Chapter Text
“... Tell me more about her.”
“What?”
“Your wife. Martha, was it?”
“Oh.” He blinked; frowned. “I... sure. But why are you asking about her all of a sudden?” A cold hand ran up and down her arm soothingly, as if he were trying to distract her. It wasn't a topic he liked to talk about, she knew, but it was necessary.
She shrugged, and shivered slightly in bed -- his lips twitched. “... I don't know. I guess I'm just -- curious.”
“... She liked red,” he began after a long pause. “She taught me it wasn't wrong to be who I am.” Laying next to her, her scent was more than distracting in itself; was that vanilla, he smelled, too? More quietly and grumpily, the vampire next added, “What my dad would have called a wimp.”
“Oh.”
“Yes, but I'm glad she did. I'm -- comfortable. With who I am, now.”
“My... great-grandfather never was comfortable with who I am. He always told me what to do, or what not to do.”
“Hrm.”
“That's why I'm kind of glad he's stayed in the cruise.”
“... But?”
“It's... scary.”
A pause -- things dawned on him finally. “Ah. Well, one should do what they want to do as well, not only what they're supposed to. You're not alone here, Ericka. You're with us now.” A pause. “I stopped talking to my own father after I realized he wasn't good for me at all. Moved on. Had a life with Martha.”
“Right.” She glanced away briefly.
“Do you... still want me to talk about her?”
She nodded, convinced, and sat up; her white pyjamas visible in the pitch darkness of the room, from his own trained vampire eyes. “Yeah.”
He sat up too. “She was an artist -- enjoyed drawing and painting quite a lot. Writing poetry. We met by coincidence, too.”
Ericka perked up. “Oh?”
“We were both flying one night and...” he chuckled, “crashed into each other. I didn't even know what a Zing was back then. But I knew I wanted her to become my wife one day in the future.”
In spite of herself, she smiled warmly, for his current expression was more than completely adorable.
“She was kind, playful, and sweet. Had a beautiful smile. Like you do, honey. Though of course yours is way different than hers. Oh, you should have seen her parents’ faces when she told them who she intended to marry.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, the Dracula family is very respected and looked up to in the monster world -- And they wanted her to marry some nobody she didn't even like. It was... quite a surprise, and her father gave us his blessing right away.” He was grinning now, his long teeth peeking from behind his lips. Her own soft smile widened.
“I bet. My great-grandfather and I never talked about me and the possibility of marriage. We always had -- other things in mind.”
Dracula nodded, understanding. She didn't have to make herself understood by saying more on that particular subject, if it made her uncomfortable.
“It's a bit scary not to have him around, but I'll get used to it, don't worry. I'm not young, I know, Drac. But I'd like to spend as much time with you all as I can.” And get to know them all better -- they were her family now.
Oh, no. Not that subject. He shifted a little on his spot; glanced down. Her warm hand placed itself on his then, and he looked back up into her pair of beautiful blue eyes.
“I want to be a vampire, Drac. Just... think about it at least. But know I won't force you to do it if you don't want to.”
“... Thank you.”
Awkward.
“My great-grandfather likes blue,” she added, a little too quickly. “He raised me on his own because my own parents died during a mission in Africa.”
“I'm sorry.”
“Don't be. I know now it wasn't the fault of any of you -- it was an accident.”
“Still -- I'm sorry you had to grow up without parents, darling. I don't remember my own mother; so I kind of know what that's like.”
“Yeah?”
Dismissively, the vampire waved a hand at her. “It's fine. It doesn't really matter anymore. Not in that way, at least. Just -- my father never told me about her. I don't know why, but I only know her name. And that she was a full vampire, and how she died. Which of course should be irrelevant now.”
“Have you asked him?”
“Oh - ho, trust me, I have. But he always brushes me off.” As if the woman was somehow unimportant.
Ericka frowned. “My great-grandfather never missed a chance to talk about them. He and my father were pretty close.”
“... You know, she would've liked you. Martha, I mean.”
“Really?” Her eyes lit up.
“Of course! You're very likeable.”
Ericka chuckled at his poor attempt at flirting; found it cute, even. “Right. Thank you.”
“I hope -- if she is somewhere, wherever that is, she's -- happy.”
“I'm sure she is, honey. And I'm sure she would be proud of you and Mavis.” They were both amazing people, and she’d probably be absolutely delighted to meet Dennis as well, she assumed.
A smile. “Yeah.”
“Thank you, by the way. I know it's not easy for you to talk about her still.”
“I know -- I try.”
She kissed his cheek. “Maybe we should try to get some rest.”
“Mhm.”
“Drac.”
“Yes, yes. I know. Come here.” Laying back down on the big double-sized bed they'd bought, Dracula pulled her to lay on his clothed chest, and sighed contently.