Ericka knocked on the door, two quick raps that was enough to garner the attention of the inhabitants within the suite.

She grinned as she heard life stir within, namely the yapping of an overexcited puppy and the equally excited voice of a young child.

"Momma! Momma!" the voice called out. "She's here! She's here!"

"Okay, Dennis, we're coming," a recognizable feminine voice answered. The lock of the door was unhooked and in the frame stood Mavis. She had ditched her usual red-striped socks and casual dark blouse for a black dress and kitten heels. She wore some light makeup on and was toting her purse on one shoulder. Johnny stood next to her, still in his worn-down sneakers and yellow T-shirt that he liked to wear. Mavis smiled.

"Hey, Ericka!" she greeted with a wave. "Johnny and I are just about ready to head out. I'm not sure how long we'll be, but - "

"Say no more," Ericka assured, putting a hand up. "You guys enjoy your date night, it's all right."

Just then, little Dennis ran up and hugged Ericka around the legs. "Yay! You're here!"

"Aw, of course I am!" Ericka said, scooping the boy up into her arms and ruffling his wild red curls. "And I brought something, too." With one hand, she pulled out a small book she had stored in the back pocket of her pants and showed the boy the cover. He smiled.

"A new Kakie book!" he exclaimed, taking the book and holding it out in front of him.

"What do we say to Ericka?" Mavis prompted her son.

"Thank you!" Dennis chirped and gave Ericka a hug. "Can we read it now?"

Ericka nodded. "Uh-huh. Just say bye to Mommy and Daddy first, okay?"

Dennis did as he was told, and the pair headed off, Johnny happily singing out "Da-da-da-da-date night!"

Ericka chuckled, and took Dennis inside, the boy already in his pajamas and hopping up onto the bed where Tinkles was laying. The giant monster dog barked happily when he saw Ericka and nuzzled her to his side as the two got settled. Right as Ericka got comfortable removing her shoes and curling up next to Dennis, a huffing black bat swooped into the room, out of breath.

"Wait! Don't start yet!" he called out, shapeshifting back to his humanoid form. It was Dracula!

"Poppa Drac?" Dennis questioned.

"Honeyfangs?" Ericka asked. "I thought you were going to cover the day shift at the reception desk today."

Drac waved a hand. "Ah, right. Well, I convinced Porridge Head to take it on. Right now, I want to be with my favorite little curly-haired tarantula!" He swept in next to Dennis's other side, snapping his fingers and switching into one of his satin pajama sets.

He cuddled the boy close to him and then reached forward toward Ericka. "And with you, too, of course my love." He kissed her softly, Dennis wrinkling his nose at the sight.

"Ugh, Poppa…" he whined.

Drac blew a raspberry. "There's plenty more where that came from!" he exclaimed, peppering little kisses to Dennis's cheeks and forehead. The boy giggled and hugged him, right as Ericka pulled out the Kakie book.

"So," Drac said once he'd settled down. "What story are we reading for you today?"

Ericka held it up so they could both see the cover. On the front was Kakie with his classic grin and a giant frosted cake in his right hand. Next to him were other monsters that looked like him, all different shades of pink or red and all different shapes and sizes. The title on the cover was made to look like dripping frosting, spelling out'Kakie's Family Reunion.'

Dracula groaned. "What? There's more of them?" The vampire shook his head and Ericka giggled. It was no secret to anyone at the hotel that Drac was not at all very fond of the cheery pink cake-eating monster.

"Come on, Poppa Drac," Dennis whined, peering up at him with big eyes. Drac crossed his arms. Dennis then resorted to the classic move that he knew would melt away his Poppa's crankiness. Shapeshifting into a bat, he pulled off the notable 'Pouty Bat Face' that was hard to counter against.

Drac sighed and nodded his head, unable to resist disappointing his grandson. "All right, all right, anything for you Denisovich." He hugged the boy when he turned back from a bat. Then he looked at Ericka. "But you start it off."

She snickered. "Okay fine, no need to get all worked up Mr. Cranky Fangs." She patted his shoulder and he couldn't help but crack a smile. Then, Ericka cleared her throat and began to read.

"'Kakie the Cake Monster had lots of friends. One of them was named Wuzzlelumplebum, who he liked to share cake with. One day, Wuzzlelumplebum showed Kakie an invitation that was left on his friend's doorstep.'" She showed Dennis the picture in the book, and then turned the page. She tilted the book toward Drac and gave him a look. "Okay, hotstuff, your turn."

Drac rolled his eyes, but conceded. "Well, all right." He cleared his own throat and read. "'Kakie got excited when he saw it. It was an invitation to a family reunion! Kakie was so excited that he was going to be seeing all of his family again.'"

Ericka read the next page.

"'When Kakie got to his reunion, he was very happy to see his Mommy and Daddy there. 'Kakie!' they called out, and went to hug him.'"

Drac continued the story. "'Next, Kakie saw his sister, Kream, and his brother Koffee. They were very happy to see him too."

Ericka picked up on the next page. "'Wait for us!' another couple of voices called. Kakie smiled. It was his Grandpa Kanoli and his Grandma Muffy!'"

Dracula followed on the next page. "'Finally, Kakie's Uncle Biskotti and Uncle Kustard showed up. Everyone was there!'"

Ericka turned to the last page and read aloud. "'This is Kakie's family. They are very happy together. What does your family look like?'" The last page had a blank section with Kakie at the corner pointing toward it. Dennis got excited.

"Oh! Can I draw my family now? Please, please, please?"

But Drac shook his head. "Denisovich, it's late. Maybe you can draw it tomorrow, hmm?"

"Late?" Dennis repeated. "Aw, but Poppa Drac, I'm not sleepy!" But as soon as he'd finished saying it, a yawn had caught hold of him, rendering his statement null. He recovered, but looked more turned out for the day with half-drooping eyelids and slumped shoulders.

"Aw," Ericka said. "I think it's time for a little monster to go to sleep. Tinkles is already asleep. See?" She showed Dennis his dog, who was already snoring behind them. Dennis nodded and was helped in settling under the covers. Even so, he spoke to them.

"I know exactly who I'm going to put in the picture!" he said. "I'm going to have Mommy, and Daddy, and all my Uncles, and my grandparents - Grandpa Mike and Grandma Linda, and you and Nana Ericka, Poppa Drac!"

"Oh, really?" Dracula laughed and ruffled his grandson's head. "Well, I can't wait to see it!"

Ericka found the sight endearing, but she had stiffened at what Dennis had said. Grandma? She stopped herself from furrowing her brows as she watched Drac sing a soft lullaby to get Dennis to drift off all the way.

"Suffer suffer, scream in pain,

Blood is spilling from your brains…"

He continued his singing, finishing out the song that sounded much like a monstrous rendition ofTwinkle Twinkle Little Starand seeing Dennis by the end of it doze with a small smile still on playing on his lips. Drac ran a hand across the boy's soft cheek and then looked up at Ericka. "Shall we settle in for the night, my love?"

Ericka nodded in agreement and followed him to Mavis and Johnny's bedroom, where he slipped under the covers. Ericka delayed in joining him, however, and instead stood at the doorway letting the weight of Dennis's words sink in again.And my grandparents - Grandpa Mike and Grandma Linda, and you and Nana Ericka, Poppa Drac!

"Ericka?"

Ericka snapped out of it and looked to Drac.

"Huh?"

"Sweetheart, I asked if you were coming," he said, suddenly frowning. "Are you alright?"

"Oh, um… yeah," she said, though it was not convincingly.

Drac noticed and sat up in the bed. "Come on, honeybat, you can tell me. What's wrong?"

Ericka bit her lip. "Uh… well…" But then she shook her head. "Ah, it's nothing."

"Yes it is," Drac insisted. He got up and walked to her, taking her hands. "Please, tell me so that I can help you."

He caressed her cheek and pecked it, Ericka leaning into his touch and feeling comfortable enough to voice her worry. "Drac?"

"Hmm?" he replied, in the middle of smooching her temple.

"Do… do you think I'm old?" she asked.

"Old?"Dracula repeats the word with a bit of a laugh, pulling back from her to look her in the eyes. He opened his mouth to speak, but then he laughed again.

Ericka frowned and crossed her arms. "I'm glad you think it's so funny!" she retorted with a pout.

Dracula let out another belly laugh and worked quickly to correct himself. "Honeybat," he heaved, once he had some control. "I'm not laughing because I think you'reold.I'm laughing because I think you'reyoung!"

Ericka raised an eyebrow. "Young?" she repeated.

"Of course!" Drac said. "How could I not?" He held her closer and began to explain. "Honeybat, you're only35. When Mavy was that age, she still had all her baby teeth! She was waddling around looking no bigger than Denisovich is now. Except Kakie didn't exist back then, thank goodness." He shook his head in relief and then glanced at her again. "Whatever made you start thinking that you're old?"

Ericka shrugged. "Eh, it's that when Dennis was talking about his picture, he said we were his grandparents. I mean, I know I'm nottechnicallyhis Grandma… but he still sees me that way."

Dracula chuckled in understanding. "I know, love. But don't let it get to you. If anything, you're a super cool grandma! And amuchbetter role model than thatKakie."

Ericka giggled. "Goodness, Drac, what is it about that monster you hate so much?"

Dracula stared at her. "Sweetfangs, have youseenhim?!" He conjured the book and turned to one of the pages that had an exceptionally silly drawing of Kakie on it. "What kind of 'monster' is this?! Where's the fangs, and the claws, and the spikes?"

Ericka smiled through his little rant. "Yeah, and yet you likemeall the same. I don't have any of those things either, you know," she pointed out.

"No," Drac agreed. Then he smirked. "But you are one amazing zing. Andthatmakes you all the more better than that silly pink joke."

She blushed. "Aw, Draaaac."

"Come here," he said, wrapping his arms around her, "I think it's time for my young little wife to get a little well-deserved smoochy time!"

Ericka laughed as she gave in, her previous worries forgotten.