A/N: Thank you to all who's reviewed and stuck around. Here's more for you!

Chapter 13: Nursery Blues Part 1 (Matthew then Arikado/Alucard's POV)

The date: August 16, 2038. It has been quite a while since I've written in here. These past few weeks have been a pleasant surprise. My only son, Soma, has married and is now expecting. I have prayed long and hard for this day. I feared the worst since I felt the powers within him. I am so relieved that Adrian had taken it upon himself to watch over my son all these years. I couldn't ask for a better son-in-law. I watch them and their love rolls off of them in waves. I know now, that they are very happy.

Adrian's father, Mathias, is quite the enigma. I was surprised as heck when the former Dark Lord entered my home. He was nothing as my ancestor described. I was expecting an old man with a goatee but what I got, was far from it. The man looked no older than his early thirties, had luxurious raven locks and the face of a saint. There was no hiding his power though….

"Padre, are you there?" I heard my son-in-law ask as he knocked on the door to my office. I smiled and closed my journal.

"Come in Adrian," I said. The dhmphir entered and I saw how drawn he looked. He was nervous, worried and dare I say it, a bit afraid. He graciously took the seat I offered him and I poured out some tea for us. "I take it you need to talk."

"Yes, I do apologize for interrupting you…."

"It's no bother I assure you." I said kindly. "Where's Soma?"

"His mother took him shopping." Adrian said. "She insisted." I nodded in sympathy. Since she learned of Soma's pregnancy, my 'Noa has been scheming…..She adored Mathias' idea and designs for the nursery and decided to go into town with our son and the plans, (with Mathias' permission). I looked at my son-in-law and sighed.

"So, what's the matter?" I asked. "You can talk to me."

"I'm just nervous." Adrian said. "I want to be a good father and husband. So far I feel like I've messed up."

"Trust me son, we've all felt that way." I said. "I know deep down that you will make a great father and an excellent husband." I watched as my son-in-law smiled sadly. I knew what was wrong. He blamed himself for all that befell Soma. He blamed himself for not being more protective and attentive. I completely sympathized. I was the same way when 'Noa was pregnant with Soma.

"Adrian, you don't have to take on the burden on your own." I said. "We are all here for you and for Soma."

"I know," I heard him sigh. "I'm just…."

"We're home!" I heard my wife call. I exchanged a look with my son-in-law and we made our way to our spouses. Soma looked exhausted but happy.

"I love my mom but the next time we go shopping, you are so coming with…" He said as he kissed his husband. Adrian looked down at my son and smiled.

"Look Adrian," My wife cooed holding up a little onsie with a lamb on it. "Isn't it precious?" I looked at it wrinkled my nose. It looked more for a girl!

"Ah," My son-in-law said, choosing his words carefully. "It's charming."

"I thought so!" My wife said with a smile. "And look, it came with a little stuffed lamb!" We looked at each other and agreed. Definitely a girly outfit….

"Soma, are you all right?" I asked. My son looked at me and nodded.

"I'm fine Dad." He said. "Besides, I'm thinking about the cradle…"

"What cradle?" I asked. Soma looked at us and smiled.

"It's so cute and it's perfect for the twins. It's made of white ash, with a dove and lamb engraved in the middle…." My son-in-law smiled at that and asked where it was. My wife smiled and gave over the address. He turned to me and smiled.

"Matthew, care to accompany me?"

"You bet, let me grab my car keys!" I said excitedly. I grabbed the keys and escorted my son-in-law to the Hummer. I breathed a sigh of relief as I noticed it was still in one piece.

"I am so glad you told your father about himself." I said as I opened the door. "You really spared my car from a violent death."

"It was no trouble." He said. "I love my father but come on; he was getting a little out of hand."

"I agree but it was too funny. The Great former King of the Vampires in fear of a Hummer…." We looked at each other and laughed. It was still funny.

We made it to the address that my wife gave and let out a groan. It was a baby shop! But it wasn't any other baby shop. I knew this one!

"Oh god," I moaned as I thumped my head against the steering wheel. "'Noa, how could you…."

"What's wrong?" My son-in-law asked.

"'Noa and I came here when she was pregnant!" I said. My son-in-law looked at me then took a breath.

"Are you ready to face the evils within?" He asked. I looked at him and sighed.

"For you and my son and my grandchildren, yea…." I sighed as I turned off the car and braced myself. Each step closer had my nerves rattled.

"Welcome to Cherub Boutique." A pleasant woman greeted with a smile. I did a double take. The last person who greeted us was an older lady who had a fancy for pinching my cheeks.

"Hello, our spouses were here earlier…." I began and the lady looked at us.

"Ah Mr. Cruz, Mr. Cronqvist," She said. "Come with me." She led us to the twin cradle Soma mentioned and we fell in love with it. It was a beautiful white cradle with bits of gray and on one of the beds, was a lamb with flowers and another was a dove with ivy leaves.

"Excuse me," My son-in-law said. "Was this paid for?"

"No Mr. Cronqvist," The lady said. "It was placed on hold."

"How much…?" He asked. The lady looked at the price tag and smiled.

"Well it's on sale actually. 600 Euros…" She said. My mouth dropped. That was a steal!

"Can you excuse us for a moment," I said, as I took my son-in-law to the side. When she out of earshot I smiled.

"Adrian, 600 Euros is a steal! Especially for a twin cradle…"

"How much was Soma's?"

"It was approximately 1500 Euros."

"Damn!" My son-in-law swore. "Why so much…?"

"My in-laws believed that 'Noa and I would have a little girl and that our little princess deserved the best. Boy, they were pissed when they found out Soma was a boy!"

"Why, because Soma was a boy…?"

"Because they constructed an entire girl's nursery…." I said. "I made some changes before Soma was born, which was the room you saw."

"You knew?"

"I had a hunch." I said. "But I knew you wouldn't harm my son. Like I said I know who you are."

"So, should we get it?" He asked. I nodded and smiled.

"Let's get it. Soma will be surprised." I said. Adrian called the woman over and told her we would take the cradle. After we paid for it, I turned to the woman.

"Excuse me, don't take this the wrong way but I remember another woman…."

"Oh, she was my grandmother." The lady said. "She said you had the cutest cheeks Mr. Cruz." I felt my left eye twitch at that and bid her goodbye. My son-in-law looked at me and smirked.

"You got pinched again?"

"No, but I was told by the granddaughter that I had the cutest cheeks." I said as I started the car. "Dirty old lady…." As Adrian chuckled, making sure the cradle was safe, I drove home. I knew the lady meant no harm but why did I have to be so cursed handsome? I glanced at the cradle and sighed.

It was worth it. I thought with a smile. Soma will be very happy with it.

(Arikado/Alucard's POV)

I couldn't tear my eyes away from the cradle we managed to get for such a bargain. It was well made and crafted the old fashioned way. I adored the craftsmanship and the beauty of it. I saw the dove and the lamb and traced them lovingly with a finger. Like the rest of the cradle, both animals were well crafted.

"Adrian, we're here." My father-in-law said, rousing me from my admiration. I looked up and saw that we were indeed at the house. My father-in-law got out of the car and told me to wait.

"We don't want Soma to see it just yet." He said as he put a cloth over the cradle. "Do you think Scardy Cat Daddy will come out to help?" I bit back a laugh at the nick name my father-in-law gave my father and shook my head.

"He's still antsy about it I'm sure." I said. My father-in-law sighed and thought.

"What's going on here?" A voice asked, causing up to jump a bit. I believed it to be my beloved. I let out a huge sigh when I saw Leon standing there. "And what's that?"

"Baron," My father-in-law said with a hand over his heart. "Don't scare us like that!"

"Oh, forgive me." Leon said. "But what's that?"

"It's a cradle for the children." I said. "We don't want Soma to see it just yet."

"Are you building the nursery already?" Leon asked excitedly. On our nod, he got excited. "Oh, wait, let me grab Mathias!" With that he was gone. I looked at my father-in-law and shuddered.

"Um…I hope he doesn't grab my father anywhere…."

"It's an expression." My father-in-law said with a laugh. "It means he's going to get him to help us."

"Oh, why didn't he just say that?" I asked. My father-in-law shrugged and shook his head. Soon Leon returned with "Scardy Cat Daddy".

"NOOOOO keep that thing away from me!"

"Mathias, we've been through this!" Leon said as he grabbed my father by the collar. My father looked at the Hummer then gulped.

"Ok," He said meekly. His fear disappeared when he beheld the cradle.

"Oh my god," He cooed. "I love it! It'll look wonderful with the nursery! Has Soma seen it yet?"

"Father, we just bought it!" I said. My father was as giddy as a school boy!

"Leon, go distract Soma, Adrian and I will bring it in." Leon nodded and went to find my beloved. My father-in-law stood quiet but I knew the man was ready to laugh. He watched as my father and I handled the cradle and carefully moved it from the Hummer and into the room my father-in-law chose for the baby's room….I looked around and stopped. I knew this room.

"Matthew….Is this…."

"Soma's old nursery," My father-in-law said with a grin. "Yes it is."

"Extraordinary." My father said as he inspected it. "Everything seems solid."

"I took care of this room." My father-in-law said. "As well as the rest of this house…."

"I can tell." My father said with admiration. "So, Adrian, where would you like the cradle?" I looked around and thought.

"I want the children to have the view their mother had." I decided. My father-in-law smiled and placed the cradle on the eastern wall, the exact same place where their mother's cradle was so many years ago. My father looked to where the cradle was placed and bit his lip.

"I don't know about this arrangement."

"It's Adrian and Soma's decision." My father-in-law said. "Not yours, not mine, not anyone else's."

"I'm just saying…."

"Who decorated Adrian's nursery, dare I ask?"

"I did." My father said. "And it turned out just fine!"

"Says you….."

"Gentlemen," Leon said. "What's all the bickering?"

"Leon, you were supposed to distract…."

"What's going on in here?" I heard my beloved asked. "And what's the big idea of having Leon trying to distract me?" I looked over and sighed.

"Angel, we just wanted to surprise you."

"By bickering…?" My beloved asked. "That's a surprise I can do without." With that, my beloved left, returning to our bedroom and closing the door. I knew he went to lie down. I looked at my father and father-in-law and sighed.

"Settle this or I will." I left them in the room, going to comfort my beloved.

"Soma, angel, can I come in?"

"Yea sure," I heard him sigh. I opened the door and smiled. Soma was sipping on his 'medicine', resting in bed. "Adrian, what's going on with those two?"

"They're competing." I said simply. Soma looked at me and snuggled into my embrace, which I welcomed.

"Competing for what?" He asked. I looked at him and smiled.

"I didn't want to blow it, but, we bought the cradle…."

"Adrian," Soma gasped, tears in his eyes. "You mean….the one…I…."

"Yes Angel, the one you wanted." I said. My beloved's eyes welled up with tears of joy and he hugged me. I held him and kissed him.

"When can I see it?" He asked. I looked at him and smiled.

"Well, our fathers wanted to wait until the nursery was finished."

"The nursery…What nursery…?"

"Our fathers…wanted to…build us a nursery for the children."

"Adrian I'm really touched. But,"

"But what my dear…?"

"I wanted us to do that."

"We still can, just say it and I'll grant it." I said. Soma looked me and nodded.

"They can do the heavy duty stuff." My beloved said. "The little things we can do, is that fair?"

"Yes." I said as I held his hands in my own. "Let's go tell them."

"If they start bickering and bitching, they are gone." Soma said firmly. "They will not stress me out."

"Done," I said. We entered the room, surprised to see our fathers still looking at each other. "Are you two done bickering?"

"We do apologize…."

"Please," Soma said as he held up a hand. "I know you two are trying your best and I'm really touched. But, I wanted to do the nursery, with my husband." Before our fathers could object Soma stopped them. "You can help but I'm setting down this rule: any bickering or bitching you're gone." Our fathers looked at him but nodded in agreement.

I smirked. There's my love…I thought with a satisfied chuckle.

The four of us buckled down to plan the nursery and I was happy that Soma agreed with my decision on where the cradle was to be placed. Our fathers didn't bicker once since Soma and Leon climbed on board on this. I sighed in relief at the blessed silence.

"No, no, no," Leon said. "Put that changing table over there!" My father, some time ago, tied his hair back into a ponytail and removed his jacket. He was down to his vest. Matthew also tied up his hair and was in a tank top. "And put the toy chest in the far right!"

"Hey, Mathias, why don't you tell your little priss to help out huh?" My father-in-law growled as he placed the toy chest down. My father rolled his eyes and set down the changing table. "What's wrong, he's scared he'll break a nail?" I hid a laugh and Soma smiled. We were sorting through books and toys for the nursery. Soma's mother had bought quite a load. She bought toys, clothes, baby things, etc.

"Hey, I've broken worst than a nail." Leon pouted. I looked to my beloved and saw his brow crease.

"Enough," I barked. "You stress him and piss me off; I'll have no problem cracking your skulls!"

"Sorry," Leon squeaked. My father and father-in-law looked at each other but shut up. I thought that wise. We had much to do and very little time to do it in.

Will everyone survive the ordeal with their skulls intact? Review to find out