11. It's My Life.

I retreated to New Hampshire, went shopping, cooked, decorated the house, and ordered produce. It was time for me to take my life easy, even if it would be only a few months, but life throws surprises for me one after another and this was a better one. I was pregnant. Somehow, my body had decided that when I settled down, I would have children. I wasn't directly connected to the magic house, so I stocked the nursery and prepared to be a mother. Colin was my doctor, and he promised to be at the birth. I had four little ones in my tummy, and I knew then how to gear up.

My pregnancy was four months, and I had my helpers. All of my five men were there to help me. Dexter, Murdock, Magnum, Colin, and Wulfe. They all were pregnant with me. Colin tried to make sure that my body could handle the pregnancy while men put up cribs and every order that I had gotten. I asked what goes where and it happened. I also taught men quite a lot of baby care.

Colin practically lived with me, the same as Wulfe. Well, my new mansion in New Hampshire was enormous and there were rooms. Everyone wanted to touch my rounding belly, feeling my little ones kicking in there, and they promised to help me. Our life had taken a turn and even Murdock was waiting for birth. Magnum confessed his long-time dream of being of father and Dexter had been a father once. I was not alone, not at all.

It was again quite surprising not to be alone as when I had been in pack it was rule almost that I was almost always alone when I was pregnant, no matter what they had promised to me, but these were living with me. We were more or less now a family. I had so many people in my life. 

Wulfe sensed that these would be very strong vampires, so Colin and Wulfe made sure that I drank enough blood and a strong one. Murdock, Dexter, and Magnum came up with pretty inventive results. I had in my basement, a big strong cage where there was one very strong demon lord from another realm. Strongest that I had ever tasted and I could drink from it as much as I needed. But I kept my control on, not drank too much. This was the one that I had found and Wulfe had captured. 

I was emotional. Hormonal, of course, and men had their hands full from time to time when I got mad, sad, or overly chipper and wanted to do anything and everything. Especially then when Colin was somewhere else so he could not order me around. I might want to change curtains in some rooms and try to climb up some dressers while almost in the term. My windows were quite high and boys were less impressed by my need to act. I had almost all the time one of them shadowing me, making sure that I did not climb anywhere. 

I needed to eat as much as I could fit, but with four babies in my belly, food was not going in enormous amounts. I had started to lactate, and I had lots of milk reserved too. I had first milk preserved so I could give it to my babies and get their immune systems on properly. I had also some of Damon's blood on the stock. I would have kept some of it if there would have been a tight spot, but its healing power had diminished over the years.

I guess I was no longer his biological half anymore. it was kind of a bitter idea but it was the best. No need to let the past keep me as a prisoner as I was about to become a mom. My pregnancy was going fine, and just like Colin had already decided, I was going to have an operation. Those goddamn calendula drops affected me still and Wulfe knocked me out with those, as per Colin's order. He operated on me under anesthetic, and my four girls came into the world safely.

I had plenty of help. Wulfe was good with the girls, and he was not afraid of poopy diapers or spit-ups. He knew how strong these were and he made a little potion to help bind their powers a bit. He did not do it too strongly so babies would not get upset. Just a little power down and then later on, more could be done if needed. Wulfe was very good at finding balance in things, some honey, and some vinegar and he kept an eye on these babies and me, of course. He told me he was strong enough to order me even though he was not officially my sire. I had none again. He threat a few times though that if I continue to misbehave, it is not be too hard for him to be my sire and then I would not get free from him.

The baby routine started, and there was nothing new about it, per se. You could see my four little dark-haired, blue-eyed vampire girls right away who their father was. They liked my blood, but luckily, I also had Damon's blood in stock because it was the girls' ultimate treat. As usual, I did not see so much myself in these but Damon. it was not bad at all, these little ones would be one-day exquisite ladies. 

It had been six months since the end of the gigs when the girls were born, and I didn't mind raising them until I could get them to another place or not. If I had to raise them all by myself, I could do that, too. But I was not alone. Even if their father was not here, they would have men in their lives. I fed, nursed, and changed clothes for babies. Everyday life with four impatient vampire babies is pretty crazy at times. We had our hands full with them. Even though there were six of us and four little babies, everyone was busy.

Magnum sat in a rocking chair. He had just gotten my littlest one, May, to sleep, and he was not going to move until she would be sleeping soundly. She was the most impatient and not the best sleeper. If I wanted my other girls to get some shut-eye, May needed to first get to sleep and then I could focus on others. There was this expression of awe, longing, and pure love on Magnum's face as he looked at May. For him it did not matter that she was his, biologically, but right there, right then, she was sleeping in his arms, trusting him. 

Murdock came into the nursery. He had Lily in his arms and he put her in her crib to sleep. Smiled at her. I could have sworn that one felt something, even if he tried to show that he was not so good with babies. Ever since I had given that feeling of pain to Murdock, it had changed him, ever so slightly, but it would take time and I suspected that kick-started his soul or whatever humans use in order to feel. Dexter had experience as he had once had his kids. I did not ask him what had happened.

It was with him almost as if he was trying to atone for some old sins of his and maybe he was on the road of redemption, just as Wulfe had been once. Maybe this had been part of my purpose. To save these five as well. Our life revolved pretty much around these. It seemed that vampire babies weren't the same as human babies, or at least my quartet had gotten all the men under their charms. Colin came a few times a week. He weighed girls, measured them, and put everything in records. 

May, Emmylee, Vivianne, Lily. I let them have the last name Salvatore because it would be easier for them, but it was nice to raise my children. It was all new, and I know a lot of mothers would be confused and distressed, but not me. I had my support and even though my life had not been so grand. Now I had again something that I had to do. Raise these as well as possible. It was a little frightening though as we had usually been in the pack given babies pretty early in the magic house to be raised, but no magic house, so this was all me.

I was a killer, a very strong vampire myself, and felt sometimes very hollow, but I would do right by these. Teach them right and wrong. I was not sure what I would tell them about their father. But it was not yet acute. My alpha side, well, I had to be controlled as these were vampires, not shifters and my alpha side had no use but my vampire side had.

It kept me thinking, the fact that I would have to raise my babies, all the way through and it would not be easy. But I would not be alone to do it. They say that it takes a village to raise kids. I had my village. There was also Dresden and Constantine visiting us from time to time and Dresden's expression, it was pure longing; he had been a father once, but not had time to raise his child so much. He was also eager to help. 

Every little milestone was wonderful to experience, and as these were impatient and competitive. When one invented a little May, for example, she was the smallest but often the most inventive, others followed her example. And she often did these things first. Men were in their lives almost daily, and they loved their crazy uncles. Murdock smiled quite often when he looked at my babies, trying to do new things and finally succeeding. Wulfe tried to care for me too. Tried to get me to have some rest from time to time. 

Alaric, Tim, and Taylor visited me too, as well bunch of other fleas, so I was not alone at all. Alaric was so excited about these when he came to visit, he just sat there and looked at their antics, and smiled. But I did not permit Nick or the originals to visit, even if they asked. Something kept me from accepting them. Maybe my vampire side knew better. I trusted my instincts. Once Nick and Elias had been there for me, more than once, but then again, ever since Freya come back, those were not so friendly with me. 

Once May understood how to turn over on her stomach, it wasn't long before I had four babies rolling around on the floor with great enthusiasm. Yes, I did cook and bake while these little ones slept. I had eaters and company, too. Colin told me about my temperature. He tried to curb my milk production, but my body just loved making milk. I had my milk in the freezer as it was in abundance. Babies drank now blood milk. Half and half, milk and blood. 

Damon sighed and looked at the card. He had picked it up, and somehow, the fact that Mimi had known they were there but never once expressed or even wanted to be there to talk to them made Damon wonder again what to do next. They had spent Christmas and New Year. Now they were in the Azores, but this holiday was already six months on its way.

Soon, they'd be back at the pack, and he felt he had to talk to Mimi. When they got back to the pack, they didn't have long to stay as they had a heat period and no, no kids and no puppies, then a vampire heat, and Damon reckoned it would be another year or at least over nine months since he had seen Mimi.

He kept his pack under control and almost everyone got to try to cage from time to time, even other Salvatores. He was now truly the pack leader. He was also the husband and mate of Mariella, too. One day, he hoped Mimi would be in his life. But it was just hope, nothing concrete. 

He had to meet Mimi, talk to her, see her, try to charm her back with some kind of charm, or at least get their relationship started. He wanted to show her he had changed, but so had Mimi, and was it too late? Was that love that had been stronger than life itself, already dead, gone for good?

Damon said, " Darling, I want to see Mimi again. I hear she lives in New Hampshire. What do you say? We go and see her first, just the two of us? Maybe get to talk to her this time. If I am brave enough to see that, she might not love me anymore."

Mariella sighed. Excellent, another step forward. She'd gotten instructions and advice from upstairs and a general idea of how this was going to work. But free will, ruled above all and Damon was to be allowed to do these things at his own pace. Upstairs had said Mimi and Damon's love was so deep that neither could deny it, and Mimi would return to the pack, but again, she couldn't tell Damon that. It was the greatest force in the world, so it had the power to destroy but also the power to heal as well.

Mariella was not jealous. She had learned more about her role for other Salvatores as well, meaning she listened and understood, and somehow she got the idea that originally, one of her purposes had been the same to Damon as Jarod had been to Mimi. Someone to talk to, who did not judge, who listened and understood. It had never been her sole purpose of becoming a fucking machine in the first place, and this had been one big growing place for her, too. 

Mariella replied, " Lovely idea, darling. What is your plan?"

Damon smiled and said, " First, we spy. My sources have told me about Mimi's favorite shop. We'll go there, hidden, and see what the lady buys. Then we'll know a bit more. We can follow her for a couple of days. Get a little idea of her life now. She is not working but living an actual life. "

Mariella nodded, and Damon told the rest of the crowd. They set off to drive to New Hampshire, as the only house there had gone to Mimi. They went to the store and stayed to wait for Mimi. Damon told everyone that Mimi had bought also a new house and she was living there. They lived in a hotel for the time being, and it was a fun experience as well. 

It was another shopping day, and the four loved to be in the shop. Murdock was often on the trail, but he was fond of children, so he kept his distance as he protected us, and so did Magnum. Even if I wanted to have a life, there were always enemies lurking, and with these four, we had to be very careful. Colin had given them modified vaccinations for germs, not sure if they get one, but Magic House had used this type of vaccination in the past, so he made his own with the help of his leprechaun, who really loved my girls. I loaded my kids into the car and took their pram with me. It was a flea production, and although it looked ordinary, it was bulletproof and very safe, anyway.

I had an SUV, a ruby red Mercedes Benz SUV, and my hair was blond, curly, and quite long. I also had bangs and wore jeans and normal clothes. My shoes were now sensible, no heels. This would be again one little show, almost as there were so many things to consider. I drove to the shop and took the pram out. Wulfe was with me. He got out of the car, walked to the shop, and then about five minutes later, when he gave me a go ahead, I started to make my way to the shop.

I put the girls in their pram, and they were awake. They were girls, so they loved to shop and thought about what I was going to buy. They were four months old, so they were like eight-month-old human babies. Men had their hands full when it was time to eat. Colin had told me it would be good for the girls to try to eat first, make a mess he means, and then feed them after they had learned their skills. We ate—I mean; we tried to eat already—but it was a bit of a circus.

They had some motor skills to do it but also a lot of fun food was fun to throw around and play with, for instance, threw a spoon on the floor, slammed their hands in the middle of the food, and then wiped it in their face or in the chair, or grab my hand or my hair, or someone else's hair. I felt I had baby food in my hair most of the time.

Colin had been now away for a few weeks as the epidemic had struck and Dexter was on missions. I had still Magnum, Wulfe, and Murdock too. Wulfe would walk around the shop like a teenager, but he would make sure that there were no threats, and if there were, we had Murdock and Magnum ready to take them out. Even the thought of Sark getting his hands on my babies was something that made my rage bubbling and good, so I needed to keep my mind on my shopping.

I was very protective of my babies and we had strict security measures to do this safely as this was good for the babies to see the world. Jarod had been there to see them too and he could not say yet if someone of them was pretender. He wanted to someday meet my other children to see if there were pretenders as well.

Mariella and Damon were in the shop waiting for Mimi. Mariella was looking at the cookies when she noticed a change in Damon.

Oh, Mimi had probably come into the shop. Damon whispered to her as he pointed to one teen boy. This was light brown-haired, and quite tall, and lanky. He had pale eyes, but dark brows, and thick eyelashes and made quite a contrast. He wore sneakers, almost white, tight jeans, and a denim jacket. He was young, not mature enough. He walked nonchalantly but Mariella could feel his magic in the air as he was sensing dangers. His vampiric aura was so overwhelmingly strong that Mariella had felt nothing like that ever. This was one of the hell of a powerful creature.

"That's Wulfe, meaning Mimi is here or soon coming. From what I have heard, he is her bodyguard. He is in fleas, doing missions, all around a good guy. He was once our enemy and now he is stuck to Mimi. He has always called Mimi his unicorn. He has given help to Mimi in the past, quite a few times, but I do not know about what he said, as Damien was still inside me when Mimi told me. I told her not to tell me, not wanting Damien to know."

Damon sounded jealous, careful as he knew how strong Wulfe was.

Mariella was curious. She muttered to herself suddenly, " As guardian and protector have lost their way, it is up to the old boy to point them in the right direction. Only then, she can be whole. If the old boy finds them worthy, the guardian gets a new ally as well forces of good will be empowered by him."

Damon frowned. He had heard every word and asked, "What does that mean?"

Mariella said, "Old boy, Wulfe is older than you, yet he is a boy. You are the protector, I am the guardian, and we have lost our way with Mimi. So Wulfe will show us to way to get her back. Wulfe will be on our side, but we must prove ourselves to him."

Damon sighed. This was not so easy.

Mariella said, "You wait for Mimi. I will follow little our potential future ally. Don't worry, I will be careful."

Damon nodded. He hoped for the best, but feared for the worst. Were they worth of her?

Girls were quite restless today, meaning they wanted some blood. I had little bottles of Damon's blood in my bag to keep them calm. They were also very noisy, chatting with each other, and I did not know what this one was talking about. They were cooing quite a lot these days and, according to Wulfe; he was a telepath, more or less. Girls had a language of their own. They understood each other and it would not be long before they would try to speak actual words. I went into the shop, and apparently, these were very chatty this morning. I walked calmly to the shop. I would have to calm them down a bit or else they might get upset, and I did not want to pram full of crying babies as they would be much harder to appease then.

Then I found a little hiding place in between two shelves, a little darker place. I took my blood bottles and gave everyone their bottle of Damon. it should keep them happy for the rest of the trip. They grasp their bottles eagerly and sucked the blood. It was their ultimate treat, and I was not thinking ahead of that time when my supply of Damon's blood would run empty.

I focused on my shopping. I knew that there was meat on sale so I could buy lots of it and make again huge pot roast for the boys. I had a wagyu carcass in the outside pit so I could eat it if I wanted. 

Damon had found a good place to be hiding. He did not want to scare her, then he felt it. Them. A little time later, he heard footsteps. Smelled strawberry and milk. He heard wheels squeaking. He used shadows to hide him. Looked as Mimi walked, pushing strollers. Four babies were in there. There was a storm of emotions rolling inside him, and he did not know what to feel at first. The smell of her strawberry was something that brought him a sense of calm, yet he yearned to smell it all night long.

She looked around as she walked a bit, then she ducked almost into Damon's lap. She was so close. As were his daughters. He smiled at them. They could sense him, but Mimi did not. He saw when Mimi took little bottles filled with blood, his blood, and gave them to the babies. Mimi let the babies drink their blood bottles before she moved away. And put those empty bottles away. Babies were quite big, several months, and he talked to them telepathically, let them feel him. They had rarely raised their children this old of ever. Damon wondered about what these could do already. What was life with them?

Girls were telling him so many things, not in words but in feelings, and there was this love, and there were all of these many people in their lives and babies were so freaking happy and wanted to do things. 

Mariella had watched Wulfe when she sensed a change in Damon's mood. She had followed Wulfe for a little time, seeing how freaking careful he was, and she had spotted Magnum and Murdock as well in here, so she had some serious protection here. She went to Damon. He was standing in one corner, a little hiding.

He was almost wet-eyed and emotional, and Mariella went to curl up to him, wrapping her arms around him, hugging him. " What's wrong with you, Damon? Is it Mimi-related?"

Damon growled, his voice thick. " Yep, come and have a look."

Damon pulled Mariella between the shelves. He made her peek around the corner. 

Mariella said, " Oh my god." Her voice was full of awe, wonderment, and love.

Mimi was walking with the baby stroller, and Mariella could hear the chatter to where she was. There were several children in the pram, and Mariella realized Damon was talking to his children, which was why they were making so much noise. Mariella looked at Damon.

Damon said, "She gave them my blood. She almost came into my lap as I was hidden. I almost revealed myself, but I didn't want to scare her. Four girls. My daughters. They are vampires, strong ones and they have so much love. This unconditional love, even for me. Am I worth it?"

Something inside Mariella woke up, and she wanted to go and see the babies, smell them, hold them. It had been so many years, and she wasn't bitter that Mimi had made babies. She just wanted the pack to be with them.

She sensed how badly Damon wanted to go to his babies right now, but here again, was such fucking great self-control. They followed Mimi through the store. Damon was a magnificent creature. He truly was, and he was the best man that a woman could ever wish for. She was herself full of emotions as well. 

Damon had seen Mimi giving to the little babies some blood. They were vampires. Then Mimi paid for her purchase and went to the car. She had a fancy SUV, and Mariella knew that was what Damon wanted to drive. They saw Wulfe greeting her, Murdock, and Magnum too and smiling at the babies, and same time Damon was happy that Wulfe kept them safe, but they were HIS babies, not Wulfe's. Wulfe got in the car, Mimi drove and the Babies were packed in their seats in the backseat. 

But now they were off to get some supplies for Mimi before they went to the visit. They visited the pack and told them about the babies. The entire pack was hoping to see them. To be cared for, to help. There were quite a lot of emotions running rampant from Mimosa's and Shadow's unbridled excitement to the somber longing of Lepard and Demon. These two had struggled most this time. Not really connected fully to anyone. 

I'd been to the shop and made some food. It would be dinnertime again soon, and I was getting things ready. The girls were in the living room, cowering. I watched as May stood up and held onto the chair. The chair was heavy, and it wouldn't fall over. Emmylee and the others watched for a moment and pushed themselves up. I was in no hurry for them to walk, but if only that would tire them out a bit, the eating would improve. They would be hungrier and less prone to paint the kitchen with baby food. 

Wulfe was in his room. Second floor. He had one room where he slept when he was here and I knew Colin had called and said that he would be coming to see the girls in a few days when he was free. Alaric had promised to visit, too. I was just about to go and heat some food when the doorbell rang. Well, it was nothing new; there now could be anyone at any time.