Path of the Vampire forum

<Judah>

Pastor Jude sat at his desk in the church, he'd gotten a message from his young cousin Mirella saying she needed his help, and that she would be coming to see him that afternoon. He’d been informed that the young woman was very much with child, though it was being kept on the quiet side and was wondering if his little Firebug might come see him. The man checked his clock, it was 5pm and the last of the after school care children were being picked up, a few of the mothers popping their heads around his open door on occasion to flirt.

He was polite about it, always polite but frankly he was NOT in the mood. He had been married, and now that he was a widow, a young and successful Pastor recently promoted to the senior position and rumour had it his family had money... Well, he was very popular with the single mothers, looking for a man to fill their lives. Today, they were on the agenda, he had cleared his schedule because family called, family needed him.

<Mirella>

Five months. Twenty weeks and three days. With one hand to her back, Mirella made her way to her cousin's office, looking far more tired than usual. Her hair was braided in pigtails, she wore no makeup, and her style of dress was simple at its best. A baggy tee shirt and leggings, with flip-flops. In any other part of the world this'd be completely normal. But this was, after all, Canada, the land of eternal cold.

Being a fire-dancer, Mirella felt the cold all too easily, but it just felt so good right now, as she knocked on the door, ignoring the stares from the other women. Women who likely thought she was just another teen mom. No, this was a family visit. She needed help.

<Judah>

He was out of his chair the second he looked up to see her in the doorway, the young woman looking exhausted, heavy and in need of a seat. He moved to the door, drawing her into a brief embrace, his arm around her urging her inside. Jude lifted a brow at the women outside who looked in on them, "Ladies, have a lovely evening." His voice was pleasant, but a tense edge told them to keep moving, to mind their own business. The door was closed as he led her into the office, the lock flicked and he quickly made her as comfortable as he could in a chair.

The man a seven years her senior, and felt a fierce protectiveness for the young von der Marck. Crouching down before her, catching her gaze he finally spoke to her and her alone. "Sweet Ella, what can I do for you?" He moved his hand towards her stomach hesitantly, letting it hover over the swell of her belly as he waited for approval to touch.

<Mirella>

A slight nod was all the approval she gave as she pulled from her small purse a snack bar, opening one end and taking a tiny bite. She chewed, far too long for just the tiny piece she'd bitten off, and swallowed, before leaning her head back and sighing. "The boyfriend story I've been telling. You know it's a lie, don't you? You can tell?" She took a deep breath, leaning her head back against the wall. "I'm afraid to tell anyone else the truth. I don't...I don't want the information getting to the rest of the family. And I need...I need to find somewhere for my baby to go." Shaking her head, Mirella looked at her cousin, looking both exhausted and distraught at once. "I'm lost."

<Judah>

He slowly closed the gap between his hand and her growing stomach, gently running over the curve of where the growing child within lay. Leaning forward he brushed his lips quickly where his hand had been. "Hello, Baby." The man cooed before he leaned back, lowering onto a knee in front of her, letting her speak her piece. "Yes, I figured as much. You are too... Cagey about it, you know? You can always tell me the truth you know that, don't you Ella? I can keep your confidence, I mean goodness, and it’s part of my job! People come in here all the time just wanting to tell me their secrets, to unload on someone who is supposed to be impartial and unbiased. I can carry the weight for us both, hmm?"

He reached out to touch her cheek, brushing the back of his fingertips against her cheekbone as he stood up. The man when standing at full height was only 5'9" and yet he seemed so much larger as he took his seat behind his desk, pulling out his large leather bound journal, unwinding the strip of leather that held it shut.

He took his role seriously and it showed. The pages of his journal were filled with lineage trees, hand written and random notes, pages of scrawled writing in various states of legibility. He flicked to a blank page and pulled out from a drawer a manila folder, opening it to take out a page that had a recent picture of Mirella at the top along with the year and lines for note taking. "So... Tell me everything, and we'll find a solution."

<Mirella>

Taking as deep a breath as was physically possible, Mirella rested a hand to her belly, before taking another nibble of her snack bar, chewed, and swallowed. "His name is Andrei Petrov," she whispered. "I spent a night with him when his circus was in town. He's a beast tamer." She laughed softly then, her eyes growing wistful. "I invited it. Dad and I had had one of our arguments earlier in the day, and I was feeling rebellious. So, I slept with a man nearly ten years older than myself. And then I found out I was pregnant almost two months after the circus left."

<Judah>

Judah moved his hand up to his face as she spoke her story, pinching gently at the bridge of his nose, pushing the glasses he wore up against his hair to rest atop his head. "Well... It could be worse. Nearly 10 years your... Love, that would be like sleeping with me. I hope he was worth it, at least." His brows went up, "So I’m assuming he has no idea? You are not interested in contacting him?" Judah squinted at the page, writing down the name of the man and a brief summary of the facts under the name Mirella. "Your dad isn't a bad man, but I don't imagine he's happy right now. Your mum being more supportive? I like Aoife, and I’m sure she will work with you. You mentioned finding a family... You don't want to keep your child?" He yearned to reach out again, to lean over the desk and stroke the swell of belly, to protect woman and child.

<Mirella>

"No, he has no idea. We didn't exchange contact information, that wasn't exactly important at the time. I'd like to tell him, but I don't even know where the circus went next," she said softly. "No, Daddy's not happy. He's calmed down a lot over the last three months, though. Especially after I told him...I'm not ready."

She sighed.

"Mom understands, but she's had me keeping a weekly diary, driving me to my appointments. She's the one who's not okay with me giving up my baby." Another nibble of snack bar, chewed, swallowed. "But I want to keep the child in the von der Marck family. Until I am ready. When I am ready...I want to have my child back." Her eyebrows furrowed together, nose scrunching, in a panicked sort of look. "I'll want to have my baby, my Annabelle or Adam, back."

<Judah>

His sigh was deep, as he wrote down more notes and a few questions, pushing his glasses back into place to ease the tension headache that was threatening. "Alright, sweetheart, alright. Well, we both know I’m pretty good at tracking people down, if I’ve got his name and the circus name I can try to get hold of him... If you are SURE you want that. As for adoption within the family, well, we definitely have options there. We have a few nearby cousins who might be willing to agree, and if not then you've got me. Your..."

He paused to smile at her, looking once more at her belly, the child within already named.

"Annabelle or Adam can stay with my son and his grandparents. They would love a baby around the house, they are ridiculously clucky considering their age." He'd only recently left his boy in their primary care, he had him now for only part of the week, it had become too much without Anna, his late wife's, help. Judah completely understood not being ready, not prepared to do it alone.

<Mirella>

Mirella took a much larger bite of the snack bar, mulling things over as she chewed. Her eyes drifted closed for a few moments before opening as she swallowed, her index finger pressing to the space between her eyebrows for a split second before she lowered her hand to her stomach, setting aside the snack bar. "I can guess what you're going to say, but...I don't want to tie Andrei down here. Not like Daddy tied Mom down. If he comes back to town, ever, I swear I'll tell him. Maybe by then I'll be ready to take care of my baby myself."

Another long sigh escaped Mirella, before she smiled at him. "I don't want to burden your grandparents. Your son can be a handful, if memory serves me well. No, I...I want my child to have the best I can give. Louise and Dennis, I think, would be a good choice. Or Sarah." She named a pair of female cousins, one married, and one widowed, who had had misfortune in the procreation department.

<Judah>

Scoffed at her calling his son a handful, the boy was not yet four and while he was mostly an angel, he was showing signs of his father's cheekiness. "Augustine is a good boy, he just has my genes so I know he’s going to be a handful eventually. I'm just not... You're not ready? Honey, I understand that all too well. With Anna, with both of us around it was easy, but alone? Augie deserves the care of people who can be completely devoted to him; he deserves a mother. Heck, if I ever marry again or shack up with some lovely lady perhaps then. For now? He's better off only spending part of the week with Daddy." His voice cracked slightly, but he cleared his throat and moved right along.

"Louse and Dennis would be good, I think while Sarah wants a child it would not be a good time for her. Take it from a Widower, time is important and Sarah is still young. Lou and Denny boy are older, they are settled and would be responsible."

<Mirella>

"That's why I said can and not is," she laughed, one hand covering her mouth for a moment before the other lifted her shirt, so that her hands could rest on the bare skin of her swelling abdomen. She kicked off her flip-flops, too, finally getting completely comfortable. "Louise it is, then. This is...probably going to sound crazy, but. I have one more request, of you specifically." She took a deep, long breath, exhaling with a shudder. Then, just barely visible beneath the skin, the baby kicked just between her index finger and thumb. She let out a giggle, looking down just in time to catch the bubble of movement. "Did you see that?" she whispered.

<Judah>

Judah nodded at her decision, it seemed the best one for them all currently, he'd help her speak to the couple, to make the arrangements and ensure they understood she wanted the child back eventually. "Of me?" His brows went up in questioning, but before she could speak her request the tiniest flutter of movement happened beneath her fingertips, a kick or wriggle of the baby that was growing within her. Jude rose quickly, moving around to crouch once more near her chair, hands overlapping hers, his larger meaning his fingertips could spread and touch the sides of her bare belly, feeling the light movements. "I saw... I feel it." His voice was a reverent whisper, awestruck as he looked at the young woman and back to her stomach.

Another von der Marck, lively and gaining in strength. This was something to be celebrated; she should be treated well, worshipped and loved through her pregnancy. It was no easy task, and Jude couldn't bare the thought of her having to deal with people making her feel guilty. She was young, yes, but it was happening and she deserved all the care they could provide. "Ella..." His voice was low, uncertain as he said her name, the shortened version he preferred. "I will take care of you, I will do everything in my power to make you happy and make sure your child is safe. I love you, both, your child already has a place in my heart."

<Mirella>

Mirella swallowed thickly, tears welling in her eyes and spilling over as the weight of it settled on her, as it did occasionally. The weight of the life she carried within her belly right now swelled within her heart, and she knew she loved her child, all over again. But she knew in the same instant that she was in no way prepared to take care of this baby, this little life depending on her. As Jude spoke, she sniffled and smiled, coughing a short laugh. "I love you too, Jude," she murmured. "You're my favorite cousin, you know that, right? My sisters love you, too, and this baby will love you, I just...I know it. Don't ask how, I just do." Almost as if in response, there was another kick, right against her palm. She coughed another laugh, grinning like mad.

<Judah>

Judah laughed with her, his own throat sounding tight with threatening tears, his brown eyes glassy as he smiled up at his cousin. The man kept the one hand resting lightly over her belly, the other reaching up to cup her cheek. "It will be ok, I will make this ok for you. Just tell me what I can do? What do you need?" He rose up slightly, just enough that he could lean up to capture her lips in a brief, chaste kiss. His lips moved then to her brow, thumb brushing away tears. "Tell me what you need from me, Ella, and it is yours. You know that, it's why you came. Lay your burden down and I will carry it, not by god's grace but by Alaric's. For the name of von der Marck, for our family; I will hold you up."


<Mirella>

Dipping her head slightly into the gentle kisses, so natural, so easy and familial, not even the thought that someone might get the wrong idea crossed Mirella's mind, predominately due to the fact that she knew he'd locked the door. Moments later, the name of the von der Marck ancestor made her gasp, blinking to let another pair of tears escape. She was one of the ones who truly believed, even as her sisters teased her for it.

"I want you there," she said softly. "When my baby's born, I want you there, holding my hand. More than I want Mom or Karin or Caitlin, I want you there. I promise I won't scream at you." Oh, she'd heard the stories from her father, of how raucous her mother had been in labor with her.

<Judah>

There was a moment where that awe hit him again, surprise at her request and other emotions stirring within. He laughed gently, ducking his head to kiss her again, hand moving to tug gently one on of those braids. "You can scream at me if you want, you can hit me or break my hand because it doesn't matter. As long as you and the baby are fine, I’ll be happy. I’d be honoured to be there for the birth, yes. If you..." He cleared his throat, rising up full and taking a step away, rubbing awkwardly at the back of his head, mussing the messy brown hair that was in need of a good cut.

"Ahem. If you want, or if you need someone to act as partner in all this I can do that for you. I can take you to appointments instead of your mother if it's difficult for you, or go to childbirth classes. I went to them all with Anna, and remember some of the stuff.” Thinking of Anna at the height of her pregnancy made him feel simultaneously proud and yet empty, the loss still made him ache if he thought on it too long. He wiped at the corner of his eyes, making sure no tears gave him away.

“When the baby is born if you decide to baptise him or her as most of us are, even those who don't believe, I can do that too." He chuckled nervously, glancing back at her, looking up through his dark lashes. "Who needs a husband when you've got a Jude? Hm? Aaron trusts me, if he knows I’m involved he'll lay off you I hope." He leaned over to write in his book, noting the things discussed, always with the notes. "Hell, I’d marry you if it meant everyone was happier for it." They were far enough away in terms of relation that it was legal, strange perhaps, but perfectly legal and considering their families ridiculously interwoven nature it wouldn't be the first time.

<Mirella>

Taking a few breaths, Mirella settled back into the chair a bit further, one hand gently rubbing over the smooth skin of her belly. Twice daily lotion kept the stretch marks to a minimum, thankfully for her. Her youth helped that too, her skin was still elastic. "I think I'll take you up on all of that," she said gently, smirking at him crookedly. "I know it stresses Mom, and yes, her advice is invaluable, but sometimes it's too much. All of it. This is my time, me." Then her grin grew bigger.

"I think it'd be a bit awkward for everyone involved if we ended up getting married. I mean - sure. It makes sense. But wouldn't my father question the situation?" Her eyebrows quirked up, and she looked honestly a touch smug. Even though her face was still damp.

<Judah>

Her response didn't phase him, he simply wrote it down, hopping up to sit on the desk itself. He pulled the big journal into his lap, along with a smaller diary. "Alright, well you can give me the important dates at some point, such as appointments, classes, and of course... Due date. That one is vital." He scribbled down a reminder in the diary to call Louise and her husband Dennis, to organise a meeting.

"I'll take you home later, so I can speak to your parents. Is that alright?" He smirked at her as she spoke of marriage, "Shut up, I bet they'd LOVE it. Our family is odd. Your parents would probably be a little confused, but they'd just accept it. Everyone always does, don't they? PLUS you are young and while you love me." He spread his hands, indicating himself, "You don't loooove me." He made ridiculous smoochy faces at her, winking.

"I mean I know I’m a hot piece of Pastor backside, but contain yourself, sex demon! I'm a good, religious man! I don't have dalliances or anything of the sort." He tried to look innocent, he did, but that classic Judah grin had him looking like the cheeky prankster he'd always been. "I mean I’ve been married, so that negates that whole sex before marriage deal right?" He waggled his brows.

<Mirella>

She laughed at Jude’s attempt to cheer her up, thinking about their family history. "Yeah, our family's unusual by modern standards, aren't we?" Mirella sighed, pulling her shirt down over her belly again and closing her eyes. She could feel a cry-headache coming on, and suddenly found her brain working on mathematics. Specifically, counting out weeks on a mental calendar. Then she said, very quietly, "June seventh or eighth. Forty weeks from...from the evening of conception, right?" Her eyes opened, looking up to him for confirmation. "I'm pretty sure..."

<Judah>

He shrugged, "Give or take, yes. Your doctor should've given you a date, your mother probably has it written down." He seemed annoyed by this somehow, a brief frown of frustration creasing his features, an unusual look on his face when he wasn't studying something. He didn’t want Mirella to be excluded from things, this was her experience and she should know what was going on. "I'll find out, and we'll start discussing birth plans with your doctor and find you a good midwife, someone understanding who will go along with our wishes." Our wishes, he was taking claim over her, over the child, over his family. They were in this together.

"Are we trying to keep this pregnancy secret? Or are we simply asking the whole world not to tell the child who mommy is until you're ready? Either way it might be challenging, Ella. Not impossible, mind you, just challenging and I’m sure you are up to the challenge. You've come this far!" He pointed to her belly, "If only by accident." He was teasing, trying to get a smile from the girl, to wind her up, as he always did his cousins, never cruelly. He hopped off the desk, going over to the small water cooler he had in his office, filling a paper cup and returning it to her. "We have a lot to do, but trust me, we can do this."


<Mirella>

Taking the water, she took a delicate sip, licking her lips and sighing. Then, with a chuckle, she looked up at him. "August thirty-first was the night I spent with Andrei. I remember that pretty well. And if my counting weeks off is correct, then yes, June seventh or eighth. But always good to double-check with the professionals." She then tipped her head and the cup back, draining the water and breathed a sigh. "Half the local family knows about the baby. I'm sure if we ask them, tell them, let them know I'm not giving the baby to strangers, that one day my little one will come back to me, they'll help. But aside from family? No one will need to know until I'm financially and emotionally able to support my child."

Her hands moved instinctively to her belly as she said those words. "I know we can do this. I plan to be successful in this endeavor." There was steel in her eyes as she looked at him again.

<Judah>

Jude hummed thoughtfully, folding his arms across his chest, one hand lifting to trace back and forth against his lower lip. "Mm, yeah definitely. I believe we'll be able to get them to agree, we can keep the general public out of our business. If your parents agree to our plans, then we can start getting things set in place and organise a meeting with Louise. She loves the family, and she'll want to help especially if it means she gets a few years of raising a von der Marck child."

He shrugged, "In terms of adoption, we need to discuss if it will be a legal arrangement or simply a family agreed one. I would still like contracts written up, just to have records in case. Not that I think they'll disappear with the child, but if they did... Ella, I have a request... If it's a girl? Can we shorten her name to Belle, not Anna?" It was a weak request, really, giving her plenty of room to say no.

<Mirella>

"Paperwork shouldn't be a problem, but also not a major concern. As you said, it's not likely..." Then the last part really hit her. "I'm sorry, I...I thought Annabelle was such a pretty name, I just...I guess I didn't think of..." Her eyebrows furrowed, as her mind settled. "Yeah, yeah, of course we could. Either way, there's a Disney Princess for that." The joke was weak, her smile wavering. She looked about to burst into tears again.

<Judah>

"Oh, hey, no!" He groaned, reaching out to her, rubbing at her arm. "Don't start with the tears again, it's ok. It's a beautiful name, I like it a lot, and I’d just find it strange you know? It doesn't hurt me, Ella, I did love Anna don't get me wrong but... I've dealt with it, I’m ok, and it’s not going to make me break now! So, Miss Knocked Up, what else can I do for you? Need a foot rub? A nice hot bath before facing the parents with me? Want me to joke propose in front of them just to freak them out?" He sunk to one knee, grabbing her hand. "Mirella, my stunning little firebug, I am your slave! For the next... "He glanced at his watch, "Four hours or so, then I have to drive to the in-laws house, because I’m bringing Augie back here tomorrow morning so I’ll spend the night."

<Mirella>

Laughing gently again, Mirella smiled, raising her hands to wipe at her watering eyes before the tears could escape as she listened to him. She liked his nickname for her. Firebug. It was cute, and her second favorite nickname, after the one everyone used. But Firebug was just for Jude. He was the only one who could use it. Anyone else who tried got slapped and reprimanded. After a moment, she grinned. "A foot rub sounds really, really nice, if it's not too much trouble? I couldn't even put on any of my other shoes...thus the flip-flops."

<Judah>

Jude nodded, the man moving back to his desk for the last time, grabbing the important belongings that rarely left his side and placing into his satchel. He folded his glasses and tucked them into his pocket, "For you? Never too much trouble.” He winked. “Well let's go to my place, you can soak those toes and we can talk more." The man moved to his cousin, collecting up her belongings including the mentioned flip-flops. "I'll be back." Judah jogged out of the room, waving at Jeannie who worked at the Church helping with organisation of things like after school care and events. He unlocked his car and put everything into it before returning for Ella.

He lifted the woman into his arms, holding her close to his chest and carrying her straight out the door. "Night, Jeannie, I’m taking Miss Ella here home, and visiting with her family. You can lock up, yes?" He didn't wait for an answer, Jeannie called one out after him but she was used to Jude running off by now, often with enthusiasm over some idea or other. Carefully he placed Ella into the front seat, making sure she buckled up before he got into the car himself. "We can go straight to yours if you prefer? We'll fill a tub with warm water, you can soak while I chat."

<Mirella>

Initially there was patience and a stretching of her back, and then suddenly there was a moment of squealing as Judah picked her up, holding her against him. "Warn me next time! Don't you dare drop me!" she blurted out in squealing voice, even as she clung to his shoulders with her arms. Then he was talking to someone, and all she could do was yell out, "Hi-bye!" as he walked away over his shoulder.

Then outside, and into a car. "You know I can walk, right?" she blabbed. "It's not like my legs don't work anymore." Taking a deep breath, Mirella closed her eyes and re-centered herself. "Sorry for the yelling. I shouldn't have snapped. Yes, that sounds like it could work. Really wish I could get a back massage, though..."

<Judah>

Jude eyed her briefly as he started the car, "Wait, is that a request? Damn, gotten myself in deep now, huh?" He teased, reaching over to pat her knee before placing it once more on the wheel and steering them out of the car park onto the open road. "I know you can walk, but how many chances do I get to sweep you off your feet?” He chuckled, flashing her a bright grin.

“Now, you have about 10 minutes to tell me anything else you need to before we speak to your parents, Firebug. If there are any questions you have, any details you need to mention best do it now. Oh, we should probably call ahead to warn them I’m invading their home, just in case they aren't wearing pants or something." He laughed jovially, tapping the steering wheel along to the music playing quietly on the radio.

<Mirella>

Mirella eyed him right back. "You don't have to do that tonight if you don't want to, the back rub can wait. Foot rub is more important, I mean, I did take the bus over." She laughed softly, too, pulling out her phone and typing out a quick text - not to her parents, but to her sisters, both at once. "Karin and Caitlin are home, I'm letting them know to let Mom and Daddy know we're coming." She sighed then, slipping the phone back into her bag and leaning back in the seat, adjusting the seatbelt again around her belly. "Can't think of anything else to tell you, except that Mom encouraged me to keep a diary. I may make copies and give that to you. You know. For record keeping."

<Judah>

Jude nodded along, "Oh the twins are home?" He looked briefly nervous, "Please tell me they won't want foot rubs too." More teasing to keep the mood light, "A diary?" His attention was caught, his eyes narrowing at the road. "That's a good idea, if you want it kept then of course, send me the copies and I’ll keep them in your file. I'll put them in with that picture of your bare baby butt your mum gave me, oh and the dorky early teen years ones. Those are great, your mum's the best." He snickered, "I mean I was ALWAYS gorgeous, but you really grew into yourself Ella, yep. Took a while but you're getting there."

<Mirella>

"Oh, haha," Mirella sarcastically bursted, tempted to swat him but restraining herself. "You don't really have the braces pictures, do you?" That was her most awkward phase, even though she'd had bright red bracers - maybe that had made it worse, that she drew attention to them. "I request that you burn any of those if you have them," she said smoothly, adjusting herself in her seat again and sighing. "No, the twins don't get foot rubs, because their feet are used to punishment. Seriously, **** tap and ballet. Foot torture, I call them." Her sisters said the same about her fire - it would ruin her skin, they said. But she was doing just fine.

<Judah>

Judah laughed raucously, "Oh man, but they are so good! Don't you worry sweet Ella, those pictures aren't in your file, but your mother does have them safely taken care of in case I ever need to blackmail you. You have always been beautiful, even as an awkward kid, don't fret." He rolled his eyes, he liked the twins but they were a bit of a handful at times. "I love a good dance myself, but yeah it isn't easy on the legs or feet. I can tap, you know that right?" The rest of the trip was made up of light chatter and Jude getting excited about a song he liked, turning up the radio and belting it out, crooning the words to his cousin. As they pulled up he parked and got out to help her out, "Ready for this?"

<Mirella>

"As I'll ever be," Mirella said softly, pulling herself up out of the car and straightening her shirt before grabbing up her purse and slinging it over her shoulder. "I will warn you, I asked the twins to stay in their room. The topic of this conversation does not need to go farther than those directly involved until plans are finalized." And by that, she meant that she still did have a desire to keep her child anyway, consequences be damned. She kept having to remind herself that the choice wasn't selfish, but for the unborn child's safety and health.

<Judah>

Judah took a steadying breath for his own sake, his hand pressing at her lower back as he lead the young woman to her door, lifting his hand to knock. Sure, she lived here, but he was a guest and he felt it only fair to give them warning, to alert them to their presence. He was glad the twins would not be joining them, their enthusiasm at times matched his own and this was not the time for it.

<Mirella>

Mirella nearly opened the door from under his hand, but politely waited until he knocked before throwing open the door and walking straight in, automatically going to kick off flip-flops she just wasn't wearing anymore. "Mom, Daddy, we're here!" she called. From the couch, two figures stood up, one clicking off the television in the corner, visible from the door. The kitchen was through a pass-through on the left, the living room led straight to the sliding glass door to the backyard, and the hallway on the right led to the bedrooms and bathroom - well. Except for one bedroom. The twins' room was out, down the stairs and under Mirella's own room. Not tat that was visible. "Judah, as always, good to see you," Aaron said, smiling, even as Aoife made her way straight to the door and engulfed them each in a stifling hug.

<Judah>

He stumbled back slightly as Aoife captured him in her trademark fierce embrace, Jude pressing a kiss to the woman's cheek, freeing one hand to reach around and shake Aaron's. "Hello, thank you for letting me come and visit with you, I hope it's not a bad time?" He smiled, to them both as Aoife once more stood back to stand by her husband. "Ella and I have been discussing the situation, and how best we can keep everyone happy." His hand reached out thoughtlessly, resting lightly over the swell of Mirella's belly, "Are you happy for us all to sit and chat? Aoife, Ella's feet are swollen. Do you have a small tub she could soak them in? I promised her a foot massage, and between us I think there'll be hell to pay if she doesn't get it." He laughed, grinning at them both as if this was completely normal.

<Mirella>

Almost immediately, Aoife laughed. "Swollen feet? At least she can still see them. When I was five months with her sisters, I couldn't even see my hot pink toenails," she said, before moving into the kitchen, grabbing up a dish bin and a pitcher. Aaron's hard eyes softened slightly, as he moved to return to his seat, talking as he went, "It's not a bad time, we were just watching a movie." He gestured to the bowl of popcorn sitting on the ottoman, which made Mirella's eyes widen as she moved past Judah, grabbing the bowl and greedily shoveling a handful into her mouth. "Mirella Sinaed von Marck, you will eat that slowly," Aoife reprimanded as she made her way into the living room with the dish bin, setting it in front of the armchair that was usually Aaron's, but with Mirella's desire to be able to recline, was currently hers.

<Judah>

Jude smiled fondly at Aoife, her relaxed nature putting him at ease, even next to Aaron's clear uncertainty yet even he seemed to soften as Jude spoke. Yes, Ella had been right to come to him after all. He helped his young cousin into her chair, and as Aoife came back with water helped to put them within the tub. He poured the warm water over her feet until they were covered, setting the jug aside to refill if needed. "Well, let's chat while you soak, hmm?" He grabbed a straight-backed dining chair from the kitchen and brought it into the room, sitting so he could face all of them.

The man held up a finger as it to ask for a moment and began loosening to collar, attaching the white clerical collar and releasing the first button. He then unbuttoned and rolled the sleeves of his black shirt up to his elbows, revealing tattoos on his left arm. It was a habit, to separate Pastor Jude and Judah von der Marck, the removal and loosening of his constraints. "Now... We have a baby on the way. Ella and I have agreed that I will be, with your agreement, helping her through the process. Her surrogate partner, advisor and friend."

<Mirella>

"I see absolutely no reason to disagree," Aoife said, giving Aaron a hard stare, as if daring him to disagree. She was demanding - it was clear to see where Mirella had gotten her slight controlling nature from. Aoife still had the build of an acrobat, though she had retired from performing after the twins were born. In the backyard, there was a trapeze hung from a high branch, for Aaron to practice on. "Definitely no reason to disagree, Judah," Aaron replied, looking distinctly relieved. Apparently, he'd feared exactly what they'd discussed after the twins shared the news that Judah was coming over. Throughout this, Mirella just ate popcorn, listening.

<Judah>

Jude cleared his throat, now for some fun. "Of course that means I proposed, we will be getting married next month. Before darling Ella gets too big for a dress, of course, and the wedding will be at the Manor. I've already started on the guest list; I’m thinking we keep it small, just family would be best. What do you think?" His eyes sparkled with mischief even as he tried for his best solemn, respectful look, glancing between his older cousins Aoife and Aaron. "I mean, Ella is still opting to put her child in the care of other family members until she is ready, but that is alright, eventually we can move into a big house with Ella's child and my son, one big happy family. Don't you think?" His lips were quirking slightly; the struggle of fighting a smirk might be clear to someone level headed.

<Mirella>

Aaron's eyes bulged in his head the moment Judah mentioned the word proposed, his hand tensing so hard the creaking of the sofa arm could be heard. Mirella wanted so badly to spoil the fun, but Aoife was quick to react. "Aaron, that would be a good thing, for us and for Mirella," she said, moving closer to her husband and setting a hand on his arm. "Aoife, this is our eighteen year old daughter we're talking about! If she's not ready for a baby, she's not ready to get married!" Mirella looked up at the ceiling a moment, before bobbing her head side to side in a well, he's right about that motion as she continued munching.

<Judah>

Judah was really struggling not to laugh now, and Ella was even playing along with his joke, acting the innocent in it all. "Come now, Aaron, I know I’m a widower but I’m a von der Marck and I mean, I’m a babe! I have a good job, Ella can travel the world with me on my Chronicler trips and she's CLEARLY fertile." Maybe too far, but it was too late now, he'd gone there. "I mean I’m only 26 this year, we have plenty of time to pop out some more von der Marck babies together. Can you imagine? We'd make such cute children, and be keeping the bloodline strong!" That was the tipping point, Judah von der Marck lost his veritable **** giggling, waving his hands in the air apologetically before Aaron could get up to come strangle him to death.

"Guys, I’m kidding, I would do it of course if it was best for us all, but..." He grew serious again, taking out his glasses and placing them on. "Ella is a beautiful young woman, with much potential and I promise to care for her, to help her through this. We will document everything and we think that we should speak to Louise about caring for the child until Ella is ready to take on the responsibility. It won't be easy, but as a family we can do this. I shouldn't tease, I’m sorry, but you have to see... This isn't the worst thing. She's here, she's alive and she is well. The child is well. Is that not the most important thing?" He smiled softly, reaching out to grasp Ella's hand briefly, squeezing it.

<Mirella>

"I need something strong," Aaron said to Aoife, who nodded and got up, moving into the kitchen and opening the top cupboard, pulling out a bottle of whiskey and pouring a glass for Aaron, which she brought right to him before even going near the wine. "We only have a white zin, I hope you don't mind that, Judah," Aoife said as she cracked open the untouched bottle. From there, the conversation and details flowed easily.

<Judah>

Jude felt briefly surprised that Aoife remembered his preference of wine; the woman herself was a fan of white, though he was also known to partake a good old-fashioned whisky or expensive brandy with the boys. "Anything will do nicely, my most beauteous Aoife." Ella's feet were rubbed, the details planned out and written down. When Judah made his exit he paused at the door, where Ella stood, the man brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "I'm glad you came to me today, Firebug, I can't wait to meet your child." He kissed her forehead and didn't wait for reply, the man jogging out to his car and taking off to collect his own offspring. The children of the von der Marck were the future, and Judah couldn't wait to find out what kind of people they would be.