-16-

"Jay, what are you doing in Snowie's room?" Claus asked.

"I figured it's the one place you wouldn't look for me."

"Well you figured wrong. Come on, we're going to talk tonight whether you like it or not."

Claus hoised Jaylee onto his shoulder, she was surprisingly light. "Put me down right now Claus Winter, I don't want to talk. I'm sick of everyone telling me to be strong and that things are going to get better. They're not, they still hurt and they'll keep on hurting because every year I'll lose somebody!" Jaylee kicked and screamed like a bad little child. She even tried digging her nails into her husband's back, but he didn't so much as grunt.

Claus flung Jaylee onto the bed and hopped up himself. "That's the way life is Jay, people die, but then people are born as well. Dying is what people do, it's nature's way of stopping overpopulation. And people have been telling you to get over it because whether you like it or not you'll have to, life isn't going to stop because you're sad."

Jaylee released a heavy breath. "I went to see Mother yesterday and she's already moved on. Daddy hasn't been dead that long, she should at least wait a year."

"Jay, your mother is hundreds of years old, you have no idea how many human mates she's had, how many times she's had shake off her sadness and move on. You know, I used to think that Jamie was just heartless and cold, but now that I've gotten to know her, I understand."

"I don't ever want to lose you Claus, you're my world and when you die my world is going to end."

Claus smiled. "Why is your world going to end Jay?"

"Because of the pain. It'll just hurt too bad. You're going to die and so will Erika and then I'll be all alone."

Claus continued to smile at his wife. "Jaylee, have you met our children? It's pretty obvious that they're not human. I'll die, Erika will die and so will Maranda and Denver. But you have three pieces of me left, three children who will share in your pain. But you'll have to be strong for them, you will be strong for them, you won't fall apart. You'll understand death and you'll be able to help them through it." Claus stretched his legs and looked up at the ceiling. "By then we'll have grandchildren, and they'll probably be vampires too. You'll be far from lonely. You'll get to see our generations go on and on for a long time."

There was along silence, then Jaylee managed a small smile. "Claus, I love you."

"I love you too Jay."

Meanwhile downstairs, Snowie and Agnes were on nursery duty. They were doing a pretty good job of caring for the kids while their father tried to get their mother out of her depression. Snowie was especially proud of herself, she was not afraid to hold her nephew, but then he was bigger and stronger than his sisters. He couldn't even sit up yet and Cupid had already begun reaching for and grabbing onto things, and Snowie had learnt the hard way to keep her ponytail out of his way because once he had a grip, it would be hell to get Cupid off.

With Jack gone, Agnes busied herself cleaning the house and cooking meals. The house was never clean enough for her, she always found something that needed to be polished or scrubbed. One morning when she went into the kitchen she was not at all pleased to find that the dishwasher was broken, no worries, she did most of the mechanical things around the house, not having Erik around made Agnes rather handy, and when she married Jack her wielding a wrench was one of his biggest turn-ons. 

On this particular morning though, something went wrong. Agnes was about to tighten a loose bolt when a surge of electricity ran through the dishwasher and up Agnes' arm. When her body went numb she was able to open her fingers and release the wrench. Shaken, Agnes backed away from the dishwasher but was horrified to see that a fire had started.

The old woman's screams brought Snowie and Egypt to the kitchen. Snowie immediately grabbed the fire extinguisher and began spraying the flames. 

"What the hell Mom?" Snowie shouted once the fire was out.

"I don't know, this never happened before!"

Snowie ran her fingers through her hair, the dishwasher was destroyed and the counter was charred but the damage could have been a lot worse. "Are you okay Mom?"

"A bit shaken but I'll get over it."

"Egypt, are you alright?" Jaylee said when she came downstairs, Snowie had told her and Claus about the fire and they shared her relief. 

"I'm okay. Momma...Grandma could have died today."

"But she didn't and we should all be glad for that." Jaylee patted her daughter's knee.

"Momma, are you going back upstairs now?"

Jaylee sighed and pulled Egypt closer to her. "No, I'm sorry about the past couple weeks, I've just been so sad. Daddy cheered me up though, he reminded me that I have you and Sahara and Cupid. I'm your mother, I have to be strong for you and in turn you'll keep me strong. You will be there for me when I need you, right Egypt?"

"Of course Momma."

Jaylee stood and pulled Egypt into a hug, "That's my big girl." Jaylee held her daughter to her for a long time, enjoying Egypt's warm body against hers, how long would it be before the child's body became as cold as her own? Or would it happen at all?

Egypt ran outside to the tree house and Jaylee went to find something to do. She couldn't help but think that the dishwasher had been rigged. She had seen Agnes fix it a few times before, in fact, Jaylee was convinced that Agnes could fix anything. 

"No Jay," She said to herself, "The dishwasher was old, it's time we got a new one." But the side of Jaylee who accepted the truth screamed at her that Vita was after her and the woman would stop at nothing to destroy her. Vita had taken two of the men she loved the most in the world, and perhaps the dishwasher was rigged for Claus. Jaylee weighed her options, she could either stop and allow vampires to remain hidden forever, or she could be a bad ass bitch like revenge and get Vita before she could strike again.

-15-

"My grandpa died." Egypt confided in her imaginary friend Patches. "My grandma is sad and won't come out of her room. Daddy is busy with my sister and brother and Aunty Snow doesn't have time for me. You're my only friend."

"Then perhaps you should go make some...real friends."

Egypt shrugged, "I'm a social outcast Patches. I live in a tree house, that's the height of weird."

"So you don't have any friends?"

"No." Egypt sighed and left the house.

Egypt went to her favorite hangout, the park. She usually sneaked out of her yard in the middle of the night and came to the park to play. Her parents told her it was alright to stay in the tree house if she would come inside to eat and wash up, and if she did not wander off. Of course, when her family was asleep they would never know if she left. 

Egypt happened upon her cousin Maranda while in the park, she was surprised when the girl came over to her. Maranda usually avoided her in school and never told anyone she was related to the grade school freak. 

"Egypt, your mom was over at our house crying again." Maranda rolled her eyes, "Can you please keep her home? I had to cancel a play date."

Egypt blinked back the tears in her yes. "Yeah, sure Maranda." 

Maranda stuck her nose in the air and left. Egypt crouched down behind the merry-go-round and cried. 

Jaylee had not seen her mother since the funeral. She was having one of her good days and decided to go check on Jamie. When she got to her mother's house though she found a huge surprise. A rather dashing young man smiled at her form the yard. 

"You must be Jamie's daughter. I'm Mathew Dark."

Jaylee gave the young man a long hard stare, she couldn't figure out this guy's purpose. "What are you? The groundsman or something?"

"No." Mathew chuckled. "I live here."

Jaylee took a dramatic stumble backward. "You...where's my mother?" Before the young man could answer Jaylee raced into the house, flinging the door open.

"Jaylee, what on Earth has gotten into you?"

"My father has been dead less than a month and you've already moved your boyfriend into the house? What is wrong with you?" Jaylee went on and on ranting, calling her mother names, saying how disgusted she was and raising eternal hell. Jamie stood by patiently  but she never got her say. Jaylee had shouted herself to a sweaty, panting mess, then she stormed out of the house slamming the door.

Mathew sat down beside Jamie  laughing hysterically. "So, that's Jaylee Winter? She a pepper."

"That she is." Jamie sighed. 

"I'm not sure but did she call me a little human-puppy? I don't even know what that is?" Mathew chuckled. "She reminds me of my Aunt Heather's ex-boyfriend Blair." 

Jamie narrowed her eyes at the mention of Blair. "My daughter is nothing like that man!" She snapped,  "She just lost her father and father-in-law. She's upset!"

Mathew's amused smile remained plastered across his face. He was going to have fun in Sunset Valley.

___________________

Mathew Dark is from my friend Lckygrl's story Painswater Point (if you haven't checked it out yet the link is below). I fell in love with him the moment I saw him and she was nice enough to loan him to me. Thanks so much Lcky  : D

http://painswaterpoint.blogspot.com/

-14-

Jaylee did not understand her tears, she guessed when it came down to it they had some pretty good moments when she was younger. Erik had been a decent father in the beginning. She would hold her and rock her to sleep, he would lift her onto his shoulders at the baseball games, he taught her to ride a bike. Erik did all the things that fathers do, and in the end he was man enough to admit his mistake and ask her for forgiveness. 

The thought that she would never see him again was killing her. Jaylee felt as if somebody had reached into her chest and ripped out her heart. Jaylee could not be consoled, she refused to leave the graveyard she just wanted to stand over her father's grave and cry. Jack and Claus had tried to get her to budge, but after two hours, two screaming babies and a bored little girl forced them to leave. Erika remained for another couple of hours. It was Jamie who told her step-daughter to leave Jaylee alone, the girl needed to mourn and she would not feel better until she made her peace with her father.

Erik's grave was marked by some nontraditional markers.  Jamie had left some white flowers celebrating their life together. Erik had loved her unconditionally, he was not just fascinated by her being a vampire and the fantasy of living forever. Jaylee and Claus left trinkets from Egypt which was where their lives came together. Erik had also visited Egypt and he had loved the place. 

It was dark when Jaylee finally dragged home, her blood curdling scream brought Agnes out of the bedroom. "Jaylee what on Earth..." Her voice trailed off, Jaylee was beside herself, screaming and sobbing. Agnes looked around from anybody else, but it was just her and Jaylee, the kids were asleep and Claus had gone over to Erika's place to figure out a way to get his wife out of the graveyard.

"Please! No!" Jaylee managed through her sobs when the familiar cloaked figure entered the room. "Please don't, I need him!" She hiccuped. 

"Jack has been given extra time already thanks to you. I must claim his soul now."

For a while all Jaylee would do is cry. She would lay in bed and cry until somebody came and dragged her out of the house, then she would cry on their shoulders.

"Jaylee, please, you have to snap out of it." Erika frowned at her little sister. "Your husband and children need you. What is wrong with you girl?"

Jaylee was so beside herself with grief that she was unable to even talk, she only managed to cough. Erika sighed and folded her arms. "You've never had any experience with death have you? And then you lose two people that you loved unconditionally in only a week? Wow, that's tough."

Jaylee hiccup-coughed. "Okay, okay." Erika tried. "Ummm, I lost my aunt and uncle...but then again I was never close to them. Jaylee honey, I know it hurts but life goes on. You have to pull yourself together. If you fall apart who will raise your three wonderful children? And Claus is a rather eligible bachelor, women will begin jumping all over him immediately and how long have you waited for him?"

"I c-c-can't..." Jaylee couldn't finish her sentence. It was her fault that Erik and Jack were dead and if it hurt her this much to lose them, she couldn't even fathom losing Claus and she knew how he felt about immortality. Life and all it's lessons were fun, but he didn't want it to go on forever. Eventually she would lose Erika and Claus too and then she would be alone...

-13-

Jack and Agnes had been stuck in the house for a while, so Jaylee invited them to her show. Eternity the Illusionist was a crowd bringer. With three children and a husband Jaylee didn't have as much time to perform as she used to, but that was all well and good, it made her appreciate the few moments she had for herself.

Agnes and Jack were having so much fun that Jaylee even managed to get Agnes up on stage and into the magic box.

Jaylee had just ended her performance when chaos broke out in the kareoke club. Jaylee grabbed her chest as she watched a woman's life slip away from her, the others could see it too, but not the same way Jaylee could. They could not see the pale soul leave its body, they could not see the grim reaper stroll into the room.

Jaylee raced off the stage and stood in the center of the room, two more women collapsed, the screaming increased. People huddled together but nobody made a move to leave the club. Jaylee remembered that her in-laws were there, she located Jack and grabbed onto his arm. "We have to get out of here!" She ordered him and tugged on his arm. 

"No. Where's Agnes?"

She saw the hooded figure coming toward the man she loved as much as her own father and without second thought put herself between Jack and the Reaper. Jaylee scanned the room and located Agnes, "She's near the door, come on Jack, please."

A cold unlike any Jaylee had ever felt passed through her. She turned around and faced the hooded creature. There was no face to be seen underneath the hood, just a nothingness that threatened to pull her into it. "You have no place here."

"Jaylee Winter." Her name echoed inside her head. Suddenly, Vita's warning the last time she was at the karaoke bar came back to her.

"Jaylee!" Monika burst into the club. 

"Monika."

"You have to get out of here."

"I can't leave my husband's parents here." Jaylee thought about what she'd said, "I can't leave any of these people here."

"Damnit!" Monika mumbled, she stripped out of her clothing to reveal her sparkling golden dress. She climbed onto the stage and began to sing. Silence fell across the room, even Jaylee paused. Monika sang in a language that Jaylee had never even heard before, yet she had full understanding of Monika's desire. Leave. Leave this place. Return to your homes. 

Jaylee shook her head and broke the spell, she watched in amazement as all the shallow-minded humans began to walk out of the karaoke club, they went to their cars and they left, just as Monika had ordered.

When the club was empty Monika took Jaylee by the arm, they went upstairs to the recreation area. "What just happened?" Jaylee asked, rubbing her temples with two fingers.

"The Reaper." Monika said. "You are not the only summoner around Jaylee, who knows how many Vita has on her side. He took three lives in this place tonight, three Jaylee! But he took your father first."

Jaylee gazed long and hard at Monika. "My father? Erik? He's dead?"

"Yes. Your mother wishes to see you."

"Sure." Jaylee was numb. She and her father had just patched their relationship, Jaylee was looking forward to at least five years of watching her father enjoy his grandchildren, but it was not to be. She wondered how Jamie was taking Erik's passing.

-12-

Not sure how this happened but due to my jacked up numbering, there is no Chapter 11.

________________________________

Jaylee giggled along with Sahara's baby-talk. Sahara was chatty but she refused to use words, she preferred to babble. It was frustrating to Jaylee that her daughter didn't speak, she knew that Sahara was quite capable of talking, the tot did when she really wanted things.  

Potty training Sahara was a lot easier than it had been with Egypt. She loved interacting with her family, and she especially enjoyed making them smile. 

"Is she doing anything?" Claus asked, he had gotten a promotion which meant that he worked longer hours, but he always made time for his family. Especially his children. Jaylee had given him the best gifts that anyone could receive, three healthy, happy children. Each with their own little personalities, their own likes and dislikes.

"Dadadadadada!" Sahara sang, reaching her arms toward Claus.

He chuckled and picked up his daughter, soaking her cheeks with kisses. Snowie came in and took Sahara from Claus, Sahara was her baby. "Bedtime honey." She told the tot who waved goodbye to her parents.

Snowie changed Sahara and placed her on the potty, then she tucked the tot in and read her a story.

The next morning found Jaylee starting her day as usual. Tending to Cupid first, then going downstairs to the other children. Usually, Agnes would already have breakfast ready, the two still did not get along but Jaylee would sit and chat with Egypt while she fed Sahara who would sit on her lap.

As the sun rose in the morning, Sahara would demand that her mother danced with her and she would have to oblige. 

The bus would pull up and blow it's horn at eight o'clock sharp, Jaylee would ask Egypt to put on more feminine clothes, the two would argue. The argument always ended with Egypt rolling her eyes and saying, "Whatever Mom!"

Jaylee was proud of the way her eldest daughter turned out. Egypt looked just like her, from the wicked eyebrows to the straight hair, but those lips were certainly Jack's.

Snowie's birthday rolled around a few weeks later. Snowie didn't have a big party, it was just her and her family. While they stood around Snowie encouraging her to make a wish, the girl wondered what could someone who had everything possibly wish for. 

The one thing she really wanted but didn't have of course...

-10-

Claus was getting pretty good at the parenting thing. He had learnt how to juggle both his girls at the same time. It also helped that Egypt was so independent, once she was bathed and fed she was good until nap time. Sahara was also a sweetheart, she only cried when she was hungry, Claus was sure that this one would eat him out of house and home when she got older. 

What Claus was unsure of was how a new baby would fit into the mix of personalities and tantrums. 

Jaylee came into the nursery around midday, somebody had already settled Sahara so all she had to do was tend to Egypt which was harder then it sounds as Egypt's new obsession with being a 'big girl' made her difficult. 

"I don't wan' a badowl!" Egypt shouted and folded her arms.

"Egypt, Mommy is tired, please just drink the bottle and I'll put you in your crib.

"No! Don't wanna!"

Jaylee stared at her eldest, she never argued with Egypt, she usually just waited until the girl tired herself out with a tantrum, but she decided to take another approach. "You're not being a big girl right now Egypt. You're supposed to help Mommy while she's pregnant, but you're being difficult. Big girls aren't difficult."

Egypt pouted profusely. "Big girls not drink badowls."

"Let's make a deal. If you behave for Mommy while she's pregnant, you won't have to drink another bottle after the baby is born. Okay?"

"No!"

"Okay, okay. Well just drink this bottle and you won't have to have another."

"'kay."

Jaylee had gotten an ultrasound the day before, she knew that they were having a boy, but she wanted it to be a surprise for Claus. He adored their daughters but Claus had always wanted a son.

"Why can't you just tell me?" He whined as he listened to the baby's healthy heartbeat though Jaylee's swollen stomach. 

"Because I told you the first two times."

Some months later, Jaylee was rosy, nearly ready to pop Other than her feet swelling from time to time and the expected backache, Jaylee's pregnancy went smoothly. Erika had a small get together for her birthday and invited her little sister over, just to get Jaylee out of the house.

"Hello Denver!" Jaylee greeted her nephew when she got to her sister's house, the boy handed for his aunt who was more than happy to oblige him. 

"Are you sure you can get up from that crouch?" Erika joked, "My baby brother is really keeping your barefoot and pregnant isn't he?" 

"We can't keep our hands off each other, but this is the last one, I'm getting my tubes tied."

"I think Frederick and I will have one more...maybe. I'm fine with the two I already have."

Jaylee bounced Denver gently. "You and Freddy are so good at making babies, just look at those two you have, they're adorable."

"And so are my nieces. Maranda should be home soon, I'm going out back to make sure that there are still snacks there."

Jaylee managed to stoop once more to rest Denver back on the floor. Jaylee arched her back when she stood and was startled to find a woman standing behind her.

"Can I help you?"

"I do not understand..." The tall, slender woman murmured. "I sense that you are one of us, but you are with child."

"That I am." Jaylee smiled. "I'm a hybrid, my father is human."

"How is that possible? I have heard of human women becoming pregnant with occult spawn, but never of a vampire baring a child for a human. Her mother must have been human."

Jaylee shrugged, she knew nothing of her maternal grandparents, one thing she was sure of though was that her mother was centuries old. How far back did hybrids go? How long did they live?

"May I?" The woman asked.

"Sure." Jaylee allowed the vampire to rub her round stomach, the baby became excited by her touch. 

"Ah, he is a strong one, that is good, he will have to be strong for what the future has in store for him. For you all."

Jaylee froze, "What?"

"This thing that you are doing, this thing that you are trying to achieve. Heartache waits in your immediate future." The woman stood  and wrung her hands. "Beware the sins of the parents Jaylee Winter, for they befall the children. What will you call him?"

"What?"

"The baby? Your son? What is his name?"

"I'm calling him Cupid."

"Ah, the love-bringer. It was nice talking with you, I do hope I see you around."

"Are you okay?" Erika asked seeing the look on her sister's face when she returned.

"That woman, she gave me a bad omen and then immediately asked me about my baby, as if..."

"Oh don't mind her. She's our crazy next door neighbor, Maranda adores her stories but I always tell the girl to stay away from her, she's a bad influence."

Erika wagged her finger meaningfully at her daughter then rushed away to tend to one particularly drunk guest.

"Aunty, did you just pee yourself?" Maranda giggled.

Jaylee looked down just as a sharp pain shot through her abdomen. "Maranda go get your mother."

Claus had been busy when  Erika brought Jaylee in, but one of his colleagues kept him updated on his wife's condition. After a 36 hour sift, Claus was exhausted, Jamie advised him to go home and rest, after all, Jaylee wasn't going anywhere. Claus wound up spending the rest of his day off at home, Egypt was being moody and Sahara was being clingy. He did speak to Jaylee on the phone at around midday and she assured him that they had a healthy baby.

At eight, Jamie called to let him know that he could come pick up his wife and baby. Claus looked at the tiny  blue bundle in his wife's arms and immediately burst into tears. 

"His name is Cupid." She told him. 

"He's beautiful." Claus sobbed. "He's our son? We've finally got a son? I'm so happy."

Jaylee forced herself to smile. Her encounter with the seer made her nervous, but the woman had to be wrong. There was no way that anything bad could happen. She and Claus' family was now complete, they had two lovely daughters and a new, wonderful son. Or perhaps this was too good to be true.