Chapter Twenty-Six

The relationship between the St. John family and Josef/Aubrey was strained but only for short while. When Zoe demanded to see her Uncle Josef, Miranda broke down and consented to contact Josef about a visit. He was more than happy to have the family over for 'dinner' than night, much to Zoe's delight.

"Are you ready to go?" Mick called up the stairs as he leaned against the counter. Checking his watch, he wondered how late they were going to be.

"We're ready," Zoe said, from the top of the stairs.

Mick looked up and couldn't help but smile. They were twins, Miranda and Zoe. Both had their hair pulled up in single a ponytail, with blue jeans and blacks shirts that said, "Vegetarian Vampire" in green lettering on the front. "Where did you get those shirts?" He asked, as he noticed even their shoes matching, both being black thick soled flip-flops.

Zoe giggled. "We found them while we were shopping."

"We found a booth in the mall dedicated to vampires, because of the 'Twilight' craze going on." Miranda's eyes sparkled. "I just couldn't help myself and when Zoe saw that we could get matching one's, it was decided." She smiled, as she stood before her husband. "You don't like it?"

Mick smiled, leaning forward and pulling her into a hug, so he could whisper in her ear. "Josef'll get a kick out of it."

Zoe was pacing by the door. "Come on!"

"I bet he will," Miranda said, turning to the door. She opened it and allowed Zoe to rush past. The girl ran down the hall and hit the elevator buttons.

Mick grabbed Miranda's purse and Zoe's travel kit [a backpack filled with some games, coloring books and crayons] and followed them out the door.

The ride down to the car was silent, expect for the chuckles from the two vampires at the excitement from the ponytailed girl, who was literal jumping up and down with joy. Once everyone was buckled in, Mick drove them over to Josef's.

Things were clearly a tad off when the driveway that normally sporting a least a few cars that belonged to one freshie or another, was empty. "Strange," Miranda voiced, opening Zoe's door, while meeting Mick's eyes over the roof of the car.

Zoe was oblivious to the change and rushed for the door, forgetting about the doorbell and knocking with all her might. Mick and Miranda walked up together. As they neared the door, it opened but not to whom they expected. "Hello, child," Michael smiled down at her.

Zoe scrambled backwards and her parents came quickly to her. Mick scooped the child up and glared at the vampire before him. "What are you doing here?"

"We all had matters to discuss and I thought I would pop in to speak to Josef first, but then he said you all were coming." He smiled brightly waving them in.

Josef was leaning over a figure lying on the couch.

Mick led the way away from Michael, making sure to keep Zoe on his far side. Miranda followed her husband, half-watching Michael, and half-watching Josef.

Suddenly Josef straitened, and the prostrate figure was visible.

Aubrey was lying on the couch. She was still conscious, as Miranda had first guessed, but she looked a tad pale.

"Aunt Aubrey." Zoe cried. She squired for Mick to release her, which he reluctantly did. She rushed to her aunt who smiled and pulled her onto the couch to side next to her. "What are you doing here?"

"I think we can talk about that later, okay?" Aubrey said.

"Why don't you both go to the kitchen?" Josef said. "I'm sure there's some ice cream in the freezer." Aubrey took the hint and rising slowly she took her niece's hand and disappeared.

"What was so pressing you had to speak with us?" Miranda said when Josef had plopped onto the couch, where Aubrey had been sitting. Mick stood near the end of the couch, unconsciously putting himself between Michael and the door which the two humans had disappeared through.

Michael smiled as he sat down in the chair nearest the couch. He waved for her to sit. She didn't move until Josef grabbed her wrist, guiding her down beside him on the couch. Once she was seated and Mick had moved around the chair he had been standing behind to sit, Michael leaned back and crossed his legs at the ankles. "You did such a wonderful job with your last mission, Miranda, darling. However I do not recall telling you to get Josef to kill him for you."

"The job was done and you did not specify how it was to be done" Miranda crossed her arms.

With in incline of his head, Michael said, "True. Very true." He looked at Miranda with an appraising look that earned a growl from Mick.

"Down boy" Michael said, with a smirk. "I like woman who won't stake me in my bed."

"What do you want?" Mick asked, trying not to let his anger bring him to attack his elder.

"We were so friendly before you stumbled upon my business." Michael crossed his hands over his abdomen. "I want us to go back to that."

"That was before we knew you are killing little girls," Miranda growled, making Josef tighten his grip on her arm.

The blonde vampire sighed deeply. "You are so very maternal."

Miranda stood, pulling Josef up with her. She pointed a shaky finger at him. "And even if you hadn't tried to kill those girls, you led the mob that killed my child."

With a smirk, completely unfazed by her anger, Michael said, "First of all, it was to save your life. And Second," His eyes dropped to her abdomen. "It's not dead."