Epilogue: In the Dawn

It's been a couple of weeks now since that night…

I sipped my tea as I watched the early morning sun start to break the horizon. I perched on the rooftop contently and at peace with the world. The wind played with my hair as the city started to slowly awaken around me. I watched the brilliant golds, pinks, and reds of the morning hues chase the dark shadows of the night away with a satisfied smile. I thought about all that had happened in the past few weeks while I waited for breakfast to finish cooking.

Raphael had stationed himself and the rest of his squad within central London, but since Van had started walking and actively looking for work, I hadn't heard from any of the angels. I had a strong suspicion that that the archangel had spoken with the hunter without my consent, but based on Raphael's sullen attitude before he departed, things had not gone well for the leader. I didn't know how to bring up the discussion with any class though, so I had left it alone for the time being. I had been too preoccupied by getting the Nyx sisters situated and adjusted to normal living to worry about the state of my political affairs yet anyways.

My hand absently touched my long healed-over side. The injuries I had sustained had healed over within a day or so of that nights events. I blushed as I remembered each and every touch...I took a sip of my tea and tried to focus my attention back on Keres and her sisters.

After a long sit down conversation and several kettles of tea later, Saint and I had managed to figure out more about the sisters. The sisters had been living off of Keres's black market doctor visits in between Aliester abusing them. Their silver blood had been farmed in my stead. Aliester controlled them by always holding one hostage, in order to ensure the other two followed orders.

I was distressed to learn why the sisters had acted they way they had, forced to act out of necessity in order to save their own family members from being bled dry, but that didn't really make me tolerate their personalities as individuals any more either. However, Keres's had proved somewhat useful, even with the distrust between us. With help from Keres and Leonhardt, I had managed to tap into my families savings. So money was no longer an issue for me, and in order to get them out from under my hair, I had gladly purchased Keres and her sisters a small townhouse a ways away from the mansion. Things didn't quiet turn out how I expected them to though, because Fran relocated to the smaller house with the trio shortly after.

Fran had moved in with the sisters because he had developed a quick friendship with the red haired doctor. The pair were both were working to open a clinic downtown, near their new townhouse. Somehow, I had got roped into the deal and I had started to tend to Fran's herb and flower gardens while he worked on establishing his business. I had offered to help the clinic in person, but Fran and Keres had strictly warned me off lending a hand within the clinic itself. They cited that it would drain me, and despite my protests, I had been firmly barricaded from even stepping foot within the establishment.

It was shortly after that argument, that Fran had been able to find time to read and understand the paper's Lupin and Cardia had bought home while I had been held captive by Jack the Ripper. The recipe had called for pure angel blood, so I readily offered mine without any hesitation. Van and the others were less then happy about using my blood, but the end result was a firm and lasting antidote to Cardia's poison. Lupin had quickly staked his claim on the green-eyed beauty, and they apparently were due to be wed in the upcoming summer months.

The strangest thing that had happened though, was there was a single Finis clone that had somehow managed to survive after that night had ended. Cardia had started to spent a lot of time with her sole-surviving family member, but I was a little apprehensive about having that particular guest at the dinner table. Van had not reacted either way, though I was fairly certain that he was avoiding Finis with as much advocacy as I was. I suspected that we both were not entirely sure how to deal with him.

I continued to sip my tea as the warm summer wind teased my hair.

Outside of tending Fran's flowers and herbs, I lent a regular hand to Impey in the kitchen. It seemed the tall red head was still looking for something in London, so to free him up, I volunteered regularly to cook meals. In between those two tasks, my days were rather full.

Van, on the other hand, seemed to be looking for work with a single-minded intensity. He often came home late and left early as a result of his dedication to secure work. I wondered why he kept looking for work when my families finances could fund us for several lifetimes. I had brought this up to Saint who just chuckled at me and asked me to tolerate it. Something about a man's drive to provide for his family and a need to atone for past sins...I didn't want to understand it. I just knew that the frequency in which he was gone daily always seemed like eternity to me.

I sighed into my tea and polished off the last few drops.

My ears picked up on a call from below. I looked down with interest to see who could be up at this hour. My face cracked into a slight grin. My hunter was scowling at me from below, looking disgruntled at being up so early.

I waved to him in greeting.

Van folded his arms and motioned for me to come down, the hunter appeared to be waiting for me. I took one more look at the bright dawn and hopped down off the roof with my wings outspread. Van's scowl just increased as he moved to catch me. The hunter held out his arms and I floated down into them contently.

"Good morning!" I chirped to him, excited to see him before he left for the day.

"...I don't see how it's any good." Van scowled at me as he held out a piece of paper.

I looked at the paper curiously and took it from him puzzled. "Is there a problem?"

I flicked the letter open as the hunter sighed. "...No. I am just irate at being woken up at this hour so needlessly."

My eyes scanned the note while I stiffed a giggle.

The letter was a job offer for him, as a bodyguard for Marquis Renfield.

I really had to think...Renfield...Renfield...I suddenly remembered why that name sounded so familiar. Renfield was the name of the man who supported vampires and had opposed the vampire war.

My mind thought back a little further about recent turn of events. Delly had moved out of the mansion about the time Raphael had stopped contacting me. I still spoke with Delly every few days though, and based on what the vampire king had been disclosing, he was in the middle of trying to garner support and develop a sanctuary for any remaining vampire survivors. The young king had also began to express concerns to me about trying to persuade Raphael to join his cause. The two young leaders seemed to be becoming fast friends. Right now it was just a distant ambition, but at some point they expected to reintroduce the angel sanctions to the court discussions as well.

I felt a smile tweaking at the corners of my mouth, this was good news for the hunter. "Needlessly? What about good news?"

I raised my eyebrows to Van who just shook his head and growled. "Not unless it's from you. I don't have any problems with you waking me up."

Van's hand drifted onto the small of my back and he proceeded to kiss me soundly. I almost forgot about the letter in my hand as he effectively distracted me from the discussion we were having. I threaded my hands into his golden hair and drank in the man's passion with utter bliss.

Before things could progress much further, the whistle blew on the kitchen timer.

I reluctantly broke away from my hunter's kiss a tad bit breathless. I shot an annoyed look at the kitchen and sighed. "...If you don't want a burnt breakfast…"

Van growled and swiftly kissed me once more. I chuckled at his response as I handed the paper back to him. Van took the note back reluctantly as I detangled myself from his embrace.

With a sly grin I motioned for him to follow me.

Van's eyes lit up as he followed me towards the kitchen. Normally, Impey and I made sure Van never stepped foot in this room. Considering the man's reign of holy terror that typically followed if the hunter was left unsupervised, the ban also served to save us from the awful concoctions he tended to develop as a by product... However it made me really happy to see Van that delighted as I handed him Impey's spare apron.

I clicked the timer off and started pulling bread out of the oven.

"Let me get that." Van offered as he scooped up a hot pad and grabbed the pan from me. I blushed slightly as our hands touched, my mind still rather lost in the sensations I had been feeling a few minutes ago.

"Ah...thank you..."

Van pushed the bread loaves onto the windowsill to cool.

"...So, Van, are you considering the job then?"

"I wouldn't have shown it to you otherwise."

That made sense, I thought as I started to pull an assortment of meats and cheeses out of the pantry.

When I emerged from the pantry, I silently observed the hunter start pulling glasses and plates down onto a tray. I set the breakfast goods onto the kitchen island and took a quick mental count of everyone who was in residence at the moment.

"Could you cut these up for me please?" I pushed the meats towards him as I settled on both a menu and how much food I needed for the meal. While Van was preoccupied, I filled the teapot up and set it to warming. I heard the chopping of knives from behind me as I waited for the water to heat.

A low voice behind me wondered. "Are you hungry this morning? It's just to two of us today at the mansion."

I was in the middle of getting out a pan to cook the meat in. At the sound of his low voice, I promptly dropped the pan I was holding in shock.

The cutting sounds stopped momentarily as Van leaned over and caught the pan I had just dropped before it could hit the ground.

"What?!"

"Are you feeling alright?" Van gave me a concerned look as he set the cast iron pan down onto the burner in front of me.

I grasp my forehead deep in thought. "Wait..wait wait." I caught sight of Van's smirk and realized he was joking. "Van!" I whisk the teapot off the burner. "Saint would be very upset with me if I forgot his morning tea!"

That was my first mistake of the morning. Leaving Van unattended in the kitchen.

I walked the teapot out to the kitchen table and promptly heard a muted explosion behind me.

"...Wha-" I set the teapot onto the table and dashed back to the kitchen.

"Van?!" I looked around for him and saw the hunter emerge from under an ominous black cloud completely unharmed. "Van Helsing, what was that?!"

The hunter looked up at me completely unfazed. "Hmmm...oh. That always happens when I start cooking."

The ominous black cloud lingered in the air and I realized what was causing the cloud to appear in the first place. It was the pot on the stove that was burning.

I calmly assessed the situation and decided on my course of action. I strode over to the window and unlatched it. The window responded as I threw open the glass panes and then turned to address the burning pot. Calmly, I tossed the blackened, smoldering, pan into the empty sink and got out a fresh one.

The cloud dissipated while Van scowled at me. "Is there a problem with preheating a pan now?"

I went over and rested my head on his chest not quite knowing what to tell him. "...Pots should not explode, dearest. Ever."

For the first time since I meet him, I really had to wonder where Van picked up his culinary skills at. How had Aliester survived all those years...I felt goosebumps breakout across my arms as I remembered our attempt at making tiramisu. True, I hadn't been poisoned, but the thought of eating those eggs...I shuttered involuntarily at the memory.

Still...as Van rested his cheek on the top of my head, I realized he seemed to be having fun. The joy my hunter appeared to be feeling as we worked together to cook breakfast, seemed to cheer him up greatly. I think he might have been discouraged from all the job hunting...but it could have just been him being irate at being woken up early.

I let Van move around the kitchen freely while I just supervised him with intense scrutiny and care.

Which lead to my second mistake of the morning.

I heard a faint giggling coming from the doorway and I shot a suspicious look out into the still darkened dinning room.

"Should I add salt to the bacon?" Van paused briefly in his cooking to inquire. He did not wait for a response though as he liberally adding a handful to the already preserved meat.

"Uh, what was that?" My head wiped around to Van and then back to the doorway. "Who's there?"

There was more further giggling and I stuck my head out the doorway to see who was the source of the mysterious laughter. Saint was hiding in the darkness with his entire teapot in one hand and a cup, complete with saucer, in the other. The count was giggling uncontrollably as he spied on the going ons of his household.

"...Saint?" I called out in question, as another crackling sound came from behind me. I looked back in horror to see the pan Van was now tending had actually caught fire.

"Van Helsing!" I turned back around as Saint only chuckled harder.

Van had already put the fire out by the time I returned to his side. The hunter had used a clean dish towel, that I could only guess he had thrown over his shoulder exactly for that purpose.

"...Can I not take my eyes off you for a minute?" I pleaded to him in desperation.

I checked the inside of the pan that had just caught fire with a grimace. The insides of the pan were brown and gooey looking.

"I do this all the time." The hunter's unconcerned comment made me shake my head in despair.

Van began removing the bacon from the pan with tongs. I could only stare at his creation, as the brown syrup coated the meat completely and then sunk in. I knew what was coming as I stared at Van in horror. The mighty hunter picked a piece up with his finger tips and blew on his creation in order to cool it.

The cooled, slightly charred, off-colored meat was then held out to me to taste. The look Van was giving me was heartbreaking, so while I eyed the bacon with evident apprehension, I offered up a swift prayer and took a small bite.

The crunchy texture was offset by a sweetness...which made the bacon tasted candied.

Van smirked as my face contorted in confusion and he bit into the same piece. I watched Van's cheeks turn a faint pink as he chewed, as if he was also slightly confused by the taste as well.

I swallowed my sample, still confused at how he managed to make something that wasn't utterly revolting.

"That was actually pretty good…" I looked back down at the pan in a slightly different light. "You caramelized the sugar….but didn't I hear you say you were adding salt?"

I leaned into him knowingly, and the hunter still seemed to be in shock that he had made something that had been complimented. "I don't know what you're talking about…"

I slyly took the pan from him and set it back on the stove, keen on getting him out of the kitchen despite the fun we were having. "I think some fruit would be a really nice compliment to your creation here, dear...could you go fetch me some please?" I batted my lashes at the hunter as I pressed myself up against his side completely.

The hunter was quick on the uptake.

He pulled me closer and huskily whispered. "If you keep that up…"

My eyes shot to the doorway where Saint was still watching, enjoying the show with evident relish.

Van's gaze narrowed as his eyes followed mine into the shadows. "Another time then…"

The sly eyed count couldn't resist responding to the narrowed eyed hunter. "Oh, are you done making breakfast yet? I was not quite sure. It seems like there hasn't been enough smoke or explosions for it to be finished just yet."

Van took off the apron and hung it on the peg with a scowl. "I am heading out to get the morning paper, any fruit in particular that you're looking for?"

I felt kind of bad about pushing Van out, but I didn't think Impey would appreciate it if I let Van destroy another pan this morning. "Ummm…"

I realized I didn't want him to leave me either, and I struggled to find an answer to the conflict in my two worlds.

Saint interjected his own recommendation when I took too long to find the words. "I think cherries would be a good choice. We don't seem to have any more in the house."

My cheeks flushed beat red as Van stopped and glared at Saint. The look the hunter gave the count could have peeled paint.

The count just smiled maliciously at Van's reaction to his comment. "I believe the sweetness would complement the tartness well."

Van raised an eyebrow to Saint and just shook his head before leaving out the door.

I had buried my face into my hands in embarrassment, but the sounds of Van getting ready to leave had me forgetting my shock. "Van! Wait!"

The hunter looked back at see a flurry of silver hair. "What-?"

I flung myself at him, still concerned that he wouldn't return until too late. "Hold on!"

I clung to him as Van wrapped his arms around me in a rough hug. "I'll be right back, I promise."

I shook my head as I buried my face in his chest resolutely.

I didn't want to let him go.

This had become a normal event for us, me trying to delay his leaving. Van had been working hard to allay my fears about him walking away, but we both knew that the damage he had caused would take a long time to heal regardless of what he did to remedy the situation.

...Deep down in my heart...I knew... I knew I would need to stop this rash and childish behavior as soon as Van started working...So with that thought in mind I bit my bottom lip and slowly released him.

"I promise. I'll be right back, dearest." Van smiled at me as I felt the tears start to collect in the corner of my eyes.

Van leaned over and kissed me on the cheek. "I am just going to get the paper. I'll bring back the requested fruit as well. Is there anything else you desire while I am out?"

I shook my head still holding back the tears. I was determined not to cry.

Van patted my head softly as he turned to leave.

The door closed in front of me and I didn't even try to hold back.

I yanked open the door and yelled as Van strode away at a leisurely pace. "I love you! See you soon!"

Van turned and waved at me with a strong smile as I waved back to him shyly.

"How long are you going to stand in the doorway like some love struck idiot?" The drawling voice sent shivers racing down my spine as I slowly turned around.

"Good morning, Finis." I tried to pull a smile onto my face, but my nervousness got the better of me.

"How are you so attached to him? I would like to know." The petite blond crossed his arms and waited for an answer.

My hands went nervously to my hair but my answer held no sign of hesitation. "I love him."

"Really? Like the whole household can't tell when you're yelling it out the front door."

I braided my longer side bang unconsciously. "I don't suppose you know much about love Finis, but I would do anything for him."

The blond just shook his head, not understanding what I was telling him. "Cardia and you both lack the proper ability to describe such a sensation."

I skirted around him and darted into the kitchen hoping to escape the boy. Finis followed me with interest and I shuffled around the kitchen, still trying to put together breakfast.

Finis jumped up onto the counter and watched my reactions with cold analyzing eyes.

I darted nervously around on the balls of my feet, wishing very much that Van had not left. The blond wouldn't have dared done this while the hunter was around.

"You know I am not going to harm you right now, correct?" The off color blue-green eyes absently scanned the kitchen looking for his favorite food. When he could not locate it, the blond sighed in heavy disappointment.

I didn't want to respond to him, but Finis's downcast eyes and the way he kicked his feet under him, made me think that he looked a bit like an upset child. A lot like Delly, actually. I bravely mustered my courage by hiding my shaking hands under my apron and approached him.

"Is something the matter?" I leaned over to stare at him.

"I can see you shaking. You can leave me alone now." Finis pushed himself off the counter and landed perfectly with grace.

I pursed my lips in irritation. "I am not the one who followed me into the kitchen just to sigh and leave."

Finis brushed his hair back and stuck his nose up as he turned to leave.

Lupin stuck his head in. "Is it about breakfast time?"

I nodded and checked the clock. "In about another 30 minutes or so."

Lupin caught sight of the blond and his face broke into a grin. "Are we all out of cake now, shorty?"

Finis stiffened and blushed, apparently the master thief knew how to press his future brother-in-laws buttons.

"Of course not! How could anyone eat that kind of sugary snack this early in the morning!" Finis was blushing and worked himself up at Lupin's slight teasing.

I stiffened a laugh as Lupin terrorized the blond, but I went into the cupboard to pull out the small cake anyway. I cut a small slice and set it on the tea tray before I walked away to finish preparing breakfast.

When I came back the cake was missing.

I smiled a little, thinking I might have made a tiny bit of progress with Finis.

Van was late returning to breakfast, I heard him come in the door and I politely excused myself to greet him. The hunter was just finishing taking off his coat and had picked up three separate bags from the floor as I greeted him with a warm smile.

"Welcome home, Van!"

Van smiled at the greeting as his angel meet him at the door.

"Is breakfast still in progress?" The hunter's ears picked up on the sounds of china and tableware.

"It is. I saved you a plate though, let me go heat it up." I went to leave as Van stopped me.

"Just leave it cold, it's my fault for being late."

I turned back to him. "It's alright, it is no trouble."

Van shook his head and followed me into the kitchen. "I had to check several shops for the requested fruit. It appears that many of the shops nearby have seen a delay in their shipments of the fruit and other perishable foods. However, I did managed to locate some on the other side of town." Van started to dig around in the bags. The hunter pulled out several different colors of cherries from the multiple bags.

"I wasn't sure what kind you wanted so I bought a little of each."

I looked over my shoulder while I took in his explanation. I stopped heating up his breakfast and went over to look over his spoils with interest.

"Van…."

There were so many. My eyes lit up then dropped. "...But where is your paper?"

Van chuckled as he pulled it out from within his coat. "Always worried about others, hmm?"

I smiled at him as Van grinned back at me and held up a sweet red cherry.

The hunter placed a cherry between his lips in a seductive offer and I blushed as he leaned over. I took the cherry from him with a ripe kiss as the hunter pulled me completely to him in order to deepen the kiss.

Which is where the third mistake of the morning came in.

Smoke started to fill the kitchen as Van's breakfast burnt behind us.

Author's Thanks:

Thank you for reading! *bows* I hope you enjoyed the bonus content and the story itself! If you did, I would really appreciate hearing from you!

That being said you can check out 'Silver Dribbles', 'Summer Gifts', and "A Silver Harvest".

"A Silver Harvest' is cannon on this story line and is the next event in the story line! It is meant to be a seasonal adaptation of 'Future Blessings'.

I also intend 'Summer Gifts' to be cannon, while 'Silver Dribbles' continues to be rejected scenes.

"A Silver Harvest": Takes place a few months after the conclusion of this chapter. You can follow Van and Sierra on an autumn vacation! See what trouble Sierra gets into next and how Van reacts! I introduce new plot lines in Silver Harvest as well! (Hint: Its also complete - with 6 chapters its a much lighter read!)