Trevor Belmont faced the dark lord. Dracula. Gabriel Belmont. His father.

Trevor didn't know what to call him. He didn't know what to say. He burned with anger for the mother he'd never known. He burned with anger for her, but part of him also burned with curiosity about his father.

His mother had chosen him to marry and spend her life with. Why? She must have seen something good in him.

Ever since he'd been old enough to understand, he'd longed for his parents-

"I don't know your mother, boy," the vampire sneered.

"No, you knew her very well. Or are you going to claim that you don't recognize the name Marie Belmont?"

His father stared at him, eyes growing wide and mouth dropping open before he finally spoke. "WHAT?" The shout was so loud it almost seemed to shake the castle.

OoOo

Sypha was gathering supplies she was desperately hoping she wouldn't need when she heard Simon call out.

"Papa!"

Sypha heard the banging of the door and quickly pulled up her skirts and ran after him. She caught up to them to find her son and her husband hugging-

"Trevor!" She called.

Her husband looked up to meet her gaze and smiled.

Sypha's heart leapt. Not only because he was here and safe, but also his smile looked so much lighter. As if he was free of the burden he'd been carrying ever since the elders had told him about his parents.

"My love, you're home!"

"I am." But when she flung herself at him, he caught her but hugged her back gingerly.

"Are you hurt?" she asked, pulling back and scanning for injuries.

"No, I'm fine," Trevor said quickly, squeezing her hands reassuringly. "It's just-" he hesitated.

"Belmont, you're back!"

The couple looked up to see Commander Nikolai approach, followed by two knights.

"Yeah," Trevor said, smiling awkwardly, moving in front of her and Simon. Even more oddly, he held one hand protectively over one side of his chest.

"Cardinal Volpe and the elders will want to talk to you," Nikolai said, then smiled at Sypha and Simon, "Though I imagine you're in no hurry to give your report. We'll tell them you're coming, but no need to rush."

"Right," Trevor said and waved.

They walked off and Trevor watched them as they went.

Trevor pressed his one hand down, very gently, on that one area and sighed.

"Trevor?"

"Sypha, I need to go," he squeezed her hand. "I need to go make my report-"

An indigent squeak came from- from beneath Trevor's coat?

Trevor winced. "I need to go," he repeated, "but I'll be right back, I promise." He squeezed her hand again. "But Sypha, you need to trust me."

"I do trust you, love,'' Sypha said, transferring her gaze from his coat to his face.

Tevor smiled. He pulled her closer and kissed her before pulling her and Simon inside their home.

He pulled open his coat and gently pulled out- yes, that was definitely a bat.

"I'll be right back,'' Trevor said.

Sypha wasn't sure if it was addressed to her or to the bat.

The bat chittered at him. It sounded an awful lot like scolding.

"Of course I have to go report," Trevor said patiently and now he was definitely talking to the bat. "All knights have to go report when they come back from missions, you know that. And they'll be even more interested in talking to me and finding out how my mission against the "prince of darkness" went." His tone was fond when speaking to the bat, but it changed when he mentioned the title. He sounded sarcastic, but his smile indicated that it was a sarcastic joke they shared.

Sypha was putting pieces together and she didn't like the picture she was getting.

Before she could figure out a way to ask, Simon spoke up.

"Cool," he said, hovering, "can I pet him Papa, can I?"

"Calm down, Simon," Trevor said, smiling. He looked at the bat, who flapped once and squeaked enthusiastically. "You can," he said, still looking at the bat, who gave a very human nod, "you can, but gently, alright?"

Simon nodded, beaming, and gently patted the bat. The bat itself stayed still, patiently, and watched Simon with surprisingly human eyes.

"Wow. Are we going to keep him? Does he have a name? Can I name him?"

"Oh. Well, he is going to be staying with us from now on, but for as for a name...I guess technically his name is Gabriel."

The bat squeaked, this time sounding displeased.

Trevor lifted him up so they were eye level. "What would you suggest then?"

The bat flapped thoughtfully, then folded its wings around itself, looking amazingly sulky.

Sypha liked this less and less.

"Trevor..." she started and all three of the males turned to focus on her.

"We can keep him Mama, can't we? Please?" Simon asked, giving her a pleading expression like a longing puppy.

And as if that wasn't bad enough, Sypha could've sworn that her husband and the bat were giving her the same sheepish and pleading expression.

She sighed and looked at Trevor again. "If you're sure this is a good idea."

"I'm sure," he said confidently.

"Well then..." Sypha held out her hand and the bat carefully- gently- climbed onto it before hanging from her fingers. "I am going to want an explanation when you get back."

"You will get one, I promise."

"Alright," Sypha said, smiling. "We'll be here when you get back. All three of us," She added, looking down at the bat, who nodded. Sypha then reached out with her free hand and pulled Trevor in close for a kiss. "But don't be gone too long, Trevor Belmont. We just got you back."

"I'll be back as quickly as I can," Trevor vowed before kissing her.

The bat squeaked and they broke off the kiss and looked down to see the bat hiding his face in his wings.

Trevor chuckled and kissed Sypha again, before Simon dashed in for a hug.

"You'll really come back soon, Papa?"

"I really will. I just have to go talk to the elders for a little bit." Trevor hugged both Sypha and Simon, then patted the bat fondly, before leaving.

Sypha sighed gently as she watched him go, then looked down at the bat. The bat was also watching him go with a wistful look, as if he was as unhappy about Trevor leaving as she was.

"Maybe you could explain things to me,'' Sypha said, lifting the bat higher so they could look each other in the eyes.

The bat quickly wrapped himself up in his wings and hid his face.

"I figured as much," Sypha said, sighing.

"Mama, I want to hold him and show him around."

"That's kind of you Simon, but I'm not sure he wants to-"

The bat interrupted her by squeaking and flapping his wings.

"...so you do want to?"

He nodded.

Simon jumped excitedly.

"Alright, but remember to be gentle." She knelt and held out her hand. Simon reached out and gently took the bat in his hands before trotting off to show him his toys.

Their home was small, so it wasn't like he would be out of her sight, Sypha assured herself. Besides, Trevor had brought him home and she trusted his judgement. Though she dearly wanted to know his reasoning, she could wait until he told her what his reasoning was.

As she returned everything to their former places, now that she knew they weren't going to have to flee, Simon carried the bat all over their home, chattering to it. The bat occasionally squeaked as if encouraging him to say more.

"These are Mama's books, and that's Mama and Papa's bed, and this is Trevor the Wolf! Papa got him for me for my birthday so I named him after Papa. Oh, your fur looks kinda like Trevor's too!"

Sypha could think of a possible reason for that resemblance, but that was a thought for later. She finished putting the last of the supplies away, then dusted her hands off and turned to Simon. "Alright Simon, time for bed."

"But Mama!"

"No buts Simon," Sypha said gently, kneeling so they were on the same level. She smiled at him reassuringly. "Papa will be home soon, but you've been awake for a long time already. When you wake up, he'll be here, alright?"

"Fine… can I sleep with you and Papa?"

"Sure. Come on, let's get you tucked in."

Simon got Trevor the wolf and Sypha pulled the blankets up around him before singing him a lullaby.

The bat laid on his stomach on the pillow next to Simon, watching them with rapt attention.

Finally, when Simon's eyes fluttered shut and stayed shut.

Sypha gently kissed him goodnight, before she scooped up the bat, and quietly walked away.

"Well, I need to get started on some work, but perhaps this will be a good spot?" she asked quietly, taking him over to the windows. "The curtain rod will give you a place to put your feet and you'll have a nice view at least."

The bat flapped once, as if thinking about it, then climbed onto on the curtain rod.

As she worked, she noticed that the bat watched her as she moved about. She felt a little awkward about it, so she began talking to him to fill the silence. Occasionally he would nod or chirp encouragingly.

"You're a good listener," she complimented him, right before the door opened and Trevor came in.

"I'm back," Trevor said.

"Welcome back," Sypha said, hugging him.

Right after she did, the bat flew to him and attached itself to his shoulder.

Trevor hugged them both and gave a deep, bone weary sigh.

"Trevor?"

The bat squeaked, somehow managing to sound concerned.

"I'm fine," Trevor assured her, then to the bat, "I'm fine, really. Just very tired."

"Well, I suppose that's understandable," Sypha said gently, and gave him a little loving squeeze. "Come on, my love. Which do you need more? Food or rest?"

"Much as I love your cooking, my love, I think I need rest."

"Well I've already tucked Simon in. Shall I tuck you in as well?"

"Please do."

Trvor probably would have collapsed onto the bed if Simon hadn't already been in it. As it was, he laid down and immediately his eyes shut.

Sypha pulled off his boots and armor before before storing them in their proper place. There were rustling sounds behind her, and when Sypha turned, it was to see a black haired man tucking her husband in, smiling down at both Trevor and Simon with an fond expression.

Sypha leaned against the wall and watched the man- no, with eyes that red and skin that pale, he must be a vampire. But she could see Trevor in him too, in his coloring and the way he moved and the way he froze when he felt her eyes on him and turned to face her with a caught look.

"Do I get my explanation now?"

"When they're both sleeping?" he asked, gesturing with one clawed hand.

"I suppose that's a fair point," Sypha said with a sigh, a deep enough one that her eyes closed briefly. When they opened again, the vampire was gone and the bat was on the pillow, lying in between Trevor and Simon.

Sypha tsked and put her hands on her hips.

"No explanation and not even a goodnight kiss?" Sypha whispered, "that's two things you'll owe me when you wake up, Trevor Belmont." She shook her head, smiling fondly.

Well, her family did look awfully comfortable.

Sypha pulled off her boots and apron before joining her family in bed.

She'd get her explanations tomorrow and then they could figure out the rest of it together.

Tonight, her family was together again. And that was more than enough for now.