Marcus paused for a moment.

"I..." he stammered, before it hit him. "It... she... yeah. Yeah, she is." he realised. "Granted, not by even a year, I think it's 10 months or so, but... yeah. Yeah, she IS younger than you." he confirmed.

"This child will have a grandmother younger than her actual mother." he said further.

He then cleared his throat, pushed the potential awkwardness away, and sighed.

"And... I... yes. Yes, I DO want to be a part of the child's life." he told her. "I wasn't around for a big part of your own, and the reasons and validity of that can be debated until the cows come home... which my therapist will hopefully help with... but I fully intend to be a part of my grandchild's life." he stated.

"I promise THAT."

Marcus just sighed again.

"...to be fair, she doesn't really TELL anyone her age, so... yeah..." he muttered. "But I understand. It's... it'll be a little weird, but only for people that don't know us, or make snap-judgements." he shrugged.

"Still. It's weird to think about it." he admitted.

"And while I might not have any mana, I DO have ways to quick-transport." he then assured her. "Hell, I have an old medallion that still has some life in it. I can get anywhere in the world. Just a limited amount of times." he chuckled.

"...but I DO wish to be a part of my grandchild's life." he stated, more serious now. "I refuse to be absent, again, from my family's life." he went on.

"Also, do you have a preference for where you want to live?" he asked. "Because, the more I think about it, I miiiiiight know someone that lives on a small Vineyard, that's thinking of leaving Italy and living in New Zealand."

"Fair enough." Marcus responded.

"I'll see if I can get into contact with them." he told her.

"...also, that IS a good point..." he then said. "You ARE still human. You're a human. Pregnant with a Dhampir child." he commented, leaning forwards a little and looking right at her.

"I assume you know what vampiric birth entails?" he asked.

"And assuming you do, are you prepared for that experience?" he asked further.

"Because to call it traumatic is... an understatement."

Marcus merely nodded in response.

"As long as you are fully aware of what the future holds for you." he told her. "Also, you do raise a good point about medical science and such. I'm sure you'll be in the best of hands." he reasoned.

He was then silent for a moment, before smiling at her.

"I'm proud of you, dear." he said.

"You've overcome such horrendous adversity, and here you are now; owner and CEO of a multibillion-dollar fashion empire, a successful magician, you have someone to share your life with, and now you're expecting." he said further.

"It's amazing."

"That's understandable." Marcus replied.

"Just take it one day at a time and make sure you keep your friends and loved ones close." he told her.

"I'm going to make some calls about that small Vineyard." he then said. "The guy I know has recently put it up for sale, and he probably still has it available. I can call you if he wants to speak with you about it." he offered.

"Yes, he IS a mage." he then stated.

"So you won't have to worry about hiding anything or whatever." he assured her further.

"He and I are old friends."

"Will do, Marcus responded.

Later, as Desiree stepped into the area and spoke to Jake, the guard looked over from his paper and smiled at her.

[b]"Oh, hey." he greeted her.

"Yeah, he's in." he said further. "He know you're coming?" he asked, as his tongue darted out to check her mana, ie: her identity. But as he did so, his tongue hung out of his mouth for a few seconds, before it retracted and darted back out and in once more.

"..." he was silent, before raising an eyebrow and looking at her.

"Are you...?" he started to ask, before stopping and thinking about it.

"I can tell it's you." he assured her. "But... there's another signature within."

Jake raised an eyebrow again, before leaning back in his chair.

"Well, that answers my obvious question." he said.

"And yeah, odds are he's used his mana to teleport close to this place and should be coming through that door any-" he started to say further, before the inside door was swung open by Zeke, who practically barged through.

"Desiree!?" he exclaimed.

"...second, now." Jake finished.

"Maaaaaan, you are some kinda predictable, sometimes." he then said to Zeke, who just looked IMMENSELY confused now.

The boys looked into the bags they had been given, and Jake raised an eyebrow.

"...that muffin place is... well, it's expensive, innit?" he asked. "Like, these muffins are are... what, 15 bucks each?" he asked.

"$17.20 with taxes." Desiree stated matter-of-factly in response.

"...well then." Jake replied with a laugh. "I'll gladly accept." he told her.

"Y... yeah, same here." Zeke agreed. "But... but I mean... is it... because..." he started to ask further, as Jake just shook his head lightly.

"All right, all right." he said. "Desiree, you can go on in and help the stunned guy come to terms with this." he told her, digging his own muffin out of the bag and smirking.

"I'LL get to know THIS tasty morsel." he commented further, before stopping and looking at her.

"Congratulations, by the way." he said sincerely.

Zeke was silent, but just nodded.

The two then stepped through the doorway, with Desiree and Jake waving to each other as she went with Zeke. The two started to walk down the hallway, with Zeke looking... quite awkward and stunned.

"Ah..." he then stammered.

"Let's... use one of the smaller conference rooms." he suggested. "Just so we have some... privacy." he said further.

"Sure thing." Desiree responded with a small laugh, as they reached the room in question, stepped in, and Zeke changed the sign on the one side to 'in use', before joining her at the table in the middle of the room.

"You... you're laden." he then said.

"When?" he asked.

Zeke was about to say something, when she handed him the envelope.

"Eh?" he mumbled. "What's this?" he asked, accepting it.

"Something for you and those you live with." Desiree responded. "Did you not hear the first time?" she asked him. "Maybe you should see someone about that." she then suggested, feigning concern.

"Oh, all right, enough." Zeke muttered. "Playful gaslighting is STILL gaslighting." he reasoned, opening the envelope and looking inside... only for him to completely become dumbfounded.

"Wh... I... th... this... I mean... but..." he stammered and stuttered, before looking right at Desiree.

"These... these are tickets." he said. "But... even the base trip for ONE costs far too much money..." he commented.