Chapter Text
It was hard sometimes for Lucy Emerson to wake with the setting sun and prepare for the mostly everlasting night that had become her life. Sometimes it was hard to look at the dark sky and not think about the warm sun that she had once enjoyed basking in, or tending to her garden in. It was hard sometimes to pour the donated blood into her nightly meals, as she absolutely refused to kill yet and finish her transformation if only for the sake of Sam and Laddie. Being a vampire, even a half like herself period sometimes, was hard.
Of course, not all of it was so saddening. She loved Max who was her mate. He was good to her and he treated her on a level far more gentlemanly and kind than her previous husband had ever done. He took her out on a date at least once a week, he listened to her without fail, he calmed her fears and he was more than willing to accept her sons as his own. Lucy couldn’t have asked for more in a man like Max and considering that he was willing to let Sam reach his eighteenth birthday before he turned him only made her love him more. So she could stand the few moments in the sun she snatched here and there before she retreated from it in favor of the never ending night that her life had become, because all those important to her were still close.
“Lucy?”
“Yes Max?”
“Telephone dear.” Looking over her shoulder at the kitchen door, Lucy stared at it confused. She had already talked to her father for the night and she didn’t have anyone else who would call. Michael and his mate Star lived in the basement with Laddie and Sam was upstairs doing his homework. The boys never called, they just showed up which by the rumble of the motorcycles in the distance showed the truth in that statement. So, who was calling?
“Uh…did they say who it was?” she asked as she flipped the pancakes that she had cooking on the griddle at the moment. Her family may not have all met eye to eye but they all enjoyed her cooking, so it was something she took great pleasure in.
“It’s a doctor from the New York Hospital Emergency Department.”
“WHAT?!” Dropping the spatula she held in her hand, Lucy rushed towards the phone and all but ripped it from Max’s hand in her haste. “Hello? This is Lucy Herrman. Yes. Yes I know a Faerdhinen Winters. Is everything alright? What?! How bad is she? Was there anyone else with her? Oh no! That’s horrible! Can I speak to her? Yes, thank you.”
As Lucy spoke on the phone, several things happened at once. Just as they usually did once the scent of her cooking began to waft around the house, everyone started to appear. Michael, Star and Laddie came up from the basement, while Sam came from upstairs and just as the rumbling of the motorcycles approaching the house became their loudest then died, the front door opened and Max’s boys walked in in their usual style. Max had thankfully had the forethought to take up her place in the kitchen so the pancakes she had been cooking didn’t burn and leave an unpleasant scent in the house but that didn’t seem to matter at the moment, because everyone paused when they saw Lucy on the phone in the hallway instead of the kitchen.
“Faer?! Is that you honey? Are you ok? Yes. Yes I spoke with the doctor. He told me. Honey I’m so sorry. How are you feeling?” As Lucy spoke with Faer on the phone, she ignored the questioning looks before she felt Max enter her mind.
‘My dear, what’s happened? Why is a hospital in New York calling you?’
‘Max, I…’
“Faer is on the phone?!” asked Sam interrupting the silent conversation without knowing it.
“Who’s Faer?” asked Paul as he leaned against the wall and ruffled Laddie’s hair when the now ten year old boy made his way to Dwayne.
“Faer is our cousin.” said Michael now concerned as he listened to Lucy ask her if she was okay for the moment.
“Yeah. Faer is so awesome! We write to each other every month!” said Sam before his smile faded a bit. “But we don’t get to see her very much. Mom’s sister got lucky and married a wealthy man. After that it was like our side of the family didn’t exist. However, when she had Faer, she decided it would be beneficial for her and Michael to get to know each other just in case something happened in the future.”
“See. While Aunt Helen didn’t like us because of what we represented. Aunt Helen’s husband’s family didn’t like her because of what she represented. So Aunt Helen decided it would be wise for us to know each other even if just barely in case something happened to them and Faer’s father’s family refused to help.”
“Yeah. I think the last time we saw her was six years ago though.”
As Sam spoke about his cousin, the others listened while Lucy and Max continued their silent conversation. It was obvious Lucy was worried for her niece and after finding out that her parents had unfortunately been killed in a car accident, Max decided that extending their family once more wouldn’t hurt. After all, having another female around couldn’t hurt. Could it?
‘Lucy dear. Ask to speak with her doctor again and see if she’s well enough to travel. If she is, we’ll get her on the first bus here.’
‘Max! Are you sure? I don’t want to burden you.’
‘Lucy have you learned nothing by now? The girl is family and alone where she is. Besides, another female around the house couldn’t hurt. Don’t you think?’ Lucy smiled slightly while she nodded her head before she asked Faer to pass the phone to her doctor once more. A few more minutes passed and more words were exchanged before Lucy hung up the phone and Max joined her in the hallway, his arm coming around her shoulders in a comforting manner.
“Mom, what happened? Why was Faer at the hospital?” asked Sam having caught snippets of what his mother had said on the phone.
“Michael, Sam. I’m afraid I have bad news. Your Aunt Helen, Uncle Tom and cousin Faer were in a car crash earlier today. The accident killed your aunt and uncle immediately and left Faer with a broken arm and fractured ribs.” Michael and Sam were shocked. Their aunt and uncle were dead? They may not have been close to them, but news such as that was something no one wished on another, even though they were part of a family that regularly killed people just to live.
“What’s going to happen to Faer?” asked Michael. He had missed most of the conversation while explaining who Faer was to Max’s boys and he was worried. He knew his cousin and he knew that while she had her strong points, being strong on her own was not one of them. With her parents dead, she was alone now. Sam hadn’t been kidding when he had said that Uncle Tom’s side of the family didn’t like Aunt Helen and Faer. They had made it abundantly clear over the years that they wanted nothing to do with the family of three and Michael didn’t want Faer to grieve alone. “She doesn’t have anyone now but us.” he said looking at his mom wondering if she had realized that already or not.
“Well, that’s the news for those of you who weren’t listening in. I spoke with Max and we both think it would be best if she came here for the time being. She’s a little shaken from everything that’s occurred but her doctor said that if her observation goes well tonight, then he can arrange for someone to take her to the bus station in the morning.”
“Great. So we’re getting another member to the happy family huh?” said David as he watched the others with his normal cool stare. “Just what we need. As if we weren’t large enough.”
“David!” scolded Max as he leveled his oldest with a glare.
“You’re putting us in danger DAD!” retorted David back. “You almost got us killed when you decided to bring the Emersons into the “family”. Now you want to bring another? That’s eleven people! That’s way too big of a coven in one city!”
“Are you trying to tell me you’re ready to leave then David?” asked Max with a chilling grin on his face. “Are you saying you’re ready to “fly the coop”? Then go if you want! But you’ll be going by yourself! I’m not ready to let your brothers leave the nest yet but you, I’ll be more than pleased to send off. So if you want to leave, then leave. If not, then keep your mouth shut!” Glaring, the two stared each other down before David huffed and turned towards the door. He had had enough of the “family” for one night.
“We’re leaving.” he said heading towards his bike while the others followed behind him.
“Dwayne!” cried Laddie, grasping his jacket tightly. Since he had been made to move into the house so he could attend school and have a firmer hand in his raising, Laddie hadn’t been able to see his favorite person as much as he wanted. The boys only stopped by every couple nights and normally David got into it with Max or Marko and Paul did something to piss him off and they got kicked out for the night, so he didn’t get to see Dwayne as much as he wanted.
“I have to go Laddie.” said the Native American looking man as he gave Laddie an apologetic smile. He wanted to spend time with the boy as well but he had to follow David. Not only was it because David was his “leader” after Max, but he and David had known each other for a century now. Their mutual trust and respect of each other went far and he couldn’t jeopardize it by staying behind when Max was actually being a leader. If he did, then he was essentially abandoning David for Max’s rule and that wouldn’t do. Giving the boy another apologetic glance, he started to walk towards the door when he paused.
“Dwayne.” called Lucy as she stared at him quietly with a soft smile. “If you want to take Laddie for the weekend, you can. He’s doing well in school so there’s no reason you two can’t spend some time together. I’m sure you two have a lot to catch up on.” Not letting anything cross his face, Dwayne simply nodded at his “mother” before he grabbed Laddie’s jacket off the rack and took the boy’s hand in his, heading out the door without a second thought. There were still several pairs of Laddie’s clothing back at the cave so he didn’t need to grab anything and hurriedly getting onto his bike with Laddie behind him, Dwayne revved his engine before he pulled out after David with Marko and Paul behind him.
He may not have liked the fact that the Emersons had joined them, but Lucy was a fair “mother”. It was one of the only reasons he was able to put up with the fact that Laddie was living with Max and Star and being forced to go to school when he should have been sleeping due to the vampiric blood. In fact, if Max had tried to take Laddie without Lucy being here, then he was sure he would have gotten himself close to banished as well like David.
“Do you think Faer will be like the Emersons?” asked Laddie after he and the boys had returned to the cave for the night.
“I sure as hell hope not.” grumbled Marko as he sat petting one of his pigeons.
“Agreed.” chimed the others.
Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
“When’s Faer going to get here?” asked Laddie bored as he sat at the dinner table doing his homework. It was Monday night and school as usual had been daunting for the young halfling. That was why Lucy sat with him during his homework so she could help explain whatever it was he had missed during a lesson while trying to stay awake.
At first, the school hadn’t been too happy that Laddie had made an unconscious habit of falling asleep in school just about every day, but once it had been explained to the teachers that he had “chronic fatigue” the school quickly jumped to accommodate him. He would nap during his morning recess in the nurses’ office and then during his afternoon recess he would either go and play outside with the others, or if he felt extra tired that day, he would take a second nap. The system seemed to work well and Laddie only fell asleep in school maybe once a week now. Those were the days when he would take two naps instead of one.
“Well Laddie. I’m glad you asked. If everything goes as planned. She should be getting into the bus station in two hours.” said Lucy with a small smile as she helped him finish up his spelling worksheet before they packed everything into his bag. Laddie was excited for Faer even if he wasn’t too sure he would like her yet. He didn’t get to play with too many people outside of his family when he wasn’t in school due to the family secret.
“Woohoo!” cried Laddie as he jumped up and started to run around. His eagerness for their new member was only heightened when he heard the familiar roar of motorcycles coming towards the house. Guess the boys wanted to see her too. “Dwayne!” he yelled running outside. “Two hours! She’ll be here in two hours!”
“Mom?” asked Sam as he came around the corner and into the kitchen. “Is there anything else we need to set up?” Sam was actually just as eager as Laddie was for Faer to arrive. He remembered his cousin from the last time he had seen her six years ago and through the letters they had exchanged monthly, it didn’t seem she had changed much. She was quiet and kept to herself while indulging in her hobbies and for Sam who lived in a house that constantly seemed to be filled with one argument here and another there, it was something he could use more of.
To be honest, he was happy he had another person to indulge in some of his hobbies with now. The Frog Brothers had been weary after the “incident” but he had managed to win them back after several attempts. Of course, a large part of that just happened to be because of one of the few times his new “brothers” had actually done something nice for him.
At first, Edgar and Alan had refused to talk to him let alone look at him, even when he saw them in school or walked around the Boardwalk during the day. Their dismissal of him quickly showed when he grew quiet and recluse in a household of people who knew that Sam tried his best to diffuse situations or act as peacekeeper. He was always trying to start a conversation to distract them from their latest quarrel and when he just stopped and kept himself holed up in his room, they actually became concerned and tried to find the root of the problem. Needless to say, when they had found what, the boys had tricked the Frog Brother’s mother into letting them into the house. With the main vampires of Santa Carla able to enter their house, the Frogs had quickly agreed to leave their coven alone and at least give Sam another try in exchange for the boys never stepping into their house or comic shop again.
The second chance had worked and Sam regularly saw his friends, but even still, the Frog’s and Sam only had so many common factors that they shared. Sam had tried to introduce them to some of his other likes and the Frog’s had done the same, there were a few they had found they could enjoy but not many, so for Sam, Faer was a good substitute. She had after all been the one to introduce him to comics and they regularly chatted about their other nerdy likes even though she was twenty four and he was sixteen.
Shaking his head as he came out of his thoughts, Sam watched as everyone else appeared in the house before Max called them all to the living room. Thankfully when Max and Lucy had decided to buy a new house they had made sure that not only was it far away from town, but that it was also large enough for their family of ten. The plan had originally been for everyone to move in, but the boys had set their foots down instantly and flat out told Max, “Hell No”. They enjoyed their freedom that the cave provided for them and they weren’t about to give it up.
“Alright, now I know some of you know already, but I’ll say it again so we’re all on the same page.” began Max. “Faer’s bus will arrive in two hours’ time.”
“Whoopie.” drawled David lazily while the boys chuckled. Max of course sent him a glare before he shook his head and turned away.
“Mom? What all do we need to do still?” asked Sam, trying to change the subject before Max and David got into it, again.
“Well, I’ve already made up one of the guest rooms for her, but I forgot some items at the store. Star, if I gave you a list, could you and Michael go fetch them please?” asked Lucy.
“Yes.” said Star.
“Thank you dear.” Lucy loved that Star and her got along so well. After the abuse Star’s parents had put her through before she had ultimately run to Santa Carla, Lucy was kind of a fresh start for her. She was the mother that she never had and in return, she was the daughter that Lucy never had. Now with Faer joining them, Lucy would have two daughters so to speak.
“What can I do?” asked Laddie eagerly.
“Hm. Why don’t you go make her a get well card? I’m sure she’d love that. And Dwayne can help you with your writing.”
“Ok! Come on Dwayne!” Pulling the quiet vampire behind him, the two disappeared down into the basement where they had set up a little area for him to play.
“Sam, you’re going to come with your mother and I to pick her up. Go grab your coat, we’ll leave in a bit.” said Max as he took over the conversation.
“Ok.” Sam was happy to go with them to pick up Faer knowing that even if he hadn’t been it was better to obey than to argue with Max unlike David and the boys. The man could be extremely severe when it came to punishments and chores. Thankfully, he only had to worry so much as he wasn’t a vampire and couldn’t physically take most of the punishments he dished out. Yet. “Michael, Star. Why don’t you go to the store and fetch the items Lucy asks you for.”
“Yes sir.” Standing, the two of them followed Lucy into the kitchen, knowing exactly what Max was doing. He wanted to speak to his Lost Boys before Faer arrived and they were all too happy to leave him to that, glad that it wasn’t them he was focusing on.
“What is it Max? Want us to stay away?” asked Paul as he, Marko and David all looked at him from their positions along the wall where they were leaning. They hated when he singled them out from the others. Sometimes, they kind of felt like they had to be on guard in case Max decided he would rather be rid of them so he could continue on with his “new family”.
“Normally I would say yes. But Lucy has asked that I keep you included in things such as this. She says it’s not fair to treat you as the hoodlums you are and that you all deserve a chance. To be honest, part of what she said scared me.” said Max with a little bit of humility in his voice.
“What’s this? Max is being whipped into shape by his bride?” inquired David with a large smirk before Max stormed up to him and gripped his throat.
“You make me so mad David. Sometimes, I wish I would have just left you where I found you.”
“And where would the fun be in that?” Growling, Max let David go and walked towards the kitchen.
“Faer is off limits do you hear me?! You are not to intimidate her or harass her in any way. And if you come over here, I expect you all to be on your best behavior. Understood?!”
“Yeah, yeah.”
“Tell Dwayne.”
“At your command.” When he was gone, David glowered at the doorway. So this Faer girl was off limits huh? Oh well, he’d just have to see about that.