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“A baby,” Matthias said from the side. His voice held so much astonishment as if he saw an alien and not a tiny human. When I extended the bundle towards him he took a panicked step back. “He is the size of my hand. What if I drop him? What if I squeezetoo hard? Please tell me he is more sturdy than a regular human baby. You know, like a cat. You can bowl a cat!”

“Donotbowl our baby,” I said sternly, pressing Oscar back to my chest.

“Our baby,” Theo whispered. He looked like he was going to cry. That wouldn’t do. I wanted to welcome the newest addition to our family with positive vibes.

“Come here. All of you,” I said. “Give me and Oscar a hug.”

The three vampires gathered around me and careful arms settled around me and my baby.

“Our baby!” Theo laughed and Matthias dared to smooth the curls of black on Oscar’s head with infinite gentleness. “We need to snatch Esther back from whomever she is babysitting for because, boy, we are going to need her help.”

We all shared smiles, the joy eclipsing any apprehension we had. I knew the next decade was going to be full of chaos, and challenges, and love.

So much love.

After all, there were four of us to give it to the little boy in my arms.