Ninovan (Hypernaturals 10)

Another Thing I Have to Earn

We sat at one of those corner booth things, designed for a family of about nine. It swallowed the five of us easily.

Being that we are in Louisiana, my loves and I are trying local beers and we are starting with the grand standard, Abita. Vera and Angel are getting wine. I quit paying attention to their selections after that. Because of Helen, I own a winery in France. Nothing they are getting here will ever compare to that.

That remembrance of my winery did make me say to the table "We need to go to France soon. Our pool, where we married you, Morgan, is calling me."

"You know that is is now my job as Vampire Liaison to follow you to France and swim naked in your pool and drink your wine. Right?" Vera said.

"Well, you are getting along OK with other family stuff, so I imagine you can deal with stuff like the 'no clothes allowed in the pool' rule. I have to warn you that my daughters are all fans of the estate, and would drag you to the stable for horseback riding or to the pool for swimming. You would be adopted as an enabler of their schemes because that is what they do to all adults. They have Fiona wrapped around their fingers." I warned Vera.

Vera did not seem properly terrified. "I have only been horseback riding once, and I was sore for three days. I think I could manage, however. I know that around you, clothes are just a thing you try to figure out various ways to make rules regarding and requiring their removal."

"Ironically, the 'no clothes in the pool' rule predates me." I then asked Jessica "Huh. Can we make a rule that the staff in the winery has to be nude?"

"It's your damn winery. Helen gave it to you, not me." Jessica riposted.

"You just want to see your favorite Irish redhead Fiona naked more." Morgan accused me mildly, then to Vera added "Our kids love her."

"Your kids are fucking adorable. All of them. I never thought of myself as a mother. I mean, if I had a kid, I figured Adrain would raise him or her, and I would not have to be bothered. Then I met all the little Siren kids in the creche, and especially the little girls, and I think my heart grew a few sizes. Your kids are just as sweet as they can be. That little Rachel is a pill, but I see behind her facade."

Jessica looked around, but we were not near anyone being in the corner. She lowered her voice. "Vera: you have a new role in our world, and between our species. You have adapted to our family rules about showering and you are screwing our girlfriend. I am going to ask you a question about children. Do YOU want to have one?"

Vera was seriously taken aback by that idea. "Hold on. Wait a minute." She paused. Took my beer and killed it in one hit. Vera looked at Angel.

"Her too." Jessica said. "I am going to be helping Carol and DeWayne have a baby. Angel thinks she can get pregnant without my help. What about you? We talked about that with Wyatt and Ginger. They know if you have a child, you are keeping it. DO you want a child you can raise with Angel? At our house? I know it's fast, but I want you to realize that you have new options. There might be the possibility of a Siren / Vampire cross."

Jessica is putting a lot onto that very young relationship. I wonder why?

Vera is visibly shaken now. If there was another beer in her reach she would grab it. Morgan noticed and pushed hers over. That one died a quick and painless death. Vera took a deep calming breath. "I never thought about it. I mean... I make sure I don't get pregnant with Johnny... I never considered the idea that I might want to with... With who, exactly? Not Johnny... he's for screwing, not being a parent."

"Whoever you want, I think. I mentioned SiroVamp to point out we have a fresh stock of male Vampires."

"If I have another baby, it will be to give Nakoma a sibling with her Dad. Her real dad. The one that loves her." Angel said. "No. I take that back. When I have another baby. Not 'If'. Interesting. I wonder when I decided that?"