I'm feeling super down and demotivated lately so I apologise if my writing is worse than usual. (I probably say this alot) (that's what you get for reading stuff babbled out by a mentally ill duck)
(for proof; I finished this chapter two days ago and forgot I hadn't uploaded it)
-YD-
"So, you must be Adam?"
"Yeah! And you're uncle Wolfie?"
"I guess I am."
Wolfie had done a lot of growing the last few years. Just over six foot tall, his body was covered in broad muscles that made Vlad feel very very petite. That was his lycan genes - vampires weren't naturally broad, Bertrand had to work for it. But werewolves needed their muscles, tore and repaired them through the change and they needed to be strong.
"You got here just in time for my birthday. Thank you Bertrand."
"You are quite welcome Adam."
The kitchen that oft only hosted Vlad drinking soya while Adam slathered peanut butter on toast and sipped tea was now busier, Bertrand and Wolfie and even Ingrid. Only Roque was missing, but he came up for a drink and went straight back to guard duty. Vlad would have to remind him to take a break again that night it seemed.
"What's that you're eating?"
"Peanut butter! It's my favourite. Except pizza. But mum doesn't let me eat pizza for breakfast."
Adam pouted, then busied himself with his toast when Ingrid raised an eyebrow in his direction.
"Ah. I only eat peanut butter in the form of candy, but then I've always had a sweet tooth. Being the only werewolf alive who can eat chocolate."
Rapturously absorbing information from the half-breed wolf/biter, Adam bit his toast and almost missed his mouth. He put it down and chewed, then swallowed before talking. His excitement hadn't killed his manners it seemed.
"Uncle Vlad makes cake with me. He teaches me to cook cus mum doesn't like cooking but Vlad does. Sometimes she makes pizzas with us. I have tutoring now" Adam looked pointedly toward Bertrand "but we can talk later. I have to go get my books. I hope you like dragons!"
Adam ambled off, leaving the adults. Bertrand cleared his throat awkwardly, then excused himself presumably to go and tutor Adam. Wolfie leant to the door, listening for the absence of nearby footsteps before he turned to Vlad and Ingrid.
"He doesn't know, does he?"
Ingrid, her taut posture evident as she leant against the door, frowned.
"Know what?"
"That Vlad is his father."
Ingrid didn't answer except to look away. Vlad shook his head when Wolfie turned back to him.
"A year ago, I didn't know he existed."
Wolfie looked perplexed, then turned back to Ingrid.
"I knew you two were out of touch. I never thought you'd do that to him Ingrid."
"He flapped off to Transylvania with his wife. I didn't even know until... wait, how did you know?"
"He smells like both of you. And as for before... I always knew. You always disappearing at the same time, and he watched you. I'd see Vlad's watch on your coffin, lipstick on his jacket which Erin never wore. I knew, I just didn't care."
Vlad wasn't sure who was more stunned they had been discovered - him or Ingrid.
"You were only four."
Wolfie gestured to himself - six foot two, maybe three and bulky.
"And I'm about to only turn thirteen now technically. I don't think standard rules ever applied to my particular brand of hybrid."
It was easy to forget that, when he looked so matured, grown up. His mental development hadn't quite been as rapid as his physical back as a boy, but he seemed to be all caught up. And relatively laid back, if he could talk so casually of the illegal, incestuous affair of his half-brother and half-sister.
"Look, I don't know where you two are, although I've always known you and Adze was a disastrous pile of batshit. And frankly, I don't care. It's not my business. But he seems like the sweetest kid, and he deserves to know where he came from. If it was you, wouldn't you want to know?"
Wolfie left them in the kitchen, presumably taking himself on a proper tour of the castle. Vlad didn't really know what to say; the decision had always been Ingrid's. Ingrid stared, stony and silent. After all the baby steps of progress they had made, Vlad wasn't about to let them be ruined.
"While I agree that I would want to know, I'm not pressuring you. You know him better than I do, and if the time is ever right, then it's you who will know it."
Ingrid wouldn't meet his eye, not until she stormed across the kitchen and kissed him. She had been so totally gentle and soft with him since... Adze, that he wasn't quite prepared. And yet for the first time, he didn't feel sickened and scared. He returned her heat, her fire, let Ingrid tug him to his bedroom - furthest from everybody else and with attached bathroom.
Much as she liked them, Ingrid would not settle for a half-dressed fumble. Adam had tutoring for another hour and a half; he suspected they would still be cutting it fine as they stripped each other. Ingrid was needy, clinging to him as they tumbled into his coffin for what he was sure was the first time. Always, always on Ingrid's terms. Vlad had always known it was impossible to deny her.
They kissed as they twined, tasting each others pleasure in soft moans echoing into hungry mouths. Ingrid bared her throat, knowing what it did to him and gasping as he growled and bit her. Her nails etched her desire on his back, Ingrid's breathy whimpers threatening to break him each time they slipped past her lips.
"Ride me."
Vlad groaned out and Ingrid didn't hesitate, half a second to change position the only delay before she was on top of him, all fangs and smirks and the embodiment of lust in porcelain skin. Her hands curled over his shoulders, one moving only to guide Vlad's fingers to her breast before she gripped him again. He caressed her in turn, watched Ingrid take him. Take him the way only she ever had. Only she ever could.
They'd fooled around a few times at night before, while Adam was at tutoring. Never with so many people in the castle though. And it had always been rushed, fuelled by the thrill in the risk of getting caught. Ingrid was in no damn hurry right now, every rocking motion measured and deliberate. He couldn't call it slow, but there was certainly no haste. Savouring the electricity that had always existed between them, blood relation be damned.
It was glorious and perfect and Vlad couldn't last, body coiling tighter beneath her and Ingrid damn well knew it. She knew how to get what she wanted from him too, coming with a gorgeous shudder and some erotic sounds that Vlad couldn't ignore. He joined her at the heights of ecstasy, their bodies rocking and thrusting slowly together until they were spent, shaking.
Aches and soreness had been absent from their sex lives for a while, but Vlad didn't really mind the stinging on his back or the bruises on his shoulders where Ingrid had gripped him tight. It felt good to be closer to how they were before, without his traumatic response rearing it's ugly head. They rolled until Ingrid was mostly beneath him again, kissing and stroking at each others skin. Ingrid grabbed his wrist to look at his watch, then leaned up and bit at his lip again.
"We have time."
They were ten minutes late on the 'hour and a half' time limit, but they were showered, presentable and simply told Adam they were talking about his birthday. Given that it was now the following day, Adam was fit to burst with excitement. He bounced around the kitchen chattering a mile a minute to Wolfie about how much he liked baking - they were making his birthday cake for tomorrow.
"A Dracula boy baking. Never thought I'd see the day."
"Vlad bakes and we're both Dracula boys!"
Wolfie chuckled at Adam's beaming exclamation, watching the boy dip a finger in cake mix and lick it off under his mothers scolding glare. He pouted at the reminder the cake was for tomorrow, then whiled away the rest of their night playing chess with Bertrand while Wolfie offered a running commentary.
Vlad checked in on Roqueloire, who was (in his opinion) hilariously working on the biggest Sudoku book Vlad had ever seen. And he'd seen Mrs Branagh's. She could have opened a shop. He even had reading glasses perched on the end of his nose.
"I thought I told you not to skip meals."
Roque shook his head, indicated the half-empty bottle next to his chair and a black-stained glass on the table next to his seat.
"I haven't sir. I simply used the cellar."
"Oh. I guess that's ok. I suppose I should feed her too. Won't be long."
Vlad zipped up to grab blood bags, came back down and braced himself. Focused on Adam's upcoming birthday, on the way Ingrid had pressed against him only a couple of hours previously. Adze was as rabidly angry about her situation as ever, particularly when Vlad pinned her to the wall with his powers, called Roqueloire in to help remove the empty blood bags - at least she was drinking, sustaining the baby - so Vlad could dump out fresh, full ones.
The next six months would likely only get harder.
Still, he wouldn't let Adze bring him down. Not when he was about to spend the first of hopefully many of his birthdays with his son. Wolfie naturally agreed to stick around, indicated he even had a gift for Adam and the glint in his eye had Vlad fairly certain Ingrid was going to glare at some point.
He spent his day in Ingrid's coffin, though they simply cuddled that morning. Somehow she knew not to push Vlad too hard. He wasn't magically better. Still, he wasn't complaining. He doubted many would believe Ingrid was quite so cuddly. Or at all cuddly, really.
"I'll meet you in the kitchen."
"Mmm."
Ingrid was usually the first awake, but she was sleepy that evening when Vlad's watch beeped to say he needed to get up and ensure everything was set up for Adam's birthday. She kissed him, then unceremoniously ejected him from the coffin to dress; he didn't need to shower if they hadn't had sex, though he did need to change his clothes lest he be caught doing a walk of shame in his own castle.
Grinning to himself back in his own room, Vlad put on a t-shirt with a big purple dragon across the front. He'd acquired it specially for the day. His was a bit less cartoonish than most of Adam's were, but he put that down to them being for kids while Vlad's was for adults. Scooping up the wrapped gifts Ingrid was absolutely going to kill him for, Vlad headed down to the kitchen.
"It's my birthday!"
Adam came barreling into the room, jumped at Vlad and hugged him. Only after he released him did he notice the t-shirt Vlad had on.
"Hey! We match!"
"Yep. I figured I should get into the spirit of today."
"It's a cool t-shirt. And my cake looks awesome! But I know no sweets til after breakfast."
Trotting over to the toaster, Adam started to make himself breakfast, wriggling his bare feet against the stone floor. He was supposed to wear socks and slippers so he wouldn't get a chill, but Adam was very good at surreptitiously breaking rules without ever appearing troublesome. He was sat at the kitchen table eating peanut butter on toast when Wolfie found them in there, added a couple of gifts to the pile Vlad had made and sat down to chew on some bacon he 'cooked' by glaring at it til it flamed.
Ingrid and Bertrand arrived by the time Adam was done eating, grinning around his mug of tea as they entered. Everyone knew that was where Adam went, the kitchen becoming the natural congregation point.
"Mum!"
Despite the audience, Ingrid let Adam wrap his arms around her middle and she stroked his hair, smiling down at him.
"Happy birthday son."
That was so clearly what truly made his day. Night. Whatever. He beamed up at his mother, little Dracula features lit up with happiness.
"Thanks mum."
Ingrid eyed Vlad's outfit with a hint of amusement dancing in her eyes, helping herself to blood while Adam cleaned up after himself like he always did. The boy looked to the aasembled adults, then his gifts, then Vlad again.
"Dragons?"
He asked hopefully, big blue eyes impossible to say no to.
"It's your day so-" Vlad only just caught himself, and the looks thrown his way by Ingrid, Wolfie and Bertrand said they knew it "so we'll do what you wanna do first."
"Cool!"
"Hey, open my gifts first. Well, that one. It'll go with movie time well."
Adam took the indicated thing wrapped in tartan paper. It reminded Vlad of that blanket-coat thing Wolfie had worn all the time as a child. As soon as the paper tore - carefully, trying not to destroy the wrapping - Vlad could smell chocolate, sugar and nuts.
"What are Reeses Pieces?"
"Peanut butter and chocolate sweets. I didn't know if you could get them here but I spend alot of time in America and England and they have them there."
Turning the box over in his hands to scan the packaging, Adam beamed and gave Wolfie his best one-armed hug.
"Thanks! Ok. Dragons and..." he checked "peanut butter cups!"
Adam grabbed his water bottle, tucked the box of sweets under his arm and pointedly looked at Vlad until he and his soya bottle fell into step alongside him. Only a glance had Ingrid follow, and Bertrand looked as ever, completely uncomfortable surrounded by technology. The room had only ever needed to seat Vlad before, and contained an armchair and a sofa depending how he wanted to sit or stretch out.
Since he started gaining company though, Vlad had stocked the room with beanbag chairs. And he had to bite the inside of his cheek not to burst out laughing at the sight of Bertrand trying to ascertain how it worked before lowering himself down into it.
Ingrid and Adam took the sofa - it was Vlad's favourite sight, his son so happy with Ingrid. Vlad climbed into his plush armchair and Wolfie sat on the floor, declining even a cushion. When questioned, he simply shrugged.
"Wolves like the ground. I sleep on just that, maybe a blanket if its cold when I'm in wolf form."
"Suit yourself. There's more bean bags and cushions if you get uncomfortable."
Adam was already all set up, pressing all the buttons to put How To Train Your Dragon on. He knew it pretty well already, but he still laughed at the funny moments and got visibly enthused by the dramatic ones. Ingrid watched her son more than the movie, smiling softly to herself at how enthralled he was, biting into the tiny chocolate-peanut sweets with pure enjoyment.
After the movie and one of the DVDs, he wanted a break to go to the bathroom and stretch his legs, but it didn't take long for Adam to be back taking advantage of his mothers allowance to spend all night watching the cartoons. Lunch was birthday cake and birthday gifts, his new books and clothes winning excitement from the boy. Vlad had given him big dragon figurines too, hoping to ensure his bedroom was as 'his' and homely as possible.
"This ones from the movies! Toothless!"
"Yep. Careful with the tail, I think it's detachable."
Adam stick his tongue out, giggling as he played with it before asking Wolfie to help him carry his gifts to his room. After thanking everyone thoroughly for them, that was.
"Come on! Still a whole season and a movie to go yet!"
Ingrid rolled her eyes and ruffled her sons hair fondly, making Adam pout as he tried to straighten it.
"You don't have to come mum, Vlad will watch it with me."
"Hush, get moving."
Smiling up at her dotingly, Adam cuddled up to his mother on the sofa to watch the next lot of discs. Bertrand had decided the library was a safe place to rebalance after all the TV time, and Wolfie - mostly awake in the day since turning into a wolf at night made life more complicated - took a nap curled up on the floor in a very wolf-esque way.
More birthday cake, How To Train Your Dragon 2 and a tummy ache undoubtedly related to excessive sugar intake later, Adam was being ordered to brush his teeth before he went to bed for the day.
"Thanks for an awesome day mum. You too Vlad."
"You're very welcome Adam. I had fun too. Go get some sleep."
Yawning and rubbing his eye sleepily, Adam nodded agreeably and exited the bathroom a few minutes later minty fresh. His bedroom door closed as he yawned again, and Ingrid cast a quick glance around before she all but dragged a willing Vlad into her room.
"Seems like he enjoyed his birthday."
"Mostly because of you Ingrid. Honestly, his biggest smile all day had to have been when you said Happy Birthday and hugged him in front of everyone."
She shrugged, slipping out of her heeled boots and placing them back in her enormous collection.
"I'm not embarrassed to love my son."
"And rightly so. He adores you."
"He's pretty fond of you too."
Vlad couldn't keep the smile off his face at that; it was like all his birthdays come at once whenever his son showed affection toward him.
"Well, I'm pretty fond of him too."
-YD-
Ahhhhh writers block needs to stake itself and then burn the ashes.