Chapter One Hundred Forty-seven Considering the combinations of personalities and recent events, the evening was going pretty smoothly. But had a feeling that things were going to be changing shortly. For the most part so far all the discussion had been about the children, Anton's business, and other neutral subjects. But soon the reason that Mulder had been asked here would come up. And when it did, he wasn't certain what Bernadette's reaction would be. Her mother had been quiet when the blood was served, but Bryn could tell she wasn't pleased. If anything, she looked a little nauseous and picked at her food. Unwilling to change her habits for her mother, Bryn sipped from her glass as she turned her attention to Mr. Mulder. "So how are you handling the transition in to your new life, Mr. Mulder? I had a bit of difficulty at first, myself. I still don't know the difference between being hungry for food and for blood. At least I have Anton to remind me. It can't be easy living on your own." Mulder nodded. "Nate and Lindy have been helpful, and Jess and Walter have tried as well. But they've got a different perspective on things." "You know that you can talk to us if you need to, right? I mean, we're going to be talking to you about stuff. It goes both ways." Mulder smiled. "Thanks." "So you have decided to talk to him?" Bernadette asked. "Yes. About a lot of things. Including my abduction." "She's made a good start in talking to me," Anton said, squeezing Bryn's hand under the table. "But I'll be the first to admit. This is beyond my experience. Bernadette shifted in her chair, but said nothing. Seeing her discomfort, Mulder set his fork down. "I haven't mentioned it before, but I do have some experience myself. You already know that my sister was abducted when we were young...and that she was never returned. But there's more." Bryn's mother sat up a bit straighter, listening intently. "My partner in the FBI, Agent Scully...she was taken as well. Luckily, she was returned a few weeks later. But when she was, she was told that she was sterile. That all of her ovum were harvested. She wasn't ever going to be a mother on her own. But that didn't stop her from getting pregnant several years later...without medical intervention." Shocked, Bryn looked at Anton. "I wasn't the only one." "Incredible," Anton said. Whereas before he would have dismissed this Agent Scully's diagnosis as an error on the part of an all too human doctor, his recent experiences had taught him to be a bit more open minded. "What happened to the child? And does the father know?" Mulder dipped his chin, a secret smile on his face. "Yes, I do know. Unfortunately, due to circumstances surrounding our dismissal from the X-Files, Scully was forced to give up William." He looked uncomfortable as he continued, as if worried about being overheard. "We were able to get him back, but we thought it was better if we didn't stay together. She and our son are safe, at least." There was a look of shock on Anton's face. "I'm sorry, Mulder," he said. "I had no idea..." He wondered how the man was able to deal with the pain of being separated from someone he cared about, and his child, possibly the only one he would ever have. Bryn nodded, her heart aching for him. She'd never seen the man look so sad. He usually had a ready smile and some sort of wisecrack to sling. Now he was unusually quiet. "Are you able to have any contact at all?" "Sometimes. We have to be careful. We've tried seeing other people, but it just doesn't work. Hopefully, one of these days, we'll be together again." Anton nodded, understanding. Once you had met your true love, nothing else seemed to live up to those emotions. "If there is any way we can help, any way we can assist, please, let us know." "Thank you." Bernadette shook her head. "It's just so hard to believe. I knew there was no easy explanation for Sabryn's pregnancy...but I never suspected anything like that. And your partner...she was taken by aliens?" Mulder nodded. "It took her a long time to believe as well. She was a skeptic until she was forced to believe." Anton squeezed Bryn's hand again. "It can happen to the best of us." Bryn squeezed his hand in return. "I wish I could know her. Sometimes I feel so alone in this." "Right now it's too risky," Mulder said. "But maybe someday, it won't be." Six simple words that were filled with more hope than they had a right to be. And Anton found himself wishing that for Mulder's sake, it would be true. Anton leaned forward slightly. "Have you talked to her since..." he trailed off with a slight nod of his head. Mulder shook his head. "I don't know what I would say. She would be shocked to say the least. That is, if she even believed me." "Trust me." Anton's eyes gleamed with wry humor and experience. "After you nibble on her neck a time or two, she'll believe." Bryn giggled, especially at the look on her mother's face. She looked absolutely mortified. Mulder laughed as well. "I'll have to give that a try." Then he sobered up as he continued. "Nate was telling me that most people don't believe at first. Did that happen with you, Bryn?" She looked to her mother. "She's the only one I've told. Did you believe me, Mom?" Bernadette cleared her throat. "In theory. In didn't become real until I saw you drinking...that." Bryn nodded. "She didn't believe me about my abduction, either, Mr. Mulder." "That's not fair, Sabryn." "It isn't? It's true. If not for what Mr. Mulder told you, you still wouldn't believe, would you?" Mulder put one hand up to diffuse the situation. "Bryn, sometimes people need to see proof before they can believe. And even then sometimes they'll deny what is right beneath their noses." He then turned to Bernadette. "Can you tell me why you didn't, and I presume still don't, believe your daughter's version of what happened that night?" Bernadette took a deep breath, clearly uncomfortable discussing this in front of a virtual stranger. "You can't possibly know the kind of pressure that was put upon us as parents at that time, Mr. Mulder. Sabryn's father had very religious parents, and it was scandal enough that we married so young, let alone that our first child was conceived soon afterwards. Steven was expected to help run the family business, but he declined. We were living in a small town, where gossip was very prevalent before...the abduction. Afterwards, we couldn't go anywhere without people whispering or outright calling us names. Steven's parents were mortified and refused to meet with us in public. No one had ever even mentioned aliens before, except in movies. Can you possibly imagine trying to believe that happened to your own child? She'd always had a very fertile imagination. We were convinced she had simply wandered off and dreamt the whole thing. We wanted to believe that. The alternative was too horrific to swallow." Bryn turned in her seat towards Anton, trying hard to resist the urge to crawl in to his lap. [This stupid dinner was an awful idea. I never should have invited him with her still here.] Anton responded by scooting closer to Bryn and putting a comforting arm around her shoulders. If Mulder noted that, he didn't say a thing. "And what about now?" he asked. "After all these years and Sabryn's stuck to her story, what do you believe?" Leaning against Anton's side, Bryn shook her head. "She won't admit she's wrong. She never has." Bernadette scowled at her. "I didn't come here to be ridiculed. I don't detest you for your beliefs. Why do you detest me for mine?" "Because you've had proof right in your own arms, Mom! You've held your grandchildren. Do you need to follow Anton to the doctor's office to have proof that he's sterile?" Mulder put up his hand again, drawing attention back to him. "I don't want to get into 'right' and 'wrong' now. What I would like to hear is what Bernadette believes now." "I--I don't know what I believe. I would like to believe what she's told me. Of course I would. But it's all very confusing and...fantastic. Do you realize how little of the population believes these things? Even now, when I sit here and see you drinking blood in front of me, part of me thinks you're doing it just to shock me." "Why would I?" Bryn asked. "I don't know." "Most children don't make up lies of this nature. Or stick with them for over ten years," Mulder said. "I'm certain it would have made things easier for Bryn to have told the truth and say she had made it up if she was lying." Bernadette looked at Anton. "And what about you? Do you believe everything she says?" "It hasn't always been easy," Anton admitted. "But yes. I do." He looked out where the children were resting. "I have two very good reasons to believe her." "You've also lived a lot longer than I have, Anton. And you are a vampire, yourself. I'm just a woman who did the best she could to raise her family. To remain respectable in her community. And what did it get me? A husband who left me, and two children who would rather not have me in their lives. Sabryn adores you, because you believe her. Maybe if I told her I believed, she would adore me, too." "I love Anton for so many things, Mom. That's just one reason." She squeezed Anton's hand. She wanted to tell her mother that she would want her to be in their lives whether or not she believed...but she wasn't sure she could truthfully say that. Anton squeezed Bryn's hand tightly as Mulder asked another question. "And do you want Bryn to adore you now? You're both going to have to let go of some things. Are you both willing to work towards that?" "I am," Bernadette said. Bryn wasn't quite as convinced. Glancing towards the living room, and then at Anton, she finally nodded. Anton smiled at her, squeezing her hand yet again. Mulder looked pleased, but couldn't help wonder what he just let himself in for. After her mother had gone to bed, and Mulder went home for the night, Anton and Bryn took the babies upstairs to their room. The kids had just awakened from their naps and weren't likely to fall asleep again any time soon. Which was just fine by Bryn, because she didn't think she could be quiet anyway. "Do you believe that? She wouldn't admit she was wrong if she were being tortured! I mean, what do I have to do, bleed green blood before she'll believe me? And now he wants us to have counseling sessions together?" Anton was sitting on the floor, Max sitting on his lap. The boy was playing with building blocks. Anton wished that it was just as easy to fix Bryn's and her mother's relationship as it was to fix the castle Max was building. "Maybe it will be a good thing, Bryn," he said. She shot him a glare as she paced in front of the dresser. "The hell it will. Nothing will get solved, and she'll be leaving in two days. How could anything change in that amount of time? It's taken her over twenty years just to get to this point. 'I don't know what I believe,'" she mimicked. "My ass." Anton carefully stood, making certain not to disturb Max. "Bryn, at least she is making the effort, even if it is twenty years too late. That's more than some of your other family members have done." Kat was getting tired of lying on the bed by herself and let out a loud wail until Bryn walked over to pick her up. "I don't even know where my dad is. I'm not really worried about him, either. I don't expect to see him again. He's made it more than clear how he feels. But this..." She sighed heavily. "I hate getting my hopes up, Anton. I don't want to believe that she'll change, because the chances are, she won't." "I know, my dear." Anton walked over to her and pulled both of them into his arms. "It's hard to believe that she might want a better relationship with you. And what might happen if this doesn't work out. But I'd hate to see you miss that chance. Two days isn't going to undo two decade's worth of hurt, but it may be a start." She remained stiff in his embrace for several long minutes, not wanting to give in to tears. "I want to hate her for what she did to me. She doesn't deserve my forgiveness." Anton wasn't sure how to respond to that statement, other than to ask a question. "Do you hate her, Bryn?" Her eyes welled with tears and she shook her head. "Oh Bryn," he whispered softly. Anton tightened his arms around her. "I know it's going to be tough. But you need to continue healing. Not because of your mother, but because of you, so that you're okay with yourself. " Closing her eyes, she leaned in to his embrace and suppressed a soft shudder. In her arms, Kat thumped her fist against Anton as well. "Why do you always have to be right?" "I'm over a thousand years old, Bryn. I've had time to practice." He grinned down at her. "Besides, I'm not always right. I distinctly recall someone telling me that I should forgive my brother, and me being a stubborn mule about doing it." "Did you just call me a stubborn mule in a very roundabout way?" "Absolutely not, my dear. Besides, you're coming around much quicker than I did." She gave him a small smile. Looking down at Max, she grabbed Anton's hand and tugged him with her towards their son. Sitting down, she settled Kat in to her lap. "If I ever get so stupid and stubborn as my mother, you have my permission to spank my ass. I never want to be like that with our children." Anton scooted a little closer to Bryn, resting Max on one thigh. "And the same goes for me, my dear." There was a twinkle in his eye. "Now if we could get to work on your father, we might have a real extended family going here." "Don't count on it," Bryn muttered. She was quiet for a moment, before propped her chin on her hand. "You once said something to the effect that my family is yours. Do you really consider her your mother? And if so, are you as disappointed in her as I am?" Anton frowned, trying to verbalize what was a nebulous set of emotions. "She is... the children's grandmother. I really would like to see her have a relationship with them. But is she my mother? No, i can't say that she is. But I am disappointed in her. She has a wonderful, talented daughter, one who wouldn't be nearly so upset if she didn't lover her mother deeply, and she's not willing to believe her." Bryn sighed. "I wish I didn't care. It would be so much easier that way. And it would be even easier still if we didn't have kids that were affected by it." She paused. "I wish she was your mother. Then she'd be my mother-in-law, and those are supposed to be annoying." Anton arched one eyebrow. "Not to mention that she'd be dead for a long time. Or would that make you the big bad vampire and I'm the innocent child that was so eagerly seduced?" She grinned widely at him. "Don't forget, that would also make you my mother reincarnated." The smile fell off of his face. "That makes my head hurt working out the logistics, my dear." She giggled. "Sometimes I wish I wasn't your mother in a previous life. I would have liked to meet her. To know what she thought of me." "I think she would have liked you, my dear." Anton leaned over to place a quick kiss on the top of her head. "I know she wanted to make sure I was happy, and I'm certain she would know that you do that just be being near me." Bryn smiled. "You know, those fatherly kisses make me laugh. You'd think you were parental figure in a previous life, instead of me." "Who said they were fatherly? I'm just softening you up for later." He winked at her. "Besides, it's a bit hard to be more enthusiastic when your children are sitting on your lap instead of your wife." "Oh, I see. So they're dampening your ardor? You should be glad Kat isn't screaming anymore. I thought poor Mr. Mulder was going to leave for a while there." "And I'd swear your mother was wearing earplugs." He reached over and tickled Kat's tummy. "How could she resist such a cutie anyway? Bryn grinned when Kat squealed and kicked her feet. "I could have smacked her for making our princess scream like that. I don't care if we're spoiling her. I'd much rather do that than ignore her. You would think it would be her grandmother who would want to spoil her the most." Anton nodded, ruffling his son's hair when the boy made a little 'what about me?' noise. "Unless this is all a plot to make us look bad, and when we aren't looking, sweep in and cuddle our little kitten and Max." Bryn gave him a skeptical frown. "We should give these two a bath before they go to bed. And then maybe later we can take a bath of our own." "I do like the way you think, my dear," Anton said. "So let's get these two clean and to bed and then we'll do the same." Although she didn't think they'd be falling asleep anytime soon, she didn't mention it. Instead, she picked up Kat and stood up, reaching for Anton's hand. With any luck, the warm water would make the kids drowsy. "Let's go." Anton stood up, catching Max up in his arm. Tucking his son against his hip, he followed Bryn into the bathroom. "Why don't you start running the water while I get these two undressed," he said. "Okay." Sitting down on the rim of the tub, she handed Kat over to him before turning on the faucet. She smiled as she watched him with the kids, running her hand under the water to test the temperature. "You know, I'm very proud of us as parents. We make my parents look like idiots." Anton smiled. "I'd like to think I'm a better father than mine was," he said as he pulled off Kat's dress. The procedure was repeated with Max's shirt and pants. He wisely left of their diapers so if one of them made a run for it, he'd have something to snag them by. "And I'd say you are a better mother than yours is." She smiled. "Thank you. And yes, of course you're a better father than Ivan was. That's a given." Leaning over to plug the tub, she shook her hands and reached out to Max. "These two are very lucky to have you as a father. You're incredibly loving. It's no wonder they love you so much, too." Anton passed Max over. Picking up Kat, he bounced her on his knee. "And they love you too, my dear. I am constantly amazed watching you interact with them. And how they light up with you enter the room." She was suffused with warmth from his words. "I hope it stays that way, and they don't get annoyed with me as they get older." Quickly checking Max's diaper, she saw that it was still dry and stripped it off of him before settling him in the bath. He let out soft squeal, splashing the minute he hit the water. "Care to join us, Kitten?" Kat let out a frustrated squeal, clearly upset at Max getting attention that she wasn't. "I would say that is a yes, my dear," Anton laughed as he knelt down beside the tub as well. A diaper check also showed that it was dry and he settled her into the tub. "Don't splash your brother's face," he said as her hands slapped the water. Side-to-side with Anton, Bryn passed the baby shampoo as she started wetting Max's hair. "Did I ever ask you how your day was? I'm sorry, I can't remember. I was so nervous about that stupid dinner." "No, I don't think you did. But it was understandable." Anton gave her a smile as he wiped a bit of foam away from near Max's eyes. "I think Seth is finally starting to relax a little. That or everyone has started threatening him when I'm not around." Bryn giggled. "Probably the latter." Holding Max still while she lathered his hair, she said, "So does he ever actually get anything constructive done, or are you spending most of your time doing damage control?" "He does. He's reduced the paperwork that Lindy and I have to do by about half, due to his organization skills. It's just that he's used to a position of power where people would snap to because of who he was. He's getting used to the fact that I run a lot looser ship than Lilith did." Bryn arched an eyebrow. "Really? Whatever happened to the hard-ass boss guy who was beast to work for?" "That's *Seth's* opinion, my dear. Don't worry. The rest of my employees still think I'm a slave driver." She chuckled softly and shook her head. "Well, I'm just glad I don't work for you. I think I'd have to get myself fired for mouthing off to the boss. Anton raised an eyebrow and then ducked a particularly large splash. Fortunately, he knew once the kids' bath was done, he wouldn't be wearing his shirt for long. "I thought the plan was for you to be fired for sexually harassing the boss?" "I'm sure I could get some of that done before getting canned." Whimpering as Bryn started to rinse his hair, Max put his hands over his face. "What about you? Wouldn't you have a little of your own sexual harassing to do?" Grabbing a wash cloth, Anton dipped it into the water and began to scrub Kat's back. "I probably would, especially if she wore short, short skirts. And I'd have to promote her to my personal secretary so she would be in the office for a lot of closed door meetings." She grinned widely. "Somehow I figured that. I do hope you're planning to get a couch in your office sooner or later. It would be much more comfortable...for your secretary to sit on." "Well, it is my first rule of sexual harassment. Make sure that both parties are comfortable." Anton unsuccessfully tried to duck another splash caused by his daughter. "Either she's trying to become a mermaid, or she thinks it's time for you to wash her hair, my dear." "You have the shampoo, sugar. Besides, me and Max are getting sleepy. Huh, little booger?" Anton made a face as he was splashed with water yet again. "Is that little game you've got going, Kitten? See how wet you can make daddy?" Shielding her eyes. he started to dampen her hair. "And I hope you're not too sleepy my dear. You promised me a bath too." Bryn smiled at him. "I wouldn't leave you bereft. Besides, there's nothing more relaxing than a bath." Giggling as Kat splashed him again, Bryn helped Max stand up in the slippery tub. He immediately clung to her and got the front of her shirt soaked. Anton laughed as he grabbed the shampoo bottle. "I think that only applies when we're taking and not giving them, my dear" he said as he worked a squirt in his hand into a foam. He rubbed it through Kat's hair, trying to ignore her squirming. Quickly rinsing her, he lifted her out, soaking his shirt further. Standing up with her arm around Max, Bryn grabbed a couple of towels and handed one to Anton. "Does it ever surprise you how easily we've seemed to settle in to these roles. Sometimes I feel like we've always been their parents." "Easy, my dear?" Anton arched an eyebrow at her. "Have you considered the fact that maybe I'm an excellent faker and half the time I'm panicked?" She stared at him. "Really? I never would have guessed." Anton nodded. "Okay, I admit I had some experience helping Analiese with her family, but young kids? I'm just winging it as much as you are." He wrapped a towel around Kat and rubbed her gently. She was quiet for a moment, drying Max. "You seem like such a natural, though. They adore you. You've seen how excited they get when you come home." "And so are you," he said. "They are excited when you come home from being gone. Or come in from the other room." Max was beginning to slump against her and she tucked the towel around him to keep him warm. "Let's get these two ready for bed. That bath is calling to me." "Agreed, my dear." Anton hefted Kat higher on his shoulder. "I'll meet you in the bathroom in about ten minutes," he said as he headed out of the bathroom to Kat's bedroom. Following him to the hallway, she walked in to Max's room and quickly got him diapered. She was a little surprised that he hadn't decided to pee on her yet. Luckily, she stayed relatively dry (except for the bath water) and got his pajamas on just as he was falling asleep. Kissing him gently, she settled him in to his crib and turned out the light as she headed back to the bathroom. And Anton had similar luck with Kat. He had her dry and dressed and tucked into bed a few minutes after Bryn had finished with Max. And the little girl dozed off almost as soon as she was on the mattress. He turned on her baby monitor and snuck out of the room. Still worried that Kat might hear him and wake up, he tiptoed to the bathroom. Stripping out of her clothes, Bryn turned to meet his gaze as he entered the room. "Do you think it will ever be possible for my mother to believe me?" "*I* believed you. And you know how stubborn I am, my dear." He pulled his shirt off his head and stepped forward to wrap his arms around her. "And if there's hope for a stubborn vampire like me, there's got to be hope for your mother as well." Letting out a sigh, she wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him tightly. "For a moment there, when Mr. Mulder was talking about his partner, I almost thought she was figuring it out." "And maybe she has," Anton said. "But maybe she's not ready to admit it." He gently kissed her forehead. "It may be hard for her to let go of a belief she has held so long. Or the facade of a belief." "If I'd never gotten pregnant, would you have believed?" "Eventually. It may have taken longer, but I would have believed." He gently tilted her head back, cradling it in his hands as he looked into her eyes. "Thank you," she whispered. "For loving me the way you do. I couldn't ask for better medicine." Anton pressed his lips to her forehead. "You're welcome, my dear." Then he stepped away, taking her hands in his. "Now let's go take that bath." "You just want to shut me up so you can get in the bath," she teased. He grinned sheepishly, a teasing twinkle in his eyes. "Well, there is that too..." Leaning over, she drained the used bath water out of the tub before running some fresh. She added a bit of scent before standing up to unbutton her jeans. "Do you wish my stomach was flatter?" "No, Bryn," he said he undid his jeans and shoved them down his legs. "I like hour body the way it is. Do you wish it was flatter?" "Yeah. But I guess there's not a lot I can do about it now." She grabbed her belly and shook it, making it jiggle. "Looks like Silly Putty." Anton sidled up behind her. He wrapped his arms around her, resting his hands on her stomach. "But it's so much fun to play with," he whispered in her ear before licking the lobe. She let out a skeptical laugh. "Glad you think so." Tilting her head to the side a bit, she let out a soft moan as he continued to tug at her ear. "Could be worse, I guess. I could have a pot belly." "True," Anton said. "Besides, I don't think we're ever truly happy with our bodies when once we're Transformed." He arched an eyebrow at her skeptical look, which he could see reflected in the mirror. "I've always wished my abs were a bit more defined," he explained. She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, because they're so paunchy. Give me a break." Pushing her underwear down, she stepped out of them. Then she turned off the water in the tub, climbing in. "I'm not saying I hate my body or anything. I just wish my waistline was a bit smaller...and less Jell-O like." "Well, I think it's perfect." He stepped into the tub behind her and scooted so his body was framing hers. "Bryn," he asked after a moment of thought. "Do you ever wish that I hadn't Transformed you when I did?" Bryn looked back at him. "No. We thought that might be one of the last times I saw you. I wish it could have been different, and not in Lilith's dirty dungeon. But I'm not upset about when it happened. Why? Do you wish it was different?" "In a way, yes. But it's mostly the benefit of hindsight that's speaking. I know that at the time, it was the right thing to do." He gently stroked her hair. "But there is a part of me that wanted everything to be perfect when I Transformed you, and feels that you were cheated because it wasn't." Turning on to her side, she wrapped her arms around his neck. "I don't feel cheated at all. I feel lucky. The man I love more than anyone or anything in the world made me his for all eternity. That's the best feeling in the world." Anton smiled tenderly. "I do love you so much, my dear." He kissed her tenderly, letting his hands stroke down her side and back. "You make me complete," he whispered against her hair. Bryn smiled, turning her head to kiss his lips. Her legs slid against his in the water, and she pressed herself tighter to him. "I love you so much, sugar." He held her close, savoring the sensation of skin against skin. "Want me to do your hair, my dear?" She grinned at him, nodding. "Yes, please." Scooping up water in his hands, Anton began to dampen her hair. "You have such beautiful hair, my dear. So many shades of brown in it. Chocolate, mocha, coffee..." "You're making me hungry," she said, grinning. Leaning her head back on her shoulders, she watched him upside-down as he splashed water on her hair. "I like your hair, too. It reminds me of the beach in Santa Cruz." He squeezed some of the shampoo into his hands. "Smells like dead fish?" he said with a teasing grin, and then began to massage her scalp. "Exactly," she said, giggling. Toes curling, she leaned in to his touch and moaned softly. "I like this. I think I should make you wash my hair every day. It's so sensual." "Hmmm... maybe that's what my next job will be. Your professional hair washer." Keeping his movements slow, he ran his fingers over every strand before rinsing her hair. "Is there something else you would like me to wash also?" "Yes, ma'am." His grin was growing wider as he reached across her for the washcloth and the bar of soap. "I'll have to make sure that you're thoroughly clean." His hand rested at first on her shoulder, rubbing the terry cloth in a circular motion, and slowly began working his way down. She was almost purring. His touch felt wonderful, especially combined with the heat of the water and the silky foam of the soap. Spreading her legs, she propped her feet up on the rim of the tub and rubbed her ass against his groin. She obviously wasn't the only one his touch was affecting. "Mmm. That's nice." Now he was working lightly at her breasts. This was more of a teasing circular motion designed to stimulate the both of them. "Which one is, my dear? This?" he said with a light squeeze of his hand. "Or this?" he said raising his hips. "Definitely both." Biting her lip, she slid her hands over his thighs, lightly raking at his skin with her fingernails. His groin was super hot against her ass, and she couldn't help scooting even tighter against him. "What about you, sugar? What can I do to make you feel good?" "Just keep doing that," he moaned. His hands reluctantly slipped down to circle her stomach, teasing her navel. "Although if you keep that up, I might not finish cleaning you before you get dirty again." "Promises, promises," she murmured. Sliding her hands further back, she squeezed his ass. "You are so sexy, sugar. Everything about you turns me on." "You should know that I keep my promises," he murmured in his ear. His hand slipped down to rest on her inside thigh, fingers lightly tickling. Bryn jumped, quivering at the sensation. Every hair on her body seemed to be standing at attention, awaiting his next move. Her nipples had tightened to pebbles, peeking out above the surface of the water. Letting her head fall back against his shoulder, she moaned and watched his beautiful face. Anton's free hand curved around to cup her breast. His thumb lightly stroked over the erect nipple as his other hand moved up her thigh and over to the juncture between her legs. He didn't probe yet, but held still with a light pressure. Moving restlessly against him, Bryn lifted an arm to wrap around the back of his neck. She turned her head to kiss his jaw, then lower, her lips first soft, and then her fangs lightly rasping against his skin. Anton moaned as he arched into her kisses, The hand cupping her squeezed a little firmer as his fangs scratched her. "Bryn," he whispered, letting his finger, still covered by the wash cloth, slip between her lower lips. She shuddered lightly, moaning as her tongue snaked out to taste his skin. The clean, slightly salty flavor of him was delicious, but she wanted something more. Honing in on the rapid river flowing under his flesh, she let her fangs sharpen further and bit deep in to the vein. He let out a sharp gasp, his finger flicking against her clit. Anton moaned as he stretched beneath her. He moved his finger in a small circle, rubbing her clit with the washcloth. Bryn jolted against him, nearly dislodging her fangs. Grabbing at his arms, she hung on tightly to him, turning a bit more to the side, and drilling deeper with her bite. Each swallow of his blood was precious gold, pooling warmly in her belly. Combined with the electric stimulation of his finger, she was beyond hot. His finger circled faster, rubbing her harder. His breath was coming in short, sharp gasps as she sucked on his neck. "Do you want something more?" he whispered. She whimpered softly, reluctant to withdraw her fangs to respond. Finally releasing him, she nodded rapidly. "I want you." "You have me." Anton's hand pulled away from her legs, grinning at her disappointed moan. "Where do you want me? Here? Or on the bed?" She lifted up slightly, pressing her shoulder harder against his chest to balance herself. "Here. Now. I can't wait much longer." "Roll over." His hands settled on her hips as she turned around. Grinning, he pulled her down onto his swollen cock. And his hands held her tightly against his, relishing the feel of her squeezing him. "Scoot forward...my knees are hurting." She let out a soft gasp as he gripped her tighter and did as she asked, shifting inside her as he resettled. Squeezing his cock, she wrapped her arms tighter around his neck and started to move before he'd even sat down again. Anton grunted as he felt his ass hit the porcelain of the tub. He let out a hiss, almost as intense as the ones he gave when bitten as his hips pumped up into her. Water was sloshing over the edge of the tub and onto the floor, soaking the towels they had intended to use on the children. "Yess... Bryn. Like this?" She could do nothing but moan loudly in agreement. Gripping his shoulders tightly, she tried her best to lift herself in opposition to his thrusts. He was giving her a wild ride and she loved every minute of it. The feel of her hands clutching him spurred Anton on. Groaning, he let one of his hands slide up her belly to cup a full breast. Thumb circling around her nipple, he kneaded her in time with every thrust, eyes wide and locked on her face. Whining, Bryn squeezed him harder and leaned forward to bite at his neck. She didn't break the skin yet, but held on to him just the same. She was grinding her pelvis against his, twitching every time his pubic hair brushed her clit. His muscles tensed as he felt her fangs holding him. His hands on her breast and ass tightened, fingers digging in as his thrusts became more erratic. His breath gusted between parted lips and then he let out a long groan as his hips arched and stayed in the air. Bryn squealed before sinking her fangs in deep, shuddering hard as she came. She clenched tight around him, milking his cock for everything he had to give her. Anton clung to her tightly before relaxing, almost sinking under the water. There was a crick in his neck, and his tailbone was sore from the pressure that had been placed on it. But he didn't care, zoned out on the bliss of making love to his wife. "Enjoy that, my dear?" he asked with a sleepy slur in hs voice. Panting softly as she released his neck, she nodded and smiled at him. Then she tilted her head to the side, exposing her neck, and offered herself to him. Anton lightly brushed his lips against hers before leaning down to nuzzle her neck lightly. Slowly his lips pulled back from his fangs before they sank down into her flesh. He let out a contented moan as he sucked lightly. She blissfully smiled, keeping her arms tight around him. "I love it when you drink from me. It feels so erotic." Anton, sated, pulled his fangs out of her neck. He licked her wounds as they healed, and then he smiled up at her. "It is sexy when you drink from me as well. I'm glad that you like how it feels." She leaned closer and kissed him, sharing the delicious flavor in his mouth. Squeezing her legs tighter around him, she matched his breathing with her own. Anton let out another soft moan. As good as this felt, there was some discomfort from laying against the cold porcelain. He pulled away from the kiss and ran his finger down her nose. "Shall we move this to our bed?" Bryn nodded. "Although I never got to wash you. I guess we'll have to save that for the shower." Pushing herself to her feet, she unplugged the tub and reached for his hand. He allowed her to help him to his feet. "I'm certain I'll hold you to that promise, my dear." Anton didn't let her walk too far away though. He pulled her against his body and started running a soft towel up and down her back. "Mmm. I could get used to you taking care of me like this. I might make you do it all the time." Leaning in to his warm body, she kissed his chest. Anton let out a contented sigh. "And you know what, my dear, I think I would." He gently kissed her head as the towel moved to her front. "You have a willing slave for eternity." She bounced lightly on her feet. "Goody! In that case, slave boy, I want you to take me back to that big bed and make love to me all night and day." He stepped back to give himself the light once over with the towel. "Your wish is my command, my dear." Scooping her into his arms, he carried her to the bedroom. Bryn and her mother were sharing cold glances across the kitchen as the former prepared dinner and the latter got ready for bed. It had been a stressful evening for both of them, and neither was ready to admit they were in the wrong. Hanging on Bryn's leg and being a general nuisance, Max was one of the only things that kept them from yelling at each other. Him and Kat, who slept peacefully in the living room. "I'm heading to bed now," Bernadette announced, taking her glass of milk with her. "Good night," Bryn said, yet really thinking good riddance. Anton could swear that the temperature dropped a good ten degrees when he stepped into the house from the garage. His work at the warehouse and gone smoothly. But his mind had been here, where Bryn and her mother were meeting with Mulder. Seeing the cradle set up in the living room, he walked silently into the kitchen. And from the expression on Bryn's face, it hadn't gone well. "Hey there, Bryn," he said softly. "How are you?" "Better, now," she said, looking towards the library where her mother had retired to bed. Consciously trying to shed some of her bad mood, she rubbed her hand over the scowl on her face and tried to smile for him. "I'm glad you're home." "I'm glad to be home too, my dear." Walking around the island, he stepped up to her and wrapped his arms around her. "I take it the session with Mulder was a rough one," Anton said before pressing his lips lightly to hers. "It wasn't fun," she murmured. Looking down as Max tugged on Anton's pant leg, she let out a sigh. "I knew it was going to suck going in to it. He made me recount all of these things that happened And she just sat there like a log. Then he said he wanted us to start journals about our feelings, and she damned near refused. I mean what was the point of her telling me to go to counseling if she's not going to help me?" Anton wrapped his arms tighter around her. "I don't know that I can answer that, my dear. It may be that she thinks that doesn't have to do anything to aid in that process. Or maybe she's still in denial about what happened. But I can tell you one thing." He tilted her head up to look into her eyes. "I'm proud of you for giving it a try." "Thank you." She lifted up a bit higher to kiss his lips, grateful that as always he knew exactly how to lift her spirits. "Why don't you spend some time with your kids while I finish dinner. It should only be a few minutes." "Okay," Anton said. He bent down and scooped up Max. "I think I'll start with you," he said, tickling Max's tummy. And then letting out a grunt as Max's foot impacted with his own. Bryn smiled. "You're lucky his legs aren't longer." Heading for the fridge, she pulled out the garlic and whipping cream, then some fresh parmesan cheese. "You know, our second anniversary is only about four months away. Well, I guess it's closer to five. But we should still decide what we're going to do this year." "That's a good question, my dear," Anton said. To be completely honest, he hadn't given it much thought. Recently surviving day to day had higher priority than what they would be doing in five months. But he wasn't quite done talking to Bryn about her session with her mother. "Bryn, are you going to follow Mulder's advice, even if your mother doesn't do anything to aid you?" She gave him a dry stare, not thrilled about him changing the subject again. Putting her ingredients in the sauce pan, she started stirring. "Yes. I already started a new file on my laptop. I just need to figure out what to write." He recognized the displeasure in her look. Although, Anton reminded himself, he'd probably have the same expression if the situation were reversed and they were talking about his therapy to get over the attack when he was a child. "Good," was all that he would say more about that subject. Or at least that's what he told himself. Instead, he switched back to the other subject. "Where would you like to go for our... I guess it would be third, honeymoon, my dear? And would you like to bring the kids along?" he asked as he bounced Max higher on his chest. "I think I would, at least this time. I'd like to keep our family close." Adding salt and pepper to the pan, she stared absently at the sauce. "I don't know...we don't even really have to go anywhere. It would just be nice to celebrate somehow. Especially after everything that has happened lately." "Go out to dinner and a movie? Maybe a cruise around the Bay?" Anton stepped closer to Bryn, making sure that Max was angled away from the stove. "Have Nate and Lindy babysit while we just get away for a few hours?" "How about all three?" she said, turning off the burner. Careful to keep the pan clear of Max and Anton, she headed for the sink and poured the pasta in the colander in to her sauce. "And maybe renew our vows on the cruise?" "Of course," Anton said. "And I have to get you a pearl to add to the necklace." He stepped a bit closer to her. "Are you okay, Bryn? I know it's been a rough night." She nodded, letting out a sigh. "I'm just tired and irritated." After mixing up the pasta, she turned to look at him. "I'm not going to break down, if that's what you're worried about. I know I might have in the past, but I don't feel like doing that anymore." She shrugged. "I don't know...maybe I'm growing up or something. Or I've just grown too bitter to waste my time." Anton nodded. "I think you're growing up, my dear." He hoped that it wasn't the second. Not that it wasn't justified, given that Bryn was trying to become better. Just not in the way her parents had wanted. "Although given your mother's reactions, it sound like you have every right to be bitter." "Well, dinner's ready. You want to get him set up in his highchair? I'll get the plates." Anton nodded. "Okay, my dear." Walking over to the highchair, Anton sat him down, gently disentangling him from his tie. He knew that Bryn was upset about the situation, but he wasn't certain what he could do to make it better for her. "Do you want me to get Kat as well, or let her sleep longer?" "We can just let her sleep for now." Walking in to the dining room with the plates and silverware, she set them on the table. "You know what sounds nice, if you wouldn't mind? You think maybe we could just go for a drive after dinner? I'll drive if you don't feel like it." "A drive sounds lovely, my dear." It would be a good thing to get Bryn away from the situation, even if only for a little while. It was a good thing that Bryn's mother would be going home soon too. "We could probably have Nate and Lindy babysit if you want it to be just the two of us." "Whatever sounds best." Going back in to the kitchen, she grabbed the pan of pasta and the pork chops. "I never asked you how your day was, did I?" Anton shrugged. "I think you have an excuse, my dear." He picked up the tray sitting next to the seat and fitted it into the holding grooves. "It was a boring night, my dear. The shipment was delayed by a day, so tomorrow is going to be absolutely insane." She frowned. "I would ask you if there was something I could do to help, but I guess that would be chickening out of tomorrow's fabulous session." Placing a pork chop on his plate, and then one on hers, she sat down. "And I don't have an excuse for not asking you, Anton. You're very important to me. I don't want to neglect you just because I'm pissed off at my mother." "It's okay, my dear." Max ensconced in his highchair, Anton pulled his chair close to Bryn. "And you never neglect me. There are times when what's going on with you is more important." He leaned over and kissed her temple. "And by the way. Dinner smells delicious." She smiled at him, reaching over to squeeze his hand. "I love you, Anton." End Chapter One Hundred Forty-seven <- Previous Chapter | Home | Next Chapter ->