Ninovan (Hypernaturals 10)

Gaia, Having a Hurricane

Tala, Angel, Kimberly, Vera, Anne, Carol, Denise, Morgan, Jessica, and I stood in Alexander's old home, taking one last look. Technically, it is the first look for Denise, Anne, and Carol.

Kimberly said to her older sister, "Dad never really kept much here, Angel. Always a rolling stone. He came back all the time, but he is Vampire, so he was out there, doing Vampire things. Maintaining identities and stuff. Out there, he could not tell that world about me. About us here. Here In Ninovan Dad was never happy. Always wanting to get back out there. So many children and great-grandchildren, and he could not keep all of us straight. He did not even try. We had to make sure he did not screw a descendent because to him... Well. You know. Breasts equal female."

Kimberly gave her mother a significant look. "I was raised by Mom. The only reason Dad knew who I am is that Mom kept telling him. If he wanted some love from her, he had to remember my name."

Tala winced, but I think it underlined Angel's read over Tala's, and proved Angel's 'blind spot' diagnosis.

Kimberly had in her hand a picture of Alexander and Kimberly together that she had taken off the shelf. It was almost the only thing on the shelf. She looked at it sadly. "Most of his kids don't even have this. Mom made sure we spent time when he was here because she wanted me to know I had a dad. After what happened with you, Angel, it was super important to her. No one was going to be jealous of the town Vampire. Until you all came along, other than Simi, he was the most powerful person in the town. Also hard to be jealous when he spent time with every non-related female he could."

Kimberly looked sadly at her picture with her father. She is a pretty girl. Alexander's bone structure in her face. I looked at her looking at the pictures. She radiated sadness. "Non-related. He had a picture of my face, right here. He thought my eyes and my nipples were in the same place. He would have to look at my face to know who I was. Thank god for Vampire scent. At least he could smell who I am. Then he would chill on the lady-hunter vibes."

Tala watched her youngest daughter's face, her face matching her daughter's mood. Both of her daughters are in alignment on the subject of Alexander's worth as a parent. "Alexander may have been a good father once. Centuries ago maybe. He told me that he felt like having kids here in Ninovan is a duty for him now."

Seems having kids as a duty is common around here. Those are the same words Simi used.

Angel looked immediately at me to see how I took the 'duty' concept. "No worries, my Angel. Our baby is going to be raised the same way all our babies are. Surrounded by love. You too, Vera. Simi will be surprised whenever that time rolls around. Her 'duty' and mine are not going to be a duty. They are going to be a joy. I will not ever let my children be a duty. Our children are OUR children, and I look forward to being there when Jessica delivers them into this world."

"And you wonder why I will not be diverted to some other father." Denise said as an aside to Anne.

"Not really. No." Anne replied.

"Wow. I never really considered that. You're my OB now..." Vera said to Jessica.

"So, take your vitamins..." Jessica laughed.

"Mine too." Carol noted.

"Best Doctor. You could not possibly do better on this planet." I told them.

"My fan." Jessica said.

"I am too!" Morgan said.

"I got that impression when you took over being my heart." Jessica told Morgan.

Jessica walked into the bedroom, and I could see her looking around, sledgehammer held lightly in one hand. The way a human might hold a small ball-peen hammer for driving in tacks.