A/N: Disclaimer in Chapter 1.

Sorry for not posting last night, I honestly didn't have time to type anything. I've managed to just about squeeze it in today…

Answering a question: I mainly read Vlad/Erin. I'm a canon shipper and always have been for almost everything (especially Stargate, Smallville and Atlantis), so I don't really venture for Vlad/? pairing, I have tried but I can't seem to get it to hold my attention (sorry if that seems weird).

Chapter 17: Visitors

Visitors were the last thing any of them needed; visitors would be a complete distraction for them all. Not to mention why was it visitors always had to pick the worst time to call? They never actually called when you wanted them to call it was always when there was something else they had to do.

Vlad let out a groan before dropping his head down. "If it's any of the Council coming to apologise then tell them…"

"Its not the Council." From the way Vlad's face changed to confusion then distress he actually wished it had been the Council that were visiting.

Vlad didn't really expect it but he expected some form of contact from his Gran or Augustus even if it was a letter demanding his execution. He didn't know where his family stood now, they had to be careful in case there was any chance Olga would try and say they'd committed fraud and take the throne unlawfully.

"Who is it?"

Bertrand winced as he didn't really want to say this, Vlad hadn't seen one of them for three years and had no desire to see that person again. Erin noticed the way Bertrand was fidgeting and unable to look at Vlad's eyes. Vlad's eyes narrowed, he didn't like the way Bertrand wouldn't answer – it irritated him.

"Bertrand!" He snapped wanting him to answer, Erin jumped at Vlad's tone. Vlad was already worked up enough, she folded her arms and lowered her head at him. Vlad noticed that she wasn't exactly amused with him. He gave her a sheepish look, his whole posture slumping somewhat as he knew he'd done wrong.

"Robin's family, they're here."

Could it get any worse?

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The journey to the foyer was stiff. He really didn't know what to say to Robin's parents. Robin was out of the way for his own safety, he didn't know where he was but recalling him at the moment was dangerous for them all. He couldn't exactly explain the situation to them all.

He turned the corner into the foyer and was immediately greeted by the faces of Robin's parents and one person he really never wanted to see again in his life. Elisabeth and Graham Branagh were glaring at him, Vlad was glad he was equal height to them now they couldn't intimidate him anymore.

Their eyes swept behind him. It was amazing how once you noticed someone had taken their gaze off you, you immediately became curious as to what they were looking at.

"The wall?"

"Yeah," Vlad managed to squeak out, he coughed. "We're having the room renovated." He finally managed to gasp out, he'd mastered lying long ago but there was the odd tell tale sign. Only those who knew him well could tell when he was lying.

"Making two rooms into one?" Graham asked curiously. He couldn't deny he was jealous that Vlad owned his own home, a manor no less, Vlad was a lot richer than he seemed.

"Something like that, yeah." Vlad muttered under his breath, he wanted the wall rebuilt as far as he was concerned. More walls equalled more protection at the moment.

The mood of the room suddenly changed from curious back to the tense and demanding atmosphere once more. Chloe looked at them very shy and nervous.

Elisabeth stared at him; slightly surprised at the way Vlad didn't flinch as he had done when he was younger. "Robin was supposed to come home three days ago." Elisabeth Branagh told Vlad firmly, glaring at him in a way that was piercing his soul. "Since then I've heard nothing from him, no phone call no messages. I want to know where he is."

Vlad just stared at them for a few moments; the words just wouldn't come to him. He didn't know what to say. So he settled for something else, he clicked his fingers.

The Branaghs froze as Vlad turned in a tight circle running his hands through his hair. He looked at Erin who laced her fingers with his, she squeezed his fingers tightly. Erin's look was very reassuring for him, it gave him the confidence that he couldn't find in himself. He really wanted to believe that he could face them.

Erin stroked his cheek lightly with her free hand, watching with a smile as he shivered. 2You can do this."

"What am I supposed to tell them? They still have their mind wipes in place."

"Tell them what they want to hear." Mina suggested from on the floor.

Vlad nodded slowly not before pressing a kiss to Erin's lips and clicking his fingers.

Elisabeth Branagh continued talking for another moment, "So where is he Vlad."

"Robin helped Dad take Wolfie make to mum." He lied slightly uncomfortable. "Dad needed help, me and Erin were busy as you know we've just got married so we couldn't do it and Ingrid wasn't well." His lie wasn't elaborate, the simpler it was the better. "Wolfie knows Robin well so Robin offered to go with them, there isn't phone signal where mum lives."

"He should have told us first."

"Robin sent an email." Erin lied, "It must have gotten lost."

"When is he going to be back?"

Ingrid answered this time. "A few days."

The Branaghs seemed to consider what they'd said, it sounded like Robin running off to help them with a family emergency. "I'm not staying here and waiting for him Elisabeth." Graham hissed to his wife. He wasn't going to wait for Robin in the company of people he still considered children.

"We can book a hotel or Vlad could put us up." Vlad heard those words from Elisabeth and bristled. He wasn't having Chloe staying in his home with him. He didn't trust her at all.

"I'm not staying here." He repeated, he looked at Vlad. "We need to make arrangements." Vlad knew what he was asking, he was asking to use his phone to find a hotel or bed and breakfast somewhere. Vlad only nodded before gesturing for them to enter his study to use his phone.

The quicker they went – the better.

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The bottle of soy blood was becoming warmer and warmer as it sat on the side. Vlad's gaze flickered to it a couple of times. He hadn't had a drink in a while and he could feel the affects of his hunger burning his throat as he was desperate to drink.

Vlad gestured to the cup, they did have normal cups in their home Vlad couldn't stand to have goblets all the time. Erin saw his gesture and smiled widely nodding, she could do with something to wet her thirst as well.

Vlad let out relieved sigh as he felt the bottle, the glass wasn't as warm as he'd thought it was. He slowly poured the soy blood, trying to resist the tingling of his fangs as the aroma met his nostrils.

"I'm sorry Vlad."

Vlad closed his eyes briefly and rolled his eyes forcing himself to calm down before the full fearsome vampiric side of him emerged. "Sorry is a little late Chloe. It's taken you three years to apologise for what you did."

"I just wanted to be with you."

"But you didn't care how I felt." Vlad told her fiercely, sorry wasn't enough when she'd only considered her own feelings.

"I wanted to come to your wedding." She whispered quietly, she wanted to watch him marry someone else in front of her, a small part of her was clinging onto the hope that he'd change his mind but she'd doubted it at the time.

"It was a permanent mating." He corrected, he enjoyed defining the distinction between a mating and a wedding amongst his kind. He turned his head to Chloe could see his small set of bite marks on his otherwise unblemished flesh. "I wouldn't have changed my mind Chloe, Erin is my wife. I've never wanted anyone else."

Chloe nodded sadly, watching as Vlad raised the cup to his lips. His eyes closed as he savoured the taste before lowering the cup from his lips and picking up the other cup. Erin sped next to him as he held it out to her. She copied his actions leaning into him.

"Chloe." Elisabeth called, she didn't know what had happened between her daughter and Vlad but something clearly had from the way Vlad seemed to watch her with barely concealed anger.

"Sorry Vlad." Chloe whispered again. Vlad didn't respond he just tensed more. Chloe turned to Erin, "Congratulations."

"Thanks." Erin answered as politely as she could, she didn't usually act like that but she didn't want to get too close to Chloe she preferred to keep her at arms length all the time.

Chloe looked down at their tightly joined hands, realising for the first time how their hands seemed to fit perfectly. "Look after him."

"I will." She answered with a smile, she would always look after Vlad.

Chloe opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something else but she shook her head and walked slowly from the room.

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Jonno glanced across to Vlad from his position on the floor by the fuse box. "What do you want us to do now?" They'd installed everything all they had to do was seal the box and turn the electric back on.

"We can't do anything until we know their next move for sure."

Vlad just couldn't understand what Olga was waiting for.

TBC

A/N: Thanks for reading.