No Such Thing

They're Here

Another day, and another bus ride. Gabe and Zander got off the bus with Gabe’s usual antics and the bus driver's usual looks of disdain. Gabe had his patented look of achievement and the riders of the bus’s usual cheers and laughter.

Cayden approached the driveway watching the scene from the mailbox. Zan shook his head as Gabe smiled. His smile swallowed his face it seemed. But people couldn’t help but gravitate towards him. His personality sucked you in. Even the bus driver smiled when he pulled away from the stop.

“Walking again, loser?” Gabe said, popping an M&M in his mouth and crunching it rudely.

“Yeah, exercise. Ever heard of it?” Cayden replied snidely. Gabe gave him a sideway glance and huffed at him. “Whatever.” They all walked up the drive together laughing and pushing one another.

Watching from the window, in anticipation of the people that will soon be filling the house was their mother, Nora. She hasn’t told Paul of her father’s visit yet. Now the kids were home and she had no choice. She knew Yosef and her brothers would be landing at the airport soon and she was informed the cars were there to greet them. The house help was informed to prepare the guest rooms. She wasn’t sure for how many so she had all of the available rooms set up. She smiled as she watched her boys come up the road towards the house. She beamed with pride, even when no one was looking. She heard Herran and Abbie arguing in the hall and Paul talking on his phone just down the stairs. Her heart was full.

Nora shook herself from her Zen and conceded to the fact she needed to talk to Paul. Sweeping her shirt from wrinkles, out of nervousness not for actual wrinkles. ‘Why was I avoiding this?’ She asked herself as she turned and walked towards the stairs. Walking down and keeping her eyes on her husband, her chosen mate. Her life partner. She smiled. “No idea.” She muttered to herself.

Paul hung the phone up watching his wife enter the study. “Hello love. What a day, eh?” He smiled and pulled her towards him. “Those rats are home, aren’t they?” He whispered as he held her close and buried his face in her hair taking in her intoxicating scent. “Yes.” She replied with a sigh, just as content to stay in his protective, warm arms forever. “Paul.” She said. By the tone of her voice and the fact she said his name with no feeling had him pushing her just far enough away from him he could look into her eyes. He held her shoulders. “Are you ok, love?” He asked. “Oh yes, absolutely. I’m fine, more than fine. I just need to tell you how my call went earlier.” He smiled and remembered she had left the office to call her father. “Sorry love! That’s right. When will they be here?” He mused. Seeing the relief in her eyes. ‘He knew, sly devil’ she thought. “You knew?” She asked, already knowing his answer. “I know your father. I know all his baby girl has to say is, ``Daddy I need help.” He smiled. “I would do the same for mine.”

She pulled him to her. “That is why I love you.” She said, “They will be here in an hour or so.”

“Who will be?” Nora jumped, startled and spun around to the door to see Gabe standing there shoving M&Ms in his mouth and crunching disgustingly. She shivered. “Close your mouth, dear.”

“Poppa Yosef.” Paul told his son and walked around the desk. Patting Gabe on the shoulder as he walked past. “Close your mouth, goober.”

“Poppa Yosef? We have a Poppa?” Gabe said with sarcasm. Yosef wasn’t really in his grandchildren’s lives. Not by choice, by circumstance. The job keeps him distant from his family. For safety mostly but because it just isn’t possible to mix pleasure with the jobs they have to do. Van Helsing’s business is much more extensive than the Gaufe’s. How Yosef had five children of his own, baffled most people.

“We will have quite a few people here this afternoon.” Nora called out to her children. “Please get things straightened up quickly.” She looked at Paul and took his hand. She heard the cars roll up the driveway. They headed to the porch to receive their guests. The kids were all piling in behind them. Abbie holding Nora’s hand tightly. She and Herran had never met their Mother’s side of the family. The others can only say they had a few times in their short lives. Lana knew her grandparents and aunts and uncles. She lived with them until Gabe and Zan were born, then Paul and Nora moved back to the states to help with the Gaufe legacy. Lana was still in New York. The cars stopped and people started to get out and surround the center SUV. After a few moments, one of the men in black approaches the SUV and nods. Both back doors open slowly. Nora catches her breath. ‘Did her mother come with?’ She asked herself. Paul holds her hand tighter, he knew what she was thinking. Yosef exits the side closer to the house. He takes in his surroundings as he straightens his suit. A tall, thin, dark eyed woman walks around and slips her arm into his. She stares up at the home and around the area. Yosef leads her towards the waiting Paul and Nora. Nora releases her husband's hand to greet her father with a hug and cheek kiss. She turns to the woman standing next to him. “Mother.” She nods. “Nora, my dear.” Odess embraces her daughter lovingly. “I heard your father was coming to check on you my dear. I couldn’t miss the opportunity to join him. I’ve missed you. Painfully.” Nora’s heart exploded. Her mother held her close for a long moment. When they released, Odess put her hand up towards Paul. “Paul, son. Come help me with the stairs dear. I’m not as young as I look.” She giggled. Paul descended the stairs quickly grabbing his mother in law’s elbow. Nora looks at her love and shrugs. Paul smiles questioningly.

“Nor!” A yell came from the rear of the brigade. Nora looked away from her mother towards the rear car. “OR!” Nora yelled! She looked at her father in surprise and left the men there to run to her eldest brother. She hadn’t seen him in years. She didn’t even consider he would come along. He was running Van Helsing, world wide.

“Nora, my Lord how you have grown!” Nora blushed. “Orion, it has been over 20 years but I’ve been grown much longer than that.” She smiled at him.

“No, you glow. You are happy. Your life is full. I can sense it. I”m so happy for you.” He said, smiling sincerely. Orion and Nora were always close. That is not to say all the siblings weren’t close. Orion was just always that wonderful and protective big brother, whereas her other brothers liked to be bullies and pushy. Like any boy. “Nora, you remember Raven?” An absolutely stunning, tall, olive skinned woman joined them at the trunk of the car. She was captivatingly beautiful. Male or female, one would be caught off guard by her simply entering a room. Dark blue eyes, long black hair. Thin with legs that went on forever. “Raven, dear. I’m so glad you could make it!” Nora held Raven’s hand with both of hers. “We’re family, Nora. Your father expressed the importance. We dropped everything.” She smiled. Making everyone swoon. Raven’s mother is a Muse. So she came by her innate ability to draw people to her. She held back quite a bit. It would be catastrophic if she let herself go. Raven ran Van Helsing with her eldest brother. They were a fierce team. They truly brought the family business in to the 21st century and continued to innovate.

Several people came to the cars from the house to gather luggage and information to which room they were to be delivered to. Another few vehicles pulled up and the rest of Nora’s brothers piled out with their families in tow. Orion and Raven did not have children. They were the typical “corporate” couple. They did not desire children, ‘maybe’ one day. Daniel and his wife Beth, Samuel and his wife Vivian, and Xavier with his most recent girlfriend Pricilla. Daniel’s children, Mica and Morgan (fraternal twins) 16, and their older sister Torin 18 exited the last vehicle to come up the drive. Nora held them each close. So excited to see them. Samuel, the sibling closest to Nora’s own age, brought his daughter with them. 15 year old Jasmine definitely resembles a Van Hesling. Tall, built to impress. Stunning, Nora thought. She held her close. “I haven’t seen you since you were 3 or 4. What an amazing young lady you’ve become.” Nora told her, misty eyed. She watched Samuel and Vivian almost lose Jasmine when she was not even 2 weeks old. A dangerous monster wanted revenge. The family came together then too. With the exception of Orion, who did the leg work from the home office. “Aunt Nora.” Jasmine greeted her with a hug and smile. Nora guided her and the rest of them up the stairs into the house. Xavier grabbed Nora by the arm and spun her around. “No love for me?” He smiled with a devilish grin. “Xav.. I’m so sorry, this is a bit overwhelming!” Nora hugged him tight. “Pricilla, glad you could make it.” Nora greeted her brother’s guest. “Nora.” She nodded in return. ‘Why even be here?’ Nora thought to herself and she continued to hold her brother and look at the tall blonde bombshell behind her brother. No one could doubt the Van Helsing men could draw in the stunning mates. Even her mother was breathtaking.

Fortunately, Nora planned correctly. There was more than enough room in the house and the guest house around the side for everyone. Nora’s parents were placed in the guest house away from the noise. Her siblings and their families were each shown their rooms to clean up and rest after their journey.

Nora didn’t realize just how much she had missed her family. She was happy they came. Inside she knew it wasn’t good. The reason for the visit was important. But she told herself she would enjoy this moment. For what they had ahead of them would not be fun. She felt better for her husband that they were here. She felt better for her children. Inside she felt something coming that was more than any one of them could handle alone. And it was coming for one of her children. ‘Over my dead body.’ She said to herself.