Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Mavis?” Griffin peeked into the room that was now stripped of furniture and decor and replaced with many labeled boxes.

Mavis was crouched down to Dennis’ height, having just talked to him about moving away. It was clear that Dennis wasn’t ready to leave yet.

“Yes?” Mavis replied, standing up. The awkwardness from the other day was definitely still there.

“Can I talk to you for a moment? If you want to.”

“Um... I guess so... Dennis, sweetie, can you give us some privacy?”

“Okay, mommy!” Dennis replied. He hugged her and then Griffin before leaving the room.

Griffin smiled and sighed. “Okay... um... this is about the other day... and literally everything else...”

“Oh...” Mavis said.

“Yeah... so... I realized I haven’t been the best stepdad ever... I mean, it should’ve been obvious to me from the start but... well, Y’know what I mean.”

Mavis just nodded.

“What Drac did was not okay but it should’ve been my job to realize that my own husband is being an idiot.”

Mavis chuckled lightly, shaking her head.

“I should’ve stepped in but I didn’t. And I’m very sorry...”

Mavis thought for a moment about his apology and sighed. “It’s okay. Well, it isn’t okay but I’m glad you apologized. So... apology accepted.”

“That’s great...” Griffin sighed. “It’s gonna be weird not having you here often...”

“Yeah... we’ll still visit so I won’t be gone forever.”

“What does Dennis think of the whole situation?”

“He’s alright. I think. He’s not used to being away from the hotel for so long but I think he can handle it.”

Griffin frowned and nodded slowly. He turned to leave, almost stopping to say something and leaving the room. He then saw Dennis on top of a box, mumbling something to himself before jumping off and stumbling as he landed on his feet.

“Hey, what’re you doing, you little demon?” Griffin asked, trying to sound as upbeat as possible.

“Nothing!” Dennis immediately said. He then held up his arms, letting Griffin pick him up.

“I’m gonna steal your kid if you don’t mind. He can help set up some stuff. Don’t worry, I won’t throw him off of anything.” Griffin chuckled lightly.

Mavis chuckled back. “Sure. Remember that he has a bedtime.”

“Yeah yeah. Don’t worry.”

As they left and started walking to get to the dining area, Griffin looked down at Dennis who looked a little sad. It made Griffin feel awful but he had no say in Mavis’ choices.

Still, he could at least get his grandson to vent a bit.

“You okay, little guy?” He asked as gently as he can.

“Mhm...”

“Doesn’t sound like it.”

“Im okay, Papa Griffin...”

Griffin nodded. “Okay.”

He didn’t want to push him.

There was a long silence as they walked down a very long stairway. Griffin was about to check his phone for any important messages before Dennis tugged at his pant leg. He stopped walking and looked down at his grandson. Dennis looked down with a frown on his face.

“Dennis... you sure you’re okay...?”

“I don’t wanna move away...”

Griffin figured he didn’t. He just sighed and sat down on a higher step.

“I know, buddy...” Griffin picked him up and sat him down on his lap. “I wish you didn’t have to leave but... your mom wants the best for you...”

“I know...”

“I promise before you leave, we’re gonna give you the best birthday party ever. I know because Papa Drac isn’t in charge of it.”

Dennis let out a giggle which made Griffin smile. At least he made him laugh. That’s a start.

“If it makes you feel better, I’ll try talking to your mom again before she leaves. I’m good at persuading people.”

“Okay... thank you Papa Griffin...”

“You’re welcome...”

Griffin heard his phone chime and he looked at it. “Let’s get going. I think the guys are very close to destroying the place.”

Dennis giggled before Griffin placed the child on his shoulders and rushed down to the dining area.

Chapter Text

“They’re coming!” Mavis said excitedly.

“Oh...” Griffin said unenthusiastically.

Dracula nudged him a bit and Griffin put on a forced smile. “I mean that’s awesome! Yay! These people!”

As soon as Johnny’s family stepped out of the hearse, Griffin used all the strength in him to not groan loudly. He just kept a big smile and greeted them as nicely as possible. So nice that he probably scared the little ones.

As if he cared.

They all made their way into the dining room and sat down at the Phantom played a melodramatic tune with oddly specific lyrics that made everyone look at him strangely.

Drac sat at the head of the table with Griffin sitting on the side, across from Mavis and next to Johnny. Griffin tried with all his might to look happy but ended up with a scowl. It wasn’t that odd to see since he always unconsciously looked like that.

“A drink, my love?” Drac asked gently. The sweetness made Griffin soften up a bit.

“Yes please...” he said with a smile.

“Isn’t it nice to have the whole family together?” Linda said happily. “Mavis, do you have any cousins or thingies in your family?”

“Nope. It’s just been me and my dads.” Mavis replied.

“You know, I never did ask how you lost your mom...”

“Oh, she was killed by angry humans.” Mavis said flatly.

“Ohhh...”

“But there is my Grandpa Vlad and Auntie Lydia!” Mavis added.

“Ohhh you have a grandpa and auntie?”

Drac and Griffin drank calmly, Griffin finally relaxing.

“Yeah! They’ll be at the party! I invited them!”

Drac and Griffin’s eyes widened. Drac spit out his drink as Griffin inhaled too hard, making him choke on his drink.

“YOU INVITED HIM!?” Drac yelled.

“Dad, they’ve never seen Dennis. I wanted them to meet once before we go.”

“Greaaaat... peachy... good ol’ Vlad and Lydia...”

“Mavis... sweetie... amazing daughter of mine... I love you but HOW COULD YOU...” Griffin whined.

“Why’re you so nervous...?” Mavis asked.

“He’s VLAD. Drac’s FATHER. My FATHER IN-LAW. And may I remind you... ITS LYDIA.”

“Fair.”

“Anybody got a wet wipe?” Linda asked nervously.

——————

All the way in god knows where, a dark cave was hidden in the fog on the side of a tall mountain. The cave’s entrance was lined with sharp rocks, making it look like jaws.

In the cave sat the vampire Vlad.

“Holy rabies! He finally invites me to something!” Vlad said with a smile. “He’s got a grandkid?”

“AND HE NEVER TOLD YOU!?” His bat sidekick, Bela yelled suddenly.

“Easy, Bela. At least there’s another vampire in the family! He runs a hotel? Fancy-shmancy!”

“HOTELS ARE FOR HUMANS!!!”

Suddenly all of the bats in the cave woke up, yelling and flying around in a riotous frenzy. Vlad sighed in annoyance.

“Bela. Shut your blood hole. Look what you’ve started.” He scolded. “Don’t worry! I taught my son to hate and kill and steal the souls of humans like a good boy!”

——————

In a dark and unnaturally clean mansion hidden in a pitch black dark forest, there was a younger vampire. She wore a long dress that touched the ground.

Her name is Lydia Dracula.

She opened a letter delicately, reading what was inside.

“A grandson?” Lydia said with a scoff. “I’m surprised that unruly daughter of his even managed to find a poor soul willing to marry her.”

She kept reading the letter, rolling her eyes at some of the sentences.

“Great... I’ll have to go to a disgusting hotel... although it would be nice to brag about how much more I’ve achieved in life than my brother.”

——————

“Yes! Vlad and Lydia will be so happy when they see the... masquerade Johnny, Griffin and I have planned!” Drac said with a fake smile.

Griffin looked at him, confused. Drac mouthed the words “play along” to him and he immediately understood, nodding in agreement.

“Yeah! That.” Griffin added.

“Wha...?” Johnny raised an eyebrow in confusion.

Drac suddenly froze everyone except for him, Griffin and Johnny.

“Play along!” Drac said. “It’s my dad and sister.”

“You have a dad and sister? That’s funny.” Johnny chuckled.

“Listen, my dad cannot know you are human or any of your family!”

“And he cannot know I was originally an invisible human!” Griffin added, a panicked tone in his voice.

“What!? But guys, I’m proud we’re—“ Johnny complained.

“Or he’ll steal your family’s soul! And eat your backpack!” Drac threatened.

He then got things moving again, the family not even noticing the time freeze.

“That’s right, gang!” Johnny said to the family. “We’re making this birthday a monster masquerade party!”

“... Really?” Mavis replied, raising an eyebrow.

“Oh, that’s lovely! Sort of like a last ‘hoorah’ before Dennis gets to be with normal people!” Linda added with a smile.

“Someone give me strength...” Griffin mumbled through his teeth.

“I... couldn’t have said it better...”

Griffin didn’t know if Drac was taking about what Linda said or what he said.

——————

The hall was decorated with beautifully colored balloons and streamers, monsters and humans interacted with another. On the ceiling, sparkly webs intertwined to say “HAPPY BIRTHDAY DENNIS”. Everything was going as planned.

Griffin tried to relax and listen to whatever others where telling him but he kept nervously checking if Vlad and Lydia were there. He felt his anxiety go through the roof as he bit at his sharp nails anxiously.

From the distance, he saw Mavis in her party cape handing out snacks as she walked around the room. Unfortunately, the nice sight of her being calm and happy quickly changed when Johnny’s family walked up to her. They had ripped and dirtied clothes, zombie make up and messy hair and they groaned like zombies.

Griffin groaned himself but out of embarrassment and suppressed anger.

As Mavis walked away with an obviously uncomfortable face, Griffin excused himself from a conversation and walked over to her.

“Hey, sweetie.” He said gently. “You doing okay?”

“Oh yeah! I’m fine!” Mavis responded with a smile. It was so natural but it felt off.

“You’re lucky we don’t call the authorities!” They heard Dennis say.

They looked over at him who was dressed up in his adorable Batman costume. It was only a mask and cape but it still looked adorable.

Griffin and Mavis smiled as they watched him zoom back and forth.

“To the BatMobile!”

He was suddenly tackled but Winnie, making Dennis giggle uncontrollably as she licked his face.

But the giggles where then drowned out by two of the kids from Johnny’s family laughing and pointing at them. Griffin’s eyebrows furrowed as Mavis looked on worriedly.

“You got your but kicked by a girl, Batman!” One of the kids say.

Winnie then barked so loud, she startled the two kids.

“Whatever... I’m definitely not about to cry...”

As the two walked away, Griffin scoffed. “Serves them right...”

——————

“Hotel Transylvania...” Vlad said aloud.

“I smell HUMANS!!!!” Bela screamed. “TEAR IT DOWN!!!!”

“Bela... where in the outside world... you’re gonna smell humans!”

“You’d think the ‘sidekick’ of the most important vampire would be a little less... small minded...” Lydia said as she flew towards them and landed left to her father.

“Poopsie! I haven’t seen you in decades!” Vlad said with a smile. “How is my Princess of Darkness?”

“Fine. And I told you to call me Lydia.”

“Right. Of course. Bela, you stand out here. This is family stuff. You’ll only get in the way. We just want to meet the little fanger! He should get to know his auntie and Vampa.”

“What?” Bela asked.

“Vampire-Grandpa! C’mon, that’s obvious!”

——————

Drac walked around the room, nervously smiling at anyone who looked at or talked to him, unable to calm himself down.

“So, what do you think?” Johnny said as Drac stopped in front of him.

He had the most exaggerated and ridiculous vampire costume. It was almost offensive.

“THAT is your vampire costume? What’re you NUTS?”

“I ordered it online! It was the only place that delivered overnight!”

“You look like you’ve got a baboon’s butt on your head! Have you even practiced your voice? You can’t just talk like a hippie.”

“I’m not a hippie! I’m a slacker!”

“Talk like a vampire!”

Johnny stood up straight with all the drama he could muster up. “I am Count Johnny-Fang! I am a vampire!”

Drac stared at him in unenthusiastically. “Okay, vampires don’t go around saying ‘I am a vampire!’”

“Sorry...” Johnny said before trying again. “I am Count Johnny-Fang! Bleh bleh bleh!”

“Are you kidding me?”

“I’m sorry! I’m nervous!”

“Yeah yeah. Look, if you think I don’t like it, you DEFINITELY don’t want to say ‘bleh bleh bleh’ in front of my family.”

“Uh, Drac. The Cakey Dude is here.” Griffin said, gently pushing the man next to him towards his husband.

“Oh hey!” Johnny greeted. “Drac, this is Brandan aka Cakey! We got him for Dennis.”

“Nauseated to meet you.” Drac greet dismissively.

“How long does this take? I have a book fair in half an hour.” Brandon said in the most monotone voice they’ve ever heard.

The giant doors to the room suddenly burst open, starting everyone.

“Alright, where is my vampson?” Vlad demanded as Lydia looked at the room in disgust.

Griffin let out a yelp before clinging onto Drac’s arm for dear life.

Drac just rolled his eyes. “Oh, please... still have to make a dramatic entrance...?” He mumbled to himself before blocking the human from his father’s eyesight.

“Daaaad! Lydiaaaa! Look at you two!” He said in the fakest voice.

“So you own a hotel...” Vlad said, unimpressed.

“From Prince of Darkness, to King of Room Service...” Lydia mumbled, letting out a chuckle.

“So good to see you! I’ll be right with you!” Drac said before rushing away out of sight.

“Wait—! Drac!!” Griffin called, almost running away with him. Drac rushed back and whispered.

“Keep my dad away from the humans... and Mavis...” and he was gone again.

Griffin then froze as he watched Vlad and Lydia walk in silently, their faces looking unimpressed and scary.

“Ohhhh boy...” Griffin mumbled under his breath. He started silently praying to whatever deity was up there as they slowly approached.

“Hiiii!” Griffin greeted anxiously. “I mean—“

He put on his best vampire voice. “V-Very nice to meet you two... I-I’m— uh... I’m... Y’know... uh... Drac’s uh...”

“His husband.” Vlad replied flatly.

“Th-That’s the one— that’s me...”

“Ugh... not only does he choose a basic looking vampire but he also marries a man...” Lydia mumbled.

“Lydia, what did we say about judging people based on their preferences?”

Griffin looked at him in confusion.

Vlad was the most contradictory man he’s ever met.

“Ohhhh those are nice costumes!” Linda complimented.

“Oh god please not now...” Griffin mumbled.

“These two smell funny...” Lydia commented, eyes squinting.

“Oh! You’re European! It’s called de-od-or-ant!”

Griffin felt like slamming head head into a wall.

“Hey, Count! And Lydia... I’m Frankenstein.” Frank said, rushing over to Vlad and pushing the humans away.

Griffin thanked to whatever God that Frank stepped in.

“I— Well— Technically, I’m his monster. Frankenstein— he’s the man who—“

“Would love to hear more...” Vlad said sarcastically before waking away.

“So uh— let me introduce you to some of your son’s other buddies...” Frank then pulled Murray over.

“This is Murray—“

“AHHH!! PLEASE DONT KILL ME!!” Murray suddenly screamed. Griffin facepalmed himself underneath his glasses.

“I mean— yo, V and L! Wassup?”

“Talking toilet paper... well, that’s a new one...” Lydia commented, rolling her eyes.

“Alright!” Vlad said. “Wheres the kid? That’s who I wanna meet!”

“Oh— r-right... um... Johnny!!” Griffin called.

Johnny quickly rushed over to the group, looking understandably nervous.

“This is our son in law...!” Griffin said, gesturing to the human.

“I... am Count... Johnny-Fang! Bleh bleh...”

Vlad and Lydia glared at him, Vlad leaning close to get a good look.

“Bl...ack Sheep... have you... any... wool...”

“What is that on your head? It looks like my grandmother’s boobies!”

There was an awkward silence before the four let out fake obnoxious laughs.

“Daddy!” Dennis called, rushing towards the group. “Who’s the man with the funny face?”

Griffin cursed under his breath.

“Is this the kid?” Vlad asked.

“Heh.. it sure is!” Johnny replied.

“Let me see those fangs!”

Dracula then rushed back over to them, grabbing Dennis and hugging him tightly.

“What are you doing?” Vlad asked.

“Oh, I just love him so much! I just wanna hug him! On the fangs! That he has!” Drac replied, smothering Dennis in the hug.

Vlad then used his powers to grab Dennis and float him towards him. “I repeat; let me see those fangs!”

As he peered into Dennis’ mouth, Griffin clung onto Drac’s arm. He, Drac and Johnny winced and leaned back, waiting for a response.

“Oh! He’s a late-fanger! Just like you!” Vlad said with a smile.

They all breathed a sigh of relief.

“Yes... just like me...”

“The Big Shot over here was a little cry baby!”

The three laughed nervously.

“He used to pee his bed.” Lydia added with a smug smirk.

“Okay, Lydia...” Drac glared at her.

“All we need to do is scare the fangs out of the kid!”

“Scare... the... fangs...?” Johnny repeated.

“It’s what i did to mister tough-guy over here! You just need to possess something the late-fanger finds sweet and innocent... then you show them what’s what... then POP.”

Griffin covered his mouth and looked at him in shock.

“Trust me! It’ll scare the fangs right out!”

“Uh— I don’t—“ Griffin spoke up.

“Seriously, dudes,” Brandan in his Cakey suit said. “If I’m late for the book fair, I’ll miss the street fair.

The group watched him walk away.

“That’s your guy!” Drac said with a confidant smile.

Griffin and Johnny looked at him, giving him an “excuse me!?” look. Vlad followed the man backstage as Lydia wandered around to room to silently judge it probably

“Possessed!?” Griffin said, looking at Drac in shock.

“Dennis would be so upset!!” Johnny added.

“Don’t you get it? This is our ticket!” Drac replied.

“What!?” Griffin whisper-shouted.

“If it works for Denisovach, then BOOM! He’s a vampire! And you all get to stay here!”

“No way!”

“Alright...” Johnny said nervously. “Uh, capeesh...”

“Drac, please reconsider... we’re already pushing it with Mavis’ patience...” Griffin grabbed his arm, stopping him from walking away.

“It’ll be fine!” Drac replied. “You’ll see!”

“Drac, please...”

Drac thought for a moment before sighing. “I’m sorry. This is our last chance.”