Same series, new update. The story follows the events of "Something Funny"..just a quick reference because my stuff tends to jump around in chronology. It's pretty tame, imo, but I changed the rating to M to be safe. Das it. Enjoy!
So I Can Love You
In the years since they first became bonded, Pam and Tara found themselves unwittingly slipping into little rituals neither fully appreciated. On Sunday nights, they usually sat together in companionable silence while Pam spent exorbitant amounts of money shopping for clothes online and Tara read the kinds of books that made political science professors giddy with excitement.
On Saturday nights, they went on the prowl. A pair of urban huntresses, they turned the human elite of the city their big game. Pam found seducing unsuspecting humans into lending themselves for her consumption more fulfilling than drinking from fervent fangbangers or the very bottles of blood she sold for outrageous prices. Tara, on the other hand, didn't care less where her meals came from. She simply found watching Pam ensnare people frustratingly sexy, which is why their nights out usually ended with the couple engaged in a feverish romp before sunrise.
It had been four weeks since they'd had the pleasure of any of these routines, however. Even a simple evening stroll could become an ordeal with a toddler in tow. Particularly when the toddler in question was essentially superhuman strength and bloodlust in an adorable little package.
To say that their life together had changed would have been an understatement.
During the baby vamps first few days in their home, Pam and Tara caught hell whenever they tried to get her to sleep on her own. Terrified of the dark and cramped spaces, she was the literal antithesis of a proper vampire. So, left with little choice, the couple opened their bedroom to the girl. From then on pre-dawn tantrums became a thing of the past. As did Pam and Tara's sex life, which was already lacking due to Tara's long nights at HMAL.
Any attempt at intimacy between the women around the house was inevitably interrupted by the toddler's giggling, crying, Ginger's screaming, or the breaking of something that somehow always seemed to belong to Pam. It was this sorry state of affairs that led the lovers to stealing intimate moments together in the master suite's walk-in closet whenever the girl was occupied or asleep.
While the baby vamp usually slept long after sundown, she seemed to have a sixth sense about her caregivers' proximity. The moment they both stepped out of the bedroom door, she'd wake up with a groggy, yet accusatory look on her pudgy baby face that appeared to say.
You twats were going to abandon me, weren't you?
Pam had well and truly tried everything under the sun. And yet, quiet closet sex felt like the most twisted act she'd ever been party to. Even as a human living within the stiflingly bourgeoisie bowels of London's elite, Pam didn't bother to hide her sexual prowess. She was discriminating about whom she took to her bed, though never secretive once she got them in it. She was very vocal, in fact. It was a quality that had proven to be her downfall as a young woman. And it was about to be her downfall once again, as she cursed loudly at the sensation of Tara's nails digging into her flesh.
"Shh," Tara hushed harshly from her position between Pam's thighs.
"Get your fucking skates on," Pam urged, her voice tight with frustration and annoyance. She nearly screamed when her progeny did the unthinkable and actually heeded her words.
Assertively lifting Pam's long legs over her shoulders, Tara brought them into near perfect alignment. With obscene speed and determination, the younger vampire focused her attention and her tongue where it was most needed.
Feeling herself careening over the edge at light speed, Pam didn't know whether to thank or curse her lover for following instructions. Mindful of the sleeping baby vamp on the other side of the closed door, she bit back the colorful litany of curses on the tip of her tongue. It was all for naught, she soon found when the now familiar voice of a child called a name that sounded vaguely like her Tara's.
"Well, she up now," Tara declared, extricating herself from her lover to fish for the clothes they'd strewn about the cool hardwood floor.
"And she'll survive being alone for two seconds," Pam huffed. After that surprise finish, she wanted another go.
"So will you," Tara countered with a smartass look her partner despised and loved all at once. "She needs to feed," She continued, punctuating her sentence with a peck on Pam's lips.
"And I need to fuck," Pam purred matter-of-factly, before pulling Tara in for a decidedly more salacious kiss.
The house was blissfully silent for a moment, as the lovers fell back into a wanton embrace. In fact, it was silent enough for a toddler to believe she was alone and begin wailing at the realization. There were few sounds Pam hated more than a baby crying. So much so that she was almost grateful when Tara all but tossed her aside to tend to the crying toddler.
When next she saw her progeny, she was staring into the bathroom vanity, putting the finishing touches on her makeup while her newfound shadow pretended to put lipstick on with a tangerine crayon. Pam's brow rose slightly in silent approval. The little brat probably didn't know, but she'd picked a terrific shade of fake lipstick for her skin tone.
"You look nice," Pam drawled in the melodious and vaguely predatory tone she tended to have whenever she bestowed anyone with a compliment. "A little formal for my taste, but I won't hold it against you," She lulled, her eyes drifting over the beautiful figure her hands were drawn to touch.
"Work," Tara said hurriedly, as she stepped away from the mirror in a rush. It had been a month since she'd lied and called in sick with Hep D. Another day and she wouldn't have a job to return to. A second passed before her partner came to a disturbing realization.
"Don't you dare," Pam warned. She wasn't about to get stuck babysitting the tiny terror. It was an experience not even Ginger was willing to endure. After having her arm broken by the tiny vamper during a routine bedtime story, the brain-fried human would scarcely go near the toddler.
"Just for tonight," Tara appealed. "Until I can figure something out."
If she wasn't so tightly wound around her lover's finger, Pam would have scoffed at the request. It baffled her, how much she let her progeny get away with. And yet, every time she remembered Tara's unflinching loyalty and dedication, she couldn't help but want to give the younger vampire everything her bleeding heart desired.
"Fine."
The brusque utterance brought a girlish smile to Tara's expressive face. Pam's smokey blue eyes rolled in response. She was already wondering which of her staff would be up for making sure the baby vamp didn't drink all of her merchandise. Before she could decide, her progeny was already on her way out.
"Be good."
Pam couldn't tell whether Tara was talking to her or the child she was crouching in front of. What she did know is that the scene playing out before her was a far cry from the lusty goodbyes that previously made them both late for work nearly every night of the week. She found herself even more annoyed that the baby vamp seemed to be taking Tara's speedy departure better than her.
Keeping watchful eyes on the precocious toddler, Pam phoned Ginger and abruptly informed her she'd be needed to help keep an eye on things at the Underground.
Common sense told her it would look unsightly, even for vampires, to have a little girl hanging around a private club, particularly when that club was a blood brothel. Never mind the fact that the little girl could probably drink them all under the table.
With her business attended to, Pam was left with the task of entertaining the baby vamp staring up at her with an expectant look. Dressed in a tacky pair of denim overalls, one of the few items Tara had pilfered from her father's flat that hadn't been ruined during feeding, the girl was in dire need of a new wardrobe.
"Come on," Pam instructed, striding out of the bathroom to head downstairs. It wasn't until she reached the front door that she noticed the toddler was still lingering at the top of the stairs. "Well," She said impatiently.
Taking Pam's word as her cue to move, the mini vamp slowly and carefully descended the stairs on her hands and knees, looking as though she were making a perilous descent down a snowy mountain.
Though sighing at the girl's speed, Pam was vaguely impressed by her cautiousness. It was smart. Fearlessness was never a good trait for a young vampire. That is, if longevity was of any concern. In the days after her progeny was made, Pam did her best to instill a healthy sense of fear into the newborn vampire, to protect them both from the far reaching and unyielding laws of the Authority. And still, Tara never backed down from a challenge, never cowered in fighting for what she believed in and whom she loved.
It was one of her best traits. It was also the most unnerving. All at once, Pam took pride in her progeny's audacity and feared the potential repercussions. Time and time again, however, Tara had proven herself to be a formidable fighter. And no matter how bad things got, she somehow managed to land on her feet.
The thought brought a specter of a smile to Pam's otherwise stern expression. In her reverie, she was surprised to feel tiny fingers reach up to take her cold hand. Pam looked down to see vulnerable, ghost green eyes staring up at her as though she knew the path to shelter in a perpetual storm. She had seen that look before in Tara's eyes. It was the look of a child who had seen and endured too much in her young life, but somehow retained an incomprehensible capacity for trust and love.
Tearing her eyes and hand away from the girl, Pam reached into her designer handbag, pulled out an ornate silver flask and, in what looked suspiciously like a kind gesture, gave it to the child.
"Drink," She instructed impatiently. It didn't take long after she removed the cap for the baby vamp to catch the scent of the fresh blood in the bottle. Accepting the offer, the girl drank eagerly. B positive wasn't a favorite among most young vampires because of its intensity and intricate flavor, but the toddler loved the stuff. Spotting the groggy, yet happy smile on the youngster's face, Pam was confident she'd be sated for a few hours amongst humans. Still, she carried another flask in her purse just in case.
The walk from Mayfair to SOHO proved to be pleasantly uneventful. Her kinky flaxen hair in the two neat plaits Tara braided the night before, the baby vamp looked like any other little human girl. Her rich tawny complexion lent her a healthy glow that that stood in stark contrast with Pam's pale skin.
Still, people seemed to assume they were related. Some gave the child curious looks, while others flashed congratulatory smiles at Pam for reasons she couldn't quite discern. She fixed them all with glares that made them turn up their brows and quickly avert their eyes.
Given the late hour, the shops on Carnaby Street were either closed or closing. This fact didn't deter Pam in the slightest. Spotting a storefront decorated with children's designs and clothes, she pressed on. Looking past the 'Sorry We're Closed' sign, through the colorfully decorated door of the shop, Pam caught sight of a woman tidying up inside.
She sensed her young charge looking up at her, silently prodding her to take them inside of the pretty place with the colorful paper butterflies and giant crayons. Spurred to action, Pam scooped the baby vamp up into her arms, put on her best overwhelmed posh mother expression and tapped sharply on the glass.
The woman inside looked up, smiled apologetically at the pair and pointed to her watch before returning to her task.
Pam's stared straight through the shopkeeper as though she was as insignificant and obstructive as the locked door separating them.
She tapped again.
The woman rose and walked to the door. With a slightly confused expression on her face, she made the mistake of unlocking it.
"We close at nine. You're welcome to come back tomorrow."
Locking eyes with the human, Pam spoke deliberately.
"You will close when I say and not a moment sooner. Understood?"
Entranced, the woman nodded slowly.
"Now, until then, you will treat this child like royalty. Better than royalty, in fact. Whatever she wants, you will happily provide."
"Yes! Of course," the shopkeeper said, hastily stepping aside. "Welcome to Matilda's," She exclaimed brightly, ushering the vampires inside and locking the door behind them. Setting the baby vamp down, Pam let herself get acquainted with the latest in children's fashion.
It was very…childish, she decided.
"Where are your leather jackets?"
"I'm afraid we don't carry any leather jackets," The shopkeeper admitted, appearing as if she'd just been caught with her pants down on a crowded street.
The next few hours would prove to be an eye opening experience for the vampire who specialized in fetish wear and couture. After the initial culture shock wore off, Pam began to appreciate the wide assortment of pink everything the store had to offer. She was especially taken by a baby pink velour sweat suit.
"Give me ten of these in…whatever her size is," She imparted casually before glancing over at the baby vamp, who was staring aptly at a light up pillow. "And all of those."
The toddler played quietly while Pam shopped. It was an arrangement the fashion-loving vampire could see herself getting used to. By the time she was done making demands, she was already thinking of their next trip. Her items packed away in boxes, stacked almost as high as she stood, Pam paid for the baby's items and left the glamoured shopkeeper with detailed instructions on when and where to have them delivered.
Returning to the streets of SOHO with the toddler, now donning bunny ear pajamas she tried on and refused to take off in the shop, Pam became exceedingly aware of how odd it looked to humans to see a young child out in the wee hours of the morning. After the third obnoxious Samaritan commented on it, she knew she needed to get her home. It was either that or ripping the heart out of the next human who began a sentence with the words, "what kind of mother".
"Up," The baby vamp demanded crankily, her arms stretched skyward. It was one of a few words crystal clear words the toddler bothered to speak. Breathing a sigh, Pam swept her up and set about hailing a taxi.
Though it didn't take long by car, the baby vamp was out cold long before they arrived. As much as Pam knew about being a vampire, she didn't quite know what to make of the toddler's physiology. She certainly had a vampire's strength and power, which is why it was strange to discover that the girl retained many of the needs of a young human. She grew tired long before dawn, ate more frequently, and seemed limited in her endurance.
"Dead to the world, eh," The cabby remarked jokingly, causing Pam's brow to arch sharply in response. "My lot never slept so sound."
"Pull over," She instructed, her gaze focused on the peaceful face of the lifeless figure lying against her chest. The swell of protectiveness that welled within her at the inane comment was surprising, but not entirely unfamiliar. She'd felt it with Tara all those many years ago in Louisiana.
It hadn't been instantaneous, the almost overwhelming need to shield her progeny from anyone who so much as looked at her the wrong way. It was a growing sentiment, as encompassing and fast spreading as the English Ivy that draped the rear facade of the estate where she spent her childhood. The leafy vines that decorated the memories of her early years on Earth brought Pam comfort. Her ever growing feelings brought her nothing but unease. It was enough having Tara to worry about.
"Fuck", Pam murmured to herself, as she carried the baby vamp down to the elegantly designed chamber where she had refused to stay from her first night in the house. The jaded vampire took pride in her selfishness, cloaked herself in apathy. Yet here she was again—caring. "Fucking Tara," She continued, cursing the woman she loved while she gently lowered the child she tolerated onto an oversized bed.
Pulling away from the resting toddler, Pam hovered quietly over her. Stark eyes staring fixedly, arms akimbo and head tilting slightly, she gave off the impression of a lioness attempting to make sense of an unappetizing, yet intriguing young creature in her midst.
So engrossed was she in her thoughts that the familiar sound of her progeny's footsteps nearly went unnoticed. Nearly.
When she was confident the toddler wouldn't stir, Pam made a swift retreat and nearly crashed into Tara in the narrow, secret passageway that connected the basement chamber to her upstairs dressing room.
"Looking for someone," She asked coquettishly.
"Yeah, Beyoncé," Tara replied, either oblivious to or uninterested in her partner's flirtation. "She in there?"
"Erica," Pam began, emphasizing the pseudonym she'd given the child despite Tara's steadfast objection. "Is asleep."
Tara stared at the closed chamber door in disbelief; amazed the finicky baby vamp wasn't throwing an epic tantrum about being alone in her least favorite room in the house. "What'd you do with her ," She asked, almost accusatorily.
"Murder, mayhem, manicures-the usual."
"Pam…"
"I took her shopping," Pam admitted in the exaggerated public school accent she used whenever her progeny was acting a bit too stuffy for her taste. Pushing past Tara, she sauntered upstairs. It came as no surprise when her once eager lover didn't follow her to their room immediately. She suspected the protective young vampire would want to check on the sleeping baby before anything else.
Still, she was determined to finish the night on a high note, preferably screaming Tara's name. After stripping down to lacy white skivvies, Pam lifted her breasts as high as they could possibly sit, fashioned an enticing pose on the bed and waited.
It took approximately ten minutes for Tara to arrive. And when she did, she barely seemed to notice her state of undress. The younger vampire became a blur, shedding her clothes haphazardly before diving onto the bed.
"I spoke with Lark today," Tara said glumly. Lost in thought, her depthless dark brown eyes bore into the ceiling.
Pam's ire rose slightly at the mention of the halfling, ever aware that she would gladly take Tara off her hands. But noting her lover's tense demeanor, she decided to hear her out.
"She managed to find the halfway house where Allison Fulbright is staying…I'm thinkin' of payin' her a visit, let her know where her baby girl is. "
"Are you sure that's wise," Pam questioned, concern lacing her silky southern drawl.
"Maybe not. I just think she deserves another chance with her daughter," Tara explained. "And maybe I can help."
"The same way you helped Moses?"
Pam regretted the words no sooner than they emerged from her mouth. She knew how the young man's death had hurt her progeny, how she'd blamed herself for it, along with nearly every other tragedy she encountered through her work.
The wounded look on Tara's face quickly morphed into resentment.
"Well fuck you very much, Pam," She twanged indignantly. "You wanted that girl gone since she came. You even told me to find her mother. And now that I'm tryna come up with a solution, you're gonna throw that in my face?"
It was Pam's turn to be annoyed. She wanted the baby vamp out of their way, not into the care of some dumb bitch who couldn't even steal her a proper a meal. As much as she wanted her lover's undivided attention, she didn't want to see her hurt when her efforts ended disastrously. So if protecting this child meant protecting her progeny from the fallout of yet another catastrophe, then she wanted that more than anything. And she would have it, one way or another.
"So, when will we be meeting with Ms…Fulbright?"
"We," Tara asked, confusion twisting her features.
"Let's just say," Pam started, trailing a hand down Tara's hip and along her waist. "I'd like to make sure your solution doesn't become a problem."
Determined to get her way, Pam's hand dipping beneath the waistband of Tara's red panties. The younger vampire's fangs slid into view almost instantly. Whatever protest she was going to put up seemed to be forgotten, along with words in general.
"Well," Pam asked cockily, ever amused by the reactions she could elicit from her progeny.
Eyes almost black in her heightened state of arousal, the saturnine vampire surged forward and pinned her maker beneath her. Older and stronger, Pam quickly reversed their positions. Tara hissed fiercely at the reversal before taking hold of the back of Pam's thighs and surging upward to land the blonde on her back at the foot of the bed.
"Sunday," Tara said with a triumphant smirk as she descended on her bested lover.
Rather than forcefully upend her progeny, Pam cupped her face and kissed her so long and tenderly that Tara didn't even notice when she was no longer on top. When finally she pulled away, Tara gazed up at her with such raw trust that Pam felt a chill up her spine. It was almost unfathomable that anyone would see her as worthy of such a look. And yet there were two young souls who did. She vowed to herself, in that moment, to protect them both at all cost.
"Sunday it is," Pam breathed just before Tara deftly unfastened her bra and playfully flipped her back over.
*in my best Rakim voice* It's been a long time, I shouldn't have left you…but I did so I tried to make this chapter a bit longer. I have "So I Can Love You" by the Emotions, your reviews (much appreciated per usual) , my laptop and electrical tape to thank for this chapter. Lemme know what you think and whether you want me to continue. Is Tara being foolish? Does Pam have a shopping addiction? Should Ginger finally sue Pam? Bb Beyoncérica, yay or nay? Still taking names for the blood thirsty tyke, btw.