Chapter Text
True to her promise, Mavis worked diligently that next year.
She consulted with Beelzebub, the goblin-like monster creature who had served as the lead foreman on the Hotel Transylvania project when it was first being built. He still even had the blueprints of it, explaining that it had been one of his most favorite projects to work on in his entire 569 years of life.
Mavis thanked him, hired the zombie construction men that she needed, and immediately set them to work. No nail was left unhammered. No window was left un-paned. Every surface was cleaned, polished, and reupholstered. There were new carpets, new drapes, new curtains. Every item of furniture was refinished. The walls were redone. The ceilings were rebuilt. The floors were waxed, polished, and swept, and the doors were repainted. The kitchen and all of its tools were completely refurbished. All of these renovations, and many more, were completed in what felt like almost no time at all. And yet, the reality of the amount of months that it had taken became oh so apparent to Mavis when all of her friends and family were invited to come to the grand re-opening day for the hotel. With the original Hotel Transylvania having been destroyed, her father’s friends had departed to their own separate homes - whether it was in Egypt (like Murray and Mandy) or a cozy den in Budapest (like Wayne, Wanda, and their many wolf pup children), leaving her only in the company of her husband Johnny, their son Dennis, and their giant monster-dog Tinkles. It was such an emotional experience to hear from them again, and to actually see them entering through the front doors as they had over a century ago brought forth a pang of nostalgia that made her almost want to cry at the fond memory.
She greeted Frank and Eunice as they got out of their shipping crates and put their body parts back together.
She waved to Murray and Mandy as they swept inside with a small sand tornado and their luggage.
She welcomed Wayne, Wanda, and a good majority of the wolf pups (even though they were mostly busy playing and being rambunctious among themselves).
She almost missed the arrival of Griffin and Crystal, but when two pairs of bobbing glasses said hello to her, she knew exactly who they were and happily greeted them back.
Everyone seemed to be taking well to the changes that she and Johnny decided to make. For one, there was a much more openness to the whole place. Walkways and escalators extended out, making sure people could easily get anywhere they wished to go without needing much assistance. There was a fitness center where every person would have free use of the treadmill and stationary bikes, as well as any other exercise equipment. A health spa was added, filled with hot springs, massage chairs, saunas, and even a Jacuzzi for guests to unwind. The place had a certain charm to it, a sense of homeyness that made everyone feel like they belonged no matter where they came from or who they were - human or monster.
But, as Mavis stood outside the reloving front doors, she couldn’t help but feel a slight hint of sadness. The two people that she had been hoping to see were nowhere in sight.
Dracula and Ericka.
Mavis sighed.
It wasn’t as though she hadn’t been keeping in touch. She had been able to speak to them on the phone or through video calls. As far as she knew, they had been going on a world-wide excursion, exploring so many different countries and sending photos of themselves of their travels (or at least of Ericka, as Drac could not show up in them). But, as of the past few months, their photos had ceased, and they had not been doing their regular calls. She hardly heard from them besides an occasional text message here and there. The texts never revealed anything much, except for a friendly tone and a quick tell of how they were doing. Mavis had a feeling something was amiss, but she did not question it. If anything, she knew that they were probably just enjoying their time together. But it had already been a few hours since the doors of the new hotel had opened, and they still were not there. She looked at her phone again. The last message from her father confirmed that they would be coming. So where were they?
She heard the revolving doors turn behind her, and saw her little son Dennis step out and join her.
“Hi, Momma!” he said cheerily.
Mavis smiled. “Hey, buddy! Are you having fun in the new hotel?”
Dennis nodded. “Uh-huh!” Then he looked out to the roadway on the bridge. “Momma, do you know if Papa Drac and Nana Ericka are coming?”
Mavis bit her lip and looked out as well. “Well, they said they would be here. They might just be running late.”
“Oh,” came Dennis’s soft reply. “I hope they get here soon.”
“They will, sweetie,” Mavis said with more assurance than she felt. She kissed his forehead and then scooted him along. “Why don’t you go play with your friend Winnie while you wait? You haven’t seen her in a while!”
She pointed indoors through the glass where Winnie the werewolf pup was excitedly waving over to Dennis. The boy grinned at her and took off. “Okay!” he said. “See you later, Momma!”
“See you!” she replied with a small wave as he disappeared from view. She sighed yet again, hoping for some sort of sign that they’d be coming soon.
Then, as though the universe had heard her plea, she heard the sound of a rickety vehicle making its way over the bridge. It came out of the fog, and she recognized it as a hearse. Her father’s hearse. Mavis beamed when it came up on the driveway and she saw for sure who it was.
"Dad! Ericka!"
"Mavis!" they both cried out at the same time.
They met halfway in a three way embrace before pulling back to look into each other's eyes.
“I’m so glad you guys are here!” Mavis exclaimed. “I got worried when you guys stopped calling for so long.”
Ericka blushed and Drac turned a little sheepish, reactions that Mavis hadn’t quite expected from them. “Yes, eh, you deserve an explanation for that,” Dracula admitted. “But first, we want you to meet someone that will probably tell more about the reason for our absence. They have been eager to meet their big sister.”
Big sister? Before Mavis could question, Ericka opened the back door of the hearse and presented a small bundle in her arms towards her. Mavis’s breath caught in her throat as she saw the tiny face staring up at her with wide blue eyes. A baby. And not just any baby... it was her sibling.
“Ohh…” was all Mavis could say at the moment. She was enraptured by the little one before her, taking in every detail of its features. It had dark, jet black hair like her father's, but that curled in little wisps like Ericka's, framing the face. Its skin was a creamy white in color, and it had full cherubic cheeks that were flushed pink with excitement. Mavis reached out and lightly brushed the baby with her finger. “What’s the name?”
“Mayra,” Ericka answered. “She’s a girl.”
Mayra cooed happily at the sound of her name, and reached a chubby little hand out toward Mavis. She latched onto her sister’s index finger, making the most adorable noises. Mavis laughed softly. Her baby sister was absolutely precious.
“We were going to tell you,” Drac began to say. “But we just wanted to make it a surprise for when we came to the hotel.”
Mavis nodded. “Well, I am surprised for sure!”
Drac smiled and patted her on the shoulder. “Now, come. I want to take a look at this new hotel. As far as I can see, it looks like you haven't changed anything!"
Mavis laughed. "Oh no, Dad, that's just from the outside. You just wait until the inside. Johnny had lots of great of ideas that I think you'll like!"
Dracula groaned. “Why am I already worried?”
Next to him, Ericka giggled. “Oh come on, Mr. Cranky Fangs. If we’re going to stay here, we might as well see what’s here!”
Mavis stopped short upon hearing this. She whirled around to face them, making sure to be careful with Mayra in her arms. “Wait… you guys are going to live here?”
Dracula shrugged. “Sure, why not? We lived in the hotel before. And if we’re going to settle down and raise a family, I would like to be near my Mavy, Johnny, Denisovich, and all our other friends.”
Mayra babbled in seeming agreement, looking up at Mavis with her irresistible smile and big blue orbs.
How could Mavis say no? That is, if no was even an option.
“Of course you guys can live here!” Mavis said enthusiastically, hugging the baby close to her chest. “I just thought that since you were retired, you'd go and settle down in a smaller castle somewhere else."
"What? And miss all the fun here at the hotel?" Ericka asked incredulously. "Nah. Wouldn't dream of it. Right, Drac?"
Her husband wrapped an arm around her shoulder and nuzzled his nose against hers as he nodded. "Right."
Mavis smiled brightly, still holding Mayra close to her. "Alright then!" She gestured a hand out as best she could toward the revolving front doors. "I welcome you to the new Hotel Transylvania!"
Drac and Ericka gave a little cheer and followed her inside.
Mavis felt like her heart was bursting with joy. Everything felt perfect in their lives. Her father was proud of her. She had no quarrel with Ericka. Her baby sister was a darling little dhampir. All was well, and they knew it. They were exactly where they belonged, and were deserving of it. The future looked bright for all three of them.
And Mavis couldn't ask for anything more than that.
THE END