Residents: Davina Derico, Rex & Jenna Derico, Astra Derico, Nicholai Derico, Cynthia Derico
The addition of baby Nicholai was a well-celebrated one. He was a sweet baby that rarely cried and never once felt the need to toss his milk remains on those who played with him. Davina took over most of the nanny duties due to Rex’s slumber during the daytime and Jenna’s job as Captain Hero. She was very busy these days. Apparently some supervillian had become quite the thorn in the Valley’s side, causing all sorts of criminal activity.
Despite this, Jenna still managed to change her sleeping schedule around a bit so she could see Rex. Slowly, but surely, she was getting adjusted to his vampire ways. It wasn’t always easy. Everyone in the neighborhood knew about Rex’s ‘change’ and Jenna had to toughen her skin quite a bit. The only one who supported her actions had been her mother, Jania. Jenna had always been a ’special’ little girl, so it was no surprise to the wizened Jania that she married a vampire. Jania was gone now, and while Jenna mourned her mother’s passing, she knew her mother would prefer her to enjoy the time she had.
Astra did her best not to feel slighted by the new baby, but she couldn’t help but feel a little put out. After all, Nicholai was the result of both Rex and Jenna… whereas Astra was just some freak occurence that happened on a space ship.
The half alien spent a lot of her time with Spooky. She was too busy sulking to realize that the only reason she was being exlcuded was because she did it to herself. If they couldn’t find her then how could she possibly be included?
Nicholai was an agreeable toddler. He didn’t see anything about Rex as weird or unusual. Jenna was a little worried that Nicholai would be frightened by the fangs, but anytime Rex showed them, he merely giggled. It had become a face he would make to cheer the small tyke up.
One definite good thing about Rex’s vampire change was that it also changed his personality quite a bit. Perhaps it was because he had finally achieved what he wanted out of life and didn’t feel so pressured anymore. Whatever it was, it made him much better company.
Such good company, in fact, that Jenna was soon giving him news that there was another on the way. He was surprisingly pleased with the news, despite not being fond of the children prior to the toddling stage. Jenna was beside herself with joy. She finally had the family she had always wanted. It wasn’t nearly as drama-ridden as her brother’s. She felt for him, she really did… but in the end, he kind of did it to himself. Plus, something about Loraine irked Jenna. The last time she visited, all Loraine acted very oddly… it had been going on like this since Jenna took the mantle of Captain hero.
While the two adults were wrapped up in baby-topia, Davina made sure to include Astra. She decided that teaching the young girl to play chess would be a nice start. At first, Astra was apprehensive. She was the playful sort and didn’t like the idea of sitting still and moving pieces on some wooden board for hours on end. However, she agreed for her great aunt’s sake. It turned out to be a good bonding session between the two of them. Every day when Astra came home from school, she would sit down and play chess with Davina until dinner time.
Besides, it wasn’t like they had a TV or anything. Anytime someone mentioned it, Rex would mumble that television fries your brain and makes you stupid.
Soon little Cynthia joined the household. She was a cute little girl with her father’s eyes and hair. Jenna didn’t get completely slighted, for Nicholai shared her facial structure and it seemed that little Cynthia might also. Jenna was delighted to have a baby in the house again.
Unfortunately, Cynthia was nowhere near as agreeable as her brother or Astra had been. She was terribly fussy; always wailing about and crying. Davina was beside herself as to what to do. It didn’t matter who cared for her, she was always throwing a fit. She didn’t have any illnesses. Perhaps it was just a personality flaw. Maybe Katie’s DNA had finally reared its ugly head.
It was a lot easier, however, when Nicholai had his birthday. He was more capable of caring for himself, though he’d much rather spend his days playing with his new best friend and 2nd cousin(?) Jeremy Love. The two got on famously, their personalities very similar.
Eventually Cynthia’s fussy baby days were over and she grew into a walking terror. It became a constant hassle to keep her from busting something or playing in the toliet. Rex was normally the only one quick enough to catch her. One more bonus to being a vampire. Gotta love those vampire reflexes.
They also had help in the form of the newly teenaged Astra. She had her birthday and grew into a lovely young lady with dreams of a family of her own someday. Playing a more active role in the family has helped rid of her bitterness. She now treats Nicholai and Cynthia as her siblings.
Astra Deric0
Family (Golden Anniversary)
Sagittarius (4, 3, 10, 10, 10)