Julian Godfrey

“Another point of contention with our beloved King.” It was a joke more than anything, just drilling the point home that Mei was so bewilderedly amused that Octavian seemed to be wholly on board with their relationship. Her amusement only intensified when Julian continued speaking, pressing a kiss to her hand and she just hummed at his question, raising an eyebrow, “Mmm, I’ll have to see. I may know one or two who’re just that desperate. Although I’m not sure how they’d feel to know a potential husband is currently somewhat living in sin.” She was smiling even as he kissed her and she just happily leaned into it, all of her worries gone by that point- for now anyways.

“I wouldn’t have any problem watching you work, but I’ll admit you’ve piqued my interest a bit…” she leaned in to kiss him again, lingering this time before finally tipping her forehead against his, humming a bit, “Whatever you want to do.”

Julian chuckled at Mei Lian’s retort. What they were doing now was no where nearly as “sinful” as the situation they had started with or the situation that had resulted in their beautiful daughter. He had no issues telling anyone what had happened because the results were so wonderful. There was no shame at all.

“Well, I do not want to work so lets go out. If they need anything, they can call me. I won’t respond but they can try anyway.” Things were peaceful and unless someone was launching a war, there wasn’t anything too important that couldn’t wait. “How about we take a drive out of the city? I don’t think we’ve truly been alone in quite some time.” Even when they were at Mei Lian’s home, there were always servants wandering about. It would be nice to get away from it all and just have the world to themselves, like they used to. 

Mei snorted out a little laugh at this response, lovingly rolling her eyes at him. She felt relieved though, that he could continue to alleviate any and all of her irrational little fears. She genuinely did want to meet them though. She even remembered back nearly 200 years ago when she wanted to meet them then too. The parents of another noble vampire, maybe ones that could’ve gotten her out of her situation…. Oh well, moot point. Now all she could hope for was that they didn’t hold it against her that she never sought them (or Julian) out after all these years. 

“I know.” She responded softly, moving her hand to card her fingers gently through his hair over his ear before settling her hand against his neck. “It’s the sad part all around.” Not a day went by that she didn’t have a memory of the past that was quickly followed by a pang of longing at the thought of Julian potentially being a part of it after all. But again, a moot point. All she could do was make new memories, and wonder if maybe one day they’d have another baby, one they could experience together. The thought made her heart skip, something hopeful and nervous at the same time fluttering through her, a smile pulling onto her lips- and only growing more at his comment.

“Only somewhat settled?”

*

“Well, I still don’t have a wife. I believe I need one to meet the full definition of a settled man, at least that’s what I was taught,” Julian answered. He lifted their hands and placed a small kiss on Mei Lian’s. “Know of any ladies willing to settle down with an old reckless man like me?” he teased. He quickly kissed her to reassure her that she didn’t have to answer and that it was simply a joke. They were fresh and relatively new so it was early to seriously consider marriage (no matter how much everyone else seemed to want it). 

Once the words were out of her mouth, Mei Lian felt a bit ridiculous at her worries–they were so….irrelevant to the people they were now. Things weren’t what they were almost two hundred years ago and they weren’t what they were then either. And when Julian seemingly agreed… Mei could really only laugh again, shaking her head as she leaned her forehead against his again for a moment, giving him a wry little smile. “Okay, maybe I feel a little less silly given you’re now realizing the same things I am, My Lord.”

Still, he was right. Of course their families were going to find out eventually. Her family still back in China knew of her work here, her lab and all that. But she hadn’t told them she was in a relationship–especially not one with Zhen Yue’s father. It’s not that it was a secret, it was just..something for her, something for them, and she liked taking things at their own pace and in their own terms since they were barely allowed to the first time around. Mei’s smile softened as Julian pressed a kiss to her face, lacing their fingers together as she hummed, “True. Although I do have a feeling if anyone were to want to make an announcement, it’d be Octavian. Word has it he even voted for us in this silly competition.” She laughed again, shaking her head. “I think he’s enamored with the idea of our families combining.” Which was amusing, honestly. She never would have guessed the King to be interested in matchmaking outside of the necessary for his children. “So..you think they’ll like me? …You think they’ll like Luna?” It was a worry for her, honestly. Given the awful way her father treated his granddaughter. Luna never really got to experience love from a grandparent, so she didn’t want to make her daughter go through anything like that again. “She is your mini-me.”

Julian hummed, his eyes widening dramatically at Mei Lian’s joke “You’re right, she’s exactly like me. It’s going to break their hearts,” he teased back. He had no doubt that his parents would absolutely adore their grandchild and hoped that Mei Lian realized that too. Even with all the trouble Julian caused them as he grew up, they loved him anyway and always ended up indulging him. If they hadn’t, he wouldn’t be here. He would have been sealed away in a loveless marriage centuries ago if his personality really was a problem. It was exasperating to any parent considering his love of thrill and risk-taking, but it didn’t dull their love for him. It didn’t dull Mei Lian’s love for Luna either.

Mei could feel her nerves tapering off, the tension all but evaporating out of her as she relaxed into him with each kiss Julian pressed to her skin. “I wouldn’t dream of it.” She teased, especially since she knew it was the same for her. Julian and Luna, her little family, was the single most important thing to her. More than her lab and her career–she’d give it all up in a split second for them, no questions asked. 

She stayed leaning into him, just basking in the moment, before she let out a little hum. “I wouldn’t say bothering me. Just…” she pulled back a bit, just enough to meet his gaze. “It’s silly even, but I realized today this magazine thing. It’s something that will be worldwide. Which means our families not here on the island will probably catch wind. Family who may not know we’re together, let alone that you’re Zhen Yue’s father. I guess I just…sillily got into my head about it? Like I was suddenly back as the Empress and you were my locked away secret, having me worry about everyone finding out.” She shook her head as she said it, letting out a little self-depreciating laugh as she covered her face for a second. “See? Silly.” she told him with a little shrug.

*

Mei Lian always had a poor habit of minimalizing things so he wasn’t convinced when she said it wasn’t actually bothering her. He listened to her aptly, definitely understanding where she was coming from. They had never been this public before and both of their families were rather obsessed with their marriages. “It’s not silly,” he corrected. “I hadn’t thought of it but... fuck.” It wasn’t that he didn’t want to shout to the world that Mei Lian was his, he just wanted to take their relationship at their own pace and having external pressures would ruin the ease of it all. He knew his own parents were desperate for him to get married and settle down. It was a miracle they hadn’t been able to successfully arrange something already. 

Mei knew this wasn’t exactly what Julian wanted to do with his life. He’d never been one to sit idly by even back then but even more so now, filling his days with paperwork and phone calls and typing away at his computer. Maybe now that the island had been thriving for a year and things were more settled, he could find more things to do, better. After all, she didn’t want him sitting around all day and slowly making himself miserable just to stay on the island for her and Luna. Just another thing for them to discuss sometime soon. 

But as for right now, the moment she saw him smile Mei Lian felt her heart do the same little flutter it’d done for months now since they’ve been back together and and she smiled in return, moving the moment he beckoned her over. She closed the door behind herself and beelined to him, easily moving to settle on his lap. “I had some spare time and thought for once I’d take it instead of working all day.” she replied with a grin, moving to press a soft kiss to his cheek, leaning her head against his for a moment, just relishing in the closeness. “And selfishly I’d just wanted to see you. I’ve had some things on my mind and being around you just..helps me clear it all. I hope I’m not interrupting anything too important?”

*

Julian gently wrapped his arms around Mei Lian as she settled into his lap, pressing a few soft kisses against the top of her head. “Nothing is more important to me than you... don’t tell his majesty that though,” Julian joked. It was very much true, however. He had picked himself once and now he was ready to drop everything else for his family. It had only been a few months but he was more sure than ever that this was where he belonged and this was all he would ever need.

Charise was hardly a stranger to being forward. Back in Melrose, she was the one who had approached Ignas back in Melrose, expressing her feelings for him after months of flirty banter between the two. She was the one who made the first move in the beginning of their relationship, initiating that leap from friends to being a couple.

The only difference now was this proposition was entirely innocent, no ulterior motive other than a simple dance.

She flashed him a beaming smile when he agreed to a dance with her, linking her arm with his and following his lead to the dance floor. “Many thanks, good sir,” she said, resting a hand on his shoulder, keeping a respectful amount of space between the two of them. Just because he was standing off on his own didn’t mean he was on his own, and Charise was in no hurry to cause any sort of drama by overstepping any boundary.

The two fell into step once the music changed. “I’m having a grand time, yes. I’ve never been to anything like this. It’s quite exciting. How has the night been fairing for you? Enjoying yourself as well, I hope.”

*

Julian smiled at her answer. “I am glad. I know his majesty wanted this night to be a chance for everyone to celebrate and enjoy their life on this island so it is good to hear that even people who don’t attend these balls very often are enjoying it.” A happy King meant less work for him, after all. “This is the first time I’ve enjoyed a ball in quite some time. I confess, I used to do everything I could to avoid them.”

Luna spun once more before moving back to the dressing room, waving someone in with her for help. Zhen Yue hummed, “You sound like a nicer version of grandfather,” eyes turning back with a playful glint. “You would think you passed down a gene from the devil and not just a slightly less traditional blood line.” She hummed, slipping into the dressing room. 

“Ambition. I got that from Mom.” The next dress fit near perfectly, smiling as the girl came out and stared in the mirror once more. 

*

Julian waited patiently, quite used to how long it took for women to wrestle into and out of their fancy dresses by now. It took even longer when they had a million layers and corsets to tie. 

When Zhen Yue reappeared, his smile grew wider. “While you would be beautiful in anything, this is definitely a winner.” He got up and took his daughter’s hand, giving her a fun twirl so he could see the entire dress. “Absolutely stunning. You also got that from your mother.” 

It was a blush that she’d ignore, turning to look in the mirror once more. “Thank god for that.” Luna hummed, twirling a bit in the gown as she did. That was always a worry- arranged marriages and such. Especially given her father’s closeness to the king. She tried hard not to even think about it most of the time. 

“No other man could.” She hummed, “I don’t think I could make it a night in this though. I like to move around a little too much.” 

*

“You really are my daughter.” Julian hated stuffy parties and when he had to attend them, he was usually zipping around to find the most interesting part of it. “Are we sure you’re your mother’s daughter though?” he joked. Mei Lian always played it safe and was the yin to his yang. He wouldn’t have had it any other way (though he did occasionally push for her to be more adventurous). 

“Try the next dress on. It doesn’t look as puffy,” he suggested. He took a seat at the waiting area, happy to spend time with his daughter even if it was just dress shopping.

They were pressed close enough together that Mei could feel it when Julian paused, able to tell that her response caught him off guard a bit. So when he shifted she did as well, loosening her arm around his middle enough to separate a bit, making it easier to meet his eyes. She gave him a little smile when he spoke, nodding. “Not like we planned it the first time.” She teased lightly. And he was right- it couldn’t be stopped–and shouldn’t be. Pregnancies were such a rarity in their species, a gift. Again, even someone like her father couldn’t deny that- which was probably why he hadn’t completely disowned Mei and sent them both off all those yers ago.

“I agree.” She told him softly, moving her arm from around him to reach for his hand instead, resting them in his lap and giving his hand a squeeze, “Not that I wouldn’t be able to do both, but I’m at a point in my career that I just….I feel like I could do something important. Life-changing for us all..” Besides, if she could have a breakthrough with their fertility problem, it’d work in their own favor too. “I also love that you want to focus on her. She deserves it. You both do.” they were had been deprived of their father-daughter relationship and she wanted them to make up for lost time. “And for the record…I agree with that too. I’d be happy.” she squeezed his hand again before letting it go so she could reach up and cup his cheek. “I…I want that. One day. With you. A chance to do it all right..” her thumb stroked over his skin, smiling softly as she met his eyes, “I love you, Julian. And I want everything with you.”

*

Julian was glad that his words didn’t come out wrong. He definitely would be happy to raise an actual child with Mei Lian, but he was just as happy to have Luna in his life and spend time with her for now. They could think about babies when it actually happened and knowing their species, him and Mei weren’t going to be so lucky that they could have two children, both within a year of being with one another. 

At her words, Julian smiled and leaned down to press a brief kiss against her lips. “I love you too, Mei Lian. Thank you for taking such good care of our daughter. I owe you the world.” She did it all on her own and didn’t blame him for leaving. Julian was beyond grateful and there was no way he could ever make it up to her.

But he would try. 

Mei admittedly felt a bit tense saying all this aloud, words and memories she’d never shared with anyone, even keeping some of it from Luna. But secrets didn’t need to be kept from Julian, not when their entire relationship first bloomed over hushed revelations and feeling safe enough to be open and honest with one another all those years ago. So she’d tell him anything, everything, answer any questions he had to try and fill in as many blanks as she could.

With Devon now asleep Mei Lian went back to Julian, again leaning into him and this time able to twist more into his side, wrapping her own arm around his middle. “She really is. The both of you together are going to overprotective me to death.” She teased, wanting to try and bring some sort of levity to the otherwise heavy conversation. “She’s just so….strong. She grew up facing so much adversity and disdain. For only having me, for the color of her skin… Funny how bullying is the one thing humans have seemingly had for centuries.” She rolled her eyes, letting out a sigh. “I’ve always hated that no matter how hard I tried..I could never protect her from everything. And I….I always felt like it was my fault. Like if I’d just not let my fear get the best of me..I could’ve gone with you. We could’ve gone with you. Zhen Yue could’ve grown up with a father instead of a grandfather who hated her and peers who looked down on her. She might’ve been more accepted. Happier maybe.” She shrugged again, looking down at his shirt instead of meeting his eyes. Honesty.

When Julian promised to not leave again she just nodded, tightening her arm around him in a pseudo-hug, holding him close. It was only when she fully registered his last sentence that Mei Lian picked her head up again, surprise flickering across her expression. “You’d….want that?” She asked carefully, wanting to make sure she was understanding right. “To have a baby?”

The words that Julian spoke came out pretty casually but the way that Mei Lian responded to them definitely made them feel a lot less casual. In a way, he did technically imply that he would be open to having more babies, but he didn’t necessarily mean that he wanted to try now... at this instant. “I mean, um,” he sat up a little, wanting to meet her eyes a bit more. “We can’t really stop it, right?” If it happens, it happens. That’s kind of how all vampire births were. 

It was honestly a bit surreal, to be reliving those moments with Julian’s arms wrapped around her. Back then she wondered if she’d ever see him again, if he’d ever exist outside of her memories and dreams…and now here he was, as real as ever. So she nodded when he said he wanted to see Luna’s baby things, leaning more into him. “Okay.” She didn’t have photos obviously, but little toys and clothes, little mementos. She hoped they’d help him piece together his daughter.

With the baby starting to fall asleep, Mei Lian gently rocked him again, helping him nod off before starting to speak again. “When I got home….my father..” she started and stopped, trying to figure out how to word it. “He was furious and resigned at the same time. Zhen Yue was his first grandchild, the continuation of our family. He couldn’t deny that. He couldn’t deny she was a blessing… But that was about the extent of anything positive he felt for her.” Another sigh escaped her and she again kept her eyes down on the baby, stilling her movements as he fell asleep. “He resented her. He hated that I not only left my marriage and brought shame to our family, but I refused to be married off again for him to acquire more money and power… He hated that because of her I refused to be a pawn for him anymore…” When she felt herself tensing up she moved again, gently disentangling herself from Julian’s arms so she could walk over and place Devon in his crib. 

“He never found out who you were even though he threatened us multiple times to try and find out. I….I knew he’d try to hunt you down if he knew and I couldn’t let that happen.” Mei turned to him, biting her lip as she walked back to him. “No one ever knew. It was safer that way. But even as Luna grew older and her hair got darker…..it was still obvious she was mixed. And not only was she mixed, but she was fatherless. A fact my father would throw around to anyone who would listen. Shaming not only her but me. It’s one of the reasons Luna’s so protective of me. She didn’t care that her grandfather hated her. Instead she cared about how he treated me. So much so she didn’t even start traveling until after he died. I guess once he was gone she realized she didn’t need to watch out for me anymore. Even though it should’ve been the other way around.”

While Julian regretted that he couldn’t be there for the both of them, he had to admit that, in some ways, it probably was a blessing. When he left Mei Lian, he had asked her to follow him but he wasn’t enough to make her go, to make her prioritize herself over her family, but Zhen Yue was. Mei Lian was always strong and she just needed something to summon that strength and he was thankful that he left her something that could. No matter the regrets, they were both here now and maybe even stronger for it. “She really is my daughter,” he couldn’t help but respond, beaming with pride despite the solemn story. 

Mei sighed softly, figuring he had a point and, well, he deserved to know. He’d missed so much…the least she could do was answer any questions he had. So when Julian moved to sit and opened his arms to her she followed suit, carefully shifting Devon in her arms and settling against him. “You asked if it was hard and….it was the most difficult thing I’ve ever done.”

Taking in a long, slow breath, Mei Lian looked down at the baby in her arms, a sad little smile on her lips as she ran a gently finger along his cheek. “I found out I was pregnant a few weeks after you left…and since I’d glamoured the emperor as much as I could and hadn’t really allowed him to sleep with me…I knew it was yours. He of course was elated for an heir…for a son. So…the night Zhen Yue was born..when it came out a girl…a girl with lighter-colored hair and olive-colored skin..” she trailed off, still keeping her eyes down on Devon, finding it easier to speak, to remember as she stared down at his perfect little face. She obviously didn’t have to go into detail either at how much of a ripple the birth would have made when the baby didn’t come out looking like the emperor at all. “As is common with our kind, the birth wasn’t easy..I…I lost a lot of blood. But the emperor..once he found out..” 

Mei finally looked up then, meeting his eyes. “To this day I don’t really know where I found the strength. I just remember…getting myself up, weak and covered in my own blood..I had to get her and we had to get out before….before he killed her. Tried to have his men kill us both.” She let that linger in the air for a moment, the memories heavy in her mind. “My um..my handmaid. She knew I was a vampire. Sent by my father during the pregnancy to ensure I was well fed. She let me feed from her enough to at least subdue some of the pain enough to run. Gave me a blanket for Luna.. I still have it actually. I have a box of things from when she was a baby if…..if you ever wanted to see them.”

Julian’s arms immediately wrapped around Mei as she settled in. He pressed soft kisses against her head as she started to speak, hoping his touch would help soothe her through the tough memories. He had no doubt that Zhen Yue’s birth would have been difficult, all vampire births were, and while many celebrated the birth of a newborn vampire, there was always the dread that it would be a life exchange. He couldn’t imagine if Mei had been lost through all of that--he didn’t want to. 

“I know.” Mei replied softly, that same little tinge of sadness lacing her words even as she smiled at his joke, “I wouldn’t have been against it.” she teased back lightly, turning her gaze back up onto him. “I wish you could’ve been there too. I…had I had any way to find you…to get to you..I would have. We would have.” Vampire or not, Lady or not, she was still a woman. Traveling alone with a baby across the world wasn’t exactly a feat she would have been able to do back then. She did wonder though how Julian would have reacted if by some miracle Mei Lian had found him all those years ago, with a child in tow. They’d never really spoke about kids when together after all, but she knew how free Julian was, adventurous. What if it’d all ended in Julian resenting them or something for tying him down? Maybe, as hard as it’d been…it’d been for a reason.

Julian’s question caught her off guard and for a moment she went quiet, turning her attention back to the baby who’d finally settled again in her arms and even started to look sleepy due to Mei’s consistent rocking. “I..I don’t want you feeling guilty for not being there..” she started softly, not wanting to divulge it all if it would just result in upsetting him.

“I won’t lie and say that it won’t make me feel even more guilty than I already do, but I want to know, Mei Lian,” he responded. Every time he had a moment to sit down and think about his daughter, he felt an undeniable guilt for what he had done (or hadn’t). But there was no way to change that and, in some ways, it was very much deserved. He could have tried harder to stay. They didn’t have to go through all of that alone.