David collapsed onto the couch in the living room, and was joined by Mael and Bear.

Mael cuddled closely into David’s side while Bear pulled out his favorite video game, Super Mario Brothers. Bear tried handing the controller to David but he had to refuse. David couldn’t stand that game. In all his years of playing the stupid game, he’d still never manage to actually beat a single level. David thought it best to quit while ahead.

“Let Mael play,” David said, but Bear frowned. A long argument about how Mael was too little and died way too many times for Bear to even get past the first obstacles that it was no use. Bear was all settled in to play alone when Michael joined David on the couch and grabbed a remote to play.

Michael had a small slab of raw meat on a plate that sat on his lap. The smell alone made David cringe, but it didn’t seem to bother either of the kids at all. Bear was too wrapped up in his video game, and Mael was too young to know any better.

“Are you okay lately? That’s the fourth raw one you’ve had this week,” David mentioned casually to Michael. David knew that talking about Michael’s eating habits was never a good idea; it was better not to ask. Michael accidentally fell into a pit of lava and lost his last life on the video game before taking another bite of the raw steak.

“I’m just a little stressed is all. I had to work up the courage to ask you to marry me, you know.” Michael tried to make it seem like that was all it was, but deep down he knew better. Michael was hungry. A kind of hunger that couldn’t be quenched by raw meat or animal blood anymore. He hated feeding off humans, and there was no way to steal from the blood donation center anymore. They basically banned him for life.

David nodded, not wanting to discuss it anymore in front of the children.

After nearly an hour of video games, David told Bear to turn it off and start homework. It was nearly eleven in the morning now, and it had been one stressful Saturday morning. Michael got up too and picked up Mael in his arms. Mael smiled happily and threw his arms up like a rocket ship.

“Fang Check!” Michael laughed as he spoke, setting Mael down on the counter. David came over to the two of them and Mael opened his mouth wide, like they did everyday.

Mael was the only supernatural in the family that wasn’t exactly grown yet. When Michael and David agreed to foster him, they weren’t able to tell what kind of supernatural he was. They only knew that he was supernatural in nature, but not his race or his abilities.

David and Michael, however, were able to narrow it down to either a werewolf or a vampire. Other supernaturals developed their abilities much younger ages than Mael, who was turning five soon. Werewolves usually developed at age six, and vampires started needing blood when they turn ten, but won’t stop aging until they hit twenty five.

The fangs for both creatures however, developed around five years old. Mael’s birthday was in a month.

So the two dad’s crowded around Mael to get a good look at his mouth. There was no sign of canines coming in. Michael backed up, and rubbed the back of his neck like he was a little frustrated. When they had adopted Mael at age two, both men had secretly wished that Mael was like them. A creature that they could mentor through experience.

“What age did you get your canines?” Michael asked, even though he was sure he’d asked before. David stood and picked Mael off the counter and set him on the ground. He made the spaceship noises and Mael giggled before running off to find Bear.

“When I was four. But everyone’s different.” David defended, knowing that even though Mael still had another year to go before he was considered a late bloomer, it was still a bit strange that he hadn’t shown any sign of being supernatural yet. David always like to think of Mael as Jack-Jack from the Incredibles. Mael is late to develop, but when he does, he’ll be very strong.

“You’re right. He’s got plenty of time.” Michael added, before bringing himself back over to the fridge. Michael wasn’t really hungry for human food, but he wanted to keep his cravings down. Ever since Edith had messed with him this morning Michael couldn’t get the smell out of his head.

David took a seat at the counter and fiddled with the ring on his finger. It was finally happening. He was finally going to get married to Michael, and nothing could stop that happiness from overflowing his chest and spreading the excited warmth throughout his body.

“Dad, Naomi’s boyfriend is going to attack Edith!” Bear giggled from the other room, and not really thinking twice of it, wandered off again. David’s eyes widened when he realized that Bear was probably making a prediction, and was definitely right. If Naomi’s boyfriend was the death element kid, they were all screwed.

David and Michael both started running around the house in sheer panic. David grabbed Mael and pulled Bear along with him into the car, and Michael grabbed the keys and something to entertain Bear in the car. David waited in the driver's seat for Michael to hand him the keys before starting it and backing out of the driveway in a frenzy.

David wasn’t really thinking straight as he drove as fast as he could. His turns were quick and rough, and he couldn’t really focus all that well. Michael was starting to wonder if David should have driven or not.

“Daddy, my stomach hurts.” Mael said from the back seat. He was no longer playing with the stuffed monkey he cleverly named Mr. Monkey, and looked really pale. Bear looked at Mael for a second and then up to Michael, a disgusted look on his face.

“David, drive slower. Your mom is fine, I promise.” Michael tried. Michael took the sign that Bear giving him that disgusted look either meant that he saw Mael puking, or felt sick himself. Michael didn’t want to guess which one.

David took in a few short breaths before driving the car slower. Mael didn’t look as sick as before, but Bear still looked the same. It wasn’t sickness that was affecting Bear, but confusion. To Michael, it looked like Bear was completely confused about something. A car honks at them as David makes a quick left turn into the mall, almost getting hit by the oncoming traffic.

“We can’t help your mom if we’re dead!” Michael scolded angrily, but David looked just as bewildered. He seemed different somehow, as if something in him had woken up and suddenly taken control of him.

David parked the car without another word, looking more in pain than ever. He carefully pulled into a spot near the front, and unbuckled his seat belt before turning the car off. David leaned his head against the steering wheel. Michael could feel that something wasn’t right.

“Go in and help my mom if she needs it. I’ll explain later.” David’s voice was short, and uneven. Mael unbuckled his seatbelt and climbed into the front, and sat on his daddy’s lap. Bear, on the other hand, opened his door up and climbed outside. Bear walked around and met up with Michael who was already out of the car. Michael wasn’t going to argue with Bear to stay in the car, mostly because he didn’t have the time.

The two quickly walked inside, and Bear started walking toward a department store, just on the other side of the opening. He strolled in like it was any other day, dragging his hands on the clothing racks as he passed by. Michael let him do his thing, knowing that eventually, Bear would lead them right to Edith and Naomi.

Michael vaguely recalls Naomi’s so called boyfriend, Nico. Michael hadn’t really approved, but it was beyond him to really give dating advice. Supernatural species like Elements didn’t have mates, and that’s where you lose Michael. Michael was more accustomed to always having a mate, and that any other dating was just practice before the real thing. David and him agreed that it was better not to meddle in things they weren’t able to understand.

“Come on, tell me about David. I haven’t seen my own child in ten years. What is he like?” Edith pressed Naomi, in a relaxed tone. The tone in Edith’s voice was so relaxed that it almost shocked Michael. Was she coming around to accepting her son?

“Well, he’s like the mother hen, I guess. He’s got that wolf pack thing, where he worries about everyone way too much.” Naomi started describing him to the best of her ability, and looked like she was enjoying herself. Naomi stopped for a moment and seemed to looked right over when Michael and Bear were stealthily hiding behind clothing.

“And what about that oaf that can’t cook? Michael?” Michael seemed to hate that she focused more on the fact that he couldn’t cook than the fact that he was a vampire. Naomi looked a bit conflicted for a moment, not wanting to say anything that would contradict the ‘oaf’ statement, but unable to say anything bad about Michael either.

“He’s… a lot like David.” She said, the momentary smile appearing on her lips once again. Nico came up from behind her and handed her a pair of leather gloves. The tag was still on them, and they didn’t look cheap.

“Thanks Nico! I’ve had my eyes on these for a long time!” She said, pulling off her old gloves and putting the new ones on. She ripped the tags off and stretched her fingers out in them. Michael noticed that the gloves matched the ones on death boy’s hands too.

Michael figures that the gloves is most likely the reason they even started hanging out together for. Nico needs the gloves to stop himself from killing people, and Naomi needs the gloves to stop herself from freezing things. The two of them were so similar that it was weird.

“What is young people’s obsession with gloves? You’re hands are beautiful, no need to hide them.” Edith said, and both kids looked at her like they suddenly had murder in their eyes. Michael was starting to understand why Edith was going to get attacked by Nico. Michael looked over at Nico and wasn’t at all surprised to see him almost bursting with anger.

“Look lady, I know you don’t get out much, but that was just insensitive.” Nico looked like he was about to blow a fuse. Naomi didn’t look any happier, and that was understandable. Some elements were unable to control their abilities until they were much older, and wearing gloves was something that helped them counteract some of the effects. It wasn’t sure-proof though, and everyone knew that.

Michael used his speed and found himself next to Naomi and Nico, and in front of Edith. Bear skipped over, laughing as he went.

“Time to go home, Naomi.”