NarutoLovesFemKyuubi - your review made me laugh, I could absolutely see Ana saying "grr Adze must perish" after half an hour with Ingrid.

-YD-

"Gramma Sally! Look what daddy and Ingrid helped me make!"

Ana dashed over to the humans when they came back smelling of outside and the late lunch pizza, showing them her pictures and Vlad pushed the door to, pulling Ingrid close and she didn't resist at all. Nobody who had met Ingrid before the separation, before Ana was born, would have ever believed her capable of looking so happy and engaged with colouring in with a five year old. Except perhaps Wolfie, who had seen Ingrid's softer side.

Vlad would never forget it, would never forget Ana reaching up to put glitter on Ingrid's face and receiving no irritation, no annoyance - just a smile and a retaliation of glitter tapped on the tip of her little Ingrid-shaped-nose. Nor Ana declaring Ingrid made almost as good a princess as she did, and Ingrid not sure whether to be insulted or complimented.

"You're amazing with her. A natural. I always knew you would be."

Ingrid didn't say anything, but her mouth brushed lightly over the the old scar on his neck - her mark on him, the one they hadn't so much as talked about yet and Vlad felt his knees almost buckle from the sensation.

"Don't do that or I won't be decent to leave this room."

Ingrid smirked at his hissed warning, but leaned up to kiss him properly before stepping back. She looked undeniably sweet with the glitter still on her face, paint on her bare arms - Ingrid so frequently wore long sleeves, it was a rarity to see her in a t-shirt - and that light in her eyes that Vlad knew came from spending the day with Ana.

He had no idea what level of serious Ingrid saw their relationship in - they had a daughter together, she knew Vlad was in love with her and they were still brother and sister... their relationship couldn't really be casual and yet Ingrid didn't put any words to it at all. Just shared his bed, hated his fiance and slept in his arms... like nothing had happened and they hadn't been seperated for a whole six years.

Vlad didn't care - she was there, and Ana had her mother back. His need to understand where he stood with Ingrid was nowhere near as important.

"Daddy, you and Ingrid come out and eat pizza!"

Ingrid smiled again at being addressed by the girl, and Vlad couldn't resist winking.

"Told you she was bossy like you."

Even Wolfie looked surprised by how 'stuck in' Ingrid had gotten, spying her glittered, painted and generally light-hearted appearance, rather than cold indifference and immaculate black dresses. Ana chattered away about their time spent making an absolute mess in between mouthfuls of pizza, and then became utterly enthralled by the simple gift Wolfie had brought back for her - a sparkly purple hair scrunchie. She probably had a dozen more like it, but she still gave Wolfie a huge hug of thanks, pottered over to Vlad and asked him to put it in - even though she could tie her own hair up.

"Do I look pretty dad?"

"You always look pretty angel."

Ana giggled happily, then sat herself down to colour in some more while the grown ups talked lightly. Ingrid was quiet, but she ate the pizza and answered when asked a question. Mostly she just listened to Ana, watched her wildly gesticulate about how she had painted or drawn something. Ana decided Ingrid simply had to sit the other side of her when they watched a movie, and from his side of the girl Vlad quite clearly saw Ingrid roll her eyes a little over the fact Ana had Harry Potter in her film collection.

"Come on munchkin, let's get you bathed and in your pjs."

Ana could bathe herself - in theory - but often got distracted by the glittery water, the floating castles and making bubble beards and hats. So Vlad often had to go and ensure she was actually clean again, which usually ended up in a

"Gotcha!"

Splash in the face. Vlad wiped his face with the towel, then set about cleaning the mischievous little monster. Having expended all her energy making a mess that day, Ana could barely keep her eyes open by the time she was in her pyjamas. Ingrid was still in his clothes, still had a little glitter on her cheek and was sat talking to Wolfie. It was a little surreal, given how he had been barely to her hip the last time they had an actual conversation, and now he was a foot taller than her.

"Aww, is the little princess tired?"

"No!"

George didn't appear convinced, especially when Ana yawned right after her denial before burrowing into Vlad's neck to get comfortable. If left, she would absolutely sleep there.

"Come on munchkin, you can read in bed if you like. Say goodnight to everyone."

Vlad didn't expect she would be awake long enough to get into bed without help, but it pacified her to not be told she was going to sleep.

"Night everyone."

Was mumbled sleepily against his neck and he could feel the fond smile cross his face as he carried Ana off to her room. As suspected, by the time she had wriggled beneath the covers and clutched her teddy, Ana was out like a light. When he went back downstairs Ingrid had gone, presumably to remove glitter from her clothes.

"Must be catching. I'm going to bed too, someone dragged me in and out of every exhibit at that museum."

"Don't pretend you didn't love all the different bones."

Grinning at Wolfie and George, Vlad waved them off to (presumably) different bedrooms which left him alone with his mother.

"Everything alright mum?"

"Hm? Oh, yes, yes of course. Ana seems to have taken to your sister quite well."

"She may not look it, but she is good with kids so long as she cares. Wolfie preferred her to me the whole time."

Vlad hoped Ingrid wasn't listening in, that would be awkward and he didn't want her thinking he was talking down about her. It was hard to explain her to anybody... Ingrid was deep, multi-layered and when she cared and loved, she did so fiercely. She was also closed off, icy and it took a lot to fall into those categories where she would display feelings. Only Ana and Wolfie had automatically became a part of her heart. Despite the fact she shared his bed, Vlad still banked on Ingrid probably preferring Wolfie to him.

"I know she doesn't open up much, but she's missed a lot of changes in the last few years. It's going to take time for her to learn to live around humans, to deal with the fact I'm half human."

"So she's definitely staying around then?"

"Seems that way."

And he hoped it with just about every atom of his body.

"So... whatever made her leave is dealt with?"

"I wouldn't go that far."

Vlad involuntarily cringed, knowing Ingrid had heard them as she spoke, stepping out still in his purple jeans but with her dress back over them and her face and hair clear of glittering mess. She leant against the doorframe, surveying them both coolly and Vlad still had a tough time reconciling the vampiress stood there with the one who reacted so openly and passionately beneath his hands in bed, the one who laughed and painted and got messy happily with Ana.

"Blood Cellar?"

"Through that door, down one flight... third on the left."

Ingrid nodded and disappeared, leaving a heavy silence in her wake as Vlad dropped his eyes back to the table.

"You're still not going to talk about that are you?"

"No. I'm sorry, I'm not trying to hold back on you and it's not that I don't trust you... but it's not mine to tell. Not really."

A warm hand settled over his, squeezing reassuringly and he eventually looked up to see an understanding smile.

"It's fine son. I should get to bed myself, got to be up early to open that exhibit."

He bid her goodnight, glad for the reminder she would be up early in the morning as he went in search of Ingrid again. He seemed to be doing that a lot already. She was indeed where he checked first - blood cellar. He spent limited time in there himself, having little interest in the piles of human blood contained in bottles older than all the current residents of his castle combined.

"You're going to have to tell her where her granddaughter came from some day."

"I know, but until Ana's ready to hear it nobody else will."

"When would you have told her? If I hadn't come back?"

Ingrid wasn't looking at him, so she didn't see the tension in his frame as Vlad considered the idea of never seeing her again. It was like an icy knife slicing his chest open, raw and vulnerable pain.

"I'm not sure. Before she was sixteen, but after I thought she was old enough to understand that us being brother and sister isn't what made you leave. Now... it's your call. Though if I think it's the wrong time I'm gonna say so."

"Because you know her better, right?"

"What? No, of course that's not it."

Ingrid turned around suddenly, obviously expecting that to be his motivation.

"Then why?"

"Because I want you to take the time to bond with her. Ana is going to be a lot happier to hear that someone she loves and cares about is her family than when you've just landed in her life while she's scared Adze is going to be her new mother."

This time when Ingrid kissed him, he could taste her vulnerability. He knew her biggest fear was Ana's rejection, knew she was terrified and Vlad couldn't help but be humbled by the innate trust in him despite everything. Ingrid was barely holding it together, and yet she trusted Vlad with the responsibility of keeping her there. She whimpered softly as he broke the kiss, not wanting to lose track of where they were, before whispering against his lips.

"That girl scares the hell out of me. My daughter is my weakness and I don't know how to be..."

"Ana's my strength. You're my weakness."

They were both scared, raw and emotional. The only difference was... Vlad didn't still carry that shame around his fears. They made him who he was. Wherever Ingrid had been, it wasn't a nurturing and caring environment for her emotions.

"Be gentle with me. I feel so fragile right now."

For a second, Vlad thought he was hearing things. Ingrid hadn't said a word, but then he realised - she was opening up to him telepathically. Vampires never did that - it was always the first thing they learned, to close that link down and never let anyone have access to their mind. Vlad had even taught Sally and George basic protection, so no passing vampire could pick their brains for information without them knowing.

So Ingrid was voluntarily letting him in. Sharing intimate thoughts with him and Vlad couldn't quite comprehend that level of trust. If he let her in, she would see every bit of shame and grief, sadness and loneliness that he had quashed down for years after she broke his heart. She would see just how fragile he was when it came to how much he loved her. Alternatively, Vlad felt like he was being selfish to bask in her gently receptive mind without responding in kind.

He forced himself not to delve deeper, search out the secrets hidden there to find out how she truly felt toward him no matter how tempting it was. Instead he tried to offer reasonings for why he wasn't opening up to her.

"I'm scared if I let you in, it'll overwhelm you."

Ingrid kissed him again, soft and needy as she slid her fingers up into his hair and pressed their bodies close together. His hands slid around the curve of her hips, the place they had always fit so well.

"Not here."

She nodded stiffly, clinging tighter to him as Vlad flitted them both back to his room. He let her set the pace, would happily have stood there just holding her close for hours if that was all she wanted. Ingrid tugged at his clothes frantically, but calmed when they were bare skin to bare skin again as they tumbled into bed together. Ingrid's mouth touched his neck again, sending shivers down his spine as she touched that deep claim Vlad had taken willingly, over and over again to let her feed on him.

There was no rush, no urgency between them, just bodies sliding against each other slowly and Vlad was secretly inwardly amazed that she was initiating this tactile encounter, had asked him to be gentle. Ingrid made soft, intensely appealing sounds in the back of her throat as they kissed, gasped quietly when Vlad's hands explored and caressed her body.

Eventually, though Vlad didn't know if the slow and intimate foreplay had lasted minutes or hours by then, Ingrid reached down, guided Vlad into place and lifted her hips to let him slip inside her. There was no resistance, just their bodies slotting together as perfectly as they ever had. She clutched him close, shivering in his arms as he cradled her. Their physical connection strengthened their mental one, and Vlad knew if he dropped his guard now Ingrid could be inside his head, could access the depths of his soul.

Ingrid kissed him again, fingers tangling in his hair and her thumb resting lightly against his temple.

"I'm not scared."

Barely maintaining his blocks against her as it was, Vlad couldn't fight her gentle, solely telepathic nudging at his mind. The intrusion wasn't unsettling or unpleasant, hell it didn't even feel like an intrusion. Ingrid's presence in his mind was soft and the regard for the magnitude of it was clear. Ingrid knew she could cause untold damage from inside his head, which was why vampires placed such a high prize on protecting their minds.

Vlad could sort of feel their bodies, was faintly aware of how they were physically joined but the feeling of being laid so bare was taking most of his attention. Every memory he had of her and the feelings connected to them, they were all there for her to break open.

This wasn't about pleasure, but connection. It wasn't sex... it was more than that, the word that could be applied to the hundreds, maybe even thousands of times Vlad had used people to get off couldn't describe the connection they shared now. He could only describe it as making love, and Vlad felt a little adrift - he was a novice at showing love with his body.

Even more scary was the fact Ingrid was privy to his whole thought process, even knowing he was scared she would be scared off. He felt her hands tighten on him, felt her slowly withdraw from his mind but as they both came back to the present, Ingrid was clearly going nowhere. Her hips rocked into his, silently asking Vlad to move again. It didn't take much for them both to climax, coming softly with quiet gasps.

His mind still felt open but he didn't mind, not laid there with Ingrid who knew him as intimately as anybody ever could. She rubbed her thumb over his temple again before leaning up to kiss him softly, then burrowing into his hold like it was the most natural thing in the world for her to do.

"You didn't..."

He knew what she was saying. Or not saying - he had the chance, but hadn't searched through her head the way she had his.

"I don't feel like I have the right. Besides, the fact you were willing to open up like that is enough for me."

Bats, Ingrid could strip him bare in ways nobody else could, leaving him naked inside and out and Vlad couldn't help but welcome it. He owed her so much.

"Why are you being so accommodating? Situations reversed, I would be mad as hell with you."

Vlad shifted to rest his head on his hand, elbow bent so he could look down at Ingrid in the limited candle light.

"What do I have to be angry at? I lied to you, I hurt you and I'm the reason you stayed away for six years. And yet... you gave me the chance to raise our daughter. You sacrificed over five years of her life when I wouldn't have been able to blame you if you had kept her from me. Frankly I'm surprised you aren't more angry with me, even now. This isn't accommodating, this is just me happy you're here at all."

"I want to still be angry at you, but it gets harder and harder every time I see you with her."

"I wouldn't blame you if you are angry with me." A thought suddenly occurred to him. "You don't have to placate me so I'll let you see Ana. So long as you're nice in front of her... I'll never keep you two apart. I've wished you were here raising her with me every single day."

Ingrid actually rolled her eyes, pinching roughly at his forearm within easy reach of her.

"Ow!"

"Placate you? That's what you think this is?"

"No. I just don't ever want you to feel pressured into behaving a certain way so I'll let you spend time with her. You could spend every minute Ana was sleeping telling me you hate me, so long as it wasn't where she could see."

"You're such a sap. What is this? To you I mean."

For a second he was caught short, but Ingrid had quite literally been inside his head - where was the point in lying or masking his feelings anymore?

"I love you. Always have done and probably always will do. I couldn't resist you when we were teenagers, why would that have changed?"

If there was ever a time he expected Ingrid to say too much, too many feelings, it was that moment there and then. She didn't, just nodded and let him pull her back into his embrace. Being able to hold her again had yet to lose the appeal, still made him feel like all was right in the world. Ana happy and sleeping, family safe and Ingrid in his arms... nothing else mattered.

"Has it been hard on her?"

"Suppose that's a matter of perspective. She's never been short of love and attention, didn't really understand anything was missing until my mum came in to my life. Even then, Ana didn't really know what she was missing. I don't think it really occurred to her she was different until school started though, and everyone else had a mommy except her."

He distinctly remembered those sad eyes when she was sat on his knee after that first day, knowing Ana had felt like the odd one out for a bad reason, unable to draw the same picture as her classmates.

"But I told her I still loved her and that family didn't have to be like everyone else's to be good. I mean, two of her uncles howl at the moon and her dad is head of all vampires. I think she just worries it's her fault. I can't really explain why or how it's my fault to a five year old."

"Mmm. She's so happy, but I've missed so much."

"So you start over. It's not too late you know, I didn't meet my mother until I was eighteen."

"I guess. It just... seems so pointless to have stayed away because of being mad at you. Ana should never have had to pay for that."

Vlad agreed wholeheartedly - he was the root cause of Ingrid's distress, Ana's questions about where her mommy was.

"No, but I take full responsibility for that and I will always tell her that. I know I'm to blame for the time lost, and I will never be able to thank you enough for giving me that time, for giving me a beautiful daughter. She is so perfect... just like her mother."

She had adamantly insisted her leaving was off-limits, but since she had brought it up Vlad wasn't about to miss the opportunity to apologise to her as best he could. She seemed... maybe not receptive, but she wasn't closed off from him, she was listening and questioning - they were facing the issues head on. Sort of.

"Are you afraid of your mother finding out?"

"Yeah. I'm not ashamed of any of it, but I'm worried about how she would feel about George living here. But I'm not worried it'll change her attitude toward Ana, and honestly she's all that matters in the long run. I mean, Wolfie knows. Lukas knows. I think even Bertrand knows... and they all accepted it."

"Who the hell is Bertrand?"

Vlad forgot he hadn't mentioned the vampire yet, but then most of their conversations had been about Ana and the humans so far. Not about the limited number of two individuals Vlad had slept with more than once.

"My tutor... Lukas' boyfriend as of the last year. Dubbed uncle Bertrand by Ana and Wolfie, was the first vampire to find out I was half human. Still one of few, but I don't really put any effort into hiding it anymore. Except from Adze and her dad, because we know how that would go very quickly."

"And he knows about us how exactly?"

"You know, I have never asked. I always assumed Lukas had told him, but then I don't see Lukas betraying my confidence that way. Maybe I'll ask him, he was meant to be here last night for training but sometimes he's a day late."

Ingrid's nails skated lightly over his skin, gently teasing his nerve endings just enough to make him tingle. This was what he had wanted for so long - quiet, intimate time with Ingrid before they got up and worked on raising Ana together. The more they talked and the longer she stayed, the more Vlad dared to hope this would be how things stayed.

No matter how much he tried to remember not to get ahead of himself.

"Tell me about when she asks about me."

Vlad couldn't remember the last time he had talked so much. Then again, he couldn't remember the last time there was quite so much to say.

"The first time was when mum came into our lives, she asked me if she had a mommy too. Since I kicked Magda out, Wolfie has never seen his own mother either so that was it really. Sometimes she would ask something, but mostly never talked about it. Then her first day of school... she said they had to draw their family. Everyone else drew a mother, but Ana couldn't because she had no idea what you looked like. I told her she looked just like you, even though mum thinks she looks like me."

"You think she looks like me?"

Ingrid sounded almost desperate, and it confused him for a moment until he realised - Ingrid hadn't seen her reflection since before Ana was born. Had no idea how similar their faces were.

"I do. I could see you in her face from the first time I looked at her. I'll have to get a picture of you two together and show you... of course that involves stealth, Ana doesn't like photos unless she says so."

He turned over, running a gentle finger over her face as he described the features.

"She has your eye colour, your nose. Even your hair. Her lower lip sticks out the same way yours does. She's got my smile, and I'm thinking she's got my slight build but hard to say just yet. You gave me the most beautiful little girl Ingrid."

Splaying his hand across her cheek, Vlad encouraged her to look up at him rather than down at his chest.

"I am so sorry you felt you had to choose between staying away from me and being with our daughter. I will do everything I can to repair the damage, and support you and her getting to know each other."

Ingrid nodded, not just telling him to shut up about it like he half-expected. It was times like this Vlad couldn't comprehend why people would think their relationship wrong, why he hated that he had to hide such a deep thing from his mum and George. The vampire world as a whole could bite themselves, Vlad was the Grand High Vampire and they couldn't do a thing to him.

But Sally and George mattered.

"What time is it?"

Vlad twisted his head to look at his watch, seeing 4:09am blink back at him.

"Got an hour and a half before my alarm goes off."

Whatever Ingrid was thinking, Vlad regretfully had to put on hold as he heard the door upstairs opening. Only one non-Dracula vampire could enter so freely, and that meant Lukas was with Bertrand - alone, Bertrand still knocked and waited.

"We have company."

"So, bathroom?"

He nodded, shamelessly watching Ingrid get out of bed and search for clothes to wear when they were done showering. She caught him looking, offering him that half-smirk that did things to him. Vlad eventually realised he too should get up, trying to behave himself but unable to keep from pressing kisses to the delicate column of Ingrid's throat until she squirmed pleasantly.

"Oh, by the way, Lukas is probably going to be a wolf. Night time and all."

Despite his warning, Vlad found two humanoids up in the main room of the castle.

"Told you I recognised the scent."

"I never said you hadn't, if you recall. Just that I could not agree."

"For bats sake, do you two ever stop arguing?"

Lukas and Bertrand both turned to where Vlad landed in the doorway, the werewolf not one for formality and manners as he hurried over to Vlad and hugged him.

"Hey little bat! And Ingrid, long time no see."V

Returning the hug, Vlad couldn't help smiling at how Lukas was incapable of making a big deal out of anything. Just greeted Ingrid like it hadn't been years, like he hadn't been there for the fallout. Vlad quickly introduced Ingrid to Bertrand, but they were both mostly watching he and Lukas.

"Hold on a second. It's still night time and you just got here. How are you ... you finally mastered it?"

"Still stuck on the full moon, but every other night this month I've managed to turn back. I had to! He employed the most underhanded tactics."

Bertrand shook his head fondly, watching Lukas and Vlad interact with no trace of jealousy. Ingrid slipped past Vlad's back to go for the bottle of blood on the table,

"He is a vampire. What did he do?"

"Threatened to withhold sex until I agreed to try again after I gave up last year."

"Low blow Bertrand!"

Vlad greeted his tutor next, who merely shrugged and sipped his goblet.

"It was effective. You know how difficult it is to threaten him with anything, he is so laid back it's a wonder he gets anything accomplished."

"I'm a half human werewolf who is best friends with the Grand High Vampire, and dating the stuffiest old bat ever. If I wasn't so chilled out I would realise my life is insane."

"Aww, come on. Bertrand isn't the stuffiest bat ever. Just... one of them."

"You are lucky you are my superior."

"Bertrand, you've had him in your ass, stop being so dull. Oh, before the little angel wakes up... how much do they know about Ingrid? I don't want to say the wrong thing."

"Uh... Wolfie knows everything, but nobody else knows a thing."

Lukas nodded, taking his seat next to Bertrand and irritating his boyfriend lightly. Ingrid was silent, observing the dynamic and Vlad clicked that she now knew Vlad had literally had sex with everyone in the room right now. She didn't seem upset, but obviously a tad thrown.

"Have you met his fiance yet? Man, she literally threatened to fuck me and eviscerate me in the space of five minutes."

Ingrid nodded, sipping her drink before placing her goblet down delicately and licking her lower lip to check for residue.

"Her father has seemingly taken a shine to me."

Those were her actual first words to either of them since they got there, Vlad noted. Not that it was important - Lukas and Bertrand usually stayed for near a week at a time together. Over time the stretch grew, but Lukas was still wary of his 'family' despite Wolfie being an adult now.

"That doesn't generally bode well. Ramanga has been bloodbound three times, each one bearing him one child before getting dusted almost immediately afterwards. His youngest child is not even transformed yet."

"Does he always talk like an encyclopedia?"

"Yes."

Lukas and Vlad both answered Ingrid, receiving a glare each from Bertrand. He should be used to their antagonizing him by now.

"Juveniles."

"Bookworm."

"I will not apologise for being educated."

"Hey! I'm educated, I'm just not boring. You wouldn't know to look at him he's an absolute teddy bear when Ana demands 'uncle Bertrand's' attention."

Lukas included Ingrid into the conversation effortlessly, cool and relaxed no matter the situation and he suited Bertrand perfectly - over the last couple of years the vampire had slowly began to relax, though he reverted back to uptight easily.

"I'm not surprised. Nobody can say no to a Dracula girl."

Oh, didn't Vlad know it.

The conversation stayed mostly light, the early hour and nobody wanting to risk humans overhearing them discuss certain topics helping until Vlad's watch beeped.

"Not long now."

Even Bertrand had that look of waiting for Ana - she brought light and joy to all she deemed worthy, and even the severe tutor could not resist her bright smiles. By the time she was audibly moving (to superhuman ears at least) Vlad could feel anticipation in the air.

"Daddy!"

Vlad got up and met her closer to the door, scooping her up and feeling strong little arms wrap around his neck.

"Morning little princess."

She beamed, kissing Vlad's cheek and hugging him again before peering over his shoulder.

"Uncle Luke! Uncle Bertrand!"

She wriggled to get down, hastening to go and get attention from her sort-of-adoptive uncles. Lukas picked her up gently as ever, cradled the little girl as she smiled at him and tapped the end of his nose the way Ingrid had done to her. Bertrand was next, no longer looking surprised to have the chosen ones daughter demand a hug from him. Ingrid watched with a sadness buried deep in her eyes, but Ana wasn't done.

"Have you met Ingrid before? She's great."

Ingrid totally lit up as Ana turned to her, held up her arms in a request to be picked up and gave her most winning smile when Ingrid carefully lifted her into her lap.

"I did a while back, but not Bertrand."

"We made stuff! Me and daddy and Ingrid. She helped me with glitter and paint and it was fun!"

Vlad couldn't bear to tell Ana to go get ready for the day, not when Ingrid was smiling like that. It was just more proof - to him - that mother and daughter could become close, that their relationship wasn't irreparable.

"I better go brush my teeth and get dressed. Then I'll be back!"

She left the room at usual high speeds, but in her wake was a sense of pure happiness - they were all touched by the light in her heart. Ingrid had never looked happier, and Bertrand and Lukas wisely didn't try to talk to her for a few minutes. Vlad put out breakfast for Ana, who habitually landed back in her usual chair to eat after getting dressed.

"Not many vampires would lower themselves to such childish activity."

"Bertrand, you join in. You even watch princess movies with her."

Lukas quipped, and Vlad couldn't resist adding to it.

"Don't forget when she put that tiara on him and he wore it all day."

Ingrid didn't answer for herself, but Vlad felt her fingers seek his beneath the table when he sat back next to her. Her holding his hand - even hidden - with others in the room made him want to smile and kiss her, but Ana would probably notice.

"Uncle Luke!"

"Hey cub!"

The nickname had never worn off - even though Wolfie was now bigger than his uncle. They didn't look much alike, but the canine instincts were obvious as they bumped noses and sniffed each other. Weird to a vampire, but Vlad was used to them doing it by now.

"Why cub, I do believe you have something to tell me."

"In a minute. Uncle Bertrand!"

No matter how much he protested, Vlad could tell Bertrand enjoyed being a natural addition to the family - Wolfie had grown up quick, but Bertrand had been in his life for longer than he hadn't and Wolfie's exuberant greeting showed it. The vampire even got on well with the humans - he appreciated art, and George appreciated his extensive knowledge of history.

"Uncle Wolfie! Put him down!"

Ana announced her reappearance by bossing them around, and Wolfie complied putting Bertrand back down but turned on Ana, scooping her up and kissing her face. The little girl giggled happily between protests, eventually demanding he let her down so she could eat. His own mother passed through quickly, drinking coffee from her travel cup and greeting Ana, Lukas and Bertrand as she went.

By the time George was awake, he could see Ingrid was struggling. Ana was doing her homework with Wolfie, George talking with the visiting vampire/werewolf couple. So Vlad felt safe to take Ingrid out of the room for a minute, wanting to reassure her.

"I don't belong here."

"Don't be ridiculous. You absolutely have a place here, you are part of this family. Ana has known Adze for over a year and will barely look at her. She's already attached to you. Lukas and Bertrand have spent years being around, don't compare yourself to them. Ingrid, I want you here. I have wanted you here from day one, and you belong here with our daughter."

She looked up at him, clearly emotionally vulnerable. That was his fault, he knew. She embraced him tightly, expressing emotion through physical rather than verbal language as he kissed her hair, rubbed her back in an attempt to soothe her.

"I promise I'm going to prove that to you."

-YD-

I'm hoping I've managed to address a lot of their issues, though given that their issues are obviously only in my head I can't be sure. Still, onward Dracula clan!