Chapter Seventy-one

The next morning, Izabella woke early and got dressed. Shaking Bram awake, she held his clothing out to him. “Sorry, you’re going to have to put these back on. The children are awake and I can hear them worrying over the fact they can’t come down the stairs.”

Bram’s arm reached out, pulling Izabella down on the sofa next to him. Wrapping her in his arms he kissed her. “Give me five minutes.” She was already back in her over sized t-shirt and shorts. Laying beside him, she played with his hair and scratched his back. “I haven’t been this happy in a long time. I love you.” He said, nuzzling against her breast.

“You make me happy too. I love you, Bram. How did I get lucky enough to end up here, with you, and all those amazing kids?” Izabella pet his hair, holding him close to her breast.

“Because you’re a stalker. I never imagined it could be like this.” His face was alight one moment, and dark the next.

“I’m not a stalker!” Izabella said, exasperated. At least, she never meant to be.

“I know.” He chuckled. When a knock sounded at the door, his expression only darkened more. “What?”

“My apologies, Sir.” The steward came in, “However, your mother wishes to have you come down for breakfast. She made half of it herself.” Bram had expected she’d request them, but had thought she might come herself.

“Tell me what she made.” Bram sat up, pulling a blanket over his lap.

The steward did so. Reciting each item, just as he was told to.

“Scarlet made them, yes?” Bram asked, his glare was giving off those killer vibes.

“Yes, Sir. She asked me to tell you this; Your father is losing the battle, and she is winning right now.” He bowed, backing out the door.

Bram stretched, before leaning over to kiss Izabella’s shoulder. “Why don’t you run upstairs and get the children ready for breakfast? I’ll get dress and be up in a moment to help.” Izabella climbed on his lap instead, kissing him deeply.

The moment his hands started to wander though, she left his lap, kissing him on the nose. “Sorry, I just really needed to kiss you.” She smiled down at him, tucking a strand of hair behind his ears before bouncing off toward the stairs. It was a spiral staircase, like the other wood in the room, it was all mahogany. It fit in with the ivy and grape theme of the living space where Bram and she had made love. Izabella stopped, looking back to see him pulling on his boxers. She loved watching him. When her thoughts started to wander down a naughty road, she turned herself around climbing stair by stair.

The children were all awake, dressed, and clearly hungry. “Geeze, I thought you guys were going to sleep the day away.” Jen accused. “What are we going to do about food. Everyone is starving.”

“Hey, no need to be so snarky. We’re going to have dinner with your grandmother, or Scarlet, if you prefer. Let’s head down, dad should be dressed.”

“Momma!” Rose toddled down the steps from above and ran to Izabella. Gabe was following. He smiled as Izabella lifted her, twirling her in the air before resting her on her hip.

“I’ve gotta admit, it’s been a freakin’ adventure since we met you guys. Two days ago, I thought I was dead. Now we’re eating breakfast with Dracula’s wife, in *his castle*. Who’da thought?” Gabe shook his head, holding a hand out to Jennifer on the couch.

“I wish we could just live in a quiet home. Though, it is really cool to be staying in the castle. Before we go, have you seen the bedroom upstairs? It enormous! Not to mention the view this morning from the balcony. I’ve never seen a sunrise so beautiful.” Izabella didn’t miss the blush that rose on Gabe’s face as she looked up at him. She couldn’t help but smile. Those two wouldn’t be able to be adopted by the same family, not if they wanted a chance to date.

“Come on, guys.” Bram said, his head poking up. “I want to take you guys out to the city and market. I assume none of you have been to Romania before?” The all looked at him, surprised, and shook their heads. “Alright. This will be a good adventure. I haven’t been here for a long time, so we’ll explore it all together.” He smiled, winking at Devon as he ran at him, jumping down the stairs. At least Bram was as sturdy as a wall, he caught the boy without an issue, laughing as he put him down.

Mable and Alex both jumped up, “Can I do that too?” They called out together.

“One at a time, monkeys. Mable, you first, come.” He laughed and she jumped at him. Though she was the same age as Devon, she was substantially smaller than him. He tossed her in the air, and though there was a moment of panic, she screamed but when he caught her, twirling around to put her on the step below him, she fell into gales of laughter as Devon put his hands out to steady her. Alex came next. Sarah, the little princess she was, didn’t want to. And it took Missy a moment to decide if she was going to. It was little Rose who toddled, and just as she tripped at the last moment, Bram swooped her up, holding her over his head as he swung her around. She giggled loudly, falling at Izabella’s legs and grabbing on. Seeing him be gentle with the smallest of them, and having Gabe kneel down and tell her that it’s safe, was finally enough to make her try.

Once they’d all gotten a chance, Izabella shooed them out of the apartment, following Bram to the dinning area. Izabella held his hand, Rose was on his hip. “We’re going to have to talk about what to do with Gabe and Jen. I think they’re interested in each other. So, we should talk to them before deciding to adopt them both. If we did that, it wouldn’t be appropriate for them to see each other.”

Bram nodded, “We’ll talk to them both about it. That’s not an issue. We can adopt one and help the other to become emancipated. I can continue to support them either way, of course. I’ll call Gavin after breakfast. I want to check in on him and Tyler before we go out anyway. First thing we’ll have to do is find a clothing store. I swear, I’ve spend more on clothes this week than I have in the last three hundred years.” He chuckled, Rose covered his mouth with her hand.

“You shouldn’t swear, daddy.” She leaned in, whispering in his ear.

He squeezed her gently, “I know, Rosey. I won’t.”

As they entered the dinning room, the table was set, and a present sat in front of each of their respective chairs. “Hello, my darlings!” Scarlet smiled widely at all of them. She frowned at Bram though, “I thought you weren’t going to come.”

“So did I. Then the steward told me that you had cooked some food yourself. I didn’t want to feel guilty about ignoring such an offering, especially after your help yesterday.” Bram handed Rose to Scarlet, and she all but melted as she got to hold the pretty little girl.

“If I didn’t know better, I would swear this little one was your real daughter. Look at how much she looks like you, Izabella.” Scarlet bounced the girl on her hip, looking the role of the proud grandmother. “I bought each of you something special. Go ahead and open your gifts. Boys on that side of the table, biggest to smallest. And girls over here. Bram, your seat is, of course, set at the head of the table.”

Izabella jumped right in, directing everyone where to sit. Devon pouted, he was three seats away from his dad, and didn’t like it. Bram immediately started to switch the seating arrangements so that Devon was to his left and Izabella was to his right. “I was supposed to be at the head of the table with you, Vlad.” It was now his mother’s turn to pout.

“My fiancé and my heir. This is appropriate mother. And don’t call me by that name again.” He glared.

“F-fiancé?” Izabella stumbled, looking up at him.

“Well, not yet. But hopefully we’ll set that straight soon enough.” He smiled ruefully at her. “Alright, Devon, why don’t you open your gift first?” Devon nodded, ripping into the pretty wrapping paper. He pulled out an outfit. It was a pair of shorts and a shirt. The others took their turns. Sarah was the most excited. Her gift was a pretty yellow dress with a matching pair of shoes. She asked to go put it on the moment it was open. Jen blushed, hers was a pretty blue and white sun dress. The boys all received button down shirts and matching shorts. The only difference in theirs were the colors chosen.

“I thought you should all look presentable if you wanted to venture outside today. I can’t have my family looking like beggars on the streets of my city.” She smiled.