I keep failing to keep on top of this story (my others too but OTP so these two should always come first) and I'm very sorry!

Dubious-bordering-on-non-consent in this chapter.

-YD-

Vlad woke up, keenly aware from the start that he probably wouldn't enjoy his night at all. Ingrid was in a mood with him and he had to spend much of the evening socialising with his cheating wife and a room full of vampires he hated. Which meant limited time to spend with his son who was still in the dark about the truth of their relationship.

His clothes were hung up ready, reminding him sourly of those facts as he got out of his coffin. Running a hand over the top of his back and along the base of his neck, Vlad found the marks Ingrid left had indeed healed over. And it was very unlikely he would get more until her latest ice had thawed.

Still... he could spend breakfast with Adam first. He found the boy already in the kitchen, eating peanut butter out of the jar and looking sheepishly guilty to be caught.

"Vlad! I um... I thought you were busy tonight."

"I am, but I have time to eat breakfast before I'm surrounded by stodgy old blood drinkers."

Adam wrinkled his nose, sticking his finger back in the peanut butter jar and grinning when Vlad didn't stop him.

"You want some bread with that filth son?"

Ingrid, on the other hand, Adam jumped down and hid the jar behind his back from.

"I wasn't doing anything!"

Vlad pressed a fist to his mouth to try and stifle laughter; Ingrid would probably fireball him for laughing when she was trying to discipline the boy.

"Nice try. At least eat with some civilisation if you insist on eating breather trash like that."

"Yes mum."

Adam put the peanut butter on bread, sitting with the occasional sheepish look toward his mother between bites. Vlad avoided her eye, not wanting to annoy Ingrid any further - he could feel the cold shoulder she was giving him.

"Vlad, what's a grave digger?"

Raising an eyebrow, Vlad swallowed down his mouthful of toast. Ingrid suddenly looked a little uncomfortable.

"Depends who you ask. A breather would say someone who digs graves. A vampire would say a chaser of powerful people."

"Oh. Mum said something about a gravedigger spitting something out this morning and I didn't understand."

"Adam!"

"Was that private? I'm sorry mum."

Vlad had a suspicion Adam didn't get in trouble very much, because when his face fell and he hung his head Ingrid's bristly self softened.

"It's fine. Just think about what you say more son."

Vlad was certainly thinking about it. It took him a minute to pick apart the strange words, but almost immediately he felt sure Ingrid had been referring to Adze. Lucifer knew their bloodbinding had been the ultimate in gravedigging. And spitting something out... she could have been speaking literally if she had seen Adze picking up one of Vlad's soya bottles by mistake.

Or she could have been referring to something metaphorically.

Like a baby.

Vlad wanted to be a father. He was, technically speaking. But by all that was evil Vlad could not imagine subjecting a baby to his defunct marriage. Let alone to Adze as a mother.

That was the problem with eternal bindings. Vlad was stuck with it. He had adjusted to monotony and near-depression before. Before Ingrid turned up with their son and the rekindling of their sexual relationship, throwing Vlad into a mix of explosive chemistry and deep emotional satisfaction. It shattered his world to pieces and rebuilt it in a new configuration, and now the utter abomination his marriage was rankled something awful.

"I'm gonna go get my stuff for tutoring. Boring old Mathematics tonight."

Ingrid watched him go. So did Vlad.

"So why did Adam overhear you talking about Adze?"

"Surprised you worked that out. All I said was she should hurry up and spit out a spawn so you'll stake her to protect it. Garlic breath took the last of the French Bordeaux 1021."

Of course Ingrid would consider murder a solution for Adze drinking the last of a particular vintage.

"So order more and charge it to me. You living here isn't a secret and if you must, order it in my name."

"Really?"

"I have more money than I know what to do with. Not that Adze doesn't help there. If it'll keep you happier here I really don't mind you buying a few crates of blood."

Ingrid eyed him suspiciously.

"Is that the same speech you give your wife when she wants to go out slaughtering breathers?"

"Nope. Different speech. That speech was all for you."

Vlad almost felt her thaw a little as a shadow of a smirk ghosted at the very edges of her lips. Just for a second. Then Adam called her name and something different crossed her face. Her expression shifted again and Vlad immediately knew what the cause was.

His wife.

"Seems you're running late if even she's got to come looking for you."

"Remember who's home this is."

Ingrid leant against the door frame smirking, arms folded across her chest. Vlad tried not to notice it pushing up her breasts because getting aroused by Ingrid in front of Adze was a very bad idea.

"I do. His. And I was begged to come here... you barely know what your own coffin looks like."

Adze snarled, but Vlad just didn't have the energy tonight.

"Ingrid, Adam called you. Adze, behave yourself."

Ingrid slinked off, not bothering to even look at Adze while Adze continued to glare at Ingrid's retreating back. Vlad cleared his throat and the wife in question snapped her head around, full lips still pulled back to reveal her snarl.

"If you loiter looking like a threat to them I can't go get ready can I?"

Schooling her features, Adze sped off in the opposite direction to Ingrid and Adam. Sighing, Vlad brushed a couple of crumbs off of his jumper and accepted he was going to have to put on the formal attire he loathed, followed by his crown and hope he got away with spending most of the night talking to the Slayers representatives there. At least they weren't so dull Vlad wanted to go for a walk in the sunlight.

Dressed and attempting to tame his impossible hair a couple of minutes later, Vlad picked up his crown and headed back down in the castle with a view to picking up a bottle to take with them.

"Vlad!"

"Adam!"

The boy charged over with a smile on his face and two books under his arm.

"You look really boring and grown up."

Eyeing Adam's comfortable jeans and powder blue t-shirt with a cat on with no small amount of envy - colours had been too much his dad would never let Vlad wear an animal that wasn't a bat or dragon - Vlad nodded.

"I do don't I? Unfortunately pyjamas weren't on the list as acceptable attire."

Adam frowned, then giggled.

"That does suck. I just wanted to say bye."

His free arm went around Vlad's middle, uncaring of the formal wear and it was refreshing as Vlad squeezed him in return.

"Come on Adam, it's work time."

Pouting, Adam trotted obediently toward his mother where she was holding a book he had forgotten. If Vlad wasn't mistaken, Ingrid gave his suit an appreciative look. That might have been wishful thinking. She turned and followed Adam without a seconds glance backward, so it probably had been imaginary.

Grabbing a bottle from the special 'guest' shelf that primarily composed itself of bottles Adze bought but found she hated after one of the six bottles in a crate, Vlad checked his watch and swore at the fact they were running late.

"Adze!"

She appeared next to him with a violent displacement of air, fake smile already beginning to attach itself to her face.

"About time."

"I'm the Grand High Vampire. I can be late."

His tie felt suffocating even though he didn't need to breathe. His clothes felt too tight despite the expensive tailoring of a custom fit. Vlad hated everything about his outfit except the comfy socks he had on under his boots.

"Come on!"

"Calm down. We aren't going to fly any quicker because you're in a mood."

Adze glared, patted down the waist of her dress and straightened her wrap - the thing she wore specifically so someone had to ask to take it, Adze craved attention so - before gesturing at Vlad to open the front door. Adam's tutor for the night had just landed outside, bowing immediately to Vlad. Not Bertrand... Vlad thought his name might have been Ben. Something like that.

"Brent."

Brent. That was it. He had that vaguely terrified look of someone who had been hit on by Adze only to turn her down. Vlad tried to give him a reassuring smile but with Adze on his arm it probably came out a grimace.

"Good evening Your Grandness."

"Evening. Adam's ready for class so go on in."

"Thank you sir. Enjoy the Ball."

That was unlikely. Vlad merely nodded, dropping Adze's arm like a UV grenade to shift into his bat form. Even his wings sensed his reticence to go, seeming twice as hard to flap toward their destination. Landing outside a castle that was no less imposing and unwelcoming than his own despite its smaller size, he sighed and straightened his crown.

"Lets do this."

Vlad felt something was off almost immediately with Adze. She was pushing even more of a fake smile on to her face, and not taking every opportunity to socialise with anybody who wasn't Vlad. She didn't even make that complaining little whine when Vlad ordered soy blood, pouring it for him and touching his arm as she handed it over. Vlad was suspicious but they were in public; maybe she was trying to butter him up before asking for or doing something he would hate.

It wouldn't be the first time.

His soy tasted off, but when he checked the bottle it was a new fake vintage. One he would never buy for himself, that much was certain.

"Your Grandness!"

Adze wound her arm around his, looking outwardly the doting wife as ever. Playing the part. Vlad wanted to tear said arm off and throw it in a fire. The vampire they were talkinng to was so full of himself he probably wouldn't even notice.

Vlad noticed something. He didn't feel too good. That soya wasn't agreeing with him. It wasn't poisoned - Vlad could sense danger without even realising, his vast powers almost ridiculously so compared to all others.

"Are you quite alright Your Grandness?"

"I fear my husband has overindulged. He's still rather young, you see."

Vlad wanted to glare but it wasn't working. When did Adze start looking so nice?

Oh. What was that about?

"Ah, to be in my first century of unlife again."

Not quite sure why, Vlad found his hand roaming Adze's dress. It was elegant and expensive, judging by the soft feel of it. Some of their nearby company chuckled.

"Can't even wait to get home eh lad?"

"Huh?"

Vlad blinked, shaking his head to clear it.

"Oh you know how married life is."

Adze simpered, smiling brightly.

"Aye. Maybe you should ask the host if he minds you two taking a guest crypt. Lucifer knows the vampire world eagerly awaits the heir!"

That comment made Vlad's mind stutter - there were reasons why they hadn't had a child. He just couldn't for the unlife of him remember what they were. He wasn't sure what Adze's frown meant. He wasn't sure of very much right now.

"I would rather ask forgiveness than permission."

A raucous laugh sounded in Vlad's ears, but before he knew it he was being bodily tugged along by Adze. He was sure he wanted to protest, but couldn't think why. They were suddenly somewhere quiet and dank and dusty, dimly lit by only a few candles. There was a coffin. Sleep would be good. Adze swallowed a vial of something, then smiled sweetly. He thought that was meant to be a sweet smile anyway.

"Take off your crown dear."

Her tone wasn't very endearing, but Vlad felt certain he had dealt with that fact before. Although Adze's voice didn't sound quite right. Vlad raised his arms and slid the crown off, placing it aside and whatever power he had had over the strange feelings began to slip. He tried to push back, defeat them and it was starting to work.

Then Adze had his trousers open and Vlad felt cool fingers wrap around him. His mind was torn - the touch felt wrong but so good. It wasn't what he wanted, but at the same time it was. Her dress lifted as soon as Vlad was erect, clumsy gropes and rutting somewhere in the vague awareness he had as Adze and he tangled in the coffin.

If Vlad had any ability to talk, he felt sure Adze's name would not be the one on his lips. Everything felt so wrong but the drive kept going. Primal and base. His wife should be with child. His child. Vlad pinned her down and rutted harder against her, coming with a guttural grunt far too fast but she seemed satisfied.

His trousers were done up and Vlad felt kind of dizzy. What was going on? He never got sloppy drunk at a party. Too dangerous. The crown going back on his head only alleviated a little of his daze. Just enough that Vlad felt suddenly sick. Whatever it was acting to make him a drunken fool was beginning to ease off and he felt filthy, sticky.

Vlad needed to go home. He wasn't even going to wait for Adze. Checking his clothes and crown were where they should be, Vlad stumbled out of the crypt he didn't recognise, refusing to breathe and taste the clash of pheromones on the air. Their scents didn't mingle well he noticed; surefire sign of incompatibilities.

Ingrid smelled right.

Oh bats. Ingrid.

The reason everything felt wrong hit him like garlic gas; Adze wasn't the one whom he enjoyed spending time in a coffin with. Vlad didn't remember enough to say whether or not Adze had been enjoying anything. She had seemed to. She initiated it after all.

Vlad managed to stumble outside, taking several deep breaths and scanning the skyline for clues as to what direction he had come from. If he focused hard enough he could feel his castle; it was soaked in his energies after he had lived there for so long. It was certainly easier to feel the pull of familiarity than rely on hazy senses.

He landed clumsily outside the castle and it took Vlad over a minute to push the door open and stumble inside. He looked around, hoping for clues on the way to his room.

"Vlad!" that voice was familiar, it made him want to smile "you're back early... Mum!"

"What?

"Why does Vlad look sick? And he smells kinda funny."

Blinking, Vlad recognised Ingrid and Adam. He tried to smile at them but his body was still reticent to follow his orders. It was a miracle he had made it home at all.

"Adam, go to the training room and get the alchemy box then bring it to Vlad's room. Do not run with it, most of the contents are breakable and volatile."

"Yes mum."

Vlad was yanked along again but he wanted to fight less than he had against Adze. Ingrid dumped him unceremoniously into his coffin, not stopping Vlad as he reached down to untie his boots. It took a while but eventually Vlad was wriggling his toes in his favourite socks freely. She took off his crown and tossed it aside but the haze didn't grow any stronger.

"I would assume you were trying to get back at me for this morning but I know even you aren't usually this dim. Plus that wouldn't really have worked."

"Not jealous are you?"

Vlad covered his mouth with his hand after he spoke, confused about why he said it. It was silly. Skittish footsteps came close, revealing Adam wobbling slightly as he carted a big box in his little arms.

"I got it! Are you gonna fix Vlad mum?"

"Yep. Consider this an impromptu alchemy lesson. Transylvanian Bat Vomit is a basic cure all for flushing things out of your system. Want to jam this in his mouth?"

"Ok! Open wide Vlad. Medicine time!"

Vlad obeyed mechanically, choking on the nasty taste but someone had said it would help.

"Now give him this."

"What is it?"

"Sleep potion. He has to sleep this off."

Some minty liquid was poured into his mouth and Vlad swallowed it eagerly to rid him of the bat vomit taste. That was the last coherent thought he had that night.

Vlad woke the following evening, sun barely out of the sky when he came to with a violent headache and the taste of sickness and regret in his mouth. He stumbled from his coffin with a groan, finding a note in recognisable handwriting on parchment with a scent that soothed his frayed nerves.

Wife didn't come home - I wrote this at sunrise.

First on Vlad's celebratory... celebrations of Adze not home yet, Vlad went and took a shower to cleanse his skin of the dirty clog he felt all over. He tossed the formal attire that was wrinkled and disheveled from sleeping in it to one side, the foreign scent of Adze's sex pheromones on it making him nauseous.

Feeling infinitely better for a wash and clean, comfortable clothes, Vlad went in search of untainted soy blood to further flush his system out. There were already inhabitants in the kitchen; Adam and Ingrid.

"Hey Vlad! Are you feeling better? You smell better."

"I will do when I've had a drink. Thank you for taking care of me last night when I was in no fit state."

"It was mostly mum. I just got the box."

"Adam, go get into your mess clothes. I think Vlad will want to bake again."

"Yay!"

Adam charged off at his mothers behest, leaving the two alone as Vlad dug in the cupboards for a bottle he trusted. The familiar taste soothed his dry, bitter tastebuds.

"Did Adze drug you last night?"

"Uh. Yeah. I didn't realise until it was too late and she was taking me to a guest crypt."

"So she really did-"

"Don't say it."

"Vlad, she raped you."

His fangs clashed against his lower teeth. Vlad felt nausea bubble.

"I'm the Grand High Vampire. I say my wife raped me and I'm the laughing stock of our species."

"Which is some of the more nonsensical of our gender politics when one considers how evil most vampiresses are. If you want me to slaughter her on your behalf, I'm offering a rare helpfulness here."

Vlad shook his head.

"I appreciate it, but I'm pretty certain it was for a specific reason."

"That doesn't excuse it."

"No, but I can remember her taking... something."

"Something? Like what? A contraceptive?"

"Opposite. I think she meant for me to get her pregnant."

-YD-

This chapter was always planned but when I found out about the Me Too campaign, I hauled ass to finish this chapter today.