Chapter 64 - Minus One - Plus One

Sebastian took Hope out on a special date and true to her dreams, her sweet, shy Sebastian finally popped the question.  











Hope was so excited she just jumped into his arms and hugged him.  After she composed herself, Hope and Sebastian shared a kiss to seal the deal.  She couldn’t wait to get home and share the news her mother and step-father.  

Back at home Delia had news of her own for Vladimir. She was somehow pregnant. Delia was extremely tired all the time and then there began to be other signs of pregnancy that she had certainly experienced more than a few times before. She got a pregnancy test and it proved to be positive. Her birth control must have failed. She wasn’t sure how Vladimir was going to take this or what it even meant to be pregnant with the child of a vampire.  They had never discussed having children and she didn’t even know if it was even possible. Clearly it is. She would not keep secrets from him.  As soon as he got home, she called him in to let him know. 

Vladimir was a bit taken aback.  This was not part of his plan. He had no children and was fine with it. Delia, on the other hand was evidently an experienced mother with what 7 or 8 kids. He couldn't remember. He also needed Delia in his life. Vladimir decided he would deal. But now, he couldn’t feed from her until their brat was born. Thank goodness he had Hope. That would keep him satisfied until the baby was born.  He told Delia he needed some air and went outside to think. She was so afraid he would leave her now like her last husband, Goodwin eventually would have done if he had not died first.

When Hope arrived home, she ran straight to her mom to tell her the news. Delia was thrilled for her. Then she told Hope about the baby. Hope, always the cheerful one, was super excited. 




She asked her mom if she could feel her baby bump.  Hannah would never let her feel hers. Of course Delia happily presented her belly to Hope.

Then Delia turned more somber. She told her daughter that Vladimir was sitting outside by himself on the upstairs balcony.  “I think he has to let this whole idea settle in,” Delia laughed nervously, “Why don’t you go talk to him and tell him your news.  That will really give him something to think about!”  “Of course!  Oh mom, I do love Sebastian, and you and Vlad too.  I can’t wait to tell him,” she said and excitedly ran off to find her step-father. 

Hope found Vladimir sitting in the chair that everyone seemed to gravitate to when they needed to talk or just think. It was quiet and you could look out upon the city at night; peaceful in a way. She walked over and sat in the chair next to him, her excitement left her at his expression.  He didn’t look happy at all. Hope said softly, “Vlad, what is wrong?  Mom told me the wonderful news.  You two are going to have a baby. That is exciting news. I have never seen Mom happier than she has been since you two married, well except these last few months, but now we know what was wrong with her.”  “Hope, sweetheart, thank you. I am not sure I know how to be a father. Your mom is a good mother. Look at you and Pierre. It just needs to sink in.  I love your mother, you know that, right? And I would never hurt her,” replied Vladimir.

Hope was infuriated as his apparent self pity and shot back, “Then get up off your butt and go in there and tell her you are thrilled!  You have been in my life since I was barely able to walk.  You DO know how to be a father.  You ARE hurting her being out here brooding.  And now you have spoiled my surprise!”  “Surprise?” he asked, “What surprise?”  Hope shot back, “Sebastian asked me to marry him tonight,” and then burst into tears. 

“Oh, Hope, I am happy for you,” he choked out even as was thinking now what can I do, I have no Delia and now no Hope to feed from for months. Vladimir took a deep breath, got up from his chair and held Hope. It was all he could do not to drink from her when they were this close.  He whispered into her hair, “Thank you for setting me straight. You are right; I was just a bit overwhelmed. It is time I made this right with Delia.”  Vladimir turned and left the balcony in search of his wife.  Hope was right. He needed to make this work.

Vladimir found Delia downstairs working out.  Always trying to stay in shape he thought.  He went to her and asked her forgiveness once again. This was all new to him. He was always the one making the rules and everyone followed or else.  He realized he was powerless when it came to Delia and he wasn’t sure how to deal with that. It was so frustrating. He had waited SO long to taste her and that one taste was all it took. 

“Delia, please, forgive me for being insensitive.  You are beautiful and sweet and I am sure the - our child – will be as wonderful as his mother,” said Vladimir.  Delia smiled and asked if he wanted to feel HIS baby kicking inside of her.  That frightened him a bit, but he obliged her.  He was quite fascinated when he actually felt her stomach moving beneath his hands. He could tell this made her very happy. So be it he thought. 

Delia smiled. She knew where his sudden about face came from. Hope has the power to charm anyone and he was sure she had a hand in this. But she didn’t care; as long as he wasn’t leaving her she was happy and much relieved. 

Then she had another, even happier, thought. We both know each other’s secrets. No other man has ever known everything about her.  Vladimir is the only one, and now she also knew his secrets. No more secrets she thought. Even though this isn’t the ‘normal’ that I longed for, perhaps that was never meant to be for me and this is my new normal. She couldn’t wait to give birth to this wonderful man’s child.

Now that Delia suddenly seemed happier, Vladimir decided to risk another foray into the basement. He figured she was feeling better and was happier so this was a good time to start digging through her mother’s journals on the computer.  He told Delia he would like to do this before the baby came if possible, but she would need to fix the computer because he had no idea about such things.  She was a bit unsettled by that idea, but understood that this was going to happen sooner or later. She said she would work on the PC and see if she could fix it knowing full well it would be easy and she was only stalling for more time.

The next afternoon, she called Vladimir down to the basement.  She had managed to repair the PC. He was a bit surprised it was already done. She almost laughed at how illiterate he was on technology. She knew he never watched TV and now it made sense.  He must be much older than she was and never embraced the new technology. That is something she needed to find out.

She figured she could have stalled longer, but she knew in her heart it was time. She had put this moment off for more than 100 years and who better to be by her side when she began to unravel her mystery.  

He stood over her shoulder as she started opening up documents and began to read them.  The first documents chronicled her childhood with her mother. They talked about her first steps, first words, when she was finally sleeping through the night.  It went on to talk about her first day at school. As she read through them the memories came rushing back and she began to get very emotional and forgot Vladimir was standing there.  

Finally he said, “Well, what does it say Delia?” She startled at his words as it brought her quickly back to the present.  “It is just things about my childhood.  Seems my mom liked to document everything including the first time I pooped on the potty,” she added light heartedly trying to lighten the mood.  “Okay, so move on.  What about these people in this picture?  What else is there?” he asked. 

Delia began to scroll through the documents until she came to some earlier ones.  There was a similar picture to the one in the frame.  She quickly moved to another page as Vladimir was staring at the urns above her.  It made her afraid and she didn’t want to continue.  She used her pregnancy as an excuse, even though she was no longer feeling tired and sick, to stop for tonight.   “I am tired Vladimir, we have been at this for hours. We will do more next week.  We have to finish planning Hope’s wedding in the morning and this kid is kicking me like crazy,” she pleaded.  “Of course, Delia,” he conceded.  She quickly turned off the computer and they went up to bed.

Because Hope’s wedding was already upon them, and Delia was a big as a barn, Vladimir didn’t push her to go back down to the basement. She had shown she was willing and as soon as the baby came and Hope was gone there would be time.  He decided to be patient.

Hope modeled her wedding gown for her mother.  Delia was reduced to tears.  This was so different than Pierre’s wedding.  Being the mother of the bride definitely has its perks.  Delia presented her daughter with a wedding gift.  Something “old” she told her.  

Then Delia hugged her beautiful, sweet daughter and laughingly told her she hoped she at least made it to the wedding, much less the reception.  Delia’s baby was due any day.

The day of Hope’s wedding had arrived and Hope was ravishingly beautiful in her gown.  Vladimir reserved the same venue they used for Pierre and Hannah’s wedding and was calling to check on things as the girls were getting ready. 

Delia put on her dress and asked Hope if she thought it was too revealing for the mother of the bride.  “Of course not Mom! You will be the most beautiful woman there, besides me of course!” said Hope laughing. Then when she saw Delia’s belly changing shapes Hope continued, “Oh – is little Vladimir moving in there?  Let me feel!” 

Vladimir turned and told Delia he got called in to an emergency at work. He apologized profusely and said he would catch up with them as soon as he was done. He really did have to go. Delia was upset, but understood. Pierre was going to give Hope away so it didn’t affect the wedding itself. But she would be sad that he missed it. 

Vladimir left for work while the rest of the crew went on over the venue.  Delia and Hope were the first to arrive. Hope ran off to a corner and decided to make a video for Sebastian. 

Soon the guests began to arrive.  Then the unthinkable happened.  Delia went into labor. Not NOW little Vladimir thought Delia as she did breathing exercises through her contractions.  She had only had two girls in all of the children she had so assumed this one would be a boy and always called it little Vladimir. 

Delia found her daughter and told her she wouldn’t be able to stay for the ceremony, little Vlad had other ideas.  She told her she would need Pierre to take her to the hospital since Vladimir was at work.  Hope said they would just call it off for tonight and get married at home.  She hunted down Sebastian who was just fine with that.  He hated crowds and didn’t know half the people there.

Next, Delia found Pierre and he was more than happy to take her to the hospital to deliver her baby.  She could have sworn he mumbled something under his breath about Vladimir but she didn’t press it.  While waiting for the elevator her water broke.  She was afraid they may not make it.  But fortunately at that point everyone got out of the way and they managed to get to the hospital before she gave birth in the car. 

Hope and Sebastian took separate cars back home.  While on the way, Pierre grudgingly called Vladimir to let him know what a miserable husband and father he was. Not only did he not show up for Hope’s wedding, he couldn’t even take his own wife to the hospital to deliver HIS baby! 

Vladimir was floored.  He had just arrived at home when Pierre called. He was going to clean up and go to the reception and surprise Delia and Hope. Their baby wasn’t due yet unless; it might be a vampire child.  They are known to have a much shorter gestation period.

Vladimir waited downstairs for Hope’s arrival at home. He was so upset with Pierre and his work situation that he had to have one last taste of Hope before she left the nest – er house – for good. She was breathtaking when she arrived and very excited.  Her blood was pumping hard and fast due to the adrenalin from all of the excitement and Vladimir could sense it. When she saw Vladimir she started to talk but he just grabbed her arm as if his life depended upon it and began to feed.  He felt much better afterwards. Satiated and calm now; ready to deal with a newborn.

He erased Hope's memories just before that stupid Sebastian Striker walked through the door.  Hope ran over to him and they decided to say their vows right then and there with Vladimir as their witness. This irked him more than they would ever know.  He hated Sebastian for taking away his sweet little Hope.  He better hope they didn’t meet up in a dark alley some night.

He called to check on Delia and Pierre informed him he was too late.  The baby was already born.  They barely made it to the hospital in time.  Vladimir felt awful and Pierre didn’t help.  If Pierre wasn’t Delia’s son, he would have already taken care of him.  Pierre said Delia would be home soon.  No need to come to the hospital. Over in the corner of the room, Hope and Sebastian needed to ‘get a room’.  Watching them all over each other made his blood boil and it was all he could do to control himself. Thank goodness he fed on Hope.

Delia arrived at home not long after Pierre hung up the phone.  He still didn’t even know anything about their baby.  Pierre didn’t offer and he wasn’t about to ask him.

When Delia walked in he went to her, apologizing once again for not being there. Why is he always apologizing!  He actually decided he hated Pierre at this point. But then he saw his baby in Delia’s arms and caught his breath.

He looked at Delia and the pink bundle she had in her arms.  She smiled at him and said, “Meet your daughter, Valerie.”  

A girl. They had always assumed a boy. He fell in love for the first time in his life in that instant.  Vladimir had never cried in his life but he felt like he might. He held back because bloody tears wouldn't help anything. Today was a day of firsts for Vladimir and it was because he had found Delia. Maybe he really did love this incredible woman after all.  How could that be? What had she done to him?

Vladimir stood there looking at his new reality.  He looked at Hope and stupid Sebastian then over to Delia and his newborn baby.  He knew at that point that he had lost Hope forever, but he still had Delia and would always have Valerie. He didn’t need Hope any longer.  He noticed the love in Delia’s eyes when she looked at her oldest daughter with her new husband.  It was pure and unconditional love.  She also looked at Valerie with that same tenderness.  And that was enough, for now. 

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