Chapter 19: Stand Still

Having spent the night in bed without anything being said yet again on the matter of becoming a vampire Danielle knew she needed to say something. Coop wasn't going in until later in the day and had decided to keep the boys at home and run them by daycare when he headed to work. Danielle loved the idea, the boys loved their daddy time.

"Coop?" Her voice was soft and shaky as he looked over at her. "I…I can go in later. I really want to talk to you."

Coop looked back to make sure the boys were playing happily in the living room with their toys before moving closer to her. "You can always talk to me."

Danielle pulled him to sit at the kitchen table where they could still see the boys but they wouldn't be overheard if they kept their voices normal. The last thing she wanted was to upset her boys. "I know you said you needed time to process what I said before but…you haven't said anything."

Coop lets out a long sigh as he moves his chair closer to hers and takes her hands in his, "I've been avoiding it."

"I noticed," Danielle squeezed his hands happy to be connected.

"Look Dani I don't know about this. I mean I like our friends I do but I don't think about them as…" he looked over at the boys then softly continued, "…vampires."

"Because they are normal people for the most part," Danielle agreed.

"I get it, I do. Your friends are all vampires, Seth is going to be one but they got involved, they fell in love with a vampire. You just fell in love with regular ole me."

Danielle pulled one hand free and brought it to her mouth, "You can't think that—"

Coop cut her off, "No I know you love me. I just meant that I'm human. You're human so we don't have this between us. I know our friends are still vampires but it isn't the same as if one of us was one, do you know what I mean?"

"I think so," Danielle helped.

"I mean I know you and Seth are close and you're family…but we're your family now too. I just don't know if it's worth it."

Danielle felt tears coming to her eyes. "My research is proving good results. It won't be too long and the sun wouldn't affect any of them any more than it does us right now."

Coop move his hand to her cheek and brushed at the tear before it fell more than an inch. "Please don't cry Dani. Your research is great, I think this is all wonderful but that's not what I meant."

"What do you mean then?"

Coop ran his hand through his hair keeping one still in hers. "I don't know a ton about them but I know that the turning takes a while and all you care about is blood and sex. We have little boys Dani. What will happen to them? Who would turn us? As far as I know all new vampires have sex with their sires and I don't want anyone else, I sure as hell don't want anyone touching you. And what if something goes wrong? Then what happens to the boys?"

Danielle took in everything he said and tried to form the answers to each one. "I don't have all the details but I know it can be done. I'm sure everyone would help us. I don't want anyone else either and I don't want to…I won't do this without you. We can work everything out. I wouldn't risk it if I didn't think it was possible to be done safely."

Hearing her say she wouldn't do it without him helped ease some of his worry. Coop knew she loved him but she loved her brother as well and he would never think of asking her to choose between them. She still really wanted this and he still wasn't sure but he could give some. "Why don't we just agree to think about it? I'll talk with Mick and ask some questions and see how I feel then."

Danielle stood and quickly deposited herself on his lap kissing him again and again. Coop held his hands around her waist returning each kiss until sounds of 'yuck' and giggling came from the living room. They broke away and laughed at their sons reaction.

Danielle stood up and walked over to the boys and gave each of them a big kiss making them laugh before heading out to the lab. As she drove in she thought about asking if the girls needed a girls night, she could use one.

With so much going on Beth was happy to take the time to go with Kayla to pick out the necklace she wanted to get for her and Alice. Luckily school was only a half day for teacher planning. Kayla was bouncing with each step as she made her way into the shop talking Beth's ear off before growing quieter.

"I'm nervous momma, I don't want to mess up in front of everyone."

Beth stopped outside the store and pulled Kayla to stop with her as she knelt down to her daughters level, "Hey I know it's scary getting up in front of people but you are a wonderful dancer and you will do an amazing job sweetie. And if you mess up that's okay too, no one is perfect. You're father and I will be proud of you no matter what, just going out there takes a lot of courage."

Kayla nodded, "Thanks momma. You promise you and daddy will be there?"

"We wouldn't miss it for the world sweetie." Beth knew things were crazy sometimes but they were not going to miss their daughters first recital. "Now how about we go find that necklace?"

Kayla's happy smile returned as she walked with Beth into the store. They looked at the different styles and Kayla was so excited it took a while to find which one she thought would be best. She liked them all but in the end chose a pair that were puzzle pieces that fit together with a pretty etching on the front and on the back they had them specially engraved.

As they left the store Kayla held her box happily, "Thank you for helping me momma. I really like it, I think Alice will too."

"I'm sure she will. Now lets head that way," Beth helped her into the car and buckled her into her seat. Kayla was going to spend a little time with Alice before they had another dance practice getting ready for the recital and Valery had agreed to take them to dance.

The whole ride Kayla was fiddling with her half of the necklace which she was wearing. Beth held Kayla's dance bag while she held the small little box that held Alice's half of the set. Valery opened the door and let them in, Alice was right on her heels happy to see her best friend. Beth set the dance bag down and watched with Valery as Kayla gave Alice her gift.

"Alice I has something for you. I hope you like it because you're my bestest friend in the whole world." Kayla handed the box to Alice who took it smiling and opened it. She saw the necklace, "It's so pretty. Thanks Kay."

Kayla held hers out, "Look they go together. It says something on the back."

Alice took the necklace out of the box and turned it over reading aloud, "Best Friends A&K." She held her half up and saw it fit perfectly with Kayla's who showed her that hers said the same thing. The little girls hugged and ran off after putting her necklace on ready to play.

Beth said her goodbye and thanked Valery again for taking Kayla to dance and promised to see her later. Having spent some time with Kayla Beth felt calmer and ready to get back to work.

To Be Continued…

Evilous