I froze. If I had a heart beat it would've stopped.

He was marrying her?

That was it. This was officially the worst year of my life. I mean Marishka, Aleera, and Verona were bad enough, but marrying a normie? That was so against the rules. Why would he ask her to marry him if she didn't even know that he was a vampire? Oh god, did she know? Why hadn't he told me? Why was he so obsessed over her?

He stepped forwards and reached out to me, but I stepped and out his reach. A sigh escaped his mouth and he backed up.

"Draculaura, don't you want me to be happy?" he asked, softly.

"Aren't you always happy?" I asked, my voice coming forth harsher than I wanted it to. It surprised me into silence. He looked like he was a wounded animal, his eyes dropped to the floor. I wanted to apologize and tell him that if he was truly happy then I would support him.

Instead, all the frustration in my body flooded forth, "Always with another girl, having sex with Marishka, Aleera, and Verona every night back in Romania! You should be filled with joy by now!" I blinked back tears, and took another step back.

"You should really think this through, Father; you say my choices are bad. Then you turn around and break one of the biggest rules in the books."

My father didn't respond at first, and I couldn't meet his eye. I never spoke this harshly with him, but Uncle Vlad was right. I needed to get this off my chest, and for once my father was letting me finish. "Where are you going to live? Uncle Vlad will not put up with it and you know it! That'll bring the Monster Council down on his head."

"We will be moving into another house. Also, I mean we, as in myself, Samantha, and you," he completely ignored my previous words, not gracing me with answers to my questions. The fact that he didn't even react to my questions stung worse than the heat of the sun, or the taste of garlic. It made me feel hollow. Did he not really care about me? Was I just his heir that he was lugging around until such a time when he could make use of me?

When I shook my head, he strode away from me and gave a bitter laugh, "Then where are you going to live? With Vlad? I'm sure one of the oldest bachelors in the world will want his niece living with him for the rest of eternity!"

"I will move out!" I threatened him, and he froze, "I have my own money. I am nearly sixteen hundred, and I know how to survive on my own." He turned around, ready to order me into silence. I saw it in his eyes. He never looked at me that way. Tears burst from my eyes. "I don't know why we are having this conversation; you won't listen anyways." I flew out of my room, grabbing my umbrella and hurrying out the door.

The rain was still thudding down but I could care less. The wind pulled at the umbrella, and soaked my clothes from the waist down. I headed out of the cul-de-sac and into the streets of Salem.

My father would probably come looking for me later, I mean if we had moved here to escape people and keep me safe, then why wouldn't he?

No, I thought bitterly, he didn't care about me. He never did. I was just his child. No matter how much he said that he loved me, I knew he didn't. If he did, why didn't he care more about whether or not I was happy with whom he courted? Why didn't he care to ask me before he married another woman? Weren't his three wives back in Romania enough? Hadn't my mother been good enough? Why wasn't he trying to rekindle his romance with someone he already was married to?

My tears were blurring my vision as I walked. My chest became tight with tears, everything was a mess. I didn't even have my friends with me. If they were here I would be able to face anything that was thrown at me. I just know it. Bram would be the silent supporter, Gory would fix up my makeup and my clothing and tell me that I could take anything on, and Valentine…

Valentine would take me in his arms and kiss away my tears, telling me that I was strong and I was beautiful.

I didn't feel beautiful right now. I felt like a drowned rat.

I sunk onto a bench and stared at my fishnet stockings and the pale skin underneath. As I sat there, I realized how foolish I had been. This was risking my life; a normie could see me, think I have hypothermia and call the ambulance. Then when they came and tried to take me away, they would be able to tell that I was not human. I'd be a hypocrite for what I said to my father.

Oh. What had I done?

I hurt him. Intentionally hurt his feelings. No wonder he was so angry with me…

I was a horrible daughter.

I sobbed into my hands. Everything was so, so wrong! Why had we ever moved here?

Only once before in my life had I ever felt so miserable, and it was all because of my own attitude.

"Laura?"

I raised my head, staring through the pounding rain to see Claude across the street. His hair and jacket becoming absolutely drenched by the rain as he waved at me, and before I could react he was jogging across the street. I quickly wiped at my face, knowing that my mascara was probably running down my face.

"What are you doing out in this rain?" he asked, and then touched my shoulder. His hand was blissfully warm, a stark contrast from the ice rain. His face swirled with even more concern, "You're freezing." I opened my mouth to tell him that I was fine, but he yanked off his jacket and handed it to me. Even his jacket felt warm and dry, and I tugged it about my shoulders. "Come on; let's get you into my car."

His word's left me no room to object, as he took my umbrella and ushered me to my feet. I began to shiver not even halfway to the car, and he shot a look of concern down to me before urging me a bit faster. Claude had left his car running, and when he bundled me inside I was met by a blast of warmth from the heater. I held my icy hands to the vents as he ducked around the car and climbed into the driver's side.

"So, are you going to answer me?" he asked adjusting the temperature of the car up a degree. "You weren't even wearing a jacket."

I bit my lip, staring at my hands. They were paler than usual, and they were beginning to wake up with the warmth, sending almost painful tingles through my flesh.

"It's silly…really, it's nothing."

Claude shook his head, "Yeah and I'm a monkey's uncle," he gave me a look that told me he wasn't picking up what I was laying down. He waved at the coffee in the cup holder, "Drink that, it'll warm you up faster," he barely missed a beat before adding, "Did you break up with a boyfriend? Lose a family member?"

Before I could really stop myself, the words flowed out of my mouth. Telling him about how my father was marrying Samantha and how I felt like my father had picked up his entire life and moved to America for one woman he had barely known for six months. I told him how I was upset with him, and furious with myself.

Throughout it all, he sat in his seat quietly and listened. Not saying anything until my steam ran out and I was left fighting back tears again. He picked up the coffee and handed it to me. I took it with a quiet thank you.

"Does your father really love…her?" Claude asked, hesitating at the word 'her'. When I gave a hesitant nod/shrug, he drummed his fingers on the gear shift, "I don't want to play devil's advocate, but have you given her a shot? I mean, my family doesn't like her, but that's…well she insulted my mother's cooking and then followed that up and told my mother that women shouldn't have kids if they can't afford to have them. Which…" he trailed off, his jaw subtly tightening.

Which Claude's family had seven children, and his parents weren't exactly millionaires.

"That's why I can't befriend her," I murmured reaching out and patting his shoulder, "She's too…opinionated, and not in a nice way."

Claude snorted, "Isn't that the truth."

I felt myself smile; at least others weren't blinded by her. My father might've said that he's gotten in too deep to a lie, but I think he was just making up stories in order to justify himself. That would imply that he cared more about others than he truly did.

"Anyways, isn't that against the rules? I mean isn't Samantha a normie?" Claude asked, waving a hand. My eyes shot up to his, and my mouth fell open. "Well, I guess not really a true 'rule'. Plenty of Monsters date and marry normies, but I don't think that the Dracula should be getting involved with normies, what would happen to his rep?"

I stared at him, dumbfounded. The conversation with my father floated back into my mind. Werewolves, Gorgons, and Pharaohs.

Claude and Claudine Wolf?

How had I been so blind?

"We aren't," I replied finally, slowly getting over my revelation. I guess I was destined to always meet a werewolf ever couple centuries. "My father screwed up though, and this is the only way he thinks he can fix it..."

"He's stupid then, marriage will just make whatever he messed up worse," Clawd snorted, "Marriage is something I ain't going to even think about until I find a mate."

There was no question now. He was a werewolf.

"Let's get you home," Clawd suggested after a period of comfortable silence.

The ride back was incredibly quick compared to when I had fled. Instead of pulling up to my house, Clawd parked in his driveway. After a moment of awkward silence, he turned to me, "I thought you might not want to actually go home…" he gave me an almost apologetic smile, "Clawdeen's home, so…you could talk to her about all this. I'm sure she'd be able to give you a girl's perspective on this."

I gave him a genuine smile, "Thanks, Clawd."

He returned the smile and ushered me inside the Wolf house. It was the same as the previous night. Samantha might insinuate that Mrs. Wolf was a bad mother for having so many kids, but from the look of the house, the woman completely adored her children. Pictures covered nearly ever flat surface, the walls were decorated with pictures of her family over the years. Not to mention the fact that the entire house was spotless, and yet both of the parents worked a full time job, and had seven children to look after.

The sound of a door opening was followed by hurried steps as Clawdeen burst down the stairs. "Clawd! I told you to stay out late, I wanted-" she paused, sliding to a stop at the bottom of the stairs. Her hair was pulled back in giant rollers, and she was wearing a baggy tank and some threadbare sweats. For a moment she stared at me and then hurried forwards, "Lala, what happened to you!"

I brushed my wet bangs from my face and gave her a weak smile. "I kinda…"

"She was taking a walk and got caught in this downpour," Clawd replied with a wave of his hand, and before I rebuke the statement, Clawdeen stripped me of her brother's jacket and guided me towards the stairs.

"Make her something warm while I lend her some clothes," Clawdeen ordered as she escorted me up the stairs and into the hallways. She pushed open a door and waltzed in. It was clear that half of the room was Clawdeen's while the other was Howleen. Clawdeen's was elegant, all purple, gold's, and patterns. Deep colours that all coordinated well together. There was design sketches hung on a wall beside a desk, fashion designs. I examined them as Clawdeen dug into her closet.

"You vamps don't have much heat right?" Clawdeen called over her shoulder, I suppose all of the kids on the block would know that I was a vampire then. I wondered why my father had deflected Howleen's question earlier. Or was it that only the older teens knew? Or maybe just Clawd and Clawdeen? "Gotta find something warm for you then. Don't want you to catch your death from that rain."

"I can't die," I responded, looked over at her, "I'm dead."

Clawdeen laughed, sending me a grin over her shoulder, "True, true…let's see. You're all about that black and pink…so how about…" she grumbled, "Howleen totally stole my favorite shirt!"

I smiled and sank down onto the bed.

She dug in her closet for a few minutes before pulling out a faded pink shirt and tossed it to me, then went back in and tossed me a pair of black sweats. "They aren't fashionable, but they'll give you heat. Besides, I don't think I have anything of your style. You've got the Lolita gothic look going for you, but on me? I'd look like a creepy old porcelain doll. You wanna take a shower?" she asked leading me out and opening the bathroom door. It looked like it was shared by her entire family, which it probably was. I smiled at her and thanked her softly. "No need, girlfriend, the rents won't care and the brats won't be back till six cus they have clubs. Feel free to use my hairdryer, it's the purple one. Oh!" Clawdeen opened a drawer and brought out a large gold makeup bag and placed it on the table, she dug through it for a second and produced some products. "This mascara is new but I've never used it. Cleo got it for me but she and I aren't friends anymore. This lipstick is one my mom got me, but it doesn't match my skin tone, and everything else is samples that I haven't used. Can vampires get sick from sharing products?"

I shook my head, "Not easily. You would have to be very, very sick."

Clawdeen shrugged a shoulder, "Well, let's not take chances by sharing makeup. You can have whatever you like and just throw the rest out, okay?"

I felt bad for using her things, but I nodded still and was left alone in the bathroom.

I stripped from my clothes. My skin was whiter than it had been this morning, considering I had blood pumping through my body so I looked pinker. My fingernails were blue and I could barely feel them when I took out my ponytails. I heard talking outside before a pair of footsteps went downstairs. It was silent as I folded my clothes and placed them to the side so I could easily take them home later. The door opened slightly and I quickly covered myself up. It slammed shut almost at the same time and a male swore loudly.

"Shit! Sorry, Laura! I didn't know you were in there!" Clawd said before footsteps stormed down the stairs. I felt my entire body grow uncomfortably warm, and I bit my lip. That was mortifying. I forced myself to turn around. Clawd probably saw nothing, right?

My breathing slowly became normal as I started the shower and stepped in. The warm feeling quickly thawed my cool skin and turned it a light shade of pink. When I felt the feeling return to my fingers I stepped out and pulled on the clothes Clawdeen leant me and dried my hair using their hairdryer. After applying my makeup, I headed downstairs.

I hoped Clawd was not downstairs, that was an awkward meeting I could live without. Clawdeen handed me a cup of something warm and covered in whipped cream and marshmallows, smelling like chocolate. I knew what it was, but from the amount of things she added on top, I could barely see what was beneath. I gave her a smile and took a sip, using a napkin to wipe the whipped cream mustache I got from it. She smiled back, led me into the living room, and sat me in front of the television.

Once the TV was blasting, she turned to me. "So, are you going to tell me what really happened?"

I sighed and brought my feet up onto the couch. Clawd was right; I needed the opinion of the situation from someone who was more like me. That way I could see both sides. Get to know my future mother-in-law, or…whatever Clawdeen suggested me to do. So, I told her a more condensed version of what I had told Clawd. I felt more of a weight lift off my shoulders, the more I spoke about it the better I felt.

Back in Romania, I had to control what I said to Gory or Bram. As great as they were, they still had the tendency to gossip and it would work its way to my father's ear. Neither Clawdeen nor Clawd seemed like the type that would go and gossip about something like this.

Clawdeen nodded her head at the end, "Your father should've talked about this with you. If it was my dad?" she shook her head, "I'd give him an earful. I mean, you're living with him. It involves you too. I bet you are still pissed at him."

"Not as much...It was pretty foolish of me to be so childish," I replied staring at the drink as if it was the most fascinating thing in the world. "He can marry whomever he wishes."

"You should get a say! She'll be your future mom!" Clawdeen crossed her arms, "That shouldn't fly no matter where you're from!"

"She'll be better than his other three brides," I let out a laugh and huddled into the corner of the sofa. Clawdeen gave me a confused look, but I went on, "Besides, it's not like I'll have to live with her for that long. Only...forty-sixty more years. By then, I bet I'll be living on my own."

Our conversation steered off of marriage and into living on our own. Clawdeen was super pumped for living on her own when she becomes old enough. She was only sixteen after all. It was nice, talking about things that wouldn't even become a possibility until we were old enough, and by then our plans will probably change. When I was with my vampire friends, they would talk about things that happened hundreds of years ago, since they didn't really have future plans.

That was the bad thing about being immortal, after a while you just look at the future and shrug. Times will change, people will change, but if you have everything, what do you have to look forwards to in the future?

When it came time for the triplets to come home, I was leaving. My clothes in a plastic bag and my umbrella in my hand. Clawd came downstairs just before I was leaving; I met his eyes and felt my face flush. Clawdeen either ignored, or didn't notice my blush, and made me promise her that I would come over sometime during the weekend so I could get a fangtastic new hairstyle and some more Americanized clothing.

I was going to a normie school, apparently I couldn't get away with wearing my, as Clawdeen put it, 'gothic Lolita' look if I didn't want to be singled out.

I was looking forwards to going shopping; it was my favourite activity after all.

"Hey, Lala, I'll walk you home," Clawd offered, grabbing another umbrella. "Its dark out-"

Clawdeen rolled her eyes, "She's a vampire, stupid."

Clawd grumbled, and I held up a hand. "Actually, I'm not a fan of the dark."

"See," Clawd waved at her, "Besides, you've got…things in your hair."

Clawdeen threw her hands up, "They are curlers, Clawd, and make sure your back before mom and dad. Or you'll get in trouble."

Clawd guided me out of the house and we headed across the grass towards my house. He held the umbrella above both of us, keeping the chilly rain away from us. This time the silence was awkward, and I was nibbling on my lip the entire way to my house. We climbed the stairs, and he shook the umbrella out and stared at the door.

"If you don't want to go, I'm sure mom and dad wouldn't oppose if you wanted to stay the night," Clawd suggested hesitantly, "I mean…if it would be easier for you."

I shook my head, and smiled, "Thanks, Clawd, but I can't always run away from my problems."

He nodded his head and looked at his shoes before out at the rain, "We're always next door if you need to talk."

"Thanks," I replied softly, and felt an overwhelming urge bubble in my chest. Clawd still didn't look back down at me, and so I quickly leaned up and kissed his cheek. The moment my lips connected, I felt a burst of embarrassment and shame flood through me and I blurted out a quick 'goodnight' before darting into my house and shutting the door.

A/N: The whole meeting in the rain thing between Clawd and Lala is inspired by Lala and Clawd's diary entries that come with two of their dolls.

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