-4-

Sim-Fest was Jaylee's chance to make a mark on Sunset Valley. If she could get herself booked as entertainment to celebrity parties, it would really help her cause. However, upon her arrival, Jaylee realized that she would not have to wait as long as she thought to start making the contacts she desired. Monika Morris, a fast rising star was performing when Jaylee entered and the woman would fit perfectly into her plans.

The pale skinned blond stood out in the crowd, there was something about her that drew Monika in. Her glowing eyes gave her away, she and Monika were kin. Monika had seen many vampires in Sunset Valley, but they were strangers, choosing to mingle with humans rather than their own kind, for this reason, Monika was curious about the young woman's intense gaze.

As soon as the round of applause subsided and Monika left the stage, she found the blond in the crowd. "Do I know you?" She asked although she was pretty sure that she did no know her.

"No you don't. My name is Jaylee Winter."

Before Jaylee could continue speaking Monika held up a hand, she had heard the name before but she couldn't exactly remember where. Just when she was about to give up on searching her memories though, it hit her. This young lady was the baby that was born to prominent doctors Jamie Jolie and Erik Darling. Jaylee's birth rocked the vampire world, she was the first baby born in millienia. 

"I've heard of you. I'm pretty sure that every vampire has. You are a miracle in our community. Now, I must ask, what do you want from me?"

"Monika, it is obvious that you are very talented and you're going somewhere. I gave you about a year before you've established yourself as a celebrity."

"Thank you very much. But what does that have to do with you?"

"May I?" Jaylee asked. Monika nodded and allowed Jaylee entry into her consciousness. Jaylee released a flood of images into the other woman's mind. Her visions for the future, a future where humans knowingly existed alongside vampires. A future where there was no need to hide to consume blood, natural or synthetic. They will know us Monika, they will walk with us. Then Jaylee withdrew from the other woman's mind.

"Your husband, he is human isn't he?"

"Yes."

"Did you ever consider turning him?"

"I love my husband just the way he is. I do fear losing him, it is inevitable. It would be selfish of me to give him a lifetime in the shadows."

"Do you have children?"

"Yes. I have a daughter, and she is already condemned."

"If there were no secrets, you would turn your husband wouldn't you? You would make him a vampire in a heartbeat for your own selfish desire to be with him and for your daughter, you would not allow her to lose her father."

"That is correct."

"Ethics would have to be considered Jaylee. I'm sure vampires and humans alike would have a problem with turning a human. You were born a vampire Jaylee, no, you're a hybrid. I'm going to tell you something I'm sure you've heard before; newborn vampires are dangerous, don't you ever create one. I support your cause though, I'm tired of hiding, limiting myself."

"Thank you Monika, and I do understand."

"What do you mean you're not allowing any more acts into your show? You've already told my sister that she could perform! As her manager I demand that you let her in this show." Erika flung her arms in the air, fighting the urge to knock the woman in her head. "Do you hear me talking to you?"

Jaylee entered the backroom just as the bar owner jumped from her seat. "What's going on?" Jaylee asked looking from her sister to the woman.

"She say's you can't perform." Erika shouted. 

"Why the sudden change?" Jaylee asked calmly.

"I got a call directly from the mayor saying that it would be in my best interest to keep you and your act out of my bar. I don't know what you're involved with but I would appreciate it if you would leave."

Jaylee's eyes narrowed but she refrained from lashing out. "I understand. I apologize for my sister's actions, it's the hormones."

Erika grabbed her round stomach. "Are you serious? You're just going to let her get away with what she's doing to you? And don't you apologize for me, you know I would tell this bitch about her ass even if I weren't about to drop a load."

"Let's go Erika." Jaylee grabbed her sister's arm and led her outside. She walked a still ranting Erika to her car and waved her sister off."

Jaylee was about to head to her own car when a man blocked her path. "Jaylee Darling-Winter?"

"It's Jaylee Winter, and you are?"

"My name is Connor Frio, I'm an investigative reporter. Somebody told me about this thing that you are trying to do and I must commend you. News of what you're doing has already traveled, and it has traveled far. There are some of us who would be more than happy to assist you, but for your sake and ours I must ask that you keep a low profile."

"Connor Frio, I have seen your work and I must say that you are quite the trouble maker. I am honored that you would even consider helping me."

"It is no problem at all."

-3-

Agnes had been admiring her granddaughter all day. She had her mother's long eyelashes and wicked brows but other than that she was Claus' child. Egypt had her father and grandfather's lips which were also had by Snowie. Like Snowie she had huge gray eyes. Because she looked so much like them, her grandparents adored her even more. 

Egypt also had a mischievous streak, like her father did at her age. "Don't play in your food." Claus chastised his daughter. "I've got my eyes on you Egypt Winter." The baby grinned up at her father.

Claus went over tot he window and peered out at the dawn sky. "I'm still watching you Egypt." 

"Aaah?" Egypt said innocently.

"Don't you dare."

When she realized that her father still hadn't turned around to look at her, Egypt grabbed a fistful of the warm porridge and allowed it to slip between her fingers, getting it on her clothes, the floor and the feeding table.

"Egypt! What did I just tell you?" Claus shouted, Egypt squealed with laughter and clapped, eventually tossing the entire bowl on the floor.

"Hungy!" She told her father afterwards.

"No you're not, you just want to make a bigger mess." He told her.

"Boy, go get ready for work. Come here angel!" Jack told his granddaughter and scooped her up into his arms. 

"Ga'pa!" Egypt said and patted his face.

Jack sat the girl on the floor and played with her. "Come on honey, I'll get you dressed. Momma is taking you to Grandpa Erik and Grandma Jamie today. Now, are you going to be a good girl for them?"

"Des!"

"Are you sure? Because you remind me of another little child who got himself into trouble all the time." 

Egypt's answer was to grin and stuck her fist into her mouth.

"Oh no, was it today you were coming?" Erik asked when he pushed the door open. "I was going on a trip today. You'll bring her back though?"

"Sure Daddy."

Jamie came out of the house and made sure that her husband got into a cab. She sighed heavily, "Human husbands expire so quickly." She told her daughter. "I do hope that your father will be okay, he's beginning to forget things." Jamie tickled her granddaughter's ribs, Egypt squealed with delight.  "Come on in."

"What brings you here Jaylee, I doubt that you're just paying a courtesy call."

"I'm worried about my daughter. I don't want to have to send her away."

"You're talking about letting the humans know of our existence again? Jaylee, it is a serious risk, one that we were unwilling to take for centuries. It is easier to just leave things the way that they are."

"You want us to continue living in fear? Hiding away?"

"We do not live in fear, the humans do. They kill each other out of fear, imagine what they will do to us. They outnumber us greatly although we have many advantages they can easily wipe us from the face of the planet. However, my friend Vita will be here soon, she has great influence in human politics."

"Jaylee, tell me what do you expect for the future? This thing that you're trying to accomplish. This will require time and effort, rules and guidelines, persons to create these rules and enforce them."

"Perhaps your friend Vita will be able to assist with this."

Jamie was silent for a while, listening to her granddaughter playing behind them babbling and cooing at her doll. Every now and again the little girl would sink her already developed fangs into the soft neck of the teddy and shake it around. 

"All of this for your daughter?"

"No." Jaylee said. "All of this because I love my daughter, because I can't change what I am and I do not wish to hide away when my husband dies and I have grandchildren and great grandchildren who appear the same age as I do. I don't want to have to move away from the town that I love because I should have been dead centuries ago. I don't want to be you Mother."

Jaylee moved to the couch were Jamie sat. "How many friends have you watched die, how many lovers? How many times have you moved only to end up where you left from a hundred years later? I just, I don't want to do that Mother."

Before Jamie could reply there was a knock at the door. "That's Vita."

Vita Alto was a thin woman with birdlike features and an air of confidence. "Vita," Jamie greeted her. "You've met my daughter Jaylee. The baby she's holding is my granddaughter Egypt."

"Another hybrid? If this keeps up our blood will be so thin that we will be mere mortals ourselves."

Egypt made a miserable sound and scrubbed at her eyes. "Mother, Egypt is tired."

"Erik put up your cot in your old bedroom, you can lay her in there."

Jaylee had Egypt just about settled when Vita came into the room. "Jaylee, your mother has told me about your plans, and I must say that they disturb me. Why on Earth would you wish to change something which has been in place before you were born?"

"Why would you wish to hide out for centuries?"

"How do you propose even going about letting the humans know of our presence other than sinking our fangs into their soft fleshy necks?"

"With people that the humans admire, politicians, celebrities. There are many of us in those positions." 

Vita nodded, "And then what?"

"We shall cross that bridge when we get there."

"Leave well enough alone Jaylee, you are a baby, as helpless and naive as the one sleeping behind you. We have kept our secret our reason, the last time someone came up with this same brilliant idea many of us were burnt alive, slaughtered, cut to bits and even those pieces were burnt. I will not assist you on this venture, if you persist I will get rid of you for my own good and the good of my kind."

-2-

"Oh God! Oh God! Oh God!" Snowie stood as still as a statue as she held her niece. The tiny baby seemed so fragile and she was afraid to break her. Agnes had gone to make a bottle and asked Snowie to hold on to Egypt until she was done. She was amused when she came back and found her teenage daughter standing in the same position she'd left her.

"Don't have kids Snowie, I beg you." She rescued Egypt from her frightened aunt and stuck the bottle into the baby's mouth.

Jaylee had taken up performing magic tricks. "I know what you're trying to do." Claus said from the chemistry set that he was reacquainting himself with.

"Oh yeah? What am I trying to do Dearest Husband?"

"You're planning something and your little magic tricks are so you can blame your thing on something when you finally do it."

"Claus what you said made no sense, but I understand what you're trying to say." Jaylee tapped the wand to her forehead. "I'm not planning anything, why would you even think something like that I'm simply brushing up on my conjuring skills. A coin here, butterflies there."

"Jaylee Winter, I've got my eyes on you."

The Winters were usually up before the sun, the horizon was just turning an inky purple and Jaylee was already dressed in her magician  attire and impressing her sister-in-law. Claus grunted his displeasure, he wanted desperately to know what his wife was planning. She had been driving herself insane ever since her meeting with Jamie. Claus hoped that Jaylee wouldn't get herself in trouble, then he reminded himself that he was the one with the short temper.

"Go get dressed quickly or we'll be late." Jaylee was telling Snowie when he finally pulled himself from his miserable thoughts.

"What? Where are you going?"

"Claus, you're taking me to the park so that I can set up a show."

"Oh." Claus had forgotten he'd promised Jaylee that he'd go with her. "I really don't want to be involved with whatever it is you're planning."

"I'm not planning anything, I've already told you. It's just that I haven't used my abilities in a while. After I summoned the mummy to help me find a cure for your curse, I realized that I missed the exhilaration I got from wielding my power. Even though I'm just doing cheap party tricks, it's enough for now."

"For now?"

"Yes, for now. We'll talk more about this later."  

As Snowie came down the stairs her brother and sister-in-law got up and jumped into Jaylee's rust-bucket. Snowie frowned, "I want to drive, or can I at least have shot gun?"

"Get your fat butt in the backseat." Claus snapped at his little sister.

"I know I have a fat butt, it's what men like the most about me." Snowie shot back as she got in the back.

"You mean boys."

"No, I mean men, some older than you."

Claus spun around to better argue with his little sister, "Stop it, I swear!" Jaylee shouted over the pair. "I will put the both of you out on the side of the road and you will have to walk to the park or home."

Claus turned around in his seat, Snowie proceeded to kick the back of her brother's chair. Jaylee hid her smile behind her hair.

Jaylee found the Events Manager and began to wow the woman with her tricks.

"If one thing is certain, it is that you do enjoy what you do Jaylee. I will call you to arrange your show time."

"Oh! I got the job? Thank you so much!"

Back home, the Winter women congregated in the living room, from the eldest to the youngest. Snowie was complaining to her mother about school and how she was not allowed to see Tanner, who she claimed she was in love with. 

The phone rang, Jaylee answered it. 

"You do not have time to go on dates, you should be concentrating on school. Boys are only after one thing, and once you give it to them they lose interest in you."

"Oh come on Agnes, I have a show tomorrow, why don't you all come watch. Snowie can invite Tanner and I can keep an eye on them from the stage. Claus will stay home with Egypt."

"You're the baby's mother, it should be you who's staying home with her but you're too busy doing party tricks for a few coins."

Jaylee rested Egypt on her shoulder and turned so her mother-in-law could get the full effect of her glare. "My intentions were to hire a babysitter, before I was even sure of the time I asked Claus to come see the show, but he says that he wants to stay home and rest for work instead. I ask my husband before I act Agnes, I sit home with he baby all day, I never ask you or Jack to help you do it by choice. If you're implying that I'm a bad mother then maybe you should consider your own actions before you judge."

"And what does that mean?" Agnes spat back, her words dripping venom.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about Agnes." Jaylee snapped and strode away with her baby in her arms. She wasn't sure if Agnes hated her because she was Erik's daughter, or because she was Claus' wife but whatever it was Agnes picked at her all the time and she was growing tired of it.

Agnes got up before everyone the next morning. She went to the nursery and spent some time with Egypt. The baby gurgled and cooed in her grandmother's arms, she tried to grab at the woman's snow white hair but Agnes quickly held her lower. She had learnt the hard way not to let Egypt get a grip on her hair or jewelry. 

"How's Grandma's baby this morning? Hmm?"  Agnes loved her granddaughter, it was true, she and Jack doted on the baby, Claus nor Jaylee had to ask them to help out with Egypt. Jaylee hadn't told Claus about their argument, and she was not about to admit she was wrong.

 Later that day, Jaylee had donned a new outfit and was resting before her big show. Snowie was anxious about her date. She wanted Jaylee to wake up and talk to her, she wanted Jaylee to leave out of the house now so that she could hurry up and get to the park.

When they finally did make it to the park, Snowie hopped out of the car and sprinted to the dark skinned boy. Jack was about to follow her but Jaylee grabbed her father-in-law's arm and towed him to the stage. It was not at all what Jaylee was expecting. The decorations had been moved and there were no props, much to Jaylee's displeasure. What made her angrier was that there weren't even any lights. With a heavy exhale Jaylee pushed her anger away, she would make the most of this experience.

The crowd was a small one, Jaylee who went by the stage name Eternity, was not well known in the town, but she was determined that Eternity would be well known by the end of the night.

Because of the late night, his family was still sleeping when Claus woke up, fed his daughter and left for work. He was working as an EMT this week, he loved his job. It reminded him of being in the tomes and having to improvise to stay alive, but the life he was saving was somebody else's which only added to the adrenaline rush.

Egypt's crying brought Jack into the nursery. "What's the matter?" He cooed and scooped the baby up from the crib. Holding her on his shoulder he patted her back lightly and strolled around the room humming a lullaby until the baby fell asleep. Technically this was his only grandchild, Agnes had Maranda and although he loved Erika like his own daughter, she was not. 

"Are you sick?" Claus asked when he came home from work and found Jaylee in bed. 

"No, why?" You've been in this room since yesterday. What's wrong?"

"Nothing." Jaylee said quickly. 

"I know you better than that." He climbed onto the bed and puller Jaylee into his embrace. 

"Am I a bad mother? I mean, I could spend more time with Egypt."

"What are you talking about? You spend all day with her."

"Agnes doesn't seem to think so."

"Jay, my mother is old, she'll find anything to be displeased about. You're a great mother, in fact, nothing is sexier than a woman who can take care of business." Claus winked.

"Oh yay!" Jaylee grinned and climbed on top of him.

-1-

"Woah!" Jaylee shouted suddenly. An intense pain like she couldn't even imagine shot through her abdomen. "Honey!" She shrieked when another, stronger pain moved through her.

"Jaylee," Claus ran after his wife, he had just stopped the car when she hopped out and waddled quickly to the hospital. "Wait for the orderly to bring you a wheel chair."

"Are you crazy? That's going to take way too long and there's a little human trying to rip its way out of my body through my..."

"Fine, you run inside. I'll park. Oh and Jay, please try not to murder any of the staff, I love them like family."

Twenty-four hours later Jaylee walked out, ahead of Claus again, this time she carried a squirming bundle in her arms. Claus was still dazed after the delivery. He had seen babies being born before, as a part of his training he had even delivered a few, but the birth of his own daughter was filled with a roller-coaster of emotions.

He went from dismay of seeing Jaylee in pain, to utter joy at seeing his daughter's face for the first time. The feeling that overwhelmed Claus when he held his child for the first time, and she gripped his forefinger rocked him. The love and devotion he felt for his child was what he felt for his wife, the love of his life, except multiplied by a million and accompanied by a protectiveness that nobody could even imagine.

Jaylee, Claus and their new baby Egypt had just arrived home when Jack handed her the phone. "Hello?" Jaylee had expected to hear Erika's voice on the other line but as it turns out it was Erik. 

"Hello Jay, how are you?"

"Daddy?"

"Yeah, look Jay, we need to talk. Can I come over?"

Jaylee was taken aback. She had planned on visiting both her parents, but on her own time. She heard herself telling Erik to come over if he promised to behave himself and just hoped that she wouldn't open up a can of worms by inviting Erik into Jack and Agnes' space.

"Do I get to meet my grandchild?" Erik said when he arrived.

"No, not this time." Jaylee told him. "I'm not ready yet. Come on in."

"What did you want to talk about?" Jaylee asked her father.

"About you and me. I'm sorry if I did the wrong thing by agreeing with your mother. I love you very much, but Jaylee, you know there are some things that I do not understand about your culture. I thought I was helping you."

"Culture?" Jaylee snorted. "We do now have a culture Daddy. We are a people hidden in the shadows, misunderstood because of folklore." She sighed and stretched her legs. 

"You're okay?"

"I'm fine. Now that I think about it, everything was for my own good. My powers could have caused more trouble than you could even imagine if I did not learn how to control it."

"What powers do you have?"

Jaylee looked up at the ceiling and took a long while before she answered. "I am a conjurer. I can pull things out of the air, bring life back to a breathless body. Mother never told you?"

Erik tapped his lips with his thick fingers. "No, she said that your powers are top secret."

"My curse. I guess I see her reasoning. I mean, if somebody is to read your mind and find out this secret, then they will try to control it, to control me."

Jaylee sighed again. "I'm worried about Egypt. She could have inherited this power, just as well as she would have none at all or gifts that are unique to her. But Daddy, we just can't keep sending our children away. We can't keep lying about what we are, I think it's time that humans and vampires coexist...knowingly."

"That would be good. But how does one go about changing something that was in place for centuries?"

"By taking a stand."

"You do know that there is a chance this could backfire, that the humans will wipe you out."

Jaylee laughed. "With stakes and garlic? You should know better, we are the stronger race. You're right, a war will wipe out one species. It could take another century or so to bring about this change, but slow and steady is better than hasty and deadly. Thanks for stopping by Daddy, it was so nice talking to you."

"Anytime you need me you know where to find me Jaylee." 

Jaylee allowed Erik to squeeze her hand and she found herself blinking back tears, she missed her father.

Claus had to go to work later that day, but as soon as he got home he went to the nursery and picked up his new daughter. The baby cooed against his neck, her little hands gripped the fabric of his scrubs. "Hey baby." Claus murmured, as if speaking above a whisper would hurt the baby's delicate ears. Since her birth the day before, he lost the will to do anything. He just wanted to be home, holding his child, being a warm bubble of love and peacefulness with her.

"Claus?" Jaylee said from the doorway. "Erika and I are going out."

"Are you sure? You're not going to rest or anything? You just had a baby."

Jaylee smiled. "Claus, I'm already healed up. One benefit of being a vampire." She grinned wider allowing him to see her fangs. "Don't hold her too long or she won't ever want to put her down."

"I'll be okay with that."

"But I won't when you're at work."

"Fair enough."

Jaylee and Erika went to a new karaoke club. "I talked to Daddy today. We had a pretty nice conversation, I never even realized how much I missed him and Mother."

Erika shuddered at the mention of Jamie, she had never gotten used to her step-mother, never took the time out to get to know the woman.  "That's nice, he really missed you Jay. So, how is my niece?"

"She's her Daddy's favorite thing in the world." Jaylee chuckled. 

Erika grabbed her sister's arm. "I'm not allowing you to run back home to your husband and baby, I'm going to be selfish with you today. Let's go inside and sing a few songs, drink some smoothies and then you can go  home and stay there for the next year or how ever long it's going to take to pry you away from Egypt."

Erik's daughters sang five songs, getting cheers from the crowd and demands for encores. The women decided to have a bit of fun, even allowing a couple of the male patrons to buy them drinks. It was dark out when Claus called Erika demanding that his sister let his wife come home.

"Whatever, she's my sister and I can borrow her whenever I want. The only reason I'm letting her go is because Freddy is at home alone with Maranda and I don't want him to spoil her." Erika flipped her cell phone close roughly as if it would affect Claus.

Winter Legacy -Finale-

"Why am I still throwing up?" Jaylee moaned and blinked back tears. 

Claus sighed, Jaylee had been miserable for months, she vomited, her feet were sometimes swollen and her back hurt all the time.

Jaylee managed to squeak something her husband couldn't understand and burst into tears. Claus rubbed her shoulders in a feeble attempt to calm her down. 

The sun was coming up when Claus finally got his wife settled, he stumbled downstairs and was happy to find that Agnes had already made breakfast. He grabbed a plate and sat with his mother at the table to eat. 

"Morning baby." Agnes greeted her son. "Don't you have work this morning?"

"Yup."

"Did you get any rest last night?"

"Nope."

"You work all day and sit up all night with Jay, you need your rest Claus."

"I know, but Jay needs me. It's not long before she has the baby now and then you and Pops will be able to help out." Agnes stared at her son so long he became uncomfortable. "What?"

The aged woman smiled proudly. "Nothing." Here was Claus, doing exactly what Erik did but yet he still found time for his family. "Don't you worry about Jay, we'll take care of her today."

"How are you this evening?" Snowie asked as she plopped down beside her sister in law.

"I'm doing better than last night, I even managed to keep some soup down."

"That's good. What's it like being pregnant? I mean besides all the...sickness and stuff."

Jaylee shrugged, "You'll probably have to ask Erika." Then Jaylee smiled, "The baby moves now, it causes heartburn and sometimes when it moves it causes terrible cramps, but feeling my baby move...I won't trade that for the world and I know once I get to hold my baby this whole thing will be worth it."

"I think I want a baby."

"Oh hell no. You keep your legs closed. You are going to help me and Erika raise our kids. Added bonus, you get to experience the sleepless nights when its your turn with this baby."  

"I swear to God, Snowie if I so much as dream that you're out there trying to get pregnant I'll find your father and give him your boyfriend's address. I'll make sure that he hunts that boy down and beat him to a pulp and you, I'll deal with your myself. And when I'm done with you I'll tell Jack that you're having sex. Oh goodness, baby are you having sex?"

Snowie stared at Jaylee, frightened at how quickly the woman went from being angry at her to nearly crying from heartbreak. "No Jay, calm down. And won't if you tell Dad that I'm trying to get pregnant...isn't that basically telling him that I'm having sex?"

"No Mouthpiece, I said I'll tell Jack Wassisface's address...pay attention."

Snowie blinked. "Jaylee, you're crazy. I'm going to bed."

Jaylee had a good night, she slept the entire night and most of the morning. When she woke up, Agnes had breakfast ready and a spa coupon. "Your husband said to give you this coupon." 

After her day at the spa, Jaylee decided that maybe she should spend the rest of the day in town. She visited the park and then stopped to grab a book on pregnancy and parenting from the bookstore.

On her way home she happened upon her mother. Jaylee didn't think for one minute that her running into Jamie was an accident. "Mom."

"Jaylee, you didn't come to see me."

"Yeah..." She sighed. "I'm sorry."

"You're not. You're pregnant."

"I am." 

"You're talking to me because you need help."

"That's what mothers are supposed to do isn't it?"

"Jaylee, I want you to want me because you're my daughter. I want you to want me to have a relationship with my grandchild. Troubled times are coming sweetheart, we're going to need each other a lot more in the future. I did not send you away because I didn't want the trouble of having a child underfoot, I sent you away because I love you, you're my only child."

Jamie ran a hand across her daughter's round stomach. "And I love my granddaughter already. I love her so much. So, so much."

"Mom? Are you okay? What...what do you know?" Jamie walked away as if in a trance, never answering Jaylee's question.

"Claus." Jaylee said when she got home. "I love you."

"I love you too."

"I spoke to my mother today."

"Really?"

"Claus, something is going to happen, something bad."

"Why do you think so?"

"It's just the vibe I got from my mom."

"Can she see the future or something?"

"No. She has a sense of foreboding, and who will be affected, she's never sure of where it will come from or what will happen."

"That's convenient. Maybe we'll just have a troubled teen."

"Claus, there's a huge chance that our child is not going to be human." She sat beside Claus and sighed. "I just hope we're ready for whatever is coming our way."