The Vampire Diaries

"I'm sorry, Caleb was nasty and drove slow." She replied with a quiet laugh, glancing over her shoulder to look at Caleb with a small smile.

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"It's what I'm waiting for arrive," He explained quietly.

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Zacarias didn't respond for a few moments, though a minute or so later began to stir.

"Sshh,"

"Hope; away now." Tatia ordered quietly. "You're covered in blood, he'll hurt you. Rik, move her."

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"Well you is 'ere now. All that matter."

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Violet nodded. "Mom'll be here for a while next time she comes."

Henrik walked over and grabbed his sisters arms. Pulling her away silently.

Zacarias blinked his eyes open with a groan and sat himself up a little bit on his elbows.

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"I'm glad you think so," Mia smiled.

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"How long for?" Malvolio asked.

Mia smiled at Caleb's laugh.

"No, no!" Hope hissed, pulling away from her brother. "Leave me alone!"

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"I'm wearing the pretty dress you bought me!"

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"A few months at least."

"Hope, stop." Henrik hissed, pulling her back into him and whispering. "Just stop for a bloody minute would you?!"

Zacarias just blinked a few times and glanced around.

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"Mm, so I see," Mia nodded.

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"That's good,"

"No because they'll kill him!"

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"You gonna see her when she comes?"

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"Grandpa thinks butterflies are good too! He gonna paint me one!"

"No they won't. Calm down ."

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Malvolio nodded, "I'll try to,"

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Mia just smiled at that, "Good,"

"They will, I know what mum and dad are like, they'll kill him because he slipped up."

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"Mummy was silly and now daddy's present is gonna be real late. So because he's mad he's not letting her drink any of that nasty stuff tonight." Ellie told her absently.

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"Good, she misses you. Both of us, I think."

"Mum said while you were out of it they wouldn't so relax!"

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"Like dad misses you." Malvolio replied quietly.

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Mia laughed a bit at that though glanced over her shoulder to Caleb to frown at him, raising an eyebrow in silent question.

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"It's weird, 'cause nobodys mad at her for it being late, not really, everyone seems happy about it, which is stupid! Daddy should be real mad because its gonna be so long!"

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Violet set her jaw at that, looking down at the table.

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Hope said nothing at that, just glaring at her mother and looking to Zacarias.

Malvolio was silent then, figuring he didn't have to explain any further how the emotions being felt by Finn were the same being felt by Alfdis.

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"It's probably a special kind of gift that's all, one that takes a while to be ready. Like cookies in an oven."

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Zacarias met her gaze for a moment before stumbling to his feet and mumbling, "I'm going to go…"

"No, don't go, no." Hope shook her head, "Please, I know you didn't mean it Zac, you don't have to go, it was just a little slip, you'll be fine. You can stay, don't go." she pleaded. "You can't go without giving me my present..." she added weakly, trying to be funny though it fell flat.

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"Dad pushed me away, time and time again. Mums never done that. Our real father never did that."

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"Well if the cookies were going to take that long she should have bought some!"

Zacarias just shook his head, mumbling, "No, I have to go,"

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"Believe whatever you want Viol." Malvolio replied with a shake of his head.

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Mia just shook her head a little bitin the negative, "Home made cookies are nicer though, they mean more,"

"You're telling me that you wouldn't give anything for father to be back with mother again? For us to be a family, like we were?"

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"No, Zac please, no. Don't." Hope whispered.

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"I'd rather have store ones now than home made ones in six months!"

"I'd love it, Viol, you know I would." Malvolio sighed, "But it wouldn't be able to be like that ever again, because it's not that time anymore even if there was a way for him to come back, I think deep down he'd still be devastated that mum cheated on him with dad…"

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"They don't taste as nice though… I'd much rather wait a few months for my own cookies than buy other peoples." She replied , glancing over her shoulder to Caleb pointedly.

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"Not saying you can't follow…"

"Rik, let me go." Hope wriggled around, trying to free herself.

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"He got on fine with her after that, he was hurt but he got over it because he loved mum, just like she loved him."

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"She should'a just got store bought cookies, would've saved this argument."

"Our own, stupid," Mia mouthed silently over her shoulder to him before smiling a bit at Ellie and replying, "I still think it is nice of your mother. You'll understand when you're older Ellie."

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"I always thought there was something else though, undercurrent, that neither of them really did get over it." Malvolio whispered quietly, "It never felt the same after that."

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"Your not being alone with him, Hope," Henrik replied with a shake of his head. "Not today..."