As The World Falls Down At Least I Have You [Summer]

At first Summer hadn’t seen the point in being assigned a Guardian to protect her. She hadn’t been attacked like Ana had or threatened but Micheal had made her realise that if she didn’t want to accept the protection for herself then she should do it for her girls. They had already lost their dad and she’d been forced to raise them on her own ever since then. She had her friends and family around her and they were a huge help and the girls were so young that they didn’t remember how difficult it was after Finn died but she knew that she never wanted anything like that happening to them again. Even before she and Micheal got together she had known that associating with him could put a target on her back just like she’d had after Finn died but she hadn’t let it deter her then and she wasn’t going to let it deter her now. For the first time since Finn died she was truly happy and she knew that she wasn’t going to let anyone take that away from her. Having a Guardian was strange but Evelyn’s job was at least a lot easier than Matt’s was in that there were areas Summer could go where she would be protected without Evelyn even needing to be there and most of the time Summer insisted that the woman stay with her girls and make sure that they were safe rather than worrying about her. Summer’s girls were her world and she knew that she couldn’t lose them so as long as they stayed safe then that was all that mattered to her. Summer had meant it when she’d told Micheal that she hadn’t wanted to hide their relationship from the world, she hadn’t wanted to feel like she was his mistress or for them to never be able to go out and do things that normal couples did, but he had promised that her girls would be kept out of the limelight the same way that Grace was and Summer would be lying if she said she wasn’t glad about that. As they got older they would come to appreciate who Micheal was to the world but right now they were far too young for that and she knew that she wanted to keep them safe for as long as she could.

As it was, Summer had had work that day but she’d had to finish early as she’d had a meeting with Jensen about how things were going with Evelyn as her Guardian. Now she was back home and if she was honest, it was far too quiet for her liking. Angel had taken the girls while Summer went to meet with Jensen and he had asked if they could stay with him overnight. She knew that her brother doted on the twins like they were his own and she had known that there was no way she was going to say no so he had the girls while she had the house to herself. Evelyn didn’t have to stick around while Summer was at home due to the wards that had been placed on the house to keep it safe but it still felt weird to be there on her own. Summer knew that Micheal’s day would have been a busy one but she still found herself looking at her phone about to call him and see if he was free to join her for dinner when she heard someone knock on the door. Making her way to the front of the house, Summer opened the door and felt a smile touch her lips as she realised who it was. “Hi this is a nice surpri-,” she said, her voice trailing off as she caught sight of the look on his face. “Baby, what happened?” she asked, taking his hand in hers and pulling him inside before closing the door behind him. “What’s wrong?” Twice now he had turned up on her doorstep with similar expressions but they weren’t quite the same. One had been full of sorrow when he’d told her about Finn and the other full of concern when his friend was killed and he couldn’t get hold of her. This was different, this time he looked angry and Summer had no idea why and that worried her.

MICHEAL ALEXANDER HERONDALE

Summer had grown up different, both her parents were born human but later became vampires while she and Angel were both born vampires. It wasn’t always easy, there had been those along the way who had thought that the two of them were monsters because they had never known what it was like to be human, but at the end of the day they were doing the best they should. Summer knew that in time her girls would go through school knowing that they were different but with Micheal’s position leading the Ministry for Magic and Jensen leading the Guardians that made two vampires in positions of great power and she honestly hoped that by the time her girls were old enough to go to Hogwarts they would be accepted a lot easier than she and Angel had been. They’d found their friends in the end and they had been fortunate enough to have found themselves in the same friendship group. Truth be told she couldn’t imagine going through that without Angel by her side and she was so glad that the girls would have each other when the time came. It was different for Grace, though, and Summer’s heart really did go out to the girl. There weren’t that many people out there that she knew of who were born vampires and that was enough to make some people scared of them. It was something that few who hadn’t been through it themselves would ever truly understand but she hoped that Grace was doing okay with it like Micheal thought she was.

Now with the Enlightened causing so much chaos people seemed more afraid of those who were different than ever. That wasn’t why Summer had agreed to have a Guardian in the end, she wasn’t worried about her own safety but she was worried about the safety of her girls. She had been fortunate enough to grow up with a mum who loved her and would do anything for her and even though her dad hadn’t been in the picture, for the most part she hadn’t felt like she was missing out on too much but she now knew what the unconditional love of a mother towards their child felt like herself and she knew that she would do anything to protect them. Finding the letters her dad had written had made her realise that she was much better off without him and she knew that Angel felt the same. Now the girls were growing up without their dad and Summer would be lying if she said that there weren’t times when she struggled but she had plenty of people around that she could lean on. Micheal had been there for her through so much and if she was honest she often found herself thinking about him as the girls’ dad. She knew that she would always love Finn but she was a vampire and that meant that she had an immortal life ahead of her if things worked out and she didn’t want to be alone that whole time. She hadn’t told Micheal that Alanna had accidentally called him “dad” once and Summer had had to correct her. Deep down she hadn’t wanted to but she didn’t want to make Micheal uncomfortable. She still wasn’t really sure how Grace felt about her and she knew that she didn’t want to do anything to mess this up so she was being as careful as she could. As it was she hadn’t expected Micheal to show up on her doorstep and the moment she saw the look on his face her joy at seeing him quickly turned to concern. Pulling him into the house, Summer was quiet as he placed a finger to her lips and she took his hand and led him through to the living room as he asked where the girls were. “ I had a meeting with Jensen earlier so Angel looked after them and asked if they could stay at his tonight,” she said as she guided him down onto the sofa. “What happened?” she repeated, her concern for him outweighing anything else in that moment. As he explained what had happened to Grace, Summer’s hand flew to her mouth in alarm. “Oh Merlin!” she exclaimed, knowing just how devastating that could have been. “Is Grace okay? Do they know who did it?” she asked even though she knew that Micheal wouldn’t be here if he wasn’t certain that Grace was going to be alright. “Why would someone do that to her?”

MICHEAL ALEXANDER HERONDALE

Summer’s mum had tried to protect her and Angel from what they were going to face when they got to Hogwarts and throughout the rest of their lives as much as she could but it had still been difficult. Growing up as a vampire wasn’t easy, Summer had always known that she was different from the others around her and she knew that she was fortunate that she’d had Angel, Chantal and Ana by her side through it all. She’d had other friends along the way but some had turned their backs on her when the truth about what she was had come out. Things were getting better now that Micheal was in charge of the Ministry and Jensen was in charge of the Guardians, there were two vampires in positions of power that no one of their kind had ever had before but there were always going to be those who didn’t like anyone who was different no matter how much they just wanted to live their lives in peace. Summer knew that it could have stopped her from wanting to have the girls but the truth was that the moment she had learned that she was pregnant, she had loved them. She had never given too much thought to becoming a mother because she had always felt like she had all the time in the world for that. She and Finn hadn’t even been trying but they had got lucky and were blessed with two amazing girls anyway. Summer had always thought that they would have their father there to watch over them while they grew up and scare off anyone who might hurt them but then Finn had died and Summer was left to be both a mother and father to the girls. It wasn’t easy raising them alone but she was doing her best and she was beyond grateful for the support of her family, friends and of course Micheal. She could see the way he looked at the girls whenever he saw them, it was very much the way a father should look at his daughters and she had seen him look at Grace in the same way. Life wasn’t going to be easy for any of them but they had Micheal looking out for them and Summer was doing everything in her power to look out for Grace while she was at Hogwarts as well. She wanted this to work more than anything and one day she hoped that their families would merge into one but for the time being she knew she just had to settle for being there for Micheal and Grace as much as she could.

It was starting to feel like it was a habit for Micheal to show up at her place upset or angry but if she was honest she was just glad he knew that he could turn to her when he needed someone. She had never seen him look like this before and she was instantly concerned and she didn’t hesitate in pulling him into the house. Whatever was going on wasn’t something that her neighbours needed to know about and she wanted to make sure they had the privacy that he could talk to her freely. She wasn’t at all surprised when the first thing Micheal did was listen out for the girls but they weren’t there, probably busy having a lot of fun with their uncle instead. Summer knew that Angel doted on the girls just like she did and she knew that she would never begrudge him the chance to spend time with them. Bad luck with relationships seemed to run in their family but Summer felt like she had it right with Micheal and she honestly hoped that in time Angel would find someone who was just as special to him as well. “He’ll probably laugh and say it’s overkill but I will,” she nodded as she sat on the edge of the coffee table so she was in front of Micheal and they could talk properly. Angel had kept trying to talk her into requesting a Guardian so she knew it was only fair that his house be warded to protect the girls when they were there in return. As Micheal finally revealed what had happened to Grace, Summer couldn’t deny that she was horrified. She knew that kids could be cruel but to try and murder another student just for being different? That was something else entirely. “I’m sure she was. I’ve seen what the two of you are like together, you’re her hero so having you there would have made everything better,” Summer said gently. “It will take time but she’s strong. She’ll be okay.” That was something that she really did believe, she just knew that it would take time for those scars to heal. Grace had already been through so much so Summer hated the fact that she now had this to add to the list as well. As Micheal explained what had happened with the other students, Summer listened intently. “You have every right to feel that way. They’ll get what they deserve, Will and Kirsten will make sure of it,” Summer nodded. “I can’t believe anyone would go that far at that age. Do you know why they stopped being friends with Grace?” she asked, not sure whether they had decided they didn’t want to be associated with a vampire the way some of her friends had when the truth came out or whether there was more to it. The way Micheal said those next words was enough to make Summer’s heart ache for both him and Grace and she leaned forward and wrapped her arms around him tightly. “I can’t even begin to understand the pain you’re feeling right now,” Summer said gently. She was angry at the thought of something happening to Grace but even though Summer thought of her as a third daughter, she was Micheal’s blood and she knew that had to make it that much worse. “You could have lost her but you didn’t. Grace is okay, she’s alive and she’s safe,” she said, no trace of doubt in her voice as she spoke those last words. “I have a shift tomorrow afternoon so I can check in with Grace to see how she’s doing and report back if you like,” she offered, wanting to ease Micheal’s mind a little if she could and knowing that the first thing she would end up doing was hugging the girl tightly and see for herself that Grace really was okay. It wasn’t long before Micheal was beckoning her to him and Summer soon found herself straddling his lap as his hands cupped her face. Meeting his gaze, the passion with which Micheal kissed her was enough to steal Summer’s breath away but she found herself kissing him back with just as much. This wasn’t the kind of kiss they normally shared but then again it had been an emotional day and they were alone so the truth was that Summer really didn’t mind. “Will you stay here with me tonight?” Summer asked as the kiss finally broke, her lips brushing lightly against Micheal’s as she spoke. “Nothing has to happen, I just don’t want you to be alone,” she added quickly, knowing that the last thing she wanted was for Micheal to feel like she was taking advantage. They hadn’t taken that step yet and even though Summer felt like she was ready to, she wanted the time to be right for both of them and right now she just didn’t want Micheal to end up going home alone. At least here she could keep an eye on him, make sure that he had everything he needed and give him the chance to talk about anything he might want to.

MICHEAL ALEXANDER HERONDALE

Summer had known what she was getting herself into when she and Micheal got together, any guy she ended up seeing could potentially become a father figure to her girls if things worked out and she knew that she could well become a mother figure to Grace as well, or at the very least someone that she could talk to. Summer was less than ten years older than Grace was so she knew it might be a little strange for the girl but Summer still wanted to be there for her as much as she could. Grace had been through so much already and even though Micheal had done a great job with her, Summer knew what it was like to grow up with an absentee parent so she knew that she would follow Grace’s lead and be whatever she needed her to be. It was easier with the twins because they were so much younger and Micheal had been a constant in their lives since Finn died. They already loved him and along with Angel, he was the only father figure they had ever known. She knew Micheal meant the world to them both and if she was honest they were already starting to feel like a little family unit and she knew that she didn’t want Grace to feel left out of that. The girl was at Hogwarts so Summer didn’t get to see as much of her even though she worked there as well but that was something that she knew that she was going to have to change. She didn’t want to overstep any boundaries and she knew how close Micheal and Grace were but she knew that it was important that she and the girls got to know Grace better as well so it was something that Summer wanted to make happen if she could. She knew that she and Micheal hadn’t really been together that long all things considered, it had only been a few months, but Summer really wanted their relationship to work and that meant juggling things around a little. It wasn’t something that Summer had ever thought that she would have to worry about, she had thought that she and Finn would have the chance to live a long and happy life together but that dream had been cut short and a new one had now taken its place. She had felt a little guilty about that at first but she knew that Finn would have wanted her to be happy so Summer knew that she needed to follow her heart.

“He will. I caved and agreed to a Guardian so I’ll make sure he agrees to this,” Summer nodded. Truth be told Summer didn’t think that Angel would really take that much persuading, she knew that he would think it unnecessary but at the end of the day he would do anything for the girls and if she was honest it would put her mind at ease a little more as well. As it was Angel checked in with her regularly when the girls were with him to let her know that they were okay because he knew that she worried about them and making sure that his place was warded as well would be sure to help. Summer had gone through some tough times as a born vampire at Hogwarts but she had never had to go through anything like Grace had done that day. She honestly didn’t understand how kids could be so evil, cruel definitely wasn’t the word for what they had done, and her heart ached for Grace. The girls would attend Hogwarts when they were old enough and Summer didn’t even want to think about something similar happening to them when they got there. “You’re right, she shouldn’t. She deserves to be able to live a normal life just like the other students but unfortunately not everyone tends to see it that way. They certainly didn’t when I was a student,” Summer said gently. “Vampires as a whole have always been looked at differently but for those of us who were born this way it brings a whole different level of scrutiny. I made some friends during my first year but they turned their backs on me when they found out what I am. People’s perceptions of us are beginning to change but its slow going and people are always going to be afraid of those they don’t understand.” It was only when they did begin to understand that things could start to change but some people just didn’t want to even try. Summer knew she was fortunate to have found Chantal and Ana and she hoped that Grace had some people like that around her that she could count on too.

“I’m sure she appreciates that,” Summer said gently as Micheal said that he always let Grace go to him when she needed to talk. “It probably was to do with that but I’m sure she won’t have to deal with them for too much longer.” She wouldn’t be surprised if the students responsible ended up getting expelled at the very least and she knew that she was definitely going to have to try and see how things were going in that respect when she was at work the following day. “I wouldn’t dream of talking to her while she was with a group, don’t worry,” Summer assured him with a smile. “I’ll figure something out even if it’s just to ask her for help with the girls. To be honest, I want to see that she’s okay for myself anyway,” she shrugged, knowing it would be easy to arrange to have lunch with them and invite Grace along. Much like Micheal had worried about the girls when he hadn’t been able to get hold of her after his predecessor was killed, Summer was worried about Grace so she wanted to check in with the girl anyway.

Summer hadn’t expected things to take the turn they had done but she returned Micheal’s kiss with ease and with just as much passion. She knew that she should probably try and cool things down a little since Micheal was clearly still upset over everything that had happened with Grace but instead she lost herself in the moment and asked him to stay. She honestly didn’t expect anything to happen but the thought of Micheal being alone didn’t sit right with her so she knew that she would much rather he stay at her place so she could make sure that he was alright. As he spoke, Summer’s breath caught in her throat. No one had ever looked at her the way that Micheal did and that was something that Summer was slowly starting to realise. For a moment she wasn’t sure what to say and when she did speak, she chose her words carefully. “You would still be welcome,” she assured him as she let her hand rest gently against his cheek. “I think we’ve waited more than long enough to take that step but I don’t want to take advantage of you,” she said, her eyes searching his as she spoke. “I want that more than you know, I want you, but I don’t want you to wake up tomorrow with any regrets.” Micheal was born in a different time and they had been taking things slowly for both of their sakes but she wasn’t sure whether he would still be wanting her in that way right now if Grace hadn’t been hurt today or whether he would want to wait.

MICHEAL ALEXANDER HERONDALE

“I am too, it’s a relief to know there’s someone else around to protect the girls,” Summer admitted. She hadn’t wanted to agree to have a Guardian because she hadn’t wanted to take resources away from someone else she was sure was more deserving of protection but she knew that Angel was right – the people responsible for killing Finn were still out there and they could easily be involved with the Enlightened so it was better not to take any chances. Now that she and Micheal were together that put more of a target on her back as well and even though there hadn’t been any threats made against her yet, that didn’t mean that there wouldn’t be. Summer wasn’t worried about her own safety because she knew that she could look after herself but she couldn’t stand the thought of anything happening to the girls so she knew that it was better to have someone else around who could help keep them safe. “I might have to try that with Angel if he argues,” she added with a laugh. “To be honest I did think about seeing if his place could be warded too but I didn’t want to put anyone out.” The girls didn’t tend to spend too much time at Angel’s house but she suspected that would start to change as they got older. She knew how much they loved their Uncle Angel and she also knew how much Angel loved them. He was a natural with them and she didn’t doubt that he was going to make a great dad himself one day but she knew that it wouldn’t hurt for him to get some more practice in before that. “It’ll put my mind at ease while they’re there though and I’m sure it will put yours at ease too,” she added with a smile. Summer knew that Micheal cared about the girls too and the last thing she wanted was to add anymore worry to his plate. He already had so much that he had to deal with and Summer knew that she wanted to try and make things as easy for him as possible. As Micheal spoke about Grace, Summer could tell that he really was angry about it all and her expression softened. “I know. Unfortunately most people don’t tend to see the things that make us alike, they only see the things that make us different,” she said gently. “I’m not sure that will ever change but there are people out there who are exceptions. If she hasn’t found them yet, I’m sure Grace will find people who can see the real her in time.” Summer had found people like that in Chantal, Ana and Seth and she knew that Angel had as well. She’d had other friends while she was at Hogwarts as well but they were the main ones and words couldn’t begin to explain how grateful she was to have had them. She didn’t like the fact that the girls could end up going through the same thing that Grace was right now but she honestly hoped that when the time came for them to start at Hogwarts then they would find some true friends just like Summer had.

In a way Summer was glad that the girls were still so young, they were so innocent at this age and they didn’t know the horrors that the world could hold and she wanted to protect them from that for as long as she could. Summer knew that Micheal was doing his best and Grace was an amazing girl so his methods seemed to be working and even if they hadn’t then Summer didn’t doubt that he would have adapted and found something that did work. It was clear that Grace meant the world to him and Summer knew that there wasn’t anything that Micheal wouldn’t do for his little girl. “I bet that was a relief to her,” Summer nodded as Micheal said that hopefully Grace wouldn’t have to worry about her necklace any longer. “It’s incredible to think that one piece of jewellery can protect us from something so deadly. It’s easy to take that for granted sometimes,” she said gently. Summer used to have to take the potion before daylight jewellery was invented but now she never had to worry and the girls didn’t either as she’d had an item made for each of them when they were born. “I know it won’t come to it but if she does still worry then she could always keep a bottle of the daylight potion in her bag just in case,” Summer suggested, knowing that that way if Grace ever was caught outside without her necklace then at least the potion would protect her. She knew that perhaps wasn’t such a bad idea for all of them and she made a mental note to put a few bottles in the bag she kept ready for going out with the girls. Micheal’s next words were enough to draw a smile to Summer’s lips. “You’re sure you wouldn’t mind babysitting?” she teased even though she wouldn’t be surprised if Micheal would like the chance to spend some more time with the girls anyway. “I was actually thinking it might be nice for Grace and I to have a girls’ day. I’ll see if she’s interested,” Summer nodded. She knew that Grace wasn’t particularly girly from what she had seen but she knew it would be good for them to be able to spend some time together. “I’d love to get to know her better. With the age difference between us I’m not sure she’d really see me as a parental figure but I’d settle for being her friend,” she admitted. Summer really did want their two families to become one and getting to know Grace was going to be a big part of that so she really was all for it.

It was easy to see the shift in Micheal and even though Summer could have told him to stop when he kissed her like that, the truth was that she had no intention of doing so. They had been taking things slow while they learned to navigate everything with the kids and Micheal’s job but in that moment she had never felt as wanted as she felt when Micheal kissed her like that. Summer had asked him to stay the night and she knew that that could be construed as wanting something more but she really didn’t want Micheal to feel like she was taking advantage of him when he was vulnerable. He had sought her out because he was upset and angry about what Grace had gone through and Summer wanted to be there for him. She didn’t want him to be alone but she had needed him to know that nothing had to happen between them. It seemed to be what he wanted, though, and if Summer was honest it was what she wanted too. “I’ve wanted you just as long,” Summer admitted as she kissed him back, her fingers twisting into the hair at the nape of his neck. She had done everything she could to deny her feelings for Micheal at first because it had taken her a while to feel ready to be in a relationship with anyone again after Finn died let alone do anything else. Being with Micheal had slowly started to heal her heart, though, and now she knew that she was truly ready to move on. “Don’t worry about wining and dining or the lack of romance, there’ll be plenty of time for that later,” she added, her smile returning as she kissed him again. “Right now all I’m interested in is you.” A surprised sound escaped Summer as Micheal got to his feet with her still in his arms and she wrapped her arms and legs around him, kissing him back passionately and only moving so she could help him pull her clothes off and free him of his own. A sigh escaped Summer’s lips as he kissed her neck and she directed him to her bedroom with ease. As he set her down on the bed, Summer got comfortable before beckoning for him to join her. “So are you,” she breathed as he joined her on the bed, not sure how she had managed to get this lucky.

---

Sunlight was already filtering in through the curtains by the time Summer began to stir and as the haze of sleep began to lift, memories of the night before came flooding back to her and a smile touched her lips as she realised that she wasn’t alone. She didn’t need to open her eyes to know that they were in her bed and Micheal’s arms were wrapped around her. It had been a long time since she had last woken up next to anyone but the truth was that having Micheal there had helped her get the best night’s sleep she’d had since Finn died. Last night she and Micheal had ended up getting to know each other in a completely different way, they had been taking things slow before that but having the place to themselves and being able to talk freely had made them realise that they both wanted more. Truth be told Summer had been feeling that way for a long time and she didn’t regret what had happened last night for one minute and she hoped that Micheal wouldn’t either. For the time being he seemed to be sound asleep so Summer cuddled up against him a little more, her head resting against his chest while she traced light shapes over his arm. She was so used to having to get up early with the girls that her internal clock didn’t seem to know Angel had that responsibility that day so she had woken up at the same time she normally would but she was more than happy to lie there in Micheal’s arms while she waited for him to wake up.

MICHEAL ALEXANDER HERONDALE

Summer knew that Angel wasn’t going to be too happy when she brought up the idea of having his home warded just like hers was but she knew her brother well enough to know that he would do anything to keep the girls safe. He didn’t have any children of his own yet but he had been there for them ever since they were born and even more so after Finn died. He and Micheal had both become father figures to the girls and she really was grateful to them for that. The girls were her world and she had already lost her husband so Summer knew that she didn’t want to lose anyone else that she loved, least of all her two children. It had seemed like an unnecessary precaution at first when her house was warded but she couldn’t deny that it made her feel a lot safer. She knew that she didn’t have to worry about the girls while they were there and the extra protections meant that she didn’t need to have Evelyn with her twenty four seven. They were safe when they were at home but at the moment the same wasn’t true of Angel’s place or her mum’s for that matter. Angel had used the argument that the people who took Finn from her were still out there somewhere when he’d been trying to convince her to agree to having a Guardian and Summer knew that she wouldn’t hesitate to use that same argument if he refused. She knew that Angel wanted to keep the girls safe just as much as she did and even though she knew that he would no doubt already feel that they were safe with him, Summer knew that she would have to make him agree to the extra measures. If nothing else it would put her mind at ease and Micheal’s as well so it really was a small price to pay as far as she was concerned. She knew there was no way that Angel would agree to asking for protection from a Guardian and she wasn’t sure that Jensen would feel that Angel was a potential target the same way that she was so this was the next best thing. She wasn’t beneath threatening Angel with a Guardian if she had to though even if it would probably never happen. At the end of the day there wasn’t anything that she wouldn’t do to protect her daughters. “I will. Hopefully it won’t come to that but I’ll use it if I have to,” she shrugged. Micheal’s next words were enough to draw a smile to Summer’s lips. “Are you really? I had no idea,” she teased, leaning forward and pressing her lips against his gently before laughing as he said he would have her first love’s home warded if she wanted it done. “No first love to worry about, he hasn’t been in the picture for years,” Summer assured him gently as she let her hand rest against Micheal’s chest. “It’s just places the girls spend a lot of time really. The nursery is warded but they end up at Angel’s or my mum’s quite often,” she shrugged. Angel tended to have them more than her mum did but she would be lying if she said that she didn’t worry about them whenever they were out of her sight anyway. “Thank you,” she said, offering him a gentle smile as Micheal said that he wanted to put her mind at ease.

Worry for her children was never going to go away completely, Summer had known that the moment she had first held them in her arms, but it would get easier with time and having Angel’s place warded was sure to help as well. She really didn’t know what she would ever do if she found herself in the position that Micheal was in right now. Even just the thought that someone had tried to kill Grace was enough to make Summer feel sick to her stomach so she could only imagine how Micheal was feeling right now. It really did mean a lot that he’d reached out to her afterwards because Summer wanted to be there for him as much as she could. She didn’t know Grace very well but it was clear how much she meant to Micheal and Summer knew that she wanted to get to know the girl as well. “I’m sure she would appreciate that. Having some potion around might be a good idea for all of us,” she said gently. There was no telling what was going to happen and hearing what Grace had gone through was enough to make Summer realise just how easily their daylight amulets could be taken away from them. She knew she was going to have to take precautions with the girls’ amulets to make sure that they couldn’t be taken from them like Micheal had done with Grace’s and Summer knew that she was going to have to do the same with her own as well. None of them would be any good to anyone if their amulets were taken but it wasn’t something she had really thought of before. “You don’t have to do that, you know I’ve got my own money,” Summer said, knowing that the last thing she wanted was for Micheal to think that she was only with him because of who he was. She had always liked standing on her own two feet and now wasn’t any different. “I want that too. I know how much she means to you and she’s an incredible girl. It might be early days but I’m all in and I hope we can all be a family one day,” she said, letting her hand rest lightly against his cheek as she spoke. Alanna had already called Micheal dad and Summer had hated having to correct her. She wasn’t sure how Grace really felt about her but she hoped that in time she would become someone that the girl could trust.

For now Summer knew that she needed to be there for Micheal, though, and she knew that rejecting his advances wasn’t something that she wanted to do. She really did want them all to be a family one day and she would be lying if she said she hadn’t thought about them having children together at some point in the future as well. Grace was a teenager and was quite independent already by the sounds of it while the girls were still so young. She and Micheal were vampires, though, which meant that if things worked out the way they both wanted them to then they would get to have a long life together and that was something to look forward to. Turning Micheal away wasn’t an option, not when she wanted him to stay more than anything, and Summer lost herself in everything that was happening as they spent their first night together.

---

It was easy to sleep soundly with Micheal’s arms wrapped around her and it was only when she woke that Summer realised just how much she had missed this. She and Finn should have had a long and happy life together but that hadn’t been on the cards for them. Now she had a second chance at happiness and Summer knew that she wanted to hold on to it. There were still times when it still struck her as a little crazy that Micheal was interested in her but he was just Micheal to her. She knew him before he became the Minister and she didn’t care about the power or anything else that came with it. Her only interest was in him as a man, not in the position he held, and she hoped he knew that. Feeling his arms tighten around her as she shifted slightly was enough to draw a smile to Summer’s lips. She should have been able to sleep for a few more hours given how peaceful her sleep had been but she couldn’t turn off her internal clock telling her that she needed to get up and take care of the girls even when they weren’t there. “Morning,” she said, leaning forward and pressing her lips lightly against his. “No, I can’t. I’ll give it an hour or so before I call Angel and check in though, best let him get the morning routine out of the way first,” she grinned. She was more used to looking after the two of them than her brother was and even though she knew that he was more than capable of looking after them, she still liked to check in and see how they’d slept. As Micheal asked if she had any regrets about last night, Summer pretended to think about it for a moment before letting her eyes meet his. “Only that we didn’t do that sooner,” she said, a smile touching her lips as she looked over at him. “How about you?”

MICHEAL ALEXANDER HERONDALE

Summer knew there was always the chance that Angel might resist the idea of having his house warded but she also knew how protective he was of the girls so she was certain that she would be able to convince him one way or the other. Honestly, she often tried not to think about the idea of them being in danger too much. It had been bad enough when Finn died and they’d had to go to such great lengths to stay safe and she knew that she didn’t want to put any of them through that again. The girls were so young at the time that they hadn’t had any idea what was going on but they were older now and were more aware of things. They already knew that a new person had come into their lives when Evelyn became their guardian and she knew that she wanted to spare them from any more upheaval if she could. Summer had known what she was letting herself in for when she and Micheal got together so she didn’t regret it one bit but she knew that it went beyond that. Angel had told her that there could be people who went after Finn working with the Enlightened and ever since then that thought had stuck in her mind. Summer was a vampire and that meant that one day most of the people she knew now would be gone but she hated the thought of anything happening to anyone she loved so soon, least of all her girls. They were her world and Summer knew that she would do whatever she had to in order to protect them, as would Angel. Truth be told it was reassuring to know that Angel would be safer as well. He would always argue that he could look after himself but he was her twin brother and Summer knew that she would be lost without him. “You kept that quiet, I’m not sure I’m ready to be with someone who has such power,” Summer teased, knowing full well that it wasn’t true. She had gone into this with her eyes wide open but she still couldn’t resist playing along. “Ah so you want details, do you?” Summer asked, an amused smile touching her lips as she looked over at Micheal. “He wasn’t an idiot, he was actually a really good guy,” she admitted. “He was a transfer student from Beauxbatons and we hit it off pretty quickly. We were together for a while but then his dad fell ill and he went home to look after him. I think deep down I knew he wouldn’t return to Hogwarts once he’d gone back home but we tried the long distance thing for a while anyway. As things got busier with his family he started being able to write less and in the end I was a distraction so we decided to end things,” Summer shrugged. It had broken her heart when he’d left and she had known in her heart that it was only a matter of time before their relationship came to an end but he was her first love so she had still tried to hold on for as long as she could. “I think you’re right,” she nodded as Micheal said he thought the nursery had more security on it than anywhere. “Are you sure?” she asked as Micheal said that he would add her mum’s house to the list along with Angel’s. “I really don’t want to cause any trouble.” Summer knew that she didn’t want Micheal or anyone else thinking that she was taking advantage of him. She was with Micheal because she knew what an incredible guy he was and she had feelings for him, not for any other reason. “You remembered,” she said, a smile touching her lips as he mentioned Ana and Chantal even though it wasn’t by name. “Ana has a Guardian looking out for her and I think you’re right about Chantal’s house. Her husband Seth is an Auror,” she nodded. “I would feel better knowing they’re safe too but I honestly don’t want you putting yourself out for me. I don’t want anyone to think I’m taking advantage,” she said gently, finally voicing her earlier concern. Summer knew that she was always going to worry about the people who mattered most to her but she didn’t want to go dragging Micheal into that.

She had seen a glimpse of how angry and scared Micheal had been when he’d shown up on her doorstep but she wouldn’t be surprised if that was only the tip of the iceberg. She knew how protective he was of not just Grace but her and the girls as well and she really did love him for it. “Thank you,” she said sincerely as Micheal said he would get a flask or something together for each of them. “I’ll tell Angel to do the same when I see him tomorrow and I’ll make sure the rest of my family do as well. It isn’t worth taking the chance these days,” Summer admitted. She had never thought that Hogwarts students would go to such lengths but knowing that they were capable of that was enough to make her realise that anyone else could do the same. As he asked if she would like to have Headmistress Maddox use some protective charms on their amulets, Summer’s expression turned thoughtful for a moment. “I think so. I don’t think she’ll mind after what happened with Grace,” she nodded. “She’s the best person I know at Charms, I wouldn’t want to take any risks with the girls.” She wasn’t quite so worried about herself but when it came to her girls she knew that she didn’t want to go taking any chances. Summer knew that she could have asked Chantal or Ana to do it but as much as she loved them, she knew she would feel better having that extra protection. “You spoil us all enough already,” Summer pointed out. “Besides, I think it would give Grace the wrong impression if she and I spent the day together and you paid for everything. I don’t want her thinking I’m with you for the wrong reasons.” She understood where Micheal was coming from but Summer also knew that she wanted Grace to like her so she didn’t want the girl thinking that she was with her dad for his money or anything else. As Micheal spoke again, a smile touched Summer’s lips. “I think you’re right, we are ahead of most couples,” she agreed. “I know you love the girls, Alanna actually called you dad while she was with me the other day,” she said, wanting to test the waters and see how Micheal felt about that. They hadn’t said the words out loud yet but Summer knew that she loved him, there was just a part of her that was scared about being the first one to say it after everything that had happened with Finn. Summer really hadn’t known what to expect when she saw Micheal on her doorstep that day but she knew that she certainly wasn’t going to argue with it ending the way it was given how long she had thought about it happening. Micheal had captured her heart and Summer couldn’t help but feel that this was right.

---

Summer hadn’t meant to wake Micheal as she knew that it was still early but even when the girls weren’t there she still couldn’t seem to break her routine. She always tried to make sure that she was up before the two of them so they wouldn’t have to wait too long for her and it always stopped her from sleeping in even when the girls were spending the night elsewhere. “They always come up with something. Last time he tried giving Serena something she didn’t like for breakfast by mistake and she kept levitating it out of the way every time he put it down in front of her. He finally realised what why but it took a minute,” she laughed. Her girls definitely knew what they liked and didn’t like but she’d grown used to that by now. Angel knew too given how much time he spent with them but it was different looking after the two of them alone so she hadn’t been surprised at all that he had forgotten for a moment. Summer could see that Micheal was trying to figure out whether she had any regrets about the night before but she didn’t and the truth was that she never would. She still hadn’t been able to resist giving the answer that she had done, though, and her expression softened as he finally relaxed and answered her question in return. “There’ll be plenty of time for romance, I’m not going anywhere,” she assured him as she kissed him back. Leaning into his touch, Summer shook her head as Micheal thanked her. “You don’t need to thank me, I’m just glad you knew you could come and talk to me,” she said gently. “I’ll be there for you any time you need me.” They were partners and Summer knew that meant they would face the good and the bad times together and she knew that she wouldn’t have it any other way.

MICHEAL ALEXANDER HERONDALE