North American Vampire Council & Past Calling (Hypernaturals 12 & 13)

Extended Family

Morgan is sitting on her desk, legs dangling. Very informal looking. Morgan signaled with her eyes to be next to her as I came into the room. The chairs and the couch form a conversation circle. I hopped up next to her. Slid my arm behind her, a light brush of my fingertips across the same tract of her body as before, but going the other direction.

If we are 'out', then I am going to be me. Me loves me some Morgan.

The gathering in the conversation circle was just finishing up talking about Carol's pregnancy. These are stories I already know, so I missed nothing. It's the version for public consumption anyway. Romantic, but not all of it by half. Nothing about how Carol beat out a raft of women to get to DeWayne in the bar. Dead What happened at their wedding (and with whom) not being discussed. Fangs and ancient wine estates are not for human consumption.

Morgan wrapped her right arm around me again, making an 'X' with my arm and running her fingers across me in the same place to acknowledge the touches. A 'You touched my rear in public, so I am touching yours' flavored gesture. Also, Morgan likes playing with my tush.

"Morgan: You are married?" Ken asked.

Morgan had on her engagement and wedding bands. Morgan is loath to ever take them off. The decision to wear them for this meeting spoke volumes about Morgan's intentions. She looked at the bands and wiggled her finger. "Yes. And no." Morgan in no way clarified for Ken.

Angel held up her left hand. Wiggled. Same rings.

Ken furrowed his brow. Wheels turned. Angel is married to someone named Vera, not Morgan. Confusion reigned.

"Ken. Sam. I was unconventional in many ways while I was in Houston. I refused to let anyone tell me who I could and could not date. That is code for have sex with. No male would have gotten into the trouble I did for doing the exact same things I did. I should have not assumed that the people trying to control me would merely go away, tiring of trying to control a hard-headed woman. There were easier poster children, but after a while, it became about making a point. About power. Despite what happened in Houston, I am still me. I am still unconventional. The story of that is right there: in the picture on that back wall." Morgan pointed at the wall behind the couch. "That is my family. It sounds cultish: I am aware, but you two know me well enough to know I am not the kind of person who joins cults. These rings are our symbol of family. That family right there in that picture."

Ken and Sam both turned and looked. It is a good-sized family portrait, a meter wide. Everyone in it is clearly visible. In the back row are Jessica, myself, Morgan, and Nakoma. We are the tallest. In the next row are Angel, Vera, Denise, and Helen.

As posed, I have an invisible arm around Jessica. My fingers peek out from around Vera's waist. Morgan has an invisible arm around me and is doing the same thing with Denise, her fingers riding on Denise's hip and obviously hers from the angles. The poses are intentionally meant to be possessive like that.

Every single relationship we have in some way already shown to these two guys, such as the rings and Angel complaining about the shower, is getting expanded in that picture. It does not even have Rachel in it. Rachel felt like she should not be in it, and we could not talk her out of it. Denise is, even though she is not yet technically married to us. I have some more work to do with Rachel about this. She is more than 'Helen's girlfriend'. Hell, we have a little girl named after her.

In the front row are our smaller kids. Diana, Rachel, and Laura. Vera and Angel were not pregnant when that picture was taken. We'll redo it when they are born. Given how fast kids grow, we'll need to redo that picture often. Diana in particular is going to be a tall woman, like her bio-mom. Growing fast.