Moonlight

Chapter 6

Walking through Club V now felt different to Merissa. She never actively drank the blood mixers that they served here but on occasions, she'd stop for something. Now, it was something she had to avoid. At least, in the alcoholic sense. Straight blood would be fine but it seemed almost pointless now.

Moving through the crowd, Merissa approached the entrance to the VIP section. With a smile and a nod, the guard lifted the plush rope and let her into the quieter room.

Vampires stopped, only to whisper. Adley growled at them, earning a sharp gasp out of the women.

Merissa had bedded a werewolf, which was not a faux pas or frowned upon but the elitists that hung out in this section always thought that juicy bits of information like this was worth talking about.

Finding their way to Gamichee's office, Merissa and Adley happened upon a peculiar sight. Sammy was here, laying on Gamichee's desk and sounding rather unimpressed. Gamichee was very much unimpressed, looking rather drowned. Carson skidded out of the corridor to his office, towels in hand.

"What are you two up to?"

"Trying to change a nappy. The sooner Lyla returns, the better."

Merissa scoffed, pushing her soaked father out of the way.

"You two are so lame."

Cleaning Sam quickly, Merissa slipped the fresh nappy under his backside and did the tabs up. Lifting the screaming baby into her arms, she soothed him into a better place. Adley watched on, feeling a whole lot of happiness. No matter what Ris thought, he knew she'd be a great mother.

Merissa looked down at the whimpering child in her arms, his eyes filled with tears, his face still red and splotchy. Gently she rocked him while clutching him tightly. A slow, hypnotic pat was softly placed against his backside, a reassuring movement that she hoped mimicked a heartbeat.

Sammy's eyes became heavy until the door opening startled him. Merissa continued on while his grandmother quietly entered the room. Lyla offered an apologetic smile to Ris. She knew that Sammy was hard to settle. He wanted his mother and she was not the best substitute at the moment, not while she was still grieving.

When Sammy was asleep, Merissa carefully placed him into the carrier.

"Are you up for breakfast with the girls tomorrow?"

"Not yet. I can't pretend to be happy, I can't socialise with people and hope that I won't end up a mess."

"Okay well, play date with just us?"

"You mean, you coming over to babysit while I go grocery shopping? Sure. The night after next?"

"Sounds good."

Lennon was waiting by the door, the nappy bag hitched over one shoulder and the other hand holding Sammy in the carrier. With a hug goodbye, Merissa watched her friends leave. Sadness still tinged their days and nights but slowly, they were getting closer to finding peace.

Merissa had never met Eloise but if she was anything like Lyla, she knew that the kid would have been an awesome friend. It just made the pain of her loss all the more worse. As much as she liked her uncle when he was alive, she hoped he was rotting in hell for killing Eloise.

Her father stepped out of the bathroom, unimpressed but dry. Merissa giggled.

"You'd better get those skills up to date, old man. I'm going to be enlisting you for babysitting duties on a regular basis."

Gamichee glanced at Adley who was leaning against the wall. A smirk filled his face as he saw the fear wash over Gamichee.

"Didn't you say there were three of them?"

"I did."

With a grumble, Gamichee sat down on the lounge. Merissa and Adley joined him in the one opposite.

"I suppose they will be like their father in every way."

"Highly likely."

It pained him to do so but Gamichee nodded. Three werewolf and vampire hybrid babies would be a complete nightmare but if it meant that their tired parents could have a moment of peace, then he'd gladly help out. He just had to employ more nurses, then he'd be ready for anything those little whirlwinds could throw at him.

"So, we've started looking for a place."

"Ideal time. Where are you looking?"

He knew what his daughter was like and Gamichee also knew the werewolf in front of him. Would they find a happy compromise? It worried Gamichee that they'd get stuck in a loop of arguments and never settle on a place.

"Something in the outer limits, I suppose. Acreage with bush nearby, not too far away."

"A place that can be built upon."

Merissa looked at Adley, wondering when this new requirement was going to be added to the list or why he never mentioned it. Adley grinned, winking at her. Merissa's cheeks blushed as she turned and lowered to look at her lap. That's why her mind whispered.

Yes, Adley knew it wouldn't be long before she was pregnant again. Keeping his hands off Merissa was going to be difficult. He'd have to be strong but he'd do it. Allowing her body to recover, spacing the gaps wisely, taking the time to enjoy being parents. They were all necessary and valid reasons not to get pregnant again so soon.

"Anyway," Merissa murmured, feeling aroused and embarrassed.

It was a tough time for her, the emotions were definitely causing her grief.

"I wanted to talk to you about my parent's death."

"We've been through this Merissa. I don't know what else you expect to hear from me."

"You said that it was for the best that I didn't get in contact with my siblings but never said why."

Gamichee held firm as he looked at his daughter. The past would never leave, always following him. No matter how hard he tried, Gamichee knew that he would have to tell her the truth. Was it the best idea though? He knew it wasn't. Everything that Gamichee Larmen did was intentional and well thought out. To go against a decision that had been considered at length was madness, in his opinion.