A/N: Hello readers, I'm so so sorry for the long wait for those of you who've followed and favored. I've had the worst case of writers block. it's still there, but not as bad. I hope this chapter can pacify you until I can get another chapter up. Don't forget to read and review! Seriously... every reader, please read and review. Thank you everyone who PM me with encouragements and the reviewers asking for updates. Thank you SammySam for the ideas. ok now on to the story...

Chapter 23

A Powerful Family

Finally we were all sitting down eating breakfast. Alexander found the kids in their hiding spots using his powers that they each shared. The kids were excited from their evening fun, and Alexander was alight with laughter. I sat back and watched my vampire family getting along so well. It was like a gothic hallmark card moment. I literally couldn't stop smiling.

Alexander was sitting at the head of the table looking like the gothic aristocrat that he is with his crimson cravat shirt with a black Victorian aristocrat vest. I like how he pulls it together in his own way with black fitted trousers with rips in the front. His hair was sleek, thick and combed back with a leather string holding it together in the middle. Alex was like a complete replica of his father, down to the cravat, and hair tie. It's adorable. They are so handsome. Lexy was wearing a black and red Lolita corset dress. She looks like an enchanting porcelain doll. Her hair was in a bun in the middle of her head with a lock of hair in the front pinned to the side with a Hello Batty barrette. She was like the innocent kiddy version of what I wore. I have to work Above the Crypt tonight, so I wore a black lace lace-up corset blouse with a red satin bra underneath and black satin Steampunk bustle Lolita skirt with lace under the ruffles. The shirt was all lace so you could see my bra and skin through it, and the skirt was long enough to cover my ass if I bent over, but very short in the front so you could see the bottom of my garter belt straps that hook onto my fishnet thigh-high stockings. This was the uniform Jagger hand picked (pervert) for all the waitresses that worked Above the Crypt. But because I was still home around the kids, I wore my long red wrap robe. My hair was in a bun with a section of hair in the front sleeked across my forehead to the side and pinned behind my ear. Alexander hasn't seen me wearing this yet. I wonder if he'll like it or not… I thought to myself.

'What would I like or not like, my love?' Alexander pried.

You'll see… I teased him back. He was leaning to one side in his seat with his hand grasping his chin. He squinted his eyes as he tried to figure it out. Patience, darling! Alexander grinned and listened to the twins once they stopped laughing.

"How did you find us daddy?" Lexy asked before taking a bite of her chocolate chip waffles.

"Alexandria," he started, "Your hiding spot in the wall behind the cellar was brilliant. But next time I suggest you tell Granny to hover elsewhere so she doesn't give you away. I was able to sense her presence which is how I found you." Alexandria smiled mischievously at her inner thoughts. She's already planning strategies in her head I bet. I looked over at Alexander and he gave me a wink. Then he continued to Alex. "My son, you were doing so very well to quiet your emotions that I had to genuinely guess where you'd be. But as I got closer, it was your excitement that gave you away. Next time I suggest you try to meditate, to help you remain calm, focused, and unfeeling." Alex was seriously taking in his father's words, and even smiled knowing he wasn't alone in understanding his gifts. It was a weight off of my shoulders that I didn't realize how much I carried. As Alexander continued, I watched the children brighten with excitement. "We will continue these games to help the both of you control your powers. When I feel you are ready, you'll have your turns to find me using your powers to pinpoint my location! Well done, both of you."

"I'm so proud of you kids, I can't wait to see how much you'll improve!" I was so happy that our family was getting along so naturally well. Seeing the fatherly side of Alexander is really beautiful. I think I might cry. Instinctively, I placed my hand on my abdomen where life was growing inside of me. This time, I won't be alone. I get to share the beautiful Firsts with Alexander and the twins.

"Thanks mom, mulțumesc tată!" Alex said before returning to his breakfast.

"Yes, thanks mommy, thank you, daddy!" Lexy had the brightest smile I've ever seen on her. Both Alexander and I gasped at the sight. Usually her smiles made me think of a little Gothic Disney princess, but the smile she had on now seemed more angelic. I noticed Alex hiding a secret smile as he chewed his food. 'Her true smile has come out!' Alexander thought to me. I agreed and stared on in amazement until she brought her cup to her lips to drink.

When we were all done with the amazing meal Jameson prepared for us, Alexander sent the kids to join him for today's lesson. So now it was just Alexander and I sitting at the table.

"How are you feeling, my love," Alexander asked. He held his hand out for me over the table and I placed my hand in his.

"If you mean about this evening, I feel better. And if you're referring to how I'm feeling about the kids, then I feel so happy to see them with you like this. I'm still processing the joy of it all; it feels foreign, but just right at the same time. This is what being a family means. Thank you, Alexander for everything." Then I got up and sat on his lap and he pulled me in for a kiss. Everything was fine and felt good until I felt his left hand slip inside my wrap to caress my thigh and I tensed. He noticed and pulled out of the kiss.

"And how do you feel about yesterday? A lot has happened; between us, with you… what happened with the intruder, please tell me?" Alexander asked with genuine concern and a trace of tampered anger. I looked at him and wondered if I should open up to him. For some reason, I was unable to think about the details of what happened last night, or this morning to be exact. "Open up for me, bride, let me in. you're not alone."

"I'm sorry Alexander, I'm not ready for this… I've already put it all out of my mind and I really don't want to have to remember. Please just know I'm fine now, but…"

"But what, Raven?"

"But even though I can't recall the details, somehow my body remembers…" Alexander tensed and I see his eyes turn a steady shade of crimson. Unsuccessfully, I tried to calm him down. "Don't Alexander, it wasn't what you and I thought would happen, it was different. What I meant was, 'I'm not ready for us to be intimate just yet." I felt Alexander try to probe my mind and I imagined my thoughts being pulled into a mental coffin and chained shut, keeping him out.

"Did you just shut me out?" he asked surprised.

"You don't need to be inside my head right now, my darling. I love you, so stop being angry with me." I didn't want Alexander to be upset so early in the evening, so I tried to bring up a different topic. "Any advice on how I can control my power? Preferably before the baby's born? And how did I end up with an elemental power instead of a Sterling power?" These were all serious questions that I genuinely wanted answered.

Alexander visibly pondered the new development. I recognized the moment he found an answer. "This morning, you really had me scared with that black inferno. I read something about that when I was younger during my studies with Jameson. It's called Hellfire. I called my mother immediately…" he paused and I felt the blood boil inside of me at the mention of Cassandra. He looked at me and I simply raised my brows for him to continue. "Her bloodline is tapped into elemental power. I just now realized that giving you my blood didn't necessarily mean you'd follow the Sterling bloodline. It's possible that being turned without vampiric ancestry put you in a weaker line. It's a good thing my mother comes from old blood. If she was a human turned, you may not have inherited a superior power."

I didn't know how I was supposed to feel about that. I'm glad I've got a power, but Alexander saying I was in a weaker line but had a superior power seriously irked me for some reason. "So I'm not a Sterling Vampire, huh?"

Without hesitation, he answered, "No, but it's still a good thing you've been given status. So instead of the Sterling bloodline, you've inherited my mother's Dalca bloodline. Their powers are fire and lightning. I never really studied those abilities because they never concerned me. But now that they do, we will find out more to help you control it. So for now, I suggest you stay away from flammable substances… I'll talk to Jagger about keeping you out of the bar until we know more. I'm relieved my children have my Sterling bloodline, however."

I got up off of his lap and crossed my arms while giving him a heated stare. "I don't need you to talk to my boss about anything concerning me, Alexander! I may not be as superior as the Sterling's, but I can still take care of myself. With that said, I'll tell Jagger myself!" Then I turned and stomped away towards the front door. Everything he said sounded so passive aggressive to me, and it pissed me off. I don't even fucking care if it's just the pregnancy hormones overwhelming me. Whatever it was, it was Alexander's fault. I got to the door and grabbed my purse just before shrugging off my wrap, to reveal my outfit. I sensed Alexander behind me and decided to taunt him and throw his words in his face. Turning around to face him, I gave him a 'voila' pose and watched his eyes pop. "You like it, baby?" I said with a sexy whisper. Alexander was rendered speechless. Then I continued with the same tone, "I may be weaker in bloodlines, but my status says I'm fucking hot! And just like my Hellfire, you can't control me. So you can take your superiority, stuff it down your pipe and smoke it!" When his jaw dropped, I took it as my cue to leave and quick. I slammed the door shut, sped to my car, and drove off as fast as I could, screeching at every turn.