Bridgeport

The day had finally arrived, or rather the night: a cool, crisp dry moonlit night. As the sun had started to dip down below the trees a small gathering assembled with a singular mission in mind. To build a schoolhouse.

Tucker had set up the floodlights he had rented and a few trestle tables forming a centre of operations for overseeing the construction.

"I hope I've got it all straight", he said to Miranda, flicking through meticulously detailed plans. They probably didn't follow correct architectural convention, but Tucker produced them for himself and knew what they meant.

"I'm sure you have, you really are a bit of a genius with this sort of thing" Miranda smiled, giving him a peck on the cheek.

Maria and Rosa arrived shortly afterwards heaving with pitchers of water and lemonade, setting them up on the table next to Tucker.

"I don't understand why we have to do it in the dark", Maria huffed, pouring herself a glassful. It was good stuff.

"We're a bit lacking in man-power without our new vampire friend", Tucker shrugged, "I'm not as strong as I used to be, and Marko can't do everything alone."

"For goodness sake Marko, do your shirt up..."

The voice of the family matriarch floated in on the night air as Marko arrived, sleeves rolled up and shirt unbuttoned, clearly revelling in being ready for some hard manual labour. Ariadne drew up alongside him, the wry smile on her face indicating that despite her words she probably didn't actually want him to do his shirt up.

Johann stumbled up the trail. Brahm was ahead of him, walking boldly as if he knew exactly where he was going, and whistling. Then, a thought- he knew where he was going because he could probably smell their blood.

He shuddered at the thought. "We don't need to put you to work you know, it isn't as if these people can afford to pay you."

"Nonsense!" Brahm called back cheerfully. "I'm paid in company, entertainment and shelter. Besides, I can't let you do manual labor alone at your age."

"You're older than me!" Johann grumbled. The family appeared in the clearing.

"Hallo Marko!" Brahm met the former ringmaster with a chipper grin. "Ready for a little heavy lifting? I always enjoy an opportunity to show off. Especially for such a lovely audience."

He turned to the women with a saucy wink. "Good to see you again, Mrs. Gedaminski!"

Johann blushed. He wasn't so much angry anymore as embarrassed. "Where do you want us, Ariadne?'

Maria smiled at Brahm and said how pleased she was to see him, although she was clearly still slightly apprehensive. This was a man who she'd seen turn into a wolf, after all. Rosa had none of the same reservations, bursting into giggles at the wink.

"Oh you are silly, dear" she chirped, comfortably going to greet him with a peck on the cheek, tricky since he was so much taller than her.

"If I understand correctly from Tucker", Ariadne said, refusing to acknowledge the strange display going on nearby and focusing on Johann,"If you, Tucker and Miranda start measuring out the foundations, then Marko and Brahm can get the corner posts in place. From there it's a case of building up the logs layer by layer, and getting the floor boards in if we have the time and the energy."

"Right. I'll get to work." Johann nodded and grabbed some tools, anxious for a task to take his mind off of... whatever the Hell those two were up to.

Brahm leaned down politely to allow Rosa to kiss him, then immediate swept her up into his arms with a twirl and set her back down. "I was SO hoping some fun people would be joining us, madame. I know it's meant to be work but who's to say we can't enjoy the company, ja?"

He smiled at Maria. "How have you been dear? Keeping my rotten grandson out of trouble?"

"I can hear you." Johann groaned and painted markers on the ground where posts holes needed to be.

Maria smiled as Johann grumbled, a slightly sad smile that indicated that she considered this to be a "typical Johann" moment. In answer to Brahm's question, she said, "Yes, Johann and I have been planning out my little garden together. You see I bought a house when I moved to Bridgeport, but it was a little dilapidated. Johann has a real green thumb."

She paused for a moment and looked at Rosa, practically hanging off Brahm's arm.

"Do you two um... know each other?"

"Oh, we met last week! Brahm had just been visiting the shop and we bumped into each other. I've been showing him all the sights!"

Maria looked at her sister knowingly.

"I bet you have."

"She's been quite a helpful guide!" Brahm chuckled warmly, his arm draped in a too-familiar fashion over Rosa's shoulders.

"Bridgeport is a beautiful city but you know, I think Rosa might be the prettiest sight to see." He winked again.

"Are you always like this?" Johann asked with a sigh.

Brahm paid him no mind. "I'm glad to hear you two getting along well. He sounded so worried he was going to get worked up and embarrass himself in front of you again you know. But gardening! I do hope he planted you something pretty-"

"Brahm, please shut up." Johann put his hands on his hips and wiped his forehead tiredly. "This insatiable flirting is how you wound up making half vampires in the first place, you cad."

He didn't truly sound upset, but he was blushing. Deeply.

There was a hint of colour in Maria's cheeks too, more subtle than Johann's display. He'd been worried about how she saw him, had he? At least that meant he understood how strange and unhinged he could be at times. She hated to think about him chewing himself up over it, though.

"Come on Johann, let's see if Tucker has a job for us", she said, adding "Rosa can give as good as she's getting."

Marko strode past Brahm, a gigantic log hoisted in the air.

"Evening!" he grinned, clearly delighted that his one superpower was coming in handy for once.

Brahm raised an eyebrow at Marko. "Good show, Marko."

Despite his friendly demeanor, his shift in tone betrayed his true feelings- a challenge. If Marko was to show off in front of the ladies, Brahm had to. (Nevermind that the ladies were Marko's sisters, wife and niece.) He rolled up his sleeves and hoisted two logs, one under each arm. "Need any help with that, Marko?" He trotted after the ringmaster.

Johann was content to allow this new distraction and wandered over to Maria. "I don't know how good I am as a builder. I hope Tucker is adept at fixing mistakes. I should stick to gardening, I think." He looked down and away from her. Was he still blushing? He determined not to let her see it.

Maria's gaze was equally distracted, watching her brother display a literally inhuman feat of strength. It was disconcerting, but a smile played on her lips. It was good to see him enjoying himself. It was good to see him finding someone else like himself.

"I suppose you don't know until you try", Maria said in response to Johann's lack of confidence.

"Is this supposed to go here?" Marko said, practically jogging into position with the log and grinning at Brahm in an obvious playful challenge. That was until he seemed to stumble over his feet, tripping forwards and dramatically planting his face into the Earth. When he sat up groggily after a few moments, something was definitely out of place about his nose.

"Stupid vines tripped me up", he grumbled, kicking at the ground.

"That's fine old chap." Brahm gave his rival a coy sideways grin. "I'm sure it happens to the best of us-"

And then it did again, knocking Brahm to the ground. He landed with a huff and tried to stand up only to find the vine was stuck on his shoe. "What on earth-"

Stuck nothing. He was suddenly dragged across the clearing at great speed. He disappeared momentarily and flapped above the heads of the builders as a little bat, before alighting again on the ground.

"What the Hell is that! We don't have those in Europe!'

When Marko had his dramatic fall, Rosa had rushed over to him in deep concern. Before she could truly try to fuss over his misfortune, Brahm had been whisked away dramatically. At his sudden reappearance she rushed over to his side, half out of concern and half looking for protection.

"I don't think we're supposed to have them here either", she cried.

Ariadne turned immediately to her son-in-law with an accusatory look.

"Tucker, this seems very familiar. Do you know what this is?"

Suddenly there was a grunt as Maria was pulled to the floor. She didn't possess the supernatural bounce-back of the other two victims, but she still managed to writhe around and kick at the vine as hard as she could, to little effect.

"Maria!" Johann saw red, and leapt into action. Or at least, as much action as he could muster with a shovel, whacking at the vines innefectually.

Brahm for his part had swept Rosa up into his arms, bridal style, and was deftly dancing over the wicked snares. "Hang tight love!" He said before putting her over one shoulder and climbing up a nearby tree as easily as if it were a ladder.

Johann caught the display out of the corner of his eye. "Damn the genetics that gave me none of those kinds of powers. Could have used them." He drew a pistol from his pocket.

"Hold still Maria." He stood over the vine, holding the weapon close to it, and fired a shot that rung in his ears but severed the tendril around her legs.

"If anyone knows what is going on, do speak up!" He yelled as he stuffed another bullet into the chamber.

"I... I don't know! The tree died, it died, there's no way this could be..." Tucker whimpered, backing away from some vines that were starting to snake around his feet. Miranda had climbed up onto the trestle table to get up off the ground and tried to haul her husband up too. The vines snaked up to follow, but they were lacking the required energy.

Maria got up from the ground, the shot still ringing in her ears, and gave Johann a grateful smile. "Thank you,", she gasped, "Now I suggest we run."

Her hand fit so easily into his as she tugged him towards the pile of lumber prepared for the construction: an easy way to get some height against this ground-dwelling menace.

Rosa, thoroughly enjoying playing the damsel in the arms of her rescuer high in the tree tops, clung onto Brahm tightly. Ideally of course, she should be able to hear the heartbeat of her rescuer so close to her own right now, but this seemed like a time to accept fantastic powers over ideal romantic narrative.

Marko saw that his sisters were getting away safely with a jumble of emotions. He couldn't really object to Rosa being sweet on Brahm without admitting that the discomfort mostly came from his vampirism, which seemed hypocritical. He sidled up to Ariadne, who was hitting vines with a mallet for all she was worth.

"I don't suppose you'd like me to..." he said, motioning to Rosa and Brahm. Ariadne side-eyed him, causing him to droop slightly in disappointment. She looked down at the encroaching vines, then back to Marko.

"Well, I suppose, if you really want to..."

She put her arms around his neck with a smile.

"Just don't jog me around too much, hmm?"

Brahm perched on a comfy little branch with Rosa safely in his lap. "Quite a fright, my dear! But we seem safe up here. Would almost be romantic if not for the peril, ja? Lovely view."

Johann had no such view. Content to be led, he followed Maria up the wood pile and held her hand. The two stood gripping each other a moment, trying not to lose balance and fall back to the strange, creeping vines. He glanced to Ariadne- safe with Marko. Then to Miranda. Tucker seemed to be struggling.

"Tucker! Can you explain this, and do it quickly?" The snaking vines threatened at Johann's shoes. "One of yours? Or something new?"

Tucker stared at Johann, eyes wide and disbelieving, with all the shock you might expect for someone whose deceased abusive parent has possibly come back from the dead.

"Mine, I think. But it's not the same. I can't talk to it like I used to! I can't-"

His voice trailed off as he slowly climbed down off the table, letting the vines gently wrap around his legs. Miranda reached out a hand to stop him, but held back when she saw that he wasn't being attacked. In fact, he suddenly seemed quite serene, eyes closed and muscles loose. All the vines snaking across the forest floor fell still.

"When the tree burned, it didn't die", he said in a soft, loamy voice. Miranda clutched her hands to her mouth, terrified that Tucker was going to change again. He seemed to remain his new, doughy self, however.

"Or the thing that lived in the tree continued, anyway. Escaped but... damaged, real bad. It went to ground. It has been trying to gain enough energy to find a new vessel, but it knows it didn't do so good last time. It's sorry for... for keepin' me as a protector like it did."

Tucker trembled slightly, either from whatever power was going through him or from painful memories.

"It's sorry. It wanted to find me to say it's sorry."

He looked to Johann, often his moral compass as he navigated the world of morality outside the forest.

"Where can it go? I don't want to care for it ever again. Being sorry can't undo anything. But... I want to help it do better."

Johann settled gradually. He still trembled on top of the wood pile, and realized with embarrassment, he was still holding Maria's hand. He flushed deeply but didn't let go, not just yet.

"It had a plant before, ja? Why not a plant again. Plenty to choose from."

"Anyone mind filling me in?" Brahm called down from his wooden bough. "Do you and the uh... the vines know each other?"

"A plant, yes," Tucker nodded, walking towards the woodland and beginning to root around the ground.

Rosa took the opportunity to answer Brahm's question, still with her arms around his neck.

"Oh, you see Tucker used to look after this sort of... well, demonic tree? I don't think it was very nice, anyway. It raised him from being a small boy. To be honest I never met it. What do you think he's doing?"

Tucker straightened up after picking something from the forest floor and held it out in the palm of his hand. A small black pine cone.

"There are seeds in here, fir tree seeds" he said quietly, to the ground, "Why don't you find a home? You can grow here by the school house. We'll keep an eye on you."

There was stillness. Quiet. He turned back to his family and smiled.

"It's alright. It's safe now. I uh... I think we should plant this somewhere. In a pot, perhaps."

Johann shakily stepped down from his woodpile shelter and held a hand out to Maria to help her down after him.

"Give it here. I haven't spent all this time gardening for nothing. I'll find a plot for it."

Brahm carefully made his way down to terra firma with Rosa in tow. "As much as I'd like to swing in the treetops with you all evening madame, we best be getting down."

Once firmly on the earth, he cautiously approached Tucker and the tiny seed. "Did you... ah... tame it, dear boy? It wouldn't surprise me in this circus family. A ringmaster, an illusionist and a beast tamer! Ha. You fit right in."

"Never thought of it that way around. I always reckoned it tamed me", Tucker replied wistfully, handing the pine cone to Johann. "Let's hope that spending some time as something small and weak will help it figure out what's important."

Marko helped Ariadne down from their perch in the treetops with less style and grace than Brahm had achieved, but she surprised him with an appreciative and passionate kiss all the same. As much as she hated to admit it, being whisked away from danger by her strong and handsome husband a fantasy come true, plus her long years of marriage suggested that this was a good moment to build up Marko's damaged ego.

"That was very gallant", she whispered, holding him close.

Maria hung back, watching events from the sidelines, the hand that had held Johann's curled up into a fist. Ariadne and Marko were clearly having a soppy moment, Rosa would no doubt be recounting Brahm's behaviour for weeks and Tucker and Miranda were beginning to fuss over each other. It seemed like everyone in this family was neatly paired off.

She looked down at the forest floor. Anything to avoid looking at Johann.

Johann took the little pinecone in hand and held it gently, the way someone might hold a very tiny kitten.

He didn't notice any of Maria's misgivings, but he did toddle back to her side with the pine cone in tow. "It seems to be quite harmless at the moment, if you wish to see. Do you think you have any spare pots at the house we could keep it in for a bit? I should like to keep it sheltered over winter till it gets a bit of size to it."

Brahm meanwhile had heartily clapped Tucker on the back and had resumed his cheerful role. "Would you look at that! An exorcist planting a little spirit in a garden. There really ARE lots of new sights to see in America aren't there? It's been quite an evening even for me."

He glanced down at Rosa. "Maybe we should take a little lunch break from all of this hard work and excitement." He winked at her.