Chapter 9: A Big Step

A couple more weeks passed and Spooker was now waiting for the kids to get home from school. Oxana came up to him and smiled. "They'll be home soon," she said.

"I hope they had a good day today," he said.

Oxana smiled gently. She had discovered Spooker by accident one day when the being was comforting Poppy as she had had a bad day at school and was crying at her mother's memorial. Spooker had apologized for not telling her sooner that his master had asked him to watch over them, but Oxana forgave him and was thankful that he was around.

Phantasia had visited them too, giving Oxana and Boris an update on the men after the twins. So far, they had been unsuccessful, but were still looking. She told Spooker to keep an eye on not just the twins by also on Vampirina too. "If the men can't get to the twins, they may go after another family member," she had said.

"I'll keep them safe, Master," he had promised.

He now saw Poppy, Edgar, and Vampirina wave goodbye to Bridget and the three came inside. "Hello, my little ones," Oxana said with a smile. "How was school today?"

"It was good, Mama," Vampirina said, but she looked a bit worried.

"What's wrong?" Spooker asked, kneeling down to the childrens' height.

Poppy and Edgar looked at each other before the latter sighed. "We...We were read a story by one of the visiting librarians today," he said.

"She read us a book about two siblings who got uprooted and sent to live with a family they didn't even know," the former said.

Oxana grew worried. "Was the story not good?" She asked.

The twins shook their heads. "It was good, but...," Edgar trailed off.

"The new parents acted like how you and Boris do around us," Poppy said. "Like you want us to be part of the family, but at the same time, you're letting us do it at our own pace."

Both grew quiet and Vampirina took a deep breath. "One kid said that once the kids had been adopted, it means they forget their past parents and immediately call their new parents 'Mom' and 'Dad'," she said.

Spooker's eyes widened in shock. "That's not true," he said, looking at Poppy and Edgar. "Don't you two believe that. You must never forget your mother. She loved you both and did the best she could to raise you both."

They looked at him and he nodded. "I mean it," he said, gently ruffling Edgar's hair and gently tugging Poppy's ponytail. The affectionate gestures made the two smile before they looked at Oxana, who hugged them both.

"Poppy. Edgar, I want you both to listen to me," she said. "Whether or not you two decide to call me and Boris 'Mom' and 'Dad', there is one thing I never want you two to do."

"What?" Edgar asked.

"I never want you two to forget your birth mother," The vampire woman said. "Promise me that, little ones."

Both nodded. "We promise," Poppy said.

Oxana smiled. "Good. Now, do you have any homework?"

"Just some spelling words to study for a test tomorrow," Vampirina said.

As the kids went to the living room to study, Spooker grew a bit worried about the twins and when he saw Vampirina and Edgar go to get snacks, he came in and sat down next to Poppy. "Poppy, I'm asking as a friend," he said. "Are you feeling okay?"

She sighed. "I...I guess that kid's words got to me," she said.

"What did Mr. Gore think?"

"He said that when children who lose their birth parents get new parents, they don't always feel comfortable calling them 'Mom' and 'Dad' right away. Sometimes the kids decide after some time to call their new parents those titles and sometimes they don't."

Spooker nodded. "He's correct on that," he said.

"But then the kid said that was stupid because parents are just people who let you live with them. They don't care about you and when they get tired of you, they send you away to other parents," Poppy said, tears filling her eyes.

Phantasia, who arrived to check on them, froze when she heard that and went up to Poppy, who gasped in surprise at seeing her. The girl raised her hands in a gesture of meaning no harm. "Poppy, it's okay," Spooker said. "This is my master, Phantasia."

The girl nodded to the child. "Hello, Poppy," she said before kneeling down to the child's height. "I overheard what happened. And I'm sorry that child feels that way about parents."

"Why would someone say that?" The young girl asked.

"I guess they've never known was a family is supposed to be like," Phantasia said. "They could be speaking from experience, which makes me sadder for them."

Spooker nodded, placing a hand on Poppy's shoulder. "But what that student said doesn't apply to Oxana and Boris, Poppy," he said. "They would never send you away. They made a promise to your mom."

"He's right," Phantasia said.

Poppy sighed. "Do...Do you think I should call Oxana and Boris 'Mom' and 'Dad'?" She asked.

Spooker gently shook his head. "We can't answer that for you, kiddo," he said gently.

"Only you can answer that one, kiddo, but only when you genuinely feel the time is right," Phantasia said gently before standing up. "I must go now, but remember, Poppy, your mother would not want you to be sad forever and I don't mean just about her passing on to be your guardian angel."

The little girl liked how the mage said that last part and nodded. Phantasia then vanished and Spooker stood up, ruffling Poppy's hair gently. "Don't be afraid to take that step, but don't rush it either," he said gently.

She nodded and he headed away while Edgar and Vampirina came back and the three studied for a bit longer before it was time for bed. The twins asked Vampirina if they could talk to her before bed and the young vampire agreed.

"What's up?" Vampirina asked curiously.

"Well, Vee," Edgar began before looking at Poppy, who took a deep breath.

"How would you feel if we started calling your folks 'Mom' and 'Dad'?" She asked.

Vampirina grinned. "That would be so awesome!" She said, hugging them.

"You'd be okay with it?" Edgar asked.

"Yeah," the vampire girl said. "You guys are my siblings after all."

Relieved that their sister was okay with it, the twins took a deep breath together and saw Oxana and Boris come in and they saw the twins look pensive. "Is everything alright, my little pumpkins?" Boris asked.

Poppy looked at Edgar and he nodded, so she looked up at the two vampires. "Um, Oxana? Boris?" She asked.

"Yes, sweetie?" Oxana said.

Edgar took his sister's hand and looked at the two. "Would...Would it be okay if...," he began to ask.

"If we call you guys 'Mom' and 'Dad'?" Poppy finished for her brother.

The two vampires were surprised, but then smiled. "Do you both want to?" Boris asked. "Are you absolutely sure?"

The two nodded. "We're sure," Edgar said.

"We won't forget our mom, but...it would be nice to have two other parents to call 'Mom' and 'Dad' too," Poppy said.

Oxana smiled. "Then, yes, you two may call us by those titles," she said, hugging the twins.

The twins looked relieved that the two vampires were okay with that and snuggled into Oxana's hug while Boris and Vampirina joined in the hug too.

Spooker smiled as he watched them from his perch outside the balcony. He knew this was a huge step for Poppy and Edgar, but he was happy for them.

He then had a thought. "If their last names are changed, it might make it harder for those men to find them," he said.

He decided to talk to his master about it later.

For right now, he was going to make sure nothing ruined the family moment.


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GoldGuardian2418