I don't own the characters, this would never be allowed on CBBC.

I'd say this is about midway through the story, though that could change depending on the naughty boys and how the plot develops.

-YD-

"Bertrand?" Vlad called out, knowing his library was nearby. His mentor was there in the blink of an eye. "Yes sir?" "Don't call me sir you bat, far too formal when we're so... close." Vlad winked at him. "Apologies si- Vlad, what did you call me for?" "Well, me and Robin are picking out coffins. Robin has chosen his, I wanted your opinion on the double coffins over there, mine is far too restrictive." Bertrand cast an appraising eye over the pile, noting the textures of different woods, the precious metal fixtures, the attention to detail in the carvings.

"I'd recommend the one second from the bottom, good solid oak, perfect craftmanship and titanium fixtures. It should last you a good... 100 years?" Vlad could tell something was off about Bertrand, but refusing to let his good mood come down just yet, eyed up the one his mentor had suggested and had to agree, it was beautiful, even to his eye and he wasn't such a fan of coffins. "Fancy giving us a hand moving them up? Robin can take the room opposite yours, so you'll both be near me." Vlad had intended for them to carry them, vampire strength being pretty strong and all, but Bertrand simply focused on them, carefully lifting the pile up and the chosen coffin sliding out neatly. The pile was replaced, Robin's coffin levitating next to his upright so they'd fit through the door. Grinning at Bertrand showing off his powers, Vlad strolled out of the room, knowing the other two would follow. Leading the group upstairs, Bertrand set Vlad's coffin outside his door, and they all went in to set Robin up with his own space.

"Awesome! My own room, my own coffin!" Robin was all smiles, utterly at ease in his new life. Vlad envied it, never having truly felt at home as a vampire himself. He and Robin shifted things out of the way, laying out some old boxes in a line so Bertrand could set the new coffin down. Vlad had to admit it suited him, as Robin dived in, laying down and closing his eyes then practically purring in contentment. "I'm gonna try it out, I've always wanted to sleep in a coffin!" Sharing a smile, Vlad nodded and followed a rather quiet Bertrand out. Pulling his coffin-side tables further out so they wouldn't be crushed, Vlad helped the other vampire physically move the smaller coffin, if only to enjoy watching the muscles working under his skin. As soon as they were switched around, Vlad noted the deep blue lining and smiled, he'd always liked blue more than black. Laying down and stretching out, he rolled over a couple of times back and forth, relishing the space.

"Come on, I want to see how it holds up to two vamps!" Bertrand obediently climbed in, and it was practically second nature to lay his head on the broad chest, stroking over the faint scars that told of Bertrand's history as a fighter. "Do you ever miss that life Bertrand? It must seem slow here by comparison, there's only a threat on our lives every few months or so!" He shivered as rough fingers stroked down his bare skin, revelling in the touch of the older vampire while awaiting his answer.

"Honestly, I had expected to. When the initial rush of having found the chosen one had faded, and when you no longer seemed to need me, I considered leaving for the old life." "I'll always need you Bertrand, who else is going to help me master my super new powers when I turn 18? Assuming they haven't gone for good, did you find anything out in your books?" Vlad could feel the tension immediately, the muscles beneath him freezing solid. "Bertrand?" He lifted his head, taking in the expression on the others face.

"What is it, tell me?" Bertrand seemed to be struggling for words, the muscles in his jaw twitching, Forcing himself not to get distracted by the purple bruises he'd made before, Vlad pushed himself into a sitting position, eyes trained on Bertrand's face. "I did find out something, yes." He eventually ground out, and Vlad felt panic start to rise, whatever it is didn't sound good if Bertrand's reaction was anything to go by. "Well, what was it? Whatever it is, I can handle it."


"There's a word for what you are, the union of a male vampire and a human mother. Dimidius." Vlad had never heard of it, but it surprised him to learn there was more than one of his... kind. Male vampires were frequently more interested in the draining part, not having sex, leaving them alive and then sticking around for nine months to wait for a baby to appear. "There have only been three recorded cases in the last two thousand years, there may be more but as it's the ultimate crime we will never know, and there hasn't been another in the Dracula line ever." Nodding, Vlad knew there was more to it than that. "What aren't you telling me? I'll go look it up myself if you won't tell me, I have to know what's so bad?" Bertrand sat up, their faces inches apart and Vlad could see turmoil in the dark eyes. Reaching a hand into the thick curls, Vlad pulled Bertrand against him, exchanging gentle kisses until the tension started to ease, sensing Bertrand needed some reassurance to say whatever it was.

"Your vampire side is stronger, more dominant, which is why you were able to transform at 16, had your mother been a vampire and your father human you would have appeared human until you were approaching your 18th birthday, the sire is the dominant aspect of vampire genetics, as I'm sure you may have gathered. But as you approach your 18th birthday, your human side will start to show. Your powers will wane and things like garlic and sunlight will hurt, but won't kill you. Don't get staked, that will still kill you. And on the morning of your 18th birthday, you'll have a choice." Bertrand could see the confusion in Vlad as he tried to take it all in, he could even smell the faint hints of humanity that would become more prevalent in the coming months.

"What is the choice?" He wasn't sure he could say it, wasn't sure he could take seeing Vlad try and choose. "You choose which side to live with. In the three minutes it takes the sun to rise, you... you choose human or vampire. If you stay in the shadows, your human side will die, vampire dominating and your full powers come in. Step into that sunlight, your vampire side will burn away, and you'll be fully human." He felt tears starting in his eyes, reflected in the shining blue orbs as Vlad was hit with the realisation he could be what he'd always wanted, a normal boy. Bowing his head, unable to look into the pale face he'd come to love so much, he let the tears fall, slight tremors rolling through him as his body shook with suppressed sobs.


"So, I really am the chosen one, only I thought it meant I was chosen for something, not that I'd be faced with an impossible choice. Do you know how the others chose?" Vlad had to ask, he had to know it was real. "There's no record of the first's choice, I would imagine they chose to stay vampire and as such had their post-18th identity hidden, but the second and third both chose human, unable to reconcile choosing the darkness over the light." Bertrand's voice was thick, glimmers of tears falling making Vlad's chest ache. As soon as he'd heard, Vlad instantly wanted to step into the sunlight, to become the ordinary human and to go to his mother and sister, live a normal life. But then he looked at Bertrand, and thought of Robin, of Ingrid. Could he choose to lose them all? Could he truly choose the shadows for all eternity?

"It's ok Bertrand, there are still 3 months to my birthday, we will get through this together." Vlad reached out his hand, gripping onto the others fingers tightly until the touch was returned. "For now, let's make good use of my new coffin and get some rest." Pushing at the others chest until he lay down, Vlad ignored his small stature and spooned around Bertrand, tangling their limbs together as tight as he could and holding the older vampire against his chest until the shaking stopped. Inhaling the smell of smoke and knowledge that Bertrand always had, Vlad nuzzled at the base of his neck, pressing a small kiss to the skin there and letting his eyes fall closed. His dreams were full of questions, of sunlight and moonshine, of his family and his lovers.


Ingrid had been testing out her new skills in the throne room, extinguishing the roaring fire and then experimenting with igniting a new one, trying to vary the strength and brightness of the flames. As she put out the newest one, she heard male voices, talk of new coffins and sleep. Standing up slowly and edging towards the door, she strained her newly enhanced hearing, they'd set up the half fang near both Vlad and Bertrand's rooms. Robin had said he wanted to sleep, it was still a few hours to dawn yet but he was dying to try out the new coffin. There was scraping and thuds and the sound of wood on concrete, Vlad had a new coffin too then. Peering round the tiny crack of the door, she saw his old coffin, still shiny as he'd only had it a year and a half, resting against the outer wall. Hearing more chatter, she crept closer, taking great care not to make a sound before leaning against the wall.

The emotions were practically pouring out of that room, her own throat feeling tight as sadness permeated the air. Bertrand had found out what Vlad was, and what he could be. He could choose human, or vampire. She knew her brother, he'd always wanted to be normal. Ingrid also knew his heart, Vlad wouldn't be able to easily choose between becoming an ordinary breather and staying with them, or at least with Bertrand and Robin, she wasn't yet sure how to reconcile with her little brother yet. Though it had to happen soon she decided, as she heard him tell Bertrand they would get through 'this' together, as though it were just another slayer attack or a tough exam. Speaking of exams, Vlad still had his citizenship exams to take. Though, would he need them, if he were set on choosing humanity? She felt the still unfamiliar weight of guilt on her chest as she thought of her own secret, and whether she could use it to sway Vlad or not.

Hearing them settle down for sleep, she decided to use the last hours of darkness, the transformation to bat form never being easier as she flew out of the window, letting the moonlight soothe her as she thought of Vlad, happy and childlike in his exuberant tryst and playfight with Robin, deep and serious as he found out his impossible choice. Pushing images of him twined with Bertrand away, she soared into the night, taking care not to go too far so she'd have time to return before sunrise. Sunrise had never been more important to avoid for a Dracula as it was now, she had to find a way to keep Vlad vampire or lose him forever. And, as many times as she'd tried to kill him in his sleep, or with garlic chocolates, or a sun lamp, or a stake... ok, moving on, as many times as she'd tried, she couldn't lose him, not now.


So, Vlad knows the choice now! (I know he doesn't find out til he's arrested on his birthday in season 5, but I can't imagine Bertrand being able to keep a secret from Vlad, can you?)

Bat biscuits for anyone who reviews! (Or messages me, the messages I get telling me they like this story make my day! Bug burgers or crispy fingers for you guys!)