Alexandre was suddenly all business.
"I think we should still have some left, but a blood draw would be more efficient. Heavens look at my hands shake! It would be better to let Cornelius do that when he and Rory return from their house hunting expedition today." He turned on a heel and took several large steps toward the bathroom I had taken the tests in the first time, before suddenly spinning, grabbing me in his arms and kissing me hard and deep. My head swam. He let me go and I panted slightly, releasing a nervous, breathless laugh before following him the rest of the way to the restroom.
"I'm not really sure I want Cornelius and Rory to know." I called as I washed up, leaving the test to do its thing. Alexandre opened the bathroom door slightly and looked at me seriously with a question in his eyes. I sighed. "I don't want it to impact their plans to move out. I don't want them to feel obligated to stay if they... really want to go." I reigned in a sob. Alexandre took me in his arms.
"I was under the impression you wanted them to stay." He murmured into my hair, smoothing it back from my face. I twitched and looked at him.
"I can't get anything by you, can I?" I grumped and he laughed his rich, full laugh.
"Not very many things I dare say. I know you as well as I know my own soul, love. It's like someone carved you from my heart and made you just for me, exactly as I never knew I wanted or needed." He kissed me gently. "I love you, sweet Carys."
"Eternally." I sighed happily against his chest, the ring on my finger resting beside my face shining brightly as if to emphasize the point.
"You're going to pace a hole in that floor." I teased, bouncing Mina on my lap.
"Where are they?" Alexandre growled.
"Papa!" Mina demanded and I let her down so she could toddle her way to Alexandre's side. He hoisted her into his arms immediately and snuggled his face against her own. She giggled.
"Look, Cornelius had to call in a favor for that extra testing equipment and the chemicals." I tried to calm Alexandre as he resumed pacing once more. "Honestly, I think we should just let it go how it goes.." I offered.
"No." Alexandre growled. "I want a confirmation first, then I want to keep track of this one more carefully. If it's true." Alexandre stalked towards me. "And you-YOU will be staying out of harm's way. NO more injuries, NO suicide mission. NO psychos. HOME. REST. HEALTH. SELF-CARE." He snarled.
"Geez-yes sir." I held up my hands in defeat, a small grin on my face. What else did I have to do anyway?
"Yesr, yesr!" Mina mimicked and I laughed.
"Is he giving you trouble little Nymph?" Cornelius walked in through the kitchens, a hand truck full of cardboard boxes and wooden crates behind him.
"Always." I laughed. "How's the house hunt?"
��Ah, nothing appeases me yet, sadly. But don't worry, we'll be out of your expanding family's way in no time!" Cornelius passed me and didn't see the hurt look on my face, but Rory stopped in front of me.
"Carys? Sunshine?" He asked softly, and then suddenly had his arms wrapped around me, the machinery he'd been wheeling in forgotten in the middle of the foyer.
"I didn't mean it like that. I'm not trying to force you guys out the door. You can stay as long as you like." I mumbled and Rory squeezed me tightly, kissing my hair.
"Oh Carys, that's just how he handles things. It's his way of not breaking down, I think. We know, Sunshine, we know." He pulled my head against his shoulder and kissed my hair again.
"Carys!" Alexandre called from the med room. "Love, don't make me come get you! I will sling you over my shoulder and carry your butt in here if you make me!" I rolled my eyes.
"Is he on freak-out mode or what?" Rory asked.
"Yup." I patted my abdomen and stood with a sigh. Rory grinned and finished pushing the equipment toward the room, me trailing behind.
I did well through the blood draw. Cornelius patted my thigh and grinned.
"You've come far little nymph." He complimented.
"Shh, don't jinx it, and Alexandre I swear to God if you don't stop pacing I will rip off your legs and feed them to you." I glared at him and he paused, surprised, before bursting out laughing. Mina looked between us, bewildered, but decided we weren't really angry at each other and relaxed. She had so rarely seen either of us be truly angry at the other, I'm not certain how she would handle it if she did. Alexandre came over and sat next to me on the gurney.
"I'm sorry love, I have become a nervous father, haven't I?" Alexandre nuzzled his nose into my neck and I swatted him.
"You're secretly checking me aren't you?" I scolded. He grinned.
"You're very hormonal. I should have never doubted the test." He teased.
"Boy, I'm going to hormonal your-" I shot a quick look at Mina. "You just wait until you start craving some attention young man." I crossed my arms and looked away. Alexandre laughed again, pulling me against his side.
"What's going on down here?" Luc asked from the doorway. He was getting better with the walker, I didn't even here him coming. Or maybe I was too distracted.
"Kook! Kook!" Mina cried, holding out her arms. Alexandre laughed and set her down so she could toddle her way to him. She excitedly chattered at him, though even I didn't understand half of what she was saying. Luc's eyes lit up though, and he pretended to understand everything and chatted with her happily. I leaned into Alexandre's side with a small smile. To think the two brothers had come so far that this was even possible. I turned to kiss Alexandre's cheek, only to find him looking at me with that heartbreaking lovesick look again. He kissed me softly instead.
"This is because of you, Carys. Our Family. All of it." He murmured. I blushed.
"Eh, I don't know, seems like I remember this hundred year old vampire saving a dying girl and taming her." I shrugged.
"What ever was there to tame?" Alexandre asked with a laugh.
"I seem to remember that girl being pretty panicky and wild. Duplicitous even, nervous. Maybe I should say you calmed me." I shrugged again. Alexandre nuzzled my neck, letting his teeth run along the pulse and I shivered.
"We calmed each other." He whispered to me. I could definitely say I was in love with this man.
"Congratulations, you're pregnant." Cornelius called a little while later. "But I think you already knew that." A light laugh from him. Alexandre looked floored.
"How... how is this possible?" Alexandre breathed. I looked down at my waist. This was... unbelievable!
"Cornelius.." I began.
"Don't worry, I'm running the full panel. Everything is coming up normal. Well normal for a vampire." Cornelius laughed. I placed a hand on my abdomen. Alexandre and I were still in shock. Rory whooped, rushing in to give us back-breaking hugs.
"Congratulations you guys! Representatives for the vampire race! Why do you look like someone died?" Rory teased.
"Because one was a miracle. Two? How did this happen?" Alexandre murmured.
"Well, it's this little thing called sex.." Rory began. I reached after him intent on swatting him good, but he danced away from me.
"Two children. As vampires." Luc murmured thoughtfully from the doorway. "God has been kind to you brother." That seemed to break Alexandre out of his spell. He turned to me and swept me up in a kiss that had the other vamps staring eagerly. When he released me, I watched breathlessly as he paced quickly to his brother and clasped him on the shoulder, before bending to scoop Mina up and toss her in the air. She squealed excitedly.
"Yes he has brother, yes he has." Alexandre responded with a fiercely happy look in his eyes.