BK 3 - Prequel Chapter 5 - Happy News
**Three Years Later**
Janel and Thatcher finally returned to Sacramento. They'd been traveling all over the world for the last three years since their wedding. There wasn't a continent they hadn't visited, but they still had a lot more to see. They'd stopped in for visits, but this time they were going to stay for an extended length of time. There was some news they wanted to share with their family.
Janel had taken to being a vampire like she was born as one. She could now blend in with humans without any problem. Thatcher had never been happier or felt more free. After talking to Janel about his parents, he realized he'd been so scared of losing anyone he loved that he'd closed himself off from everyone for centuries. She lit a light inside him, making him see everything as though he was seeing it for the first time.
They had a small apartment they kept in Sacramento for when they came back. It allowed them to have their own place without imposing on anyone else. It had been over six months since they'd been back, so they stopped first to drop their things off at the apartment and air it out. They then headed to the group home where the others would be at this time of day.
Cat and Trey's group home had expanded. They now had two of them right next door to each other. The couple was seen as heroes in the Sacramento region. The children in their care were thriving and saw Cat and Trey as their surrogate parents. Kitty and Aiden worked right along side them, as well as Valerie and Roger.
They had taken these children when they were at their worst and gave them the love and care that many of them had never experienced. Janel and Thatcher admired what they did and helped in whatever way they could when they were back in town. They pulled up in front of the group homes. They'd combined the yards to make it one massive property.
"Auntie Janel," Little Theo came running out of the house and threw himself in her arms as soon as she got out of the car. She lifted him up and kissed his little cheek.
"How are you doing, little man?" She asked, giving him a big hug.
"Are you staying for a long time? I miss you when you're not here." He asked while she carried him toward the house. Thatcher tried to get his attention, but he ignored him. Theo had made it clear when they talked on the phone that he blamed Thatcher for them being away for so long.
"Yes, we're going to stay here for a while so we can spend lots of time with you." Theo glared at Thatcher, who tried to hide his chuckle from the little cub.
"I promise we'll be staying here." He said, trying to win Theo over. Cat giggled from where she stood on the porch.
"Is Theo bullying you again, Thatcher?" She hugged each of them, even though her son refused to let go of Janel.
"It's okay. I know he doesn't like it when we're gone for so long." Thatcher tried to ruffle Theo's hair, but he moved out of the way.
"Correction, I don't like it when Janel is away. You can go wherever you need to go, and I'll make sure she's alright." Thatcher pretended to look hurt, making Theo giggle.
"I swear he's three going on forty instead of four," Cat stated as she led them inside. The house was unusually quiet.
"Where are the kids?" Janel asked, looking around.
"They're at school. The bus will be bringing them home in about an hour. We were in the back when Theo said you were here. I swear he has better senses than all of us." They watched him run through the house and out the back door, where everyone sat on the large deck. Kitty and Valerie were playing with Elisha and Emily, who looked like they were serving tea. Roger, Trey, and Aiden were busy setting up a tree swing.
"So, what brings you back to the area? We've missed you." Kitty asked while sipping from the teacup Elisha gave her.
"We're going to be staying for a while this time. We have some news to share with you all." Janel answered, looking up at Thatcher with a smile as everyone gathered on the deck.
"The anticipation is killing me. What's the news?" Cat asked anxiously, but with how she was looking at her, Janel knew she had already figured it out. Cat's ability to pick up on the emotions of those around her had gotten much stronger over the last few years, and sometimes they thought she could read their minds. She was quick to refute that and said she was just learning to read emotions better.
"We're going to have a baby." Everyone congratulated and hugged them, except for Theo. Janel squatted down next to him to see why he looked so unhappy.
"What's wrong little man?" She asked softly.
"If you have a baby, I won't be your favorite anymore." Janel's heart broke seeing the tears in his eyes. She had always felt protective of him because he was in her care when the man had taken them from the car and threatened them at Gina's house. Janel hadn't been concerned for herself; she had worried they would do something to Theo. It had made their bond unbreakable.
"Oh, sweetheart, you'll always be my favorite nephew. Just because I have a baby doesn't mean they'll take your place in my heart. It's big enough for both of you. I'm sure you're going to be a wonderful cousin to our little boy." Theo's eyes lit up.
"You're having a boy? When will he be here?" Everyone started laughing at his sudden change. He was always saying he was surrounded by too many girls.
"You'll get to meet him in about three months." Janel stood up and looked at the others.
"That was our other news. We're having a boy. Being a vampire means my pregnancy will only last a few months, and I'm almost a month in now."
"Have you picked a name out for him yet?" Valerie asked, already picturing her next grandson. She may only be related to Cat by blood, but she and Roger thought of all the young people as their children. That meant all the little ones were their grandchildren that they could spoil rotten.
"We're going to name him Saxon."
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**Three Months Later**
Janel was watching the children at Cat and Trey's house when she felt the first twinge in her abdomen. It wasn't painful, but it was strong enough to make her grab her stomach. Just as she was preparing to yell for Thatcher, she felt another one.
"Theo, go get your uncle Thatcher and tell him it's time." The little boy looked up at her with wide eyes before running outside. Elicia, usually a little ball of energy, sat beside Janel and held her hand. At three, she had the demeanor of someone much older. Emily was only a year old and didn't notice anything happening around her. Thatcher and Theo ran inside as the next pain hit.
"Saxon is ready to meet us." She said with a smile. Thatcher pulled out his phone and called Cat, who said they would be right over. The group homes were next door to their house. Cat always joked that, eventually, she would own the whole street. Janel headed toward the guest room that had been set up for the birth while Thatcher picked up Emily.
"Cat said she would have Maggie come too. She and Kayla are helping her out today." Janel nodded as she lay in the bed. Theo and Elisha came with them, trying to help as much as possible. Right after she got comfortable, they heard running footsteps. Cat, Maggie, Kitty, and Valerie came into the room a second later.
"Janel, this is going to be quick, so we don't have much time. From what I've learned, vampire babies can come out within minutes." Maggie quickly washed her hands in the attached bathroom and pulled on gloves. By the time she returned to her patient Cat and Kitty had her ready. They each held their little ones while Thatcher held Janel's hand. Emily was happily playing on the floor.
"I can feel him coming." She stated as Maggie got in position.
"I already see his head," Maggie said, and Thatcher moved so he could see.
"Looks like he has my black hair." He exclaimed proudly, making everyone laugh. Within two minutes and with hardly any pain, Saxon made his entrance into the world. Maggie and Thatcher cleaned him up before handing him to Janel. Cat brought her a bottle they had prepared with blood. He did have Thatcher's black hair, but his eyes were bright blue, just like his mother's.
"He's beautiful," Cat said, stroking his smooth cheek.
Janel felt her heart bursting as she looked at her tiny son in her arms. She glanced up at Thatcher and saw his face mirroring hers. They were lucky not only to have the life they did and the family they had built, but now they had a child of their own. Everything was coming full circle.
