Chapter 12

The next day Fleur bought Bernie to Amber and Mitchell as he'd been discharged from hospital. That morning the flatmates had been hunting for a new place and had found one that would be ideal not far from where they currently lived. It was a 5 bedroom house so both Bernie and Amber and Mitchell's daughter would have a room. When Bernie arrived Mitchell showed him to his room and helped Fleur move Bernie into his new room. Fleur told Mitchell she was moving into a house a few streets away so she could see Bernie as often as she wanted to.

"That will be awesome. You're always welcome to come and see him," Mitchell said.

After Fleur left the house was a flurry of activity as everyone moved in to their new rooms. It had taken several trips to move their furniture from their old place to the new one but after a lot of work everything was done. Mitchell and George had work that night, Mitchell at the hospital and George at the language school where he worked. He had recently begun working there as he had realized there was no reason why he should have such a low paying job. He was controlling his transformations and living a normal life every other day of the month. Even his relationship with Nina was on the up.

"We should have a house warming," Amber said.

"Yeah we should and it could be a welcome to the family party for our kids too," Mitchell said.

They were to gain a daughter the very next day as whilst at work Mitchell discovered that a 12 year old girl had been bought in and was dying from Leukemia. She was critically ill and not expected to survive so a great candidate to be their daughter. Of course Mitchell knew nothing about her but after deciding there was nothing to lose he introduced himself to the girl and her parents. Her name was Marnie and she'd had the leukemia for 3 years. She had been in remission and unfortunately the leukemia had come back. A bone marrow transplant had been performed but had not been successful and the cancer had become terminal. After hearing all this Mitchell delicately steered the conversation around to the question of him saving her. He carefully explained what he was and that he did not drink blood, showing Marnie's parents his fangs and black eyes and that he had no reflection when they asked him to show them that he was indeed a vampire. After they had seen that and he assured them that he wouldn't harm them he then offered to save Marnie, explaining that it would mean she'd become a vampire.

"Will she be the same as she is now except for the leukemia?" Marnie's mother asked.

"Yes except that she won't age and like me will have the fangs and black eyes as well as no reflection," Mitchell explained.

"Will she drink blood?" Marnie's father asked.

"No we will do all we can to help her stay clean," Mitchell said.

Mitchell explained that they would be able to see Marnie as often as they wished and could still be a big part of her life. Her parents nodded then told Mitchell they needed to discuss his offer and would get back to him. He went back to work as his break was up but gave Marnie's parents his mobile number and asked them to contact him when they'd made a decision. The next morning Marnie's parents contacted Mitchell to say they wanted him to save Marnie. So Mitchell and Amber went to the hospital where Mitchell introduced Amber to Marnie and her parents. After a bit of a conversation Mitchell did what needed to be done to save Marnie and then the two sat with her until she woke up. Like Bernie she was confused so the two quickly explained that that was normal and what to expect. She seemed to still be the same personality wise so after Mitchell and Amber had explained everything they needed to they left Marnie with her parents. They would bring her to Amber and Mitchell after she was discharged from the hospital. Amber and Mitchell went to visit Amber's friends as she hadn't yet told them what had happened to her.

"I do hope my friends will be accepting of me as I am now," Amber said, on the way to see them.

"I'm sure they will be. You're the same person you were before Seth attacked you except that you're now immortal unless staked or something like that. And you can't be hurt easily and are much much stronger," Mitchell said.

"How the heck do I refuse to be in photos if I am hanging out with them. We always take photos and put them up on Facebook," Amber said.

"Explain to them that your photo can't be taken and why," Mitchell said.

"Thank goodness I can use the photo I currently have on my drivers licence when I renew it," Amber said.

"Yup," Mitchell said.

"I really don't know what's going to happen when I'm like 60 but still look the age I am now. People will definitely ask questions," Amber said.

"Just alter your date of birth. I do that and it's fine. We will be living somewhere else by the time you'll need to renew your licence," Mitchell said.

"Sweet," Amber said.

She smiled at Mitchell and knew everything was going to be ok. Finally they arrived at Roz's place and Amber's other friends were there too. After greeting everyone Amber smiled at them and cleared her throat.

"There's something I need to tell you guys," Amber said, "Remember I told you that Mitchell is a vampire? Well a few nights ago I was attacked by the other vampire that was still alive, Seth and he fed from me. He nearly killed me and the only reason I am alive is that Mitchell saved me. Unfortunately to save me he had to turn me. So I'm a.. I'm a vampire now," Amber said.

Some of her friends looked frightened so she hastened to reassure them.

"I have nev er fed and never will feed. Like Mitchell I am going to stay clean. Together we will remain on the wagon," Amber said.

"Do you, you know have fangs?" Geraldine asked.

"Yes I do. We both do," Amber said.

Amber and Mitchell both manifested their eyes going black and their fangs descending. Then they returned to normal.

"What happened to Seth? You said was still alive," Amber said.

"He's toast. I staked him after he and Mitchell got into a fight when he tried to stake me," Amber said.

"So you two are the only vampires now here in Bristol?" Roz asked.

"There is one other, Daisy. We haven't heard from her in a while and she was involved in a massacre which you may have heard about. She and Seth did that," Mitchell said.

"Box Tunnel 20?" Geraldine asked.

"That's the one. Seth tried to pin it on me but Amber cleared me," Mitchell said.

"There are also two other vampires. Our children. We have adopted a son and a daughter. They are kids who were terminally ill who's parents agreed to let us save them," Mitchell said.

"Like us they are clean and will stay clean," Amber said.

Amber's friends nodded. Soon they were all chatting away with Amber and Mitchell as if nothing had happened. Finally Amber and Mitchell needed to go back to their place to await Marnie's arrival. Bernie was being looked after by George, Nina and Annie and he couldn't wait to meet his new sister.

"Great catching up with you," Amber said to her friends.

Mitchell echoed her sentiment and then they left.

Back at their place Mitchell and Amber got everything ready for Marnie's arrival so that she would feel comfortable from the moment she arrived. Marnie arrived that afternoon after being discharged from the hospital. She was still pale and skinny but would soon fill out and her hair would grow back. She and Bernie were going to the same school which was near where they lived. As far as the school was concerned Fleur was still Bernie's mother and Marnies parents were still her parents. Nothing had changed in that respect as the school didn't need to know that Mitchell and Amber had adopted Bernie and Marnie.

"Hello Marnie how are you feeling?" Amber asked.

She hugged Marnie who smiled.

"I'm feeling a lot better thank you Amber," Marnie said.

Amber and Mitchell had decided that Marnie would use their first names since her parents were still alive.

"This is Bernie. He is your brother," Mitchell said.

"I know you Bernie, from school. Are you a vampire too now?" Marnie asked.

"Yes I am. Amber and Dad saved me after I was hit by a car and Mum agreed to it," Bernie said.

Mitchell and Amber smiled at each other as their children chatted. They were a real family and were together forever.

End.