"I just got a letter from Uncle Kans."

"Oh? How has he been?"

"He says he's been weel and that he and Catherine have been courting for the last few months!"

"Is that so?"

"Aye, it seems so."

"Looks like I've been rubbing off on ye." She said with a smirk.

Higgs put the letter down and adjusted his glasses. "Well, it's been four years since you've been here so it's bound to happen, ye ken?"

Merida shook her head and rolled her eyes as she tried to knead some dough to make bread. It had been three years since she passed the trial of his monthly monster transformations and as promised, she was still by his side. During that time they had acquired a few other house staff that could handle Higgs' transformations and a stable hand that was a brother of a friend of Edgar's from school who needed work. He was simple of mind but smart as a whip and actually enjoyed Higgs' transformations, finding them intriguing. Since he was so good with the horses, he was often passed around between Higgs, Margaret, and Jamison's mansions as the equestrian of choice. Edgar was away at school (paid by Higgs) and Merida felt they should have more staff. They set up the same tests that Jamison used for his staff and soon acquired the bare minimum to efficiently run the house without Merida going completely insane.

The door opened to the kitchen and Merida looked up.

"Ailers,"

"Yes, ma'am?"

"How was it at Laird Northumberly's?"

"Very good, ma'am."

He bowed awkwardly to her and then mumbled something to Higgs as he walked off. Merida smiled.

"I keep thinking I scare the poor lad."

"You scare everyone, Merida. You don't exactly come across as the most kind."

"I'll have ye ken how kind I can be." She said with a growl as she started to punch the dough. "Damn this dough..."

Ailers came back in. "There were more turny people there... it was fun."

He left again and Higgs adjusted his glasses again as he read on with the letter. Even after two years, the incident with his eyes being burned out of their sockets never fully healed and so he was forced to wear glasses, much to his chagrin. Merida thought he looked nice in them and made him look a little more mature for his age.

"Uncle Kans said that he and Radek will make a short stop here for tell everyone the news in person. I guess he never told my father about he and Catherine... I wonder if he'll bring her with him." He said with a stretch.

"Dinnae see why not... Come, use your abnormally cold hands to harden this dough back up. Seems I may have put a little too much water in it."

Higgs stood up and fluidly walked around the table, pushing his sleeves up to show his porcelain white skin in the amber light of the fire. It was vampire month.

"An ye are a vampire why are ye making me make bread for ye? Didnae take ye to dip it in some blood stew, aye?"

"That is completely disgusting and no, I just wanted some bread. Just because I happen to crave blood doesn't mean that's all I eat. After all this time, you should know that."

"After all this time, ye are a horrible liar." She growled as she poked the fire. "I've got the bite marks to prove it as well as poor Edgar. Attacked me in my sleep, ye git."

"That was when we didn't realize that a nice rare piece of meat would do that same trick and I was trying to keep myself from doing anything. It's almost the end of March and I havenae done anything to you now have I?"

"Been a pain in my arse this month cuz ye cannae go outside during the day."

"You love it and you know it."

Merida slapped the soot from her hands. "Ye ken Marlow can make ye bread at any time."

"Marlow goes to town and gets bread, she doesn't make it for me." As Merida stood up, Higgs turned around and grabbed her, pushing her against the side of the fireplace. "Besides, you haven't made anything home cooked in a long, long time, Ms. Dunbrough..."

"Ocht, laddie, what have I told ye about being this close to me while ye're like this?" She said, looking up at her employer as he stared down at her with a vampirical lust.

He hissed a little but let her go as she went back to the dough that was finally firm enough to make bread. Merida tried to hide the flush in her cheeks. Her employer was making it harder and harder to keep her own feelings from bursting forth. She had tried to keep the relationship platonic in her own eyes but as the months went on and the closer they got and the more he trusted her, the less she trusted herself. She was falling for him in a way she didn't want to and not because she didn't want to, but because she didn't want to mess up everything Higgs had accomplished. He had finally gotten used to people being there with his secret, used to people being alright with it. If she tried to break that trust now with a silly confession, she feared that things would end and he would go right back to where he was before.

It was a secret she and her heart would keep... but times like the vampire and the mermaid were very troublesome not to give in to those desires.

"You're no fun."

"I'm plenty fun and ye ken it weel. Now, get out of the kitchen and go find something else to do."

"I don't have anything else to do. If I had something else to do, I wouldn't be in the kitchen. Why can't you just let me help with dinner? We gave Marlow a week off anyway..."

Merida sighed as she rolled out the bread. "Fine... but an ye try to make me nick my finger again, I'll drag ye out into the sunlight by the hair of yer head."

"I'd love to see you try that." he said with a snort.

"Ye dinnae ken what I can do."

"Oh, I ken verra weel." He said with a roll of his eyes as he leaned on the table. "I didn't get these spectacles because I thought they were fashionable."

"And ye best remember it for the future."

Higgs just chuckled as he watched Merida form the dough into a shape and pat a little more flour over the dough. When she was ready, she put the dough in the oven.

"Now, we wait for it to rise. It will be nice to have some fresh bread about."

"Aye, I ken it will."

"I cannae tell if ye're mocking me or not anymore."

"You'd know it, love."

"I told ye not to call me that."

"It's an endearment, Merida. Like when you call me 'lad' or 'laddie' when I'm not a child at all. I'm not saying it because I'm in love with you, I'm saying it because I love you as someone very important to me. Plus, sometimes calling you by your name is exhausting."

"Weel, I'm sorry my name isnae to yer liking."

"Your name is just fine. There's not much else I can call you that isn't a form of romantic endearment. Hell, you've called me 'love' and 'lovey' before."

"That was when ye were having such a hard time with yerself and getting hurt all the time. I was using it to comfort ye."

"Merida, lighten up a little. You've become quite tense over the months."

"I... I just dinnae want anything to happen."

He blinked for a minute. "You mean between us? As in breaking the curse?"

"Not like that," Yes, like that. Good going, Merida. How are you going to cover this up? "I mean... with you calling me those words, people may start to think that ye're in love with me and not try to pursue ye. Then what would ye say then?"

Higgs laughed, throwing his head back. "I don't think anyone would think that we were together, Merida. I know you're trying to be helpful with trying to break my curse and stuff but I've kind of come to the conclusion that it won't ever be broken. That being said, endearment or not, no one is going to believe we are together or even have feelings for each other. Besides, you're like an older sister and sometimes even a mother to me. I have no feeling of romance towards you."

"Nor I to you." Liar. "But I dinnae want anything to mess things up though."

"Just take the damned endearment, woman. Jeez..."

Merida laughed a little and they waited for the bread to bake.

*****************************

A few days later, there was a knock at the door and the butler opened it, finding a small group of people on his doorstep.

"May I help you?"

"This is Lord Northumberly's residence, is it not?"

"It is. What can I do for you?"

"I'm Radek Northumberly, firstborn of Baldorian Northumberly, and this is my brother Kans. I wrote a letter to your employer in advance of him expecting me."

"I see. Come inside and I will fetch my lord for you."

Radek and Kans stepped inside as Kans, held Catherine's hand and led her inside as well. Radek looked around and whistled.

"Wow, they keep this place all nice and clean now. I'm sure Merida has needed the help."

"Having extra hands around the house makes things a lot easier."

"Laird Radek, Laird Kannaset; it's been a long time now." They heard behind them.

They turned to the stairwell and saw Merida coming down the stairs. Radek met her halfway and gave her a big hug, swinging her in his arms. She yelled in happiness as he set her back down on the steps.

"It's been a long time, Ms. Dunbrough."

"Aye, it has..." She turned to Kans and smiled bright. "I'm glad ye came by."

"How could I not?" he said with a small smile.

"Still shy around me, I see." Merida turned and saw Catherine standing politely at the end of the stairs with Kannaset. "How have ye been, Catherine?"

"I've been well, thank ye. It seems ye have made this mansion actually look like a working household. I commend ye, Merida."

"Thank ye."

"Oh, we have a surprise for you by the way." Radek said as he and Merida descended the stairs. "I think you'll like it."

"Ocht, whatever could it be?"

"Ma."

Merida looked over at the door and her hands flew over her mouth and she felt tears in her eyes.

"Edgar?"

"It's been a while, hasn't it?"

Merida picked up her skirts and came down the stairs just as Edgar took off from the door towards her. They slammed into each other for a hug and Merida rocked them both back and forth.

"Oi, my laddie has grown ever so much!" She pulled back to look at him. "Look at ye! Ye're about as tall as me now! Good gracious what have they been feeding ye at that boarding school?"

"Ma, I'm not that fat..." he said with a chuckle.

"I know! Ye're so skinny! Ye came just in time afore I made supper. I send ye off a plump lad and ye come back skin and bones."

Edgar laughed a little as she touched his face, tracing the lines of her adopted son's face and etching an image in her mind. It was clear to both Higgs and Merida that Edgar needed a proper education and it was also clear that the two of them could never do it. Edgar had adopted Merida as his mother and Higgs loved the boy just as much as Merida did. He wanted Edgar to have an opportunity in life and so he sent him off to a boarding school in London to be taught properly. Although the children got off for holiday to go and see their families, Edgar had to study much harder than the others in order to pass and move up. He dedicated his holiday to study and was able to pass. Merida and Higgs hadn't seen Edgar at all in almost two years.

"Gone are ye bairnish looks... Ye're becoming a fine lad."

"Thank you..." he said with a small blush. "I missed you guys."

"We missed ye too, laddie. How did ye get away from the school?"

"We might have fibbed a little to the headmaster of the school regarding an illness..." Radek said with a grin. "Where's Higgs, by the way?"

"Oh, he decided to stay out all night and terrorize a sheep farm, so he's been asleep for some time. I'm sure he'll be ecstatic when he wakes up and finds that ye're all here."

"What is he this month?" Kans asked.

"Vampire." Edgar turned to her quickly. "Aye, lad, watch yer neck. He's been doing pretty weel these past few times, though. We found out thatanf we give him raw meat to eat that it staves his hunger towards humans and an we let him gallivant about with some animals he isnae prompted to try anything else. Usually he tries to hold out for as long as he can, so he can go about half the month without any incidences... although there have been a few slip ups but we're getting there. What are ye two?"

"Oh, I'm human for the next two months." Radek said with a smile. "Kans is a werewolf at the moment, I believe."

"Yes."

"Weel, ye all are welcome. Let me show ye to yer rooms and I'll have someone grab yer things for ye."

******************************

Higgs opened his eyes and yawned, stretching. He looked out the window and saw that it was dark with a bright light showing. He grabbed his glasses and stuck them on, seeing the moon. He got up and used the bathroom and washed his face. There wasn't much time left before the month was over and he sighed, looking at his pale reflection. He wondered how anyone put up with him, especially Merida. She was a saint to him, made him feel comfortable and loved when no one else seemed to do it. He wished he knew how to repay her for her kindness, but nothing ever came to mind. There was no value on what she did for him and what she kept doing for him. It was getting close to the time when the curse would get impatient and try to pass on the curse to the next child. He knew it was going to be hard to control himself. He flicked the image of himself, shattering the glass on accident. He looked back at the webbed glass, seeing his reflection in a bunch of different sections of glass. He was broken, a multitude of himself in one...

"No pity parties, Higgs." He said to himself when he smelled something odd. "Who is that?" he said, sniffing the air.

He headed out of the room and down the stairs, hearing laughter in the kitchen. He walked into it and found his uncle with Merida.

Radek turned around. "Higgsy boy!"

"Why did no one wake me up?" he asked as he walked over and hugged his uncle. "You're human this month." He said with a raspy breath, not expecting his uncle to be human.

"Don't get any ideas." Radek said, pulling away from him. "My you've grown."

"Thank you."

"Mr. Higgs!"

Higgs turned as Edgar ran inside with a small basket of eggs. He quickly put them on the table and ran to hug Higgs.

"How are you here?" Higgs asked with a big grin as he sniffed Edgar's neck. "You smell as delicious as ever."

"Merida told me to knee you in the privates if you even dared."

Higgs gave a glare to his maid as she grinned. He pulled away from him and smiled kindly.

"I sent you off a boy and you come home a... slightly older boy. You look practically the same."

"Hey! I grew two feet!" he said with a pout.

"That ye did boy, that ye did. But still, how are you here?"

"I may have fudged the truth a little and said there was a family emergency." Radek said with a look elsewhere.

"You actually went to the school and picked him up?"

"With how much he put into trying to pass and everything, it was a shame that he didn't get to come and see you the last two times they've had holiday. Last year was studying and the year before that was cramming ten years worth of knowledge in his head so he would at least know his ass from a hole in the ground when he entered school... Plus, I was human and so it was perfect for me to go inside."

"Lucky." Higgs said, looking around. "Where's Uncle Kans?"

"Werewolf month for him, so he's out doing whatever."

"Did you guys bring Cat?"

"Of course we brought Cathy. That's part of the reason we are here after all."

"After all?" Merida said, pouring some tear for everyone. "What do you mean?"

"Well, I hate to spoil it before Cathy and Kans got to say but, they are going to get married."

"That's fantastic!" Merida said with a large grin.

"Yes, but, the curse already messed Kans up. As we all suspected, he didn't believe Cathy when she told him how she felt. She kissed him, but he didn't believe it, and pushed her away. After that, he was so angry! He was enraged with himself for being so blind and then for messing it up when someone tried. He didn't talk to Cathy for a long time, trying to blame her for what would happen next, but Cathy didn't falter. She was determined to show him that she was there for him. So, one night, while he was a centaur, she went out and covered his horse part and also brought something for his shoulders. That... woman makes him sleep in the stables if he's a centaur so... Either way, they got themselves straightened out and Cathy made her move again. This time, Kans knew she had always been the one."

"That's truly touching. I'm so happy for them."

"Kans is still a little apprehensive about it all but Catherine is a good woman and has loved Kans since she was about eight or so, so it was only natural. But it took Kans a little moment to understand everything but now he does and is happy. Hopefully, he can get a house of his own and get out of that bitch's house."

"We'll have to ask father if he can persuade Grandfather to allow it."

"No, you'll have to ask Jami if he can persuade Belle to persuade Grandmother."

"Belle?" Merida asked.

"She's a friend of ours from when we were little. She knew about our transformations a long time ago and Silvia just adores her for some reason. Her and Lady Pendleton... Maybe they can cahoot and get something done."

"I ken ye should just tell the bitch that Cat is with child and an she doesnae want anymore of ye kind in her house, ye advise her that ye want the property that was promised to Kans. I guarantee that he'd have a house."

"But Catherine's not pregnant."

"Aye, I ken it. Ye pretend to get yer house."

"I don't think Kans could do it. He can't stand Silvia, but he does fear her. She is one to be reckoned with. If nothing else, she will still object because Cat's not of nobility."

"Tough shit, eh?"

Radek smiled and looked at Higgs. "Why can't you marry this woman?"

"Because we have a mutual and very platonic relationship that doesn't need to be redone."

"Aye, that it does."

Radek turned his head a little, seeing a look in Merida's eyes that told him otherwise on her end. He smiled though and nodded.

"Alright, if you say so... Has your time come yet, Higgs?"

"No, not yet but I'm sure it will be here soon."

"Time?" Edgar asked as he sat down.

"This lovely curse of ours has a grand way of keeping the curse going. If after a certain amount of time there hasn't been any male children sired then the curse will make you go sex crazy and you want to sow your seed anyway you can. Sometimes it gets too much and you will literally have sex with any woman you can find. The lust is too strong to ignore."

"So if Mr. Higgs doesn't find someone to marry him or break the curse..."

"Let's not talk about that, please." Higgs said with a frown. "There are ladies present."

"An ye talking about me, I already kenned about it."

"I don't remember saying anything to you about it..."

"We talked about it briefly one night when ye were a bit loose of lip."

Higgs made a face. "Did I ask you to do something?"

"Not exactly."

Higgs grabbed Merida's hand. "Excuse us for a moment." He said, dragging her from the kitchen.

++++++++++++++++++++++++

a/n: hi! sorry for the hiatus. i know it might not be the story update you wanted but here it is anyway. i don't remember if I ever had higgs tell merida about the fail safe of the curse so if anyone remembers please feel free to tell me. as you can see, i also moved this to its own story because it's definitely the start of a new beginning and way too much happens in this section to keep it as one story. sorry if this is odd.