28

As Charlie's pregnancy progressed, he began to experience strange and unsettling cravings. At first, he tried to ignore them, but as the weeks went by, the cravings only grew stronger. He found himself dreaming of half-cooked meat and waking up with an intense thirst for blood.

One night, Charlie's cravings became too much to bear. In his sleep, he began to eat half-cooked meat, and it felt like heaven. He felt complete, like he was finally satisfying a deep and primal hunger.

But when he woke up, he was met with a shocking sight. Xander was lying beside him, his neck bleeding from a vicious bite wound. Charlie was horrified, realizing that he had bitten Xander in his sleep.

Xander reassured Charlie that everything was okay, that the bite wound would heal quickly. But Charlie was still shaken, unsure of what was happening to him.

Xander explained that the cravings were normal, that the baby was a vampire and was influencing Charlie's desires. From then on, Xander would bite his wrist, allowing Charlie to feed and satisfy his cravings.

As Charlie fed, he felt a sense of relief wash over him. He knew that he still had a lot to learn about being a parent to a vampire child, but with Xander by his side, he felt like he could face anything.

Four months had passed since the birth of the triplets, and the palace was still reeling from the impact. Michael, Chris, and Raphael were tiny tornados, leaving a trail of chaos and destruction in their wake.

Their cries had become legendary, capable of piercing even the thickest of stone walls. Drake and Lucas did their best to care for them, but it was a daunting task, even for two experienced vampire parents.

As a result, the palace staff had been drafted in to help. Maids and Xander took turns caring for the triplets, allowing Drake and Lucas to rest and recharge.

But even with the extra help, the triplets remained a handful. When they were just two months old, they had rejected their bottles and demanded to feed directly from their fathers' breasts. It was a challenging time, but Drake and Lucas were determined to make it work.

Charlie, who was now seven months and one week pregnant, watched the chaos with a mixture of amusement and terror. He couldn't help but think that his own child would be just as demanding and destructive.

Xander, sensing Charlie's fears, wrapped a reassuring arm around his shoulders. "Our child will be perfect," he whispered. "And we'll face whatever challenges come our way, together."

But despite Xander's reassurances, Charlie couldn't shake off the feeling of dread. He was already exhausted from carrying the heavy baby, and the thought of caring for a tiny, demanding infant was almost too much to bear.

Xander, noticing Charlie's struggles, took the triplets from him, expertly juggling the three wriggling bodies. "You need to rest," he told Charlie firmly. "I'll take care of the triplets for now."

Charlie nodded gratefully, collapsing onto a nearby couch as Xander disappeared into the chaos of the palace.