Creatures of the Dark

Ana lifted her head from her food glancing between them.

Ethan raised an eyebrow.

Frankie have a tiny nod at Alice

"Frankie and I are having a baby." Alice told them.

Hayden was almost vibrating with happiness as she sat there with her food.

Maxx, Stephan and Ben were just looking at her, letting it sink in.

Frankie was quietly taking in everyone's reactions.

Ana smiled a little bit. "Congrats to you both."

Rylee was flickering in and out of appearance.

Ethan grinned a little at Hayden.

Hayden grinned back at him.

Alice smiled at him.

Maxx smiled. "Congratulations."

Ben smiled. "Amazing news guys, you'll both be great parents."

Stephan nodded. "Looks like Hayden is going to be a sister." He caught a smile from Hayden before he looked back at Alice. "But doesn't this pose a problem?"

Frankie took Alice's hand in his. "Like what?"

"My parents." Alice told him. "If they find out, this is going to be hell."

"You have a vampire, a ghost and a zombie at your disposal." Stephan told her. "We can protect you Alice."

Frankie shrugged. "Lets them say something."

Ana raised an eyebrow. "Don't forget us. We'll help."

"They won't be much talking." Alice told him. "You remember my parents Frankie." She sighed.

"I'll help." Hayden told her and everyone looked at her.

"You're fucking mad, you can't fight anybody." Stephan told her.

"I'm old enough." She told him. "I'm going to help Alice protect my brother and sister and you can't stop me." She didn't realise that most of them were now looking at her.

"We have a family here, no one is going to change that or ruin it for us," he told her.

Ethan grinned at Hayden. "I can help her... train her and stuff, get her used to being a wolf even when she's not one..."

Ana looked at Ethan and Hayden curiously her eyes shifting to Stephan.

Alice looked at them. "Looks like we're really doing this." She smiled.

Hayden looked at Ethan. "Let's start today."

Stephan smiled slightly.

"Of course we are."

He nodded. "Right after you finish eating," Ethan told her.

Stephen looked at Hayden. "This I have to see."

Hayden smiled.

He reached over and squeezed her fingers before letting her eat.

Frankie looked at Alice. "Eat. You need to eat."

Alice looked at him. "I am." She smiled, taking a bite of her food.

Hayden smiled and she started to eat.

The guys both dug into their own meals then.

Rylee kept fading in and out and she seemed upset that she couldn't get a handle on the problem.

Ana remained quiet even as she made herself eat a bit of her food.

Ben watched her. "Give yourself the power." He told her quietly. "Imagine you're alone, no one around, your mind will then give you the control."

Stephen slid a hand to rest on her thigh.

Alice and Hayden ate silently.

"I can't..." she muttered quietly staring at the table. "I don't know how..."

She laid her hand on top of his.

"Think it." He advised.

He smiled slightly.

When everyone had eaten, Alice and Hayden washed the dishes.

The guys helped them with drying.

Ana leaned over and kissed his cheek.

Rylee chewed her lip closing her eyes as she tried to do as he told her.

Ben sat near her with Maxx.

He kissed her lips in return.

Alice smiled at Frankie and when they were done, she slid her arms around his neck. "I love you."

Hayden watched them and she smiled slightly.

He held her close. "I love you too."

Ethan kept close to Hayden.

She faded away completely but slowly began to come back stronger and more clear.

She smiled against his lips.

Ethan kept encouraging her, giving her advice.

She smiled. "Show me how much."

Hayden snuggled into him.

He smiled back slightly.

She finally seemed to manage a decent form that she could hold onto.

He smirked. "You sure?"

He held her close.

She leaned against him.

"There, how does that feel?" Ben asked.
_____

She nodded. "I am."
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"I love you." She whispered to him.
_____

He held her to him.

"I guess I'm alright for now."

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"I love you too," Ethan whispered in reply.