Well folks we are now into our third generation of James family. What adventures now await them? You will just have to read to find out.
JMH
trandar2002@yahoo.com
Scott woke up with Chuck on top of him, arms wrapped under his back. He sighed out of happiness and let his finger run down his lover's back. Scott had now been happily married to Chuck for over twenty-five years and he had enjoyed every moment of it. Chuck had lifted his spirits up after he had lost his son Charlie when they had fled GenCorp headquarters. He had helped James raise his two other children and the third he had with Jacob, Matthew. Chuck was his rock in more then one way.
More then any of James's descendents, Scott was the most like him in demeanor and appearance. He was also like James in that he had the potential to become Other but unlike James, Scott chose to fight the change. In that, his relationship with Chuck was all-important. Being both empaths, the bonding of T and E gifts necessary for becoming Other was not present unlike those months when Scott had lived with Carl, a very strong telepath. Back then, his skin had begun turning gray, as were his eyes. He had recovered some during his years away from Carl, his skin was still pale but did not have the gray tint and his eyes had returned to a deeper blue. What was not gone was Scott's missing of Carl.
Chuck, being an empath, knew that Scott missed Carl. He also knew that Scott was totally committed to him so there were no feelings of jealousy. If he felt it would make Scott feel better, he would tell Scott to go visit Carl but he knew that Scott didn't want to hear those words. For Chuck understood something else... Scott was afraid.
Just like James had been, Scott was terrified of what becoming Other would mean. It was not that he feared he would loose his humanity. It was his fear that as an Other, his feelings for Chuck would change. While Scott had seen that Jason and James loved each other, Chuck could not become an Other. This uncertainty scared Scott more then anything and as a result he clung to Chuck while avoiding Carl as much as possible.
This did not mean Scott completely steered clear of Carl. Once every three months Carl would come to the cabin to feed and to give Scott the blood kiss. They would then spend the night alone together. After Carl was gone Chuck would go check on Scott, finding him examining himself in the mirror, his skin just a shade more gray. Chuck would then have to work extra hard to convince Scott that things were still the same between them. It might take a few days but Chuck and Jacob were soon able to get Scott back to his normal self.
Scott thought about all this as he began his wake up procedure of kissing Chuck with ever increasing ferocity. Sometimes it would become a contest to see how long Chuck could keep a straight facade. It would usually end with Chuck red face, as Scott would grab his lower extremities.
Today though, Chuck didn't play around. Today Carl was coming, so Scott would need all of Chuck's support. He opened his eyes on the first kiss and gave Scott a grin before giving a kiss of his own.
"Today is the big day!" Chuck said cheerfully.
"Yep." Scott said less enthusiastically.
"Scott, don't worry. Everything is going to be ok."
"I'm... I'm just afraid of loving him."
"You shouldn't be."
"But what will happen if we go too far...if I change?"
"Scott, how many times do I have to tell you, ...I don't care if you change. I'm almost certain that we'll feel the same about each other."
"..." Scott bit his tongue. He had never told Chuck but after each meeting with Carl, Scott would feel as if a porous barrier had sprung up. His needing reassurance after feeding Carl was more to reestablish his bonds to Chuck then anything else.
After they had gotten out of bed and had breakfast Chuck and the kids took their leave of Scott and went to the main cabin. Scott tried to sit and act calm but he was too nervous and so began to pace. He was so wrapped up in it that he didn't even notice the door open and Carl enter. It was not until he felt a hand on his shoulder that he stopped and saw Carl was there."
"Carl..."
"Scott."
Those were the only words they spoke before Scott grabbed him and pushed him down on the bed kissing him along the way. Carl's shirt was already unbuttoned and fell off easily. Scott's took a little longer as it was ripped off its buttons but it too was soon on the floor.
With Carl on top of him, Scott turned his head to the side, giving Carl clear access to the left side of his neck. Carl gave the spot a few kisses before he let his teeth sink into the soft flesh. Scott gasped as he felt his blood drawn into Carl, strengthening the bond between them.
Once Carl had taken more then his fill, he turned his attention to feeding the now weak Scott. He ran his fingers down Scott's cheek. He then put one of his fingers into his mouth and when he removed it, it was a rich red color. Carl took his blood coated finger as ran it across Scott's lips, tempting Scott's tongue to come out.
"Scott... I can't leave you again. I love you too much." Carl started to cry.
"I know Carl..." Scott was able to whisper as he felt the warm tears drop from Carl's face into his own.
"I... I want to take you all the way this time. That's why I took more then usual."
"No, Carl no..." Scott frowned.
"... All right, I'll do whatever you want Scott but I can't leave you this time."
Scott remained silent for several minutes but in the end he nodded his head. This gave Carl his cue to finally deliver his kiss.
Chuck, feeling nervous left the main cabin and walked up to the hill where Scott's mother was buried. He leaned against a tree and began picking at the grass, deep in thought, wondering if this was going to be the time Scott crossed over into Other-hood. He was so deep in those thoughts he didn't notice a man approach him until he spoke.
"It's good to see you again Chuck." Gordon smiles nervously.
"Gordon... I haven't seen you in years." Chuck smiled as he got to his feet.
"I couldn't stay away anymore." Gordon explained as he drew Chuck into a hug.
"You should never stay away Gordon..." Chuck said with a little more feeling then he intended.
"Yes I do. I see how my son suffers each time he has to leave Scott and I'm not as strong as my son. I don't know how many times I could say goodbye to you."
"You don't HAVE to leave."
"Yes I do... I would just get in the way of you and Scott."
Chuck finally asked the question that was burning in his mind "Do you think I'll be able to keep Scott?"
Gordon took a deep breath before he answered. "I think you will always have Scott... but I think my son is going to finally have him as well."
"Then I will loose him."
"...He will always love you Chuck but... how can I say this... Scott has a biological need, a need you can't meet."
"I can't become an Other, like he and Carl can."
"No Chuck, you have it wrong... you can become an Other just not with Scott."
"How... and with whom." Chuck half guessed but asked anyway.
"You need a strong telepath as a husband... you need me."
Chuck was a little taken aback. He let go of Gordon and walked back a few steps before he could answer. "Gordon I like you... no Gordon I love you but I don't love you more then Scott and he's my husband."
"I know." Gordon replied sadly. "Carl thinks Scott feels the same. No matter what happens between Scott and Carl, it is you Chuck that Scott loves most but neither you nor Scott can escape your nature." Gordon insisted as he walked up to Chuck and held his hand on his cheek.
On skin on skin contact with his face Chuck took in a sharp breath. It was not the feeling of love that was dominant, even though the feeling was strong. It was the feeling of need. Chuck looked at Gordon and watched in wonder as his eyes turned red.
"You're a vampire..." Chuck said in amazement.
"Yes... I did it for us. I want you to be my bride and become an Other with me."
Chuck didn't know what to say so Gordon took matters into his own hands and gave Chuck the blood kiss. Some time during the kiss, Chuck must have blacked out because when he awoke he was naked, and on the ground, his upper body propped up by leaning against Gordon's bare chest. He also felt a pain on the side of his neck and knew he had been bitten but for some reason he was not mad or embarrassed. Instead, he was content and found himself more so when Gordon began kissing him on the ear.
"What happened?" Chuck asked dreamily.
"You became a wild man, is what happened." Gordon chuckled.
"I did?"
"Yes, as soon as I released my kiss, you began ripping off my cloths and rolling me around on the grass."
"I don't remember." Chuck said a little disappointed.
"Well things did get a little crazy so I'm not surprised. I also went a little nuts after I bit you."
"Well at least I can tell that happened." Chuck said as he touched his neck.
"Yes, I finally got my mark on you even though it will disappear before the day is over."
"It will heal that quickly?"
"It should... you now have my blood in you."
"As long as it's gone before Scott sees it." Chuck replied nervously.
"Sorry Chuck, he already has."
"What?"
"Well you are bonded to him. Do you think I could give you the blood kiss without him knowing?"
"I guess not." Chuck agreed. He always knew when Carl fed Scott. It would usually give him a woody."
"He's not mad is he?"
"No, of course not." Gordon said to comfort Chuck. He avoided telling Chuck that he had talked to Scott in advance to get his permission to seduce Chuck. Carl had thought that would be very difficult but it turned out to be very easy. Scott, being bonded to Chuck, knew how Chuck felt about Gordon. Scott also hoped that letting Gordon claim Chuck as his bride would allow for all of them to become Other. It was a last ditch attempt for Scott to keep Chuck with him.
As the sun began to set, Chuck and Gordon dressed and headed back to the main cabin. On the front door of the two story building was a note asking for the two of them to go to the old cabin. Chuck recognized the handwriting as Scott's. This led him to feel nervous even though all he could feel was love coming from his bond with Scott.
It was dark by the time they arrived at the cabin that Jacob raised Scott in, but, firelight could be seen coming out the windows. When Chuck knocked, the door opened on its own; one of the tricks Scott was good at. Inside, Chuck found one of the two beds empty but the other had both Scott and Carl in each other's arms, their eyes glowing gray.
Scott, on seeing Chuck, slid out of Carl's arms and walked over to Chuck where he kissed him. "I'm sorry Chuck... I couldn't hold back any longer."
"Don't worry Scott; it looks like I couldn't either." Chuck said as he glanced over at Gordon, who made a quick tilt of his head to the empty bed.
Chuck taking the hint lifted Scott into his arms and lowered him on the bed before joining him. The two didn't say a word but just cuddled together, staring into each other's eyes. The father and son watched as the two men who meant the most to them reaffirmed their love for each other.
"I could never break their love." Carl telepathically sent to his father.
"Nor could I. It's what makes them who they are." Gordon returned
"I guess we'll have to be content being in supportive roles." Carl accepted.
"We can only ask to be so lucky." Gordon agreed.
"Well, we better leave the two of them alone." Carl smiled as he headed for the door, followed by his father.
The two men were so caught up in their father son moment that they didn't realize that Scott and Chuck had intercepted their thoughts. Scott and Chuck found it so cute that the two men were so concern of running Scott's and Chuck relationship. Nothing on earth could do that. So they decided to prove it to the father and son that they accepted them as a part of their love. As Carl just started opening the door, it slipped from his hands and slammed shut with a bang.
"Get back over here you two." Scott chuckled.
"What?" Both father and son replied confused.
"Get back here." Chuck agreed. The two men walked back nervously to Scott and Chuck like children being sent to the principle office. "Wipe off those sad faces... we want you with us."
"Really..." Gordon asked, still unsure.
"Yes you two." Scott insisted as he moved away from Chuck so there was a small space for the two Vassar men to squeeze in. Carl hopped in first but was soon followed by Gordon. Each man went to his corresponding partner, Carl rolling Scott over so Scott would be on top of him; Gordon rested his head on Chuck's chest. Once everyone was comfortable, Scott reached over and Grabbed the hand Chuck had around Gordon's shoulders and squeezed it, the main fear of including Gordon and Carl in their family abated.
Will looked out from the balcony of the main lodge to the cabin where his father, Scott, slept. Will had been born from a union between Scott and Jacob, one of two people who had been hatched from an egg. His half brother Thomas, born from the union between Travis and Jacob, stood next to him but was looking at the moon instead.
"So you're dad is more like us now." Thomas asked. Unlike Will, he could not sense Scott.
"He is but he isn't." Will tried to explain. He himself was unsure what had happened to his father only that he could now sense his father's emotional state easier. Before today, his ability to read his father's emotions had been like trying to understand a foreign language one was never quite fluent in. Now, for the first time, his father's emotion read as the same language only with a bad accent. He guessed his father now had the gray skin and eyes he had but he doubted his father had grown the same facial features.
Both Will and Thomas, named after James's brother in law and his lover, had deep set diamond shaped eyes. Their heads were angular and fine boned, different from the square jaws of both their parents. Both had narrow eyebrows the same color as their skin making one first think they didn't have any. Both had black hair. The only difference between the two was that Will had the same green eyes as Jacob while Thomas's eyes were the blood red of the vampires. This single difference seemed to mark their personalities for while Will was nearly always cheerful, Thomas tended to be melancholy and temperamental. Part of it was due to his nature as a hunter but much of it had to do with him feeling isolated and this was caused by his need to feed. Scott, the only Morgan living at the lodge took on the responsibility of feeding Thomas once every three months. When Thomas had been young he had looked forward to the feedings as he felt they made him very close to Scott. But since Scott never received the blood kiss from Thomas, Scott didn't experience the same emotion. When Thomas entered puberty, he began to want Scott as more then just his uncle. Travis had to have several long talks with Thomas before Thomas understood that Scott loved him as a nephew but the feeds were only meant to help him live in sunlight. After that, Thomas had looked on his feedings as him taking something he didn't have the right to.
For a while, Thomas had tried to use donor blood but it wasn't enough for him. It left him so incredibly weak that Scott had to feed him from his bed. Once, Travis tried to feed him with his own blue blood but the reaction had been bad. It left Thomas so wired that he ended up trashing his room. In the end, Travis had to subdue his son and feed off him until he was weakened and made calm. It was decided that Travis could not be a solution. No... what Thomas needed was an empath just for himself. The problem was there still weren't many out there.
Thomas continued to stare at the moon while Will tried to peak in his father's mind. He knew he would get in trouble if caught. Jacob could be pretty free with the paddle when provoked. Will was mischievous like Jacob but he also had an earnest nature to himself that he got from Scott. This trait made him a favorite with Scott's other two children who were now grown and off working with Jason and James. Soon the two of them would be betrothed to whichever vampire won their hearts. Will though, except for Thomas, had no other prospective mate and quite frankly he did want to be burdened with his moody half brother.
It was just as Will thought he gained access to his father's private memories when he felt himself lifted off the ground, flung through the air and dropped into the nearby pond with a warning message from his father not to snoop.
Thomas, watching all this in laughter ran after Will, jumping off the balcony and running to his drenched brother who was just coming out of the water. "Got caught... didn't ya." He shouted to Will.
"Yeah... but I almost got in." Will said disappointed. "At least he chose to punish me himself and not send dad after me." For Will, Scott was always father while Jacob he referred to as dad. Considering Jacob's relaxed nature this only seemed natural.
"Hahaha... actually that would've been something to see... dad paddling your 21 year old ass."
"Well you just might get your wish." An all too familiar voice spoke from the now open kitchen door. Jacob stood there, arms crossed, his eyes glowing a menacing green.
"Dad..." Both young men gulped.
"Yep it's me. For some reason Scott interrupted my reading to tell me that one of you went snooping again."
"He did it." Thomas said, pointing to a guilty looking Will before trying to dart behind Jacob and into the house.
"Not so fast you." Jacob said as his hand quickly grabbed Thomas by the ear. "How many times have I told you not to jump off the balcony?"
"Thirty seven times." Thomas said glumly. If one thing Thomas had it was a perfect memory.
"Good." Jacob said. In truth he didn't know how many times he had told Thomas but since he couldn't detect a lie he went with the number. "For the next 37 day, you can wash the dishes."
"Ohh man!" Thomas responded... a little bummed out.
"No whining. Now go set the table for dinner. I think it's only going to be the four of us tonight." Jacob said while giving a quick glance at the small cabin.
Jacob waiting until Thomas had gone into the lodge before he turned his attention on Will. "How do you think I should punish you this time?" Jacob said in an exhausted tone.
"You're asking me to make up my own punishment?" Will said in disbelief.
"Well it seems that every punishment Scott and I have been able to come up with doesn't discourage you from snooping into other people's minds."
"I'm just so bored." Will complained. "I use to be able to play in my brothers' minds but now they are gone, and Thomas... his mind is so glum that no one would want to spend time there."
"I know you miss you're brothers Will but it's time you live your own life and not live in the minds of others."
"I would if I could leave this place."
"But this is you're home."
"I know dad, but, how am I going to meet the man of my dreams if I live my entire life out here."
"I don't know son. That has been a problem me and you're father have been dealing with... what sort of men do we introduce to an..."
"To an Other." Will finished. "Chuck and father seemed to have done ok."
"Well they met their partners before becoming Other. In fact, it was meeting Gordon and Carl that allowed them to become Other. With you, there is no knowing how a human bonding to you would react."
"He might react like you did with Travis." Will said after a moment of thought.
"True but how many men are like me."
"Just like you dad... no one... except for you're brother Chance, there is no one like you but I might find someone close."
"You might..." Jacob agreed. "How about this... I'll take to Scott and see if I can get him to agree to let you go to Vassar City just like he did around your age."
"You would do that for me." Will said excitedly
"Sure, but before you go, you'll need to cut next winter's firewood... that's your punishment for snooping."
"Darn it, I was hoping you had forgotten about that."
"Not very likely!" Jacob grinned. "Now lets get inside before you're brother starts snooping on us."
Thomas banged around the kitchen, wanting to take out his frustrations out on the dishes he was setting. Hal who now walked with a cane, came wobbling into the dining room before taking his usually seat at the table. Thomas looked at the elderly man with annoyance. When Thomas was in a bad mood he preferred being by himself. Thomas had to fight the urge to poke the man with a fork when he set Hal's spot.
"In a bad mood are we." Hal asked when Thomas let the plate drop from his hands in front of Hal causing a chip to break off the bottom.
"Actually I'm in a better mood then usual." Thomas replied venomously.
"Glad to hear it." Hal said... if Thomas wanted to be sarcastic so could he.
"Man... I want to leave this place." Thomas said as he made his way back to the kitchen before returning with a salad.
"Then why don't you?" Hal asked when he returned.
"Ha! ... where can I go? The moment I leave this place Jacob would have his hounds after me." Thomas said in reference to the three men for whom, Chuck was their Tor.
"Well you could always go where no one would expect you to go."
"And where would that be?"
"Just think about it." Hal said. He had sympathy for Thomas and while he knew that Thomas looked down on him, he felt he had a kinship with the young vampire. Unlike the rest of the family living at the lodge, Thomas was not an empath. Hal... He had lost his talent back when he was shot. This had not only taken away his telepathy but also his extended youth. Hal believed that due to the centuries Jacob would live after he was long dead that all he could ever be is a footnote in Jacob's life. That is the main reason he understood Thomas's feelings on being an outsider.
Thomas, not having the patience to think things out on his own reached into Hal's mind to find out what he was hinting at. Thomas found only one word in Hal's mind...Exile.
Exile, ... the prison system built for vampires who could not control their hunger. It was also the place where humans sentenced to capital punishment were sent. The humans sentenced to Exile were given to the out of control vampires. As these vampires had the habit of feeding until their victims die, punishment in Exile was viewed as a death sentence. To control the vampire population, and as a means of doling out "the food," so to speak, the vampires were forced to fight each other in a gladiator like fashion. The winner of such battles won the humans assigned to the loser. So, if one had the bad habit of feeding till one's victim died of blood loss, one would be forced to fight more often... running the risk of being killed. But, if a vampire could finally gain control of his hunger then he did not have to fight and would remain safe. Still, very few of the vampires sentenced to Exile could achieve that goal, making the word Exile linked with death. It was a terrible place but it would also be the last place anyone would look for him, Thomas knew.
Thomas was so taken aback at what Hal was suggesting that he took a few steps back. Hal in return guessed what Thomas had done and gave Thomas a serious expression before speaking. "Think about it... ok"
"I will." Thomas replied half unsure he even wanted his mind to even go in that direction.
"Hey... why isn't the food on the table yet!" Jacob's voice came from the kitchen as he came in with Will.
"Sorry dad ..." Thomas recovered as he escaped Hal's gaze and went back toward Jacob.
Soon all four of them sat around the table eating pasta, salad, and cinnamon apples for dessert. Thomas remained silent while Will talked excitedly about moving to Vassar City. It was just as Will was talking about how exciting it was going to be to meet new people that Thomas had had enough.
"Why can't I go to the city?" Thomas finally asked.
"I didn't know you wanted to go." Jacob said surprised by the bluntness of Thomas's statement.
"Do you think I want to spend the rest of my life here?"
"Well no... but I was hoping... " Jacob stuttered. He had been dreading this conversation for some time.
"Hoping for what?" Thomas demanded.
"Well to find you a good husband before letting you go..."
"You want to find someone to feed me is the point." Thomas said a little angry on being manipulated.
"I just want to find someone to make you happy." Jacob defended.
"Don't you think I would be able to find that person myself?"
"Yes... but..." Jacob tired to explain, not sure on how to word things.
"But what?"
"You know you're different Thomas."
"Does that mean I can't fall in love?"
"No... it's just... we don't know who would be a good match for you."
"Then let me find out on my own!"
"I would like to Thomas but I don't know if that would be safe. While you're here we can control you're feeding."
"You're actually afraid I might kill some one." Thomas said in disbelief.
"We just don't know Thomas and we don't want to take the risk."
"..." Thomas was stunned into silence. He couldn't believe that his dad had so little faith in him,
"I know it's hard son... just give me some time. I'll find someone for you."
"Thomas wanted to believe Jacob but he couldn't fight the doubt in his mind. If keeping Thomas safe was Jacob's goal he might never let him leave. Going to Exile didn't sound quite as bad as living here forever. At least it would be something new and if he didn't like it he could always come back. Couldn't he?
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