Chapter 5: Thinking Ahead

Josef woke before Jean who was snuggled against his chest in a restful sleep. He traced his fingers along her frost covered arm as she began to wake. "Good afternoon beautiful."

Jean smiled against his chest and kissed his skin before tilting up to kiss his lips, "Good afternoon yourself."

They got out and had their breakfast from a glass as they relaxed in their bedroom on the cozy couch in silk robes. Josef kept his eye on Jean, watching her and making sure she was okay. After they left Mick and Beth's the night before he'd wanted to talk to her then but she'd been happy and content and he didn't want to bring it back up again. His Jean had the biggest heart and he knew that it really got to her listening to all those horrible stories.

"Jean dear," he started softly. She looked up and caught his eye with a soft smile. "I can tell this Nolan person you asked Mick and Beth to look into has really gotten to you. If you want I could just take care of him, she'd be safe then."

Moving gracefully towards him Jean places her hand flat on his chest as she looks him in the eye, "That is very sweet of you Josef but you can't take care of every abusive prick in town."

"Maybe I could," he grinned. She returns his smile and he adds, "I just hate to see you unhappy."

"As much as I'd love for this pig to get what he deserves our way I can't let you. Dealing with him that way would bring Grace no closure, she'd always live in fear that he would return."

Josef nods, "I understand. Just know the offer is always there should you need it."

Pushing up on her toes Jean places a soft kiss to his lips, "Thank you for being so supportive."

On a peaceful Sunday afternoon Danielle had two tall glasses of water and handed Coop his as soon as he came back from putting the boys down for their naps. He drank half of his right off the back before leaning in to kiss her check, "Thanks."

"The boys sound asleep?"

"Like rocks," Coop confirmed.

Danielle sat on the couch and patted the spot beside her, "I want to talk to you about something Coop."

Seeing the look on her face he knew this was serious and sat down quickly. "What sweetie?"

Setting her glass on a coaster she took his free hand in hers and squeezed it like a life line. Feeling how tense she was Coop set his glass down as well and covered her hands with his still cold from the glass to reassure her. Taking in a deep breath Danielle released it slowly and started, "I've been thinking about this…wondering about something for a long time now but it really doesn't matter if we aren't on the same page."

Coop looked at her concerned, "Same page with what? What's on your mind Dani?"

"Near all of our friends are vampires, my brother is going to be a vampire."

He didn't say anything at first but when he saw the searching look on her face he understood she was waiting for him to. "I know they are. I know it's difficult for you with Seth. But we can't change that you know that."

She shook her head, "No we can't change them I know that but…we will be the only humans."

"What are you getting at Dani?"

"Haven't you ever thought about it? Thought about what it'd be like to be one of them?"

"WOW…Are you seriously talking about becoming a vampire?" He sat back completely astounded by the idea.

Tears welled in her eyes, "I've wondered about it since the moment I found out about them. I've thought about it more and more since all of my friends, all of my human friends have become vampires around me and now my brother will too. Everyone we care about Coop is going to stay the same. They won't age or die…we will."

Coop started out into space lost in thought as he took in everything his beloved wife was saying. "I'm not so vain I don't want to age, I just…I don't want to be turning 60 when my best friends still look the way they do now."

He found his voice, "What about the boys?"

"Beth and Mick make it work. Kayla knows about them and she loves it. They will eventually have to find out about vampires. They'll wonder why Uncle Seth never gets older to begin with."

"You want to become a vampire?" He asked simply making sure this is really what she was thinking about.

"I want us to discuss the possibility of it. I know I've always wondered about it and I don't see any down side but only if it was a decision we came to together. I wouldn't do it without you."

Coop looked at her and saw how desperately she wanted him to say something and he wanted to make everything better but it was all just too much. "This is huge. I don't know what to say."

She sniffled back tears as she squeezed his hands, "You don't have too right now I just wanted you to think about it. I haven't talked to anyone else about this yet I wanted you to be the first."

He nodded and pulled one hand free to pick up his drink and finished the glass before standing up. He needed to move around, he needed to process this information.

To Be Continued…

Evilous