Kat is back for a brief scene! Yay!

Disclaimer: I wish I owned them!


Stan's POV:

Alberta was bringing her son over tonight and I was terrified. I would go halfway down the stairs, realize I forgot something and head back up.

"Stan?" My mother walked over to me. "What's wrong?"

"I'm about to meet Alberta's son..."

My mom smiled softly. "Stanley... This isn't JUST Alberta's son. It's going to be your son too."

I was speechless at that. Nicholas Alto... My son. I looked at her. "I'm going to be a father..."

"It's not too late to back out."

"No... It's not that. I would never... It's just... What if I mess up?"

"Every parent, mother father, and GRANDparent, worries about that. You just do the best you can. As long as your child is loved, that is all that matters."

I was silent for a moment. "Mom?"

"Hmm?"

"Did I disappoint you?"

Now she was silent for a moment. "No... Never in a million years... I just worry. You are so young. What if this doesn't work out?"

"Mom, she is so alone. Do you know what her mother did to her?"

My mom and I sat down at the table. "What do you mean?"

I took a deep breath. "Her mother is Marguerite Petrov..."

"Who is that?"

Just then my father walked into the room. "Who's who?"

"Stan was just telling me about Alberta's family. Her mother's name is Marguerite Petrov."

My father sat down at the table. "THE Marguerite Petrov?"

My mother looked even more confused. "Who is Marguerite Petrov?"

"A legend in the Moroi/Dhampir community."

"For what?"

"Being a bloodwhore."

"Dad, it's not like that..."

"How many partners has she had?"

"I don't know..."

"How many times has she been pregnant?"

"This was the first success after 4 known miscarriages."

My mother frowned. "Poor thing..."

"She's using you Stanley."

I jumped up. "If she is, I don't care. Her mother BEAT her for wanting to learn how to read. She was forced to have sex at twelve. That is only five years older than Lena."

"I think she's a princess..."

I looked over at my little sister who was standing there in her best dress. I crouched down. "Lena... What are you wearing?"

"My favorite dress. I want to look good for the princess."

My father joined us. "Why do you think she is a princess?"

"She is pretty... and nice... And a handsome prince saved her!"

I was touched by that and smiled at my sister. "Thank you Lena..."

She rolled her eyes. "Not you. Patrick."

I stood up and looked at my father. "Dad... I think I love her."

"You THINK?"

"All I know is when I see her cry, I want to KILL. When she walks into a room, I forget all about the Moroi. And, Dad, when she smiles... it's like world peace has been achieved. I don't know what love is, but if it is anything like this... then yes... I love her." There was a knock on the door and smiled. "That is going to be my Princess, if you will excuse me..." I opened the door. I was suddenly nervous again. "Hi."

She smiled her "world peace" smile. "Hi." She looked down at the bundle in her arms. "Stan, I want you to meet Nicholas Patrick Petrov, my son."

I took the small bundle in my arms and smiled at the tiny baby. "Your mommy lies." I took in his dark brown hair and sapphire eyes. "Your name is Nicholas Patrick Alto." I smiled up at Alberta. "And you are OUR son."

Kat's POV:

I slammed the book shut and started shaking. Why didn't I realize that their life story meant my brother's too? I leaned against the wall as tears ran down my face. I grabbed the photo of him and me at the beach on my 5th adoptaversiry. Or my 7th birthday. Whichever. He had just turned 20. I grabbed my cell phone in my free hand and dialed my home number. Thankfully both of my parents picked up. "Why didn't you tell me?" I burst into tears.

"Katherine... sweetie, what's wrong?"

"I didn't expect Nicholas to be in here."

"Honey... he was part of our lives."

"You could have warned me."

"We should have. I'm sorry."

"I miss him. Every day."

"I know you do Kat. I miss him too."

"I should have followed him. I shouldn't have left him out there alone."

"You were twelve."

"He was protecting me."

"He died doing what he loved."

"We don't know that. He could still be out there!"

"Kat... we will never EVER give up hope, but we have to move on at some point. What do you think he would do if he saw you like this?"

"Point and laugh."

I heard my father snort. "True, but he would also tell you that this is NOT your fault. And he would tell you 'don't..."

"Don't hesitate. I know."

"So, what do you think so far?"

I smiled a little. "You really fought for mom didn't you?"

"I did."

"I better get back to the story then." I paused. "Daddy?"

"Hmmm?"

"Does this story have a happy ending?"

I could hear the smile in his voice. "It just may Kat... It just may..."

Well, there was chapter 11. You will get to see how the dinner goes in the next chapter.

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