A/N: Disclaimer in Chapter 1.

I'm nearly on a decision for the gender but if you have a preference please let me know. I'll go with the majority.

There was one more thing I needed some help on:

I'm struggling to find a name to fit the baby. 'Nicola' took a number of weeks to think of for the Truth and Consequences Saga and 'Adria' as the main name for Empty Whispers.

Does anyone have any suggestions for baby names?

Chapter 12: Finally

Vlad turned the circlet around in his fingers, Erin was finally going to wear this as a symbol of her role in their society. He watched as the fading light glinted from the platinum, casting a reflection on the walls. The young vampire was mesmerised as the light moved across the panelling.

"Why don't you put your crown on her head." Robin told him firmly. "They'll want proof she's your equal in every sense."

Vlad was firm in his answer, "Erin isn't wearing the crown."

Ingrid gave him a soft look, "It didn't kill her before it won't kill her now." She'd been swirling her goblet of fresh blood around in front of her. She wasn't going to say it out loud but she did agree with Robin, it was one way to prove that Erin was destined to be Queen.

"Robin she's not wearing the crown." Vlad wasn't going to harm their child in any way. He wasn't going to tempt fate twice. Erin had survived the first time there was no way he could tell if it would happen again.

"He's right Vlad." A voice made him look upwards. He saw Erin standing in the entrance to the room, leaning against the door. She was glowing. She beamed at Vlad pressing a quick kiss to his lips.

Vlad folded his arms, pushing himself from his seat. He came to stand before her, pulling her away from the door and rubbing his hands up and down her arms. "It'll hurt you and the baby."

"It didn't hurt you the second time you tried it. Nothing will happen to either of us."

Robin had been watching the facial expressions of the vampires change as they communicated telepathically. He always hated how uncomfortable he felt, it was like when you were in a group and they were whispering so you wouldn't hear them so you weren't sure if they were talking about you or not. "I really don't like it when you do that."

Vlad gave an exasperated sigh, glaring at Robin, "If anything happens to you or…" He paused gesturing with his eyes, Robin was usually clueless about this sort of thing so he didn't worry about Robin finding out and Ingrid would have assumed he was talking about something else – hopefully.

"I know." She whispered, stroking his cheek. "Now its time for you to trust me. I'll be fine." Vlad looked into her eyes, she was certain about this. He couldn't see any form of hesitation in them. He nodded slowly.

"If you're going to wear the crown then I want Mikhail, Baylor, Ryan and Bertrand to watch this." Vlad spoke slowly. He wanted them to witness that Erin was the rightful Queen of their kind by using the one thing Olga was terrified of.

"I'll watch Bertrand." Ingrid promised her brother. Vlad gave her a sceptical look. He wasn't sure it was a good thing to have Ingrid look after Bertrand.

Erin placed a hand on his arm, "If she thinks she can keep him sane, let her."

Ingrid gave her a grateful nod for supporting her. Erin smiled at Ingrid. Vlad looked unsure, watching them carefully seeing the encouraging look on Erin's face.

"Okay." He eventually conceded. He couldn't wait for this coronation to be over.

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Vlad rubbed Erin's back as she knelt before the toilet, arching her back over it. She'd been fine until now; it was just her luck that it would happen two hours before her coronation. "We can put this off for a few more hours. Until it passes." Vlad told her quietly, he wanted her to be well enough for her being declared his Queen. It wasn't worth risking her health over.

"It won't pass." Erin told him, her eyes streaming from the exertion. Vlad knelt down beside her, his hand never stopping its soothing circles on her upper spine. "It only started today."

Vlad handed her a glass cup of water, it was better for her to have water than to have soy blood. The soy blood was too rich for her at the moment. Water was more expendable than the blood. Erin sipped at the water, feeling it sit heavily on her stomach. It hurt her stomach but she fought through it.

She pushed the glass away from her. Vlad opened his legs into a v shape pulling her back to rest in between them. Erin rested her head back against his chest.

"I thought I might get another week before the morning sickness…" She was glad that the morning sickness was happening at a later time although she had a feeling her body was making up for it.

"Its worth it." Vlad whispered, trying to soothe her. Erin nodded, closing her eyes and twisting her face so it was buried in his chest. She inhaled in his scent, it automatically relaxed her.

Vlad stroked her hair, wrapping his arms more comfortably around her.

"Have you had any ideas?" Erin asked him softly. Vlad knew she was referring to the Council's demand for their child's arranged marriage.

"A few," He admitted to her quietly. "None of them will work." Erin gave a sigh of defeat. "I'm not going to give up trying."

"I know." She mumbled, burying herself further into his arms.

"I'm sorry," He whispered, apologising again. "I didn't know they'd pull this to stop you being Queen…"

Erin had stopped being angry with him two days before. "Vlad it isn't your fault…" She wanted to say more but dived towards the toilet again. Vlad grabbed her shoulder length hair and held it behind her head so it didn't get in her way.

"Here." He whispered handing her a piece of tissue to wipe her mouth, she accepted it gratefully.

"I'll… be fine… for the… coronation." She gasped, trying to force the sickness back down her throat.

"I can push it back."

"You do that and they'll think you're weak. I'll be fine." He gave her a sceptical look, Erin must have sensed it because her arm swung around and hit his hip sharply. He gasped at the contact. "Just make it quick."

He'd make sure of that.

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Vlad tugged on his collar desperately trying to straighten it, the back had become slightly rumpled a very uncomfortable situation. His cape drove him up the wall, this was his newest one and it was stiff, it didn't flow anywhere near as easily as the others he owned. His leathers were his traditional ones with representations of his position clearly decorating the surface.

Erin stood next to him, she wasn't wearing a dress or anything like what she'd worn before, she was wearing her leathers and cape. The long cape brushed the floor, embossed with the Dracula coat of arms to show her connection to the vampires. The trousers fit her snugly, her top was looser as her bust was sore she didn't want to be in agony during this. The leather was ornate, ribbing along the zip all the way up to the high neck. The high neck still left her claim mark exposed, she never wanted to hide that mark from anyone. There were small, embossed leather stars decorating the leather. On top rested Vlad's signet ring for all of them to see.

Vlad felt Erin's presence next to him and turned to her with a confident smile – the complete opposite to how he truly felt. He linked their fingers together and began to lead her into the room. Anyone other than his equal was supposed to walk behind him but he'd never been one for following the rules.

He guided Erin along his black-carpeted throne room, carpeted for the occasion. He led her up the small platform that they'd placed in the room for the coronation. He encouraged her to kneel before him and smiled softly at her.

The three remaining and two traitorous members of the Council

He looked around before speaking loudly and clearly.

"On this night, I take Erin Elizabeth Dracula as my Queen. To share the responsibilities as my equal in ruling over the vampire nation…" He stopped, glancing around the room. Erin took the chance to look up at Vlad, smirking as he paused waiting for someone to interrupt like last time. "To bear heirs," His lips quirked at that comment as did Erin's, his eyes flickering down to her stomach briefly. "To administer justice fairly and to become my advisor in every decision I make."

He lifted a hand to his head and pulled off the crown he wore. Vlad lowered the crown onto Erin's head. He didn't want to use that crown but they were right when they said he needed to show he was telling the truth.

Erin felt the bones digging in and winced at the sensation. She closed her eyes expecting to feel the power of the crown again but she felt nothing. She opened her eyes in time to see Vlad relax completely.

Vlad held out his hand and pulled her upright so the rest of their small party of 'guests' could see her wearing his crown.

"My Queen," He announced loudly, making sure that they understood the gravity of what had just happened. "Erin Elizabeth Dracula."

The former Council dropped to their knees in front of her. Vlad gave her a heartfelt smile; this was what he'd been waiting for, for almost four years. Erin was his equal.

Ryan bowed, strangely he seemed glad to in front of his sister. Erin was torn between thinking he was truly glad she was Queen or he realised the influence he might have now she was Queen.

"Love you, my Queen." He whispered.

"You too, Sire." She teased back; they only used endearments like that when they were in a playful mood. They weren't the type for endearments such as 'love' or 'honey'.

Erin turned to Vlad and he kissed her chastely, Erin pulled back before he could go any further afraid that he might taste the bitterness that had been left from her morning sickness despite the fact that she'd scrubbed her fangs and rinsed her mouth thoroughly.

Erin ducked slightly and Vlad knew she was asking him to remove the crown. He took it from her and placed it on his head, beckoning Renfield over to him. He gently took the circlet from the velvet cushion and lifted it in the air, turning it until it was positioned correctly above her head. He lowered it slowly and Erin relaxed feeling more comfortable about wearing it.

Vlad laced their fingers together, holding them tightly as he helped her step off the small platform they'd installed in his throne room for the occasion. It was time to officially deal with the Council together.

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Atilla was the first to approach Erin; she gave her a kiss to the cheek. Erin smiled at her. "Your highness." Erin stepped back and into Vlad's embrace. He kissed her temple, just underneath the circlet. It felt strange wearing something on her head but it felt right somehow. She noticed fort he first time in hours she didn't feel sick, she sent a prayer above that it would remain that way for a while longer.

Augustus looked slightly sour as he started at Erin, "I see Vlad agreed to arrange your children's marriages then in return for your crowning."

Erin narrowed her eyes imperceptivity at Augustus, "Vlad's doing what he has to." Erin left her answer open to interpretation.

Augustus clearly expected an argument but Erin refused to give it to him. Erin instead looked at Vlad who was looking at her with pride for not rising to the bait.

"Augustus likes to use words to get a rise." Vlad informed her.

"I can tell." Erin answered raising her eyebrow as she appraised Augustus, as a ruler should. She didn't trust him, he was friendly on the outside but there was something about him that told her not to underestimate him.

"He can't demand anything anymore," There was amusement in that comment. "He'll try but it won't work. We're the ones in charge."

Erin couldn't help but tease him. "You're enjoying losing the Council aren't you?"

Vlad shrugged, a grin crossing his face. "I have one final task for you all." Vlad addressed the Council; he looked to Erin for strength. "Get the leaders of the clans here, the ones who'll support me. Tomorrow we talk about war."

Augustus looked at him, nearly dropping the goblet; he'd expected a grander final task not acting as a messenger. "But…"

Vlad's head snapped to face him, he looked down at him. He wasn't going to stand any more nonsense. They'd already nearly torn him and Erin apart with their latest demand, "Just do it. I need to know who I can and can't trust."

The Council nodded at Vlad's demand. They knew he could be far more difficult now that they didn't officially exist.

Wolfie burst into the room, knocking over Augustus who slid along the floor his blood staining his clothes and soaking the floor. "Sorry!" He cried before skidding to a halt in front of Vlad. "Vlad you need to get to the meeting room."

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As soon as Vlad entered the meeting room he saw what all the commotion was about. The large video screen was active.

"I didn't touch it." His young brother swore. Vlad nodded, Wolfie couldn't activate it as it was controlled by a code only he, Ingrid and Bertrand knew the code. Vlad looked at the keypad it hadn't been tampered with. "It appeared on the lap top before it said on the screen that it was being sent here." It was an automatic feature if anyone established a video link to his laptop. Wolfie hadn't done anything wrong.

The screen showed a dark treeline and nothing else. After a few moments an image came into focus on the screen and Vlad let out a low hiss.

There on the screen were the smug images of Thomas and Stephanie Noble, looking at them as if they expected the vampires to be in awe of their skills.

Vlad wrapped an arm tightly around Erin's waist pulling her to him, his lips quirked at the wince her parents hadn't ever shaken at seeing his contact with her. Erin leaned into him, wrapping her own arm around his waist, stroking the leather underneath his cape.

"Ingrid!" Vlad hissed angrily at his sister. Ingrid's mouth opened in confusion and shock. This wasn't her handy work, when Vlad had said no she hadn't gone against him.

"It wasn't me." Ingrid hissed back at him. "You said no, I listened… for once." She added that admission at the end, listening to Vlad wasn't exactly a strong feature of hers.

Thomas shook his head, he knew something the vampire didn't. He could've used it to tear them apart but he wasn't going to, he wasn't sure whether it was a tactic he was going to rule out completely for the future. He still wasn't thrilled at his daughter's mating or her role in Vlad's world. "Your sister didn't contact us, a certain blonde friend of yours did instead."

Robin looked at Vlad, shaking his head before walking from the room. The door slammed behind him, clearly off to find his sister and near enough murder her. Robin hated the fact that Chloe had caused this much damage to Vlad's world. At the moment he wasn't sure who was worse – Chloe or Olga.

Steph's voice was much softer as she spoke, pity in there. Pity Vlad didn't want to at all. "We know all about the vampire war."

Vlad folded his arms across his chest, "Its not a secret. What do you want?"

"To help." It was two simple words, quite innocent in any other situation but could be very deadly concerning the Nobles.

One question burned on Vlad's mind. "Why?"

Vlad scoffed, beginning to walk from the room. The other vampires began to copy his actions. Thomas and Steph had forgotten how stubborn Vlad could be and threw their only trump card into the situation. "We also know about what happened to Bertrand." Thomas grinned at Vlad, Vlad stiffened suddenly. It wasn't common knowledge only the slayers knew when he'd explained everything to Catherine. That meant the Nobles still had connections within the Slayers Guild. So much for Jonno's new and improved security over the last three years, he clearly still had one major leak. "We might be able to help him."

Vlad turned slowly, Erin shook her head. She didn't want Vlad to do this, she didn't trust her parents at all. She didn't want them to find out about their grandchild until at least after it was born. Erin was terrified of their reaction towards the child. She did want Bertrand back but at what price?

Ingrid stepped forwards, hope lighting her face. The Nobles didn't miss the look on her face, they had her exactly where they wanted her. "How?" Her only answer was a secretive smile from Steph, now they'd got their attention, they weren't going to lose the one thing they had over Vlad and his family.

"Let me put it this way, we *can* cure him but," Tom began with a wide smirk, Vlad shuddered, he knew what was about to follow. "It depends on whether your brother will accept our help."

TBC

A/N: What do you think?

Does anyone have any suggestions for baby names?

Thanks for reading.