I'm sorry that some people didn't get to read the last two chapters until after midnight last night. I posted at 9:30pm last night; it seemed to take a long time to register. I'm sorry it was so late.
I promise I won't post after 9:30pm; the reason I post at that time is because I get in at 6pm from work (I use the bus) and that's when I begin typing. I'm a very quick typer, I blame having to write assignments.
Thank you to all the lovely reviews I've received so far, they've really inspired me on.
Chapter 10: Like MotherYao was the first one to applaud Erin's 'announcement'. Atilla followed then slowly everyone else began to clap and cheer.
Erin still looked away, her tears falling slowly down her cheeks. Vlad pulled her close holding her to him, something was wrong he could tell that. Erin was terrified. Erin clutched at his cape forcing the chain clasp to pull back against his throat. He was glad he didn't need to breathe because the chain would be cutting off his air supply.
"You all right?" He asked, quietly so no one else could hear but loud enough over the commotion in the room. Erin nodded into his neck. He didn't believe her for a minute.
Vlad pulled himself back and away from her, he took her hand. "Come on." He slowly walked across the floor sending Ava a fierce look that spoke of awaiting revenge. The new council member shrank back, she clearly didn't think Vlad would react in such a way, she also didn't think he would see through her to her real intentions when she spoke.
Lucius stood up noticing Vlad and Erin leaving the room, he knew Erin would need some time to compose her self after the stunt Ava had just pulled. At least Erin had put rest to the rumours circulating about her. He would cover for them.
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Vlad stood awkwardly opposite her; he crossed his arms over his chest before realising that he might look aggressive. He dropped them to his sides and clutched at the sides of his cape instead. "How long have you known?"
"Since yesterday." She hadn't been to see Miss McCauley – like she'd told him – she went to see Renfield. Renfield had confirmed her suspicions. "Is it okay?" 'It' being her condition.
Vlad was floored with her question, "I should be asking you that." He stepped forward, placing his hands on her arms, rubbing up and down slowly. They'd pressured her, Ava had just tried to humiliate her in front of some of the most influential vampires of their kind and they'd gossiped about her. "Erin this isn't because its what they," He gestured to the still crowded hall, dread on his face, "want is it?" She shook her head; Vlad breathed a sigh of relief.
"I don't know how it happened," He tilted his head a strange look on his face, and Erin rephrased the question, "I know *how*, I mean I never meant for it to happen so soon. Your mum was 230 when you were born." Her gaze dropped the bottom of the brick wall, away from him completely, "I'm sorry Vlad…" Erin tried to apologise, she felt it was her fault when they'd both agreed to wait to have children.
Vlad gently lifted her chin; he knew she was blaming herself. Erin was always terrified of failing him or his family. They'd never made a contract that was set in stone, it was just a thought for the future, a loose agreement.
"Erin, do you remember what I said? I said if it happened we'd deal with it when it happened – together." Erin nodded, she remembered that. "I said the thing that mattered most to me was if you were okay with it." Erin looked into his eyes, seeing his concern for her. "Are you okay with it?"
Erin slid down the wall slowly, "I'm scared Vlad." She whispered hugging her knees. Her dress creasing around her knees under the forced pressure of her arms. "I don't know anything about being a mum. I'm scared I'll do it all wrong."
Vlad knelt down opposite her, not touching her just yet. His cape flared out behind him. "You'll be a great mum," He assured her – he knew that for certain. The only problem was Erin didn't seem to believe it.
"I don't want to become my mum." Erin told him, the phrase 'like mother, like daughter' spinning around in her head. "And I really don't want to turn into yours." Vlad winced at the memory of the mother who constantly abandoned her children.
Vlad took her hand, kissing her knuckles. "You won't."
"How do you know?" She told him, Vlad couldn't know for certain.
Vlad reached forward, smoothing down a piece of hair that had become ruffled. "Because I've seen you with Wolfie."
"Wolfie's six Vlad, its not like he is a baby." Erin shook her head as she spoke, she really didn't know where to start. "I never really had a mother figure."
"Slayer school was a boarding school wasn't it?" Erin nodded, that explained a lot. Especially why she was so distant from her parents, she didn't know them from rarely being around them. For 28 weeks of the year, he assumed they had the same terms, she was locked into the school.
"My mom only cared about bringing another slayer into the world. Then my future was all mapped out, go to school, then slayer school, graduate, find a husband, have kids, send them to slayer school, get killed by a vampire." That summed up her life that had been drummed into her from the moment she could understand her parents.
Vlad tilted his head, trying to decide whether he should voice his next comment, "Neither of us have had good role models but…" He trailed off and Erin stared at him, "Gran might be able to help." There was one person who might be able to offer some helpful advice, especially if there were any differences between a breather and a vampire pregnancy.
"You always said she was strict, and she raised your mum." Vlad winced at the thought of how his mother had turned out they didn't want their child to be the same way.
"I promise we'll figure it out as we go along…together." He promised, he shuffled until he sat next to her, his back against the cool wall, it as rough against his cape. "It might be before we planned but all I love you both already." He knew it sounded soppy, but it was true.
"We love you too." She grinned before leaning forward and kissing him softly.
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Vlad pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket and began to carefully wipe away the mascara that had run down her cheeks.
"How am I going to explain this to Wolfie?" Vlad muttered under his breath.
Erin didn't hear him fully, "What?"
He brushed a kiss to her forehead, "Doesn't matter."
A thought occurred to Erin, "Vlad are you angry I didn't tell you before? I swear I was going to tell you tonight. I didn't mean for it to come out like that in front of everyone."
"Erin," He began seriously, trying his hardest to maintain a straight face. "You humiliated the Council, Ava, Fang Magazine and put a stop to all the gossip about you because you lost your temper." She smiled softly in embarrassment. "It was worth it." He grinned. "You didn't know what she was going to do, no one did." He believed she was going to tell him, Erin was good at keeping secrets but since their link the longer she kept one the more uncomfortable she felt. He hadn't sensed it yet so he knew she was telling the truth.
Erin leaned forward so their foreheads rested together, "Just wish I could have told you first."
"You told us at the same time so no one was really before me. How did you get Renfield to keep it quiet?"
Erin gave a small shrug, "I threatened him." That had never worked before on Renfield, all the threats in the world couldn't stop Renfield from spilling the beans. "I threatened to burn his dresses unless he kept it quiet for 24 hours, and if he did I'd buy him some nail varnish. He couldn't refuse." Her head tipped as she smiled widely at him.
"I'll have to remember that."
Erin teased him, "I think it only works for me."
"What colour?"
"Shocking pink." Erin gave him an odd look before the two collapsed into fits of laugher, her head falling onto Vlad's shoulder.
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The door opened and Bertrand stepped out, Vlad and Erin pulled apart quickly. He looked down at the couple on the floor, slight confusion as to why they'd only gone outside the door to talk and not somewhere more private.
"They're all asking after you, what have you been doing?"
"Nothing." They both answered at the same time. A slight smile on their faces.
Erin looked up at Bertrand and gave him a warm smile. Vlad stood; wrapping his hands around her forearms he pulled her up with him. Erin laughed as he misjudged his strength and she stumbled into him.
Bertrand shook his head at their antics, before standing aside to let them re-enter the hall.
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The moment they slipped through the door they were immediately bombarded by congratulations. The only thing that seemed to annoy Vlad was the hope they held for it to be a boy. As far as he was concerned as long as the baby was healthy he didn't care if it was a boy or a girl.
Ava stiffly walked towards them, her smile more of a grimace as she addressed them, "Congratulations, your Grandness, your Highness." Erin looked down on her slightly, Vlad grabbed her hand reminding her he'd deal with Ava when the time was right.
"Thank you Ava," Erin couldn't help adding another remark, "And thank you for making my announcement easier." Ava bristled visibly as Erin's comment struck a nerve. "It was reassuring to see you had so much support for me when you didn't know of my condition." She knew how to respond to make herself look strong and how to play Ava at her own game now she knew the type of vampire the girl was.
Ava bowed, "Always your majesty." With that said she flew upwards and away, trying to escape the embarrassment and humiliation.
Vlad leaned into her ear, "You enjoyed that didn't you."
"Of course not." She answered, a smile on her face that Vlad mirrored.
TBC
A/N: Thanks for reading.