#marko thompson

after the "incident," as they all referred to it, it had taken a long while for things to cool off, and things were finally back to normal. or, well, as normal as things could be in santa carla.

lucy had agreed to become a vampire. mike and star, too. sammy would wait until he graduated, and laddie would wait until he was older. the frogs.... well, the frogs were supposed to be dead meat, but after much nagging from max, the pack had (very) reluctantly backed down.

the emersons and the pack coexisted in whatever twisted fantasy of a happy family that max held, though they still remained two separate groups. the only thing keeping them tied together was max.

and family dinner.

the invitation was always there — lucy was a gracious host and she loved to cook, but the boys only ever accepted every few weeks and only at the behest of max. at least once a month, the pack would come over to the emerson house, sit down at the table with everyone else, and eat. it was typically some semblance of awkward. there was always tension so thick you could cut it with a knife; between star and david, the pack and sammy and the frogs, max and the pack.

it had gotten better over time. less awkward, less uncomfortable, as everyone settled into their new normal.

tonight was going slightly better. lucy was (trying) to teach paul how to use the oven without starting a fire, sammy and the frogs were challenging dwayne and marko to a game of cards (which the former were losing, badly), star, laddie, and michael were off in the basement watching whatever was on the tv that max had bought, grandpa and max were discussing something in the old man's taxidermy room, and david...

david was sat outside on the porch, brooding. if anyone had called him out on it, he would've disagreed firmly — he did not brood, he was just smoking a cigarette. but he was definitely brooding. he was leaning just beside the doorframe, cigarette dangling from his lips as he stared out at the dark sky. the moon was bright, casting shadows across the drive. something was off. he felt it. he didn't know what it was or what it meant, but all day there'd been a strange nagging feeling in his chest that something was going go happen today.

he puffed out a breath.

lucy popped her head out of the doorway. "food's ready," she said, a sweet smile on her face. she didn't act like the pack's mother, and she didn't want to be, but that was just her nature. she liked them well enough to be kind.

he nodded, tossing the smoke to the ground and putting it out with his boot. "thanks, miss e."

he followed her back inside to the dining table, which was laden with their dinner. he had to admit, as much as he hated family dinners, the food was great. the table was piled with plates — spaghetti, salad, garlic bread, the works. everyone was helping themselves as he took a seat next to marko at the end of the table.

he caught alan's eye, and the younger boy paled slightly. no matter how long had passed, no matter if the pack had backed off, the frogs were still always a little terrified they would renege on their word.

david smirked.

dinner was fine. laddie informed everyone that he had learned how to multiply by twelve. paul was shoveling his food in his mouth like an animal as usual, marko eating in a slightly more civilized manner. sammy complained about gym class. dwayne chatted quietly with michael about motorcycle parts. star and lucy were engaged in their own conversation.

when most everyone had finished up (save for paul, who was going back for thirds), max cleared his throat. everyone turned to look at him. he set his napkin down, folding his hands as he started to speak.

"i figured, with everyone here, it would be a good time to share this." he looked around at the rest of the table.

dwayne glanced at david, who shrugged imperceptibly. he had just as much an idea of what their sire was talking about as the brunette had.

"being a family is important to me," max began. everyone groaned. they'd heard this speech thousands of times before. "and i value each and every one of you."

"we get it, dude, we don't need another speech," paul grunted, his words muffled by the mouthful of pasta he was actively chewing on.

sammy wrinkled his nose in disgust. "close your mouth, you pig," he said, frowning at the blonde. paul held up his free hand, middle finger up.

max held up his hand. "michael, sam," he continued. "you know i see you as my sons." he gestured to dwayne, marko, paul, david. "my boys as well."

marko rolled his eyes, but the older man didn't notice.

"however, there is one thing i never mentioned," he said, addressing this more to the emerson half of the group.

they all straightened, suddenly curious. what else could come to light now? were werewolves real too? mermaids?

"you see, while i obviously see you boys as my own, i do have..."

before he could finish, paul's fork clattered to the table. everyone turned to look. his back was straight as a line, his entire body turned towards the doorway leading to the foyer.

"paul...?" lucy said cautiously.

he kept staring at the door. he turned to them after a moment. "do you smell that?"

the rest of the table glanced at each other and shrugged.

"you're imagining things, bro," dwayne said.

paul shook his head vehemently. "no, i'm serious i-"

suddenly marko jolted, his own face turning towards the doorway. "no way." he looked at paul, who made a face like i know, right?!

"no fucking way," he repeated. he turned to dwayne and david. "it can't be-"

dwayne's brows furrowed. he looked to david, arching his brow.

and then david smelled it too.

sweet, warm, like a swirling mix of vanilla and sugar. he hadn't smelled that in a while.

he looked at max, who sighed in defeat. his sire shrugged.

"what are we smelling?" laddie complained. "i can''t smell anything!"

they heard the door open, and before they could even see who it was, paul had launched himself out of his chair, practically flying across the room and almost giving lucy a heart attack in the process.

they heard a squeal, the sound of bags thudding to the ground. "paul!" a girl's voice. "hi!"

michael and sam shared a confused look.

"hi. i missed you so much," came the muffled response from the blonde. "missed you- the cave was so boring without you-"

dwayne shoved the blonde off of the figure. "quit hogging her." paul huffed, moving to the side with an indignant pout. dwayne wrapped his own arms around the girl, hugging her tightly. he pulled away, looking down. "you look good," was all the brunette said.

a shrug. "east coast air."

the rest of the people seated at the table couldn't see much. a swish of fabric, two suitcases on the ground, a pair of clean white sneakers.

a hand carefully moved dwayne to the side, leaving him to join paul, who was so excited he looked like he could've exploded on the spot.

sammy and the frogs gaped as you made your way around the table to marko, who pushed his chair back to wrap his arms around your waist.

you were the single most beautiful girl sammy had seen in his life. his eyes caught on your jewelry, your dress, your face. everything about you was gorgeous. he faintly heard you speaking to marko.

"hi," you said sweetly, looking down at the blonde.

"hey, yourself," he replied, grinning up at you. "long time no see."

you scoffed. "its been four months."

"exactly."

you rolled your eyes, letting go of him with a kiss to his hair.

"why does he get a kiss?!" paul whined from his spot on the wall. dwayne elbowed him.

you turned your gaze to david, who simply offered a small, tightlipped smile, before facing max.

"hi, daddy," you said, stepping forward to wrap your arm around your father.

"hello, sweetheart."

if it was possible, sam's jaw dropped even further. you were smoking hot, and you were max's daughter? what the hell?

edgar leaned in. "is she a vamp?"

alan next. "you idiot, if that's her dad, then duh."

sammy ignored them.

you turned to lucy, a polite smile on your face. "you must be lucy?" you tried.

the woman snapped out of whatever momentary shock she'd been in and offered you a sweet smile, standing so she was at your eyelevel. "yes, i am. how do you do?"

you shook her hand. "it's so nice to meet you, my father has told me a lot about you." you glanced at the table, deciding to address everyone as you introduced yourself.

the next hour was spent by max explaining to lucy and the emersons all about you.

max had taken you in long ago, a few decades after the boys, but you had been the only one of the group who had truly taken to being his child, and that was fine by everyone. you had left santa carla just the week before the emersons had moved, heading to new york to work on some project or another for max.

the pack had all rejoined the table, paul yanking your chair close to his and wrapping an arm around your shoudler as you patiently answered laddie's and the frogs' endless questions about the city and what it was like.

as the night wound down, the pack was ready to leave. dwayne hauled one of your bags to the cave, marko the other, as you said your goodbyes to your newfound family. lucy told you you were welcome for dinner anytime, star offered to go to the mall with you, and sammy was still in awe of your beauty.

paul caught him staring as you knelt down to laddie's level to give him a hug and cuffed the blonde on the back of the head. "don't even think about it," he warned. "she's taken."

sammy swatted his hand away with a huff. "by who?" he demanded. paul winked and stepped off the porch.

"later, miss e! thanks for the food!"

lucy laughed, waving at the blonde as he revved his engine.

he shot you a smile. "see you soon, sexy!" he crowed. as he drove off, you heard a faint whoop.

star, michael, and laddie retreated back into the house. max hugged you.

"you'll be alright in the cave?" he asked. "if you need, you can always stay here or back at-"

"i'll be fine, daddy," you laughed. he smiled proudly at you, kissing your forehead. "nothing i haven't done before."

"alright then. goodnight, darling." he and lucy stepped inside too, leaving only sammy and you on the porch.

you didn't seem to notice the younger boy as you smiled to yourself, brushing your dress off. he straightened his shirt out, steeling himself before taking a step forward, mouth open to speak, but before he could, david emerged from the shadows. sam deflated like a popped balloon.

you beamed at david. the ice cold blonde made his way towards you, hands in his pockets. "david," you said.

wordlessly, he pulled you into a kiss, his cool lips meeting yours as he curled his hand around your waist. with a huff, sam stalked off inside and slammed the door.

you pulled away, looking at the door. david gently turned your face towards his with a gloved finger.

"don't stay away too long next time, yeah?" he said. you grinned, leaning into him.

"what, did you miss me?" you teased.

his lips twitched into a barely-there smile. "something like that."

you laughed, lacing your fingers with his. "lets go. i bet the boys are waiting."

david let you lead him towards his parked bike, looking at you with a fondness he rarely let slip. "they're scrambling around the cave, trying to clean up," he mused as he helped you on before sitting down himself.

"you think?" you asked, wrapping your arms around his middle.

he revved the engine. "i know."