121
Caine chuckled happily and hugged her back. Even though they had talked over the phone. and written to each other regularly through the years, this was different. Charlie hugged him closer and was afraid to let him go. Caine didn’t seem to mind; he kept her in his arms and lowered his head to rest his forehead on her shoulder.
“You have grown stronger,” he remarked.
“Am I hurting you?” she asked, still reluctant to let go.
“Not that strong,” he told her, laughing into her hair. “Your hair has grown.”
“Yes, I’m wearing it long now. I kind of like it,” she said and let go a little so she could look at him. “Okay, I can’t keep you on the doorstep. Come on in. Does Vidar know you are here?”
she asked as she took his hand and led him inside.
“Who do you think told me I needed to come?” he rebutted. “He called me the other week and told me you needed me back here. Why do you seem so surprised by that?” he asked.
“Because that husband of mine didn’t tell me you were coming,” she told him. His answer had caused her stomach to grow cold. He was just back because Vidar had asked him, it was
temporary.
“So you don’t need me?” he asked, sounding confused.
“Of course we do. Vidar was right in asking you to come. I’ll wait to tell you why until he comes home. He should be here within half an hour or so. Until then, I want you to tell me everything about your new life,” she told him and made him sit next to her on the couch. Caine smiled and didn’t object as she kept his hand in hers.
“It’s a good life,” he humbly said. “The business is doing good and for most parts the humans.
where I live have been understanding.”
“I’m happy to hear it. How about that boat you were looking into buying the last time we
spoke?” she asked. He laughed.
1/6
Wus d
Iயப
IVI
DILLII
“At least I got it out of my system.”
“Oh no. That’s a good way of looking at it. You sound happy, it suits you.” Charlie was telling the truth. He sounded and looked happy and it made him even better looking and she loved it for him. But it also hurt a little. She had thought she could move on from her feelings for him, but it had been harder than she had predicted. Not that she wasn’t happy, she was. But something seemed to be missing. Charlie smiled even if she felt a pang of grief that Caine didn’t feel the same way.
“How about you? You look as radiant as ever,” Caine asked.
“I’m good. As is Vidar. I can’t believe how fast time is moving. I have done so much, but at the same time there is still so much more I feel I need to do, and try and explore,” she told him and could barely contain her enthusiasm. He smiled at her.
“You haven’t changed, I’m happy to see that.”
“Oh, I think I have,” she objected.
“Not in a way that is important, you are still just as bright as ever,” he insisted and Charlie felt herself blushing.
“How long will you be staying?” she asked to change the subject.
“I don’t know. At least a week, but if you need me for longer I am able to move things. around,” he answered. The door opened and Vidar walked in, looking smug and happy. Charlie got up from the couch and hugged him.
“Welcome home. Thank you for my surprise, it’s the best one so far,” she told him and k*ssed him. Vidar looked even smugger and laughed. He walked over to Caine and they hugged.
“It’s been too long.
You look good,” Vidar said.
“You too, married life suits you,” Caine told him as they sat down on the couch again, this time Charlie was placed. between the two men.
2/6
121
“It does,” Vidar agreed and took Charlie’s hand.
“So, why was it so important for me to come?” Caine asked. “Not that I’m not happy about it. 1 am really happy to be back,” he added.
“You haven’t told him?” Vidar asked and looked at Charlie.
“No, I waited for you to get back,” she told him with a smile.
“Okay, now I’m getting really curious,” Caine said. Vidar looked at him and all the smugness had disappeared and he just looked happy.
“We are going to have a baby,” he told his friend. Charlie watched as Caine went from amused. to stunned. He looked at Vidar and then at Charlie, his gaze drifted to her stomach and then back to her eyes.
“It’s true. It’s still early, about seven weeks. So you are the first one we have told,” she
confessed.
“A baby?” Caine asked.
“Yes, a little Charlie copy,” Vidar proudly said, placing his hand on Charlie’s stomach.
“Or a Vidar copy,” she added and got an indignant huff from Vidar.
“This is amazing news. Congratulations!” Caine told them both.
“Thank you,” Charlie said.
“And, we are thinking it’s time to relocate,” Vidar told Caine.
“Relocate? Is that necessary now that we are out in the open? I know how much you love this place,” Caine asked, taking Charlie’s hand. She smiled at him, but she felt her own smile being stiff.
“I do. And it’s mostly because of me,” she confessed.
3/6
121
“Don’t say it like that, baby. We both think it’s the right thing to do,” Vidar objected.
come
“I know. But it’s because I’m having a hard time with my family growing older and me, well not. Huxton and Tyson are getting closer to sixty and the twins are closer to my age than my brother. It feels strange. And before I know it the twins will be in their sixties with grown children and I will be closer to the children’s age. I think this is a good time to create distance and still keep in touch,” she explained. Caine looked at her with compassion and a knowing face. And Charlie knew he understood, probably better than most. Vidar and the rest of the clan had lost people they cared about, but family hit differently. Charlie had always known this part would be difficult, but she had been willing to face it if it meant spending the rest of a long life with Vidar. And she would make the same choice again if she had to.
“Have you thought about where to head next?” Caine asked.
“Charlie liked Schweiz, so we were thinking of settling down there for the time being. At least until the little one is a couple of years old. I want to take a step back from being a public figure as well. It has been fun and it was an honour to represent us. But I don’t want that kind of attention on me and my family with a little one on the way,” Vidar said. Caine looked serious and nodded. Charlie had known how seriously vampires, and all magical beings, took children. Vidar had explained it and others had too. But it wasn’t until she had told Vidar she was pregnant that she really had understood it. And she had also realised how important it was to her. In many ways she didn’t have the fears a human mother would have. Charlie knew she and Vidar most likely would have long lives and be there for their child. She also knew her child would have a long life. She knew she didn’t want the relationship with her child that she had with her father. That was just toxic. She didn’t want the kind of relationship Vidar had with his parents either. They loved him, but it was like they were distant acquaintances more than family. Charlie was determined to find a healthy relationship with
her child.
“Do you need my help with the practicalities?” Caine asked.
“No, my friend. We just wanted to share the news in person,” Vidar told him. Caine smiled.
“It is the kind of news that is best given in person,” he agreed.
“I have ordered some food so we don’t have to cook. I’m assuming you are staying with us?”
Vidar asked Caine.
4/6
121
“If you will have me.”
“Of course, don’t even think about staying somewhere else. I’ll put fresh linens in the bed in your room,” Charlie told him.
“No, no. I can do that. You need to rest,” Caine objected.
“Not you too,” Charlie said with a sigh as she got up. “Listen, both of you. I’m not sick, I’m
not hurt, I’m pregnant. And I can ust fine on my own. Let’s wait with the ‘need to
do things help her with everything‘ until I start to get my own gravitational force,” she lectured them. They just laughed and promised her they would not be too overbearing. As Charlie made Caine’s room up for him, the men set the table and she could hear their conversation as she switched the sheets. It felt right, it brought back memories of when they all had lived together the last time and it felt nice. They sat down and ate dinner as a family. They made. sure to catch up on what had been going on in their lives. After dinner they all helped clear the table and Caine headed off to unpack. Vidar sat down on the couch and pulled Charlie
into his lap.
“You look happy,” he said and k*ssed her shoulder.
“I am happy,” she said.
“So I didn’t mess up with my surprise?” he asked. She smiled and turned her head so she
could k*ss him.
“No. It genuinely was the best surprise ever,” she answered and snuggled in. Her back was to his front and his arms were around her as they both looked out of the window at the city in the darkness of night. Vidar placed k*sses on her shoulder. At first they were small and sweet, but they turned more heated after a while.
“Vidar?”
“Mhm.”
“What are you doing?” Charlie asked as she tried to hold back a moan when Vidar sucked on
her earlobe.