Daemon smiled into the kiss and pushed his lips back against Vladimir's. He smiled and looked at Nathaniel.

"He's been waiting for you all day my love.. Lining up toy soldiers and playing with his train. He missed you my love."

He smiled and gently nuzzled his cheek into Vladimir's shoulder. He leaned close to Vladimir's ear and whispered

"I missed you too... Do you know how hard it is to not loose control when I can catch your scent everywhere.. Drives me mad..."

Vladimir purred at his lover's words and whispered low enough that only Daemon could hear. "When we put Nathaniel to bed tonight, how about you and I have a little "adult time"?" he asked softly. With Nathaniel all grown up, and so fast, they really hadn't had any privacy except when Nathaniel was taking a nap or in bed asleep. They hadn't been able to have intercourse in as many areas of the castle as they used to, and they didn't really have anyone they could ship Nathaniel off to for a kid-free day...and Daemon wouldn't be able to stand it with how maternal he's become.

Daemon purred and nuzzled himself up to Vladimir. He kissed the vampire's shoulder and ground his hips once against the man's side. "I look forward to that.. But I think our son needs more time with you than I do..." He smiled and walked off into the house, his maternal side slowly fading because he knew Vladimir would protect their son. His hips swayed just a bit more than usual. He wanted the vampire to want him long before they put their son to sleep.

Vladimir playfully glared at that sexy behind that was swaying at him before turning his attention to his son and he smiled as he set Nathaniel on the driver's seat and he climbed up to sit beside him. "Want to help me get Nightwing back in his stable?" he asked as he took the reins.

"Yeah." Nathaniel replied brightly as Nightwing began walking once again towards the back of the castle toward the stables.

"Mommy tells me you've been playing with your soldiers." Vladimir said.

"Yeah! I have the whole army set up in my room. Will you play with me before dinner?" Nathaniel asked, eagerly tugging on Vladimir's sleeve.

Vladimir chuckled softly. "Yes, I will. I did promise to get you something special...something your little army was missing." he said with a slight grin as he looked over at his son who beamed up at him.

"Dad! Did you get it? Did you get the colonel?" Nathaniel asked in excitement.

"I got the last one that they had." Vladimir replied with a smile and he carefully rubbed Nathaniel's hood. "I know how badly you wanted the colonel. I figured it would suffice for an early birthday present." he said softly. Nathaniel's birthday was in three months, but Vladimir saw how badly Nathaniel wanted the colonel everyday they passed the toy store.

Nathaniel clung to his father tightly and buried his face in Vladimir's side. "Thanks, dad...you're the best." he said as he nuzzled.

Daemon had gone inside to make something to eat. He knew Nathaniel was safe and he knew how much Nathaniel loved to have all of his father's attention when he got back from somewhere. He was a very happy vampire when it came down to it. His lover was the father of his child and together they made a wonderfully bright bundle of joy for them to faun over. Sure Nathaniel was a handful at times but he was such a sweet child and he didn't find it odd he had two fathers. He still called Daemon 'mommy' anyways. Daemon couldn't even be angry about it. He turned the stove on and began to cook the meat they had gotten a couple days ago. He could almost hear Vladimir and Nathaniel talking but his hearing wasn't quite as sensitive as a true vampire. All in all, Daemon couldn't complain about how his life turned out.

Nathaniel assisted Vladimir in getting Nightwing into the stables, or rather Nightwing cooperated with the much smaller vampire and let the boy "lead" him into the stable by his reins. Vladimir gently removed the bridle and gave the stallion a carrot from one of the grocery bags that Nightwing chewed on happily as Nathaniel stared at the beast in awe and stroked Nightwing's tough, scarred side.

"Daddy, when am I going to get to ride him like you can?" Nathaniel asked.

"When you're tall enough to get onto the saddle by yourself...and when your mother can trust that you won't fall off." Vladimir replied with a soft chuckle as he gently rubbed Nightwing's muzzle, knowing Nightwing would be as gentle and delicate as he could with Nathaniel on his back.

Nathaniel pouted a little. "I won't fall off, and you can put me on the saddle!"

"You're not old enough. I was in my pre-teens when I got to ride Nightwing for the first time, and I could climb onto the saddle by myself and get down without my father's help." Vladimir replied with a smile down at the pouting vampire. "Don't worry, he'll still be here when you get older."

Nathaniel groaned a little until Nightwing bent his head to blow air at the smaller vampire playfully and he giggled as he reached up to pet Nightwing's muzzle. "Dad...how is it that Nightwing doesn't get any older? Is he like you, me, and mommy?"

"No, not at all...I never really figured out why Nightwing has lived for so long, but I think my parents must've placed some sort of spell on him the night the castle was attacked. He and I were friends since my childhood and I guess he's sort of been my guardian angel ever since." Vladimir replied softly, patting Nightwing gently on the neck as the beast nickered softly.

"Oh...am I ever going to meet grandma and grandpa?" Nathaniel asked innocently as he walked over to his much taller father.

Vladimir gently picked Nathaniel up into his arms. "I'm afraid not, my boy...at least for a long time...but, you will someday." he said softly as he carried Nathaniel out of the stable, closing the door behind him and locking it.

"How come you won't tell me what happened to them?" Nathaniel asked innocently still, clinging to his father's neck.

"You're not old enough to understand...when you're old enough, I will answer any questions you have about that night, but you're still young and not mature enough." Vladimir replied as he approached the castle, then he looked at his son face-to-face, still speaking softly. "I don't want to fill your head with sadness when you should be having fun and playing as you learn and grow."

Nathaniel laid his head on Vladimir's shoulder and was quiet as they entered the castle through the front doors.

Daemon had finished cooking the meat and finished up some rice just as Vladimir walked inside. He had small tears in his eyes from hearing the two talk about Vladimir's parents. It was sad that they could not see their grandchild.. They could not talk to him or touch him or play with him. Nathaniel was so innocent that it broke his heart sometimes. He wiped his tears away as he left the kitchen to greet the two who just came in.

"I heard daddy brought you an early birthday gift... Is that true?"

He smiled an their son and gently scooped him out of Vlaidmir's arms and into his own. He was still very protective of his son, even with Vladimir around.

Nathaniel beamed at his mother and reached to Daemon as the dark haired male approached and he allowed himself to be gentle scooped into his mother's arms. "Yeah, daddy finally got me the colonel! I'd been looking all over for one!"

Vladimir walked into the kitchen to set the groceries he had carried in with one arm, along with the bag from the toy store that he carried back into the entry hall. "I hope you don't mind, Daemon, but I had to get it for him. It was the last one that they had." he said softly at his lover.

Daemon smiled and nodded.

"I know. You've been looking every time we went to try, I'm very glad daddy finally completed you toy soldier set." He hugged their son and carried him into the kitchen, gently setting him on a chair.

"Don't worry my love~ I'm not going to be angry at you for getting him a gift he's been wanting forever" Daemon looked at Vladimir with a look in his eyes that basically meant: I will sexually frustrate you tonight. Mainly because he loved to tease Vladimir when he was gone for so long, a whole day was enough to drive Daemon to madness.

Vladimir returned a look that said that he was going to tease the hell out of his lover. He knew all too well how much of an influence his scent had on Daemon, and he used it to his full advantage to the point where Daemon would be in sexual agony. He pretended to be fully interested in putting the groceries away when really he was thinking about all of the things him and Daemon could do later tonight. Nathaniel was busy playing with yet another toy he had left on the dining room table.