And now all your love is wasted
Then who the hell was I?
Cause now I'm breaking at the britches
And at the end of all your lines
Who will love you? Who will fight?
Who will fall far behind?
-Lyrics to 'Skinny Love' performed by Birdy
Crimson Bonds Part 9
"Wait!"
Just as the hands around began to rise, they lowered and eyes widened as they fell on Senator McAdams. The woman brushed down the front of her skirt as she climbed to her feet. Head high, she declared, "As the one to call for this new law, I request that the vote be made by closed ballots as opposed to a public show."
Voices muttered loudly as the assembly reacted to the surprising appeal. Frowning deeply, Treize and his wife exchanged glances from the corners of their gold-rimmed eyes. "What would be the point in such a thing?" Lady Une whispered. "A vote is a vote. If she has been defeated, she has been defeated either by a raise of hands or a piece of paper."
Shaking his head, Khushrenada replied in kind, "I don't know what she is thinking."
Over the growing clamor of utterances, the Moderator slammed his gavel once with a stern, "Order!" Silence fell as he leaned forward in his chair, settling the McAdams with a stern look. "You are entitled to make such a request, seeing as how this is your argument. But you need to convince me why you believe it would make any difference in how the votes are cast."
This was a last-minute effort on Nancy's part. As sure of herself as she managed to appear, her hopes for the outcome she wished for had been crushed by Treize and his speech. And once the vote was cast, there would need to be new evidence and a better challenge made on her part... such a thing could take the remainder of her lifetime if that were enough.
Still, she just had to cling tightly onto something. Rolling her shoulders back, the Senator answered, "Out of fear of the Vampire Council, many may be swayed to display their decision in this matter. A secret ballot would allow them to keep their identities hidden. It will keep vote honest."
Dozens upon dozens of Representatives shot to their feet, arms flailing and shouting down at the woman as those still sitting also joined in with the hollering. Still others almost seemed to have expressions of interest. What all was being said, be it in support or against her, was lost in the confusion of the sea of words.
But it was the Infected of the Vampire Council that remained still as statues, eyes enlarged and jaws open in disbelief. "S-she can't be serious," Noin breathed. "There is no way she could possibly think..." It was so unfathomable she could not finish her statement.
Under his breath, Zechs urged, "Don't let her faze you. It's the only move she can make and she's aware of that. It won't change anything."
Relena kept her blue-and-gold eyes on the Senator as she said just as softly, "It simply couldn't change anything that will take place here." In the deep corners of her mind, she inquired to herself, "...Could it?"
Again, the gavel banged, three times this round to bring the loud voices to a halt. "Order, everyone!" the Moderator cried, the veins around his temples bulging in his building frustrations. "Order!" It took a long moment for the calm to return and for those on their feet to return to their seats.
Raising a finger to the woman across from him, the aged Representative decreed, "If this is what it takes to make you happy, so be it. And let this ballot be the end of it." He turned towards the men and women serving as his witnesses stationed at either side of him and asked, "Please see that the leaflets are passed out to everyone here."
While those standby moderators gathered the boxes of blank pages beneath their chairs, Nancy raised her head to the rows of Senators around her, shouting, "If ever there was a chance to defend our kind, it's now! There would be no retribution from the Vampire Council if they do not know where you really side!"
Once again, there were rumblings from the audience... only a notably quieter one this time.
"Senator McAdams!" the Moderator snapped, abruptly ending the talks around before they could become anything more. "That is all I will tolerate from you!" he blasted, wrinkled face reddening and his finger pointing directly at her. "You are lucky I have granted your request at all. Do not make me retract it!"
Bowing deeply with a rough swallow, Nancy replied meekly, "My apologies." Not about to push her fortune another inch, she sat back down and kept her head down.
As his aids made their way to passing the ballots to every Representative, the old man ordered, "You will only write a yes if you agree to these new regulations or a no if you are against. You will leave this room and place your folded papers into the ballot boxes by the doorways."
He gestured to the Infected, announcing, "Two members of the Vampire Council will work with my advisors to confirm the count. Once there has been a second and a third confirmation to the results, we will call everyone back to session immediately. Even if it takes all night, this issue will be settled so that we may move onto other matters at hand."
At that, Treize looked back to the other Infected above and behind him. "Noin, Abelo, please join the aids." Nodding firmly, his cousin and the tall, handsome Councilman of central Brazil stood to filter through the isles to flank the Moderator while the last of the ballots were passed around.
Slowly but surely, the high balconies of the civilian onlookers cleared out. One of the last to stand by, Quatre shook his head in shock as he anxiously watched the Senate disperse to place their votes in the boxes and leave the room. "Well, this was not at all how I thought the day would go," he muttered to himself. He waited until the rest of his family finished writing their votes down before he stepped away to reunite with them.
Reaching the ground level, it did not take the scientist long to spot his wife amongst the filtering Representatives. Their eyes meeting when he neared, he smiled warmly and pulled her into a tight hug that she melted into. Kissing the top of her head, Winner said softly, "I hope the reaction to our cousin's speech put you at ease, love. Let Nancy delay the inevitable and throw her last punches all she wants."
Peacecraft giggled against his shoulder, "Once again, you always manage to put me at ease, husband-mine." She pulled back enough to place a quick kiss against his lips and whispered sincerely, "Thank you."
Quatre winked and released her only to turn and face the Patriarch of the Clan when the other members of the Vampire Council finished shaking his hand and exchanging soft sentiments prior to their parting ways. "You were brilliant in there, Treize," he complimented, a brilliant smile spreading across his face. "It couldn't have gone any better."
Sighing, Khushrenada took the Companion's hand for a firm shake as he grinned, "Much gratitude, cousin." He took a cautious glance around to see that there were not many ears remaining by and fixed the blonde's gaze to ask soft as a breath, "How were the citizens in the balconies responding from what you could see?"
"It was all the same as what came from the Senators," Quatre shrugged. "There were very few who took to McAdams in comparison to the people present. I have strong feeling that she is going to have a hard time being reelected as the Representative to the challengers of the Vampire Laws after the move she pulled tonight."
As if on cue, the lovely brunette stepped out into the hallway with her few followers in the Senate surrounding her.
Head lowered, one hand stuffed in the pocket of her suit coat and the other tightly clenching her briefcase, Nancy seemed to want her privacy at the moment instead of being bothered by anyone. Even in light of the quiet praises and encouragements, she was not in the mood to partake in any sort of celebration. Like every other time, she and her hoard acted as though the Vampires lingering around did not exist when they breezed by.
Zechs watched the retreating Senator, smirking, "She's probably busy figuring out what she is doing to do when her term is up and her replacement steps in. If she is the worst of what we have had to deal with in the Senate, I feel better now than I ever have over our place in the world."
Lady Une nodded, "That makes two of us." Noting the emptying corridor decorated by marble columns and gold-framed artworks that nearly touched the high-arched ceiling, she suggested, "Let's get some fresh air while we wait to be called back to session for the vote. I have seen enough of these walls for now." There was no argument to the notion and the family stepped out to leave all that they could have at their backs.
Only a few hours and the whole ordeal would be behind them entirely.
* * * * * *
Well into the night at another corner of the world, Heero stepped aside for his newly arrived guests as they entered his cottage. "Make yourselves at home," he told Sally and Victor, gesturing towards the living room. Closing the door behind them, the Original followed to join his lover and siblings standing by the couches as they hugged their friends.
Their handshakes and embraces exchanged, the immortals took their seats in their pairs with the doctor and her Vampire facing the family. Sensing the tension their shoulders, Po raised a hand and reassured with a chuckle, "It's good news, so no need to worry." At that, it was as if the Clan breathed in relief as one, their bodies sagging.
"S-so the process should be an easy one, then?" Duo stammered, gripping onto his equally stunned husband's hands.
Nodding, Sally answered, "Yes, I see no reason that insemination should not go as smoothly for Anna as it would any human. It is not a field that I was very practiced in and so I researched quite a bit to fill in the missing gaps. And based off of everything that I know of her reproductive system, I believe that conception should come on rather easily..." She hesitated to bite her lip before adding, "...with a few added measures to ensure pregnancy."
Wufei frowned deeply, "Added measures?" Flickering a glance at his wife, he asked the doctor, "What 'added measures' would those be?"
Po shifted as though something sharp had been hidden beneath the soft couch cushion she was sitting on. Meeting her former nurse's stare, she informed, "There is the natural healing ability that all Infected Vampires have in fending off foreign entities, anything that could be an injury to their bodies."
To the confused expressions washing over her friends' faces, the doctor explained clinically, "Semen from anyone other than Wufei's could be a potential threat to her. Anything from another donor's sperm would very likely be destroyed by her natural immunity's defense before it reaches an egg to fertilize it."
Eyes blinking widely, the Clan looked to Anna as she muttered, "Well... I never considered that, but it makes sense." Shaking her head, she inquired, "So how do we prevent that?"
There was another pause from the braided Companion before she informed quietly, "As we all know, we are dealing with the only living part of your whole being. If all goes as I am confident it will, there it should not take long for pregnancy to take hold, but it would have the best chance through hormone and fertility supplements injected directly to the uterus."
Wufei swallowed roughly. Heero reached without thinking to hold onto his sister's shoulder. Duo looked as though he was about to be ill over the detailed solution.
Anna was completely indifferent to the news. Finally smiling, she shrugged, "Works for me. I've been through worse than a few shots. When do we get started?"
Turning towards her, Yuy whispered, "Anna, you don't ha-" He was cut off when the stern blue-and-gold eyes locked onto his.
"It's fine, brother," the redhead reassured, her face never slipping. "We both know I've dealt with a hell of a lot worse than a few shots over my existence." Without meeting her anxious husband's scaly face, she squeezed his leg that was pressed against her own. "Nothing to get all worked up about. Hell, I was almost expecting it to be something even more harsh than a few injections."
Warm grins curling their lips, the visitors did not look the least bit surprised. "I can speak with you privately regarding the supplements, then," Sally told her friend quietly. Straightening herself, she focused on the longing parents-to-be. "That brings us to the question of who will be the donor? If that has not already been discussed, I hope to not step out of bounds but I have a suggestion."
If their skin was able to flush, the embarrassed Original and his Companion would have been as red as their sister's hair as they passed a glance from the corners of their eyes. Clearing his throat, Maxwell shook his braided head as he said, "Actually, we never did get that far. And if you have an idea that might make the most sense, we're more than willing to hear it, Sal." His husband nodded to the doctor.
Holding out a hand to the Japanese Vampire, Po stated, "Heero, because you were the one to turn Anna, she already is a strong carrier of your DNA... much more so than Duo, whom she has only drank blood from on occasion. Because of that, any child she produces to you will already have a good likelihood of taking on your traits, as you have seen in a few of her own children."
Cobalt-and-gold eyes widening, Yuy replied quietly, "That is true." Smirking, he snickered to his soul mate, "That puts it onto you, love. I gladly relent that task."
Already thinking of the visits to the hospital and the task he would be set to, Duo was squirming in his seat. But whatever measure of humility he was experiencing was quickly remedied when he compared his part in the process to Anna's sacrifices. Back righted, he squared his shoulders and nodded firmly, "Alright. I should still have a few good swimmers in me to get the job done fast."
Victor joined in the laughter to fill the room, his head falling back. "Maxwell, I did not think that you would be one to be shy over this for long," he commented when he calmed enough to speak. "From what my wife has shared with me, you have a while before needing to worry about anything for now."
"That's right," Sally giggled. "I would feel better after Anna has used the supplement for at least a month before actually proceeding with the insemination. Until the time for her ovulation gets closer for the attempt, I see it as better to wait until then."
Giving the side of her pelvis a good pat, Anna giggled, "Lucky for me I have good birthing hips for the babies coming."
Heero and Duo shot her a look as they frowned at the same time, "Babies?"
At that, Po laughed, "Well, you are working with a mother who more often than not has delivered twins. Add on the fertility drugs that she will be using and the possibility of multiples is pretty high." Tilting her braided head, she smirked, "Have you forgotten to take that into consideration?"
The couple smiled sheepishly as they fell into a garble of unfinished sounds that were impossible to decipher until their sister grinned, "It wouldn't be a problem for you, I hope. More than one child at a time would be good for them, always having another creature they can grow with who understands them."
Wufei chimed in, "It has been a nice thing to watch multiples share their experiences together." He snickered, "Not to mention that they tend to act as each other's narks when their sibling gets into trouble so they do the work for you there."
Leaning their heads together once more, the Original and the Hybrid smiled. "It won't be a problem at all," Heero declared to the rest of the group. "We will be more than thrilled with one child, but we would just as easily take on more if we are so fortunate to have them." Maxwell nodded fervently.
Her hands coming together in a loud clap, Sally cheered, "Wonderful! Now, before I speak with Anna alone, I'll lay out the ground work of what lies ahead for everyone involved these next few weeks..."
* * * * * *
"The reports are coming through from the reporters inside the Senate to what happened today," the voice on the other line informed. "You did everything that you could do today, Mom. I'm proud of you."
Sighing deeply, Nancy ran a hand over her pulled back hair. "Thank you, David. You and the others shouldn't be up this late waiting for word on what happened with my case. However... it is good to hear that you all care enough and took the time to call to check in on me."
Briefly pausing, she shook her head, "After this vote goes against me, I have a feeling that my supporters are going to be bringing in a replacement at the end of my term since I would have failed at making the best argument that could have been made to tighten the Vampire regulations."
There was a huff from her oldest son before he replied, "They wouldn't give up on the only person in their camp who is consistently working against those monsters. I can't think of anyone else who has put the time and effort into the cause as you do, Ma. Try to not worry about the reelection. Besides, there's plenty of time before you have to give it any thought."
With a soft hum, McAdams eyed the clock hanging on the wall across from the bench that she was sitting on.
9:47 pm.
The vote must have been approaching the close of the third confirmation. Once those official numbers were tallied, Council would resume so that the final call could be made to deny the agenda the Senator had fought so hard for. But it wouldn't be the end for her. No, she would press on until she took her last breath.
Already, reporters were shuffling back inside of the official building along with large handfuls of the Representatives further down the hall where Nancy had taken her refuge on a secluded bench.
Microphones in hand, the journalists were asking questions to the human and Vampire council members alike for some kind of statement on how they were feeling after the day's events leading to the news they were all waiting for. Mutterings of the polite 'no comment' or 'please, not at this time,' were the general responses.
Not one to shy from the press up until that moment, Nancy groaned to herself at the thought of the swarm surrounding her the moment she stepped out following a devastating loss to her case. Any kind of PR was something she would have gladly run with to get her message of fearing the Vampires to the masses. Now, she was coming up with a strategy to avoid the attention.
Finally, *they* arrived. Treize Khushrenada and his brood of bloodthirsty demons with the manipulated poor soul of a Companion in their ranks. Like their fellow chair holders, the Infected kindly excused themselves and made their way through the growing mass of reporters.
Turning her back to the Clan, McAdams asked her son, "So how is your fall semester coming along, dear? I still cannot believe that you're in the middle of your classes for your masters degree. I still vividly remember the day..."
"...the day you brought me home from the hospital after I was born," the young scholar snickered in tandem with her, well used to the sentiment over the course of his life. "School is fine. Nothing new to share with that." Through the connection, he could hear the rising noises from down the hall at the same time the pager in his mother's cell phone went off. "Sounds like things are about to wrap up out there."
Pager in hand, Nancy bit her bottom lip at the message flashing across the screen. "Yes," she sighed, "I just received word that we are to report back." And from the looks of things, she was one of the last to receive the memo going by the long stream of Senators that were now pouring past her sight to reach the main gathering hall.
Even more of a bad omen for how things had fared.
David's voice urged, "Keep your head high, Mom. Even with it not working out, you put up a great fight today. There's no shame in that. It's just like you always tell me- regardless of what happens in this life, God will take care of his own in Heaven and leave the Vampires behind the closed Gates for Lucifer to reclaim them."
Oh how well Nancy's children had taken to her mentoring. "Thank you, son. I love you."
"Love you too, Ma," he said back, a grin in his tone. "I'll call you tomorrow."
Closing her phone after their goodbyes, McAdams stuck both it and her pager into either pocket of her suit coat. Shoulders pulled back and chin lifted, she followed her child's advice and walked proudly and without a hint of worry when she slipped into the end of the line that began to serpentine back into the main hall.
The Moderator was already in his tall chair. At his sides, his aids and the two from the Vampire Council that had been called upon to validate the count stood stoic of any emotion as they no doubt had been told to appear lest they give away the results too early. Not a face nor a posture amongst the team could be read even with Nancy's keen skills of observation.
When the very last Senator returned to their chair and the space was in complete silence, the old man rose to his feet and took to the stage with a small piece of paper on which the numbers had been jotted down. Gripping the edges of the podium after lowering that page before him, so came the tally in a clear, booming voice that reached the top of the high arched ceiling.
"All against Senator McAdams' plea for the tightening of legislation around the Vampires... 108. All those in favor... 123."
TBC...
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