Blood red love by Dripping Creativity
120

*Twenty-five years later.*

Charlie greeted Smith and his oldest son, Jones, as she walked into the building. Smith had been training Jones for two months and the young gargoyle showed the same talents as his father and uncles. She always felt safe knowing they were guarding the building. On her way up in the elevator she phoned Vidar.

"Lilla lo, how was your day?" he asked when he picked up.

"It was good. Liwei and I spent the morning training and then she helped me pick out a gift for Lucas' daughter's eighteenth birthday party,” she told him. She unlocked the door and stepped into the apartment. "How has yours been?” "Boring. I don't like these meetings where I need to pretend to be all civil and boring," he complained. Charlie smiled. After the near miss of almost being outed, the magical community had started to discuss coming out of the shadows. Committees had been formed and ten years back they had started reaching out to leaders and organisations in the human world. Over all, the transitioning into the open had gone quite smoothly. Of course there were groups of humans that were against them, hated them even, just because they weren't humans. But they had all counted on that and they had plans in place to keep safe. Overall, the hate had been less than what they had expected. Vidar had been chosen to be one of the official representatives of the magical community. Charlie and he had talked about it before he accepted. It put him in the spotlight. But they both agreed they could do it and it was important enough for them to take it on. But he hated the meetings he had to take with different human groups and companies.

"I know you don't, but I'm still proud of you for doing it," she told him as she put her shopping bags on the kitchen counter and then dropped down on the couch in the living room.

"You just laid down on the couch, am I right?" he asked. She laughed and confirmed it. "Not fair, I have another meeting in half an hour. If I hadn't, I would be coming home right this second and joining you," he said.

"I would have liked that. Will you be late tonight?” she asked.

"I don't think so. It will be a short meeting, at least that's the plan. Do you miss me already?" he asked with a chuckle.

"Always," she answered truthfully. Their daily life allowed them to work closely together and see each other throughout the day. After finishing her degree, Charlie had started working full time in Grim INC. After getting business lessons from Vidar and the rest of the clan she was put in charge of a newly formed part of the company that focused on software development. It was a success and now they have a reputation of creating some of the market's most innovative software for areas such as finance and medical. It was all thanks to Charlie's willingness to hire young talents and then keeping them. The people in her department were fiercely loyal to her and to the company and everyone knew that if you got hired by Grim INC Software, you had hit the jackpot.

"I miss you too, baby. But I have sent over a surprise. It should arrive before I get home," he told her.

"You spoil me, Vidar."

"It's my privilege as your husband."

"I will let you go so you have time to rest before the next meeting," she said.

"Talking to you is the best rest. But I will agree this time. Please use the rest of the afternoon to rest and I will let you know if I will be late," he told her. "Love you."

"Love you too," she answered and they ended the call. Charlie stayed on the couch as it was nice to get off her feet. She was wondering what the surprise was. It could be anything from flowers to a new car, Vidar always found a way to keep her on her toes and guesses. Her phone rang and she smiled as she answered.

"Hello little monkey."

"Aunt Char, can you please stop calling me that? I'm almost twenty six years old," Liam whined.

"But it's so cute," she told him and laughed. "What can I do for you?"

"I was wondering if you and uncle Vidar will be coming for Sunday dinner?" he asked.

"We wouldn't miss it," she told him.

"Great."

"You know we always come when we are home. So why are you asking?"

"Ehm, I was thinking of inviting someone and I wanted you to meet them," he said in the cutest voice.

"And this someone, is it that blond haired beauty I saw you out with a couple of weeks ago?" she asked.

"It is. Her name is Emma and I really like her," he confessed.

“I believe you, you haven't brought any one home to meet the family before,” she cooed.

"Please, don't embarrass me when you meet her. You are my cool aunt and I want her to like you, and me," he said.

"I will do my best, little monkey. I take it your brother will be joining as well?” there was a soft sigh at the other end and Charlie laughed. She would be good when she met his girlfriend, but she could tease him now.

"He will, and he is bringing Tobias as well," Aiden said.

"That's nice, I like him. Last thing I heard they were thinking of moving in together,” Charlie said.

"Yeah, they have started looking for an apartment," Aiden confirmed.

"Will anyone else be there?" she asked.

"No. The boring and messed up part of the family won't be attending. If I get to decide, Emma won't meet them at all," he told her. Charlie hadn't heard from her father or his family since her wedding. She got information from time to time on them from Huxton or Tyson. But they were in low contact as well. Now that the twins were grown, they had decided not to interact with that side of the family if they could avoid it.

"Have you explained to her what Vidar and I are?” she then asked.

"Of course, she knows you are vampires and she is cool with it," he told her.

"Well, then I look forward to Sunday even more than usual."

"One more thing," he told her.

"Yes?"

"Is it okay if uncle James and Tina come? I know he and Uncle Vidar have some bad blood between them, but I would like Emma to meet everyone in one go," Aiden said. Charlie smiled. The twins had been so young when everything had gone down, they didn't remember anything about it. And the adults had all agreed they didn't need the details. Charlie and Vidar had stayed away from James, but they didn't refuse to see him, or his wife. They had met on some occasions like birthday parties and graduations. It was a little forced, but they managed to do fine.

"Of course it is. He's your family as well and Vidar won't mind. Neither do I," she answered.

"Thanks, you really are my favourite aunt," he said.

"Of course I am. And I will be a good aunt and I won't even bring the pictures of you in that monkey onesie I got you when you were two,” she told him.

"I hate you."

"No you don't. I'll see you on Saturday, little monkey," she said with a laugh.

“I don't. I'll see you then, say hi to Vidar from me,” he agreed and they ended the call. The call had made the day even better for Charlie. She was having an amazing day and she still hadn't received her surprise. She hummed as she walked into the kitchen to grab a snack. She still missed Shadow's presence in the apartment. They had lost him two years ago and it still felt empty without him. They hadn't felt like getting a new pet, the memory was still too fresh. But Charlie still looked for him as she opened the fridge. Before she could pick out what to eat, there was a knock on the door. Charlie looked towards it and frowned. They never had unannounced guests, if someone dropped in to see them, the door man would let them know. But she knew no one could get into the building without triggering one of the dozen of both magical and technological security measures they had. Charlie was not defenceless either. She had been trained by the best and even though she was a young vampire, she was strong. She therefore went to open the door, hoping it would be Vidar's surprise that had arrived. she opened the door and her smile fell from her face in pure shock.

"Hello, Charlie," Caine said with a broad smile. He looked like he had done when she last saw him, twenty-five years ago. He looked like the same mischievous man with dark eyes and brown hair. But the way he held himself was different. He let himself take up space, there was a calm confidence she hadn't seen in him before.

"Caine!" she exclaimed and threw herself around his neck.