Spencer and Celeste were getting dressed, as they we'e going out for one last five star meal before they headed back home. The Rossi Coven was not living in Seattle anymore, they had moved over a decade ago and were living in Los Angeles California. They lived quietly just like they always did, but Alex and Kate in particular seemed to enjoy the change in location. The two new vampires hadn't really traveled as much as the rest of the coven, so it was more than understandable that they were enjoying the new locale. Both were intelligent women particularly Alex, who was very good at linguistics. In many ways Alex was just as intelligent as Penny was, just in a different way.
Penny was good with all types of electronics, particularly computers, while Alex was good with languages and spoke several, certainly many more then most people spoke. She had been a professor of linguistics, but had decided to retire for the time being. She could always take it up again at some point.
She had mostly decided to retire because of her husband's death. She just couldn't continue to teach every day, because while she and James hadn't been very close after their sons death, they had still loved each other. Both of them had just had trouble getting over the death of Ethan, which was understandable really, since the death of a beloved child was always difficult at best.
Most parents didn't handle the death of a child well, especially a child who just happened to be born with a rare neurological condition. Ethan had only been nine years old, so he hadn't even been a teenager when he died, which just made it worse. The death of a child caused a lot of adults to become alcoholics as they tried their best to drown their grief. Well either that or addicted to drugs to deaden the pain of a child's death.
The five-star restaurant had been supported by Dave several decades ago. His uncle had helped them get started when the bank refused them a loan and thanks to that they had gotten a reservation immediately when Spencer had mentioned David Rossi's name. His uncle got 10% of the net worth, but in return if they ever needed any help, buying necessary things for the restaurant then Dave was always willing to give them the money, with no extra interest being charged. It was a very satisfying business arrangement all around and it also meant that anybody who used Dave's name got one with no reservations required.
Of course, the owners of the restaurant would've called Dave's cell phone number or sent him an email just to check, to make sure Spencer and Celeste really did know him and weren't just using his name. Dave would have then immediately told them that he had recommended them to his nephew and his lady for a last meal before they left the city. The owners of the restaurant had then fallen all over themselves to give Spencer and Celeste one of their best tables. They couldn't afford to miss their reservation or they'd never be able to get another and they knew it. Suddenly there was a knock on the door and Celeste who was dressed went to answer it.
"Can I help you?" Celeste asked.
"Yes, I'm looking for Spencer Reid, I heard he was staying here," said the woman who looked about the same age Spencer would be if he was still human.
"Your name?" Celeste asked.
"Alexa Carter."
"You better get out here and you better go fast," Celeste suddenly hissed, looking like a real vampire instead of just incredibly gorgeous woman. "I know everything you and your gang did to him. If you don't get out here I'll tear you apart."
Alexa looked at Celeste and realized that she wasn't human. She had thought at first that this might be Spencer's granddaughter or maybe a niece, now she knew this woman to be a vampire, a vampire that was incredibly pissed at her for what she had done to Spencer when he had been a child. This was something Alexa could not blame the vampire for, for she and the gang had been unspeakably cruel, to one who wasn't even a teenager at the time. They had been jealous sure, but that was no reason to tie him to the football goalpost and torture him for hours. Alexa and her friends had felt that Spencer had had no place in high school, no matter how intelligent he happened to be. She now knew that was just her jealousy talking and she had dearly paid for it when her parents had found out. It was only because she hadn't been much of a participant that she at least had not ended up with a police record. Worse her parents had been very disappointed in her behavior and how she had basically allowed her friends to torture a boy who had never done anything to any of them, other then excel at his studies, beat her and the boys on every test always scoring a 100%. She had only confessed because all the boys had been murdered, by who she didn't know, though certainly not by Spencer, as he had only been like 13 at the time. The murders of the seven boys she had hung out with had been brutal and Alexa had realized quickly that they had been meant to be. The murders had been made to prove a point and she now realized whoever had done so, had likely done it because they didn't like the way that any of them had tortured a child. How they had found out Alexa had no clue, not that it really mattered. The only reason she had survived was because she had gone straight to the police after several bodies of her friends had been found, in very public places, including her boyfriend.
"Celeste sweetie, what's the problem," came a very familiar voice, though it had deepened over the years.
"Oh, it's just your former tormenter. I have no idea what she wants with you, but I'm barely holding myself back from ripping her apart," Celeste said acidly, glaring at Alexa furiously.
"What do you want Ms. Carter? I have absolutely no interest in talking to you. What you did to me was inhumane. I was only a 12-year-old boy and you allowed your boyfriend and his gang to torture me. You could've stopped it anytime, called them off, called the cops, but you didn't do any of these things. You let go of every shred of human decency, that allowed you to watch the torture of a 12 year old boy. Do you know my mother committed suicide because I wasn't home on time? I place the blame for that squarely on your shoulders, because the others are dead and you are the only one that is still alive from that gang. You tied me to that goalpost and left me there buck naked. You left me there to either die from the cold at night or the heat in the daytime, so what could you possibly want with your former torture victim?"
"I came to apologize," Alexa said, her voice quivering with fear, as Celeste still looked very pissed and only Spencer's hand on her arm was preventing her from killing Alexa. "My parents made me realize that what I had done was inhumane. They were furious at me when they learned about what I done to a 12-year-old boy, just because he beat me in every class. I wanted to tell you my story, but I figured I never get the chance because I believed you had died many years ago, which I knew I was partly responsible for."
"Unfortunately Ms. Carter we have a reservation that we cannot afford to miss," Spencer said his voice cold and emotionless. "I have never forgotten your participation in my torture. Even if you were only an observer, you still watched a gang if thugs beat up and watched your boyfriend use a army knife on me. Really, I can never forget because of my eidetic memory. I also know you're at least partially responsible for my mother's death, because if I had been home on time it's quite possible she wouldn't have committed suicide. You left me on the football field of Las Vegas High to die. A 12-year-old boy who had really never done you any harm. I couldn't help being so intelligent or in wanting to do well in my studies.
"I'm actually surprised you waited until my senior year to finally get revenge on me. What you did went way beyond a prank and definitely way beyond the boundaries of good taste. This is goodbye Mrs. Carter I never want to see you again. You had better leave and leave fast or Celeste here is going to tear you apart and I won't be able to stop her. I don't particularly care what your reasons were for what you did, and I know very well that teenagers don't always have good judgment, but what you did you should've landed you in prison, but didn't. Be grateful it did not, as you never would have survived it.
"You're just a spoiled, wealthy girl who hung out with the wrong crowd. You likely would've been raped repeatedly until you found some way to end your life. I think that would've been fitting for someone who could watch a young boy be tortured. Not even your wealth on your parents connections would have protected you from such a fate, though you might've gotten far fewer years then you deserved."
"Did you know that the rest of the gang including my boyfriend were murdered?" Alexa asked.
"No, I did not until years later when the family that adopted me told me. I would say they got what they deserved, as they only would've ended up behind bars later in life," Spencer said. "I'm sure you can tell I'm a vampire now and it was a vampire coven that took me in. If it wasn't for them I probably would've died on the street, no thanks to you Ms. Carter or ended up with my father, which would've been worse. Something you and your cohorts caused to happen because you didn't like the way I showed my intelligence. I'm sure you thought I was showing off when I really wasn't. If you feel guilty now, it's much too late."
"Don't you even want to know how my parents punished me," Alexa asked keeping a weary eye on a female vampire. The female still looked pissed, but Spencer was apparently stopping her from attacking. The two seemed to be in a sexual relationship or were at least very close friends.
"Not really. I have no interest in hearing about your life. If your parents punished you, you more than deserved to be. I'm actually happy now, something that you and the gang you ran with played a part in preventing. I suggest you leave and never contact me again," Spencer said his tone, as cold and emotionless as he could make it. "You made my entire high school career hell, as you and your cohorts were the main instigators of pushing me down to be walked over and shoving my head into toilets. All tying me to the goalpost did was finish the job. All I can say is, I hope you learned a lesson from what you did to an innocent boy who had never done you any harm. Close the door Celeste," Spencer said quietly. "If she doesn't leave then we're going to have to miss our reservation."
Celeste closed the door and then turned and gave Spencer a tight hug.
"I'm so sorry that such a painful memory from your past showed up," Celeste said even as she hugged him tightly.
"It's hardly your fault," Spencer said. "I haven't even thought about Alexa Carter in years. I think she's gone I heard the elevator," Spencer said finally. "Let's go before we miss our reservation entirely, something that I don't want to do, since Uncle Dave went to so much trouble for us."
"Alright, let's go," Celeste agreed, opening the door only a little until she made sure that Alexa was gone. "Coast is clear, time to go."
Spencer exited the hotel room locking the door behind him before following Celeste into the elevator. It was time to go enjoy their last night in Las Vegas for the time being.
~~~Spencer and Celeste~~~
Los Angeles, California
"Fate must really hate you," Aaron said truly sympathetic.
"I would say so for such a thing to happen on our first real vacation," Celeste said.
"And on our very last night in Las Vegas for the time being. We were just getting ready to go out to dinner," Spencer said. "Celeste was the one that got the door as I was just finishing getting ready. When I heard her angry shout I was at the door probably in a second flat."
"It was unfortunate that she heard you were in Las Vegas," Dave said. "But at least you sent her packing. She will never bother you again, if she knows what's good for her."
"We have to remember that she's in her 80s, so she won't be around much longer. I suppose she's lucky she didn't have a heart attack or a stroke," Spencer said. "While she did upset me by just showing up, I've gotten past my initial reaction. I hadn't thought much about Alexa Carter in decades, as she was a part of my past I don't care to remember. We didn't see her again but then we left early morning so that's not surprising. The thing is though, she left a letter at the front desk that they gave me as soon as Celeste and I returned from our dinner. I'm still trying to decide if I even want to open it."
"You want me to read it for you, Spence," JJ suggested. "I can tell you what it says."
"I suppose, as neither Celeste or I really want to read it. Celeste would probably end up ripping it to shreds, instead of reading it. She's still rather upset at Alexa just showing up with no warning whatsoever."
"I would be too," Alex said speaking for the first time. "If I had the kind of past you did and hadn't been raised in a loving family, I would certainly be very upset at a piece of my past just showing up out of nowhere. Personally, I would see what sort of reason this Alexa Carter comes up with for her behavior, but then, I realize everybody's different. She might have had some genuine reasons or they could just be excuses."
"You're right," Spencer said more calmly.
"Go on, read it JJ," Celeste suggested in a more calm tone. "I will say this however. There is no real reason to torture a 12-year-old boy and I would think this way even if I had never met Spencer. Yes, I know jealousy is a powerful motive, but if they had felt the least guilty they would've stopped a long time before they did and let him loose. The least they could've done was loosen the ropes enough that he could've wiggled free."
"They probably feared he'd go to the police," Emily suggested. "It's certainly what I would've done if I went through such an experience."
"Probably. They probably thought if he was dead that dead bodies tell no tales," Dave said.
"Or maybe they believed their age protected them since they were only 18, but personally, if you're capable of something like torture of a 12 year old boy at 18, then there is no hope for you," Kate who had been silent said.
"They might have outgrown that stage if they had been allowed to live," JJ told Kate who looked like she disagreed.
"I have to agree with JJ here," Spencer said. "They might very well have outgrown that stage as most teenagers are not known for thinking things through. Of course, it's entirely possible that they never would have outgrown the bullying stage, but they never had the chance to prove otherwise. Also, I would never have gone to the police because then they would have investigated my background and discovered I was living with a schizophrenic mother. Yes, I believe they should've been punished, but my situation was such that I didn't dare report them. I would've ended up in a foster home I'm sure."
"Or you could've ended up back with your father," Aaron said.
"And if that happened I would've committed suicide I promise you. At least with my mother, I had my freedom, though I admit I didn't cook very well and I survived on things that could be microwaved or didn't need to be cooked. With my mother being very sick she had a reason for not paying attention to me. My father however, had no such excuse. He ignored me because he didn't want me around. I doubt very much he would've taken me in, so I probably would've ended up in foster care in the end."
JJ opened the letter and begin to read frowning.
"So what does it say?" Celeste asked JJ.
"Here just let me read it to you," JJ said instead
Dear Spencer.
First, I would like to apologize for my actions from so long ago. You were right when you said I was just a bored, spoiled, wealthy girl who didn't see any point doing well in her studies, as I knew I would inherit my parents money once they passed away. I fell in with Eddie and the others nearly accidentally and I didn't care if they weren't very nice to the other students, as I felt I should've been sent to a private school and resented being sent to a normal high school.
When you entered high school as a 10 year old boy at first I paid no attention to you, but Eddie was very interested in letting you know that you didn't belong. He hated how you beat him in every class and thought of you as just a show off. He asked me to get you to the football field and I had no idea what his intentions were at first.
When the boys tied you to the goalpost after tearing off your clothes I realized that they were going to beat you senseless. I did nothing though, thinking you deserved it, but now I know that was just my jealousy talking. I had no intention of reporting my actions to anyone until my boyfriend and several of his friends were murdered.
It never even occurred to me that you wouldn't be able to wiggle loose from the goalpost and that we had basically left you to die and I realized that had been Eddie's intention all along. Eddie could be sweet, but he also had a cruel streak and I realized that he didn't just resent you, he deeply hated you. He hated you for always showing off, even if that was not your intention, he hated the fact that you were so young and that you were allowed in an environment meant for children several years older. He felt you should've stayed in elementary school no matter how intelligent you happened to be. While I could understand his feelings I knew you were really intelligent and well on the way to finishing your high school requirements, but I said nothing, as I was somewhat afraid of Eddie's temper. I admit I resented you for being so studious, but I also know you likely studied more than I ever did.
My parents punished me quite severely when they learned the part I played in a young boy's torture, even though I was just an observer. They even considered disowning me, but since I was an only child they did not, but they made sure to let me know what they thought about my actions. They had not raised me to be such a miscreant, and that I would even be an observer in the torture of a young boy instead of reporting my supposed friends made them madder then I had ever seen them. I could've told the boys to stop at anytime, but I know that Eddie at least would likely never have listened to me, but then, he never listened to anyone, probably not even his parents.
My parents made me realize that I had done a terrible thing. Then you just disappeared and soon after I heard about the death of your mother, which combined with your disappearance was even more of a tragedy. It was clear from the news that your father cared nothing for you and was glad you were gone, though you had to read between the lines to understand what William Reid really meant. I realize that there was nobody to mourn your passing, not truly and deeply and to me that was even more tragic than your disappearance, that you had no friends or family to mourn your supposed death.
You might want to know how I was punished so I'll tell you. My quite significant allowance was canceled and I was forced to work in several homeless shelters for a year until my parents felt I had learned my lesson. At the time I felt that this was the worst punishment they could have forced on me, to work with such people who I felt were beneath me. Yes, I was 18, but they informed me I was still living under their roof and if I didn't obey, they would make sure their fortune went to someone worthy of having it, not someone cruel and thoughtless of others, as being so wealthy meant the person that it went to had much had a responsibility to use it wisely and not carelessly. They realized they had never taught me that actions have consequences, sometime serious ones and that my wealth would not necessarily get me out of it, nor should it.
My parents money didn't have to come to me after all, even though I was their only child, but they promised they would leave every cent to some charity unless I learned my lesson. They would not have me wealthy, so I could treat others like I treated you. They said I needed to learn compassion, kindness and understanding. In other words just because you beat me is classes, you had still never done anything to me and that was no reason to participate in the torture of a young boy. They said had you lived you probably would've made your own fortune once you were an adult if that's what you had wanted. They said that I had played a part in depriving the world of a potential genius who could have changed it for the better, though considering your treatment by others you may very well decide to make a fortune and use it to make sure people like me were punished for such actions.
Still, I suppose, that in making the world better in its way, getting rid of potential future criminals and making sure they are appropriately punished for such actions or at least helping them see that that's not the way they want to live their lives. I had never really been punished before and my parents realized that they should have, so that I learned proper behavior. They knew that I was spoiled, because I had never been taught proper boundaries. I had never been spanked or punished in any significant way.
I had never been taught to respect other people no matter their station in life, whether they were rich or poor or simply well-off enough that they didn't need to worry about money. They realized that they had failed to teach me these lessons and felt guilty for not doing so a long time ago. I had simply been given anything I wanted, even if it wasn't Christmas or my birthday. I was absolutely furious at first, but I came to realize that what my parents had done was absolutely correct and it taught me a valuable lesson.
When I learned you were in Las Vegas and that you were staying at one of the most expensive hotels in the city I was astonished, as I had thought you dead for many years and for you to suddenly appear seemed like a miracle. When I knocked on the hotel room door I had no idea what to really expect, but certainly not this beautiful female that opened the door and I immediately thought I had the wrong room, as she was much too young to be your wife or your daughter. When I asked for you and told her my name she immediately reacted with anger. I didn't understand why at first, but then she told me she knew everything I had done to a then young boy and I realized that you had told her everything you had endured.
I had no idea who she was, but I knew she was special to you and then you appeared once she had shouted. You seemed to appear out of nowhere and how you got there so fast I had no idea, because it couldn't have been more than a second or two, once she had threatened me. That you still looked so young considering you should have been in your late 70s astonished me it first, but then I realized that you were a vampire just like the lady that still looked mad enough to rip me to pieces. How you came to be one I have no clue and I have no right to ask, so it will just have to remain unknown to me.
I'll close this letter here, except to say that I am being paid back in full for what I did to you all those years ago. My only nephew died of cancer last year and so I have no one to pass my inheritance onto, so it will be given to a charity that helps children worldwide. My husband also died in a car crash several years ago and we never had children as I was incapable of carrying them to term.
This is my last act before I to pass on into the next life if there is such a thing, as I to am dying. It won't be long now. I know I will face punishment for what I did to a then young boy who wasn't even a teenager at the time and I am not looking forward to my eventual fate. It is said that those who sow antiquity will reap antiquity and whether this is true or not I have no idea, but I will soon learn if it is for myself when I finally die. The doctor said I had no more than six months or so to live. Again, I want to apologize for not stopping you from being tortured so long ago, even if I know my boyfriend never would have forgiven me for it. It would've been the right thing to do and I realized that once my parents punished me so harshly. I am happy to know that you not only survived, but apparently, thrived and so I will go to my fate with happiness and peace in my heart knowing that my actions did not play a part in your death. I have wanted to apologize for a long time, but I thought I wouldn't be able to do so until I finally passed on. I know that you'll likely never forgive me and neither will your female companion but it is something I know I deserve for my nonactions so long ago.
Sincerely,
Alexa Carter
Everybody was silent for a minute, as they absorbed the contents of Alexa letter.
"Well, that's not really what I was was expecting," Spencer said finally.
"No, neither was I," Celeste admitted.
"Because we didn't manage to end her life it sounds like a parents finally took action," Dave ventured.
"You were the ones that caused those boys deaths?" Alex asked.
"Yes, we were," Aaron told Alex gently. "They more then deserved to die, even though they were only 18. When they can take such action against a young boy then they deserve their fate."
"I have to agree and you know normally, I'm not a fan of violence. If you had seen what kind of condition Spencer was in when I finally released him from that goalpost...," JJ told Alex firmly.
"Those seven boys were budding criminals even at that age. They had every chance to release him and let him go. They could've stopped at any point, but according to the letter Spencer was tied tightly, so that he would eventually died of dehydration and sunburn if nothing else if nobody found him. At best he would have ended up in the hospital getting fluids through an IV for dehydration and probably been sick from sun poisoning. I doubt they even thought about him the minute he was out of sight."
"I'll have certain hangups for the rest of my life, because of those seven did and even though Alexa never actually participated in my torture she was still there. She could've begged them to stop at any point. They might not have, but she could've at least tried to put a stop to it. I remember every nasty comment they said as they were torturing me, every bruise, every cut from Eddie's pocketknife. I would've had the scars from that knife for the rest of my life if I hadn't been changed into a vampire. As Alexa indicated Eddie truly hated me, not just resented me and whether or not he would've turned into a decent member of society once he had a few more years on him I don't know for sure. I won't say it's impossible he would have turned out decently, but it is unlikely in my opinion. He was just the type of person to remain a bully for the rest of his life, beating people up at every possible opportunity. If he didn't end up behind bars at some point, if he had lived, I would've been very surprised. He had a type A personality, but never learned how to control it. I believe he was a budding serial killer in the making."
"I don't have a right to have an opinion, because I wasn't there. I'm an outsider looking in," Alex admitted. "I will say however, that if even JJ agreed with your actions and I'll admit they probably deserved it, but they were only 18."
"If you can do that to a young boy who had never done you any harm really at just 18, then that meant you have it inside you to do much worse later in life," Dave told Alex gently.
"Dave's right," Spencer told Alex firmly. "I didn't know what they had done for a lot of years, as they only told me after I finished college. I won't say I approve of their actions, but they're also right that the possibility were strong that they would put someone in the hospital or even kill them next time. Eddie at least set me up to die, even though I was only a kid, which I'm sure wasn't something he considered or the possibility of him ending up in prison despite his young age either. I have no idea if the rest of the gang, besides Alexa, had any idea what he had planned from the beginning, but it's quite possible that they didn't."
"Also there would've been a serious investigation if Spencer's body had been discovered tied to that goalpost. It's likely they would've found out who had done so and also that they beat the crap out of him," Emily added. "All of them would have likely ended up in prison anyway, except maybe Alexa, since she come from a wealthy family and she might've gotten off the charges, though she still would have had a record."
"She also didn't participate in the actual beating so that would have lessen the charges against her," Spencer added. "Because she went to the police as soon as she learned of some of her friends deaths she survived and seems to have turned into a decent human being. I doubt very much that it would've happened if her boyfriend and several of his buddies hadn't been murdered. It made her think and it made her parents sit up and take notice, which led them to make sure she was punished for her part in it. If she hadn't learned that there were serious consequences for some actions, she might have ended up either dead or in prison herself. Her being wealthy might not have necessarily protected her from the consequences of her actions depending on what it was that she was guilty of."
"That was not our intention when we dealt with those that participated in the torture of a young boy, a young boy that we had put under the protection of our coven. She only survived because she went directly to the police, once she realized most of her supposed friends were dead. Not only was Spencer's home life crap, so was his school life, which seems like a lot of bad luck for a child who had never done anything to anybody to deserve it. Personally, I believe it's karma. In other words, their actions were coming back to bite Alexa in the ass. Those boys might not have faced any real consequences for their action in the past or the future until they were dead otherwise."
"Well, what's done is done," Alex said in understanding. "There's no point of dwelling on it."
"But you don't approve," Emily said knowingly.
"I don't have a right to approve or disapprove, because as I said earlier, I wasn't there when the situation was happening, but it seems rather extreme to end their lives, since they were only 18 and had plenty of time to outgrow such violent tendencies, except perhaps for Eddie who seems like a murdering psychopath waiting to happen, as Spencer has already indicated."
"Remember what you agreed to when you joined us," Dave reminded Alex who nodded.
"I know exactly what I agreed to," Alex said soberly. "I know very well that violence is part of the human race, and particularly part of a vampire's. The lot of you are certainly more reasonable than a lot of vampires I've met, as at least you discuss actions before taking them."
"And we did discuss the situation quite extensively," JJ said. "I'm kind of their moral compass and they listen to me, but as I said, in this case, I agreed with the action that were going to be taken. I stayed behind with Spencer while the others went and took care of it, because while I agreed with their desire for revenge I was glad not to participate."
"I believe they got what they deserved," Celeste said finally speaking. "I know you think they might have been redeemable Alex, but I don't believe so. I know I'm still quite young for a vampire, but I've certainly been around long enough to know right from wrong. Actions have consequences and depending on what the actions were would determine how serious the consequences would be. At the very least they were jealous of a young boy who was far brighter than they were, but on the other hand, he studied more then most children do, because he had no friends to hang out with. That he's naturally brilliant is not his fault and its not something he can help. Those teenagers took their jealousy to the extreme, but their actions went way beyond that. While they were still young they were old enough to know right from wrong. While bullying itself is wrong they're are extremes at both ends of the scale. Yes, I know teenagers are not known for thinking about their actions or about consequences, bar ones like Spencer, but there is a difference in normal bullying then what Spencer went through."
"I have to agree," Emily told Alex. "They had every chance to release him, to stop what they were doing, to realize that what they were doing was very wrong. If they had only done what they should have they wouldn't have ended up dead."
"They bullied him through his entire high school career and the goalpost incident was just accumulation of all the other actions they took against him. Knocking him down, walking all over him, sticking his head in the toilet...I'm sure you understand what I'm trying to say. They did everything they could to sabotage him and he persevered despite all the bullying. That doesn't mean that their actions didn't leave scars though, physical ones as well as mental and emotional," Aaron told Alex gently. "I bet he would've been very closed off once he was an adult. He might've been able to hold a job and work with others but I doubt very much that his coworkers would've known him very well at all, as he would've been understandably weary about letting anybody into the emotional barriers he had erected. I doubt his college experience would've been any better than his high school one if he had gone at 13 like he was originally planning, which would've given him even more reason to trust no one."
"If you had actually been there when the incident occurred I'm sure you would have agreed with our actions," JJ told Alex. "You're an outsider looking inside the situation, but if you had been directly involved you wouldn't be arguing if it was the right thing to do or not. Spencer had basically lost everything. He had a father who abandoned him at first opportunity, he had a mother who was very sick and so couldn't look after him properly and to top it off, he had a crappy school life, which could have ended with his death, just because of a bunch of jealous students who were on the football team. I might be stereotyping but football players are not known for their brains or at least not for thinking about their actions. He had no help whatsoever, no housekeeper, no one to help him look after his mother, as the father wasn't about to help. He was basically doing it all, looking after his mother, the chores, his schoolwork and I'm still not sure how he handled it all. He even had to go to the grocery store by himself, which was luckily close to his home."
"They're also not known for their good grades," Aaron commented. "Not that there aren't exceptions to every rule, but it's a stereotype for a reason."
"Probably because it's so apt," Spencer commented.
Alex conceded the point. There was no point in arguing farther, because while she still thought that most of their students would've learned better it was quite possible that they never would have. She just didn't like to see a life ended at such a young age, but she also understood that Spencer may well have died, if not for the coven that was sitting on comfortable furniture, in a warm den. Even if he hadn't he would've been a totally different young man, then the one that was sitting right across from her. He might be basically a hermit due to his life experiences, he might have lived on the street as well as died there. Alex knew that Spencer had rather live on the streets then live with his father, which really said something about their father/son relationship. It said that Spencer didn't believe his father cared at all about his existence and since Spencer was an intelligent, logical young man, Alex couldn't see him not wanting to go to his father without a very good reason. Spencer wasn't one to be driven by emotion and he had been the same as a child according to all reports, so that meant he wasn't one to be controlled by his immature emotions.
"Good, I'm glad that's settled," Dave said finally. "While I can appreciate that Alexa Carter has matured over the years it doesn't really excuse her actions, and it looks like fate or whatever other nebulous force is out there agreed with us according to what is written in her letter to Spencer. She lost her nephew to cancer that's got to be from her husband's side of the family, since she was an only child and apparently had no cousins, she lost her husband in a car crash and she never had children. I would say she's fate's punching bag and that is more than deserved, since she escaped punishment for her part in Spencer torture so long ago. She never went to prison for her actions for instance, probably because she didn't actually torture Spencer like her friends and now she is less than six months from dying."
"She was also made to actually help others for the first time in her life when her parents insisted she help out at that homeless shelter. It's quite possible that she learned she liked the work and it also likely it helped her to see things in a different light," Spencer said.
"Maybe," Celeste at least looked dubious, but the others knew it was possible that it had happened exactly as Spencer had described and while it was a good thing that didn't mean any of them felt any sympathy for Alexa Carter. Even JJ didn't look very sympathetic, which was unusual, but understandable in this case, since she and Spencer were close.
"Now the the discussion is finally over I'm going hunting. Anybody is welcome to join me if you're thirsty," Aaron announced. JJ decided to join him and Aaron looked happy, as they had made love in the woods more than once over the centuries and come back with torn clothes. The others didn't tease either of them too much about it, because they knew what it was like, when the urge came up on you to make love to someone you deeply cared for. For a vampire to deeply care for someone didn't happen very often though they could make friends, but usually they were casual.
Aaron and JJ raced out the front door hand-in-hand and everybody watched them go smiling a little.
~~~Spencer and Celeste~~~
Several weeks later
"You're pregnant," Dave asked Alex excitedly.
When Alex had told Dave she was ready to try to have a child by either him or Aaron both men of the coven had been ecstatic. Well, Aaron had once he had been told, but only after Alex had talked to Dave privately first. They had understood that Alex still wasn't over the death of her son from a rare, hardly researched neurological condition, so had waited patiently, for her to realize that any baby she had now that she was a vampire would not be able to die, except by fire of course. Everybody of the coven realized how hard her son's death had been on Alex, as it would've been a hard on anybody who loved their children, so both Dave and Aaron had waited patiently for Alex to be ready to have another child, not that prevented them from making love with her or she with them and they didn't even bother to use protection, because it was unlikely that she get pregnant, especially if they only made love once every few days instead of constantly. Also, Dave and Aaron switched off and that meant it would be even more unlikely for Alex to get pregnant by either one of them as consistency mattered and that the same male vampire was the one penetrating the female.
Getting pregnant in a year for any vampire female was actually excellent, as it had taken much longer last time the coven had tried to have a few children, though stress might have been blocking conception. It'd taken four years to get Emily pregnant last time, though they'd had three other children, one from each of the females in relatively quick succession after that.
"Yes, I am," Alex said kissing Dave passionately.
Alex was amazed at herself when she realized that she didn't mind sharing Dave or Aaron with the other females in the house. Perhaps it was the fact that she was a vampire now with an infinite lifespan, so she realized there was no need to be jealous of the other females who had known the two men of the coven for much longer. Or perhaps it was the fact she knew that vampire customs was such that it wasn't unusual for a vampire to have several lovers at the same time, though they rarely stayed together more than 100 years if that. Alex thought it was very admirable that this coven had been together for much longer than a mere century. She was sure that others could do the same if they allowed themselves to develop more then casual friendships, though for all she knew there were covens, exactly like the Rossi one out there, as the world was a very big place after all. Whatever the reason all the females in the house would be happy for them once they learned she was pregnant, but she felt Dave deserved to know first.
She would always miss her son, who had never had a chance to grow into his potential, but she knew he was in a better place now, one without pain, fear, worry or hunger.
"I'm so happy," Dave said picking her up easily and twirling her around, causing her giggle.
"I knew you would be," Alex teased him lightheartedly. "After all, you've been pounding yourself into me at every possible opportunity."
"It's not like you didn't enjoy those sessions," Dave told her with a shit eating grin knowing he was being teased.
"Of course I did," Alex agreed, smiling at Dave's happiness and the way he kept constantly rubbing her belly tenderly, obviously being very excited about the upcoming birth of his child. "Like Spencer, I already knew quite a bit about vampires before I ever met you or the others. I educated myself, much like I'm sure he did, though he did so at a much younger age."
"Well, I'm very happy about this pregnancy, and since I had a girl the last time I'd like a boy, though I know you can't really predict what sex you're going to get," Dave said
"You'll be happy no matter what the sex," Alex said knowingly.
"Of course, I will and we can always try to get you pregnant again, though I know it's unlikely to happen twice in a row," Dave said. "This child is going to be extra special because it's my first by you. He or she will be spoiled rotten before you know it. "
"Still, there's no harm in trying," Alex giggled
"No, there is not," Dave's laughter boomed his wide grin staying firmly in place. "I'm rather surprised it happened so quickly considering we've only been trying for about a year. I'm not complaining mind you, I'm just astonished."
"I know and I don't blame you for being astonished. I know a vampire's fertility is not all that it should be," Alex said. "Isn't that what you told me when I informed you I was ready to try to have a child?"
"It is," Dave agreed. "It's just that it took us forever to get Emily pregnant last time, four years," Dave remembered. "It was Aaron's child last time, which was just fine. I had one not too long after that. Still, four years is pretty fast, especially for a vampire pregnancy."
"And you had a daughter," Alex and Dave nodded with a small smile.
"Yes I did and I adore her."
"So who was the mother?"
"JJ, as she wanted a child really bad, especially after Emily had her's and Aaron's son. We were really close by that point, so she didn't mind me making love to her or mind me getting her pregnant. She eagerly participated in fact."
Alex was nodding at this as she knew the history of everyone in the family now, and found it all very fascinating.
"Of course she did, she wasn't going to lay there like a doll," Alex teasingly scolded Dave.
"That wasn't what I meant," Dave said knowing he was being teased.
"I know," Alex said kissing Dave tenderly. "I'm looking forward to the birth of this child and I do hope we have a son, not just for your sake, but for my own. I feel it will heal something in me to have a baby around the house to love, especially if it's a boy."
"You still miss Ethan," Dave said knowingly and Alex nodded, with a rather sad look in her dark eyes. "You have a right to always miss your son," Dave added after a moment. "Humans always mourn their children, well, all except for bad parents who don't give a damn, like William Reid."
Alex was nodding, as she'd heard all about Spencer's father by now and none of it had been complementary. Neglectful has been the nicest thing anybody had said about him. If that was the nicest thing anybody could think to say about Spencer's father then Alex hated to think what else could be said about the now dead Senior Reid.
"If it won't bring up too many bad memories if we have a boy we can name him Ethan," Dave suggested. "I know that having this child will not replace the son you lost, but I think the original Ethan would be happy to see you having another child, to see you getting on with your life, even if that's as a vampire now. You always said that he was very intelligent much like both his parents."
"He was," Alex said her eyes soft in remembrance. "When it was finally time for him to die he was ready to go, though I certainly wasn't ready to let him pass away. He was extremely intelligent and perceptive much like Spencer actually. Spencer reminds me a lot of Ethan if you want to know the truth. They share so many similar personality traits. Their kindness, their intelligence, their perceptive natures, their compassion. I don't know if Ethan would've turned out to have Spencer's scientific, logical turn of mind as he died way too young, but still, there are enough similarities..."
"That Spencer reminds you very much of the son you lost," Dave finished and Alex nodded.
"They even look similar, though it's superficial, since they aren't related," Alex said. "As to the idea of naming the baby Ethan, if we happen to have a son, I like that very much. I think the original Ethan would approve. I know I'm not replacing my son, I'm simply having another to love and the fact, that this one can't die from any human diseases is one reason that I know he'll be alive hundred years from now. Very little can harm a vampire except fire and you would have to at least remove the vampire's legs in order to get him to stay put while he was burned up."
"Which does happen occasionally, though not very often," Dave admitted. "Its not exactly easy to catch a vampire unless you're a vampire yourself."
Alex was nodding at this because it was true. Vampires were super fast and super strong and could outrun a human who was on foot and likely one that was in a vehicle depending on terrain.
"Let's go tell the others about the pregnancy. All of them will be very excited for us," Dave added after a moment. "Perhaps Kate will want to have a child next and I'm sure that Aaron will be happy to help her with that."
"Or yourself," Alex teased him.
"Or myself," Dave agreed smiling. "The thing is that Aaron deserves to have a child next if he wants to and only if any of the females in the house are willing. We usually only have one a time but last time we actually had three running around. That was a dream come true, though we would've liked to have two children apiece from each of the women in the coven."
"Penelope, JJ and Emily," Alex listed and Dave nodded.
"Yes, because you and Kate didn't join us until later," Dave agreed. "That was a very exciting time for us and anything that can excite centuries old vampires is really saying something. By the way, I'm glad you wanted to have a child with me as it means you have finally gotten over the loss of your son, and that your grief isn't still all consuming. You already know I understand that you'll always miss him and you should, but by you getting pregnant it means you've moved on finally, though of course, you'll always remember him."
"I never thought about it that way before," Alex observed.
"You're not old enough to realize that a vampire stops getting excited once they have a few centuries under their belt. It's very hard to get a vampire excited unless they're basically a newborn, with only a few decades of experience. By the time you're 500 most vampires feel like they have seen and done it all. I'm hoping to accomplish the same thing again until at least five children are running around, one from each of the women in this coven with their consent of course. As for the matter of your son you don't have a vampires vast experience with human nature and most humans don't think along those lines when they've suffered a tragedy. I'm sure you would've come to the same conclusion eventually, as you're an extremely intelligent woman."
"We'll have to see if we can accomplish that then," Alex said, not answering Dave, as there was no point. "I can say with near certainty that none of the other four women in this coven will mind being pregnant."
"No, they won't. It's been awhile after all," Dave agreed, as he's escorted Alex back to the house, so they could tell the others the good news. He and Alex had gone somewhere where the other vampires would not accidentally overhear them. While none of the other coven members would deliberately try to overhear their conversation it was very hard to keep a secret from a vampire with much better hearing then humans.
Once they got back to the house and told everyone the news they were all excited, just as Dave and Alex had known they would be. All of them celebrated the news of the upcoming birth in less the two months and nobody cared what's sex the baby would be, as it didn't really matter in the end.
"I'm so happy for you," Celeste told Alex privately.
"Thank you," Alex said giving her a hug, which was immediately returned. "Dave and I are very excited about this. I know I'll never replace the son I lost, but I know Ethan would approve of having a brother or sister. If he was still alive, he would spoil the baby rotten not caring if they were a vampire or not. He was so perceptive and kind, for a nine year old boy, though I'm sure his disease had something to do with that."
"Or it could be that he was turning out to be exactly like his mother, who is kind, understanding, intelligent and compassionate," Celeste suggested.
"Maybe," Alex conceded. "Dave helped me to heal, not only from my son's death but also from my husband murder."
"I'll agree that he's a good man," Celeste said. "He agreed to take in a boy after all, one who had such a shitty life up to that point. That's why I'm happy to be an official member of this coven, even if Spencer and I travel sometimes before returning."
Alex was nodding at this as she understood exactly what Celeste meant. Spencer and Celeste's recent trip back to Las Vegas had been more of a test run, even if both of them had also wanted to go to the Dr. Who convention. That test run had basically gone very well until the end.
"Let's get back to the others," Alex suggested and Celeste nodded.
"I can hardly wait for him or her to be here," Celeste admitted.
"Maybe you should think about having another one," Alex suggested
"It's been awhile," Celeste admitted. "Still, maybe I'll wait awhile to mention it to Spencer. Spencer and I had a lot of them back when he was still human, as he got me pregnant quite easily. All I can figure it because he was human at the time and not yet a vampire himself."
"That's very possible," Alex agreed, as the two of them walked back towards their family. It might not be a family related by blood but none of them cared, which was why they all fit perfectly into the coven, because none of them cared whether or not they were actually blood related like so many humans did. Blood related or not they were still a family and that was all that mattered. It might be one of the strangest families in the world too many people but who cared? They were far happier together than they ever would be alone and nobody would dare try to challenge such a large group of vampires, as that would be suicidal, so they did exactly what they wanted when they wanted and just ignored what the rest of the world thought. Really, that was the way it should be.