Chapter 48: Chapter 48 MOMENTS OF HAPPINESS

“Fine, you are no help at all.” Scarlet groaned and went into the house.

She was glad to stretch her body over her bed. Being part vampire did not save her from the exhaustion and difficulties that came with every pregnancy. Of course in her situation, it was escalated but she was glad that it wasn’t as bad as when she was pregnant with SJ.

Scarlet was woken up by a jasmine scent. She opened her eyes and immediately she saw the room littered with rose petals and adorned with jasmine scented candles. Her eyes roamed around the dim candle-lit room taking in the mood that it left in the room.

Stephan emerged with a bouquet of roses in his hands, a pleased grin playing on his lips.

“Finally you are awake. I was getting worried that you would sleep through the surprise.” He knelt by her bedside and placed the bouquet in her arms.

“Well do you like it? I have been working at this surprise the whole day.”

She started to get up when Stephan put his arm on her back and one on her arm and lifted her to her feet. She began to walk around the room admiring the efforts he put into decorating the room.

Stephan followed behind her worried that she did not approve. “Do you like it or did I go overboard.”

Scarlet shook her head in disagreement. “No, you didn’t go overboard. Everything is just perfect. What’s the occasion?”

“I don’t need a reason to celebrate my wife and the mother of my children. You have given me so much and this is just one of the ways to show you how much I appreciate you.”

“Stephan-,” she said as she walked into his embrace, “You have done so much already.”

“If you are referring to me giving you my blood, that doesn’t count. That was my responsibility as a father.” He caressed her belly, “Our baby needed my help and that is what I gave her.”

“You are the perfect father and husband.” She pulled him down to her lips since she couldn’t rise on her toes to kiss him.

“I have another surprise for you.” He said once his lips left hers.

“Let me guess it’s what you were hiding in the garage.”

“Aren’t you very observant? Yes, it is what I have been working on. I didn’t completely make it, let’s just say that I tweaked it a bit.” He gave her the hook of his arm and escorted her to the backyard.

Scarlet’s jaw dropped in awe as her eyes fleeted around the converted pond. Glistering white beach sand surrounded the pond, while white lily candle holsters with lit candles floated in the water, brown bag lamps surrounded the perimeter of the sand.

It was obvious what he wanted to achieve and Scarlet’s eyes watered in appreciation.

“I thought that since you couldn’t go to the beach that I would bring the beach to you. I know it’s not exactly like the beach but it resembles it.”

Kicking off her sandals Scarlet stepped onto the sand and let the tiny grains seep in between her toes and massage the bottom of her foot. She closed her eyes and let her mind take her to the beach that he so desperately tried to bring to her.

“I love it. Thank you.” She sat on the bench and let her eyes feast on the view.

“My pleasure. I just thought that it would be good for you to have some sort of change of scenery.” He sat next to her and wrapped his arm around her shoulder drawing her next to him.

“It is a change of scenery. A change from the stone walls, from the printed curtains, and from that wretched bed. Thank you for thinking of this I needed some downtime.” she snuggled her head under his chin.

“Kayla told me you are thinking about going to work after the baby is grown up.”

“She did.” Of course, she did, Kayla always took it upon herself to make sure that Scarlet’s life was on the go and not stuck.

“I don’t think you should wait that long. At least after the baby is walking you should start looking for work.”

“No, that wouldn’t be fair. I have been at home for SJ for three years and I think I should do the same for this baby.”

“That’s your decision that’s alright with me I just hope you know that I am here for you. There is nothing in this world that is going to take me away from my family, not ever again.” He swore.

****

“So what’s your plan?” Ric lay back on the bed as he watched Marquis saunter towards the window, her blonde hair dancing on her bareback. He loved seeing her like this, naked and with the moonlight shining on her blonde glistering hair.

“I plan to take everything away from her. Make her husband mine, remove the stupid engraving he has on her back and replace it with one of my own.” She was determined.

“And how are you going to do that. She isn’t going to step aside and wait for you to win over her husband.”

“She will have to. I know for sure that there is someone she loves enough to make her give up Stephan without a struggle.”

Ric was intrigued, “Who? Her friend?”

“No, someone more precious, her son. Her baby boy.”

“That’s even crazier. She will kill you even before you get a chance to look at the boy.”

“I snatched him up once and I think I can do it again.”

“She will fight you.” Ric wrapped the bedsheet around his waist and joined Marquis at the window.

“She may be part vampire but she isn’t strong enough to take me. I am over four hundred years old, I’ll snap her in half before she tries anything.” She smirked.

“What about Stephan, he is a century younger than you are but you awaked a part of him that makes him even stronger. That wasn’t a smart move on your part. If you hadn’t fed that beast blood to him he could have been much easier to kill.”

“You will not be killing anyone let alone Stephan and besides how was I to know that he would fall in love and turn against me.” She huffed.

“What I can not understand is how you lived with him, had sex with him, and could not manage to make him fall in love with you. You had three hundred years and an ordinary vampire girl stole his heart in one night.” He laughed at her.

Marquis punched his chest then walked by him. She didn’t need a reminder of her failure as a woman. “That doesn’t matter now, the vampire girl is now dead. Right now Scarlet is what’s keeping Stephan and me from being together.”

“And Stephan,” Ric mumbled.

“What about Stephan.” Marquis quickly whipped her head back to face him, making her hair flip in the wind she had created.

“I meant Scarlet and Stephan are what keeping Stephan and you apart. In case you forgot he doesn’t want you.”

“I’ll take care of that.”

“Oh yes, the boy. And how is he going to help you.”

“Once I take him I will trade him for his father. Scarlet will immediately give Stephan up and Stephan on acting on his paternal instinct will come to me without hesitation.” Marquis was pleased with her plan, she was sure nothing would go wrong. She only had to follow three simple steps, take the boy, trade him for Stephan then kill Scarlet, that way there was no way for him to go back to Scarlet.

“I can offer you as much help as I can but you should know that I am not a magician and I do not work miracles.”

“I don’t need a miracle, I’ve got me.”

Ric went to her and wrapped his arms around her naked slender body, he buried his nose in her thick hair and breathed in her scent, “I love how confident you are. If only you would give up this pipe dream of being with Stephan and settle with me.”

“I would rather be alone for eternity.” Marquis hissed as she pulled away from his arms. “Be content and grateful for what I already give you. Don’t be greedy.”

“Considering I am risking my life to help you I think I should ask for whatever I fancy, don’t you.” He replaced his arms around her body.

“This arrangement will end soon, and we will go our separate ways.”

“How soon.”

“Is tomorrow soon enough?” A devilish grin danced on her lips.

“Then I should get all I can tonight.” He forcefully pulled her body closer to his and released the sheet around his waist.

“That you should because after tomorrow night the only man who will touch me is part beast and part vampire.”

Ric took all he could from her mouth then he lifted her into his arms and carried her to the bed. His life could end tomorrow but tonight he was going to make the most of the time he had with the blonde demon.

***

“I have another surprise for you, my love.” Stephan eased himself out of Scarlet’s hold.

“What is it? Don’t you think you have given me enough already?”

Stephan took her chin in his hand, and then lifted it so that he could look directly into her eyes. “I could spend eternity showering you with gifts, surprises, and love but it will never be enough. Compared to the sacrifices you have made for me and everything you have offered me, what I offer you could never be enough. I’ll go get your surprise.”

Scarlet watched as he jogged to the garage, a few seconds later he emerged with something covered in a pink cloth.

“What is that?” She asked excitedly.

“Be patient my love.” Stephan set it down before her and helped her to her knees. “Ok, you can open it now.”

Scarlet ripped off the pink cloth and slouched back, sitting on her legs. She ran her fingers over the soft painted wood, along its curves and straight edges.

“Stephan this is beautiful.” She managed to gag out, tears flowing down her cheeks.

“You like it.”

“I love it and so will she.” She gazed at the pink rocking crib. “This looks familiar.”

“It should we bought it in Washington before SJ was born. It was blue then so I painted it pink.”

“It is perfect. Everything is just perfect Stephan. The flowers, the candles, the beach sand which I do not know where you got it from, and this crib.” She hugged him as tight as she could.

“You are welcome. In a few days, this crib will have a baby who looks just like you.”

“She should considering SJ is a copy of you, it’s only fair that this little one should resemble me.” She patted the side of her belly gently.

“She should be as beautiful as you are, as gentle as you are, and with a golden heart.”

“Speaking of golden hearts, I think that I should give you something in return.”

“And what is that.”

“Something for both you and me.” Scarlet smiled.

“Is it? I like that smile and where this is going. But-,”

“No buts if anything goes wrong all you have to do is give me some of that super blood in your veins.” She ran her index finger along the vein popping out of his arm.

Stephan stood up and grabbed the crib and ran towards the house. Scarlet rose to her knees in shock, she didn’t understand what was going on.

“I only offered to make love to you. Oh well, I guess not.” She mumbled to herself as she twisted the hem of her dress around her finger.

She saw Stephan come back towards her, “Stephan if you don’t-,”

Stephan scooped her into his arms and rushed her back to their bedroom. He set her on her feet and combed his fingers through her hair.

“I want to, you can’t believe how much I want to make love to you.” He stroked her cheek then kissed her tenderly on her lips.

“I love you so much, Scarlet.” Stephan got to his knees and placed his palms on her belly. “You and my children are my life. I love you, all of you.”

“I love you too Stephan.”