What Lies Beneath

Four Years Later.

"I wanna see him, Lala," my three-year-old niece said as she ran up to me. She looked just like her mother. Long brown hair that just barely curled, and tan skin from the sun that she was able to soak up, being a demon. Her eyes were all Jaxon, though.

"Shh," I whispered, "he's sleeping." I waved her over and rubbed my son's back. He was passed out on my chest, his little hand wrapped around my finger. He'd had a long day, being born and all. Sure, I had done all the work, but whatever. Melanie tiptoed over to me and looked over my shoulder. She waved and whispered, "Hi, Damian. I'm Melanie, and I am gonna be your best friend."

Landon laughed and patted my feet on his lap. "See, all taken care of."

I stared down at my perfect baby. His hair was light blond, like Landon's had been when he was born. His eyes were hazel just like his daddy's. I couldn't stop looking at him.

"I make beautiful babies," I declared.

"I feel like I should get some credit," Landon said.

I smiled. "Sure. If you insist."

Jaxon and Arden walked in through our kitchen, hand in hand. His wife was stunning. Tall and graceful as she walked. I didn't know how he landed her in the first place, but he deserved a pat on the back.

Jaxon scooped up his daughter. "Hey, kiddo. Are you keeping your aunt and uncle awake?"

Arden interrupted. "I feel like the screaming newborn is gonna do a fine job of that for the next few months."

"Ha," I stated. "I look forward to it. Years of trying to make him, I don't really mind the crying."

I'd been scared for a while, thinking it wouldn't happen. Landon promised that it was just a little harder for a vampire. Then the day came where I felt my heart start beating. I'd screamed and jumped up and down with Arden for twenty minutes. Melanie was just confused.

Kal-El walked in and sniffed at the baby. His tail wagged and beat against Jaxon's leg.

"Watch it, buddy," I warned my German shepherd. "My baby."

He sat down and cocked his head at Landon as if he was waiting for a confirmation.

"Yeah,"

'my husband said, "don't wake him."

It didn't work. Damian opened up his big hazel eyes and looked up at me. He didn't cry. He just watched me.

"We should make him ride a bike," Melanie suggested.

Jaxon laughed at her. "I think we ought wait till he can hold his head up on his own."

"Boo." She pouted.

I handed the baby to his daddy, and he gladly took him. "Hey, kid," he said, cradling him like a pro. "I'm glad you finally decided to grace us with your presence. I thought I'd never meet you."

The baby gargled at him and waved his fist.

"Thought so." Landon nodded. "You're gonna be just like your mother."

"God be with you," Arden smirked.

I looked up at her. "You love it."

"Never said I didn't. I enjoy having a toned-down version of my husband, as well as a turned-up version." She smiled at her daughter. "Life's more fun that way."

I agreed.

All of the baby stuff had been set up by Jaxon and Arden. It had been a surprise for us when we'd gotten back from our second honeymoon. It had really been just a way for us to get out of the house one more time before the baby got here. It was a week of lying around and doing nothing, then walking around and doing nothing. It was great.

"I was gonna make us dinner," Jaxon said. "Mommy and Daddy get to pick tonight."

"Hmm," I looked over at Landon. "Clearly we should pick something complicated and annoying to make."

"Obviously," he agreed. "Lobster?"

"Gross. Steak?"

"Too cliché. Pizza?"

I thought. Could be annoying, but it still seemed too simple. "I have an idea. Fried chicken, fries, mashed potatoes, apple pie, corn on the cob, maybe some biscuits too." Jaxon glared. "Awful lotta starch, don't ya think?"

I grinned. "I think it's perfect. Hop to it."

Melanie raised her hands in the air and growled. "POTATOES!"

Arden tickled her tummy. "That settles it."

Jaxon handed the kid over. "So it does. Come on, Kal," he said as he walked. "Keep me company while I serve these monsters."

The dog got up and took off after him, probably hoping for scraps. Jaxon would give them to him, cuz he was a sucker. His fault for offering to make dinner.

Arden took her daughter with her into the kitchen, telling her that her daddy was a big baby, and he better make extra fries for her. The girl laughed, because she always laughed at her parents' banter. It was interesting to say the least.

It had gotten better for Jaxon after he'd met Arden. He'd had a hard time with what he was when everything settled down, until she soothed that pain for him. It had taken her a little while to come around, but it was great when she had. We were all a family now, and somehow, we were happy. Even with the broken paths that led us to each other.

Landon leaned over to me, carefully holding the baby. "I love you," he said before he kissed me.

"I love you too, despite what I said while I was having the baby."

He laughed. "I understand."

"Good. I hope you will when I threaten your life for the births of all our kids."

"Of course. How could I begrudge you the right to break all my fingers? You'd heal me right after anyway."

Ah, God bless our Link. A little blood, and he'd healed me up instantly after the birth. It was pure magic.

I put my hand on his face. "Aren't you so glad you came around?"

He looked down at the baby and didn't look back up. "Yeah," he said, sounding like he wasn't sure this was real. "I'm really glad."

I kissed his cheek. "Just proof that there's always hope if you look hard enough." Then I kissed Damian's cheek, and he smiled at me. "I love you too, baby."

"I CALL DIBS ON THE TATER SKINS!" I heard Arden shout from the kitchen.

I smiled in her direction. "I can't wait to see that fight go down."

"Splendidly, I imagine."

Everything had been peaceful since we'd gotten Arden. Well... since just after we'd gotten Arden. It all worked out just fine. We were settled and happy. I had a big family that was only getting bigger, a dog, a house - literally everything I'd been terrified of when I was human. This life, what I was now, it was what I was meant to be. We had the means to keep up this wonderful life, and there was no end in sight.

The End.