Winter was a fascinating time of year, where the trees lay dormant for months on end, preparing for spring. Where animals hid within the walls of their dens, away from the bitter cold and hunters on the search. Where fires were lit, heavy blankets removed form their closet, and countless hours on the couch was a viable excuse. The downside was that Mercedes Walker moved to Beacon Hills to avoid the season. She hated winter with a passion. Don't get her wrong, she enjoyed the holidays that came with winter, but she despised the cold with ever fiber of her being. The ironic part was that the cold season itself slowed her down. While cold water healed her wounds, the cold simply slowed her down in every other form. Apparently Sirens were meant for warmer weather.

Mercedes huffed out a breath and caught sight of the small cloud that escaped her lips. She frowned and reached across the console and turned up the heater in the cab. She hated winter. She was a creature made for the warm weather. Instead, she was in the middle of a freak winter storm wearing her heavy clothes she'd had to drag out of the garage. Her greenish grey jacket was zipped and button upped, encasing her body in the thick lining. Her handmade hat, scarf, leg, and arm warmers all matched in the rich creamy color. They had been a gift from Holly several years ago, and although Mercedes loved her sister-in-law, she hated having to use the set. Her jeans did little to beat back the cold, but the trucks heater was doing better at keeping her warm.

She had been needing to tune the truck for some time, but when the storm hit, it had gotten too cold to work in her garage. For the time being, it was working fine, it was simply the heater that wasn't up to her preferred performance. Mercedes lightly pressed on the brakes, starting the truck deceleration. Her truck began to slow without signs of sliding across any ice. Too many seasons of driving in snow with a trailer had put Mercedes in the mindset of never driving in the snow unless it was dire. Today, unfortunely, had been the day where no one would be able to eat much unless she went shopping. Mercedes had expected the streets to be unpassable, given that it was California, but she found the streets to be fairly cleared. In better conditions than cities her family had visited growing up.

The turnoff came into view and Mercedes turned the steering wheel. The truck eased off the highway road and onto the dirt road. The snowfall had hidden the dips and bumps, making Mercedes that much more cautious when driving. The last thing she needed was to hit a rock with the undercarriage and damage her truck. During the development, the road had been better maintained, but after Wayde's death, the funding dried up and it closed down, leaving Mercedes and Bentley on their own.

Mercedes reached for her phone and dialed the second number on speed dial. She set the phone to speaker and waited through the dial tones. When no one answered, it switched to voicemail. "Hey, it's me. I'm about five minutes from home, so I better see the two of you up front to help me unload the truck." Mercedes said with a smile. "If I don't, I'll have both your hides. See you soon."

The truck slowly bounced along the road. The trees slowly thinned out as she came to the turnoff. The development had cleared away much of the trees, opening her home up, and leaving much flat space for Bentley to play. And with the fresh snow, Bentley was in paradise. Mercedes turned along the road, turning away from the old development, toward her house.

The large cabin looked all the more warm and inviting with its soft white lights glittering around the snow. She could see the lights of their Christmas tree still twinkling in the living room. Taking the tree down had always been the most depressing event as a kid, and since Bentley hadn't seen any reason to take it down yet, the tree remained in its place. The outdoor lights twinkled in the snow, and would probably remain up year round.

Mercedes pulled up into the drive and activated the garages remote. The motor activated and the door slowly opened to the garage. The RV she and Bentley had traveled in, was closed up, and parked along the far wall. Behind it were the remains of her Honda motorcycle. The Echidna had done enough damage to the bike, that Mercedes nearly scraped the whole thing. But she had managed to start piecing it back together. She was still quite a few parts short, but it was coming along. The truck eased its way up into the garage, pulling up along sides Derek's Camaro, which had taken residence in the garage for several months now. Mercedes sets the parking brake and cut the engine. She adjusted her scarf and pulled down her hat. She opened the door and was immediately med with the frigid winter air.

Mercedes closed the door and walked to the open garage door. She peeked out into the yard and found only the white emptiness around her. The yard had become Bentley's playground with the snow, giving him the chance to fully enjoy it without passerby's to ruin his work. The forest sounds seemed to be muffled by the snow around her. Every so often she could hear the sound of snow falling out of the tree and onto the ground. "What happened to my helpers?"

She stood in the open, waiting for any sign of her boys. "No? Okay then."

Suddenly a ball of snow and cold struck her in the back of the neck. Mercedes back arched from the cold. She quickly reached her hand for her neck and brushed the snow from her neck. Somehow the bastard had managed to hit her right between her scarf and coat. It hadn't hurt, but it had been surprising-and damn cold! Mercedes spun around in the direction the snowball and come at her. "Derek!"

Another snowball came at her and hit Mercedes on the hip, only this time, the direction came from behind her. Mercedes turned again, but found nothing. They were ganging up on her. That was completely unfair. They knew she didn't enjoy the cold whether. how dare they try to use that against her.

"So that's how it's going to be then?" Mercedes called. She was met with silence. She brought her fingers to her lips and whistled. The snow muffled what she saw, but she found them nonetheless. They were stationed on opposite ends of the yard, hidden way in the snow. Mercedes dropped her hand and raced inside. She hit the trigger for the garage. The motor kicked on and began closing the garage door.

Mercedes sprinted down the hall for the front door. she ignored her snowy boots and the fact that she was probably leaving snowy footprints on her wooden floor, but she didn't car. She slammed into the door and turned the top lock. If they wanted to pelt her with snowballs, then they could play in the snow for quite some time then. Mercedes looked over her shoulder toward the back entrance. She raced back toward the kitchen, passing the garage. She entered the kitchen and found the sliding door open. She could get angry at them for leaving it open when they were done. She rushed across the kitchen and took hold of the door.

Suddenly a small force slammed into her middle and knocked Mercedes on her back. Mercedes found herself gasping for breath while she stared up at the ceiling. She coughed and looked down at her chest. A bulky bundled boy clung to her middle. Snow covered it coat and hair. His green hat and scarf were missing. The blond snowy locks rose to reveal matching honey eyes. A giant smile and rosy cheeks were plastered to the boys face.

"Too slow mama." Bentley laughed.

Mercedes chuckled breathlessly. "Yeah, too slow. But I almost got you." She poked his ribs through the large coat he wore. Bentley wiggled away from her touch, allowing Mercedes to sit up.

"Almost doesn't count." Derek said, leaning against the doorway. Like Bentley, his cheeks had a red tint to them. He'd forgone his own leather jacket, and switched it for a heavier black jacket. His dark grey scarf and hat were missing from him as well, but his gloves her on his hands. He reached out one of his hands to Mercedes.
Mercedes took hold and allowed him to help her to her feet. "It got you two to stop throwing snowballs at me didn't it?"

Derek smiled. "There's still time."

"Shall I plan your funeral then?" Mercedes said in return. A small smile tugged at her lips.

For three months now, Derek had become an addition to their family. Somehow, the two of them had gotten together after Halloween and things had gone from there. They didn't put a name to what they were, but neither felt the need to. Derek often watched Bentley while Mercedes was at work, at least on the weekends she had to work, and often stayed the night at her place. As Mercedes saw it, Derek was good for Bentley to have around, as both a werewolf figure and a good man. She liked having him around so much. And as much as she was afraid to think about it, she felt safe with him nearby.

Grounds to cold to bury me." Derek replied.

Mercedes shrugged. "Like that would stop me."

Derek laughed.

Bentley grabbed one of Mercedes hands and started tugging toward the open door. "Mama, come see what we made! We made a family!"

"What?" Mercedes frowned and looked over to Derek. She caught sight of a tint higher up his cheeks. Derek blushing, maybe?

Bentley pulled Mercedes out of the house and into the yard. He raised his other arm and pointed to a smile of snow. It took Mercedes a moment to realize that she was looking at several snowmen. She walked closer, taking in the detail. The bodies weren't even or round by any means. Merced's had learned that lesson as a child. Each one was a different size to depict which place they held. There was a tall one, adorned with Derek's grey hat and scarf. A smaller one without any clothes, which she suspected might be her own. And a small one that wore Bentley's hat and scarf. It was quite the sight.

Mercedes smile. "Did you make these?"

Bentley nodded vigorously. "Derek help me put the heads on and his wouldn't stay on!"

Mercedes snorted. "Oh really?"

Derek shook his head. "Okay, inside. Mom's got food in the truck, remember."

"But mama's snowman needs clothes." Bentley replied.

As much as Mercedes wanted to keep wearing her hat and scar in the cold, she took off the hat and handed it to Bentley. She then picked up her son and lifted him up to her counterparts head. Bentley fixed the hat on the snowwoman's head and wiggled the scarf from Mercedes. He wrapped it messily around the neck, finishing it off.

"There! Done!" Bentley informed, as if he had created a work of art.

"Very nice." Mercedes replied.

Derek nodded. "Come on squirt, let go get the groceries."

Mercedes set Bentley back down and followed them inside. She closed the glass door as she stepped inside and unzipped her coat. She watched as Derek and Bentley headed toward the garage. Bentley grabbed Derek's arm and was lifted up over Derek's shoulder. Bentley squealed in laughter as he vanished into the garage. Mercedes couldn't hide the small smile that turned her lips. Her boys.

Tada first chapter is up! so glad to get this one going because this one is going to really bring up Mercedes past and get more into what she can do. hope you like the domestic life...cause it's gonna get messy later on!