Finding more time

Lexi and Alex walked down the stairs into the light and airy great room to see karmen and Jackson already setting at the dining room table. Karmen had prepared a wholesome and nutritious breakfast. The delightful smell of coffee with a hint of blueberries wafting through the air mixed with the sight of the young couple at the table gave the room a warm homey feeling.

Jackson had already set the table, with the quirky coastal dinnerware. He had found some ceramic mugs in the cabinet for him and Alex to drink blood from so that Lexi wouldn't freak out. The whole wheat blueberry muffins and spinach quiche Karmen had made looked delicious and smelled heavenly.

Jackson hadn't teased her all morning he has been loving and sweet. They had sex in the shower this morning and it seems to have calmed him down a bit . After that he even helped wash her hair. It was almost as if he had become a different person. He even let her wear the new swimsuit top with the pads in it.

Alex and Lexi stepped over to the table taking a seat beside them. Karmen stood up and brought the quiche and blueberry muffins over to the table. Alex walked over to the coffee pot poured himself and Lexi a cup of coffee. He leaned against the sink facing back towards the table. He had been thinking about what he wanted to do with the old Castle. But had decided to talk to Jackson about it before making a decision.

"Jackson, I'm going into town to find Doctor Dan this morning."

"Why Alex,are you sick?" Jackson ask with a smirk on his face.

Alex chuckled, he had never been sick a day in his life. That's something almost unheard of for a Pure blood vampire. He walked back over to the table with Lexi's coffee sitting it on table in front of her. While speaking to Jackson he set down beside Lexi cutting her a piece of quiche, putting it on her plate.

"No, you know how I have been trying to set up programs to help mixed couples who have been victims of violence .But nobody has ever come forward because they are afraid of the repercussions."

Jackson poured some beef blood in the ceramic mugs handing it to Alex

"Yeah , that seems to be a big problem.

People just seem to rather move someplace else and try to start over with out anyone knowing anything about them. Most move to the south with out any money or a place to live."

Alex looked down inside the ceramic mug , swirling the bold crimson blood inside. He brought his gaze back to Jackson . Telling him his thoughts and plans for the old Castle.

" Well it seems this little town is a safe haven for those people. And I'm thinking about turning that old Castle back into a shelter for victims of violence, like that old couple had done back in the day.

What do you think about that idea?" He wanted to know what Jackson thought Because , Jackson is in charge of all the real estate matters concerning the Eddington properties.

When Alex mentioned donating the old castle, it was good news for Jackson his real estate development business could use a tax write off now that he won't be entertaining clients at the Black Diamond anymore.

" Alex, I think that is a good idea. I can do the work and use it as a charitable writer off for my real estate development business."

Alex leaned back in his chair stating everything they have and what they will need to make the old Castle a shelter again.

"Well then we have a building and a donation for the work. Now I hope Dr. Dan could recommend someone to be the director of the shelter. Someone the people trust who can hire reliable people to work at the shelter "

"Would you like me to go with you to talk with Dr. Dan?"

" No, I just want you to stay here with the girls so they can enjoy the beach. It shouldn't take me long to find out if Dr. Dan can help."

He thought about what Alex just said, this seems like a strange place for someone like that creepy Thompson guy.

"Alex, why do you think that creep Dallas Thompson was hiding out in that old Castle,

You know ,it's not like it was closer to his job."

"You know, I have given that a little thought. And what I believe ,it's because of the number of humans that live in this town. Combined with the fact that it's a tourist town , he could blend in with the crowd and find humans to feed on."

When Alex mentioned feeding on humans both of the girls mouth flew open.

"What the hell" Lexi mumbled with her mouth full of blueberry muffin.

Alex reached over and rubbed her shoulders speaking to her calmly

"sweetheart, I have never ran into that problem before."He was afraid she was going to choke on the muffin before he could explain everything to her. "Feeding on humans was something vampires did thousands of years ago. That guy I believe was similar to a serial killer."

Unbothered by what Alex just said, Jackson nonchalantly comments

"That sounds like a good theory, giving the fact he had that stack of cash. He had probably planned to quit work and just hide out for a while."

" Yeah, that's what I was thinking too. Griffin will be here in about an hour to pick me up. I will ask Dr. Dan if they had any problems with people going missing in the last few months."

"Are we going to leave when you get back from speaking to Dr. Dan? "Lexi rushed to ask him. Sounding a bit worried.

Alex patted her hand comforting her "Sweetheart calm down, I plan to leave about three thirty today, I need to get back to the castle,I have court tomorrow. But I really don't think there is anything to worry about in this town anymore."

"Alex when we get back, I'll take a look at your work load , and design you a plan to free up some of your time "

"That sounds like a good plan to me. I would love to spend more time with Lexi. Maybe you can find me enough time in the next twenty years or so ,to be a good dad."

" I hope it doesn't take him twenty years to find you time to be a dad, our kids will be almost grown by then." Lexi told him

laughing at what she thought was a joke.

Alex thought she understood that vampires don't reproduce Lexi humans. He took her hand and explained again.

"Sweetheart I wasn't teasing when I told you vampires don't reproduce like humans.

It could take a very long time for us to have a baby. My mother and father where married twenty years before I was born."

Karmen could see Lexi looked confused and worried. And she started trying to explain.

" Lexi that's the reason I picked up that pamphlet in the half vamped store. It doesn't take that long to have a half blood but it could still take up to ten years for us to conceive."

Historically Lexi shouted "But I will be old in twenty years."

" No, No Lexi, I see Alex didn't explain everything to you. Just calm down. Your not aging like a human anymore, Now that Alex has been drinking your blood you are only aging at half the rate of a human now. And when you have a baby your aging will slow down even more."

She looked at Karmen frantic with her eyes wide

Stammering " Do you still have that pamphlet, we need those pills."

"Whoa sweetheart ,what pills are you taking about?"

Karmen seen Alex was panicking now, she stepped in to explain to Alex about the pills.

" Alex calm down, it's only vitamins developed by Dr. Barnhart . He's a OBGYN that does research.

Alex cut her off

"Whoa Karmen I know who Dr. Burnhart is. I give him money for his research every year. Now tell me about the pills."

"Ok , Alex the vitamins Lexi is taking about are to help conceive. In the trial studies it only took half the time to conceive then with out them and some people had multiple births, you know like twins."

Alex nodded his head a bit, he sounded fascinated by the information Karmen just told him .

" Really, before ether of you take anything like that. I would like to send a bottle of them to the lab. Now after my lab says there is nothing in them to harm you. Sweetheart I would be more then happy if you want to take them. Dr. Burnhart does excellent research."

" Now Alex you understand there is a possibility of you having twins or even triplets." Karmen explained again. Just to make sure he understood.

Alex's shocked expression made Jackson chuckle, amused he told him

" Remember Alex I will always have your back, one or two more kids shouldn't make a difference, with as many as Karmen wants to have. I figure we will be at the lake house every weekend, where else can you take that many kids."

Smiling sweetly with her dimpled cheeks,

" if I get some of those pills and the lab says there safe. Do you care if I take them?" She ask, hoping he would say yes.

" Babe let's get married first. I really don't need your dad trying to shoot me. We're fine with vampires but humans need to be married before they have kids."

"Well let's get married." She hurriedly said

"When do you want to get married? And

how long do you need to plan a wedding?"

" I don't need a wedding. We can get married here on the beach or on that Mountain top where you proposed to me.

And I don't really care when. Just promise me I can take those pills after we get married."

"Only if the lab says there safe. And only until you get pregnant the first time. I don't care if we have two kids or five kids. But I do care about your health. Babe, having vampire babies to close together might be dangerous."