After the Fall

by
Josie_h

Part Thirty-One

As the group returned empty handed the Commander barked, “Report! Soldier.”

The Lieutenant stepped in front of the dogs and their handlers. “Sir there was nothing in the caves Sir. It looked like an old fox’s lair Sir.”

“And what about the paddocks and copse of trees?”

“Again Sir, nothing untoward. We did find an area in the top paddock recently dug over Sir…”

“And?”

“Well, it seems to be where this guy buries any dead stock Sir… the area was limed and several larger bones were found, Sir.”

Spike reached over and pulled Jon forward for a sound kiss. It had been his idea to ‘disguise’ the burial place of their plastic wrapped precious things in such a way, even finding a couple of old femurs and a cow’s skull (plus some offal from a couple of chickens and a bag of blood and bone fertilizer, and bag of lime from Eddie’s garden).

“And the house?”

“Evidence of others staying Sir, but according to neighbors, and the previous history of the suspect Sir, he tends to host other mentally challenged… ahh confused… individuals on occasion Sir”

“Enough with the niceties son, F#$ing lunatic hosting fellow crazies… Humpff… cheap labor is what I call it…”

There was a very long pause.

"Alright, I want twenty four seven surveillance on both this and the next property anyone goes in or out I want them dead."

Eddie couldn’t hear the conversation as well as the vampires but heard Jon gasp and whisper, “Mike!” They knew that one of the teenagers from the town was coming up to tend the animals while the neighbors were 'on holidays'.

"Sir, there may be a problem with that Sir."

"What now!!!"

“Sir, the D’Azpuras… the neighbors have organized for a friend to visit both properties while they are absent, just to tend animals and the like, Sir.

“He clean?”

“Yes Sir. There is no record of anything untoward Sir. He is the son of the local butcher.”

“We have any record of what he looks like?”

“Yes Sir…”

“Fine then he’s the only one.”

There was more crunching of boots then the tone dropped. The two leaders of the raid had obviously moved away from the main group and were speaking more privately. Spike moved to the entrance of the tunnel and listened intently.

“Sir, if I may speak frankly?”

“Go ahead.”

“I recommend we simply put monitoring equipment on both properties Sir. We can install remote cameras at the beginning of the dead end road, and focused on the main yard and front of each property. With respect Sir, we need the men to continue the sweeps.”

The commander simply grunted, there was a pause, “Very well… have your men set it up quickly then we pull out. I want the *monitors* watched 24/7 is that clear?!”

“Yes Sir, thank you Sir”

Less than an hour later the cameras had obviously been installed, as the helicopters rotors whined into action and the troop vehicle pulled away.

The family had never been more grateful for a lot of disinfectant and some babies’ soiled nappies, all of which must have kept the tunnel entrance in the laundry from being discovered.

The adults relaxed for the first time that night. Spike smelt tears and suddenly realized that the D’Azpuras may not have been able to hear the conversations. He squeezed Xander’s hand hard and crawled over to their ‘room’. The quick debrief evoked more tears, but this time grateful ones.

Nic hugged his wife to his chest and put a gentle hand on Spike’s shoulder and squeezed. No words were needed. Spike left them to the sound of Patty’s sobs of relief.


……………….


They were never so pleased that they had ‘put in’ tunnels as in the next weeks. Spike did the first reconnoiter and came back with the news that there were only two tiny spy cameras on their property. One set up on the barn overseeing the main yard and front door, and the other on a power pole facing the rear entrance and Eddie’s shed. They could not be sure of the range nor angles the cameras could take in, but erred on the cautious side. And were able to enter and exit the barn from behind the camera’s eye, the chicken coop likewise at the rear and the house from the laundry.

On the fourth night the vampires headed down the hill. Jon moved swiftly to steal the few eggs laid since Mike had been, and collect blood, while Xander filled two water containers before diving down into the tunnels again and joining Jon to silently collect some milk (not much, but enough). Meanwhile Spike raided the house for a bizarre list of supplies: more disposable nappies; a few plastic bags; a pack of cards; some paper, pens and crayons; a tube of toothpaste; bottle of scotch; canister of tea… and the bottle of Worchester sauce (if he couldn’t have texture in his blood these days then he could ‘bloody well do flavor!’).

It took them three trips to push their booty through the narrow tunnels and carry it all up the hill, but worth every effort… not the least of the thrill being the foiling of the Initiative surveillance. Not once while they were all performing their tasks, had Spike heard the whine of the camera or seen the green light indicating movement had been detected or that they were actually being monitored. It seemed the nightly check was all rather cursory, consisting of two local soldiers driving half way up the drive at around eight in the evening, checking all the doors, the cameras, having a smoke, while they chatted for a while before wandering off to the next house.

The family had been eating relatively well, though all ached to go outside and the other adults particularly envied the vampires’ speed and superior skills. They still heard helicopters fly by on the odd occasion, so the risk was too much unless preternatural hearing, stealth and speed were at their beck and call. The time was passed playing cards, drawing, writing and reading, and all three families fell into a routine of sleeping when the young ones did.

On the sixth day the first of the storms arrived, enormous electrical storms the like of which had only been seen in the area when Mt St Helens blew more than twenty five years previously. It knocked out the power to the whole town and surrounds… but had little effect on the hidden families… other than to give them a true whiff of freshness as the first rain started and the dust gave the lovely 'newly wet' aroma.

When the earth began to rumble at the end of the second week, however, it was an entirely different matter. Staying in their cave was no longer an option. A drastic decision was needed, and after a quiet conversation they came to a reluctant conclusion. They would be safer nearer or even in one of the buildings. Pitching a tent was out of the question, but there was a small out building at the rear of the barn and a tunnel nearby if immediate escape was needed. Xander was sure he could rig up an extra canopy to protect were the tremors to violent. The prospect of more dramatic earth actions were not discussed.

The vampires took off that evening. Eddie could just make out the three figures sprinting down the hill at lightening speed with as much as they could carry. They would leave the survival essentials in the caves and take the rest back. The Initiative had not checked on the property for two nights, no doubt preoccupied with the power blackouts that now spanned almost the entire west coast. If all remained quiet, then perhaps there would be some hope of sanctuary in the barn of their own home. In the early hours of the morning, the two older girls, Nic and Patty, Robbie carrying Sam and the others carrying various charges, pushed the rocks across the cave entrance then sprinted down the hill. They slipped into the tunnel near the back corner, emerging rather more ‘soiled’ than they began but as each person, their charge and their supplies entered the old wood shed, there was relief.

Gaia shuddered again at around seven in the morning. It was a precursor. The vampires all felt it and were panicked. It was day time! Eddie and Robbie busied themselves retrieving several tarpaulins from the rear of the chicken shed and doing their best to stack hay bales around the edges of their tiny abode to brace the walls or cushion blows… or something. They flung the tarps over the top of every one and huddled underneath. At around twenty past nine, the earth trembled, a minute later it shook a little more, then finally gave a roar of its own that equated to terror for every sentient creature and began to express her rage fully.

Hay bales fell into the barn and the animals fled into the open in fear, as only they could, standing, then sitting terrified in the middle of their home paddocks. The poultry… all went eerily silent initially … but as the shaking began in earnest squawked panicked appeals to any who might release them.

The shaking went on for almost two minutes. The family was under shelter but not truly safe. The vampires braced themselves above their family huddled in the hay bale corner. Robbie stood with them. The structure buckled and groaned but held by and large. They heard coach bolts snap and wood groan and complain as it buckled with the undulations of the earth but it held.

The after shocks were almost as big as the initial wave. As the third one came, something heavy crashed over the protective bodies. When all went quiet, Xander hauled Spike from under the fallen beam, they were both thankful it had not landed anywhere else. Spike’s forearm was badly bruised, possibly broken, but there was no fuss Xander, simply opened his wrist and fed his Sire. Three more aftershocks followed but they were small in comparison. They were grateful for the tarp… and the remaining roof structure, as the rain began again.

Jon finally offered a suggestion from left field, “Local radio station.”

Spike had fallen unconscious after feeding, so it was up to the other five adults to do the “What the…?”

“We need the news… the *local* news… We can do ear phones! We just need some decent ...”

Eddie answered “Bottom drawer, the bottom drawer in the kitchen… it’s ancient and tinny but… it’s there. I’ll get it.”

Robbie jumped in, “No Ed… the kids need you … let me OK? Something happens… just… let me OK?”

Eddie nodded sadly and pulled the three little ones to him before he grabbed the big man’s hand and kissed it with reverence and in gratitude.

There was no power to the house, so no way to recharge anything. The little old radio and extra stash of double A batteries were all they had unless power was restored. Sadly the vampires could all still hear the high pitched whine of the cameras. The power outage had no effect on them. As Robbie eased his large form into the tunnels again, he worried. Thus far their escape routes had held, but if the Initiative returned, which was inevitable, they were now too close to the house and now lacked their early warning system.

A new round of tremors came and went intermittently throughout the night… the children were very quiet and huddled with the D’Azpura girls when not in their parents’ arms. They realized that Robbie was probably right regards a revisit from their persistent torturers. Though took heart as a radio report gave out that “Hundreds of government and public buildings had been destroyed across the state, and the nation”.


The electrical storms continued for five days straight, the torrential rain accompanying them, quite uncharacteristic for the season or the region. On the sixth day a report that Mount Ranier was stirring and evacuations from the Seattle region were starting, did not bode well. Mount St Helens was a way off, but now very active again, it seemed the Cascades were ‘on the move’. The implications for other mountains in the range were troubling but if Rainier blew it would at least act like a pressure valve for the North West.


The news reports from around the world were extraordinary and fragmented. Tsunami’s, devastating earthquakes, violent storms, volcanic eruptions, landslides and all manner of bizarre occurrences were manifesting globally. Religious groups of all varieties were calling it Armageddon.


The shakes and the rumble of thunder and the pelting rain became so constant, that they all became a little blasé. Sitting inside the shed with its semi collapsed roof, now with uprights so firmly wedged against each other that it was impossible to shift them, the family counted its blessings. They still had access to the tunnels, though for how much longer was difficult to say with the rain and the quakes making for a dangerous combination.


The following evening near disaster struck as Jon and Spike returned from their ‘food raid’ for milk, blood and eggs. Spike had found nine eggs and took the bucket of blood from Jon as he struggled through the tunnel with the milk as well. The storm was still raging above and the floor of the tunnel was now rather muddy. They had taken down gravel when first constructing it, but it was not enough to cover all the floors.


Spike was ahead and almost to the opening when another almighty shudder began. He yelled back to the other vampire who was moving as fast as he could. Spike was at the entrance and handed two buckets to the worried Xander, one of eggs and the other half filled with blood. He had just cleared the tunnel and reached back to collect the milk from Jon when the shaking worsened he lost his balance and fell onto his backside the milk sloshing down his front. He saw Jon’s hand at the entrance of the tunnel but watched in horror as the earth gave way and the entrance collapsed, swallowing Jon with it.


Despite the ongoing quake, Spike and Xander scrambled to his rescue, digging the mud with bare hands until they found a familiar arm. Spike pulled it as hard as he could but Jon was wedged fast. Xander sent a silent prayer to whoever was listening, thanking them it was one of their non breathing family that was caught as many minutes passed before they finally cleared his filthy face. They had dug down almost four feet now and concentrated on clearing enough space around their friend to tug him free.


Jon had every confidence in his rescuers, however began to worry after five or six attempts at freeing him came to naught. The mud seemed to have a suction hold on him. He finally began to rock back and forth to loosen the area around his legs and when the other two vampires pulled him with all their preternatural strength, he literally ‘popped’ out with as slurping sound. He was filthy so simply stripped naked and stood grinning his gratitude at his fellow vampires as they did the same then let the rain wash a great deal of the sludge from their arms and hair.


John’s shoes were buried somewhere in the tunnel – it was the least of their problems. The access to the rest of the network was now gone.

Part Thirty-Two

The weather had closed in again and had the tunnels still been open, the danger of a collapse would have been too great to use them.

The three bedraggled and very nude vampires were given what precious few clothes the others had, which accounted for Spike now sitting in one of Brenda’s favorite cardigans and overly short pair of Eddie’s sweats. His fellow vampires were dressed in similarly ill fitting attire. Jon’s ensemble of Nic’s favorite sports jacket and his own ‘spare’ pants was a treat. Xander made do with his own boxers and an extremely oversized sweat shirt from Robbie, his slimmer, effeminate build never more obvious as he tucked his knees under his chin, and enjoyed the warmth of the enormous garment.


Eventually they heard Mike’s old jalopy groan its way up the potholed driveway after nearly three days of misery, huddled together under the tarpaulin. At least they had plenty of water as pointed out by Robbie, whose attempt at humor on day two after the rescue, fell rather flat. But he was correct. They were able to collect water, literally by the bucket load.


Mike was a ‘good kid’, even by Spike’s estimation. And as they listened to him grumble his way around the yard, whistling his disbelief at the amount of damage that various buildings had sustained, and muse regards what the owners might think, they smiled. Fortunately the poultry shed was still in tact. The cows had not been milked for days and were apparently starting to ‘dry up’.


Mike continued to chat to himself as he worked, so in a strange sort of way, the whole family received an update… and all gave a wry smile at his, “Wave to the camera and say hi to soldier pricks” comment.


Afterwards the adults all agreed, if they made it out of this mess, Mike would find himself with a brand new vehicle to bump up their road in.


But the parents all worried. They had only managed half a bucket full of milk, courtesy of the desperation of the last excursion and that was over a week ago. Now they had run out.


Thankfully the twins were onto solids so did not need milk for primary sustenance, and it had been ‘spread out’ with additional hot water until now. The food was dangerously low or going moldy with all the rain and now they had another problem. One they knew inevitable, the little bottles of butane fuelling their cooker had finally run out.


The families all sat for almost a day shivering miserably in the cold, before Xander remembered. Without saying a word, he scrambled out from under the tarp and pushed through an earthquake induced hole at the rear of the main barn retrieving the prize he had desperately hoped was still there. Two, almost full, gas bottles and an old cast iron single burner. Their lives were a little better again for a time. At least the water they drank was now hot and they could cook rationed quantities of rice and tiny portions of the remaining dried herbs and root vegetables.


Gaia continued to rage. Nine days later, they were still listening to the radio every few hours. They carefully to turned it off as soon the news report was over. Ranier was indeed rumbling but as yet nothing. Mt St Helens in her usual fashion had spewed forth, not as violently as her first efforts in the eighties, but still throwing heated rock and ash into the atmosphere. According to reports, similar activity by numerous volcanoes worldwide threatened the world’s crops. If more than a year’s crops failed, millions would die. Yet the earth continued her assault.


More locally, under the tarp, the situation was rather more urgent. Food was running worryingly low. A few lentils, a little pasta and some dried herbs was all that remained. Fresh vegetables were long gone. Nappies were left on for longer and longer, then eventually left off… Those who needed to excrete, including small people, had to depart the shelter, inevitably returning saturated and miserable but beyond embarrassment as all present knew why and where they had gone. The large hole made by Jon’s rescue becoming their default toilet.


The vampires hadn’t eaten for nearly ten days, other than exchanging blood with each other. Robbie was already noticeably thinner when they entered their shelter. Now he, the D’Azpuras and Eddie were decidedly losing weight and very quiet, all stoically passing on what little food there was to the younger members of their group.

The twins fared reasonably well for the first few days, but as the food ran out, cried. Their bottles were filled with watered down milk or plain water, and they simply sobbed and sucked until they slept. Eddie’s three initially complained of being hungry but as the situation became dire, ceased their complaints and simply huddled together, crying themselves to sleep when little tummies hurt with emptiness. The three vaguely remembered another time when they hid away, but there was no memory of hunger, this was so much worse.


The adults began to contemplate their options again.


They began to consider ways of accessing food. The vampires could probably make a sweep out and around the property. It would encompass almost five miles by the time they skirted through trees and around the outer edges of fences, the aim being to come to the ‘food’ areas from behind the cameras, much as they had done with their tunnels, but the weather was going to make the return trip with any reasonable booty difficult and unlikely to succeed.


Given the dreadful weather, the option of simply ‘risking it’ and heading for the hen house was considered and quickly dismissed. They wondered if they could bail up Mike at some point, act like vagrants and ‘mug him’ for food. That too was eventually discounted.


“Blackout”


Everyone turned to Xander.


They listened then all agreed… a camera blackout. They would literally taking out the barn camera, giving them some cover at least, so long as they used the buildings and natural rise of the earth for cover. The idea was ridiculously simple … cover the lens.


Covering the barn camera, gave them access the chicken coop and Eddie’s shed where the chicken feed was kept. If they were quick enough they could steal what they needed, deliver it then remove the cover on the camera. Hopefully the Initiative would simply think it a glitch.


It worked for five days, the non blood drinkers of the families finally ate a little better, before the weather cleared for the afternoon and they heard an army truck bounced up the driveway. It was late afternoon, rather than their usual evening visit, and almost four weeks since any Initiative soldiers had physically checked the property. Only one pair of boots hit the ground, they heard a gun being cocked.


Nic pulled his wife and children to him, Eddie and Jon hugged theirs, and Robbie was pulled into a hug with Xan, Spike and the little ones. Spike’s quick thinking providing each of the two, now rather ‘chatty’ little folks with the end of finger, licked and coated with a touch of their very last few teaspoons of precious sugar to suck. As the others held their breath, the noise of the children’s sucking even sounded too loud.


They listened as the soldier obviously checked the two cameras, swearing under his breath regards ‘all weather casing my ass.’


They heard the steps heading for the car again but they suddenly stopped. It was followed by the boots rounding the rear of the barn and coming closer, followed by the whine of some sort of electrical device. Eddie buried his face in Jon’s neck as the sound continued to approach their hiding place… it was too reminiscent of when his original family was taken more than six years ago. He barely withheld a sob.


“Anyone there?” The voice sounded youthful and rather less than confident. Spike smelt fear and sweat, it did not auger well, a scared, trigger happy soldier was no one’s friend.


“Show yourself!!!” The butt of a gun began to poke harshly into their overhead tarpaulin, and bang on the collapsed roof and their cover from the weather.


Before any of the families could react, Robbie shifted his weight and all but sprinted, pushing out from under the hefty material.


“Me. Me!! Don’t shoot, *please* don’t shoot!” They heard the cocking of a gun and waited for the shot, but it didn’t come.


“On the ground!” They all heard Robbie move, obviously now kneeling or lying in the mud.


“S..State your name and your business!”


The mature baritone voice was calm and resolved, in sharp contrast to his captor, “Robert R McKenzie, 55689127, warrant officer, infantry, fifty first company, retired. Business here, trying to survive… Sir.”


The young soldier was utterly thrown. The man outranked him in age and obviously experience. “Right, good… Um… I have a detector! And it wasn’t just you in there! State the name and purpose of your companions!”


He had been instructed to kill anyone found on the property, and had already failed with W.A. (retired) R.R. McKenzie. He raised his gun instead and pointed it at the enclosure.


Robbie was kneeling head down, hands behind his back, in a ‘correct’ prisoner position but could sence the shift in the stance. He now did the only thing he could think of and lifted his face with genuine tears streaking a very muddy and obviously under nourished countenance. He watched the sun slip behind the mountains to the west and knew that it was but a small mercy if needed.


“They are my family Sir, please!! We lost our home! We could go no further! Arrest me, but don’t harm them, Please!!”


The boy was conflicted and frightened, Robbie could tell. He took a chance and looked into the young soldier’s eyes, the hazel eyes of a boy who could not have been more than nineteen or twenty. The muzzle of the gun had returned, pointing straight at his head now. He wasn’t sure if he would die, given that the soldier’s hands were shaking, his confused state obviously making him… unpredictable.


Robbie took a chance, “Please son, *please* we mean no harm!”


The young man barked back, “You should be in town at the shelter in the school gym! What are you hiding!?”


“We had no way to get there son…” But the soldier’s attention was back on the tarpaulin and despite Robbie’s, “… Listen please… *please*!”


The young man marched around to the end of the broken structure and began to peel away the family’s protection.


Spike had started chanting as soon as Robbie departed… more for the darling human and the others, than himself. The other adults under the canopy did likewise, though this time they were less confident given that Dawn had many, many thousands of such families to protect now. But something wonderful did happen. It was the second time she came through, just as the covers were tugged back, the air around Eddie’s three and Eddie himself suddenly shimmered and the four Parsalas demons’ features disappeared in a glamour. They were, for all the world, a human family, albeit the children and mother were small, but they were definitely hairless and human in color. Jon was as wide eyed as their prospective captor pushed the muzzle of a gun and too bright torch into their dark little space.


The young soldier was utterly overwhelmed as he hauled back the two tarps, and shone is torch into the cramped living area. There were five tiny children, two beautiful teenaged girls and six adults all huddled into a space smaller than his momma’s sewing room.


“Wha…??” His voice cracked a little as Elsbeth whimpered and buried her face into Spike’s chest. The four other tiny children picked up on the sentiment and also began to cry. But the soldier gestured with his gun and the adults were forced to comply.


Leaving the toddlers on the ground begging for their parents, the entire bedraggled family struggled to their feet, adults with hands up in surrender, and the older girls wide eyed and in a state of panic. The young soldier only belatedly realized that his gun was pointed directly at the group, cocked ready to fire.


In an odd moment of clarity, the young man realized that his gun would easily shoot through two or three bodies, parents and children now looking at him, the obvious mother of the three tiny tearful beings, looking so much like his blue eyed sister… He was lost and confused… He should have accessed his training but went on instinct instead. The ‘safety’ was still off but he had spoken to the ‘intruder’ instead of shooting, and the man was ex-army and now this… He was a good soldier, he had done well at training, had been given responsibility, but now found he could not shoot.



“I um… Oh God!” He kept the torch on the group but dropped the line of his weapon.


Various adults looked at him with pathetic gratitude for the small concession. He watched as tiny children were lifted by listless arms and noted the gaunt look of all the parents, the desperation in all their faces, and the muddy floor. He also couldn’t fail to notice the tiny pile of food in one corner, the single cooking pot and a water bucket. A whiff of their ‘toilet facilities’ as the wind swung, completed the scene for the young man. The safety catch was clicked on the gun, and Patty collapsed into Nic’s arms sobbing.


This was the young man’s first ‘tour of duty’, having been transferred to the Initiative. It would later become apparent that, in the light of the natural disasters and general mayhem, ‘special projects’ were hardly a priority for the human population, and the government had pulled ninety five percent of all their funding until future notice. Where possible, the former ‘wonder boys’ of the government now used new recruits, as they were… cheaper. The alternative was shutting down operations completely, something that was happening worldwide anyway, in response to far bigger issues of natural disaster and impending global famine. It was only a matter of time, humans and magical creatures were now all struggling against a far greater foe. Differences were being forgotten and with Dawn’s intervention the insanity that had been the Initiative was eroded as time and time again their ‘targets’ eluded them in their final push.


Private Richards collected himself a little and ordered them out of their hiding space.


The sad little group shuffled from their hiding place, all the parents had children shielded by their bodies and were watching the soldier fearfully. Unlike Robbie or Spike for that matter, he’d never seen first hand what the bullet of a high powered military rifle could do to a small child, or a parent and small child ‘combination’. Dawn couldn’t sustain the glamour so instead touched the young man with her energy as she departed. As he watched, the glamour wore off… He clearly saw the pretty ‘mother’ morph into a pretty blue demon of the same stature and could just make out the blue pelts of Eddie and his brood in the failing twilight and spot of the torch. He should have fired, they were demons his gun was raised again, but he was staring at families in crisis.


Robbie was begging quietly, “Please, son, please!” It had started to rain again. The near silent group of captives stood shivering as they were slowly saturated by the un-seasonal downpour.


The lad was in a quandary, he’d been sent to simply check on the cameras which (like so many others the Initiative had installed across the west coast) were malfunctioning with the weather and earth movements. If he encountered hostiles he was to shoot to kill. He was not briefed to deal with refugees, or fugitives, or *harmless* demons (which these obviously were), or humans! And yet here were three families of desperate people in front of him and now there were demons too… and shouldn’t he shoot them, but they were tiny and starving and children!


He watched as a few of the adults swayed on the point of collapse, and remembered stories his Grandmother had shared of she and her family fleeing from the killing fields of Poland in the early parts of the second world war. Stories of families publicly butchered; of terrified innocent neighbors shot in front of their shops; of women violated then murdered; and children rounded up and machine gunned in front of their parents, just because of the politics of the time. And he recalled his father’s outrage at the Vietnam war when a beloved brother returned without legs and with similar horrific first hand memories. And he had read about Rwanda and the Balkans and the Gulf… and now it was in his face, and they were Americans, and yet the Initiative had decided they weren’t, yet there was an obviously experienced soldier at his feet begging and children… human children… and little ones that looked human… mostly… but for their color??!


His Grandmother won.


He commanded them all to “Stay!”, scrambled onto the roof to disable the barn camera then jumped into his vehicle and reversed down the muddy drive. He switched off the roadside camera, then revved back up the driveway, reversed around the back of the house to scramble up using the car and removed the scanning device for the house.


None of the family had dared move, and had no idea what he was doing.


Little Chris and Elsbeth had begun to shiver uncontrollably, and Eddie’s three were faring no better, the D’Azpura girls were weeping and shivering, now held tightly by their mother and father. Robbie was still kneeling in the mud, but now had his face in his hands. The vampires could all smell his tears and longed to go to him but dared not. Even if only Robbie survived it would be one… one who could tell their story…


The vehicle skidded back into its original parking space, and after an impossible pause the young soldier helped Robbie to his feet.


“You all need to come inside.”


Spike didn’t miss that the safety catch on his gun was still on.


………………


They were inside their own house for the first time in more over two months.

The young soldier, named David as it turned out, was Private David Richards… something he shared with Robbie as he broke in through the rear door of their own home and led them inside.

The family entered quietly and all huddled in the middle of the kitchen waiting, for what, they were not too sure. Spike was beginning to question why he had not been more proactive though with no blood he was weaker and slower, and he knew it. At full strength a couple of months ago, he would have been fast enough to disarm and disable and drain him, but somehow he knew that that was the last resort; that this boy was more than he seemed; and that they should trust Dawn who was telling them something, pushing her influence beyond mere a cloaking spell or glamour.


David was obviously young, inexperienced and rather uncomfortable with his new role as master and controller of… whole groups of people…


“Well…. Umm sit down I guess and um… “


Robbie recognized his discomfort and took the lead. Caked in mud from his mid thighs down, he stood proud though still bowed his head a little in supplication to the man David had not yet shouldered his weapon. “May we stoke the fire Sir? It’s just that… the children are cold.”


The young man, David, not Private Richards, answered, “Oh yeah sure… and umm you know, the cameras are off for now and there are um… chickens and… so um… food… but you know… you better not run! I’ll um… I’ll come with you… to supervise and… you’ll need dry wood.” The last words were that of the young insecure good hearted nineteen year old.


“’S alright pet, there’s a few of us for the food run.” Spike still had his head lowered in a submissive pose but lifted his azure eyes to look thankfully at the young man before adding quietly, “Little’uns would love a bath and Robbie over there is a champ at fire stokin’ …”


Private Richards still had not put his gun down, but it was slowly moved to hang from his right shoulder and they split ranks, leaving the girls with the little people and Robbie and all the others heading out for food. As they moved to the door Spike grabbed the young man’s hand, “Just want to thank you luv, even if it’s only one night when the kids can feel clean and happy, just want to thank you.” He kissed back of the hand then rested it on his forehead for a moment in an act of such gratitude and passion that the young man was quite overwhelmed.


……………….


They milked the only cow still producing milk and had enough for all the children, there were eight fresh eggs, and by some miracle, some mint, self sewn beans and greens still growing.


Candles had been set up through the house by the time they returned, and Spike and Jon attended the beginnings of their feast. Spike noticed that there were weevils in the flour and moths in various other containers, but it didn’t matter. They would eat, even if it was a last meal.


Private Richards watched as the entire group rallied to give the five tiny folk all they needed. Bottles of still warm milk were distributed and eagerly sucked while a bath was prepared, requiring numerous pots on the stove and lots of, ‘it’ll be there soon’ messages from the parents.


It was such a simple, domestic scene. The young soldier had finally downed his gun and stood at the door and watching as two human babies, now almost a year old, and the three little blue children, playing with unfettered delight in their first bath for two months. Then it suddenly struck him… this was their home. They had been driven from their *own home*, not by the quakes, but by his own government.


Robbie and Spike had both expected it. Spike smelled the tears first. It was David Richards that stood at the door, tears welling and falling as he watched the bath scene: various little folk taking their turn to splash and play with the ball that had been supplied, tug at each other and squeal with delight as though the previous months of fear never existed. And the soldier suddenly broke. Not the emotional sobbing they were perhaps more accustomed to, but the banging of the front door and the sounds of a violent outburst that involved a tarpaulin and few bales of straw taking quite a beating.


It was Robbie’s domain. He wandered out to the sound of the punches and angry tears and waited a time, then approached the young man quietly. “I’m sorry we upset you.”


David looked up, “What?... um…. What!!??!! It’s not you, it’s just… just all a lie isn’t it… we’ve been killing you and it’s all a lie! I mean apart from the… well the blue… the blue *people* the rest are human… and so why?”


“Not everything our government or society tells us is true, son. The families in there are all borne of magic… all targets of the Initiative… all on the death list.”


David stared at the older man “No Wha?? But they have to be…”


Robbie swallowed hard but went with his gut feeling. “Look son, not everything that goes bump in the night is something sinister, and not every demon is a threat and not every demon looks different…. It’s just like the human scenario. There are good and bad. Now the folks you’ve just met? Fine upstanding citizens, the D’Azpuras … local accountant, nurse, cheerleader and kid sister; the four boys, more abused than you will ever know by the precious Initiative. And for no more reason than they were caught…; their children born and raised in fear… of humans.”


“But then they *must* have been…”


“Son the tall brunette in there, the one with the two kids, was as human as you and I but fought with the Slayer, so became a target. They captured him, jailed him and changed him, cut him up and ‘treated’ him as an experiment for two years, in much the way Dr Mengele did in the second world war… and now….”


“He has soft skin and …”


“They were trying to breed from him, Private… as in messing about so he could carry the children they impregnated him with… They treated Eddie our blue friend likewise.” Robbie saw the horrified look in the young man’s face and continued

“Son… I can’t begin explain to you the atrocities, and they won’t describe half of them, but I can ask that you delve into your conscience. You will have to make a report in the morning. You have done something wonderful tonight, but I must ask… Can you keep us secret? For the love of God … please… Can you do that? All we want is to live our lives in peace.”


There was a very long pause. Finally David lifted his eyes to meet Robbie’s. “You have my word of honor Sir. The report will read intermittent fault needing review in three days time.” The officious tone dropped immediately. “I have to put the cameras back on… I’ll come back… I will! ... And I’ll bring a few things. Can you stay inside until then?”


Food was eaten and the candles extinguished as Private Richards activated the cameras again and departed.


Soft warm beds, family, and this time Robbie did agree, snuggling down with Spike, Xander and the twins. Gaia rumbled again. They rode out the tremor, then slept.

Part Thirty-Three

Private Richards was true to his word.

No Initiative trucks or helicopters arrived, just Mike’s old Chevy. Mike swore at the soldiers again as he noticed the damaged back door, clearly it had been done deliberately. But the cameras were back on so he didn’t enter, simply did his chores, gave a wave to the cameras whilst mouthing off at the ‘F#$%wit army bastards’. He then commented that it was real nice that the folks who owned these two places were letting him keep the profits from selling the eggs and milk, “ ‘cause if them soldiers keep this crap up Mr D’ll never come back!”


Right on dusk of the third day, the young soldier arrived again.


Spike heard him report to his superiors that the cameras would be down for an hour or two for maintenance review. Some scrambling on the roof of first the barn then the house ensued, then a soft knock on the back door (a courtesy only since it was now unable to be locked) announced his arrival.


The families were in the lounge in one of their ‘active’ times. With adequate human food, at least for those who ate it, and the dry warmth of the home, they had done little but sleep, eat and watch the children play, truly play, again.


The older girls had found the stash of books and were working their way through a number of classics, intermittently reading Christopher Robin to the children and sitting patiently teaching Eddie’s three to write their names and their ABC’s when everyone was up. They also seemed to delight in making rudimentary houses of cards only to have the youngsters push them over.


On the third day, Eddie made play dough from the weevil infested flour and almost half their supply of salt. Much fun ensued, the adults even enjoying the exercise, and Xander causing everyone to giggle as he donned a false moustache, eyebrows and added to his ears with the dough. The other ‘oldies’ followed suit with glasses, ‘extra noses’, odd shaped chins and even ‘vampire ridges’. The arrival of the vehicle and noise on the roof staunched the hilarity until Spike repeated the soldier boy’s report to his superiors for the non Vampires, and the quiet knock was heard.


Robbie was adorned with some play-dough glasses and Groucho Marx’ moustache, as he moved to greet the soldier. The young man was a little taken aback at the sight but grinned as he saw the scene in the background.


He had brought some much needed supplies of flour, pasta, rice and sugar, along with some stock cubes, enormous pack of raisins and a jar of Thai red curry paste. He apologized for the lack of variety and odd collection, but explained that with the weather and earth turmoil, the local grocer was running low on almost everything… he was out of coffee and chocolate. Xander groaned… no chocolate at a grocers… inconceivable!

“But I did manage to pick up a few of these…”

When David produced two packs of twelve Twinkies, Xander couldn’t help himself. He simply got up and kissed the astonished young man soundly on the cheek, then placed the packs of cakes reverently on the far bench.


Spike grinned at the now blushing and bemused David, “Oh pet, I think you’ve just made a friend for life!”


“Yeah um… well… um… OK… I um…” He switched his attention fully to Spike, “I couldn’t find nappies though I’m sorry. But I did find some bleach.”


He handed the large bottle over to Spike who grinned at him and lifted the now just walking Elsbeth up into his lap, pulling her tiny coveralls down a little, “’S OK pet, we improvised, one bath towel equals three nappies… easy… But the bleach is a right thoughtful gesture… thanks luv.” Private Richards blushed again.


Spike, Xander and Jon, desperately needed blood, and though Eddie, Robbie and the D’Azpura’s had offered, none would dare take it. The other adults were so run down and thin that there were real risks involved in ‘donating’. They convinced David to keep the children amused while all the adults braved the rain again to collect greens, eggs, and wood. They then rounded up all the larger animals to relieve the majority of a little precious red liquid… and attend the only milking cow that she might contribute to the children’s diet.


Goat and bovine were not really their first choice of blood, but they were thankful and the vampires shared the task of taking a little blood before sealing the wound on their animals by laving over wound in the fur until the healing had started. They had collected enough for the three of them for a couple of days… It was enough.



As they reentered the lounge room together, the parents were graced by a rather lovely scene.


The young soldier was sitting on the ground with all five little folks leaning against him in some fashion. Elsbeth and Chris were in between his legs with Jesse, Sam was sitting on his left knee and Willow held by his left arm. The rather precocious little girl was helping him to turn the pages of the book he held. Nic and Patty’s two were on the couch and all were listening to the soldier intently as he read one of the early chapters of Sam’s well worn, leather bound original of “Huckleberry Finn”.


Spike and Xander were certain that their two would have no idea what was going on with the story, but both seemed quite happy, seated side by side leaning back against a strong, youthful thigh. The other three were enthralled, and blinked huge blue eyes full of wonder at the young man whenever he looked up. The soldier blushed as he realized the parental scrutiny. Jon simply mouthed ‘thank you’ and they all made a quiet exit.


Private Richards was aware of the time and wasn’t a tea drinker, but had a cup with the families before leaving anyway. He now knew all the children’s names and watched, thrilled, as Elsbeth and her brother displayed their new ability to walk an albeit rather wobbly line to him, when encouraged by their cousins.


Spike had seen it first at the book reading, the furtive smile from the soldier to Nic’s stunningly beautiful, seventeen year old, Margaret. The look was returned from under impossibly long lashes, and Spike then smelled at definite scent of young arousal on the part of both parties. And smiled a little as the boy shifted uncomfortably in his seat, to cover his body’s betrayal. Regardless of the political climate, of Gaia’s distress, or Dawn’s intervention, he wondered if the blossoming of the relationship between those two might not just guarantee the entire group’s safety. Nothing was certain… but somehow the two seemed to ‘fit’.


Three days later, Private Richards arrived with two jars of his mom’s salsa sauce, and a fruit cake… “She she keeps sendin’ it… and I just don’t have the heart to…” Everyone saw through the lie, and graciously accepted the offerings. No one missed that the young man spent quite some time helping out on tasks that were not Initiative related that day, and particularly those involving a certain pretty female.


Xander made a spectacular meal combining David’s Mom’s sauce in a chicken casserole with rice. They were not in the habit of killing their animals of late but Jon decided it was kinder to end the suffering of a dear love found half dead and near strangled at the top of the open range enclosure. Noone could work out why she had flown there but she was caught fast and there was nothing they could do. Jon blessed the food before they ate, thanking the lovely bird for sustaining their family and to Gaia for continuing to keep them safe, blessing Dawn and David in the process.


Private Richards was late to return to base, and was reported for dallying unnecessarily.

….


On his fourth trip, the young soldier had new units to install, the others ‘too unreliable’ apparently! He wouldn’t be able to return for at least a week after that. There was no real reason if the units were working.


Private Richards took his time while the family scrambled for more supplies, but subtly repositioned the cameras so there were some ‘blind spots’. The rear entrance was ‘just missed' and they now had a clear run to the chickens and could, if careful, milk the cow at the rear of that building. They were now also milking a nanny goat who had just dropped a kid. There were two other female goats heavy with pregnancy. It was a relief.


The vege patch would still be a challenge so far as the cameras were concerned, so Eddie worked like a Trojan for the two hours of the camera changeover. Careful to plant without stirring the soil too much so as not to be noticed, he put in rows of carrots, cabbages, broccoli, beets, and corn, plus a handful of seed potatoes he had found in the shed that had preempted him by happily shooting without soil. He was hopeful that, even though a little out of season, they all might survive the horrid weather… It wasn’t snowing, and the earth relatively warm, so if they were lucky…


David was invited to dinner with the family by a shy Margaret, but again declined, given the timeframe for his changeover exercise. She saw him to the door. As he was leaving he shoved a bar of chocolate into her hand, and said rather sheepishly, “We still get access to some stuff… and I um… I don’t need it… I know you’ll share it… but when you do… do you think you can kind of… um… think of me… a bit… ‘cause…”


“Oh… this is um… too much!... Are you sure?... You’re serious… for me?” It may as well have been diamond earrings. Someone, a soldier no less, had decided to save her family and friends, but more than that, he had befriended them, noticed her and liked her, as much as she liked him it seemed. He was caring, witty and intelligent… and only two years older than her. She had never had a boyfriend, despite her stunning looks, it was too risky, and still could not think of David in those terms… but certainly wished one day she might try.


She blushed deeply at the gift. He had kept hold of her hand, so Margaret swallowing hard, leaned forward to give her first kiss to someone other than ‘family’. She was his height at a statuesque six foot, and he turned at the wrong time. They bumped noses awkwardly and though she still landed the chaste gesture on his lips, they both giggled embarrassedly.


“I ummm… Thanks again for the dinner invite… I’d better go.”


“Yeah, well… I guess you know where to find me…”


“Yeah… OK then see ya” They released hands. But as the young soldier headed out the door, he couldn’t help himself. Almost without thinking he blurted out, “If things were different would you even have looked at me? ‘Cause you’re like… gorgeous and I’m…”


Margaret quietly finished his sentence before he returned to his car, “… A really handsome, thoughtful guy who gives me chocolate and is wonderfully nice to my family even when you see their true colors? Yeah, I’d hope I’d have that chance to ‘friend you’.” As soon as the words were out she blushed deeply… but the young man grinned.


“OK then… um I’d better go… see you in a few days?”


“Yeah… sorry if I um… um…”


David simply grinned and yelled, “’S OK. Seeya.” Margaret retreated to the safety of the house as he clambered onto the roof to activate first one then the second camera.


As Margaret reentered the house, Spike wiggled a wicked eyebrow, Eddie grinned, her mother looked somewhat peeved and her fifteen year old sister simply taunted “Wooooooo guess who’s got a cru-ush!”


She rolled her eyes and felt acutely embarrassed until Xander threw an arm over her shoulder and staring directly at his Sire, simply whispered, “Hey… It’s OK to love outside the box… sometimes.”


Margaret turned looking a little puzzled then saw his expression of love, directed across the room and gave a smile that spelt gratitude. She pushed the chocolate into Xander’s free hand.


“He left this… he knew I’d share… but he gave it to me anyway.”


He squeezed her shoulder and simply said, “I rest my case sweetheart.”


……….


Gaia raged again over the next two days. Shaking severely. Tiles fell from the roof, the cameras were dislodged and Mount Ranier began her assault according to the radio, exuding toxic fumes and exploding with anger.


Strangely the farm felt only a few of the shakes.


The governments of the world, however, were in crisis. Over the last four years the UN had received official reports from Iceland, Switzerland, Finland, Mongolia, Peru, Turkey, The Congo, Mali, Portugal, Micronesia and New Zealand. All had given safe haven to the ‘pariah’s of society 'those with otherworld associations', despite the danger to their nation from the ‘bullies’, directly risking trade agreements and military alliances in the process. Thousands of demons and magical creatures, victims of the activities of the Initiative, had struggled to and found safe haven on their shores, and their accounts once collated were utterly damning. Each signatory nation submitting such a report to date had been ejected from the UN.


But now they stood as a group with compelling arguments. And they were joined by fifty more nations including Russia, Italy, Sweden, Thailand, India and China.


As a result a watershed of a further hundred countries came forward. Hundreds of documents were presented to the UN. The forum took ten days. Every presentation sought the same thing and the words resonated over and over in all six official UN languages: In Spanish and English ‘Balance’; French: Équilibre; Russian: ??????; Arabic: ???? ????, ; Chinese: ?? (if no characters apologies… Mandrin …simple)


As report after report from demon (and sympathetic human) communities detailed rape, torture and murder of not just ‘dangerous hostiles’, but women, children, half breeds and peaceful, helpful species until this point not documented, and any human protectors of the same. The governments of the world were stunned. The Spanish Inquisition and the Third Reich were mere infants in comparison with this heartless, mindless savagery. Indeed if the reports were true, it was an assault on fellow creatures, most of whom were legitimate citizens, beyond precedent.

Initially, the political climate had been fairly ‘cool’ to the small group of nations, but as Global events turned very sour, the recommendations of a group of tiny nations became a very compelling majority.

The ‘G7’ really did begin to take note, three were nations eith submissions! A three day emergency summit was called. Their people were dying and government departments inevitably ill equipped to cope. As a result of the latest assault, all members of the UN bar the US, pulled all funding from the Initiative type activities on the first day of negotiations. On the third day the President of the USA also signed off on the agreement.


David had continued to visit, though his attendance was becoming decidedly intermittent through no fault of his own. He worried privately for the group but had no appropriate excuses for his superiors, so simply visited once a week. The family noticed… his wages must have been spent on ‘essentials’, as each time he arrived, he had ‘treats’. His fellow Initiative members accused him of being ‘Momma’s boy’, knowing that they too had access to dwindling supplies of any manufactured goods, and all but a few were sending them home. He was glad for his fellow soldiers’ truthful disinterest in his affairs.





Over the ensuing months ‘war crimes’ charges were brought against dozens of high level military, and twenty seven government leaders, directly related to the treatment of “Allegedly magical” individuals and those with “Associations”. Further down the line, the most vicious of the Initiative soldiers and the doctors who had performed ‘unnecessary research’ – all of it, quite outside original parameters or orders, were also jailed.


Private Richards arrived just as the family turned off the news. It was officially two days after the global announcement regards cessation of hostilities toward ‘the other’. Spike heard the cameras being progressively switching off and unplugged, but was still rather stunned as the young man knocked on the door and threw the surveillance equipment on the table.


David stared directly at Margaret as he made the announcement, “It’s over, we pull out tomorrow. Every Initiative soldier is being reassigned… and I… umm… I’m sorry but… umm.” He stalled to peg back his own tears but happened to look at Margaret’s mother who stared at him with such love and gratitude, and simply failed to continue.


It was Robbie who stepped forward and hugged him first. Robbie hugged the young man to his chest, and kissed his hair as he whispered “You are a fine man David… a moral man, a man of this world’s future. You are destined for greater things… we all feel it. You will keep in contact?... Please?”


David simply nodded into the broad man, knowing that, this promise would last a lifetime.


Spike hugged him next, “Just a little secret that you’ve already learned, Pet. Whatever it is you want the most… If you give it away with pure intent, to help others, it will come back to you tenfold.”


Some time later Private Richards, David, had been hugged and thanked in turn by all the adults. He now sat bereft, on Xander’s now rather weather worn seat at the front of the house, and held Margaret’s slim hand. He pledged his devotion to her then continued. “I am going to apply for immediate transfer then ask to be reassigned... I guess I’ll be investigated like everyone else…”


“We’ll testify … Oh David… We’ll *all* testify for you… They *can’t* blame you… you saved us! You saved us!!!*” Margaret stormed to her feet, crying angry tears at the injustice of the whole thing.


David blushed, then stood also and took her face in calm hands, “You are so wonderful… and I might just need all the help I can get… It’s just that I um… I want to become a social justice lawyer. Could you stand that? I mean I’ll have to do it the ‘long way’ cause no money… but would you wait for me?… I’ll be a poor student and … I… um… I’ll be away for study if it all works out… but I’ve got to do this… Do you um?”


“Would ya mind some fairly attractive female half demon Articles Clerk following you into court occasionally?”


David's look was that of thrill and amazement, as realized her intention to take a similar path… He was about to say something but was cut off by a kiss.


Their romantic moment was interrupted well and truly by five little people filing onto the porch. At their head was little Willow who sported a rather determined and accusative stare, and with hands on her hips, stated matter-of-factly, “We been *waitin* f’r your story for a *long* time… David!”


The mood of the kiss was thoroughly broken, and the two older people went inside hand in hand, followed by a brood of little children. Poor little Chris was last in the group, just walking, and cried desperately when he was a few seconds too slow to get through the fly-screen door before it slammed shut. He was duly rescued by Brenda and placated quickly.


David read to them for fifteen minutes or so, then departed to stack the redundant Initiative equipment into the utility.


Seven adults approached the vehicle as he prepared to leave.


Nic pushed his business card into David’s hand. Spike hugged the man and kissed him. The young man smiled, before Spike whispered, “Before you go, pet, need you to know something, for the record like." Spike signaled to his Childer through the link and they all changed to their true face.


David gasped. “Oh God! I’d wondered but… but you’ve… you’re… and you’ve never??”


“Just needed you to know… pet… we don’t kill to feed… and need you to know too, that you did a wonderful thing luv… And if you don’t bloody well come back for a visit, we’ll all send the kids after you… Bugger the vampire thing… there’s *nothin’* scarier than a teenager with a cause!” Spike gave his classic smirk then moved forward and kissed him, still in game face, then kissed him again after the change. The others all in their more normal guises moved, hugged and kissed the young man also.


Finally it was Robbie’s turn. As he hugged the young soldier, he mumbled, “You are a great leader son… And you will leave a legacy of love wherever you go… But you always have a place here with us… always. I … um… Oh geez.” A teary Robbie hugged David to him in a way David’s absent father had never managed.


The rather emotional big man pushed the now teary young fellow from his grasp after a little too long. He gently swiped the wetness from David's cheeks then pulled the back of his own hand across his evidence of emotion and tried to smile. They hugged again and slapped backs in a ‘manly gesture’, before Robbie stood rather bereft with the extended family as they all waved Private Richards off.


Two hours later, in the dead of night, the D’Azpuras returned to their own house for the first time since their initial sprint to safety. They stood just inside their own front door, in a house that smelt rather stale courtesy of being closed for the better part of five months, and simply hugged.


That night all the families rejoiced as Gaia fell quiet once more and the electricity flickered back to life in the area.


Xander put the children to bed then made a particular point of turning the light off before covering his partner with his own very nude, very aroused being.


It seemed that now they truly were safe, and just maybe for the forseeable… so were their children… It was worth celebrating.

Part Thirty-Four

Their monetary assets were ‘unfrozen’. Xander returned to his woodwork, Eddie to his garden and Jon to his animals, while Robbie repaired the various structures and vehicles damaged in wake of Gaia’s fury. Meanwhile Spike and Sam turned their hands to teaching the brood of small people. Sam had applied to become a ‘home schooler’ what seemed like eon’s ago. Now they were able to take advantage.


Willow had indicated that a permanent glamour for Eddie’s three was a bad idea both physically and emotionally. And thankfully after two years of home study, the re established coven opened a tiny private school only thirty minutes away by country road. All the children eventually attended. Little Willow, of course, ‘Student council President’ by year five!


The families had ‘officially’ returned home a week after the Initiative’s ‘pull out’, Sam arriving in their living room along with Mikaela on the following Friday.


Mike was called to the accountancy office of Mr D’Azpura five months later. He was thanked again for all his work, and finally told why the families had been absent for so long. He seemed utterly un-phased by the idea that the D’Azpuras were ‘magical dudes’, as he put it, sharing with the rather astonished businessman, that their own grandmother was a white witch… not that any of them ‘got her’, but they had all grown up loving the lady! Nic and Patty had suspected as much. But it was Nic who had the joy of leading their dedicated ‘farm sitter’ to the rear of the building where a brand new, black, top of the line, Chevy 4x4, sat in parking bay number Two.


The young man ran his fingers over the shiny surface and admired the sleek interior. “Geez Mr D! Did ya win the state lotto while you were away?!”


Nic reached out and squeezed the young man’s shoulder, “Not about winning son, about deserving. Thank you for everything you have done for us and for the others.” He paused for a moment and looked the boy square in the eyes, “This is from Sam’s family and mine. Something you *earned*. Something we hope you will drive with pride…. From us to you… Thank you Michael.” And with tears about to fall, Nic dropped the keys to the vehicle into the astonished young man’s right hand.


“Oh my … Wha?? But?? Mr D you can’t possibly… It’s mine???”


He unlocked the vehicle in a dream, and slid into the driver’s seat, eventually spotting the registration and tax papers on the dash after many minutes and whooped with joy, “Oh my … Whooooooo!!!! It’s really mine!!!”


Nic was never prouder than when a grinning Mike and his immaculately maintained vehicle formed front of both Margaret then Brenda’s main wedding fleet, years later.

……..


The arrival of Grampa Sam on day seven of their freedom, caused such excitement amongst Eddie and Jon’s children that poor Sam was a little overwhelmed.


The three tiny blue figures all talked to Grampa at once, climbing up onto his knee and telling him of all their adventures, mixed with stories they had read, and things they had dreamt or made up … They were articulate, imaginative and attentive… but a little too enthusiastic for a retiring gent recovering from weeks of visions.


Sam covered the ‘overwhelmed’ by lots of “Hmmm”s and “Is that right?”s. The children didn’t notice, were beautiful, all so grown up and just… so lovely… and he delighted in kissing and hugging them all soundly.


He became quite tearful again as he stroked little Jessie’s downy blue fur and was somewhat embarrassed as the tiny blue girl leaned forward and whispered “It’s OK to cry when you’re happy, our Da… you know Jon, said it is… And you know that Momma Ed… cried when they said you were coming back… We *all* love you so much… you know that right…” It was all the elderly gent could do to hug the sweet girl to his chest and grind out a very rough “Yeah… ‘S OK and I Love you all back.” He then buried his face in her hair, shed silent tears and used her permission to express his feelings, stroking the dear love until he calmed. Jessie was patient and eventually excused herself by patting him gently before sliding off his knee.


Sam consequently enjoyed numerous enthusiastic and apparently quite spontaneous hugs from the two other little demons who had more stories of their time in the cave and Sam II of his joy at finding his toys again. Willow busied herself describing David ‘who save us and is the soldier man who likes Margie’. Jon simply grinned and mouthed ‘later’ toward the their lovely elder from the door.


The children then turned their attention to Missy who wagged her tail enthusiastically. She then barked her appreciation as her master’s three little grand children pulled down their own pants to display their own new ability to wiggle their tails too. Squeals of delight and “see I told you’s” ensued when the dog voiced her enthusiasm again and again. It was the first time Sam had laughed out loud for months!


An hour later, Sam sat in his own lounge room quietly with Missy at his feet while the children were being fed. He looked at all the photos (recently rescued from their ‘burial’ place in the top paddock) and allowed the tears to come. They were safe, they were all safe… his family… had made it… when so many more had not… He felt so guilty, but so happy…


He buried his head in his hands, and cried in earnest in a way he had not allowed himself to cry for months, years…. Then cried some more, as first one cool body, then two slid into his space and began to hug him. Then a warm body settled against his knees and soft warm fur brushed against his face and kissed him. He finally opened his eyes to five beautiful strong men, his boys, adoring him and surrounding him with such love… so much so that he cried again… and this time he had company… They all shed thankful tears…. All the pain and the worry and the hurt of months and years seemed to be swept away in a flood of grateful watery salt. They all gave in to the sadness for those lost, and the appreciation and love of each other.

……………

Missy passed away in her sleep at seventeen. She was buried in the front yard and a tiny oak planted over her.


Sam died four years later, aged eighty one. And just like she was, the old man was surrounded by loved ones and hugged until the end. Mikaela arrived to ease his way, and smiled as the four day old *great grandchild*, the first of Jesse’s grandchildren was placed in his arms just before he died.


He smiled down at the tiny blue figure, and knew that somehow his legacy would endure.


Mikaela informed the tearful family, the wall between the atria of his heart had been breached and the hole was getting progressively bigger. There was nothing she could do.


They all had time with him… not saying goodbye, but expressing their love and thanks. He fell into a coma in the early the next evening and never woke up.


His headstone read. “Grampa Sam. 1947 – 2028. Hero. Protector of those who could not help themselves.”


…………..


Two years after the cessation of hostility, the family was not able to go to Dawn’s official memorial in Europe so they did their own… and all present felt it significant nevertheless…


Everyone stood reverently at a private service just after sundown on a warm spring afternoon.


Eddie’s extraordinary front yard was now filled with irises and tulips paying tribute to a beautiful woman. The Slave’s Chorus from Aida was playing on the stereo inside … Xander caught the dear vampire as his began to collapse in grief for his beautiful ‘young Niblet’.


Words of love and gratitude followed, then a protest tune from Greenday played, and finally Bette Midler’s ‘Hero’. The last tune was her mother’s favorite, was played at Joyce’s funeral and then Buffy’s, and now… Dawn had saved so many … *so* many.. hundreds of thousands… and so few would ever know. By the end of the music both Xander and Spike were on their knees in a tearful embrace. So much loss, too much…


They fixed a memorial plaque and erected a flagpole in Eddie’s garden with the simple words… “Pay It Forward - Dawn Summers legacy - Gaia’s mistress and savior of millions. 7/22/2010”


Her life energy had directly contributed to survival of the three little blue people that sung along at her family memorial, and the twins that now helped to pat down the soil around ‘Dawn’s tree’.


Every time any one of the five smiled or giggled, every time they looked proudly at their parents or discovered a new trick… the adults all knew…she was there… never forgotten.


……………


David was dismissed honorably from the military. A number of ‘well wishers’ had apparently written to the Governor and the President on his behalf.


He was still required to answer questions at the state centre in Portland for a full nine hours one day. He sat in a military jail overnight but on the following day, three lawyers specializing in international law and a group of witnesses ready to testify on his behalf, applied to the court and were given admission. They not only attested his innocence regards war crimes, but detailed his genuine heroism.


Two years later he was sent a commendation from the UN, congratulating and acknowledging his humanitarian actions during the ‘recent conflict’. It came with a ten thousand Euro cheque, enough for him to offset a significant portion of his Law school fees.


Six years later, after he had just graduated to the bar, he was recalled to Portland on Martin Luther Day and honored for his actions. The medal was pinned to his lapel by the Governor of Oregon. The photograph was of a hero, an honored citizen, a civil rights lawyer, but more importantly, a father and a partner in life. Margaret was in all the photos on his insistence, along with their tiny and very new little girl, Daisy.


Patty bought twelve local papers that week (just in case ‘the family’ needed extras).


…………………


Robbie did not return home... In the months after Gaia’s calming, he and the vampires took great delight in building him a log cabin. It was around half way up the hill on the way to the cave they had all taken refuge in.


His mother’s house was sold. Jon traveling with their lovely friend to sort and pack what the lovely friend treasured, then transported it all to his new abode.


Ten years on, Robbie inevitably ate with the family four or five times a week, but had his own power supply and often hosted one or two, or more of the children (and later their friends… and eventually the grandchildren and associates).


Sam II, Chris and Jessie, all learned to fish with Unca Rob. And he worked tirelessly with Eddie in the early days to reestablish the market garden.


Mike, he and David all became firm friends. And the aging Robbie joined the local volunteer fire fighters and reveled in the well deserved accolades he was given at the yearly awards night. Hundreds of young people learned CPR and rescue techniques from him, and knew him only as ‘Grampa Rob’.


Eventually a decorated life member of the Fire Department, he was never prouder than when he pinned an award of honor onto the chest of Mike’s teenaged son who had resuscitated a small child at a birthday party, after the little love decided that she needed to retrieve a balloon from fishpond and tumbled in. Nathan had tears in his eyes as the now grey haired Grampa Rob pinned the medal on his school blazer.


He was eventually buried under the tree with Eddie, and Jon’s ashes.

………..


The pretty Parsalas demon groaned against her partner, Iain. He cuddled his beautiful lover to him and grinned as the children sprinted in the door. They had guests.


Ian was a jockey, that’s how they had met. They were the right size for each other (apart from anything else)! And though dropping the glamour initially stunned him, there was nothing Jesse could do after that to shock him. He loved her family and they supported and adored him in turn.


Before he answered the door, he stroked her tail one more time, feeling it stiffen and arc up… He grinned wickedly and whispered “Later!”


She slapped him lightly. “Naughty!” He always ‘got off’ on her tail. The soft fur, the feel of … her… He adored her. And the feeling was reciprocated.


Answering the door in his sweat pants only, he was a little surprised as the extended family piled in for an impromptu pre thanks giving hello.


Eddie’s grandchildren (six of them!) by Jesse and Ian all had the wonderful advantage of a petite size and fast development, and would continue to be sought after in the equestrian world as the little demons seemed to have the extra advantage of a direct link to their steeds. So much so that twenty years after the hostilities ended, it was rare to find a purely human rider.


Sam II married a gorgeous Canadian female jockey, Danielle d’ Nuerve the same year as Jesse partnered. The petite Danielle and Sam produced a three pale blue grandchildren for Eddie and Jon (making the eventual count nine!), all natural riders and as sought after as their cousins by the racing community.


Little Willow moved to England at seventeen, studying magic under her namesake. She eventually became the first Parsalas demon ever to be admitted to the coveted inner circle of the International Coven. She too found a lovely partner to admire her tail… and Paula made a particular point of stroking it each night before they retired, an act that was joyfully reciprocated as the two Parsalas bedded down.


Elsbeth spent half her teenaged life with blue hair, shrugging off being popular in preference to emulating her older cousin.


Until Little Willow left for England to study, they were virtually inseparable and Elsbeth was determined to follow her example and join the coven in Surrey.


As it turned out, the power of the young girl was apparently quite extraordinary. She left home at sixteen to study to become a healer. She came home as often as she could. Unlike Willow II, however, by eighteen Elsbeth had fallen in love with a beautiful human *male* witch from Prague.


Six months later the extraordinary Emil inadvertently endeared himself to everyone at the first family gathering at the Oregon family home by sitting on the ground, doing an ‘Unca Robbie’… (ie letting all the *new* little people from the extended family crawl all over him, ignoring adults and giving them his undivided attention).


There was an awkward moment when he admitted that Elsbeth was the first *girl* he’d ever dated… but when his two soon to be fathers’ in law roared laughter, hugged him close and reassured him that it was about the person not the gender, all was well.


Over the next eight years, Elsbeth produced five grandchildren for Spike and Xander, while continuing her own studies.


The entire ‘clan’ was always home for the family Thanksgiving… not the traditional date, but the
one that marked when Gaia went quiet and Sam came home.

………………..


Chris stayed on the farm until he was in his fifties. He was a powerful male witch in his own right and worked tirelessly with the local coven, but preferred to keep to himself.


As he ‘came of age’, they found him the perfect mentor from the local coven. A native American and traditional Indian shaman, White Paw, was quite a character… and a wonderful teacher. Chris took longer and longer retreats with him as the years passed by, and the family became used to his extended absences. The fact that Gaia calmed in their region whenever Chris and White Paw communed with the Earth’s force did not go unnoticed.


The young wiccans of the covern were in awe of the apparently timeless young man. Something about his vampire heritage gave him an ethereal beauty and longevity that was quite … exquisite. The younger women of the coven heard that he was sixty, but he looked to be in his early thirties, so none of them believed the rumors. He was always charming to a fault, and was always willing to partner them in the formal dances at their graduation events, but none could truly get close to him.


Chris continued to work on the farm side by side with Robbie and Eddie, and took time to apprentice to his father with wood turning, while developing his true calling as seer with White Paw.


He never married, though was the ‘bestest Unca ever’ according to his sister’s brood… and Eddie’s children’s… children. In his ninety fifth year, he finally found a beautiful fellow witch who was able to reach him. He had been representing their coven at a gathering in Tanzania. The connection was so profound that Xander and Spike both had disturbing dreams and called their son the following day.


The news was wonderful and the two witches had a commitment ceremony at the farm a year later. The extended family was present and Chris led his beautiful partner Joseph to the coven blessed burial ground where Sam and Missy, Eddie and (sadly), Jessie and her partner, and sadly her youngest son (victim of a road accident) now lay.


No-one should bury their children.

…………

Elsbeth was ninety seven when she passed away, her lovely Emil had departed three months earlier, but in spirit, was with her to the end. They left four children and six grandchildren and she trusted her brother Chris, the Aurelian vampire of Xander’s line, to care for them… Chris and Joseph had been turned and ensouled together. Chris had returned home dying of untreatable spinal cancer. The ensouling worked and the two were fully mated, and they became two of four ‘caretakers’ of the clan.


In their spare time the two worked tirelessly with NGOs the world over… finally laws were changed, and helpful medicine was given to those in need for free… Joseph never really forgave the human community for denying the third world medicine. It took the demon world to ‘swing the vote’ on something so simple!


They buried Eddie in the now cordoned off area of the top paddock, on a beautiful summer’s evening three months after the little demon turned eighty two. Spike knew his Childe’s feelings, but could only cry into his mate’s chest one morning four weeks later, as they both felt Jon greet the sunrise.


Spike and Xander hugged each other close… and understood… but were utterly bereft. Yet it was up to them to go on and support the family… and they would do exactly that… because that’s what they did… that’s what they had always done.


At Jon’s memorial service, a distressed Spike was presented with a tiny blue fuzz covered baby who blinked at him with Eddie’s spectacular blue eyes.


“Grampa Spike, Grampa Xan. We’re so sorry… but we left the hospital early to be here and um….”

The pretty little Parsalas demon, one of Jesse’s girls, and her full blood husband, stood before them with tears tracking down their pretty blue faces, unmistakably one of Eddie’s grandchildren and a lovely partner. “This is Dawn, we had hoped that um… Grampa Jon… would have um … um…you know... Would … um would you… show him to … Um….Ohh… sorry…” She dissolved into tears as Spike kissed the girl then her partner, as he gently accepted the tiny bundle.


Xander held out a congratulatory hand to the young Parsarlas partner Stefan and squeezed it supportively. But it was Spike who spoke “Oh Sweetie… family *always* knows when good things happen… we *always know*.”


The little person squeaked as the four adults embraced around her tiny figure as they walked together to display her reverently to the burial tree, just so 'the family' would know, the ones who weren't there,… how proud they all were of the family’s newest addition…

The End

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