Disclaimer: Twilight is the property of Stephenie Meyer
I worked real hard this week and made an effort to make sure I actually finished in a week so I could post this today, my Birthday, the big three-oh, Duw I feel old lol
Due to it being my birthday this chapter is dedicated entirely to me Bwahahaha
JK this chapter is dedicated to Noble, Fadewind, M-Bianca94, Alphabloodwolf, Saimreen and BellaNessieCullen
I had almost forgotten I had sent an email to Kitty when I received her reply the following week. As soon as I saw a message from her I remembered why I had sent it and so I opened it quickly, wondering what her reply would be.
Liza darling!
It is so good to hear from you my dear, I am glad you are doing well. So sorry I didn't reply sooner, I was visiting with the family. How wonderful is it to say that, visiting with my family! Dove and Simon are doing well and Robyn is thriving. She is bigger every time I see her, but not like our special little ones, yes?
You have houseguests you say? You mentioned Leda, this wouldn't happen to be the daughter of one of my dearest fans? I am glad to hear she is coming on so well. It would be good to see her once more, but alas she's moved away from the Ranch. Please give her all my hugs and kisses.
I'm glad your family is doing well and I hope to hear from you soon.
Kisses and love,
Ms Kitty Parker x
I bit my lip considering, she did know Leda and she must be fond of Alec to call him her 'dearest fan'. Of course Kitty called everybody 'darling' and 'dear' she was overtly affectionate when it came to her vocabulary, it was a habit picked up during her time as a Hollywood elite. Yet she knew exactly who Leda was, and why make mention of it if she held no affection for both the girl and her father. There was enough to work with, but I had to be sure.
I did not reply immediately, I left it a day to think over how to reply and so it would not look as if I was trying to glean information from her. Of course Her recognising Leda's name was worth a mention.
Dearest Kitty
Thank you for your response. I'm glad that you are well and enjoyed your visit with Simon and Dove. It is amazing how children grow, be they human or otherwise.
Indeed it is Alec who has come to stay with us along with his little daughter Leda. I was her midwife you know? I was unaware that you knew them but…wait yes of course, you must be Kitty-cat of whom Leda has mentioned from time to time. I cannot believe I did not make the connection sooner. How embarrassing!
How do you know them exactly? You have roused my curiosity now and I have an itch to scratch.
Please relieve my curiosity
Warm regards
Liza x
There was another week before she replied.
Liza darling,
So sorry was out on a long hunting trip, anything to get away from the Ranch at the moment. I hate when there's newbie vamps about, but alas I have nowhere else to go. I don't like to impose on Simon and I think his security is becoming suspicious of me so I need to be careful how often I go there. Especially when Simon and Dove are not in residence.
Besides the Ranch isn't the same without little Leda, she's such a delight. I miss our little games and telling her stories at night. I hope you're all doing well.
Big smooches
Kitty P xxx
I read over her note, and then thought about it for a few days. Once I had a plan I ran it by Mal and he agreed that he had no problem with an extra houseguest, but it was up to me if I wanted to actually go ahead and do it. I decided yes, after all Kitty was a friend, in a sense, and this was my home I was free to invite whomsoever I wished. If Alec had a problem, well he knew where the airport was located.
Dear Kitty
I am saddened to hear that you are finding no comfort at the Ranch at present. If you would like a change of scenery why not come to Wales? We have more than enough room and a month spent here will have you yearning for home again I'm sure.
Warmest regards
Liza x
Her reply was given within the hour.
Liza darling!
I hope I did not give you the impression I was looking for handouts, because I'm not. I was merely grumbling.
Kitty x
I sent my reply as soon as I read the mail.
Forgive me Kitty; I had no intention to offend. I was merely offering the hand of friendship, and I will admit a slight selfishness on my part. I was hoping for you to come stay a while so that I have another dhampir woman to chat with, I miss the freedom of simple chatter.
Please accept my most sincere apologies
Liza x
Her reply was almost instantaneous.
Liza darling!
Now I feel I've offended you, I didn't mean to suggest you thought me a charity case. I was worried I came across that way, but if a friendly chat is what you're after I'm happy to accept if you really can accommodate me.
Embarrassed in Wyoming
Kitty x
I replied immediately.
Dearest Kitty
No offence was taken, and of course there is ample room, I would not extend an invitation otherwise. Will you come join us for a while?
Liza x
Again almost instantaneous, perhaps we should have switched to some form of instant message service for this.
Liza darling!
Thank you so kindly for this offer; I have no choice but to take you up on it. When can I come?
Kitty x
I thought about giving an exact date, but I considered that I was desperate for some dhampir gossip.
Kitty
As soon as you can get a flight out here you are more than welcome. I look forward to your visit.
Liza x
Liza darling!
I will look for a flight and let you know when I am due to arrive. Look forward to seeing you soon.
Kitty x
I smiled as I deleted all evidence of the conversation from my computer. Perhaps it was meddling but I was certain meddling was required here.
Within the week Kitty was due and only Mal and I were aware of her arrival. I managed to make up a room for her the day before she arrived when Mal suggested to Alec that they take the children out somewhere to give me a few hours alone to pamper myself since it was a Sunday. I made up the room furthest from the house, as it would put her as far as possible from Alec to give them a little space if my venture went sour.
I managed to have a bath and look very relaxed by the time the men returned with the children. Alec was none the wiser and would not be until Mal returned from work on Monday. He had stated he would be working late, but in truth he was going to the airport to pick up Kitty when she landed.
He was an hour later than normal and I had allowed the children to stay up a little later to watch a movie, Leda included once I convinced Alec it was for her education. I had never seen Alec move so swiftly when we heard the car pull into the garage. He must have recognised something of Kitty for he was ghosting out to the garden before the engine was stopped.
I followed, worried about how he would react. The children followed too, wondering where we were going. Leda was carrying Aiden on her back so he was able to arrive with the other children. We were a welcome party by the time Mal stepped out of the garage weighed down with more luggage than one could possibly imagine.
Kitty stepped around him and gave a squeal in greeting.
"Liza darling! What a charming little home you have here." She said, coming to hug me.
"I'm glad you finally made it." I replied, hugging her in return.
"Kitty-cat." Leda said happily as she leapt up into Kitty's arms. "It's so good to see you again."
"Hi baby-doll, I didn't know you were here." Kitty replied.
"You didn't?" Alec asked doubtfully.
"No." Kitty replied coldly.
"Then you are not here following me?" He asked.
"Why would I follow you?" Kitty snapped. "I'm here visiting my good friend."
"Then you are meddling." He accused me.
"Meddling in what?" I asked, feigning ignorance, but now I was certain he liked Kat Perez further than merely being her fan.
"I believe you already know." Alec hissed before taking Leda from Kitty. "Come Leda, it's past your bed time."
"But Papa, I want to speak with Kitty-cat." She protested.
"Not tonight." Alec said firmly, and Leda stopped protesting as he carried her to their room.
"Well that was a warm welcome." Kitty said, fluffing her dark hair.
"Sorry. I did not realise he harboured feelings for you." I said.
"You think he harbours?" Kitty trailed off with a laugh. "No darling, he hates me I'm certain."
"I'm certain that Alec is often grouchy when faced with his feelings." I replied. "He is confused at the moment, but with time…"
"Well darling he's had enough time. I appreciate what you're trying to do for us, but that man is stubborn and infuriating and maddening." She declared.
"Yes." I agreed.
"I will enjoy spending time with Leda however." Kitty said in warmer tones, "And your kids of course." She added as she grinned at the children.
"But first shall we show you to your room?" I asked.
"Of course darling." Kitty announced.
"It's this way." I said and we led Kitty to the room I had prepared for her. "I know it is nothing like you are used to, but we're just a humble farmstead."
"Humble farmstead?" Kitty demanded as she stepped into the room. "Why this is one of the most magnificent rooms I've ever had the pleasure to stay in."
"You're just saying that." I laughed.
"Nonsense. Kitty Parker has never stayed in a more opulent room." She said firmly.
"What about Kat Perez?" I asked.
"Well Kat Perez was a Hollywood A-lister and that's a whole different ball game darling." Kitty said with a wink as she fluffed up her hair.
"It is not too drab?" I asked with worry.
"Liza honey, I spent half a century staying in plush hotel rooms from marbled minimalist to red velvet and gilt. I've seen every type of 'luxury' you'd care to mention, but they lose their appeal after a while and you yearn for something more simplistic, without being cold minimalist, more homey without being ostentatious. You crave home comforts. Like you've provided here."
"I'm glad it's to your liking." I replied. "Mal and I are to have dinner in half an hour once the children are in bed if you care to join us."
"I am good dear, I ate on the plane and really I want nothing more than to unpack, sink into a nice big bubble bath and climb into that comfy looking bed."
"Then we shall disturb you no longer." I said and I ushered Mal and the children out of the room.
"Who was that lady Mammy?" Aiden asked.
"She looks familiar." Zoë observed.
Seren bit her lip then gasped, "She was the vampire lady in Uncle Simon's vampire film!"
"No she can't be, that lady was old looking and a human." Zoë said.
"How do you know?" Seren asked. "She could have been using make-up. Remember we watched that video on how they make people look like monsters on YouTube?"
"I guess." Zoë conceded. "Can we watch that film to see if it's her?"
"It is time for you to go to bed." I replied. "And yes, she is the actress from that movie, and yes she was wearing makeup to make her look older."
"Can't we stay up a little longer?" Zoë asked.
"You've already stayed up longer than normal." I said. "Now it is time for bed. If you should argue further then there will be no bedtime story."
Zoë pouted but she knew from my tone that I was serious and so the children made their way up to the attic. Aiden came into the girls' room while I read them their bedtime story. He sat on the bottom of Seren's bed, listening intently, but had drifted off to sleep by the time I finished. I carried him into his room and tucked him into bed before I went to tuck the girls in.
"Now settle down girls, you may speak with Kitty tomorrow." I said.
"Could she give us acting lessons?" Zoë asked with a yawn.
"I'm certain that if you ask politely she will not be averse to doing so." I said as I tucked her blanket around her and kissed her forehead.
"Is her name Kitty or Kat?" Seren asked.
"She goes by Kitty now." I replied as I tucked in her blanket. "But I'm certain she will let you know if she wants you to call her something else." I added before kissing Seren on the forehead. "Sleep tight my darlings."
"Night night Mammy." They said in unison as they both closed their eyes.
"Good night my precious jewels." I whispered, stroking both their cheeks before I left their room and descended down to the kitchen.
Mal was in the process of starting on the chicken curry I had planned for us, the rice was already simmering away.
"I'll finish up cooking while you go have your shower." I stated as I placed my arms about his waist and kissed his shoulder blade, as truly I could not reach any higher. "Then we can eat together in comfort."
"Yeah, it'll be a relief to get this suit off." Mal said as he put down the spatula he'd been using to fry the chicken and turned to kiss me. "See you in a bit."
"Yes." I replied, and tightened my hug briefly before I let him go.
Once Mal was in the bathroom I set to work constructing our curry, able to add a little extra spice since the children had already ate earlier and they found anything above a korma too hot to handle. I even treated Mal and I to little something special, adding the merest pinch of saffron to the rice to turn it a rich golden colour, something I avoided with the children lest they expect it every time, after all saffron wasn't cheap.
Mal returned from the bathroom looking much more relaxed as I was putting the food onto the plates. He set the table and poured us each a glass of white wine while I put the pan and saucepan in the sink to soak before bringing our plates over to the table. Mal and I sat down and he reached his hand across to take mine as I picked up my fork.
"How was your day?" I asked before putting a piece of spicy chicken into my mouth.
"Ok. Nothing much out of the ordinary happened. Well until I went to pick up Kat, I mean Kitty." Mal said.
"Why? What happened?"
"There was an accident on the A48 so I had to go around the M4 way. I know it's technically a shorter distance, but with all other traffic being diverted that way on top of the usual rush hour mess it was a nightmare. Then Kitty's plane was early so I didn't have time to catch my breath before she was bustling out of the arrivals gate pushing a trolley with more luggage than a person would need in a lifetime, making it obvious I had to push the trolley. Then it was one with a dodgy wheel that kept pulling to the left. I don't know how many cars I almost hit and I was this close to scratching my car. I even had to put some of her cases in the backseat since there wasn't room in the boot. Then she sat in the passenger seat waiting patiently for me to take the trolley back. I don't mind being a gentleman, but that was pushing it."
"She is used to the five star treatment." I said with a smile.
"Yeah, well next time you can pick her up." Mal said firmly as he skewered some food.
"If all goes to plan then next time Alec will pick her up, or she will merely arrive with him." I observed.
"Yeah." Mal said, looking uncomfortable. "Are you sure there's anything between them. He didn't exactly give her the warmest of welcomes and she seemed, well, disinterested."
I sighed and shook my head in disappointment.
"Can you not see past the play?" I asked.
"What do you mean?"
"Kitty is Kat Perez and contrary to what she portrayed on screen she is a rather fine actress indeed, acting indifferent toward Alec, but I would do the same when confronted with someone who had hurt me emotionally and was now making it clear that they wished to shun me further." I explained.
"So Kitty likes Alec, but he clearly doesn't like her." Mal reasoned.
"What makes you say that?" I inquired, as I placed some more chicken into my mouth.
"He stormed off as soon as he saw her." He stated.
"Exactly." I said.
"Ok. I'm confused, you need to explain this all to me again because I really don't know what's going on here."
"When we were dropping Alec off at the airport for his trip to America, Leda mused on whether he was going to bring home a new mother for her. That mother being Kitty. Leda is clearly enamoured by her and I doubt Alec would let just anybody get so close to Leda. You've seen how he acts around strangers. He would have to implicitly trust someone before allowing them to become so close to Leda that she would return the bond. Especially when they have no prior connection to him."
"Well he was a big Kat Perez fan, maybe he just liked her on screen persona better." Mal argued.
"I doubt that." I replied. "And I had forgotten of his liking for Kat, that lends even more credence to my theory."
"And what theory is that?" Mal demanded, raising his eyebrow as he watched me from across the table.
"That Alec does not merely like Kitty, but perhaps is close to loving her." I stated.
"Then why treat her so mean?" Mal asked with a frown.
"I have no idea." I replied. "I believe a part of it may be down to him thinking it too soon after Lamia."
"But it's been over a year." Mal protested.
"Now it has, yes, but when do you think he would have began to realise his feelings for Kitty? It would have been less than a year since he returned to Tregarran at Christmas and has been with us ever since."
"Yeah, but…" Mal began and trailed off.
"But who could blame him attempting to find happiness once more, especially when he gains a mother for Leda in the process." I said.
Mal nodded.
"Would you be so quick to replace me?" I asked.
"I'd never be able to replace you. God, I can't even think about a world without you in it." Mal said.
"And I am the only woman you have ever felt this way about?" I continued.
"You know that bach." Mal said as he took my hand and kissed it.
"You never met another girl before me that you possibly imagined spending the rest of you life with?" I inquired further.
"No. You know that bach. I may have had a lot of girlfriends, but you're the only one I ever really loved." He stated, beginning to sound annoyed with this line of questioning.
"Now think yourself in Alec's shoe's for a moment. If he truly loves Kitty and could see a future with her, well she's not the first girl he's had such thoughts for. Lamia was not the first, hell, neither was I. For all we know there could be others before Layla. Regardless, to our knowledge there have been three women Alec has considered spending the rest of eternity with, perhaps he is questioning his feelings for Kitty if he has already felt that three other women were truly his one and only."
"I guess that would make him hesitant." Mal conceded.
"Hesitant?" I asked as we rose from the table and moved to the sink to wash and wipe the dishes. "He ran away."
"Ran away?" Mal asked as he picked up the tea towel in preparation to wipe the dishes.
"I think we now have his true reason for wishing to move to Wales with us." I stated.
"And now you've brought that reason here? Are you mad? This could all backfire and who'll be the ones left cleaning up the mess?" He demanded.
"It is not going to backfire." I assured him. "But you know Alec needs to be confronted with that he fears before he will change his mind. With us here to assure him that there is nothing wrong with him moving on from Lamia and that some people are lucky to find more than one love in their lifetime he will become more accepting. If we can assure him that he does nothing wrong and that no one would think any less of him then we can save him from himself."
"By stopping him ruining this chance he has at happiness?" Mal guessed.
"Yes." I replied. "Here is a woman fond enough of him that she would fly half way across the world for him and what's more, is fond of his daughter. After all, he could meet a woman several years down the line who would want him to have nothing to do with his children."
"Like Lamia?"
"It was unfortunate she was disagreeable in that way, but I put it down to her age." I said kindly. "I always gave her the benefit of the doubt that once she was made vampire and had come to know more of what eternal life meant she would act in a more civil way toward her stepchildren."
"Guess we'll never find that out now." Mal observed.
"No." I agreed as I wiped down the counter tops before emptying the sink.
"So we just got to give him moral support, let him know that no one will think he's a bad man for moving on and he's not dishonouring Lamia's memory either?"
"Exactly. After all, if she truly loved him, she would be happy to see him happy now that she's no longer here to make him so."
Mal nodded as we picked up our wine glasses and carried them into the parlour to sit up a while chatting.
"Have you heard anything further from Ardal?" I asked.
"Not since his letter saying he was going to a hospice in America. He said he'd write to me as soon as he's settled, so I'll give him a month maybe, then I'll start to really worry."
"It's probably tiring for him if he is so ill as to need respite care. It will take time for him to recover from such a long flight and to settle in I'm sure." I whispered and kissed Mal's cheek.
"That's what I keep telling myself, but I got a bad feeling, like I'm never going to see him again. That's silly right?" He asked for reassurance.
"I'm sure we'll find the time to visit him." I said firmly. "Once we learn of the location of said hospice of course."
"Yeah. Even if he doesn't say the name we can at least get the State from the stamp right?"
"We can." I agreed.
"You know, if I knew he was going to go down hill so soon I would have insisted he stayed here. I would have got a nurse in to look after him and he could have been with his family right up until the end."
"Perhaps he would have felt a bother." I suggested. "Besides is it not some form of Catholic hospice he has entered. One for retired priest where they receive comfort from prayer."
"I guess." Mal said.
"Besides this may have been planned last year when he first learned of his illness."
"We haven't known him long enough." Mal said sadly.
I put my glass aside as I knelt up and pulled Mal's face into my shoulder and wrapped my arms about him. Giving him what he required at the moment, a comforting hug. He pulled me closer as he wrapped his arms about my waist allowing me to comfort him in this moment.
"I'm sorry." Mal murmured into my shoulder. "I don't…"
"You don't have to apologise my love, it is understandable." I whispered as I ran my fingers through his hair. "If it were in my power I would make him well."
"I was considering, you know, using my telekinesis to cut the tumour out."
"I'm certain you could remove the tumour but I believe the cancer has spread to other tissues now. If I remember correctly, only a transplant would save him and he has a fear of going under anaesthetic so that is out of the question. It is a sad fact, but as immortal as we are, and as gifted as we may be, sometimes…sometimes life is not fair."
"That's an understatement." Mal said with a mirthless laugh.
"Me? Understated? Never?" I joked and Mal laughed with a little more humour.
"You know what?" He murmured into my shoulder. "I wonder if maybe I should have made him that offer before he left for good."
"What offer?" I asked.
"The one power we could utilise to help him." Mal said. "I should have offered to turn him into a vampire."
I pulled away from Mal so I could look into his face to see how serious he was. He had contemplated this, but who could blame him.
"However you did not, and I'm sure you had good reason." I observed.
"It would have been selfish of me." Mal said. "I wouldn't be offering it to him because I thought it was something he wanted, I would have been doing it to keep him with me, whether he wanted it or not. Probably not given his religious views. I couldn't ask him and then he pick yes because I'd asked him but really he didn't want it. After all he knows we're vampires, he knows that vampires can be made; we've answered all his questions on the subject. If he had wanted to be changed he would have asked, or at least dropped hints, but he didn't."
"Some people would rather accept their fate." I stated. "And as tempting as it is to override those wishes, we must not. We are not gods; we cannot override a person's free will. We must respect their decision regardless of the pain we may feel."
"I know that." Mal said glumly.
"I know you would not do such a thing." I said, placing my hand to his cheek and smiling at him. "You are much too honourable for that."
Mal smiled.
"This time leading up to his death will be fraught." I warned. "There is nothing more harrowing that waiting for a loved one to die, but know you will not face this alone. Through every step I am here with you and I am here for your comfort whenever you require it."
"I know." Mal said as he pulled me close and held me against his chest. "You're the silver lining of my life. The thing that made me want to live life rather than just exist."
"I know." I said. "You've told me often."
"Yeah, but I mean it." Mal said. "Without you…"
"You would have the children." I stated.
"Now, yeah, but without you I wouldn't have them." He said and placed his lips to my head.
"That is true." I replied. "But without you I would not have the children and I would not be happy. I probably would have ended up with Simon, but I think, no, I know I would be unhappy, feeling there was something missing in my life. I would have missed you without ever knowing you."
Mal shook his head.
I leant back and looked into his eyes.
"I have never told you this before because it is rather silly." I said with a nervous laugh. "But there was a time once, back when we first realised our attraction for each other, when I looked into your eyes and was drawn into the future, seeing a lifetime at your side with children, grandchildren, great grandchildren. It was everything I could want from life and I knew you were the one I should live that life with. I wondered at the time if that was how imprinting felt, of being so absolutely certain of who one would spend the rest of ones life with."
"Really?" Mal asked.
"Yes." I said, before giving another nervous laugh. "If only I had remembered that two months later when we bumped into Simon. It confused me, but when I looked in his eyes do you know what I thought? They were the wrong shade of green, and there was no future there. Not like the glorious one we would share together, how could I have convinced myself otherwise? Regardless, I knew you were the one for me always and Simon was merely a safe harbour as a child. I would not have made a happy life with him."
"Not so much imprinting then, but love." Mal said. "And you know, kind of better than imprinting because you love me because you want to and not because you have to."
"Yes." I agreed as I hugged him tight.
"I think it's time for bed." He said with a low growl.
"It is." I replied going to stand up.
"I feel like being romantic after all those wonderful compliments." Mal said as he stood up and held me like a bride.
"We have been married much too long for this." I protested. "Besides, we must put the wine glasses in the sink at the very least, we do not want to show the children bad habits."
Mal raised an eyebrow and the two glasses rose from the table and floated into my hands.
"Easy enough." He said. "Now come on, let us away to our boudoir." He added grandly before striding into the kitchen with me still in his arms.
"Very well my dashing knight, I will allow you to carry me…but just for tonight." I warned.
"How long you been working on that?" Mal asked amused as he took me to the sink where I could place the glasses within.
"I just made it up." I said primly.
"Ok." Mal said and he kissed me before carrying me up the stairs and into our room.
Mal placed me on the bed but before he could join me I jumped up.
"What?" He asked.
"We did not clean our teeth, now we must return downstairs." I observed.
"Do we have to?" He asked with a pout.
"What would I say if one of the children were to ask that?" I prompted.
"You'd say we had to." He said.
"Then you have your answer." I said lightly, kissing his cheek and heading back downstairs.
Mal followed me and we cleaned our teeth together before returning upstairs.
"Do you know what we should do?" Mal mused as we returned to our room.
"What?" I asked.
"We should get a sink installed in our room for cleaning our teeth."
"Usually we do not forget about cleaning our teeth." I replied as I changed into my nightclothes. "It would not make much of a difference."
"I guess." Mal said as he lay across the bed.
"Now enough with planning a new layout for our room." I said as I climbed onto the bed and crawled toward him. "And let us get down to the reason you wished to rush me up here." I added as I placed my lips to his, causing him to turn onto his back and I smiled down at him. "See, minty fresh breath, much better."
"Definitely." Mal said as he ran his fingers through my hair. "I want more."
"I am happy to oblige." I grinned before kissing him once more and moving my hand up beneath his t-shirt, feeling his warm flesh beneath my hand.
Mal glided his hands along my thighs before moving up beneath my nightdress, his thumbs lightly caressing my breasts as when he reached them. I let out a moan as I turned onto my back, pulling Mal on top of me. He moved his hands now, stroking my face as I moved my fingers up to tangle into his hair, feeling it's smoothness delightfully between my fingers as I felt him between my legs.
I felt the sweet shiver begin, as it was clear we were going to make love this night, just as we did every night it was possible. And as always, it was divine.
I awoke with Mal and he allowed me to shower first, making our breakfast in the meantime. We ate together and were in a state of pure happiness when Alec barged into the kitchen looking very angry.
"Problem?" Mal asked as he took a sip of tea.
"Yes there is a problem and you know very well what that problem is!" Alec stormed as he stood at the end of the table. "How could you invite her here?"
"Because she is a friend." I stated.
"That is not the reason! You are meddling!" He growled.
"In what way?" I asked.
"You know that… you assume that I… You think you know everything and you… I…" He growled and stormed out of the house, a few seconds later there was a loud crack and then the sound of a falling tree.
"I think he just punched a tree." Mal said. "I think I should go make sure that's all he punches."
"What if he punches you?" I asked in horror.
"I'll hold him in a force field." Mal said.
"What if he uses his gift on you."
"I think he's a little too wound up to concentrate." Mal said getting to his feet and heading out the door.
I went to the door and looked after him as he ran across the yard and leapt the wall into the stand of trees where anther one was falling over with a loud snap. Then I saw Leda emerge from the Pigsty looking toward the commotion with worry.
"Leda, come into the house." I called.
She nodded and came up to me.
"What is happening Aunt Liza?" She asked.
"Nothing, just some silly business. Now why not come in here and I will make you a nice cup of tea and some honey toast." I offered.
"That would be nice." Leda said with a smile.
"Then come, I will allow you to spread the honey."
Leda grinned and followed me into the kitchen. It was about two minuets later when Mal and Alec came into the kitchen. Mal was nursing his hand and Alec was glowering at the floor as he held his cheek. I looked from one to the other, and then glared at Mal, I grabbed hold of his arm and pulled him toward the parlour.
"Leda dear, eat your breakfast, now if you would both excuse us we have to talk."
I pulled Mal into the parlour and shut the door.
"You hit him?" I asked aghast.
"I had to, he was, well, hysterical." He said as he inspected his hand for broken bones. "He wouldn't listen to reason, just accused me of conspiring with you to ruin his life and that he should never have trusted us. It was only when I punched him that he calmed down. We need to be even more careful, he's on the edge of a nervous breakdown."
"Then what do you suggest?" I asked with worry, I had not meant to cause this disturbance in Alec.
"Work experience." Mal said.
"What?"
"We do it now and again, have some school kid come in and help out on reception, sit in on a session if a patient is willing. I'll take him into work with me, that way he can have chance to calm down and think things through. I can try talking to him."
"Are you sure it will be allowed?" I asked.
"Yeah. I'll ring Ewan now, say Alec is my nephew and he couldn't get a placement or something." Mal said with a shrug, letting his hand fall to his side now he was happy that it wasn't badly damaged.
"If you are certain." I replied.
Mal nodded.
"Then you should tell him."
We went through to the kitchen where Alec was sitting opposite Leda as she ate her breakfast.
"Alec, put on your best suit, you're coming to work with me today." Mal declared.
"Excuse me?" Alec asked, looking up from the table.
"I got you some work experience, so you can come help with the filing and see what I do all day."
"Why would I wish to do that?" Alec said with a frown.
"Just thought it would be a change of scenery, but if you want to stay here all day I completely understand." Mal said with a shrug.
"I have my own job to attend." Alec stated.
"No you haven't." I chimed in. "I know for a fact that Mair has given you the week off because business is slow at the moment and she's waiting for the spring surge when people start seeking out fresh vegetables again."
Alec glowered at me.
"Come on, it'll be fun, just us boys together." Mal coaxed.
"Very well, if you insist." Alec said with a sigh.
Alec left the kitchen to go and change while Mal went into the bathroom for his shower. Half an hour later they were leaving for the day, Alec still looking glum, by which time the children were up and eating their breakfast.
"Why is Daddy taking Uncle Alec to work with him?" Zoë asked as she shoved cornflakes into her mouth.
"To show him what he does in work." I replied.
"Can we go and see?" She asked.
"Perhaps when you are older." I stated. "Although it will be entirely up to your father."
Zoë pouted.
"Now eat up your breakfast so you may all get ready for the day. I think we should go for a long walk today."
"A walk?" Zoë asked, looking appalled.
"Well Kitty is new here and we should show her about, don't you think?" I replied.
"I guess." Zoë said as she poked at her cereal.
"You can show her your Queen of the Vampire voices if we go up to the old rocks, you know they make your voice echo." Seren said.
"That's true." Zoë said with a smile.
"You have a queen of the vampires voice?" Layla asked.
"Yeah. I'll show you later if we go to the old rocks." Zoë stated. "That's where we're going right Mammy?"
I had no intention of going up into the hills, rather show Kitty the way to town and other amenities she may wish to use before she organised a car for herself. Now that the children seemed intent on walking into the hills perhaps I could show her the places we were free to be ourselves.
"Yes." I replied. "We will take a picnic with us, even if it is raining we will find some shade to eat our lunch outside."
"We can make a shield." Seren and Zoë said in unison.
"It would be good practice." I conceded. "If you both feel able to then I see no reason why you cannot attempt a shield."
"You will use your telekinesis?" Leda asked.
"We will." Seren said with a nod.
"I can't wait to see that." Leda said. "I wish my power was as good, but all I can do is make people not feel."
I paused in my chore of washing the dishes to look at her.
"I wasn't aware you had a gift." I said.
"Oops!" Leda said, dropping her head. "Papa said I wasn't supposed to tell anyone about it because they might think I'll hurt them."
"He had your best interest at heart, but we don't think you will hurt us." I replied. "You will not use your power against us will you?"
Leda shook her head.
"Then there is nothing to fear. Besides, ones power does not define ones personality, it is merely what we chose to do with it that counts." I stated.
Leda was watching me expectantly and I sought for an example.
"Do you recall my sister Billie?" I asked.
Leda nodded.
"She is nice, do you not agree?"
"Billie is the best auntie in the world." Zoë declared.
"She's always giving us treats." Seren added.
"And playing with us." Aiden stated.
"She was good to me." Leda observed.
"You know she would never do anything evil?" I continued.
Leda nodded.
"But if you were to hear of her gift without ever having met her perhaps you would." I stated.
"Why? What can she do Mammy?" Zoë asked, I realised I had never revealed Billie's power to my children and there had never been cause for her to demonstrate it in front of them.
"Billie is able to sap the strength of a person, but she would never use it for evil means therefore I do not fear her. For this very reason I do not fear you."
Leda smiled widely.
"However, you should heed your father's warning in not revealing your power to others, not so much because they may be afraid of you, but they may covert your power and wish to take possession of you to have use of them." I stated.
"I will remember that." Leda replied.
"What are mine powers?" Aiden asked.
"I'm sorry?" I replied, feigning ignorance.
"Well I got to have a power too." He declared. "Cause Seren and Zoë got telly-ken-itus like Daddy and Leda can make people not feel. What is mine power?"
I thought over his sentence and saw a little leeway.
"Not everybody has a power." I replied. "I have no power."
"But I thought you could make people's own powers stronger." Zoë said with a frown. "Least that what Daddy said."
Aiden nodded his head and I cursed Mal for revealing this.
"Yes, but I did not find out until I was eighteen." I said quickly, falling back on the truth. "Perhaps you have a hidden gift like me."
Aiden frowned, clearly unhappy that it would take time for his power to be revealed.
Seren was looking between Aiden and myself, and she seemed thoughtful.
"Now come children, you must wash and dress for the day." I stated.
I ushered them all into the bathroom in order to wash at the sink before going to select clothes for the children to wear this day from the cupboard in the parlour. I had found it more convenient to store their clothes there than having to go all the way up to the attic. I turned with an arm full of clothes to find Seren standing behind me. Before I could chastise her she looked up at me with tear filled hazel eyes.
"It's because he's human right Mammy?" Seren whispered. "Why he can't have a power?"
I paused for a moment, deciding what to tell her, the truth seemed most apt.
"Yes." I replied.
"And that's why you said you didn't have a power, not to make him feel left out?"
"That's correct."
"I wish I could have known Zoë was going to say that. I would have stopped her." Seren said. "I'll let her known not to say anything about it in future."
"Thank you." I said. "Now go and wash up, the other children will wonder otherwise."
Seren nodded, brushed her hand across her eyes, and then forced a smile to her face before heading back into the kitchen. I took a moment to catch my breath before I placed the clothes out on the sofa. The girls would dress in the living room while Aiden would dress in the bathroom. It was easier that way than to have to cater to the twins' ever-inquisitive minds.
It was nine o'clock by the time the children were all dressed, but still there was no sign of Kitty.
"Can't we just go wake her up?" Zoë asked, crossing her arms grumpily.
"That would be rude." I replied. "We must remember that she came over from America and it will take a day or two for her to adjust to our times."
"But she went straight to bed when we did." Zoë protested.
"She will wake up when she is ready." I said firmly. "Besides, it will give us ample time to prepare our picnic."
Zoë grumbled but accepted the fact that our walk would have to wait. I distracted the children by assigning each of them a task in creating our picnic feast. There was even time to make some fresh cakes and biscuits, which I had worried would take too long. However we had a grand feast packed into our backpacks so we could each carry our share and still Kitty didn't put in an appearance.
She stumbled into the kitchen around eleven, still in her night dress and dressing gown, a pair of feathery slippers upon her feat that were more like sandals and actually had a bit of a heal. She was also wearing sunglasses despite the overcast and drizzle as she yawned widely.
"Is there any coffee going darling?" She asked as she held up a mug with a logo for Her Dark Revenge emblazoned upon it.
I frowned at her while I evaluated her alertness.
"There was coffee in your room." I stated.
"Oh, yes, but it was that horrid instant stuff." She said dismissively.
"There was fresh coffee in the cupboard." I replied. "I do not often make coffee since Mal is a tea drinker by choice. Instant is more efficient."
"Guess instant will have to do." She said as she made her way toward the tea counter.
I intercepted her and took the cup from her hand before she dropped it.
"Why not go and have your shower and dress while I prepare you some breakfast." I suggested.
"Then we can go for our walk." Leda stated.
"And we can show you our magic umbrella." Zoë said as she put her arm around Seren.
"And then we can have a picnic." Seren added.
"With all the food we made." Addie finished.
"Sounds…nice." Kitty said unsurely.
"It will give us opportunity to show you the places you can run without worrying about the prying eyes of humans." I explained.
"Oh, well, I guess that sounds important." Kitty said. "I won't be long." And with that she bustled out of the kitchen.
"Is she always so lazy?" Zoë asked.
"Zoë!" I chastised, although to be honest I was thinking it myself.
"Not usually." Leda said with a frown. "She's usually up really early ready to play games with me and everything."
"It's jetlag." I said firmly, mostly to convince myself that I hadn't made a mistake in inviting her here. "Soon she will have recovered and will be up bright and early like the rest of us."
"If we spent that long in bed we'd have a row." Zoë grumbled, but I ignored her.
"Why don't the four of you go and draw in the parlour for five minuets. You could each create a map from memory of the path we will be taking today." I suggested.
The children agreed and went into the parlour while I made some breakfast for Kitty, along with fresh ground coffee, taking advantage of the fact that there was another here I could share it with. Not that Mal didn't drink coffee, we did partake in it from time to time, but tea was so much easier to make and therefore more efficient of a morning.
Thankfully Kitty was not too long and within half an hour of her having awoken we were heading out on our treck. The three girls had created a map between them and were following it together. Addie had made one that was little more than rudimentary drawings of the farm, some trees and the old rocks, a very wavy line connecting them. As confusing as that entangled path seemed, Aiden appeared to know where he was going.
Kitty looked as far removed from Kat Perez as I'd ever seen her. No makeup adorned her face today, her dark hair combed back into a plait to avoid the weather causing it to become tangled. Her clothes were suitable for hiking and I never would have thought she would own clothing that was so practical. I also got to observe her around Leda, she did indeed act in a motherly fashion toward the girl, and after a moment of confusion over loyalties, Leda would turn to Kitty for any help she required. It was all I needed to see that Leda wished for Kitty to be her mother, if only Alec would see this too. I was certain he saw that worth; perhaps that was what has scared him. Hopefully Mal could find out.
Mal
Alec kept the glower for a good long while, about three quarters of an hour to be exact, when we hit the morning rush hell that started around the Nantgarw roundabout. We'd moved about five feet in five minuets when he growled and gestured toward the lines of metal stretching down the hill in front of us to the roundabout.
"Why do you humans put yourself through this?" He demanded.
"If we don't work we don't get money and then we end up on the street." I stated.
"I thought this country had a welfare system."
"Yeah, but that should be a safety net, not a way of life. Anyway it's not so bad this morning, we're making good progress and when we're on the A470 we'll be flying." I promised.
"I wish I shared your enthusiasm." He grumbled.
"Ah cheer up but, at least you're out of the house." I pointed out.
"That is one advantage." Alec said flatly as he glared out of the window.
"Sometimes it's good to get away from the women folk." I said as I moved another ten feet closer to the roundabout.
"It does." Alec said with a sigh.
"But I don't get…" I began but trailed off.
"Get what?" Alec demanded, although I was certain he knew what I was going to say.
"Why you'd want to get away from Kat Perez, I thought you were a big fan of hers?"
"She's different in the movies." Alec said before throwing me a dark look. "I do not wish to speak of this. I'm coming with you on this farcical pursuit to avoid the inevitable questioning Liza is most likely to subject me, I really am in no mood to receive it from you."
"Ok. I won't question you." I said and leaned forward to turn on the radio.
"What are you doing?" Alec asked.
"Well if we're not talking might as well get some music in here." I said, switching to the rock station knowing Alec hated that type of music and turned it up as loud as I could bear, much to loud for his more sensitive vampire ears.
"Are you deliberately trying to deafen me!?" Alec demanded as he threw his hands over his ears.
"I can't hear you!" I replied.
Alec glared at me before reaching forward and switching the music off.
"You cannot torture me into submission." Alec said firmly.
"Oh yes, the big bad Volturi is not afraid of a little torture, but show him a woman he likes and he goes all giggly like a little school girl and runs away."
"I did not run away!" Alec exclaimed and he was getting very angry, I'd pushed him to his limit today, it was time for a tactical retreat and try a different method tomorrow.
"Ok, you didn't. Sorry but, I didn't mean to push you, but you know, wife orders, husband obeys and all that." I said with a laugh.
"Should that not be the other way around?" Alec asked.
"Despite what the vows say, you've obviously never been married." I joked, thankful that we were two cars away from the roundabout and we'd have some free road until we reached the Cross-hands and then it was the slow slog into Llanishen and Ty Glas.
"You speak so badly of Elisabeta?" Alec asked in shock.
"Hey Alec, not the best thing to use your old pet name for my wife hey? And I love Liza dearly, she's my all, my everything, but you got to admit she's bossy. One of the things I love about her, but it does mean doing stuff I might feel uncomfortable with so I don't have to face her sad look at me." I observed as I took the first left on the roundabout onto the A470 slip road.
"She does have a powerful sad look." Alec said. "Although I think it is universal of females in general, apart from Jane, for my sister would never let down her shields so much as to show such weakness as resorting to feminine wiles. Leda, as young as she is, has quite the sad pout on her when things do not go her way, I think Katalia has been instructing her." He finished with a chuckle and I glanced at him before moving into the fast lane. "I worried Leda would not have the example she required of what it is to be a modern woman, but brave Katalia has proven to be up to the…" He trailed off and looked at me as if I'd betrayed him before staring fixedly out of the passenger window watching the cars we sped past.
I sighed and decided to not say anything for the rest of the trip. Instead I tuned the radio to Classic FM, since it was the type of music Alec liked, and turned the volume down to a more bearable level. I let him be until I was going along the road to North Cardiff Psychiatric Surgery; it was then I had to give him the low down.
"Can you affect a Welsh accent?" I asked.
"How's this but?" Alec asked, sounding too much like me to be comfortable.
"Good. Can you keep it up for the day?"
"Course I can." Alec said.
"Right, well make sure you do, cause you're my nephew, I told 'em your name's Alec to save confusion, gave you the surname Owen, and I said you're my sister's boy." I explained,
"Her name?" He asked.
"Ruby." I stated.
"Ruby?" Alec snorted.
"Thought I'd go with our mam liking to name her kids after gem stones." I explained.
"Ok. So what about my dad?"
"Derek Owen."
Alec nodded.
"How old am I?"
"Sixteen."
"I thought we couldn't have such jobs at sixteen!" Alec exclaimed.
"No. But this is work experience. Technically you're in school, but it's work experience week, where kids go to try out what it's like in the world of work."
"So I am a school boy?" He asked warily.
"Anything wrong with that?" I demanded.
"None at all Uncle Mal." He said with a grin.
"Right, well let's try this." I declared.
"You look stressed but." Alec said lightly.
"Just hope this don't blow up in my face." I explained, Ewan had been ok, but not thrilled with the idea of me bringing my nephew into work on such short notice.
"I'll behave." He promised.
"Thanks." I said as I parked up in my spot. "Come on."
I got out of the car and went to get my suit jacket, brief case and laptop from the boot. Alec came out and stood beside me expectantly.
"Pull your hood up." I whispered, as I pulled up my own.
"Why?" Alec asked.
"It's pissing down and it's what normal people would do." I observed as I got everything out and shut the boot.
Alec pulled up his hood and I nodded as I locked the car. I led him into the surgery, Mila was on reception as usual and she buzzed me in since it was before Surgery hours.
"Alright Dr Llewellyn, good ride in?" She asked.
"As awful as always Mils, specially in this crap weather." I replied.
"Well, can't get any worse." She stated cheerfully.
"I guess it weren't so bad this morning, got my nephew with me for the work experience."
"Your nephew?" Mila asked, looking around me.
"This is Alec." I said, pulling him forward. "Alec, this is Miss Davies, you'll be working with her mostly, but until the patients arrive you can come have a look around my surgery."
"Nice to meet you Miss Davies." Alec said, sounding like a nervous Welsh kid.
"Aw, you can call me Mila, Miss Davies makes me feel old." She said with a smile.
"Well I'll be in my room if Dr Chance needs me." I said.
"Ok. I'll let him know." Mila said.
"Come on Alec, I'll show you where I work my magic." I said and I picked up my box of daily appointments and then led him to my room.
I put my appointment box on my desk, placed my briefcase and laptop on my desk chair, then pulled off my rain coat and hung it on the relevant hook before I pulled my suit jacket out of its protective sheath and pulled it on. I straightened my tie, ran a comb through my hair then turned to Alec.
"How do I look?" I asked.
"Not like you." He replied.
"Good. Cause I'm Dr Llewellyn now, and not fun loving Malachite." I said with a grin.
"I never would have envisioned you in this role back in those early days in Volterra." He said in a low voice.
"Well we all got surprising halves." I said with a small smile, after all, I never could have imagined myself being friends with Alec, ever, when I was younger.
"This is where you work?" Alec asked, looking around my little room.
"Yeah."
"What do you do exactly?"
"Listen to people, give them advice, assess them if the police need it." I listed.
"People tell you every dark secret?" Alec asked in shock.
"Well if it's voluntary and no court case is pending, it's all confidential. Anything said in this room doesn't leave this room without a court order, so they feel safe to confide in me." I explained. "That's something you have to remember if any of the patients are ok with you sitting in on their session."
"I will remember this."
I nodded.
"Well there's not much to do other than me organising my appointments for today. Just lie on the couch for an hour then you can go out and help Mila." I suggested.
Alec shrugged and went to lie on the couch while I went through my appointments.
This was the case for the next few days. He'd come into work with me and I realised that it was better not to prompt him on Kitty, he'd make some observation on the subject now and then, but otherwise it was clearly an off-limit topic. At least he wasn't too rude to Kitty when we were on the farm, but Liza was exasperated that there didn't seem to be any progress, I assured her that there was and Alec was coming around to the idea of sharing. It helped that he got to sit in on a few of my appointments, I think that's what made realise exactly what it is that I do and how that could help him.
"They tell you their problems and you advise them." He stated as I was eating my lunch in my room on Friday.
"Yes." I confirmed.
"And you do not say anything to anyone?" He asked.
"Part of the job." I stated.
"So if I were to speak to you in this room you will not tell Liza?"
"Anything you tell me in this room stays in this room." I said firmly.
"Very well, I…I have a problem."
"Go on." I said, indicating the couch for him to lie down and I took my chair.
"I… I am on the verge of falling in love with the most wondrous women ever, one I have admired from afar for many a moon, and up close she is more divine than I could have ever imagined."
"Then what's the problem?" I asked.
"I…I fear I will hurt her." He said quickly.
"How so?" I prompted.
"Because…I am destined to do it to any woman I love." He said sadly.
"What makes you say that?" I asked.
"Look at my track record! There was Layla, I loved her and she was driven mad as a result. There was Liza, I loved her and brought her into harms way more times than I care to admit. There was Lamia, a girl I loved and what did that do? Caused her to act irrationally to get a child." His voice was strained and I'd known enough vampires over the years to know he'd be crying now if he could produce tears.
"I think you need to look at it from another angle." I said. "You didn't drive Layla mad, that was Aro. Liza was a teenage mistake, where your mind was still screwed up by your parents. As for Lamia, no one could have foreseen that. Only six months before she was saying how much she hated kids. You couldn't have stopped her."
"I could have helped her." He sniffed.
"If she wanted help she would have let you know sooner." I said, which was something I'd thought for a while.
"But why…why would she do that?"
"The girl had a death wish and wouldn't it seem so romantic to a dark obsessive like her to give your life for your dark immortal child?" I theorised.
"I…I suppose." Alec conceded.
"Maybe she wasn't ready for eternal life, but rather than admit it she thought she would buy herself some time." I suggested.
"What a stupid way to do that." Alec growled.
"Well maybe she was worried you'd chicken out of changing her and wanted to make sure you would."
"She went the stupid way about it."
"Yes." I agreed. "There was nothing you could do."
Alec didn't look certain.
"Ok, you got these hang ups, but do you think Kitty will really care about it? And well the least you could do is let her know so she has the chance to back out if she wants to."
"I should speak with her?"
"A radical concept I know, but you should give it a try."
"I will have to give it some thought." He said as he got up off the couch and wandered out to reception.
I sighed and shook my head, why did things have to be ten times more difficult than they should be with Alec?
Liza
"I think I'm going to head back to the States." Kitty said Friday afternoon while we drank coffee in the kitchen while the children worked on the small play they'd written between them in the parlour. They were having a dress rehearsal and it was no grown ups allowed.
"You are welcome to stay as long as you like." I observed.
"I know you welcome me darling, but I also know you invited me here to set me up with Alec. I don't know what his problem is..." She trailed off as if I knew.
"I have no idea, Mal assures me he's making progress, but it doesn't appear that way to me." I stated.
"Well I've made it my habit not to wait around for guys. I don't do the chasing and Alec has had his chance. I guess I'll give him until tomorrow, but if he hasn't come around, well it's pointless me hanging around here where I'm not wanted." Kitty said sadly.
"Leda will be sad to see you go." I ventured.
"Yes, but if Alec doesn't want me around so much that he acts all passive aggressive it's better she gets used to me not being here." Kitty snapped.
"Then what are you going to do?" I asked.
"I will send him a note, tell him that if he doesn't at least talk to me by tomorrow morning I'll be going back to the States and he'll never hear from me again."
"That is somewhat harsh." I said, biting my lip.
"Yes, but he's been absolutely horrible to me darling, and I don't take this type of messing from men normally. I've given him a pass for his grief long enough, he's given signs that he's ready to move on, but I can't put up with this rejection and blocking any longer. My fragile ego can't take it."
"I suppose you are giving him a chance and if he truly desires to be with you it is time he steps up and acts like a man."
"Exactly." Kitty said with a nod.
"If it helps in any way, Leda will be staying up in the attic tonight, the children always have a sleep over on a Friday night." I stated.
"I'll have to bear that in mind." She said thoughtfully, before draining her cup. "Now shall we see how our darling little thespians are coming along?"
"We should wait another five minuets lest Zoë gripes at us again." I stated with a laugh.
"Of course." Kitty replied with a chuckle.
The children put on their play for Kitty and I, it was rather good. Seren had come up with the story and had written the script. Zoë had added the comedy. Leda had chosen the costumes and, with permission from me, had painted a beautiful river scene onto a sheet stretched out over the clotheshorse as a backdrop. Addie had even contributed; he devised the song they sang, adding his own lyrics to the tune of 'Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star'. It was impressive for his age. Kitty and I enjoyed ourselves so much that we stated the children should perform it for Mal and Alec when they returned home. The children agreed.
Mal was looking happy when he returned home with a more thoughtful looking Alec than I had witnessed over the past few days, he even managed a greeting for Kitty, although there was still a clear distance he was placing between the two of them. I caught Kitty's eye and she gave me a look of determination before she left the kitchen in order to write her note.
We allowed the children to stay up longer so they were able to perform their play after dinner. They all bathed and got into their nightclothes before I ushered them all up to Addie's room where they could stay up half an hour longer before going to sleep. When I returned downstairs Kitty had already retired for the night but Alec looked as if he were about to settle in for the night.
"I hate to be rude, but do you think we could have a little privacy now? This is the time Mal and I usually speak about our week and your presence is intrusive." I said bluntly.
Alec nodded and without another word he left the house.
"Don't be so hard on the guy." Mal said.
"Well I had to get rid of him so I could get my hands on my wonderful husband." I replied as I sat in his lap and brushed my lips close to his. "Besides, if he doesn't go out to his room then he won't read Kitty's note and if he doesn't rectify things this evening then he will have missed his chance for good."
"Oh, well hopefully he'll talk to her." Mal said. "I picked the post up on the way past the box."
"You did?" I asked, Mal always picked up the mail, if he mentioned it there was something important.
"Yeah. And there were two letters with American stamps."
He held out his hand and levitated two white envelopes he'd placed on the mantle piece over to us.
"Air mail." He said with a chuckle.
I smiled as I plucked the letters from the air to find that one was addressed to me, the other to Mal.
"Florida." I said, reading the date stamp.
"Seems like a nice place to chill." Mal said as he took his letter as I offered it to him.
I nodded as I climbed out of his lap and sat beside him so that we could both open our letters. I opened the crisp white paper to find spiked handwriting.
Dear Liza
I hope this note finds you well. I'm writing to ask you to look after me brother as you have been these last ten years or so. He's going to need your support right now. I know it's selfish of me to keep him away, but I'm a sight at the moment, I don't want him to see me like this, especially when I grow more confused. I want him to remember me as a person and not a disease.
Take care in your life
Fr Ardal McGuire
"Oh dear." I muttered.
"He doesn't want me to visit him." Mal said in shock as his hand went limp. "He wants me to stay away."
"Then we must respect those wishes." I said, taking his hand.
"Why?"
"Because he is ill." I replied. "He is weakening in body and mind, I can understand why he would want us to stay away."
"But…" Mal began.
"We could not visit him if we had mind to, he hasn't left an address." I stated.
"Great, so we can't even write back to him." Mal grumbled.
"We could email him." I suggested. "There is a possibility that he will receive it, and at least that way you know you've tried to reply."
"Oh Liza, I'm just… I wish it wasn't like this."
"Me too." I said as I hugged him close to me.
"Will…will you just hold me tonight?" He asked.
"Anything you wish my Malachite." I whispered and kissed his forehead. "Shall we retire to bed now?"
Mal nodded.
After performing the necessary ablutions we turned off all the lights downstairs and made our way up to the bedroom. I took a detour up to the attic to inform the children that it was time for sleep. They settled down immediately, perhaps it was apparent in my tone that it would be wrong to play around this evening.
When I reached the bedroom Mal was sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the wall. I sat beside him, stroking my hand across his back and kissing his arm. He stirred and placed his arm about me, pulling me into his side.
"It's like I'm already mourning him." He said softly. "If I can never see him again he's as good as dead."
I had no response.
"Let's just sleep, it might look better in the morning." He murmured.
We got into bed and I took Mal in my arms, stroking his hair gently as he rested his head against my breasts. As we lay in silence I kissed the top of his head and I felt Mal's cheeks move as he smiled slightly.
"At least I still got you." He said and with that he left my arms and turned onto his back before bringing me to rest against his chest, as was our usual manner. "You and the kids are enough family for me."
I nodded, still unsure how to truly respond. It was obvious that Mal wasn't looking for my contribution to the conversation; he merely needed a pair of ears to listen to him. Therefore I settled myself into a more comfortable position in his arms and listened to him talk through his problem through most of the night.
By the next morning Mal was back to his usual self, joking with the children as they lounged in front of the telly catching their Saturday morning favourites. I was out in the kitchen preparing a breakfast tray for everyone when I heard the kitchen door. I turned to find Kitty entering the kitchen; she had a big smile on her face.
"I take it you're staying." I observed as I handed a cup of coffee to her.
"I may have been convinced to." She said with a wink, and headed into the parlour.
Alec entered several minuets later looking as serene as I'd seen him in a long time. He smiled at me as he greeted me good morning.
"Did you have an interesting night?" I asked.
"Let us say that I took my psychiatrist's advice and admitted to why I was hesitant about starting a relationship, it turns out those reasons were null and void. Is this breakfast being eaten in the parlour? I will take it through."
Before I could argue Alec picked up the tray and was walking to the parlour. I rushed to open the door for him and he carried the tray through and placed it on the coffee table. The children rushed to help themselves to their pick of pancakes, bacon and toast, as well as the fruit. I went and sat down next to Mal, leaning against his side and looked across to see Alec sit near Kitty, but they didn't touch.
Mal glanced over to them, and then gave me a questioning look. I smiled and nodded, Mal smiled in return and glanced back over to the pair as the sat in intimate proximity whilst trying not to show their desire in front of the children. Leda was also scrutinising them as she ate the fruit pieces she was dipping into a bowl of yoghurt and honey.
It was after about a minuet of this that Leda placed the bowl onto the table, shot to her feet and with her hands on her hips demanded, "So is Kitty-cat my new Mama or what?"
Alec looked shocked at her outburst until Kitty gave him a grin. She turned back to Leda and said, "If you want me."
Leda was frozen until Kitty held out her arms, and with a cheer of delight the little dhampir leapt into the embrace of her father and future stepmother.
Thank you for reading
A slice of imaginary birthday cake with lashings of purple icing for anyone who reviews
And just as a little extra, thought you might like to know what happened when Kitty and Alec talked…
Kitty
I was sure someone called my name.
"Katalia?"
There it was again and I was pulled groggily from my dream. I managed to peel open an eye and looked to the source of the voice. I recognised the silhouette against the light curtains illuminated by the moon.
"Alec? What are you doing here?" I asked unenthusiastically, I'd expected him hours ago and had fallen asleep in defeat.
"You said you would leave your door unlocked should I wish to talk, now I wish to talk." He stated.
"I meant for you to call on me earlier darling, not at…" I checked the time. "Three o'clock in the morning."
"I'll come back." Alec said, but I was sure he would lose his nerve if I let him go now.
"I'm already awake dear, please, what did you want to say?" I coaxed, hoping he'd finally admit his feelings and we could end this charade.
"I want to apologise for my behaviour, for trying to push you away." He said, dropping his head, causing his sandy hair to shine like a halo around his head. "I didn't want to hurt you."
"Running out on a girl suggests otherwise."
"I know. I know, but I was so worried about you." He said, suddenly at the foot of the bed and he looked distressed.
"Why would you worry about me?" I asked in surprise.
"Because I've hurt every woman I've ever loved. Layla, Liza, Lamia. I love them and they get hurt. It is my pattern." He said sadly.
"Yeah, but I don't fall into that pattern." I pointed out.
"But I…"
I shook my head before he said it, I didn't want him to say it if he was just going to excuse himself anyway.
"I don't fit the pattern because my name doesn't start with an L, it starts with a K." I said with a smile, hoping he'd smile too but he didn't.
"Alec, you are not cursed if that's what you think, you've just been unlucky. You are not responsible for hurting Layla, that was Aro's doing, he hurt you too; removing your memories so you forgot about Layla and that you had a daughter. Liza, well that was your fault, but I put that down to confusion in your shifting morals, you'd been a Volturi too long, where you were taught to take what you want and if you can't, destroy it! As for Lamia, well, I hate to say it, but it's her own stupid fault."
Alec gasped, looking at me in horror.
"Well it is. She wasn't new to all this vampire stuff. She'd spoken to enough of our people to know what would happen if she got pregnant with your kid. And even if she didn't, she could have phoned you as soon as she knew she was pregnant so you could have helped her. It's not like it's unnoticeable until the last moment. Right?"
"She left it until the last possible moment." Alec murmured.
"Exactly." I said. "It had nothing to do with you, you always took every care with her, right?"
Alec nodded his head.
I beckoned him closer until he was standing next to my bed, I sat up, making sure I had the covers secure around me. I took his hand so he couldn't bolt while I said what I was about to say.
"Well I have good news for you darling, the Fire Twins are dead and I'm already dhampir so there's no risk of me having my mind scrambled by someone trying to take my memories during the change. I like you a lot and have no other love interests, besides you've grown up a lot in the last eight years, so there's no chance of you kidnapping me and having me run in circles in a desert for a couple of days, pushing me even further into the arms of your love rival. Again I will state that I'm a dhampir, even if I were to bear your child it wouldn't kill me, but that is not a possibility anyway, because I haven't had a cycle for a good thirty years now."
"There are other ways I could hurt you." Alec said.
"Maybe you should let me worry about that." I said and pulled him to me and kissed him full on the lips.
He resisted for a moment, but then whatever hang-up he had left, he let go and kissed me back, his arms coming up behind my back to pull me closer to him. His cool hands glided over my back, making me shiver in that delightful way. His hands stopped, and he pulled away, giving me a curious look.
"Are you…naked?" He asked.
"I never wear clothes to bed darling." I purred before pulling him down onto the bed, he landed on his back and rubbed my nose against his. "They're so very restrictive." I began unbuttoning his shirt. "Don't you think?"
Alec grinned before pulling me down into a kiss…
