulled into the underground parking lot underneath the Common Grounds, Oliver got out of the car and headed straight upstairs.

Gabriel followed after him, struggling a bit to keep up. He wasn't as fast as a normal vampire.

"Oliver-"

Oliver just opened the door to the apartment, and ushered Gabriel in.

"Do you realize what you've done?"

"No-"

"She wants you dead. Dead. And if she really wants to, she can kill you, and I can't help you, little one. Do you understand that?"

"Yes, sir, I just wanted-"

"I know. I know. I don't want you hurt. You stay with me from now on."

"Okay."

"Come on, let's go to bed."

With that, he moved to the back of the apartment, and Gabe followed.

"Can you stop being mad with me, Dad?"

Oliver looked over his shoulder at his son, rolling his eyes.

"Calling me "dad" won't get you out of trouble."

"Yeah, but I can try," Gabe smiled, plopping down on the bed.

Oliver rolled his eyes, before allowing himself to fall into the bed next to his son.

Oliver wasn't going to let Gabe out of his sight. For the first time since they returned to Morganville, Oliver woke Gabe up early, and dragged him down to the coffee shop.

The teen grumbled and fussed like anyone else his age. Just because he was half vampire, didn't mean he could get up this early. He couldn't deal with it.

"Oliverrrr!" he whines, sitting at a stool at the bar, allowing his head to fall into his arms.

"Oh hush. I let you sleep in. It's already seven!"

"SEVEN?"

"Oh, that's right. I forgot, you forgot that anything before ten a.m existed."

Katie, the barista, giggled softly, before placing a hot chocolate in front of Gabriel.

Gabe pouts, but slowly sips his hot chocolate. The day was like any other, morning rush, slow, and then right after lunch, another rush, mostly college students. Most were just waking up for the day. A select few were on their second or third trip today.

Gabe worked behind the counter with Katie and Oliver, although Oliver wouldn't let him touch the more complicated machines. He enjoyed taking the orders, and handing them off to Katie and Oliver.

"I'll take my usual," Gabe looked at the red-headed vampire with an odd look, and the silence caused him to look over to the counter. Sam Glass blinked, and then looked to Oliver.

"Even Morganville has child labor laws, friend."

Oliver rolled his eyes, and handed Sam a cup. "He's just volunteering, aren't you, Gabriel?"

Gabe rolled his eyes. "For seven fifty an hour!"

Sam continued to just look at Gabe for a few moments, until he finally took a sip from his cup.

"I want to discuss something with you, Oliver."

Oliver frowned, looking to Katie, who nodded. "Gabe, go take a break," he says, lifting up the counter, and leading the way to his office.

He sits down behind his desk, motioning for Sam to sit.

"If Amelie sent you-"

"No. You of all people should know she doesn't talk to me. Michael came to me last night. He had questions I can't answer."

"I can't answer them either. Just tell him to stay away from Gabriel."

"He has the right to know, it is his family after all-"

"I seem to remember you convincing your son and daughter in law to agree to the experiment?"

Sam was silent, he looked hurt. "Well who would have thought that it would have ended up like this?"

"No one. After the other two died, who knew Gabriel would survive? How is your son?"

Sam shrugged. "Last I heard, he's working, but she's so sick she doesn't leave the house. The cancer's spread."

Oliver nodded. "I can't allow Gabe and Michael to interact, Sam. Amelie has forbid it. And you know how much I like to piss her off, but I will not risk Gabriel."

Sam nodded. "Get me into contact with her. Allow me to talk to her."

Oliver looked at Sam blankly. Everyone knew that Amelie had little contact with anyone, including Sam. "I can take you there, but I can't guarantee that she will speak to you."

Sam nodded. He seemed to look older than he appeared. Stress could even age a vampire it seemed. Oliver stood, and Sam followed suit.

"Come around again at closing."

Sam nods, and stood, staring blankly at Gabriel for a moment, before leaving the shop.

"What was that about?"

Oliver looked to Gabriel, who was sipping on an espresso. Taking the drink from his son, he shakes his head. "Business is all."

Gabe pouts as his drink was taken from him. "I'm almost done!"

"Exactly. Like you need caffeine."

"Meanie."

"Brat. Go upstairs."

Gabe huffs, but ducks under the counter, and heads out the back.

The day seemed to drag on, but soon, Oliver was pushing the last addicts out the door. Looking to Sam, who had arrived just before, he motions to upstairs.

"Lemme tell him I'll be back later…"

Sam nodded, watching as Oliver went upstairs. He was back a few minutes later.

"Let's go," he says, nodding to the door.

It was a quick walk, and once they were at city hall, Oliver looked to Sam and to the guards.

"And this, my friend, is where I throw you to the wolves." He left without another word.

Sam looked to the bodyguards, not blinking. He wanted to see Amelie. He needed to see Amelie. No one moved, but several minutes later, the door swung open. Sam quickly walked in. Amelie was standing in the far corner of the room, seemingly glowing.

"Amelie-"

"Hush, Sam. I've spoken to Michael. I've spoken to Oliver."

"Then why let me in?"

"Because I regret how we've ostracized you, Sam."

"Well, don't do it to the boy then."

Amelie's ice cold eyes narrowed. "He is not a boy, Sam. He is a creature, one I shouldn't have created."

Sam stiffened. "That's where you are wrong Amelie. The boy is not a creature. He is more human than some people I have met. We don't need to announce his presence to the whole town. But Michael has the right to know his brother."

Amelie frowned. "And would you, Sam, take responsibility for anything the boy does? We do not know how he will react. What if I complete the process, and he can not be controlled?"

Sam frowns. "He will be fine, Amelie. Maybe it's not too late to save us all. This maybe how we need to evolve-"

Amelie arched her brow. "You would sacrifice humans, Sam? This is the last thing I would have expected from you."

Sam stiffened. "I don't like the idea."

Truthfully, he was doing anything to keep Amelie talking to him. Anything. He had been away from her for so long, it felt welcoming just to be in her presence.

"Leave, Sam."

Sam looked at Amelie with searching eyes. "And the boys?"

"They are to be monitored by Oliver. "

"Thank-" before he could finish speaking, she was gone.

Blinking, Sam began the journey back to the Common Grounds. Oliver was waiting for him at the back staircase.

"She's been here already."

Sam just nodded. "Well, then, thank you."

Oliver shrugged, before going upstairs. Gabe was passed out on the couch, game controller still in his hand. Gingerly prying the plastic from the boy's hand, Oliver grabbed a blanket, and pulled it over his son. He knew the boy would be excited to be allowed to spend time with Michael.

Oliver had never meant to return to Morganville. He thought he and Gabriel would be able to live in peace. But Amelie had called him back. And Oliver returned, like a good little soldier, a young Gabriel in tow. He had run the common ground for years now, and Gabe grew up in the apartment above it.

Oliver never thought he could be a father. As the centuries rolled by, the paternal instincts grew. When he was given the chance to have a child, a real, blood child, he jumped at it. Other vampires took in orphans, but Oliver could have his own son. But when the others didn't survive, Amelie threatened to scrap the whole project. He took Gabriel, a young infant, away, during the day. Somehow they were able to escape Morganville.

And then Amelie called him back. And for reasons only known to him, Oliver returned, brining a young Gabriel back with him.