Chapter Text
The ordeal was over.
The cronies were scared straight with the involvement of the other monsters and humans fighting back, Mavis and Johnny get to stay here in Hotel Transylvania, and lastly, Dennis had finally gotten his fangs. This birthday was definitely something to remember for the ginger-haired by and his blended family.
Having some suspicion that the gremlin lady would eat Dennis’ birthday cake, Johnny and Mavis had created a backup cake for the boy, which had a simpler design than its previous predecessor. It still had the white and red number five. Everyone had sung happy birthday, his mother beckoning him to her to hold him. When Dennis was able to make his wish, but what was there to wish.
He was able to stay with the people he loved.
His papa Drac would have been absolutely lonely if Mavis and Johnny left, and he wouldn’t be able to see his uncle Franks and uncle Wayne and all of his other monster relatives. And worst of all he wouldn’t see his dearest friend Winnie every day. It would have been hard on him.
But now that didn’t matter.
He was with all of his family, and his family loved him just as he was. Monster or human, they were there for him.
After the celebration, Dennis was getting used to his newfound power and strength, constantly turning into a bat to show off his flying skills to everyone, especially his great-grandpa Vlad, who had nodded in approval.
Dracula had walked to his father, a smirk on his face. “Looks like we have our first half-human half-vampire in our wakes,” he declared to the ancient vampire.
“Yeah, and the next one I’m gonna be there for,” Vlad jeered. “You may have gotten away with raising your kid all these years and your grandson without me, but you’re not gonna get away with it this time.”
Dracula had cocked his head and crossed his arms “What are you blabbering about?”
Vlad had looked over at Dennis, who was using his powers to lift things up, including his friend Winnie. “If by some great miracle your kid decides to have another kid, trust me when I say I will be present for the arrival of the little vamp.”
“You’ve spent too long of a time in your cave, dad,” Dracula laughed, “Denisovich finally has gotten his fangs and you’re already talking about another Dracula.”
“We need to strengthen our ancestral pool,” Vlad had commanded, Dennis catching a spear that was about to fall on Winnie, “plus his powers will be put to good use.”
“Dad,” Dracula scorned, “what’s this really about?”
Vlad’s eyes furrowed down with a dead stare, “seriously? You’re that blind to it?”
“Dad quick beating around the coffin and get to it,” Dracula snapped.
“Well, you asked,” Vlad spoke, fixing his spiderweb-covered cape, “you keep a lot of secrets and bad secrets at that.”
“What on earth are you talking about?” the younger vampire questioned, his voice on the defense.
“You didn’t tell me about Mavis, or that you have a grandkid,” Vlad stated, “but most importantly you didn’t say he was half-human.”
“But if I told you about Johnny you would have eaten his soul,” Dracula said, “he may be annoying but Mavis loves him, and if Mavis is happy, then I’m happy.”
“Ooooh sure,” Vlad deadpanned, “that’s why you had him dress up like my grandmother’s boobies and make up that ridiculous vampire accent.”
“It was an urgent situation; I didn’t want to lose Mavis or Denisovich and go live with humans,” Dracula defended, his words hardening when it came to the mortal beings.
“Still,” Vlad insisted, “I mean that’s just breaking the sacred word of a Dracula.”
Dracula was about to argue his father’s words but was caught with Mavis looking at him while holding Dennis on her hip, an innocent smile on both of their faces. Trying to derail their attention, he smiled back and waved at them.
“Listen, dad, I’m not going to argue with you what secrets I should or shouldn’t keep from my family,” Dracula started, “now if you excuse me, I’m going to spend the rest of my evening with my vampson.”
“...But mommy, I don’t wanna go to bed. I wanna go fly with papa Drac,” Dennis said, who couldn’t stop showing off his new fangs to his mother. He wanted to fly into the night and soar all through the clouds.
“I know, baby, but even sky-hungry vampires like you need rest,” Mavis entreated as she pulled his chin up and kissed his nose. “Now you rest.”
“Okay, mommy,” Dennis somnolent, the boy soon yawning and in the process showing off his glinting fangs before he slunk into his racer bed. Mavis had gotten up and left Dennis to sleep. When she headed to the living room, she saw her father using his powers to place away all of Dennis’s toys in a living room chest.
“Hey dad,” Mavis said.
“Hello, my little raven,” Dracula said, looking at her with a smile, “tonight was a wonderful night.”
“It sure was,” Mavis affirmed, but had sighed, “but I think we need to talk.”
“Of course, my little ghoul,” Dracula agreed, sitting down at the couch with concern and had his hands on his knees. Mavis had sat down next to him, looking at him. “What is it?”
“Even though I decided to stay here in Transylvania, there were some things that still need to be fixed,” she started off. “You can’t just keep withholding secrets from me and doing things behind my back, like taking Dennis for a whole week to try and make him a vampire.”
“But honey bat -,” Dracula objected, taking her hands and rubbing it, “Denisovich would have been alone and sad in the human world. I just wanted to protect him… just like I protected you.”
“Protecting me is one thing,” Mavis disputed, taking her hands from her father, “keeping secrets and not trusting me enough to know I can handle things is another.”
“But Mavis I do trust you. it’s the world that I don’t trust,” Dracula clarified.
“Daddy,” she hesitated, “I know the reason why you lie and keep secrets from me is that you’re afraid of losing me… like mom.”
Martha was a sensitive topic for Dracula to talk about. Her death was untimely and unjust. It triggered the Count to create his hotel for those who too were persecuted.
“… You have to promise me to be more open to communicating and be honest about things,” Mavis pleaded. “You raised me to do the right thing, now let me do the right thing on my own.”
“I… I’ll do my best,” Dracula promised, a hesitant smile painted on his lips. Mavis soon embraced him, Dracula’s arms around his child with care. “I love you.”
“I love you too, dad,” Mavis said, tightening around him. She saw the curtains of her living room slightly brighten. “We better go to bed.”
“Yes,” Dracula agreed, yawning and stretching as he soon left Mavis alone.
She was right.
His disdain for humans was still present, and almost ruined his relationship with Mavis. He had to do something about it. He needed to let go of his dislike for humans… and in doing so, he had to let go of some other things.
He had to move on from Martha.
He headed to his chambers that early morning and undid his dressings for bed. He had looked at his gold wedding band, the red ruby shining brightly still. He had held it to his lips, closing his eyes and thinking of his sweet Martha.
“Your death was not in vain… we raised our daughter to be a wonderful woman and a fantastic mother.” Dracula could remember the hardships of raising Mavis on his own before creating the hotel. Mavis having married Johnny didn’t help it either. “But my feelings for humans still haven’t changed. I want to stop hating, I want to stop feeling this way. Martha… please. Help me heal.”