Bloody dreams of you

@ katahdin
Celtin smirked and leaned into her. He smiled tilting his head. "Said what?" he asked and smiled as she asked to say it again. He blushed softly and leaned in caressing her cheek. "I love you Harriet. There is no more hiding it." He said and loved the glint in her eyes.

---

Cassia chuckled and did a little spin for him. "Since when have I dressed up for anyone other than myself and... well you?" she asked him. She hadn't had a ton of cloths before they where bonded. She had what she needed but she had so many more choices now and she liked showing off her body having been so innocent before.

---

"I'll be there the entire time." he assured her. "You're not gonna have this baby without me." he smirked. He grinned and brought over her cloths. Once she was dressed her pushed her hair back and kissed her forehead. "I think you should meet with Cassia and Harriet without me. I'll only be stressing the entire time. I'm sure you all will have fun." he said and smiled. "We'll have plenty of time together soon but if you're meeting Thibault tomorrow I want you to meet with Cassia first. She can prepare you for him." Zane said.

@ Jinx...

Harriet felt her heart flutter and skip a beat as he leaned closer and told her that he loves her, gazing up at him as she reached up to rest a hand against his cheek. "I love you too, Celtin. With all of my heart." She murmured, tugging him close to press a loving kiss to his lips, arms wrapping around his neck.

---

Thibault chuckled as she spinners, shaking his head as he sat up. "I know. I just worry, since there are two other vampires in this house, one unbonded and the other not feeding from his bond for months, and you look delectable." He smirked.

---

Rosemarie smiled as he assured her that he'd be there the entire time, squeezing his hands once she was dressed. "Alright.. But promise that we'll spend more time together? I've missed you." She murmured, standing up on her toes to press a loving kiss to his lips. "Will you help me to the garden now, and sit with me until the others arrive?"

@ katahdin
Celtin beamed as she said it back. He couldn't believe he had her heart. He kissed her back holding her close to him. He hummed not wanting this moment to end but also knowing Zane would come to get Harriet if Rosemarie was meeting Cassia.

---

Cassia chuckled and leaned in kissing him. "I will always be someone vampires will want to sink their teeth into. I'm a very powerful witch after all." she pushed his hair back. "I have been running with Celtin several days a week and he talks of nothing but Harriet and Zane is solely devoted to Rosemarie, in fact I am sure he would thrust himself onto a stake before he thought of hurting me in fear it might cause your retaliation but that is besides the part that he would never betray Rosemarie. He's letting her have this baby after all." she reminded him.

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Zane nodded. "Yes love I promise." he said and grinned. "I have missed you as well." he said knowing he had been spending to much time keeping Thibault away and not enough time with his bond. "Yes." he said and picked her up. He carried her carefully out to the garden table. He sat next to her once she was comfortable. He caressed her hair back and kissed her hand.

@ Jinx...

Harriet happily hummed against his lips as they kissed, her arms tightening a bit around his neck as she pressed closer. She didn't want to stop kissing him, but also wanted to say that she loved him over and over so that he knew she meant it. After a bit though she forced herself to pull away, resting her forehead against his as she smiled up at him. "I have to get going, or I'll be late for dinner.. Maybe you could come see me in my room after? Since I usually come here but I don't think you've seen my room yet."

---

Thibault let his hands rest on her hips as she leaned over to kiss him, returning her kiss with a smile. "But you're mind, and they can't have you." He murmured, squeezing her hips a bit. "Celtin may only have eyes for Harriet, and Zane may be devoted to Rosemarie, but that doesn't mean that they wouldn't act if provoked." He pointed out, pressing a kiss to her cheek. "I just want you to be safe."

---

Rosemarie giggled as he picked her up and carried her, shaking her head. "I meant just holding my hand silly, not carry me all the way upstairs. I appreciate it, though." She smiled, pressing a kiss to his cheek. "I love you. Promise you'll start spending more time with me? I know you've been trying to spend your time with Thibault and Cassia, but I miss you, and want to get to spend time with you before the baby comes."

@ katahdin
Celtin smiled and breathed her in. They would have plenty of alone time here soon but that didn't make him like this any more. He groaned and then sighed. "Okay but just because it's for Rose and Zane. I plan to make you late for plenty of things in the future." he winked at her. He nodded as she suggested her room. "Sure. I guess you're sick of my ocean beach smell." he teased.

---

Cassia chuckled. "Thibault." she kissed him again. "I love how protective you are over me and I know nothing I say will change your mind but I really can take care of myself in a pinch not that anything is going to happen to me with them. Besides I'm having dinner with Rosemarie and Harriet not Zane and Celtin." she said. "I have to do. Don't worry about me. Why don't you see if you can get the guys together for dinner. It will help take all your minds off us for a bit." she patted his chest before pulling away. "Love you Thibault." she called before slipping out of the room heading towards the rooftop garden.

---

Zane laughed and shook his head. "If I wont let you walk to the bathroom or the nursery what makes you think I would let you walk up the stairs to the garden?" He chuckled. "I already did love but I will again and again. "I promise we will spend more time together. After tomorrow when the nursery is done I'll spend all day with you, just the two of us."

@ Jinx...

Harriet hummed a little against his lips, gently brushing her fingers against his cheeks as she looked up at him, giggling a little as he groaned in frustration. "I count on it." She teased softly, pressing another kiss to his lips. "That and not having my own things in here to use." She pointed out, reluctantly sliding out of his arms to get up and head over to where she'd put her clothes from earlier, tugging on her pants and tucking Celtin's shirt in to make it look more acceptable for dinner before moving back over to press another kiss to his lips. "I'll meet you in my room in an hour?"

---

"But they might be there. And you've spent time with them both." Thibault pointed out, returning her kiss. He knew he might be being a little bit unreasonable, but he couldn't help it. He nodded a bit at her suggestion that he have dinner with Zane and Celtin, pressing one last kiss to her lips before standing to get dressed himself. "Alright. Be safe, my love."

---

Rosemarie giggled, pressing a kiss to his cheek. "I walk up here with Harriet all the time, and to the bathroom by myself when you're not around. I really am fine, Zane." She tried to reassure him, although she also knew that he definitely wouldn't let her walk around by herself if he was around. She smiled as he promised to spend more time with her, giggling and pressing a happy to his lips. "What will we do?"

@ katahdin
Celtin nodded and kissed her once more before letting her leave. He grinned and chuckled. She had left in his shirt after all. He smirked hoping he might get to watch her take it off later though he knew they had to wait until this ritual before they had any messing around which wouldn't happen until after Rosemarie delivered. Even more he was to wait until Harriet's birthday. He was excited to celebrate her birthday with her for the first time wondering how long they should wait before taking the bonding process. He was nervous for it. He didn't believe their would be an issue with it but every once in a while the bond would kill the human because the bonding and the human where incompatible.

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Cassia grinned. "Always." she promised to be safe knowing he would always worry. She moved up into the garden and smiled at Zane and Rosemarie. "Hello." she said cheerily. It seems she was interrupting something but Zane smiled at her. "Cassia meet Rosemarie." he said and Cassia smiled softly. "It's nice to officially meet you. Are you feeling well?" she asked since the last time she saw her she was sick.

---

Zane shook her head. "Well I might have to hire someone to carry you around if you keep walking about." he said though if he meant it threatening it didn't come off that way. He kissed her back grinning and hummed. "I don't know let's see..." he said and then the door opened and he looked up at Cassia smiling as he sat back before introducing them. He would stay until Harriet arrived.

@ Jinx...

Harriet was more than happy to return Celtin's kiss, promising to be done with dinner as quickly as possible before heading up to the rooftop garden. She smiled as she spotted Rosemarie and Zane already sitting at the table with Cassia, glad to see that they all seemed to be getting along. "Sorry I'm late, I overslept a bit." She apologized, taking her usual seat at the table before smiling at Zane. "Thank you for waiting with her, but I think I saw Thibault on my way here and heard him mention something about having dinner with you and Celtin."

Rosemaire smiled as Cassia arrived, nodding a little at her greeting. "Hello.. Yes, I am feeling better, thank you.. Feel free to sit, food should be here soon." She sad, pressing a kiss to Zane's cheek as she turned to him. "You should have dinner with them, I bet it will be good for you." She encouraged, squeezing his hands reassuringly, wanting him to know that she'd be fine if he left.

@ katahdin
Zane kissed Rosemarie's cheek then nodded as she said to go have dinner with the guys. "Okay love." he said and caressed her hair before standing. He walked out and left the girls to their conversation. Cassia smiled as Harriet arrived. She waved to Zane as he left. She had a ton of things she wanted to know and wanted to talk about and felt like she had no idea where to begin. "So Rosemarie how did you meet Zane?" she asked.

Zane left the girls and went to the kitchen where he was guessing that Thibault was. He knew this was both a friendly invitation and a way to assure his bond's safety while with Rosemarie. Zane walked into the room and smiled seeing Thibault. "Hey." he said. The man looked better. That must have been Cassia's doing. He sat at the table. Celtin walked in and smirked. "Three vampires in a room, what do you feed them?" he said and chuckled. Zane rolled his eyes. "Don't tell me the start of a bad joke if you can't finish it." he said and Celtin laughed. "Okay okay. What's up Thibault?" he smiled as he sat.

@ Jinx...

Rosemarie smiled as Zane left, squeezing his hands one more time before he left. She turned to Cassia as she came and sat down, although she blushed when she asked about how she and Zane had met. She was worried that perhaps the woman would think poorly of her for how they'd met. "Oh.. Well.. I-I was captured by some bad people, and sold to Zane.. But he was kind, and nice, and he took care of them, and didn't make me do anything I didn't want to, and then we fell in love and I agreed to be his bond.. I-I know it's strange, but he never did anything wrong." She assured her, wanting her to know that in case she went and told Thibault.

---

Thibault had made his way to the kitchen once Cassia had left, figuring that he should eat a bit while Cassia was off with the girls, knowing it would keep him busy. He looked up as Zane came in, offering him a polite smile. "The girls all set? Cassia was excited to be able to eat with them." He chuckled as Celtin entered and began to joke around following them to take a seat for dinner. "Just looking for something to do while the girls are upstairs at dinner. Cassia suggested that I eat with you two while I waited, but if you both are busy I don't mind having dinner myself."

@ katahdin
Cassia shook her head. "I don't think you can be normal and meet and bond to a vampire. She's a witch, you where abducted and I... well that is a longer story than we have time for but I am also not normal." she said smiling. "Thibault is a good man too. I have been lucky not to met many vampires that are actually bad but Thibault shelters me a little. I probably would have met some by now but this is the first time he has taken me anywhere." she chuckled. "Have you always wanted to be a mom Rosemarie? You just seem to beam with pride." she said grinning.

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Zane nodded and smiled. "Yes they are all set. She didn't seem like she knew where to start." he chuckled. "I think I might have kept them away for a little too long." he admitted. Zane sat with Thibault. "No without my bond I have nothing to do." he smiled. Celtin grinned sitting as well. "Harriet and I are getting pretty serious. I'm going to be participating in one of her coven's ceremonies. It makes me all nervous. I've never been with a witch before." he smiled. "What about you Thibault. Cassia seems like a strong witch how do you handle it?"

@ Jinx...

Rosemarie nodded sheepishly in agreement as Cassia mentioned that it was impossible to bond to a vampire under normal circumstances. Harriet chuckled as she spoke, smiling at them both. "I'm not actually bonded to a vampire, but yes, anytime you meet a new vampire it's almost always under odd circumstances." Harriet agreed, smiling at Cassia as she spoke about her bond. "From what I heard, your bond is a good man, Cassia. And for what it's worth, I think that Zane also shelters Rosemarie, if you couldn't tell." She teased, warning a small smile from Rosemarie, who thanked the servants as they brought them their meals before digging into hers. "I apologize if I seem rude by eating so quickly, but I'm starving." She blushed even brighter when Cassia asked about her wanting to be a mom, giving a little nod. "Yes.. I never thought I would once I became Zane's bond, but I'm so glad he gave us the chance."

---

Thibault chuckled as Zane said he had nothing to do without his bond, nodding in agreement. "I understand that. And that's wonderful news, Celtin, congratulations. Have you ever bonded before?" He asked curiously. He knew Rosemarie was Zane's first bond, and having a baby with her would only complicate her death when she got older, but he also could understand wanting that. He would consider having a child with Cassia if he knew it could be done safely. "Witches are an interesting bunch. My sister is bonded to a witch, but he and Cassia are very different, and from what I can tell of Harriet she's different from the both of them as well. But they do like their independence and are head strong, so I'm sure you'll have things to argue about and disagree over before long."

@ katahdin
Cassia blushed. "Oh I'm sorry it's just the way Celtin talks about you." she said smiling softly. She smiled nodding as Harriet mentioned Thibault was a good man. "He is." she said and smiled. "Maybe just a little." she chuckled. "Oh no please do." she smiled and took a bite of her own food. She listened to Rosemarie talk about being a mother. "So it's kind of a miracle for you then. Has Zane been on board the entire time then?" she asked. Cassia wondered what information Thibault needed from Harriet. Cassia knew it was bad that she helped Zane and Rosemarie against the council but perhaps if there was some kind of a reasoning then maybe there wouldn't be any repercussions. "I bet you're ready to not be pregnant anymore though." she said with a grin.

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Celtin nodded. "Yes but a very long time ago. I think I just about beat the longest stint for not bonding in vampires." he smirked. Celtin chuckled nodding. "Well I'm guessing even though the magic is different and suited to each of their personalities that the basis for a witch is the same. Otherwise they would just be magically inclined. Magic takes practice and determination even when it fails. Or that's what I have seen from Harriet anyways." he grinned. "Thibault have you and Cassia traveled a lot?" he asked. "Cassia looks at everything like it's a wonder. It's fascinating." He chuckled thinking of her acting like a little sister.

@ Jinx...

Harriet smiled at Cassia as she blushed, shaking her head. "It's perfectly fine, Cassia. It's nice to hear that Celtin talks so much about me, though." She said, thanking the servants as well as their food was brought and began to eat along with the others. Rosemarie nodded a little as Cassia asked about her being ready to not be pregnant anymore, offering her a sheepish smile. "I know that I should still have a few more weeks, but I really want to hold her." She admitted softly, blushing a bit as she asked about Zane being on board. "He was a bit hesitant at first.. But I think that was because he was scared I would be hurt or in danger because of the pregnancy. But once we met with Harriet and she assured him that I would be alright he felt better about it." She explained.

---

"Cassia is my first bond, so I might hold a record for longest time spent without bonding." Thibault chuckled, shaking his head when he was asked about traveling with his bond. "No. I've been too afraid of traveling with her since I've been sheltering her and keeping her safe since she was a child due to her background, but I know she wants to, and so being here is a good trial for potentially traveling in the future." He explained.

@ katahdin
Cassia nodded listening to her. She smiled. She really believed that Rosemarie would be the balance Zane needed. "And other than the exhaustion has the pregnancy gone pretty well?" she asked them both or rather anyone that wanted to answer. She knew part of the pregnancy determined the control the baby could have. She took a bite as she listened to them. She was really glad to just talk with them. "Have you decided on a name?" she asked. She knew they hadn't yet told Thibault the sex but she wondered this close tot he delivery if Rosemarie would want to now.

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Celtin grinned. "Well I think witches are easier to travel with. Rosemarie was a trooper during our travels but witches put others at ease." he said and chuckled. "Funny how their power is enticing and yet causes so much fear and demands respect." he chuckled. Zane smiled. "We had a good group we traveled with on official business so that helped. He shrugged. "How did you get past the blood lust for so long without bonding?" he asked curiously.

@ Jinx...

"There were a few scares early on, and I've had her on plenty of medications and supplements to help her carry the baby to term, or as close as we can get her to term." Harriet explained for Rosemarie while the other woman was busy eating, smiling at Cassia between bites of food. Rosemarie smiled sheepishly at Cassia as she asked about a name, resting a hand on her stomach. "We like the name Eleanor.. We've been calling her Ellie, but we don't have a middle name, and aren't completely settled on that name." She explained.

---

Thibault chuckled and nodded as the other vampires spoke, looking at Zane as he asked about how he'd avoided the blood lust for so long. "Cassia has lived with me since she was very young, and I've known the entire time that I wanted to bond with her. I think I was able to avoid the blood lust because she was nearby and I knew I'd be able to bond to her once she was old enough, rather than having no one and having to worry."

@ katahdin
Cassia smiled softly. "It's a beautiful name." she said glad to hear that they already had a name and a nickname even if they wanted to wait to make it official. That meant they where both bonding with the baby and that affection could mean the difference for the baby's thirst. "You know I never thought of having babies I always wanted to travel. I grew up very... protected so it wasn't something that I thought I would get to do but really wanted to. This trip might be for work but I am still enjoying it and meeting new people." she smiled. "Other than Thibault's sister and her bond I have only meet a few witches." she explained with a blush. "I'm still learning my magic." she smiled seeing the surprise on Harriet's face. Usually a new witch wasn't so powerful.

---

Celtin nodded as he thought about it. "And before that?" he asked. "You've lived a very long life." he said surprised honestly. Zane shook his head. "Celtin you're too nosey." he said and Celtin laughed rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah guess so but I like to keep it genuine." he said. Zane chuckled. "Can you believe this guy is older than me?" he shook his head. Zane had a feeling Thibault had question for them so he stayed quite eating a while so that he could construct his thoughts and ask. It had been easy working with him. They didn't talk much other than about the work but Zane had a feeling Thibault was getting a sense of who he was through it anyways.

@ Jinx...

"Zane mentioned that you've lived with Thibault for most of your life, what was that like growing up with him around?" Rosemarie asked curiously. She wondered what it would have been like to grow up knowing Zane, wondered if they'd have bonded sooner or if they would have had more time to fall in love with one another. "Traveling is always fun, though, and I hope you get to do more of it with Thibault after you're done here." Rosemarie offered Cassia a little smile, wincing a bit as she felt the baby kick and squirm inside of her. "I know you don't want me to go into labor for another few weeks, Harriet, but I hope she comes sooner because her kicks are getting awfully strong." Harriet laughed a bit, offering Rosemarie a reassuring smile as she pulled a few herbs from her bag. "These should help with some of the pain and keep the baby calm, but if she's as active as you've said she's been there's a good chance that she might come early, although we can only hope she stays in a bit longer so that we have more time to prepare." Harriet reassured Rosemarie before turning to Cassia. "Do you belong to the same coven as your sister-in-law's bond?"

---

Thibault chuckled a bit at Celtin's questions, shaking his head a bit when Zane asked if he could believe that the other vampire was older than him. "It's a bit hard to believe." He teased, taking a few bites. "I almost bonded when I was younger, but it.. It didn't end well. And the circumstances around my transformation weren't the happiest, so I secluded myself away from most people so that I couldn't hurt anyone accidentally ever again." Thibault explained before turning to Zane. "Are you ready for Rosemarie to have the child? I'm sure you can't wait to have your bond all to yourself again."

@ katahdin
Cassia blushed. "He wasn't really around much when I was growing up. The first night I meet him actually he asked me to bond with him." she said honestly with a blush. "He wasn't in the best condition." She relaxed as they talked about traveling and watched Harriet care for Rosemarie. She had a good friend there. Cassia blushed as Harriet asked about a coven. "Oh no... We use different kind of magic. My kind really isn't acceptable in his coven." she admitted. "No my coven..." she frowned looking down. "Well they where murdered. Thibault actually saved me and that's how I came to live with him when I was young. "So I really don't have a lot of people that I can ask things of just a random witch here or there when I meet them." she said blushing softly at Harriet. "That's why partly why I was so interested in meeting your coven. I would love to see one and how they work together. I also have a few questions I'm hoping you all might be able to help me with." she said with a bright blush. "So your coven are all healers?" she asked.

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Zane nodded interested in the amount of endurance that took. To even have a human in the same house would have been extremely painful and not to have drained her dry was even more remarkable. Celtin nodded glad he had told him. He didn't think he had that kind of reserve but then most vampires didn't have his amount of reserve either. Zane rubbed his neck as Thibault as if he was ready. "Well the nursery we can finish tomorrow but I think that will be as ready as I can get for a baby, but I am defiantly looking forward to being able to have my bond back to health. I wouldn't say I would have her to myself because she wants to be very involved with our baby's development but I look forward to when we can have our private moments." he said with a grin then took a bite of his food. He really did miss the time with his bond and he was looking forward to feeding. He was hungry all the time now so he knew he wouldn't be able to hold out too long from feedings from her but what ever she gave him always helped.

@ Jinx...
(Oops thought I'd replied to this!)

Rosemarie nodded a bit as Cassia explained, offering her a little smile. "It's a bit romantic, though.. And you seem happy with your decision." Harriet nodded as Cassia explained what had happened to her coven, resting a reassuring hand on her arm. "I'm so sorry. It's been known to happen, though, although it hasn't happened that we know of for many years. You're lucky that you're alive though, and my coven would be more than happy to meet you and teach you a few things." Harriet said, pulling her hand back to eat her dinner. "The women are mostly healers, although there are a few of us who also dabble with other magic as well. The men are more of a mix, with some of them practicing healing and others practicing whatever magic their family did. My grandmother was the founder of the coven, and for a long time it was only women, but after a bit she and the other elders decided to admit men who were related to the women members either blood or marriage, which makes us a close knit group."

---

Thibault nodded in understanding as Zane spoke of being as ready as he could for his child's birth, offering him a reassuring smile. "I'm sure once you hold your child you'll feel differently. Every father is different in their approach to that sort of thing, though. Some are in love with the baby as soon as they find out their wife is pregnant, others are hesitant until they meet the child, and then there are others who could care less. I think you'll be an excellent father to your child, Zane."