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The first night they and Frederick moved into their new loft apartment, Bright Eyes felt like a caged tiger. 

The apartment is homely; Bright Eyes has to admit that when Sam first brought them over to survey one of William's properties. The Vampire King's gift to his Great Grandprogenies. When Freddy asked why, Sam explained that it's something of a tradition with William to set up a home for those carrying his blood. 

To give them a sense of belonging within the Clan. To help them understand that Will is only a phone call away whenever they need it. 

Their Great Grandsire generosity humbled Freddy while an odd sense of guiltiness stirred within Bright Eyes' heart. They decided to ignore it. 

Anyway, the apartment is very spacious, even for two young Vampires living together. All the rooms and living spaces have been furnished based on Bright Eyes and Frederick's taste. William was very thoughtful to include the best money-can-buy oven for Freddy and a canopy bed fit for a brooding Gothic Monarch that made Bright Eyes unintentionally squeal. 

A couple of months later, and the day after Sam officially declared that Freddy and Bright Eyes are no longer Newborns, Bright Eyes felt so out of place in their brand new apartment. Despite how soft their new bed is, Bright Eyes felt restless. 

William hoped that the apartment would be their and Freddy's new home, but tonight, it's anything  but . 

With a frustrated sigh, Bright Eyes kick off the duvet. Anger begins to bubble up within them when Bright Eyes gets out of the bed. What's the point of owning a fantastic bed when Vampires don't have to sleep!? It's pointless! 

What's the point of owning a luxurious apartment when it can't replace the home that you lost because of your stupidity!? What's good about having a state-of-the-art kitchen when you don't even have to eat anymore!? 

What's the point in any of this!? 

Buzzing noises echo between Bright Eyes ears as anger and self-loathing threaten to overwhelm them. It's like the first night Bright Eyes woke up as a Vampire - angry at the world, Quinn and themselves. Sorrow over the loss of their and Freddy's lives because they didn't want to listen. Hate how a single night had robbed both of their lives.

Bright Eyes can't stay here. They need to go somewhere,  anywhere , before they destroy the new apartment. 

But the moment they take three steps out of the apartment, Bright Eyes freezes. Freddy is there sitting on the living room's couch with the soft moonlight peeking through the curtains. They cast an ethereal glow over him. 

When Freddy catches Bright Eyes stunned expression, he throws a small, sad smile. "Hey, Bright. Couldn't sleep too?" 

And just like, the roaring anger pounding between Bright Eyes' ears muted somewhat. Their desperate desire to destroy Quinn, to thoroughly raze his ashes to the ground and later salt the earth with his blood and bones, stilled like a deceptively shallow lake. 

For now. 

So with a deep exhale, Bright Eyes found themselves once more. And the bone-weary exhaustion that only comes from kindling a torch-lit with hatred.

"Was restless." Bright Eyes curtly reply. They ignore how Freddy's eyes follow them as they grab a bottle of water from the fridge for their parched throat. Their relationship had slightly improved from the early days where Bright Eyes would either refuse to give Freddy and Sam the time of day or lash out at the two whenever they cross paths. Timid Freddy, who unlike Bright Eyes, kept his hurt and trauma behind iron walls that he nearly grew dangerously numb to everything and anything. 

Instead of Newborns, Sam had to care for two ticking time bombs. They sure gave the man and Vincent a run for their money back then.

Not to mention the blackmail materials that Bright Eyes can see Vincent using against them in a few years.  

But to show how far Bright Eyes had come from the beginning of their relationship, they grab a spare bottle and return to the living room. Freddy nods and accept the olive branch and says nothing when his Progeny slump on the armchair across him.

The silence between them isn't oppressive. Instead, it's as if you've awakened from a dream in the middle of the night - placid and gentle. Both bask in each other presence until Bright Eyes quietly asks, "Did I wake you up because of my emotions?" 

"...No. This place is not like Sam's... It's too new. I didn't feel comfortable sleeping." Freddy honestly reply. It's one of his ways to even out the power imbalance between them. "I sensed your anger and... self-loathing - " He delicately puts it. "After I sat down. Do you want to talk about it?" 

The old Bright Eyes would've bared their fangs at him; they would snap that it wasn't any of his business, but the present Bright Eyes knew better than to hurt the only form of familiarity that they have left. 

God, fuck the power imbalance. Fuck the Invocation. Freddy is the only person that Bright Eyes got  left . They'll be damn if they let their stupidity ruin the only thing tethering their humanity. 

"I'm just tired, Freddy." Bright Eyes admits. It's not the entire truth; they still struggle to put words on their tongues, but Freddy had learned enough to understand the unspoken thoughts that Bright Eyes fail to convey. 

They love him for that. 

Freddy easily nods. "It's been a hectic week. Between the move and trying to figure out what's next... I don't even know where to start." His sad smile eased into something more bashful all of a sudden. It made him look boyish. Carefree. "Would it be wrong for me to say that I'm relieve that you're feeling the same?" 

Bright Eyes shakes their head. "No. We promise to be honest with each other. So no matter how much I don't want to hear about certain things, the fact that you're honest is everything to me." 

If it makes the power imbalance between Sire and Progeny at least a bit more bearable, Bright Eyes will take any heat from Freddy no matter how unpleasant it can be.

Their admission is like a spiderweb-cracked glass falling itself over Freddy. Like butterfly wings and tornadoes. A single sentence that unravels whatever composure he upholds for Bright Eyes' sake. "I don't know what to do, Bright." Freddy's words are soft. A confession. 

He tips his head back against the plush couch. Eyes that always mirrored such strong emotions are close to the world. It compels Bright Eyes to launch themselves out of the armchair to a cosy spot beside him. A silent gesture of support. 

Neither of them said anything when the Progeny tucked close into his side, and the Sire wrapped his arm around the smaller body. 

"I'm afraid of what's next for us," Freddy begins, voice so small and unsure. Bright Eyes lets him unload everything in his heart while pressing closer to him. "When we were at Sam's... he was always there, you know? A-And I know that you weren't as close to him as I was, but his presence was always comforting. If I can't sleep, I can hear him washing the dishes in the kitchen. H-He would knock at the door whenever I pace in my room." 

"And whenever I had nightmares, Sam would put my favourite tea on the dining table," Bright Eyes quietly adds. Freddy's right; they and Sam weren't close, but they recall when Sam went out of his way to stock up on green teas in the house despite him and Freddy being avid coffee drinkers. "Hot just the way I like it, and always in my favourite black mug. He never said anything about it, but I knew it was him." 

"Yeah... oh, do you remember that night when Sam first introduce us to his Wolf Shifter?" Freddy asks, his mood visibly perks up as they go down memory lane together. "Both of them looked super nervous. It was  weird . During dinner, they insist we call them Tanker instead of their name. Also, they kept asking about the flowers I planted in the garden. They then looked so constipated when they tried to keep the conversation going." 

Bright Eyes couldn't help but snort. "The Wolf obviously isn't the talkative type, but they genuinely wanted to get to know you. So you have to give them kudos for that."

"I figured as much. It was sweet of Tanker for trying, though. Speaking of which, you're high or something? Did you forget how much food Tanker piled up on your plate when you mentioned that you liked the BBQ ribs? It turned into a meat tower!" 

The two laugh, remembering how said meat tower toppled on top of Bright Eyes when Sam's beau added the last rib onto the pile. It was a mess, but Bright Eyes will cherish that dinner party forever. 

By the sounds of it, so will Freddy. 

Thinking about the good memories with Sam and Tanker eased the fear of the unknown a little bit. It's enough for Freddy to bring the previous conversation back on the proverbial table. "What are we going to do, Bright? Now that Sam is focusing on his relationship with Tanker, what's our story going to be like?" 

The next chapter of their story, huh? Bright Eyes muses on what the future would be like for the two of them now. While them being Vampires wildly derail whatever semblance of a normal future that they might have back in college, new and never before possibilities have opened up in front of them. 

"We can do what Vincent and his partner are doing," Bright Eyes offer after a thoughtful hum. "Go to that fancy magical school and get our education back on." 

"I suppose..." 

"Or..." The Progeny suddenly has an idea. One that the more they think about it, the more attractive it gets. Freddy grumbles when Bright Eyes suddenly pulls away from his embrace. But any protest dies on his lips when he sees how excited they look. "We can go on a trip! Leave Dahlia for a bit and go somewhere, anywhere! Didn't Sam say those of Solaire blood have some sort of trust fund? Let's use some of it and go on a vacation!" 

Freddy can count on one hand the number of times that he has seen Bright Eyes this enthusiastic and happy. The most recent one is when they came up with a prank to throw all of Vincent's fancy watches into a garbage bag and stash them in a tank of one of the rarely-used toilets at Sam's house. 

Seeing the Vampire Prince frantically sprinting all over the place looking for his belonging was a little funny, Freddy isn't going to lie. 

Going on a vacation doesn't sound so bad. In fact, it might just be what he and Bright Eyes need after everything that has happened in this city. But there's one thing that nibbles on the back of Freddy's mind. A hesitation that he quickly nips at the bud. 

"After that? What's next, Bright? Will we still be together after our vacation?" He asks, a little desperate. A little hesitant. Will he always be this afraid of the future? Of the unknown? "What happens when we come back to Dahlia?" 

Will Freddy always harbour the fear of abandonment? Of loneliness? 

Seeing the fear so visible in Freddy's eyes twist Bright Eyes' heart. "I don't know will come next for us, Freddy," They begin carefully. They're as afraid of the future as Freddy, but they know the one thing that will remain constant forever. "I'm also scared of where our story is going to take us but Frederick - "

Freddy snaps to attention. Bright Eyes rarely calls him by his full name. He stares - entrance - as they gift him the most beautiful smile he has ever seen.

And when Bright Eyes place their hands on top of his, Freddy would've sworn that their heart flutter over the following confession that comes out from his Progeny. 

"I promise to be by your side forever if you would have me. No matter what happens, I will fight for you. I will always do my best to support you in any way I can, even if it might get us in trouble. Because, c'mon, you know me." 

Freddy barks out a wet laugh. His eyes are suspiciously red and glassy, but neither comment on it. He refuses to let go of Bright Eyes' hands anyway. "O-Of course. You're a spitfire; always have been. Always will be. It was the reason why I can't stay away from you." 

"Really? Huh. That... explains a lot, actually. Wait - hang on. I'm almost done." Bright Eyes takes a deep breath and exhale slowly. It's unnecessary; they both knew it, but they needed that extra burst of bravery to continue. "I... I love you, Freddy, and I want to be with you.  Forever . There's no one else I want to be in my next chapter of life except for you." 

Forget the silent tears. Freddy is full-on bawling now. "I-I love you too, Bright! God, I loved you since I first saw you at college. You're so  bright , so  outgoing  - the total opposite of me, yet you actually want to be around me. It was so  easy  for us to be friends. B-But Wonderworld happened. And then t-that Vampire. Oh god, Quinn! I could feel your hatred for him just now." 

"As much as I love to rip that bastard's head off his shoulders and salt the earth with his dust, I... kind of want to focus more on, uh, us. Don't look at me like that! I've never done this shit before! Oh, now you're laughing. I just confess my love to you, and you're laughing. Can I get a refund? Someone?" 

Bright Eyes pretend to pout when a still laughing Freddy pulls them back into his embrace. In the end, they press their face onto his chest as Freddy's hiccups gradually taper off. It feels so nice to finally bear their heart to one another. "Thank you so much for putting your vendetta away for us, Bright," Freddy murmurs. "I don't know what I'll do if you get hurt again." 

"A promise is a promise, Freddy." 

"God... tonight feels like a dream. C-Can I kiss you?" 

"Thought you'd never ask..." 

The heat between the Vampires begins to build up as the two lean closer. With half-lidded eyes, lips presses with the other. 

And then -

"Shit! Ow! Ow!" 

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry, Bright! M-My fangs got in the way! Shit, that looked bad. H-Hang on, I can heal you - 

Despite the blood lightly trickling down their chin, Bright Eyes can't help it. They laugh. The soft evening air, their heart that had become so much lighter and the fact that Freddy is panicking over something so silly cast a wonderful spell on them. 

If this marks the beginning of their brand new story, then Bright Eyes can't wait to see what eternity will bring for them. 

"Maybe we should google how Vampires, uh, kiss?" 

"Oh! Good idea, Freddy. Beats asking Sam or Vincent for tips." 

"Oh my god, yeah,  no . Speaking of which, I think we should tell them that we're together... and the whole vacation thing." 

"Let me! Let me!" 

Once every month, when the moon is full, the Solaire Clan holds a semi-fancy dinner party where Vampires would gather to catch up with one another. 

And so, the dining hall of William's villa is as bright and lively as ever tonight. Blood flows freely as well as delicious human food for guests to enjoy. The music that plays softly in the background sets a comfortable atmosphere among the chattering crowd. Some introduce their partners or spouses to friends, while those like Sam and Vincent are huddling in a corner. 

"I can't believe William lets you decide on the music again," Sam muse. He has a glass of his favourite blood type in one hand while the other holds his phone. "So which playlists are we listening to right now? Yours or your partner?"

They both make a pair of fine eye candies in the clothes that their partner put together. The newer Vampires and several humans cast a glance at the two men from time to time. Vincent internally preens at the attention while the more reserved Sam keeps his eyes firmly on either Vincent or the snack bar where his Darling and Lovely are. 

"I thought you promised not to bring that up!" Vincent didn't whine, but it was close. "And you weren't even here when it happened!" 

"I didn't have to; William told me all about it. I could imagine the look on your face how when the speakers started blasting WAP." 

"It was on loop for one hour too!" Vincent groans, thinking about the last dinner party where Alexis somehow stole his phone and switched all the songs on his playlists to the more risque kind. 

Fortunately, most of the Vampires in the Clan were well aware of their Vampire Princess' mercurial temperament, so they took it in stride. 

The two continue to chat when their partners return with a plate of appetizers. 

"Bright Eyes and Fred aren't here yet?" Darling asks, looking around the hall for any signs of the Not-So-Newborns. 

Sam starts to frown while Vincent and Lovely exchange a worried look. "Bright last texted that their signal was a little spotty. They promise to reply as soon as they can." 

But just as he said that, Sam's phone chimes. He raises his hand to tap on the screen, and Bright Eyes' text pops open. 

'We've eloped to Translayvania. Will bring back some souveniers' 

No one said anything after Sam read out the text in the most deadpan voice he could muster. Besides him, Darling nearly chokes while Vincent and Lovely's jaw drop. 

"Did, uh," Lovely begins delicately, still stupified. "Did anyone tell them about the dinner party?" 

"I told them about it two days ago." Sam flatly reply. He pinches the bridge of his nose as if to stave off an oncoming headache. "The two must've already left the damn country." 

Suddenly, his phone chimes again. This time, everyone huddles close to Sam to see the picture that Bright Eyes share. Sam and Darling's kids in all but name, are posing in front of the entrance to Bran Castle with their hands' laced together. They looked happier than the four had ever seen them. 

Something in Sam's heart soars knowing that his Progenies are chasing their own happily ever after together. 

That their story didn't stop despite everything that had happened to them.