When Bleda called them during the night, the small party knew that things weren't going as planned.
"I will need a dragon's heart for the rune," Bleda told them, after the sleepy party managed to mutter their greetings.
"A what now?" Nikola asked. "I'll have you know that I can't fight a dragon."
Bleda nodded. He knew that Nikola could fight, but only when push came to shovel.
"You can get it from the black market as well. This is for the rune against coffin births."
That sobered up the four. Nikola nodded, looking at his checkbook.
"I think that we can afford something like that. I just hope they have it in stock."
"And if they don't have it, we will find a dragon and get you the heart, regardless of the cost!" Jack said.
He refused to see another news article about a baby ghost in the cemetery.
"Thank you," Bleda bowed his head. He then smiled at a goblin lady next to him. "Drusilla, these men are part of my family. They will help you with the runes!"
The goblin snorted.
Still, she didn't say a thing.
The call ended. The party had a quest before them.
"You know," Nikola began, mulling over the quest. "Let us go and ask Guild Master Arnold for help! I mean… what if we end up mucking the stables for an entire month for just running off?"
Jean and Jack nodded. Dimitri became thoughtful.
"Each minute we waste might cost an innocent life," he murmured, his heart heavy.
"I know," Nikola told him, as he took his husband's hand in his. "But we have to think about the future. The goblins are tolerated in the guild because of us. If we are no longer there to vouch for them, how are they going to find the acceptance they deserve?"
Dimitri had no answer to that. He just nodded, standing up.
"It is too early for Galen and Lena to come look after the children," Nikola told him, as he looked out of the window. "It will be cruel to wake them now. It is midnight."
Dimitri nodded once more.
As soon as he had Nikola to himself in the room, he kissed his hand.
The brunette pointed a finger at the small crib by the window.
Dimitri whined deep in his throat.
"No," Nikola said. "Timmy will hear. He will be scarred for life."
Dimitri looked at the crib, then he smiled.
"Timmy will have his own room in the new house, right?" The blonde vampire asked.
Nikola nodded.
"Then it will be done as quickly as possible!" Dimitri was a man on a mission. A mission which was coloring his balls blue.
But he knew that once the new house was built, things would get better!
The two went back to snuggling each other in the bed. Timmy letting out puffs of air every so often. Doing his best impression of a baby seal.
****
When morning came, Galen and Lena were already at the kitchen table. Their baskets with new toys for Timmy and Vera by their feet.
"Kids, we will need to be gone the entire day," Dimitri told the two, as Nikola was making poached eggs by the stove. "And we might be gone during the night as well."
"Which is why we ask you to take the babies home with you, if we don't come back by 8 pm."
Galen looked at Lena, who had a twinkle in her eyes.
"You trust us with the babies? You have nothing against us bringing them into the clan lands?"
Nikola sighed. Why were the goblins so amazed at such little things?
Then his mind prompted him to remember everything Galen and Lena had told him about their childhoods, and he bowed his head.
"I am certain that the tribe will protect our children," Dimitri continued, for he could guess what was passing in Nikola's brain. "But I need something to ask of you. If there is any talk about a dragon's heart in the black market in the tribe, do let us know, ok?"
Galen nodded. Lena tilted her head to the side. She looked just like any other human girl. It was just that her ears were pointy.
Nikola had wanted to get rid of his customers, way back when. Only to give these goblins a second chance at life.
A good life. A life worth living.
"What do you need a dragon's heart for, sir?" Lena asked.
Dimitri smiled at her.
"We are trying to create a rune which will protect babies! So, none would ever be born in a coffin, doomed to die before their time!"
Lena clapped her hands. Galen smiled so widely, Dimitri feared that he was going to faint.
"Can we help? I want to learn how to make runes!" Galen said, as Lena began to eat her breakfast with more gusto. "We will be the first goblin runesmiths! Can you imagine it, Lena? We can study runes!"
Dimitri didn't want to rain on their parade, but he didn't want to give them false hopes, either.
"The runesmith who is working on the runes is a goblin, just like the two of you. Her name is Drusila."
The two goblin children exchanged looks. They smiled even brighter. So, as if the world was a brand-new place for them!
"Can you please put in a good word for us with the lady, sir?" Galen asked, bouncing in his seat.
"You bet! And none of that sir thing, ok? I am Dimitri, my husband who is preparing the breakfast is Nikola, and the gloom and doom guy over there is Jack! Jean is blonde like me, but he went to get more eggs! You saw him yesterday!"
"But… that is too big of an honor!" Galen protested. "To treat humans like goblins is not done!"
Nikola let out a sigh.
"But it will be, starting with this household," the brunette told them. "Because you have shown care for our children. You fed them, put them down for nap times, and even made them toys. I thank you!"
Galen bit his bottom lip.
But when no sarcastic remark came about how they should know their place, the goblin began to eat his breakfast.
Savoring the fact that the eggs were fresh and fried in butter.