Baby Steps to Being Special
Being Parents to twins was difficult enough but when one child was a vampire and the other a witch, it came with a whole other variety of problems. Just working out what to feed Rebecca had been a trial. One they had dealt with.
It was not unusual to walk into the nursery and find the toys floating in the air while the twins waited for their Parents to come and get them. Some found it unnerving but Diana and Matthew just took it in their stride. After all, what else could you expect of children of a witch and a vampire?
Phillip, at the tender age of two was already on the road to being a weaver like his mother. His mother's firedrake watched over his like a magical mother hen. He learned quickly and seemed to understand that using his magic was fine in the house with his Parents, but not in front of strangers or outside of their home. Still his parents were cautious.
Rebecca on the other hand was very much her Father's daughter. Matthew had decades to learn the control he had. Now he was having to teach an infant what he had learned by himself. Patience was not a virtue she had, but even at a young age she was eager to be the apple of her father's eye. Not that she had to try. Matthew's pride and joy were his children. All three of them.
The morning began as usual when Matthew walked into the nursery to see toys floating around the room. "Good morning. Shall we join your Mother and brother downstairs for breakfast?" The toys settled down on the toy chest and his children raised their arms to their father to be picked up.
Diana looked up as Matthew walked in with the twins. "Good morning. Is everyone hungry?" She placed a loaded plate in front of Jack who was already seated.
It had become a family routine that they would all breakfast together and then Diana would work with Phillip and Matthew, Jack and Rebecca would work together. Jack was also learning control and it helped Rebecca to see her big brother essentially learning the same things she was.
Sarah would join Diana and Phillip once she had come up from the cottage Matthew had built for her on their property. It meant she had her independence but was still close by. She hadn't been able to face going back to the home she had shared with Emily after Em's death.
Diana flipped through the notebook she had started keeping on Phillip's progress. Matthew had one for Rebecca also. It had occurred to them that other Parents in their community might benefit from what they learned. The only unique thing about their situation being that Diana was the book of life.
"Mum, I was wondering if you were going to publish those notebooks you and Dad are always scribbling in." Jack knew both of his Parents had papers published and both were natural teachers. The vampire/witch community could learn a lot from their discoveries.
"Not at the moment Jack." Diana had been considering it though. "I need to organize it more and we can't just take it to any publisher."
"What about you Jack? Have you thought about having an art exhibition?" Matthew put the twins breakfasts in front of them.
"I'm not good with people." Jack didn't really stray too far from his family these days. But his paintings and drawings were a type of therapy for him and he enjoyed creating them. He hadn't thought about it further than that.
"You don't need to be." Diana had been content to allow her adopted son keep to himself while he learned to control his bloodlust, but now she was concerned that he wouldn't be able to cope in society if he didn't start socialising soon. Also, they were running out of room for all of his artwork. "We could rent out a space and display your work. No one need know that you are the artist."
"That would probably be just as well considering you don't age." Sarah arrived for the tail end of the conversation. "Your art is wonderful Jack. It would be a shame not to allow others to see it."
"I'll think about it." Jack silently ate his breakfast clearly mulling it over. It was a big deal for him to have support from so many people after having a difficult start to his human life. Although Father Hubbard had kept his promise to Diana and kept Jack safe, it still hadn't been easy.
A robin sat watching them practise from a tree. Matthew took in the sight of Jack and Rebecca focusing and he thanked whatever lucky star had led him to meet Diana. He had never thought he would be lucky enough to have this again. To be a husband, a father. To have a home and not just a house. Diana had given him all of it. Even Jack.
Teaching control was one of those things that sounded easier than it was. But they had an ace up their sleeve. Jack and Rebecca were competitive. Rebecca wanted to prove she was as good as Jack and Jack wanted to prove himself to Matthew. A small part of him was still waiting for Diana and Matthew to disappear again.
"Jack. Take a deep breath and focus." Matthew knew Jack could do this but he needed to move past his fears. "Show Rebecca how to do this. Focus on something that brings you joy." Matthew always thought of Diana and their children. Every day with them was pure joy.
When Jack looked up at him, he knew his adopted son had found his joy. He wasn't alone anymore and he was a big brother. He was part of a large family when he wasn't judged. Pushing aside his fear Jack focused on the love he felt coming from his family. That would out power bloodlust every time.
Family was important to Diana and heaven help anyone who hurt someone Diana Bishop considered family. Their family expanded every year. Another friend became family and so on.
They say it takes a village to raise a child. Their village was larger than most. Parenting two gifted children was made easier with the help of others. Sarah had taken the role of Grandmother along with Ysabeau. The twins would be fine as would the world they were part of.