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Vampire depression, much like its human counterpart, didn't simply go away once one had found their soon-to-be eternal vampire bride…or groom, Guillermo had not made it clear on which role he had wanted. In fact, it proved to be a more intricate challenge to address in the immortal realm compared to the mortal one. After all, there was no medications to turn to, and the concept of vampire therapists was virtually non-existent— although, thanks to Nandor’s own run-in with the Wellness Center cult, there was a gradual emergence of mental health services for the undead. However, he couldn't help but think it would take a few more centuries before that particular venture made any substantial progress, enough for him to consider overcoming the embarrassment of seeking therapy.
Which, it was. Embarrassing, that is. Despite Guillermo’s explicit insistence to the contrary.
Guillermo simply didn’t understand. He couldn’t understand. He wasn’t a vampire. Well, technically he was, or had been, but still, he hadn’t been one long enough to fully embrace the general type of demeanor that vampires had adopted as a whole. But that was what Nandor had cherished most about Guillermo— his humanity, with its gentle qualities, and open heart.
Still, despite his reticence, that didn't mean Nandor wasn't putting in the effort, or that Guillermo wasn’t certainly doing his part as well. In fact, Guillermo had taken significant steps by seeking therapy for himself, beginning antidepressant and anti-anxiety medications, all in the hope that Nandor could feed on him, allowing the medication to enter his system, and hopefully help with his mental health.
To which, at first, it had shown promise. But, the relief hadn't lasted long enough for Nandor to make any substantial progress. And, he couldn't keep asking Guillermo to switch medications so frequently; he didn't want to burden him like that. Though Guillermo would willingly do it, he knew that much. But, he couldn’t. He wouldn't. This was a burden he believed he had to shoulder alone. Even if Guillermo wouldn’t let him, and had decided to drag him out to a haunted pumpkin patch because he believed that Nandor needed to get out more. And when Nandor refused, brought up how Nandor had mentioned wanting to go to one once, when they had seen one on a Hallmark romantic comedy they had watched on Guillermo’s lappy-top.
Which, yes Nandor did mention that. But, it was ridiculous. Thoughtful, but ridiculous. So ridiculous, he wasn’t above letting Guillermo know how ridiculous it was.
"This is ridiculous," Nandor sighed, glancing over his shoulder at Laszlo, Nadja, Dolly, Colin, and The Guide, all sitting in the back of the carriage. “Don’t you all think this is ridiculous?”
“If by ridiculous you mean fun!” Guillermo replied with a beaming smile, glancing pointedly at the others. “Isn’t that right, guys?”
“Err…” Nadja began, grimacing. “It is certainly is, isn’t that right, Laszlo?”
Laszlo remained silent, pipe in hand, his gaze drifting off into the distance as he admired the buxom women dressed up in scarecrow costumes at the outdoor makeshift tavern.
Nadja elbowed him, making him fumble and drop his pipe.
“Oh yes, one could say it’s ‘some pumpkins’,” Laszlo said with a laugh, slapping his own knee. “Do you get it? ‘Some pumpkins?’” He asked, glancing from one confused housemate— The Guide excluded — to another. “Ah, guess you had to be there. And by ‘there’, I mean the late 18th century.” He set his pipe back between his lips. “Anyway, it’s splendid.”
"When you said we were going to a haunted pumpkin patch, I thought there would be some actual ghosts," Dolly said with a frown, rolling her eyes at the illuminated chicken wire and cloth ghosts on the sides of the path. "But there aren't any ghosts at all. Just this, skatá."
"That's because there's no such thing as ghosts," Laszlo declared with all the certainty of a man of science.
Nadja scoffed. “Then how do you explain our ghosts and their unfinished business?”
“Or my existence?” Dolly added.
Laszlo cleared his throat. “Well, that’s very simple my darling, you see…”
“Ugh, shut up, Laszlo!” Nadja and Dolly snapped in unison.
“Do you really think it’s ridiculous, mi vida?” Guillermo asked, idly toying with the edge of his sweater peeking through the arm of his coat sleeve.
Nandor turned to Guillermo, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Well, maybe not entirely," he admitted, his gaze softening as he looked at how nervous Guillermo was. “I like the jacks-with-lanterns.”
"They're called Jack-o'-lanterns," Colin corrected. "Did you know that Jack-o'-lanterns actually originated in the British Isles? The Celts of ancient England and Ireland celebrated Samhain, a festival where souls of the dead would return to visit their homes. To ward off negative spirits, the Celts would carve faces into beets and turnips, create bonfires, and wear costumes to confuse the visiting souls. This tradition eventually evolved into the Halloween we know today."
“Yes, thank you, Colin,” Guillermo mumbled, around a yawn. “That was very informative.”
“More like very boring,” Dolly added, her tone tinged with sarcasm.
“I found it quite intriguing, actually,” Laszlo chimed in.
"Oh, please," Nadja scoffed. "You're only saying that because you miss playing daddy Laszlo to the child that emerged from the body of the formerly-deceased Colin Robinson."
"I should think I would much rather play daddy Laszlo with you, my darling," Laszlo purred.
"Ugh, disgusting," Dolly groaned. “If you two are going to do that, count me out this time.”
"I could be a third," The Guide chimed in. "Well, if you're interested," she added with a fangy mischievous smile, looking up from beneath her lashes.
"Wait, what do you mean by 'formerly-deceased Colin Robinson'?" Colin asked, confusion evident in his tone.
Nandor chuckled, appreciating the banter among his housemates. It was moments like these that reminded him why he had allowed himself to be dragged out to the haunted pumpkin patch in the first place. As much as he resisted the idea initially, he couldn't deny that being around Guillermo and the rest of the group often lifted his spirits, even if only momentarily.
"Alright, alright," Nandor conceded, giving Guillermo's hand a reassuring squeeze. "Perhaps it's not entirely ridiculous. I do enjoy spending time with all of you, even if it's at this... Jack-o'-lantern place." He attempted to say the term correctly, earning an approving nod from Colin.
Guillermo smiled, looking more than a little relieved that Nandor was starting to embrace the outing, even if just a little. "See, Nandor, it's good for you to get out and have some fun,” he said warmly, his eyes locked onto Nandor's. He raised Nandor’s hand to his lips, kissing the back of his knuckles. “It’s good to remember that life, even for immortal vampires, can still hold moments of joy and significance." Nandor felt a warmth spread through him at Guillermo's touch and words, a feeling that momentarily pushed back the shadows of his eternal melancholy. “And that no matter how lonely or long eternal life might seem, it’s not so lonely or long when you have the love of family and friends.”
"Yeesh," Nadja grimaced. "Please don't tell me you're going to go on about how much you love us again."
“I wasn’t going to do that,” Guillermo huffed. “I was just trying to cheer up my boyfriend, because all of you have the emotional intelligence of a—”
"When did Guillermo say that?" Nandor asked, genuinely confused.
“At the familiar hospital,” Nadja replied, smoothing the skirts of her dress. “He had in a quiet pathetic display, pronounced how he loved us, by affectionately calling me a crazy bitch, Laszlo a horny little bitch—”
“Well, he’s certainly right about that,” Laszlo agreed. “Although, I resent the word little.”
“And, Colin a little boring bitch.”
“Well, I have to disagree with you on that,” Colin replied, adjusting his glasses. “I’ll have you know that in the energy vampire world, I’m quite the enigma.”
“What did he say about me?” Nandor asked, twisting the ring on his small finger.
“Guillermo said that he loved you most, because you are the queen bitch,” Nadja said with an eye-roll. “Can you believe that? You, the queen bitch, when I’m right there. Tch. I should’ve left him there to die for such an insult.”
Guillermo groaned. "Thank you for the detailed recap of what I said while I was drugged up, all because you decided to take me to a vet instead of a real hospital!"
“Your welcome.” Nadja replied with a fangy smile. “Finally, some manners.”
Nandor bit his lip, overcome. "D-did you mean what you said, that you love me most?"
‘Do you still mean it?’ He thought but didn’t say.
In his past relationships, Nandor had always been deemed ‘too much.’ So much so that none of them had ever stayed. And, if by some rare chance, they managed to stick around, it was only until Nandor's ‘muchness’ became too overwhelming for them to bear.
So, he couldn’t help but wonder how Guillermo could want to endure all of that, especially considering the seven centuries worth of sadness he carried with him. It was a weight that Nandor had never allowed anyone else to bear, a burden he thought was too heavy for anyone to shoulder.
Yet, Guillermo was here, going to therapy, taking medicines that he thinks will help Nandor despite the side affects for him, and going through the effort of trying to engage Nandor in activities when he was most melancholic.
Nandor wasn’t worth all of the effort? Was he?
Guillermo cupped Nandor’s cheek, his face soft in the moonlight. “Of course, I meant it. I mean it. I love you, Nandor. How could I not?” His warm brown eyes full of so much sincerity, there was no longer room left for doubt in Nandor’s mind.
The Guide, feeling slightly left out of the emotional exchange, cleared her throat and chimed in, asking, "did Guillermo happen to mention me in his drug induced proclamation of love?"
“Oh, please,” Dolly scoffed. “Gizmo didn’t mention me either.”
Nandor ignored them both, nuzzling his face into Guillermo’s warm palm. “Thank you.”
Guillermo kissed Nandor, a soft brush of the lips, before he leaned in enough that their foreheads touched gently. “Don’t thank me just yet, mi amor.”
Nandor narrowed his eyes playfully. “Oh, and why is that, mister slayer man?”
Guillermo's smiled. “We still have a pumpkin to pick-out and carve.”
Nandor couldn't suppress the smile curling at his lips. “Hmm,” he hummed, reaching up to cup Guillermo’s cheek, his thumb brushing over the curve of his cheekbone. “I guess we could do that.”
“Of course, we’re doing that you knob-lord,” Laszlo huffed. “We didn’t come all this way not to pick out a pumpkin.”
“I want a pumpkin that is wide like my Laszlo,” Nadja purred, running a hand up Laszlo’s chest.
“I want a small one, like myself,” Dolly added.
“I want one that is symmetrical in both height and width,” The Guide chimed in, her eyes scanning the rows of pumpkins.
“Now that just takes all the fun out of picking out a pumpkin doesn’t it?” Colin asked. “What’s the point of picking one out if you’re just trying to find a perfect one?”
"What are you talking about?" The Guide snapped. "That's the entire point of coming to a pumpkin patch— so you can choose the one you want."
“Ignore him,” Guillermo sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Colin is just trying to feed off of you.”
The Guide glanced at Colin whose eyes were indeed glowing a bright blue.
"Alright, everyone!" Their tour guide, dressed as the headless horseman, announced, bringing the carriage to a stop. "I hope you enjoyed our spooktacular carriage ride, but now it's time to pick out your pumpkins!"
"Finally," Laszlo exclaimed, hopping up from his seat. "Come, my darling. If we hurry, we can still partake in the festivities and indulge in some public debauchery at the tavern."
“Oh-hoo-hoo,” Nadja exclaimed, following after Laszlo, Dolly in hand. “Don’t mind if I do.”
“Yeah,” Guillermo interrupted. “We’re not doing that.” He moved to follow them, only for Nandor to grab his hand.
Nandor chuckled. pulling him close until they were chest to chest, and Guillermo all but melts into his embrace. “I believe you said we needed to pick out a pumpkin?”
Guillermo smiled. “I did, didn’t I?”
"Can't do that by following them like they're your chicks and you're their mother hen, can you?" Nandor teased, leaning in so his words were slightly muffled by the press of his lips against Guillermo’s jaw.
Guillermo snorted. “It’s not like I haven’t been doing that for the past thirteen years.”
Nandor smiled, tilting his head to kiss Guillermo, long and indulgent, savouring the feel of warm silk against his lips. He broke the kiss and nuzzled his cheek against Guillermo’s, letting him catch his breath. “Thank you.”
“Why are you thanking me?” Guillermo asked between inhaling deep greedy lungfuls of air.
So dramatic, yet so endearing. Nandor loved him.
"For staying. For doing all of this," Nandor gestured with his hands to the corny. spooky, yet somehow still picturesque surroundings. "For thinking I'm worth staying for, and for doing all of this for..." He trailed off, unable to meet Guillermo’s gaze.
Guillermo gently lifted Nandor's chin with his finger, ensuring their eyes locked. "Nandor," he began, his voice warm and earnest, "you are worth every moment, every effort, and every bit of love I have to give. I'm here because I choose to be, because I want to be. This life with you? I want it. I want you. Forever. I wouldn't have it any other way."
Nandor closed his eyes, exhaling shakily, as a tear rolled down his cheek. He opened his eyes, a fond smile on his face. “You’re a strange little man. An eternal life is a curse in of itself, but an eternal life with me?” He shook his head, his fingers gently wiping away the remnants of his tears. “You’re going to have your hands full.”
Guillermo smiled, tucking a strand of hair behind Nandor’s ear. “Doesn’t sound so bad,” he ran his hand down Nandor's cheek to his side, the other ghosting over his hip to his backside, giving it a gentle squeeze. “I like having my hands full.”
Nandor laughed and playfully pushed at Guillermo’s chest. “Oh, no. None of that. I was promised a pumpkin, and I intend to get it.” He scanned the rows of pumpkins and grabbed Guillermo’s hand, leading him as they followed a ribbon of moonlight amid the pumpkins.
One outing wasn't going to cure centuries worth of anxiety and depression. But one outing did give Nandor hope. It was a small flicker of light in the eternal darkness, a reminder that with enough of these moments with Guillermo and his unconventional family, he could continue to fight the internal battle within.
Only, he would no longer have to face it alone.
Maybe eternal life wouldn’t be so bad after all.