I was doing such a great job with Lily, teaching her to control her blood lust instead of her blood lust controlling her, although I heard from Kai that she'd been put in an alternate dimension or something with only our children to keep her company.

I was currently drinking coffee while reading the news, secretly for any signs of werewolf, vampire, or Heretic behavior in the city. Not that I didn't trust our children, it's just that one can never be too sure. I turned the page, finding myself in the funny pages when I heard Kai shout.

"We've got mail!" I looked up and took the mail from him. He frowned but went to watch TV with Mary, Nora, and Beau. Damon was currently in a meeting with the Founders Council, Stefan was chatting with Valerie, and Lily had taken the car to get a car wash and groceries. You need a lot of those when you're raising six kids. Not to mention I had my men locating a run away child, that would make seven. Plus Lily and I equals nine. Nine people in our family.

Then there was Elena, Bonnie, Caroline, Malacahi, Matt, and a few others probably. Those were just family friends. Though Lily seemed she wanted to adopt Kai, I wouldn't be having that until Damon and Stefan learned to get along with their older siblings. And Damon was having the hardest time of that.

Now of that list, I know that Elena is dating Damon. So that would equal ten in our family. Biggest of a family I've ever seen. Not that I was complaining. I loved my family deeply, and would do anything for them, just a word and I'd be there for them.

I finished my newspaper before setting it down to go through the mail. Plumbing bill, electricity bill, car bill, postcard, postccard, postcard, house bill, postcard, postcard, postcard, letter from Caroline, letter from Elena, postcard, invitation to Founders party, postcard. I separated the bills, postcards, letters, and the invitation. I'd have to pay the bills, these postcards were each of us, the letters were probably for Damon and Stefan, and we'd have to get some fancy clothes for this party.

I flipped my postcard and felt the color drain from my face. It was a big, red x. I flipped over the others and they were each the same. Big red exes. I gathered them up and burned them. The children don't need to know. I can't let them know she was back. I gathered the ashes and dropped them in the toilet, flushing them away.

I went back to the other mail and heard the lock of the front door rattle as Lily unlocked the house. I showed her the invitation. I took the letters to Stefan before announcing that we had an invitation. "Children. I suggest you all go shopping for beautiful outfits. We've just been invited to a Founders party and we shall be attending the party to show that our kind can live peacefully in this city. That means, each of you on your best civilized behavior. Now, since your Mother is home, I'm going to go pay some bills at the City Hall." I informed them, picking up my set of car keys from the top of the fire place.

I gave Lily a kiss on my way out of the house, bills in hand. I sat in the drivers' seat before pulling out of the driveway.