A/N: Disclaimer in Chapter 1.

I got so absorbed in Merlin! Definitely worth all the waiting for the last five series.

Thanks for sticking with me. I did consider deleting this fic a few chapters after I began after people didn't like it but I realised that it was one I wanted to write and all the support made me continue. I'm glad people stuck with me and actually like it. I wanted to try something different.

The plotline for the sequel is sorted and has begun to be sown in. As for a title, I haven't got one yet.

I forgot, did people want to see Bertrand/Ingrid? If so it'd probably be more in the sequel.

Please let me know what you think.

Chapter 21: Hate

Vlad closed his eyes at Adze's words. She was enjoying milking this for all it was worth. She enjoyed creating devastation wherever she went and this had to be her favourite moment to date.

Alex looked at Erin in confusion then back at Vlad before fixing his gaze back on his mum. Erin nodded slowly confirming what Adze had said.

Alex shook his head and stumbled backwards crashing back into Adze. She didn't move but she did laugh as the boy fought to remain upright clutching at her skirts. A tearing noise filled the air as the purple cloth ripped, she didn't care this was worth it. It was worth tearing a hole in Vlad's 'family'.

Vlad stepped forwards, "You little…"

"Sorry was it supposed to be a secret?" She asked, she knew full well that it was a secret, she'd commented on the fact that Alex didn't know who Vlad really was to him, herself. "Alex, Daddy's waiting." Adze crooned before pushing him hard in Vlad's direction. Vlad let out a hiss at the way she treated his son.

Alex stared at Vlad watching as the vampire nodded as well. Tears welled up in the boys eyes but they weren't joyful tears they were tears of pain. Adrenalin rushed through the child's veins.

Alex spun and hit her hard in the stomach. She let out a gasp at his strength. "SHUT UP!" He screamed at her making her wince as his voice was shrill in her ears. She rubbed her stomach where he'd hit her. Vlad wasn't quite sure who he'd inherited this from now. Adze stared at him in shock; she didn't expect him to react like that. She raised her hand to hit the boy.

Vlad didn't wait another minute, he scooped Alex into his arms holding him flush against him, he wrapped his arms across his chest in a protective gesture. The boy didn't move he remained tense under his fingers; he didn't even turn to hug Vlad he just stared blankly at Adze.

"Leave my son alone." Vlad warned lowly, speaking out about Alex's parentage for the first time. "You've had your fun now get out."

Adze looked at Vlad, fatherhood seemed to suit him, it was a shame he wouldn't live to enjoy it. "I think you need to understand who's in charge."

Vlad looked at Alex and Erin, he glanced at Ingrid she seemed to actually be silently supporting him. He wasn't sure if he liked that at all. "Alex doesn't change anything Adze. I'm Grand High Vampire; you're a princess and my fiancée that's all." She didn't have any power because she was a girl.

Adze still smiled, he didn't like the smile. "It changes everything Vlad; you've got two weaknesses now. How will our kind react to a bastard son? A slayer one at that? All before you were Grand High Vampire as well." She enjoyed speaking like that, it was time Vlad realised exactly what his love for a slayer had done and the consequences for it. "But he follows in his father's footsteps doesn't he in that way?"

Erin wished she'd had the foresight to cover Alex's ears at the coarse but proper term. It was degrading term that she never wanted him to hear. Vlad was technically illegitimate as well and that's what she was referring to.

Vlad looked down at Alex, he seemed emotionless. He knew most of this would be going over his head but children weren't stupid. Things like this would linger with them. "I don't care what the rest of my kind thinks Adze. Alex is my firstborn, you kill me and he will inherit my title." He watched as her eyes narrowed in realisation. "You can't deny him his birth right, you might have succeeded if it was a girl but she would have still been of my blood." Adze couldn't dispute his son existed. Even if they married she would be third to him, possibly fourth behind Alex's mother even if he wasn't married to her.

Adze looked at Vlad, "That can change." There was no denying that she meant that Alex could 'disappear'. "What is our kind or the Count going to demand? I have a few suggestions how to deal with this 'problem'…"

His eyes burned, blazing red as he circled her in a ring of fire. Erin glanced upwards at the sprinklers; Jonno would strangle him if he set them off. "Alex isn't a 'problem', you're the problem Adze. If you ever go near my son again…"

Adze held a finger in the air, he was forgetting something. "I can because you'll be my husband. There isn't anything you can do about that. I'm your First Bite and there's nothing you can do that will change the fact that you have to bite me in our Bloodbinding."

Vlad half smiled viciously at her, "You know I'll try harder to get out of it now more than ever. I have a mate already…" He hadn't wanted to let that slip but anger was keeping him going at the moment.

She looked at Erin sceptically, "A slayer mate?" She laughed, "The same one whose bed you've already shared tonight." There was bitterness in that and Vlad looked down at the t-shirt, it was causing far too much trouble when it had been given to him after Erin had ripped his when they'd tried to… He shook his head ignoring where his mind was going. "Our kind would see it as an insult. Mating isn't recognised anymore, marriage is the only thing that is. They'll force another bride onto you when she's dead soon enough."

Vlad fought not to look at Erin, he could take that two ways either that she would be dead in fifty years or she'd been killed soon, Adze was off by a few thousand years if it was the former. Adze had been curious as to why Erin hadn't seemed to age and the answer was staring her in the face.

He somehow doubted that Adze was talking about a normal breather's lifespan though. He nearly stepped forward but remembered in time that he was clutching his son to him, he settled for making the ring of fire tighter around her. Alex gasped at his father's control and display of power. "Are you threatening her?"

"What do you think?" She grinned, Erin remarkably stood her ground. "I hope this was all worth you breaking our little deal. I'm going to enjoy breaking my side of the bargain." Adze tipped her head, folding her arms and tapping her plump lips with her right index finger. "Unless you want to make a new deal…"

"There will be no more deals." Vlad spat out. Deals were what had separated his family and caused this whole mess in the first place. "Erin told me everything," He reminded her slipping it in, "If you harm anyone, then I will hunt you down and dust you and if you touch Alex again I'll do much worse." He'd make her wish he would stake her. He'd draw out her death making it so long and painful she'd beg to be slain.

Adze faltered slightly, before picking up where she'd left off. "Fathers are so protective of their young." She cast a dismissive glance to Erin, "And their mothers."

"I will protect my son Adze even if I'm slain doing it." He looked to Erin lacing their fingers, "I want you out of Garside when I get back or I'll tear off your wings. Our Bloodbinding isn't going happen. Your clan can hunt me down but I'm not marrying you. I will go to a war before I lose my son and mate." He wanted her to know he'd do anything to protect his young family.

Adze bristled, anger clouding her at his threat. He didn't care about the consequences of breaking the binding but they'd never actually had a Blood Tea Ceremony. "Mark my words Vladimir; you and your son will regret ever being Draculas. I'm not letting you out of our Bloodbinding so easily. It will happen and when it does…" She glanced at Erin, "You'll be watching as I take his powers and make him mine."

Vlad raised his hand to throw a blazing fireball at her but Adze had vanished before he could release it.

YEKNODELTTILYEKNODELTTIL

As soon as Adze disappeared he tore himself from Vlad's arms. Vlad just let him go, he wouldn't hold him back against his will.

"You lied to me!" Alex screamed, his arms flailing as he pointed accusingly at his parents. "You and Vlad lied to me!" Tears poured down his cheeks, dripping onto his shirt. Erin wanted to wipe his tears away but she couldn't bring herself to touch him.

Erin needed him to understand. "Alex…"

"No!" He shook his head, his tears flying to the side as he wept. "You lied!" Alex screamed at Erin, "I have a Dad!" They could hear his heart breaking as he spoke, Erin looked at Vlad helplessly who was trying his best to look composed but she could see the sadness in his eyes.

Erin wanted him to listen to her, "Alex just listen to me…" Her eyes glistened.

"NO!" He screamed and the lights fluctuated. Vlad grabbed Erin and pulled her towards him, wrapping his arms around her and pressing her head against his chest to shield her eyes as the fluorescent tube exploded, shards of glass flying everywhere.

Alex was powerful; there definitely was no denying whose son he was. Children could tap into their powers through bursts of strong emotion but couldn't naturally use them until they were in their teens.

"He can't use his powers on me." Erin told Vlad with conviction.

His voice lowered to caress her ears in warning. "He loves us as his parents but he's not *in love* with us. I can hurt Ingrid and Dad with my powers but I can't hurt you." Not that he would ever want to.

Alex looked guilty at what he'd just done but anger took over and he wanted nothing more than to rant at his parents.

Vlad looked at him sympathetically; he'd been in this position when his emotions got the better of his powers. He slowly moved in front of Alex, he reached out to touch him.

Alex jumped back flattening himself against the wall as he had done when he first met Ingrid. "DON'T TOUCH ME!"

Vlad ignored Alex and cupped his neck, tilting his head upwards as he bent down. He sent waves of apology through their link, followed by love. He smiled softly at the boy. "I never wanted to hurt you." Vlad whispered to him. "I'm sorry that I did." Alex's eyes met Vlad's finally, they were glassy as he searched for the truth in Vlad's eyes. He seemed to find what he was looking for and dove towards Vlad, Vlad arched backwards slightly at the force of the impact then wrapped his arms around Alex, rubbing small circles on his back. Alex shook as he let his tears out into Vlad's shirt, shaking and sobbing violently.

Vlad gestured for Erin to come over with his eyes. Vlad caught Erin's hand and pulled her down. Alex felt a sudden draft next to him and saw Erin. Alex yanked away from Vlad trembling.

He looked at Erin, venom in his voice as he spoke. "I HATE YOU!"

Then he darted outwards and back down the corridor desperate to find someone that wasn't his parents.

Vlad didn't stop him, Alex needed time to cool down and Adze wouldn't be back – not yet at least. She needed to plan her attack or report back before continuing.

Vlad's head twisted to Erin immediately with their son's words. Erin stood there shaking as Vlad pulled her to him once more, she twisted her head into his chest. He placed his chin on the crown of her head and closed his eyes.

Ingrid reminded them of her presence as she commented: "I always thought you were the dramatic one Vlad."

"Fog off Ingrid."

YEKNODELTTILYEKNODELTTIL

Vlad darted into Erin's quarters behind her; he wasn't leaving her on her own after what Alex had said. Erin had been fuming the whole way down the corridor; he could sense it in his own mind and was currently fighting not to react to it at all.

"What are you doing?" Vlad asked as Erin paced around the room.

Erin grabbed a bag, a large rucksack that was grey in colour. It was one she'd had for years and it made Vlad feel cold to look at. He knew what she was doing now. "I have to get Alex out, take him somewhere." She threw open her drawers and started piling things into the bag. "We can't stay here. Not now Adze knows about Alex…"

He caught her and pressed his lips against hers, cutting her off. She went limp in his arms but didn't make any attempt to deepen the kiss. He drew away from her finally having gotten her attention. "I can protect you both."

She pulled away from him, returning to her packing. Erin couldn't put him in that position, he would deliberately be putting himself in danger. "I can look after Alex on my own."

"You can't stop me from looking out for him now Erin. It my duty as…"

That tipped Erin over the edge as she stamped her foot and whirled around to face him; poking him hard in the chest with her index finger. "DON'T EVEN TALK TO ME ABOUT DUTY!" She shouted at Vlad. "Your duty is the reason we're in this mess!" She lowered her voice but she couldn't help it.

"Alex was conceived before I'd even met Adze." He reminded her; Erin said she was a month gone when she left. "Alex comes before *her*! Alex always will."

"She's right though you weren't Grand High Vampire, you will lose the respect you've earned because of this." She swiped at her eyes. "They think you were foolish enough to be with me in the first place, what are they going to think when you have a son? You're the youngest Grand High Vampire and they hate the power you wield…" Vlad stopped her placing a finger on her lips.

"I haven't had their respect all my life, I have their fear. You are the only person who isn't afraid to kick me up the fangs when I go wrong. I need you and Alex. I've needed you for five years. I have you back and I don't care about anything…"

"She will start a war…"

That was something he'd used on her to show how ready he was for it. "She won't." Vlad told her softly a smile crossing his face. "If she starts a war then she loses her chance to be my bride forever because I can't marry the enemy." She raised her eye brows sceptically; she was the enemy back when they'd been together. He felt her scepticism in his mind and her questions regarding them. "Ancient Vampire Law." He answered, those three words didn't bring her comfort. "You came under tradition, there isn't an actual law preventing us being together just opinions."

Erin dropped the shirt she hadn't realised she'd been holding. "She's probably telling Ramanga and the Count everything… I can't lose you all because she's found out about Alex." Erin knew the consequences of everything. There had always been consequences in their relationship, she wished that they could have been normal and had a life of their own not one that was dictated by fear and tradition.

"You won't. I can protect you." Vlad assured her, he gestured to the bag before pulling the clothes from it and tossing them onto the bed. All the while ignoring her cry of protest. "Running away won't solve anything…"

Erin shook her head as she replaced what Vlad had just unpacked back into the bag, "Running away kept you both safe for five years and you're not exactly one to lecture me on running away."

His answer was designed to draw out a bigger argument. "I dealt with my problems Erin; I didn't wait for them to catch up with me." Granted he needed to go away for a while to deal with them in the first place he always came back.

She slammed her case shut. "Is that what you think I was doing?!"

Vlad wasn't going to lie, "Yes." He caught her and drew her back to him. "I understand why you thought you had to run away but this time you're not on your own. I'm not going anywhere and I won't."

Erin didn't try to pull away from him, "Alex will get hurt."

"Not if you let me protect him and you." He brushed a lock of her shoulder length hair behind her ear. "I protected you when we were together years ago, I can protect you now." He inhaled her soft scent, relishing the scent that was beginning to come through of their mating. "At least let me try."

"This is all my fault." She whispered, her throat hoarse. "If I'd have been more careful…" But she couldn't' live without Alex in her life.

He sighed, "Erin, we made the choice to go further together. We made love because we were ready for it and we love each other. Alex was created through love, we would've had a child sooner or later if Adze wasn't around." He knew that for certain. "We made love for the first time after Sethius. Do you remember that?" She blushed looking down; it wasn't something she could forget. She'd lost her innocence to him and never regretted it once. "I don't remember either of us considering you becoming pregnant then or any time after. I've never regretted being with you – any of those times. I'm not going to say sorry because we have Alex." Erin's eyes sparkled at his words.

He gently kissed her lips, she brought her hand to his cheek as their kiss became slow and lazy. With her thumb she brushed his cheekbone tenderly.

Vlad pulled away suddenly, turning his head towards the door. Erin followed his gaze, she didn't have to wait long to know why he'd done that. "What have you two done to Alex?!" Jonno asked angrily as he slammed the door, the frame rattled. "I have a four and a half year old cowering underneath my desk refusing to come out!"

Erin whispered, "He hates me at the moment."

Jonno seemed to realise everything, he looked between the pair of them. They both looked guilty but Erin seemed more distraught. "He found out didn't he?" He shook his head, this was what he'd been dreading for years. "And it wasn't from either of you." He rubbed his temples, wishing that he wasn't going to have this conversation.

"Can you…" She whispered at Vlad, the vampire nodded speeding after Alex. Vlad had a slightly better relationship with Alex than she did at the moment, not that she blamed their son for that.

Jonno barely waited until Vlad had left the room. "I always said this would happen."

Erin shook her head, sitting herself down heavily on the bed. "I'm really not in the mood for 'I told you so' Jonno!"

"How did you think your son would react when he met his father?" Jonno asked her, Erin didn't think of it, she'd only considered Vlad's reaction when he found out not Alex's.

"I get it Jonno, I screwed up." Erin shouted at him, "You didn't see Adze though; she's going to make Vlad pay for Alex being born. I don't know what she's planning but she'd up to something already…"

Jonno knew the answer to that. "Vlad can look after you both." It was all Vlad had ever wanted and Alex didn't deserve to lose Vlad now he definitely knew who he was. Vlad and Erin combined would be unstoppable. Adze wouldn't know what hit her.

"But…"

Jonno waved his hand in the air cutting her off. "I don't think you have a say in this anymore Erin."

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Alex wasn't cowering under the desk as Jonno had explained he was sitting in the chair Vlad had first held him in. He swung his legs back and forth flicking a pen across the desk. Alex winced as he stretched his arm outwards to reach for the pen.

Vlad closed the door slowly but Alex wouldn't look at him. "Go away." Alex muttered, he didn't want anything to do with anyone.

"I'm not going anywhere." Vlad left no room for discussion in that. "Alexander let me see your shoulders." Vlad told his son sternly, Alex refused to move. "Now." He commanded in what he hoped was his most fatherly no nonsense voice. He only hoped that Alex wasn't like him – had a habit of defying his father. After all Alex had said that he *might* obey him if Vlad was his father, there was no guarantee he would.

Adze had held him tightly and Vlad knew what a vampire's grip could do to a young vampire.

Alex moved towards Vlad slowly, suddenly wary of him. Vlad grabbed the hem of Alex's shirt and pulled it over his head.

Vlad gently traced his fingers over the vivid black and blue marks that were starting to appear on his son's pale skin. He let out a hiss. They were going to get worse before they got better. There were marks on his collarbones from where her fingers had gripped him, he was glad she hadn't held Alex any tighter – she could have broken his collarbones and shoulder blades.

He rubbed them lightly pleased that Alex didn't flinch. "Are they sore?" He asked him softly. Alex nodded slowly, they did hurt. "They'll go soon, it's the perks of being a Dracula." Vlad told him, kissing the bruises lightly as he'd done for Erin when he'd caused similar marks on her skin after the whole Sethius incident – he remembered vividly what that had led to. His attention snapped back to the young boy. "They'll hurt more before they get better. I'm sorry she did this to you." He was angry at Adze leaving marks on his son's skin but even more furious that she'd dared to touch him.

Alex didn't look at him as he spoke, "I asked you to be my Dad and you knew you were." Alex felt stupid. Vlad had told him he couldn't be more than once even when he must have known. "You don't want to be…" It was a moment of weakness before when Alex had linked with him; Alex wished he'd asked Vlad what he wanted to say before he'd hugged him.

Vlad caught Alex's face in his hands, "Alex look at me." Alex slowly drew his eyes to Vlad's. "I'm your Dad and I've always wanted to be." He'd told him that when they thought he wasn't. "I didn't know about you, your mum wanted to keep us safe. You saw what Adze did in there, she'd hurt you a lot more and she might hurt you now." He knew Adze would hurt Alex, Erin's fears were true. "I only found out about you because you told me how old you were. "

"Uncle Jonno never told you either?" Vlad shook his head, no one had told him until Alex had said how old he was.

"There are reasons why we weren't told, your mum did what she thought was right and it did keep you safe." As much as Vlad was loathe to admit it. "Your nightmares were because we met for the first time, I didn't know to keep my mind away from you. We linked then. That's why you can sense me; I'm your dad I'll always be in your mind. I love you Alex even if you weren't mine. You can't sense other people because they're not your mum and dad, you won't be able to until you're much older."

Alex's chest heaved a shaky sob, "I wanted a dad and she always knew you were there…" Vlad scooped him up and sat on the edge of the desk, placing the boy on his lap. "Why didn't mum ever tell me? I wanted to know who you were…"

"I don't agree with what your mum did but she wanted to protect us." Vlad pulled Alex closer to him. Alex rested his head at the curve of Vlad's neck. Vlad held him tightly, remembering that Alex had to breathe. He felt the boy's arms wrap around his chest. "Five years ago things were different. I wasn't getting married and it wasn't as safe as it is now. I loved your mum and she didn't know about you when she left me. She didn't leave me because she didn't love me, she didn't think she had a choice. She always wants to do what's best for everyone else." Erin didn't ever want to be the cause of any trouble.

"I hate her!" He snapped at Vlad, his eyes burning as thought about him mum.

Vlad shook his head, "You don't hate her." He knew what hating a parent felt like and he could see the truth in Alex's eyes – he didn't hate his mum. He never wanted his son to experience that pain and emptiness he always felt when he thought about Magda.

"I do!" Alex protested.

"Alex you love your mum. You're angry with her but you don't hate her. She loves you just as much as I love you. I'm angry with her too but I still love her." Vlad stroked his cheek lightly, Alex smiled at him. Vlad pressed a kiss to his son's forehead, letting his lips linger.

"I don't want to see her ever again!" He shouted making Vlad winced as the high pitched tone hit his ears. He was glad Erin didn't hear that, his son was saying words he'd himself said to Erin. He didn't know if Alex had seen those memories or whether it was just a coincidence.

"She never wanted to hurt you." As Vlad spoke his lips ghosted across Alex's head, "I just wish your mum and me were the ones to tell you about me." Vlad pulled back. "We were thinking about telling you soon." He brushed his hand through his son's hair.

That caught Alex's attention, "When?"

"Soon." Vlad chuckled, unable to help himself at the hope in Alex's eyes.

"How soon?" He asked again.

Vlad gave him a firm answer with a twinkle in his eye, "Soon."

Alex looked at his father with a stern expression on his face, one that had Vlad squirming. He'd definitely picked that look up from Erin. "Can I ask you something Vlad?"

TBC

A/N: What do you think?

Did people want to see Bertrand/Ingrid?

Thanks for reading.