Dr. Luna
The Vampires Promised Bride Chapter 77

Lucy interlaced her fingers together with Derek as they followed behind her grandparents. For the first time since everything happened, she was feeling happy and excited. They were picking out the next generation's guardian. Derek lifted their joined hands up bringing Lucy's to his lips. She had been so depressed lately and it was good to feel the warmth inside of her again. This is just what they both needed. Someone to help them heal. Lucy tilted her head up at him and smiled. She knew this would help her too.

Lilly opened the door to a separate building and walked them into a large open room. There were children all over the open area. Some were on computers, some were building blocks, a few were playing with playdough, while others colored. A few kids were running around playing some sort of game. The ages ranged all over.

"We also have a few babies and some other kids still adjusting. But why don't you see if you feel anything here before we head to the other rooms." Lilly watched as Lucy scanned over the room.

"Wow, that is a bunch of rowdy children." Justice chuckled and winced at the deafening screams as the children played.

Lucy went to step forward to greet the children but stopped. She felt a strange thudding in her chest and as if an invisible rope was pulling her. She turned her head and stared at a door near the opposite end. "What is through there?" Lucy asked. There was a magnetic pull in the direction that was compelling her to go there.

Lilly smiled widely and looked up at Tyler. "Why don't you go and see?"

Lucy looked at her grandparents curiously. The smiles on their faces were... odd. She squeezed Derek's hand and slowly walked around to the other side of the room. Her chest was resonating in pulses and pulling her. She began to feel a strange excited anticipation. She reached up and paused as her fingers landed on the handle. Her brows furrowed slightly as she turned and looked at Derek. He could feel what she was feeling. And the sensation in their chests was hard to explain.

She took a deep breath and pulled the door open. She took a step blinking into the sun. Derek followed at her side while Jasper and Justice were right behind them. Tyler and Lilly also followed them, keeping a peculiar smile on their faces.

Her eyes adjusted to the outdoor scenery. It was a fenced in playground where another group of children were playing. Her eyes immediately reached the far corner. A young boy who looked to be around the age of six was standing looking outside of the fence. She walked straight towards him, almost being pulled by an unknown force.

When she got closer her heart began to beat rapidly. She knew that this boy was the new guardian. It was as if he was connected to her soul. But there was something else. A familiar scent of smoked cedar. Her breath caught in her chest as the boy turned to face her. He had dark brown eyes and hair the color of ebony. A smile spread over his face.

"Did you miss me, princesssss."

Lucy began crying as she rushed over and wrapped the boy in her arms. How? How was this possible? What was going on? This was Aba, right? And he was now her daughter's guardian?

"How?! Oh gosh how?!" Lucy's tears pooled down her cheeks soaking her face.

"You missed me that much?" Aba patted Lucy's head. Which looked adorable a child comforting an adult.

Derek's eyes teared up as he knelt down beside Lucy and Aba.

"Don't expect me to call you mom and dad or anything. I am an adult trapped in a kid's body." Aba winked over at Derek.

"Do you remember everything?" Derek asked.

"No... I have my memories from the time I became a contracted soul for the vampires. But I don't remember anything before that. Sometimes... sometimes I have nightmares over it though..." Aba said quietly.

"I am sure you are curious how all of this happened..." Lilly and Tyler walked up with smug smiles on their faces.

"So that is Aba? And he is a werebear now?" Justice asked, pointing at the kid.

"Well half. He is half werebear and half demon. Which is why it was the perfect body for him." Lilly turned and looked at Lucy. "That body is that of a child who drowned in the ocean many years ago. It is a body that the merrow queen Olga had preserved and collected. As you know Olga has an interesting ability with being able to keep souls in exchange for another life. And fairy royalty has the ability to allow souls to reenter the life pool."

"Tyler and I agreed that Aba's soul should get another shot of life in the event of his death. This is something we could only do since Aba's soul had already been plucked out by the vampires. Honestly, the whole thing was quite complicated. But together with the help of Olga who had this body and the original heart of Abaddon we prepared a host. In the event he lost his life while protecting one of you his soul would be sucked into the new host body. This werebear cub has Aba's heart inside of him making him a hybrid. A demon werebear. Honestly we had just finished preparations only days before his soul entered. And it took over a week for his consciousness to revive. During that time we weren't sure if it was going to work or not." Lilly stopped to make sure everyone was still following what she was saying.

"We waited to tell you in case it didn't work. Then I wanted to surprise you after we brought Aba here. It finally took threatening you to get you here." Lilly gave Lucy a crooked smile. "Fairy magic is very unique. And I wasn't sure but I was very curious if this was all part of the plan for the next guardian. When you felt that strong of a pull from another room Tyler and I both knew he was meant to be the next guardian. After everything... I couldn't think of anything more perfect."

Lucy looked at Aba with watery eyes. "Aba you are free now. You have a life again."

"Looks like instead of you I am tasked to watch over your daughter now." Aba smiled and furrowed his eyes a bit. "I feel like I owe it to you and your family... but I can't remember why. But there is something..." He looked around and out through the fence. "There is something really satisfying about being here. Like being here is something sentimental to me."

"Aba you don't owe my family anything. You gave your life to protect my baby. I missed you so much. I've been so depressed without you." Lucy choked out quietly.

Aba gave her a crooked smile. "Silly princess. What are you doing being sad? Protecting you and your baby was one of my happiest memories. I was able to keep you both safe. I don't regret it and would have done it again."

"No more dying. No more sacrificing your life. You are just as important and these past couple of weeks have been so painful..." Lucy sniffled as Aba patted her head.

A soft smile was on Aba's lips. "Thank you, Lucy. You are important to me too."

"I'm glad you are back with us Aba." Jasper grinned happily and bumped into Justice. They were all concerned with how sad Lucy had been. And now they didn't need to be anymore.

"So can you shift into a bear?" Justice asked.

"We don't know yet what his powers will be. But as the next guardian, he will have guardian powers. He is still a bit young so time will tell." Tyler wrapped his arm around Lilly. The two of them worked in secret. They didn't want to get anyone's hopes up in case they couldn't accomplish what they were trying to. But Lilly did it. She always managed to surprise him and that hasn't stopped from the day he met her.

"Well Aba, I'll be your sensei. I'll teach you the ropes of being a guardian but we may need to visit with my dad if you are a shifter." Justice watched as Aba smirked up at him.

Aba walked up to Justice and looked him up and down. "Eh, I think I would rather ask your dad. I don't think you can teach me much. You are a cub yourself."

"Well look at this feisty little rascal." Justice reached down and ruffled Aba's hair. "Easy little buddy you don't want to hurt yourself."

"Just because I am in a child body doesn't mean I am a kid. Mentally I am far superior to you."

"Of course you are little tomcat. You just keep telling yourself that." Justice prodded at Aba's nose. "Don't let anyone tell you any different."

"I can see how this makes you feel better about yourself Justice. You go on ahead and poke at this little bear. Go ahead and stroke that ego of yours while you still can. I'm going to grow and so will my powers. Then we will really see." Jasper chuckled and looked up at Lucy and Derek. "Mom! Dad! The kids aren't getting along."

Both Aba and Justice turned and quirked their brow at Jasper.

"Well, at least we aren't this guy." Aba said with a smirk nodding at Jasper.

"Hey! What is that supposed to mean?!" The smile on Jasper's face vanished as he turned to the little cub.

Derek wrapped his arms around Lucy pulling her deep in his chest. The two of them smiled as they watched Aba, Justice, and Jasper squabbling with each other. Everything was finally right. No... everything right now was perfect. Today didn't turn out how they expected... it turned out even better. They now had a guardian for their child but they were more than that. They had their friend back and it was someone they already trusted dearly.

Erebus was still out there somewhere but they couldn't live their lives worrying about him. The other deities were looking for him and eventually, he would be taken care of.

Derek's hands slide around Lucy's waist to rest over her stomach. His head came down and rested on her shoulder where he placed a gentle kiss on her neck. He had everything he ever wanted right here. The woman he loved was his soul mate and she was carrying his child inside of her. Through everything they have been through they only grew stronger. Their bond had tightened into a solid knot that could never be separated.

Sometimes he liked to voice his words to her even though it wasn't necessary. Like right now. Their emotions and thoughts flowed freely between them. He could feel her love and happiness just as she could feel his. Their hearts were both full and bursting with love.

He held his little mate close while his hand rested over his little love. This is what life was all about. And no matter what would happen in the future they would overcome it... together.