Blueblood

Story: Blueblood

Chapter 25 Jeremy Proctor

Author: Eric McQueen (mcqueen.richarderic@gmail.com)

Adult Readers, Sexual Situations, Sex

Freedom of expression is precious. To do that Nifty needs help. Your donation is greatly desired. Give to http://donate.nifty.org/ or this story ends and all the others! That would be a crime!

Jeremy Proctor

Things did get a little more crowded at the house. As I mentioned before, we knew the wedding and guests were here, but other than the occasional wandering wedding party guest, they were doing their own thing. Colin and I spent time with Sean, who turned out to be everything I thought he'd be. He was wickedly funny and had a great sense of humor. We were in the library when Kelly walked in a little dejected.

Sean looked at his youngest. "What's wrong, baby?" Sean asked her.

She shook her head. "Nothing." She said in a way that all teenage girls did, telling there was something. "There just isn't anything to do." She plopped in a chair sighing. "No swimming pool, nothing for kids."

I grinned. "We're working on that." I stood up. "What about secret passages?"

Her eyes lit up. "Secret passages?" Her eyes narrowed. "If they're secret, how do you know about them?" She grinned.

"We're owners," I said simply. "It's our house, who else should know?" I did my finger asking her to come over. "I'll show you a secret bedroom. It's where the owner, who is vampire stayed underground during the day for so long."

Her eyes grew as she jumped up and came over. "A secret room?"

I instructed her to pull the books forward. It didn't take long and we heard the click and the shelf sprung open.

Her eyes grew. "Brilliant!" She looked at me. "Can I go down?"

I gave her the look. "No. I had you open it to just shut it again." I smiled. "Of course, you can!" I waved at the opening. Sean chuckled at his daughter's renewed excitement.

She let a little squeal out and opened the door and peered inside. Then she descended the steps to the room below.

I looked at Sean. "Don't worry, there are no vampires down there now. It's just a room." I smiled and followed her down.

She was fascinated by all of it. Leave it to her to notice there was no bathroom and asked where the loo was. I answered her question which she turned her lips up to the answer about the ammonia piss.

She listened and nodded. "Tell me." She began. "Grandpa Scott is really a vampire?" She wanted confirmation.

I nodded. "He is." I looked at her. "What about the grandparents on your dad's side."

She nodded. "Grandma Wallace is alive, but she's like..." she thought, "...a hundred or something."

I smiled knowing she wasn't. "Colin is over two hundred."

Her eyes grew and she turned to me suddenly grinning excited. "No way! That is so cool!"

I nodded. "You know? You're grandfather Wayne is worried about you."

"Why?"

"He's worried that you might be seeing what he is as attractive," I said.

"Mom told me it was pretty bad." Kelly nodded, but not heard in her voice.

"Have you ever had a nightmare?"

"Sure." Kelly nodded.

I smiled. "It didn't last long, did it?"

"I've had scary dreams before." She confessed. "I usually get so scared, I wake up."

"Imagine that nightmare lasting all night."

Her eyes widened.

"You can't wake up," I said. "I don't want to frighten you, but now imagine this nightmare you can't wake from lasting all night, all day for fifty years. Four times the life you've had."

Now, her eyes widened even more.

"Your grandfather lived a nightmare for fifty years. He couldn't wake up."

Her eyes were horror-struck.

"The Hell your grandfather lived was horrible. He doesn't want you to think it was something great." I reached out and touched her shoulder. "It wasn't great and he doesn't want you to suffer either."

She nodded. "I guess I was a little excited about him being a vampire." She frowned. "They always make the vampire so great in movies."

I nodded. "Those are stories," I said. "That's all they are. They're not true."

She sighed again and nodded. "Mom said I needed to calm down."

I chuckled. "I wouldn't say that. You're a very happy person! You see joy and excitement in everything! You have a wonderful sense of wonder and an inquisitive mind. That says a lot about your mother and father. The fact that your grandfather is a vampire didn't scare you at all. It never did. Just take it easy with your granddad. He worries."

She smiled. "I will." Then I swear, her horns grew. "Now, Colin!"

I smiled. "Colin?"

She gave a grunting moan. "Yes! He's quite a hunk!" She said. "A gorgeous hunk! He's a vampire!?"

I chuckled. "Your Mom did tell you he was my husband, didn't she?"

She grinned. "So? He's gay, but that doesn't stop me from looking!" She started talking even faster. "You are, too! Only you were standing right here..." she said, "...which now I've told you." She shrugged. "Oh, well. That doesn't mean it's not true, you are. Colin is. You're both hunks!"

I laughed with her. "I agree, Colin is a hunk. Most definitely." I grinned. "I think you take after your father with his sense of humor."

She nodded smiling. "Mom says so."

I bowed slightly. "And thanks for the compliment."

"I mean it, really." She smiled.

I nodded. "I believe you!"

She looked around the room below ground and smiled. "This is going to be a great resort." But something in her voice said there was a "but" in it.

"And what would you add?" I asked.

That opened a flood gate! I got everything from a water park to go-carts and items and ideas for the list kept coming. Many I knew would never happen, but we headed back upstairs after a few minutes where we saw Wayne and Katie had come in the library. I saw that that youthful glow from Kelly's eyes had faded a bit. She looked at Wayne now and her face changed to one of sorrow and understanding. She walked over to Wayne and kissed him on the cheek and moved on through the library without another word.

Wayne just looked at me and his eyes held puzzlement.

Katie looked around. "Have you seen Scott? Where's Karen?"

Sean smiled. "Scott is following a young woman through the house. Her name's Lilly, I think. Karen and George started talking about science and went off to George's lab in the barn."

"He's a science geek." Colin smiled. "They were discussing how and why for all this vampire stuff and serum."

Katie smiled when she heard that. "He has the answers to her many questions."

"And who better to answer those questions, but the very vampire doctor who came up with the serum?" I asked smiling.

Sean was happily talking with Colin and Edwin about the expansion. Katie and Wayne were catching up for the past missing fifty years. Scott had an interest in Lilly and I kept Kelly occupied. The weekend was becoming a success!

We had dinner Saturday night in a lesser dining room. It was still very nice, but we were more crowded. The members of our team ate with the members of Wayne's family. Karen was now satisfied with what George had shown her. Scott was still enamored with Lilly as he thought about her. Kelly proved as good as her word, she no longer expected Wayne to be that mysterious vampire grandfather. Katie and Wayne were still catching up with the past fifty years and would for some time. Sean enjoyed talking with Colin about business and what the plans were. Colin made sure Sean knew that Edwin was the man to speak to on what needed to be done.

"...and he showed me the venom and how the serum adheres to it and keeps it from working." Karen had been explaining happily. "It's really quite fascinating."

Kelly looked at my mother. "You're going to marry a vampire?"

"Sure." Mom nodded taking Willie's hand. "When you meet someone you're meant to be with..." she shrugged. "...it works itself out."

Colin smiled at Mom. He turned to Karen. "Evan Bennett has a grandmother that's a vampire. He plans to work more here at Thornwood. He and his cousin Emma are going to working here a lot medically. Perhaps one day you'll like to work here."

Karen gave a shrugging nod. "Well, vampirism isn't a normal medical discipline, but I'd love to be more involved." She smiled.

Wayne smiled as he saw how well things were going. "Soon, we're going to be going to a new city." He said cautiously.

Katie looked startled. "But I just got you back!"

Wayne nodded as he chuckled. "I won't be gone forever, but we have a lot of work to do." He smiled. "There are a lot of other vampires in the world that need help, just like I did." He took her hand. "We have time. I still have to get a passport from Eric Mattingly at MI5."

"And we have a wedding of our own to have," I said looking at Mom and Willie.

Colin looked at this growing family. "We will be in touch often. With the internet and video calls, we'll never be out of touch."

"There is a threat here in England," Edwin said to Katie. "We're going to track it down." He looked at Wayne. "There is that vampire that bit your father we need to find. It's been out there a good while, but we'll look for him."

Wayne smiled. "With modern transportation, we can be back in no time." He looked at Scott. "You have graduation coming. I intend to be there."

I smiled. "And you all need to come to Charleston and see our home." I smiled. "We'll show you Charleston." I grinned at Kelly. "Maybe we can take a trip to Disneyworld."

Kelly's eyes lit up. "Really?? We went there went I was seven! I'd love to go again! Can we do Universal Studios while we're there as well?"

I shrugged. "Why not?" She might be growing up, but the idea of going to the happiest place on earth hit everyone's child side.

Kelly was all smiles now. "I know, it's was a hard road Grandpa Wayne went down..." she grinned. "...and now he's flying all over the world! This is so...."

We all added. "...cool."

Kelly grinned more. "Exactly! I won't mind being part of this, too." She looked at her mother. "As a human, Mom. Not as a vampire."

Shelly chuckled. "We can always use more humans on our teams. Female human especially."

I watched Colin come out of the bathroom as he finished his evening rituals and came to bed. He looked up and saw me grinning as I stared at him making him stop.

"Okay," Colin said as he got in bed. "What's going through that mind of yours?"

"Kelly was right," I said scooting over to him. "You are a hunk."

Colin's eyes widened. "She said that?"

I nodded crawling over him and sitting on top of him, my hands running through the chest hairs I loved. "She's not stupid. She knows a good-looking man when she sees him." I said leaning in and kissing him. "I am so in love with you, Colin," I said very seriously and full of emotion.

Colin's eyes softened. "I know you are. You know I'm in love with you."

I nodded. "I do." I stretched out beside him, my fingers still running through his chest hair. "I'm at home where ever you are, but it will be nice to see Charleston again."

Colin smiled softly. "We've been gone a good while." He kissed me deeply and rolled us so he was looking down at me. "We've made some real progress. For the first time, I feel like we're getting somewhere. We have new friends here with Edwin and Sarah..."

"Matt and Evan and Emma," I added, "and new family members with Wayne and his family."

Colin chuckled. "Now, to get our mother and Willie married..."

"And Alex and Gabriella married at Wentworth," I said. "England was easy."

Colin looked startled. "Easy!?"

"They speak English," I said.

"Do they?" Colin asked smiling. "Petrol, lorry, loo...it's almost like they're speaking another language."

I kissed him again. "I got used to it."

"We'll go home for a few weeks and go to the next city," Colin said. "You think Cairo is where we need to go?"

I nodded. "I can't explain it other than it just makes sense," I said. "Rome and Athens may be the birthplace of democracy, but it isn't the oldest civilization. I just know we'll find more answers there."

Colin nodded. "We'll need to see what Stan can dig up for the language barrier."

I nodded. "They speak English there, but we'll need Arabic and someone that can read Hieroglyphics."

"Hieroglyphics?"

"Pyramids?" I reminded Colin. "I can't explain it, but I know there's something there. I'm just willing to bet everything...we'll find the vampires like the one that bit Wayne there."

Colin grinned down at me. "I married a smart man, so who am I to argue?" He said kissing. "You're a kind man. And I think you're the hunk." He said kissing me again. "Make love to me?"

I grinned. "No more shop talk."

He chuckled. "Agreed." He kissed me passionately. "I love you."

We made sweet love, slowly and with all the love we could muster.

In the morning we gathered for breakfast, again in the Grand Dining Room. Wayne's grandchildren were staring at Colin as he ate his usual abundance of food. Kelly's ducked to look under the table.

"Where does he put it?" She asked as her head came back up.

Gabriella laughed. "Daddy's always had a big appetite. Becoming a vampire, then back to being more human, that hasn't changed."

Scott had been looking, too. "I know carbs are important, but I couldn't play football if I ate like that. How do you stay in shape like you are and eat that much?"

We had agreed not to tell everything about being a vampire and the fact that he couldn't gain weight was something we agreed not to tell. Colin shrugged. "I'm always hungry and I work!." He narrowed an eye. "And by football, you mean soccer, right?"

Scott nodded. "Of course." He grinned. "That thing you Americans play has little to do with the foot."

"That sport came about after I was turned, so I never got into it," Colin said. He thought. "Most sports came after I was turned."

"Not soccer!" Scott stated. "That's been around thousands of years. Even longer than even you were born!"

"Most of the track sports have been around," Karen added. "Wrestling. They had Olympics for eons."

"And naked!" Kelly added with a waggle of her eyebrows.

"Kelly," Sean said sternly, but a smile on his face.

Colin smiled. "I was just...busy. There wasn't a lot of time for sports. Working in the fields was my sport."

Katie looked at her father. "When are you leaving for your next city?"

Wayne looked at me and Colin. "I first need to have the passport. We have a couple of events to handle. We'll be here a few more weeks."

Katie smiled. "Good."

Sean looked at Edwin. "I'll have some finished sketches done in a few days. I'll let you see them and we can get this...VUNGB..." he smiled, "...built!" He looked around the house. "And we'll begin to renovate this place. Make it a world-class resort."

"Owned and run by vampires," Kelly said. "Sorry, Grandpa, but this is just too cool." She said shaking her head. "And I can't even tell Darleen about it!!" She moaned.

Wayne visited with his grandchildren that morning. Learning what they wanted to do and wanted to be in life and just learning about them. A tearful farewell, assurances they'd see each other again soon and we watched Wayne's family drive away.

I stepped closer to Wayne, bumping his shoulder. "You have a great family, Wayne."

He nodded as he waved to Kelly who was waving from the backseat. "Yes, I do." He smiled. "I found out a lot about Rosalind. She was happy. After I disappeared, she was unhappy for a few years, but Dennis came in her life and..." he shrugged. "She loved him. He loved her and Katie, adopting Katie as his own. I wish he were alive for me to thank."

"Rosalind didn't have any other children?" I asked.

He shook his head. "She miscarried one and ended up having a hysterectomy due to complications. No other children."

Colin, who always had my hand when we were together, squeezed my hand. "If you change your mind...or ever just want to come back here...for a week or even longer. You can do that."

Wayne smiled nodding. "I appreciate that." He looked at Colin. "Why are you doing this? You're willing to spend millions, put the time in away from home. Why? What are you getting from this?" It was challenging, but he knew why.

Colin looked a little surprised. "It's necessary. We've been divided from the beginning of us. I want to build a community. I want to help those like us and bring us together."

Wayne nodded. "And so do I. What you've done is amazing and I want to be a part of that. I love Katie, Sean, and those kids. I also love you two. I want to do my part."

I smiled putting my arm around Wayne's shoulder. "We are doing that. We've already made a difference in England and the United States. The disappearances as they have been in England have dropped. We've got a long way to go, but we're doing it."

Colin nodded. "I am just giving you options." He said as we made a circle, arms on each other shoulders. "I officially welcome to our team, Wayne."

I smiled. "We're taking this world, one vampire at a time if necessary, but we're taking out in this world now. We plan to stay here."

Now that things were shaping up for the vampires in England. Our focus could shift a little from what was happening here and think about what our next step should be. We had contacted Director Mattingly about Wayne's passport and it would be coming to Thornwood. Sean sent the drawing about his ideas about the medical and housing building for future vampires. When built, they could do five vampires at once if needed to house and the rooms could be closed off from any sunlight or open to let that sunshine in. There was a lab that would almost rival George's lab in Manhattan which we needed to get equipped for Evan Bennett, Emma Bennett, and anyone else that helped with a vampire's medical needs. We were generally going about business as usual, but we were also planning to go back to Charleston. The teams in this part of England were increasing and they were patrolling nightly. There were quite a number of vampires caught and unlike Wayne, they were wild and feeding on anything, including humans, or were about to. Wayne had been wild, but he was feeding on livestock and he didn't resist being caught.

We were packing. It was amazing how things just sort of accumulated even though we weren't even home.

Colin came in our room sighing and flopped down on our bed and collapsed down. "I am sick of packing!"

I grinned at him. "We could just stay."

He looked surprised a second. "What?" Then he smiled. "You're looking as forward to going back as I am." He looked about the room we'd been in the past few weeks. "I would like to see Wentworth Manor." He grinned. "Even if it is for only a few weeks."

I nodded. "The problem is...I feel as comfortable here as I do in Charleston and Manhattan." I shrugged. "I am home as long as we're together."

Colin's face softened as he smiled at that. "Our mother and Gabriella are planning a wedding for Mom and Willie." He smiled. "We'll have another vampire in the family."

I nodded. "And a new one on the way after they do." I came over to him and sat on the side of the bed.

Colin grinned reaching over and pulling me toward him. "We need to send Mom and Willie somewhere for their honeymoon as a gift." He grinned. "Then again, we haven't been on ours yet."

I smiled as I ran my lips over his lips. "Colin, we have been on a honeymoon since we married." I chuckled. "Even before we said I do. We go on little trips all the time."

Colin smiled kissing me more. "Still, I'd like us to go somewhere and it be just us. Nowhere to be or when...just us...no vampires...nothing."

I smiled again. "That sounds good." I pulled him so he was on top of me. "Where are we sending Mom and Willie?"

He grinned. "Well, it just so happens, I know of a lovely little place in the South of France." He smiled as his hands went over me. "We send them for two weeks. What do you say?"

I nodded and let my hands enjoy what I enjoyed. "It sounds like you have it all planned. Why ask me?"

"You should be involved!" Colin said. "She's your mother." He said logically. "Mine by marriage."

"Is there another reason you came in here?" I asked touching the side of his face and let my fingers run over his face. "I wonder what that reason is." I said knowing what it was.

"Yes, there was." He said kissing me deeper.

Spontaneous loving in the afternoon. What is there better than that?

We walked through Thornwood seeing the increased personnel. We arrived at what Edwin had decided was going to be his office here. The door was cracked open, so we came in.

I grinned as Matt stood up quickly from his place on the desk. He had been seated facing Edwin who was in his office chair. Matt grinned as he quickly pulled his pants up and zipped them. "I should have closed and locked the door."

Edwin smiled. "Well, we were going over some future events coming to Thornwood." He grinned more. "When something sort of..." he grinned bigger, "...came up."

I rolled my eyes. "That was such a PUN!"

Edwin chuckled. "Yes. It was!" He folded his hands behind his head not bothered at all. "What's up?"

"Two weeks from now," Colin said. "We plan to have a wedding here."

Edwin nodded with a chuckle. "Your daughter and mother already did that."

"They did!?" I said. "What are they planning?"

Edwin nodded. "Your mother insisted on something small. A more private wedding. Just family and a few friends. A small dinner afterward."

I looked at Colin who shrugged. "It's both their second weddings. If that's what they want." I said simply.

"But you have to come to Charleston for Gabriella's and Alex's wedding. I know her wedding will be very lavish." Colin grinned.

Edwin nodded. "Of course!"

"We'll need passports, too," Matt said with a smile.

"We know a person at MI5 that can make it possible," I said and grinned. "Next time, shut and lock the door." I grinned and we left the office.

Further down the hall was the library. Wayne sat in front of a computer.

"...but it wasn't like that." Wayne was saying. "I was there! It was all over the world! She was the first monarch crowned on television and I saw it. I was a teenager, but I remember." He said to the image of his granddaughter Kelly. He sighed. "Now, is there something else you need to know?"

Kelly was writing what she'd heard and smiled. "Nope, Grandpa." She smiled even bigger at her grandfather. "Thanks! Now, I have to write my paper better." She looked beyond Wayne. "Hi, Devon. Hi, Colin." Then she brightened. "I could ask you, too! You were alive when Queen Elizabeth was crowned, right?"

Colin smiled at me. "I was alive. I heard about it, but it didn't have the same impact in New York City as it did here."

I shook my head. "I wasn't even born yet."

Her face fell slightly. "Oh." She said slightly disappointed and a second later brightened again. "You were born before both World Wars, right, Colin?"

"That, I do remember." Colin nodded. "Both wars."

She let out a little squeal. "I'll have other papers to do for World History! Darleen would be so jealous!"

"Okay, I'm asking. Who's Darleen?" Colin asked.

Kelly smiled. "She's my best friend. We've known each other...almost...forever! We grew up together." She said. "Gotta write now. Love you all! Bye!"

I chuckled as the screen went to its screen saver. "She is a dynamo!"

Wayne chuckled back. "That she is." He smiled as he touched the computer. "I love this thing! I can chat with Katie, or Sean...help my granddaughter with her homework. This is great!"

I chuckled again. "It will work even if we're in Charleston, Manhattan or anywhere else."

"We'll give them notice before we leave England. That way they can see you before we go." Colin said. "And our mother is planning to marry in two weeks." Colin looked at me. "I may be out of line, but...they should come, too."

I nodded. "Absolutely. Katie, Sean, and the kids are family. Edwin said Mom and Willie were having only family and few friends." I waved at Wayne. "They're both."

Wayne smiled when I said that. "Sure, but...I think Betty or you should invite them."

"Are you packed?" Colin asked.

Wayne looked surprised. "I don't have anything to pack." He said simply.

I patted Wayne on the shoulder. "We'll have to change that."

Colin rolled his eyes. "Here we go." He said knowing what I'd say. "We're going to Harrods'." He said to Wayne.

Wayne's eyes grew. "Harrods'!?"

I looked at Colin in mock surprise. "Well, it has everything you could want. There are other stores in London, I know that." I looked at Wayne. "We can go down next Friday, have a good dinner that night, go shopping all day Saturday and part of Sunday." I smiled bigger. "It will be fun." I glared at Colin. "I like Harrods'."

Colin looked at Wayne closer. "At first, we went so he could say he'd been there. Now, I've created a monster."

"I've only been twice!" I said exasperatedly.

"A monster. He says he doesn't like shopping, but I don't see that." Colin repeated monster in a stage whisper to Wayne who chuckled. "Tell you what, I'll call Director Mattingly, tell him to keep your new ID and passport there. We'll go by and get them at the MI5 offices. We'll go early to London, go by a bank and start a bank account in your name."

Wayne bowed his head slightly. "I can't thank you guys enough. You've been very generous to me." He said softly.

Colin shook his head. "No, it's an investment. You'll be working with us. You'll get a paycheck now. You need an account to put that in and pay expenses when we are abroad."

I nodded. "And it's selfish."

Wayne grinned. "How is it selfish?" "We keep you around this way," I said logically.

We did just what we said. We'd gone on a few patrols with the local vampires that week, but Friday morning we left Thornwood and drove to London. Colin insisted I drive.

"You're going to have to learn to follow the rules of the road in other countries." He shrugged. "You might as well start here. You said England was easy. So, do it!"

I was on my toes when I drove to London. I'd studied the rules they had for driving in England and I'm happy to report, no accidents. I was worried that after a while, I'd relax too much and slip into my old habits without thought. That never happened.

We did go by the MI5 offices and went to Director Eric Mattingly's office where he again was shaking his head.

"This is just amazing." He said as he looked at Wayne. "If I hadn't seen him that Monday...wild and trying to attack, I would never know."

Colin smiled. "That's why we're doing this." He said tapping Director Mattingly on the shoulder.

We then went to Barclays downtown London and opened Wayne's account there. He would have Thornwood's address as his permanent address, with a letter from Edward Addams, and even a video conference with Edward, who on paper was still the owner, where he attested Wayne Scott did have a residence there.

We checked into a couple of rooms at a nice hotel in London and had a nice meal. Then hit the stores Saturday as soon as they opened.

It was later while we were shopping Wayne let out a startled yelp. He looked down at himself. "What the hell?"

I heard the vibration and chuckled. "You have your phone on silent and vibrate. You have an incoming call."

Wayne smiled. "Oh." He dug in his pocket and got his phone out. He was still learning the technology, looked at the phone and smiled. "It's Katie." He hit the screen to pull the call up. "Hello?" He smiled at what he heard. "I'll let them know." He looked around where he was. "No, I'm in London. At Harrods'." He grinned again. "I know! I never really came here before. This is nice." He nodded to a daughter that couldn't see him. "I'll tell them." He smiled again. "Okay. I love you, Bye." He looked up at Colin and me. "She and Kelly will be coming alone to Thornwood Saturday."

Colin nodded. "We have the room!"

"We'll be going to Charleston first," Wayne asked to confirm.

"We'd like to show it off," I said smiling.

"It's not Thornwood." Colin clarified.

Wayne shrugged. "But it's your home. I can't wait to see it."

"You need something for a wedding," I said looking at the large selections for men. We were getting ready for the next phase of what we did as a team of vampires in the world now.

What Willie and Mom were planning we left to her and Gabriella to plan. I was worried about what Willie was going to wear, but Colin told me to leave it alone. He was a grown man and could handle it himself. If I knew my mother, she had him dressed already, all Willie needed to do was show up. I didn't like it, but I did leave it alone. It was a little startling the number of "close friends" we now had. Most were new vampires that were now on serum. It made sense; Mom had been there with most as they took the serum. They were definitely coming to the wedding. Who needs invitations?

We spoke with Stan in Manhattan on Monday.

"Okay." Stan smiled. "I've done research on Cairo. Their records are harder to go through than it was for the ones in England."

Colin nodded. "Because of the language?"

Stan tried again not to look offended. "Absolutely not! Buddy can translate almost any language!" He brightened even more. "By the way, I found a company that specializes in portable language converters and programs! And guess what!?"

I chuckled. "Just say it."

"It's a company called Delkenzie." He said happily. "I had trouble with the name, but it's a combination of Delveccio and McKenzie. There was a couple that started this company and Mitch McKenzie lives in Charleston!"

"Really?" Colin asked surprised.

"I called him." Stan reported. "It's very sad. He and Tony Delveccio were married."

"Married!?" I smiled. "Another gay couple?"

"We're not the firsts, you know?" Stan grinned. "Tony, that was Mitch's husband, died a few years ago. Very sad, but his widow still runs the company. He tells me a translator could be built and programmed easily. He said if it can read Russian and with its crazy alphabet, it can read anything." He said proudly. "You can meet with him when you get to Charleston!" Then he looked more seriously at the screen. "Am I still stuck here in Manhattan?"

I chuckled. "You weren't stuck in Manhattan. We needed you on the computer. You were needed there."

Stan grinned now. "I have a possible solution to that as well! We'll test it when we come to Charleston." He looked again serious. "Mark and I will be coming to Charleston."

Colin smiled. "Sure, if you want." He looked at me. "I'll need to add more housing at Wentworth at this rate."

I nodded. "When we're there."

Colin shrugged. "That seems to be when we need it most."

"Cross that bridge later." I patted Colin's arm.

Stan nodded. "We can sleep anywhere." He grinned. "But Mitch is willing to add the program, which is said to be there best at translating, to Buddy and that way we can scan and read anything and the devices we give you guys will translate all spoken words to English." He looked again serious. "Should I be there when the install Buddy II in England?"

Colin looked puzzled. "Is it hard to do?"

Stan looked deflated. "No." He said disappointed.

Colin nodded. "You just want to come to England." He chuckled. "Okay, you and Mark come next weekend."

Stan literally bounced. "Great! We're packed already!"

I nodded. "I'm not surprised." I shook my head. "We'll look forward to seeing you and Mark when you get here."

"You'll need tickets," Colin said.

Stan shook his head. "No, we'll come with Buddy II!" He said. "We'll be there on Wednesday!" And his face went to the screen saver.

I smiled at Colin. "They'll be here Wednesday."

"Stan is determined to be here." Colin chuckled and then he frowned. "Should I feel sorry for Mark?"

I shook my head. "Nah, he knew this about Stan before they became a couple."

Things didn't get crazy. I did a little when I got married. Why wasn't Mom...or Willie? I looked at Colin, realizing he was calm before we got married.

"Why weren't you a wreck before we got married?"

Colin looked surprised by the question. "Why? Why would I have been?" He asked. "I was marrying the right person."

I smiled and nodded. "Good answer," I said kissing him deeply.

Colin broke away slightly. "Wait a minute...were you a wreck!?"

I chuckled. "Not exactly a wreck, but I was a little...anxious." I watched his eyes grow. "I was making huge step! It changed my life; I knew it would. I was anxious." I laughed. "I didn't say no, did I?"

What happened that night nearly broke my heart. It was a few hours after sunset when a lady came to Thornwood. She was elderly, in her seventies, I thought. She didn't look very well off, but she was very uncertain that she was doing the right thing. It was Nigel that came into the library and told me a woman was evasive and asking to speak to someone...about a matter she wasn't very clear about.

"I think she needs to speak to Edwin, but he's not here," Nigel said. "Perhaps she'll tell you."

Colin looked at me and shrugged. "Okay." He got up and we went into the Grand Entrance Hall.

She was looking like she wasn't sure about any of this but had no choice.

"Can we help you?" Colin asked coming to her and shaking her hand.

"I took a chance coming here, but..." she began. "I heard you help people....with certain problems."

"That depends on what the problem is," Colin said.

She was elderly, dressed as an elderly woman. Hair long since white and upon her head. Those sensible shoes and a dress that only gotten worn by women of this age. "It's not really about me. I'm Emily Proctor." She said to me and shook my hand. "I heard someone speak about these people that were walking the streets...stopping the attacks and that they came from here..." she was beginning to cry. "...then I heard that you were helping some that were...victims."

I reached out and touched her. "Why don't you come in and explain." I was going to lead her to the sitting room.

She shook her head. "Oh, I can't." She looked back at the door. "Jeremy is by himself. He gets so scared."

"Why not bring him in?" Colin asked.

She looked a little panicked. "I can't he's..." she stopped. "I can't."

"Why?" I asked.

She held a handkerchief to her face. "You might kill him." She said softly.

Colin frowned. "What if I promise...unless he threatens one of us, we won't touch him."

I was getting what she wasn't saying. "He's a vampire, isn't he?"

She closed her eyes and nodded. "But he's special." She shook her head. "I don't have much money. I'm getting up in years and I will die, but he won't!" She was now crying more. "I don't know what to do! I can't leave him by himself!"

I touched her. "Can we bring him in? We won't hurt him."

She looked uncertain. "No one can help. I can't go to the police or social workers..."

Colin frowned. "Yet you came here. Hoping we could."

"Mrs. Proctor, we're vampires, too," I said.

She looked up startled and then looked from me to Colin. You could see she was having trouble believing us.

"Trust us." Colin pleaded. "Do you have a choice?"

I took her arm and waved toward the door. "Let's get Jeremy."

She shook her head. "No." She said. "I have to. He only knows me."

When she came back, a sharp pain hit my heart when I saw Jeremy. I didn't need her to tell me what was wrong. I could see it. He had Downs Syndrome.

"Oh, my god," I said softly, hating what I was seeing. Whatever vampire was that bit him...I couldn't imagine who would do that. I'd seen a five-year-old who was a vampire. Now, this!?

Jeremy looked like a young man about sixteen. The features in his face said why he was special. He was looking very frightened at being here. "Why are we here?" He asked his sister. "I wanna go home."

Colin frowned, also having a hard time. "Oh, my god." He also said softly.

Emily patted her brother. "It's okay, Jeremy. They won't hurt you."

He was a vampire. I could sense it and I could also see it. He had no moisture in his eyes and pale skin. I walked closer, saw he was a little scared and stopped. "Hello, Jeremy. My name's Devon."

"Stranger," Jeremy said very upset. "You're a stranger. Papa said no strangers."

"It's okay, Jeremy," Emily said again. She looked at me. "He has the mind of a six-year-old. Can you help?" She sounded so desperate.

"Let's go into another room," I suggested. "You can tell us about Jeremy."

Colin was very unsure. "Yes. We can talk."

I showed them into a room we seldom used, but it was smaller and had chairs. Colin pulled me back.

"What can we do for him?" Colin hissed. "I don't have experience with something like this!"

I turned to Colin. "So? What? We just kill him?" I waved at Jeremy. "He's no more responsible for what he became any more than you are."

We both came in with Emily Proctor and Jeremy. We both sat facing her.

"Tell us what happened to Jeremy," I said.

"It was a while ago." She started. "I was six at the time. Jeremy is my oldest brother by ten years. I don't remember much, but Jeremy had gone out to deal with some of the farm animals...we had a farm." She shook her head. "There was a scream and Jeremy was attacked by...one of those things. My father was in the house when we heard it. He went out and...he killed that thing before Jeremy was killed." She shook her head as the tears started again. "My father worried he was going to lose Jeremy, but Jeremy did recover and well..." she waved at her brother, "this is what happened."

"What about his daily need for blood?" Colin asked.

Emily smiled. "We lived on a farm. That was easy at first." She smiled. "My father managed to get the blood he needed. I married and moved to the nearby town. Dad passed away. Mom kept him safe until she got sick and had to be put in a Nursing Home. She passed away and he came to live with me and David." She said. "That was my husband. He constructed a room for Jeremy in the cellar. He worked a deal with a butcher that gave us blood every other day. That kept his need met. David passed away a few years ago and I'm all alone. I can't keep up with Jeremy anymore."

"What did you hear about us?" I asked. "How did you hear about us?"

She nodded as she thought. "I have a neighbor. She was always going out at night. I warned her over and over not to because of the dangers. I even told her what those dangers were. She wouldn't believe or listen. One night she went running and she..." she frowned. "...the next day she didn't go to work and...she was very shaken and upset. It was a few days later she confessed she had been almost attacked by one of the things I warned her about."

My eyes widened at hearing that remembering the woman runner we saved from being attacked. "How did she know it was us?"

She shook her head. "She didn't. She did say that there was a group of Americans that saved her life. I asked about where people thought these Americans were from and later I heard they were from here."

"That was quite a risky chance you took, Mrs. Proctor," I said. "What did she say we did?"

"She told me you killed that thing." She looked pleading at Colin and me. "He's not like that one! I promise! He's very gentle. I have no other choices. What can I do in the future for him? He's a sweet boy! He's never harmed a fly."

I nodded getting up and touched her arm. "It's okay."

Colin was not looking very comfortable. "I don't suppose I can talk to you privately, Devon."

I shook my head. "That you know about me. I won't confer with you privately when she'll know we're discussing her situation. We'll be honest!" I looked at her. "Our problem is...we've dealt with many vampires, but this is a first for all of us." I looked at Colin who was nodding. I smiled at her. "We don't randomly kill vampires. We are vampires, too. Only, we're on medication that keeps most of it under control."

She looked hopeful. "Can he have some of that?"

Colin shifted in his chair. "The problem also is...the medication we give hurts a great deal at first. For about a week it will hurt Jeremy a great deal." He got up and walked toward me. "Would he understand what will happen and accept it?"

"We are now a group of vampires...both American and British citizens. Most all are vampires." I said and watched her see some hope. "We usually tell the future vampire's taking the medication, what will happen and most are willing to endure the pain to gain some life. They can eat again and even enjoy the daylight again." I waved at Jeremy. "Will he understand that?" Emily frowned as she looked at her brother, who was just looking around the room, but still not at ease. "I don't know. As I said, we were told he had the mind of a six-year-old. He might not. He doesn't even know what he is."

Colin thought. "We can't make this decision alone. There are others that need to be included."

I saw her look worried again. "No, Mrs. Proctor. Jeremy will be helped. What happened was not his fault, but what we do will require a discussion. You did the right thing." I smiled. I looked at Jeremy. "He only knows you?"

Emily nodded. "He only knew Mama and Papa. He knew David, my husband and me." She explained. "Papa drilled into him to avoid strangers. Jeremy is very fearful of anyone else."

I looked at Colin. "We'll have to put him in the underground bedroom."

"Is it being used tonight?" Colin asked.

I shrugged. "I think so, but what choice do we have?" I looked again at Emily. "You'll have to stay with him. There is a room we can use to keep him out of the sun."

She let out a sigh. "You won't kill him?"

I looked startled. "We don't kill...unless they kill first. You said he never hurt anyone."

She shook her head. "He never has."

I smiled. "Well, we have another vampire about to go on the medication. You can see what he could go through."

We took her through Thornwood and into the library. Jeremy frowned as we did the combination to the hidden door behind the bookshelf. When the door opened, we went down to where Evan was getting another vampire ready to take the serum. Jeremy looked at the male vampire about to get the serum.

"He's like me," Jeremy said.

"Yes, he is," I said. Evan looked confused when he saw Jeremy, but anyone with any medical training or just having been in the world knows what a person with Downs Syndrome looked like. "He's going to become like me and Colin." I smiled. "Do you sense we are like you in a way?"

Jeremy had a problem looking us in the eye but shook his head. "Not like me. Different." He looked at his sister. "Not like Emily."

I nodded. "He can sense what we are, just like every vampire I've seen and spoken with."

Colin nodded. "Perhaps, if he sees what will happen and the results, he will understand."

"You need to stay with Jeremy," I said to Emily. "To keep him calm."

Emily nodded. "At sunrise, he goes into a deep sleep. Nothing will wake him up. Until sunset. You have blood?"

I nodded. "We have blood."

When Edwin and Matt came back, we met with them, George, Burke, Gabriella, Alex, Shelly, Chuck, Wayne, Mom and Willie in the library. Colin and I told them about Jeremy.

Shelly shook her head after we told them all. "He has Downs Syndrome? And is a vampire!?"

"I've never encountered one like that," Wayne said horrified. "Poor guy. Does he know what he is?"

"I don't think so," I said. "He was very sheltered after he was bitten. We all know the basic requirement for any vampire is blood. They don't really get too picky whether you're a genius or mentally challenged when they can't get it. If Jeremy and Emily's father hadn't killed the vampire that was feeding on Jeremy, I don't think Jeremy would be alive."

George lowered his face in his hands. "I know, I said all vampires need to be on the serum to reduce risk, but this...?" He sighed.

Mom frowned. "It happens." She said. "Jeremy was born with Downs Syndrome, but he became a victim of a vampire's bite. He's innocent! We've got to help them. Mostly Jeremy."

"How?" Edwin asked having no idea what to do. "If we start this, he'll be with us forever!"

"I will give the serum to a vampire that kills...who is an adult that knows why we're doing it whether they want it or not," George said. "But a vampire that mentally challenged!? I don't know if I can or should!"

"Emily Proctor has no one to ask," Colin said. "There is no one else."

I held my hands up. "There are hundreds of vampires here in England. There are more in other parts of the world. There has to be a vampire that has some training with people that have Special Needs. We'll send a message out and see who answers."

Colin nodded. "And until we're convinced he knows what the serum does and that it will hurt. We can't give him the serum. That would be cruel if he doesn't even understand why."

"The five-year-old I encountered was overwhelmed by the venom," I said. "Yet, somehow, this Jeremy managed to keep his humanity. Why?"

George shrugged. "Who knows? He was turned at about sixteen. His personality was set? I don't know."

"He doesn't trust anyone except Emily. All the rest of us are strangers." I said. "And he's very scared. Just be aware of that."

Mom looked sympathetically sorry. "That poor young man." She said mournfully.

I chuckled. "That young man is in his eighties."

Mom smiled. "Well, it seems like he needs friends." She said smiling. "And he needs to get used to others. Perhaps he can start with me." She said brightly.

I grinned. "But you'll be gone in a week." I reminded her.

"A week." Mom said smiling. "From what you told us, he's known his mother and sister longest. Perhaps he needs to be talked to with a woman. He may relate better. I can at least get him used to other people. I'm good with children. Special Needs children, too."

Colin smiled with a nod. "Just don't forget you have a wedding."

Mom smiled taking Willie's hand. "I won't forget." She leaned in a kissed Willie.

"I won't let her," Willie stated.

After we'd broken up our group, Edwin came to us.

"There is the barn and the storage area." He suggested.

I frowned. "It's very..." I thought of a word. "It's not as nice as the downstairs room."

Wayne's eyes grew. "But good enough for me!?"

"You were wild!" I said in defense. "Jeremy's not!"

Edwin nodded. "But he might like the animals." He suggested. "He grew up on a farm. There are animals in the barn."

Colin nodded. "That could work."

After the sun rose, we went down to get Emily. She watched Jeremy sleep. I went to her. "Perhaps you should get some rest now."

She smiled. "I'd love that. He'll be out all day."

Colin smiled. "We have bedrooms."

She nodded and went with us upstairs. "You'll keep him? I'll pay..."

I put a hand on her arm. "I think you've paid enough. Jeremy has, too. Yes, he'll stay here. We may need you to make the transition easier."

"I'll do whatever is needed."

"We have another room that is protected from the sun..." I started. "But...does he like animals?"

She smiled fondly. "Oh, he loves animals. That was one thing Papa didn't have to make him do. Ever. He would feed the animals on the farm. We had cows, chickens, and pigs. He loved them all." She chuckled. "What was more important, they loved him. He had this...Dr. Dolittle effect with them. They trusted him even after he became what he is now." She shook her head. "It was because he loved them he got bitten in the first place. He went to check on a cow we had that was expecting. He went to the barn to check on her and was attacked."

"We'll take him to the barn tonight. Maybe they can talk him into staying." I smiled. "And we have blood and it will be ready when he wakes up."

She looked now at the house as we passed through. "This is a fancy place."

"A perfect place to get married, celebrate an anniversary or just have a party," Colin said. "We're going to make it for vacationers soon."

"Jeremy is a good worker," Emily said hinting Jeremy could help. "He helped Mama when she got to be unable to do as much. He works well with animals as I said, but he works hard."

I put my arm around her shoulders. "Don't worry. Jeremy is safe now. We'll have something he can do."

We got on the network with all the other vampires that were in contact. We sent a message out for someone that knew the special needs of people. We said what the situation was and asked if there was anyone that knew what needed to be done. Now, we would wait.

At sunset, Mom took the blood down to the underground bedroom. Jeremy would need blood and she had it. He'd have to take it from her. She figured that was a way for her to gain some headway with him. With Emily there as well, he took the blood and drank what he needed. Then Colin, Wayne and I went with him upstairs with his sister and my mother. We took him to the barn. Emily was right. His look of uncertainty and being ill at ease faded when he saw the many cows and sheep there. A look of compassion and gentleness came on his face. He walked over to the cows and began talking to them and petting them. He even petted a few of the sheep. Not one animal shied away but came to Jeremy willingly.

"I guess we know what his talent is." Wayne chuckled at what he was seeing.

I chuckled, too. "He is Dr. Dolittle."

I saw Emily was beginning to cry again.

"Are those worry tears or something else?" I asked.

She laughed. "These are tears of joy." She shook her head. "Papa was so worried about Jeremy. I was, too." She looked at me smiling. "This will be the perfect place for Jeremy." She grabbed Wayne and Colin in a hug and then me. "Bless you. For the first time in my life, I have this huge weight off my soul."

I nodded with a smile. "I hope you know you're not done here. Jeremy will need you to help keep him grounded. We can start weening you away..."

She looked alarmed at that. "He's been my whole life for so long!"

"And you can still be with him," Colin said. "Do you go out to eat? Shopping or just take time to yourself?"

She looked at Jeremy. "I shop during the day, while he's asleep. I haven't been out to eat in years."

Wayne grinned. "Well, it's time you thought about doing that."

I nodded. "Let's get him settled and see what assistance we can get. It will be fine, Mrs. Proctor."

She looked as Jeremy smiled and petted the animals. The animals knew it was night time, but Jeremy was different, so they were responding to him eagerly. She nodded. "You're right. It will be fine."

I looked as a cow was nuzzling Jeremy from behind making Jeremy laugh as he petted her.

William and Betty Marry