Disclaimer: Twilight is the property of Stephenie Meyer
Dedication: Normally I don't dedicate opening chapters to anyone but this time I will make an exception to give a big thanks to Alphabloodwolf who helped me on the title of this story because the one I had in mind was just, well crap.
Description: Tony Black is Quileute wolf that grew up away from the La Push Reservation where the wolves usually run. Now he's moving there, with his wife Grace and their daughter Magda in the hope of taking over the alpha reins from his uncle Hunter. However there are some in the pack who think he doesn't deserve to lead them because he has never really run with the packs and hasn't spent more than a month on the Res at a time. Can Tony convince them he has what it takes to lead them, or will he forever face hostility when the prodigal wolf returns…
It was late August and only eight in the evening, but my wife Grace had pointed out that if we made sure everything was packed in the car then we could catch an hour nap before we had to rush off to the airport. That was the trouble with the red eye; you had to leave at silly o'clock. I carried our cases down to the hall, putting them there for a moment so Grace could run an inventory once more. It was our first transatlantic flight together and the plane ride ever for our little girl Magda.
As I placed the bags down on the floor I sensed Magda behind me and I turned to find her dragging a bright pink suitcase down the stairs.
"Want me to get it Mags?" I asked going to help her before she damaged the banister.
"I'm ok Daddy." She said and put the suitcase next to Grace's and mine.
"What's that you got there?" I asked.
"I packed my case all on my own." She said proudly. "I thought it would help Mommy out when she was doing yours."
"You're my considerate big girl." Grace said as she came down the stairs and lifted Magda into her arms. "What did you pack?"
"Everything I would need for a week at Auntie Liza's farm." Magda replied.
"You're a very clever girl." Grace replied as she crouched down next to the case. "Want to show me what you packed?"
"Ok." Magda said with a grin as she laid the case down and zipped it open, it was full of toys and books. "See. Everything I need."
"Indeed." Grace replied, trying not to laugh. "Can I make a suggestion?"
"Ok Mommy." Magda agreed with a nod.
"Well Auntie Liza has a pool now, but you haven't got a swimming costume." She observed.
"No." Magda said with a frown.
"And what about clothes?"
"I'll need those too." Magda realised.
"Shall we go and pack your bag together while Daddy puts the other cases in the car?" Grace asked.
Magda nodded again and her pigtails bounced. Grace zipped Magda's case back up before carrying it upstairs Magda holding her hand all the way. I took the other cases out to the car and began arranging them in the trunk. I thought about how I wouldn't have this problem if we just took my truck but it only sat three and Uncle Masen was driving us to the airport so we wouldn't have to pay a parking fee. I didn't want to trust my truck to strangers anyway; she was old and deserved respect.
When I got back in the house I could hear Grace and Magda discussing the case.
"But Mommy I need to take little Ted to keep Salina company, and if Salina and Ted goes then Big Bear Balthazar has to come too as well as Bryony and Bridgett or it's just not fair. I can't take one and not the others." Magda was explaining.
"In that case, it's better you leave them all here. I'll ask Lilly to baby sit them for you." Grace suggested.
"But then Oggy will play with them and he won't play with them right because he's a boy and he said he was going to pull Salina's head off." Magda complained.
"When did he say that?" Grace asked in concern.
"Ages ago when we were babies." Magda said with a shrug.
"How about we ask Auntie Prue to baby sit?" Grace replied.
"She has that new baby to look after." Magda countered.
"Well I'm sure Uncle Tibbi and Zeke would help her." Grace observed.
Magda pouted for a moment, then brightened up.
"Zeke will look after them good." She declared. "Can I ask him now Mommy?"
What shall we do? Grace thought toward me and I carefully made sure Magda couldn't hear us with the telepathy she'd inherited off me.
I'll take her over to Northern Heights while you pack her bag? I suggested.
Good plan. Grace agreed.
"Shall we go over now Mags?" I asked. "It'll save time."
"Ok." She said. "I'll just get their bag together so Zeke has everything he needs to look after them."
She was quick grabbing her backpack and filling it full of dolls clothes and her plastic tea set along with some plastic food.
"It wouldn't be right to expect Zeke to pay for their food too." She said, then thought about something before she went digging in her toy box and pulled out a plastic cash register. She pushed the button to open the drawer and pulled out the play money and stuffed it in the front pocket of the backpack. "In case he needs to buy anything for them."
"Very thoughtful." I observed.
Magda picked up her three dolls and two teddies, hugging them to her chest before looking at me expectantly.
"We won't be long." I promised Grace as I picked Magda up and carried her downstairs.
I didn't bother driving, instead I made sure Magda was comfortable in my arms before running the little woodland path that connected our house to the one owned by Grace's sister Prue. It was five miles between properties but that was nothing to my vamp-wolf physiology and we got there in a couple of minuets. Magda was giggling happily because she liked going so fast. It ran in the family, we were all speed junkies.
I called ahead with my mind to let Prue and Tibbi know I was coming up to the back of the house. Tibbi was protective of Prue and the handful of dhampir they now fostered. He wouldn't think twice about attacking anyone who caught him by surprise. But I didn't blame him, their foster kids were vulnerable, they'd already been through too much and they shouldn't get spooked.
Prue was waiting by the backdoor when we arrived and there was a little girl sitting on her hip. She looked about nine months, but she was a half vamp so it meant she was very young, maybe only a week or two old.
"Hey Mags, what brings you here tonight?" Prue asked.
"I came to ask Zeke if he would do me a favour." Magda replied as I carried her into the house.
"He's up in his room." Prue said, indicating with her head so I carried Magda through the house and up to Zeke's room.
Zeke was the first half vamp Prue and Tibbi had adopted. He'd been with them a year now and he definitely seemed part of the family. He was six months younger than my sister Billie, but in half vamp terms that was at least a year, maybe two. I thought he was catching up to her lately though. He could definitely pass for a fifteen year old now, and maybe they could pretend he was sixteen by the time school came around in September and he could join as a sophomore with Billie instead of going in the deep end on his own as a freshman.
I knocked on the door even though it was open just to let Zeke know he had visitors. He looked up from his drawing table, his dirty blond hair falling in his eyes because he'd suddenly decided that Masen's hair looked cool and wanted it long like his, and smiled in greeting but didn't say anything. He was shy, and rarely spoke and I didn't push him, I'd been crippled by shyness as a kid so I knew how much effort even that smile took. I stepped into the room and put Magda on the floor.
She dropped her toys and bounded over to Zeke, jumping up to wrap her arms about him in tight enough hug to suffocate a human.
Zeke, I need your help. She thought as she carried on hugging him taking advantage of the fact that I wouldn't encourage her to use her words out loud.
With what? Zeke replied, taking advantage of Magda's telepathy because he had a hang up about making noise thanks to the bastards that had dragged him into slavery from the day he was born.
I'm going to visit Auntie Liza's farm but there won't be room on the plane for everyone. Can you look after my babies for me until I get back? She asked.
Of course little cousin. Zeke replied fondly. Where are they?
Over here. Magda said, taking his hand and leading him to her toys.
There's a lot of them. Zeke observed. They'll need a house.
Magda nodded.
Zeke smiled and ruffled her hair between her pigtails before he went to get a storage box off his shelves. He removed the papers that were inside and put them on the shelf before bringing the box over to Magda and he sat down cross-legged before putting the dolls and teddies in one by one, allowing Magda to say goodbye to each one. Once they were all in Zeke put the lid on the box but Magda looked at it sadly.
It's a good box. She thought. But it's not really a house.
Zeke thought for a moment before shooting to his feet and he took a magic marker from his drawing table and quickly sketched a door and windows on to the front of the box.
Is that better? He asked.
Yes. Magda replied. It's a good house for them now.
Zeke smiled as he put the pen back on his table.
"Are you ready to go now Mags?" I asked.
"Yes Daddy." Magda said. "Thank you Zeke, you're a very kind boy."
"You're welcome." Zeke replied in one of the rare instances he actually used his voice around Magda.
"I'll send you a postcard." She promised. "With sheep on."
"Thank you." Zeke replied with a wide grin.
Magda nodded before she turned to leave, then stopped dead before turning back to Zeke.
"I almost forgot." She said, taking the bag from her back. "This has everything my babies will need."
Zeke nodded and he placed it next to his chair.
"There's money in there too if you need to buy anything for them."
It won't be necessary. Zeke assured her.
Well if you need it it's there. Magda replied. I'll send you a postcard and bring you back a gift. I promise.
I will see you in a week cousin. Zeke said, trying to wind things up because he knew we had to go.
"Bye Zeke." I said, taking advantage of his words, before I took Magda's hand and led her down the stairs.
Prue was playing peek-a-boo with the little black half vamp baby who was giggling her head off every time Prue appeared from behind her hands.
"What's her name?" I asked.
"Moesha." Prue replied. "She didn't have a name when she was found and Tibbi liked the name." For some reason Jane is convinced Tibbi's mom was called that but she has no idea why. Something to do with some memory the Fire Twins took from her. I don't really know.
"You'll have to come by for a visit when we get back." I said and tickled Moesha's neck.
She turned to smile at me; she already liked it here better than the last place. Everyone smiled and gave her attention; she wasn't just put in a crib and forgotten about with the odd blood pack thrown in now and then.
"You'll be bigger when I get back so we can play some games." Magda said to Moesha. "Maybe we could go play in the big playroom at Grandma Essie's house."
Moesha liked thought of that and I could see a hundred play dates lined up for the future.
"And you can come too Ritchie." Magda said to the dark haired kid who looked about ten who just entered the atrium from the kitchen. "We can think of good games to play, all of us together."
"How do you know my name?" The kid asked.
"It's in your mind." Magda said with a giggle. "You're Ritchie Burton and you were born three years ago in the camp in Maine. Jane just rescued you and now you've come to live with Auntie Prue and you can be my cousin too."
"You read minds?" Ritchie asked with interest.
"Yeah. And I'll tell you all about it when I get back, but I got to go now. We're going on an aeroplane and we're gonna fly across a sea. It will be amazing. See you another time."
Magda said goodbye to Prue and gave her a hug, promising she'd send her a postcard, then we left. I picked Magda up again so I could carry her when I ran back to the Stables.
Daddy, don't let the others know, but I'm taking Mr Tiggles. She informed me.
Mr Tiggles was her stuffed wolf and her favourite of all her toys. She usually took him everywhere with her and I guess the only reason she didn't bring him now was in case she left him behind at Northern Heights. I didn't see why she couldn't bring him along, but she still had to realise there were rules and well I wasn't sure about our airline and it would be bad to get saddled with extra baggage fee for one little wolf.
I won't. I promised. But you'll have to put him in your carry-on bag until we're on the plane.
Ok. She said. But won't he suffocate?
Nah. Your bag is a special one that teddy wolves can sleep in. I invented quickly.
Magda giggled as we reached the Stables and hugged my head.
Silly Daddy, teddies don't sleep. I was just teasing you. I know it won't hurt Mr Tiggles cause he's a wolf. And when I'm on the plane I can take him out right? She asked.
Yeah. I agreed.
Then I can show him out the window. She said happily. I will be sitting by the window won't I?
Mommy said I had to let you. I replied as we walked into the Stables. "Now you got to try and get some sleep Mags."
"But it's still light out." She complained.
"I know. But our flight is early in the morning. You can sleep on the plane but we got to wait in the airport a while before we can board." I explained.
"Do I really need to go to sleep Mommy?" Magda asked as we entered the kitchen.
"Now Mags, we discussed this yesterday." Grace said firmly. "If you don't get some sleep now then you won't enjoy the flight."
"I do want to like it." Magda observed. "I guess I should go and nap. What time shall I set my alarm for?"
"Set it for half ten because we're leaving at eleven." Grace replied.
"Will do Mommy." Magda said with a mock salute, and then hugged Grace before hugging me. "Have pleasant dreams."
"I'll take you up to bed." Grace said as she lifted Magda into her arms and carried her up the stairs.
I took Magda's case out to store in the car before I made sure the doors were locked downstairs. I went upstairs and went to the bedroom I shared with Grace. We'd always been in the tower room, it had been Grace's room when she was growing up and she hadn't wanted to leave it. But when Prue moved out and Grace got pregnant with Magda she decided to move into her parents' old room. She wanted Magda to have the tower room because of how magical she found it growing up. It meant there was a lot of decorating to do in a short time, but it also meant we had a bigger room and Mags thought her room was a magic princess tower so it was worth it.
Grace came into the room just behind me and let me know Mags was definitely settling down to sleep she promised. I laughed as I imagined her saying it, although I doubted she would actually drop off. I could make her go to sleep if I wanted to, but Mom had used that on me once, and even though I understood why she did it, it made even more sense now when I thought about how I'd feel if Magda was running into danger, but I'd felt betrayed at the time and I didn't want Magda to feel that way. Not over something like this anyway.
I'll keep an eye on her if you want to catch forty. I stated. I'll sleep on the plane. I'd prefer that anyway, you know what I'm like flying.
Ok. But if Magda gets to sleep make sure you nap too. Grace advised.
I will. I promised her and we kissed a moment before we got into bed since I could keep an eye on Mags from there.
As Grace snuggled down to sleep beside me I lay on my back with my hands behind my head and I traced the lines of the ceiling beams with my eyes. It was just something for my eyes to do as I kept my mind on Magda. She didn't drop off to sleep, but she did try to sleep and she didn't get out of bed either, that was good enough in my opinion. She'd probably sleep on the plane and even if she dropped off in the departure lounge I'd carry her onto the plane easy enough.
Daddy you're not sleeping. Magda stated.
You're not either. I replied.
I'm too excited. She said with Christmas whispers. I'm going on a plane and to another country. It's gonna be amazing.
It sure is. I agreed figuring that there really wasn't a point telling her to go to sleep with only half hour before she had to get up anyway.
Have you been in a plane before? She asked.
A couple of times. I replied.
Have you been to Auntie Liza's farm? She asked.
You know I haven't Mags. She's only been living there since last year. I stated.
But that's forever. She observed, dragging out the forever for well ever.
I guess you're right. Since it was true from Magda's point of view. She might look like a six or seven, a very small eight year old at a stretch, but she was only a year old in March. I've never been to Britain at all so I'm excited to go to see it.
Will we see where Grandpa Carlisle was born? Magda asked.
No. We're not stopping in London, just changing planes. Auntie Liza will pick us up from the airport in Wales. I explained.
That's a funny name for a country when you think about it. Magda thought with a laugh. It's like the big sea mammals whales.
It does sound like that. I agreed. But Wales is the English name for the country, the name in the Welsh language is Cymru.
Do they speak English at all? Magda asked curiously.
Well yeah, but you know Welsh anyway. I pointed out.
Oh yeah, Grandpa Tobias taught me last month. Magda observed. I like learning languages from Grandpa.
He's a good teacher. I agreed.
The alarm went off and Grace stirred, reaching out to hit snooze.
"It's time to go. It's time to go." Magda sang as she ran into our room and jumped up on the bed. "We got to go to the airport now."
"You need to get dressed first." Grace stated.
"Oh yeah. I can't go on a plane in my pyjamas that would be silly." Magda chortled.
"I put your clothes out on your linen chest." Grace stated.
"I'll go put them on now Mommy and then we'll be going." Magda said with a wide excited grin.
Magda ran from the room and although Grace disapproved of Magda running in the house she didn't say anything because she knew how excited our daughter was about flying.
We got up and changed into comfortable clothes for the flight. I went downstairs and unlocked the back door as Uncle Masen reached it.
"Are you ready kid?" He asked.
"Everything's in the car, just got to do all the last minuet checks." I replied.
"Make sure everything is turned off?" He asked as he stepped into the kitchen, turned one of the ladder-back chairs around and sat on it backwards with effortless ease.
"Yeah." I said as I checked that everything in the kitchen was off.
"I'll come look in everyday to make sure it's all ok." Masen promised.
"Thanks." I said with a smile.
"Uncle Masen." Magda sang as she came down the back staircase and leapt into his arms, hugging him. "You came to take us to the airport."
"Yeah. Got to make sure y'all get off ok." He replied, sitting her up on the back of the chair.
"Can't you come too?" She asked.
"Well if I came who'd look after your house?" Masen asked.
"Auntie Prue." Magda said without thinking.
"I'll remember that next time hon." Masen replied with a wink.
"Magda, you need to brush your hair." Grace said as she came down the stairs too. "Come on, up on the chair. Hi Masen, you ok?"
"You know me Grace, I'm always happy." Masen said as he pulled one of the other chairs toward him and moved Magda so she stood on it.
"Glad to hear it." Grace said as she stepped up behind Magda before brushing her waist length dark hair and plaiting it expertly into one thick braid down her back.
After Grace tied a ribbon about the elastic Magda pulled it over her shoulder and grinned when she saw it was pink.
"Is your backpack ready?" Grace asked.
"I'll go get it." Magda said.
"And don't forget your jacket." Grace called up the stairs behind her. "Have you got everything?" She directed at me.
"I got my book for the plane and the hard boiled sweets Billie said we should get if Magda's ears start popping. Our passports and tickets are here and so is my wallet with pound notes for spending. Plus a change of underwear and a clean tee for our stop over in London." I replied.
"Good. Have you got your jacket?" She asked.
"I won't need it." I assured her.
"I know you don't need it, but we got to keep up appearances." She crooned as she stepped close to me.
"I'm a big macho man who thinks he can stand up to the cold." I said firmly.
"Well if you think you can pull it off." Grace teased as she placed her hand on my waist and kissed me.
"Well I know I'm a little on the weedy side, but if I give it enough conviction." I replied, equally joking because I'm a Quileute wolf and by definition means I'm a six foot eleven muscular giant warrior.
"Is everything right in my bag Mommy?" Magda asked as she came back to the kitchen and she handed her bigger backpack to Grace.
Grace took the bag and put it up on the table to look through it.
"It's all good Mags, but where's Mr Tiggles?" Grace asked.
"Do I have to put him in just yet?" Magda asked with a pout as she hugged the wolf to her chest.
Grace looked to me for a moment then smiled at Magda.
"Ok, we'll put him in when we get to the airport." Grace stated.
"Mr Tiggles is happy with that." Magda said, and nodded her head.
"So, are we all ready to go?" I asked.
"I think we are." Grace agreed.
"Then lets go." I said.
We all stepped outside and I locked up while Masen went to unlock the car so Magda and Grace could get in ready. Then I jumped in the back with my wife and daughter, something that wasn't so usual and Magda found it funny that all three of us were in the back.
Masen started the engine.
"Say goodbye to the house, we won't be back for a whole week." Grace said to Magda.
"Bye, bye house." Magda said, waving her hand as we left the small drive in front of the Stables and Masen drove us into the night toward SEA-TAC.
We arrived at the airport at half past eleven and after making sure Mr Tiggles was safe inside Magda's bag and saying goodbye to Masen, we made our way to check-in. We didn't have to wait as long as I thought, only quarter of an hour. I guess that was one of the advantages of flying at silly o'clock in the morning.
Magda was worried at first watching our luggage go along the conveyer belt, that they were stealing it or something, but Grace let her know that it was just going on the plane. Magda wondered if we would have to go on a conveyer too, and well the moving floors were kind of like them but I didn't answer her because I thought it would be a surprise.
We got through security ok, but Grace was pulled out for a frisking as a control. It was a little surprising because they usually pulled Native me out rather than Grace who was a blonde, blue-eyed beauty. Guess they were on a 'we're not racist honestly' drive again. Or maybe not, the guard who frisked Grace had recognised her as the author of Darktide and was contemplating asking for an autograph, but she didn't think it was appropriate after all. She just made do with getting a good close up look of Grace and her tall Native husband who the world and their mother now knew was the inspiration for the werewolf Brody in her best-selling fantasy novels.
Magda thought that having the wand moved over you looked fun and the frisking just looked like tickling to her. I told her not to volunteer herself, although I didn't add that she was likely to have her fair share when she was older since she had my colouration. Grace was there too, although it was more apparent in the shape of her oval face and the set of her eyes.
Grace was now rolling her light blue eyes at me, as she stepped away from the guard who was now running the wand over a woman in heavy jewellery who had set the detector off.
"I think she was after your autograph." I whispered to Grace as I placed my arm about her waist and took Magda's hand as we started walking toward the duty free.
"You think or you know?" Grace asked with a laugh.
"What's an autograph?" Magda asked.
"It's when you sign your name on a piece of paper because you're famous." I explained.
"Famous is when you done stuff that everyone knows about right?" Magda asked.
"Yeah." I confirmed.
"You're famous Mommy?" She asked in shock.
"Sort of." Grace said as we came to the bookstore and there was a whole stand dedicated to Darktide along with an almost full size author picture that Grace regarded with some annoyance. The publishers were really trying to push the whole series now Grace had finished writing it and she preferred people to just come across it on their own accord than have it rammed down their throats.
"Mommy, is that you?" Magda gasped, pointing up at the photo of Grace, it was an old one, from when she was still human because she was wearing glasses.
"Yeah." Grace said.
"Grace Pearson." Magda read on the spine of one of the books, then gasped. "You are a writer Mommy?"
Grace nodded.
"But I didn't know that." Magda said with a frown. "Can I read your books? You know I like to read."
"When you're older." Grace said.
"Why?" Magda asked, then giggled. "They are naughty books."
"Yes." Grace agreed, although usually she argued that they were quite extensive fantasy that happened to contain sex scenes.
I agreed with her on that, but a lot of the world dismissed them as chick-lit because that's how the publishers decided to market them. They probably thought the books wouldn't sell on their own merit or something. They had to think of a gimmick and it was hard to shake.
"Of course I could buy one and sign it and give it to the guard." Grace mused.
"She might think you're trying to bribe her." I replied.
"I guess." She laughed.
"Oh god." A woman gasped as she looked between Grace and her photo. "You're…You're her right. Grace Pearson?"
"Yes." Grace confirmed.
"I'm the biggest fan of your work." The woman gushed, though she was off the mark there, we knew Grace's number one fan, it was Dannan who was married to my mother's cousin Alex. "I just can't believe Darktide has come to an end, and what an ending. It was worth all the turmoil. Of course I didn't mind all those sex scenes, they were hot."
I quickly placed my hands over Magda's ears.
"It's been a roller coaster." Grace said. "And I'll happily talk to you over here, but my Magda is still a little young to know exactly what her mother writes about." She added with a wink.
"Oh…oh of course." The woman stammered.
I found the solution to the problem.
"Come on Mags, lets go find the kids section and you can choose a book to read on the plane." I stated.
"But I don't like k…" Magda began.
You're six remember. Six year olds read brightly coloured books, maybe Roald Dahl if they're advanced enough. I quickly reminded her telepathically.
"Who's he?" Magda asked.
"I didn't give you any of his books?" I asked, feeling shocked by this.
Magda shook her head.
"Well let's see." I said as I led her toward the kid's section.
I searched until I spotted the familiar illustrations that had always gone with Dahl's work. I think it would be sacrilege now to publish his work with an illustrator other than Quentin Blake. These books had been enthralling kids for over a hundred years and I didn't see why Mags should be left out.
She looked along the titles.
"I don't know what to read." She whispered.
"How about Matilda." I said, taking it off the shelf. "It's about a girl who likes to read."
"Great." Magda observed looking at the cover, but I knew it wouldn't last her the whole flight, even if she slept, so I let her pick out three more books before we took them to the register to pay.
A small crowd was now gathered around Grace getting free autographs.
"What's the quickest way to the London-Heathrow gate?" I asked.
"Don't worry, I phoned airport security, they'll be here with a cart to take you to the departure lounge now." The girl behind the counter said. "They're worried that if the crowd grows anymore there's gonna be an incident."
"Sorry. It happens a lot." I apologised. "Especially now they've started putting up that damn photo. Grace can't even pretend not to be her because people then see it as a challenge to prove their hunch."
"Don't worry, we've dealt with celebrities before." The girl said, almost blasé. "Next time let us know in advance and we can sneak you through security."
"I'll remember that next time." I said with a smile as I accepted my change and threw it straight in her tips jar.
There was a buzz of static and the shop assistant picked up her walkie-talkie.
She spoke into it then listened to the return message.
"If you just go stand with Grace then Matt will be here with the cart." She informed me.
"Thank you." I said, putting the books into my bag and I picked Magda up and carried her over to Grace who was becoming flustered. We're gonna get a ride from security. I told her.
Great. Grace replied. I thought if I just signed one… She trailed off not to write that out on the book she was signing for a guy who's eyes kept travelling to me almost disbelieving that Brody was there.
Then one of those little golf cart things pulled up and a security guard stepped off.
"Ms Pearson if you and your family would care to step this way your flight is boarding." He stated indicating the cart.
"Thank you." Grace said with clear relief as I lifted Magda up onto the back facing seat.
There were groans from people who hadn't got autographs.
"I'm sorry but they can't hold up the flight for me." Grace said with an apologetic smile and she hopped up onto the back too.
I sat down on the side closest to all the people so I could fend them off if it came to it. But they didn't swarm after us as the security guy, who I guess was Matt, hit the gas and we sped off at, well it wouldn't be breaking any land speed records but we were beating the crowds. We were taken to a private room near the departure lounge.
"You can wait in here until your flight is called for boarding. If you need anything just use the phone there." Matt informed us.
"Thank you." Grace said. "You're a life saver."
"Well you might want to think of getting your own security detail." Matt replied.
"I usually don't need it." Grace stated. "I guess with it being the last year of Darktide things are more hectic than normal, but I haven't really been out of my home town other than when I've been promoting. It just seems so...well I'm just an author."
"I guess you'll figure something out. Have a nice flight Ms Pearson and I hope you and your family have a peaceful time for the rest of your stop here at SEA-TAC." Matt said with a salute before he left the room and got back on his cart.
"Where is the plane?" Magda asked once the door had closed.
"It's not time to board yet, but you can see them through this window. Look." I said, drawing her attention to the big plate glass window opposite the door that looked out over the airfield.
"They're really big." Magda gasped.
"Yep." I said.
"Is our one out there?" She asked.
"I think it's that one there." I ventured.
"Wow." Magda observed and I left her looking at the planes as I went to sit down next to Grace.
Sorry about causing so much trouble. Grace thought toward me sadly.
You didn't cause it. I said as I pulled her into a hug. You can't help it if people want to get close to you.
But if I'd never wrote those damn books in the first place... She thought angrily.
I wouldn't have had anything that gave me at least a small amount of contact with you in all those lonesome years we had to spend apart when I was growing up properly. I cut her off because I didn't want her to feel bad about it since it really wasn't her fault that people forgot that she had a private life too.
"When are we flying?" Magda asked as she still looked out the window to where they were loading the first load of luggage onto the plane.
"We take off at half four, but we should be boarding at four o'clock." I replied.
"Four o'clock in the morning?" Magda gasped. "Why did we have to come so early then?"
"To get through check-in and security." I replied. "It's already ten to one now."
"Wow. And all these people are all up and everything. Don't they sleep?" She said almost in disgust.
"In the day." I stated.
Magda nodded, then frowned, "Will it be day when we land?"
"It will actually be half eleven in the night there." I stated.
"We'll be flying for that long?" Magda demanded in shock.
"Only eleven hours." Grace confirmed.
"But won't that mean we should get there at half past three in the afternoon?" Magda asked with a frown.
"It will be half past three in the afternoon here, but in Britain it will be half past eleven in the night." Grace replied.
"They got different times there?"
"Remember what we said the world is like?" I asked.
"A big ball." Magda ventured.
"That's right." Grace replied.
"And it spins and the sun shines on one side and that side is day and the dark side is night and oh so I get it now. We're travelling so far that we'll be on a very different part of the ball." Magda observed.
"That's right." I agreed.
"Can you show me on the globe?" She asked.
"Liza probably has one." I stated.
"And if not we'll buy one. They're bound to have one at the museum." Grace added.
"I can't wait to visit all the museums and such." Magda replied. "Will they be like the ones we've been to here?"
"Well hopefully they'll be a little different." I said with chuckle.
"I guess we don't want to fly all that way just to see the same things." Magda mused as she came to sit in the chair next to Grace. "What's the time now?"
"There you go." Grace said, showing Magda her watch.
"Ten past one." Magda said after a small moment of calculation. "There's still loads to go yet."
"Why don't you read one of your new books?" I suggested.
Magda nodded and I pulled Matilda from my bag and handed it to her. She spent the next hour reading it through once. Then she read it through a second time. That took a little less time. She then reached into her bag and pulled out her writing pad and a felt tip pen and began doodling pictures, she'd got the drawing bug recently after spending some time with Zeke. Now she was creating her own pictures of scenes from the book, writing down the relevant passage underneath.
She looked at her writing for a long moment then turned to Grace with a frown.
"Will I be a writer too Mommy?" She asked.
"If you want to be sweetheart." Grace said softly, kissing Magda's head.
"How do you write?"
"You get an idea of what you want to write about and then write it." Grace said.
"Ok." Magda replied. "I could write about our trip."
"I'll be happy to read it later." Grace stated.
"Then I will write it as we're going. I'll use the rest of the time before our flight to write about the airport." Magda observed.
Magda turned to a clean page and started writing. She carried on right up until our flight was called. I put Matilda back in my bag while Grace helped Magda put the writing pad back into her backpack. I made sure our boarding passes were ready and we stepped out of the room and followed the signs to our gate.
We were flying first class, this had nothing to do with Grace's status, but the fact that my family was ridiculously rich. I didn't know exactly how much money Mom and Dad actually had, but I'd been given a nice little sum when I reached eighteen and since Grace and I lived well below our means we had a lot of cash to spare when we needed to splash out. First class was a necessity for me because I needed the legroom that just wasn't available in coach or even business.
Magda was ecstatic as we were directed into first class and we made our way to our seats.
"It's so fancy in here." She gasped. "Look at the seats. And I can see the airport terminal out of the window."
"Are you sure you want to sit by the window Mags?" I asked when we reached our row.
"I want to watch all the sky go past." She stated.
"Ok. Give me your bag." I instructed.
"But I want my things in the flight." She said in shock.
"You can have it back once we're in the air." Grace explained as she held out her hand. "But for take-off we have to store it overhead."
"Ok." Magda said and passed her bag to me.
I put it in the compartment along with Grace's bag and my own bag and I shut the hatch. Magda was already in the seat closest to the window, kneeling up as she looked out.
"There's a truck with stairs attached to it over there." She said with a laugh.
"That's so they can move the up to the planes for people to get on and off." Grace explained as she settled into the middle seat.
"Cool." Magda observed as I settled into the aisle seat, testing out the space I had and liking it. "But we didn't use steps."
"We got to use the air bridge because it's a bigger flight." Grace replied.
Magda nodded and continued to look out the window for a few minuets.
"Can't I have Mr Tiggles or do I have to wait until we're flying?" She asked.
"There won't be a safety belt for him." I said, thinking quickly. "He'll be safer in your bag."
"I hope you're right. He's missing so much." Magda said with a pout before going back to looking out the window.
First class was as full as it was gonna get and there were the sounds of the doors closing. The cabin crew were making their way down the aisles checking that the luggage racks were secure.
"It's time to sit down and fasten your seat belt now Mags." Grace stated and she guided Magda down into her seat as the plane began to move with a jerk.
"Are we taking off?" She asked excitedly as Grace clipped her belt into place and tightened it.
"We're being towed to the runway." I said as I fastened my own belt and tuned out the safety announcement because I knew it anyway and it just made flying all the more daunting.
"You don't like flying Daddy?" Magda asked with a shock.
"Just listen to what the nice lady is saying." Grace instructed.
"Ok." Magda said with a pout and looked toward the front although she couldn't actually see anything with the seats in the way.
In the end I forced myself to watch so Magda could see all the instructions through my eyes. It wasn't so bad when I was doing it for my daughter.
Then the cabin crew checked that all the belts were in place before they took their seats at the front of the plane. The plane stopped and there was a judder as the truck released. Then the plane moved under its own power, getting into position on the runway. The jets picked up and Magda gasped.
"It's just the jets." Grace assured her, tapping her hand and the lights were flying past the window and we were picking up speed. "Are you ready to fly Mags?"
Magda nodded with a wide grin on her face as the plane lifted and we climbed up into the air climbing, climbing in a way that seemed like it should be impossible. I tried not to show my fear, but normally I'd be gritting my teeth through all the jerking and the juddering until we'd reached cruising height.
Once the seatbelt light went out I unfastened my belt and I stood up to get Mr Tiggles out of Magda's bag. It was a good way to buy a little time while the plane was stable to get my mind back in order.
"I think he's ready to see out the window." I said as I handed him over.
"Come on Mr Tiggles we're thousands of feet in the air. You can see all lights and darkness beneath us." She told her wolf before turning back to Grace and me. "When will we be flying over the sea?"
"The pilot will let us know." I said as I sat back in my seat.
"Will we be going straight to Auntie Liza's from the airport?" She asked.
"Auntie Liza lives miles away from London." Grace stated. "We have to go in another plane to Cardiff and that's where she'll pick us up."
"How long will that flight take?"
"Only an hour." I replied.
"So we'll be getting to her about half past twelve, maybe one in the morning?" Magda calculated.
"No. We wouldn't have made the eleven connection, and rather than wait around in the airport for four hours for the next flight, we booked into a hotel. We'll spend a few hours there and fly out on the seven o'clock flight. We should touch down at eight o'clock tomorrow morning." I explained.
"All that time away. We'll miss out on so much of our vacation." Magda worried.
"Not really." I replied. "Think of it like this. You're gonna have to sleep when we get there anyway, so it's better to do it at a hotel so you can get right in to spending time with Auntie Liza and playing with Auntie Billie and baby Aiden."
Magda considered it for a moment then nodded.
"Yes, that is a better idea." She observed before stifling a yawn.
"You know if you're tired now Mags you're allowed to go to sleep." I said.
"Will you two be sleeping?" She asked.
"Probably. And everyone else is settling down. See." I said, indicating the other passengers who were opening up blankets and adjusting their seats.
"The seat going back does look fun." Magda mused.
"Here's your blanket." Grace said as she pulled the sealed bag out of the mesh of the seat in front of Magda.
"It's in its very own bag?" Magda asked with a grin.
"It's hygienic." Grace replied.
"Then Auntie Liza would like that." Magda said with a giggle as Grace pulled the blanket from the bag and gave it to her.
"Look Mr Tiggles, we got our own blanket to share. And a mask. But it hasn't got any eyeholes. That's stupid." She said, holding it up over her face. "You can't see."
"That's the point." Grace explained. "It stops the light from the other passengers from distracting you."
"Oh. Well then we need two because otherwise Mr Tiggles will be distracted and he won't sleep so I won't sleep." Magda said firmly.
"You can have mine." Grace said as she opened her blanket pack and fished out the sleep mask. "The light doesn't bother me."
"Thank you Mommy." Magda said with an angelic smile as Grace gave her the other mask.
Magda put it over Mr Tiggles eyes before she pulled her own back down over her eyes, but it slid down past her chin. I took it from her and tied a knot in the elastic to make it smaller. It fit her now, sort of, the mask itself almost drown her face, but she seemed happy enough with it. She sat back, then seemed to remember as she pulled up her mask.
"How does the seat go back?" She asked.
Grace showed her and Magda spent a few moments trying out the controls until she found the position she liked and then pulled the mask back down over her eyes. She pulled the blanket up around her and turned toward the window and she drifted to sleep with Mr Tiggles clutched to her.
Has she gone? Grace asked.
Yeah. I confirmed, getting nothing but the background buzz of Magda's sleeping mind.
I know she's excited about the flight, but I'm worried she'll start broadcasting. Grace said.
Don't worry. I got her covered. I promised as I got out my blanket and pulled it over me for the comfort not the warmth and let my seat back.
How can you do that if you're asleep? Grace demanded as she poked me in my side.
I can shield Magda in my sleep, you know that Grace. I replied as I pulled the mask down over my eyes.
Well if you're going to sleep then so am I. Grace said as she whipped the eye mask from me.
"Hey." I said, frowning at her.
"I need this more than you." She said, and that was true because I could sleep anywhere and much easier than she could.
The one thing first class hasn't perfected are seats that would allow us to snuggle. Grace said.
That is a downer. I replied. But we can still hold hands. I added as I took Grace's hand.
There's that. She said with a smile. Ok. We'll hold hands for now and save the snuggling for later.
We did drift off to sleep and for once I found a happy bubble on a plane. Sleeping on planes was something I had avoided ever since Liza and me had been kidnapped that way, but weirdly, considering the love of my life and my only daughter was on this plane I felt safe. I don't know, maybe it was the fact that I had them to protect and I knew I could protect them that brought out this new confidence in me. I bet Mal would have a lot of psychobabble theories about it if I asked him.
The flight went by smoothly. I slept for three hours, Grace and Magda managed five before we were offered breakfast and it was light then anyway and Magda spent most of her time looking out of the window trying to spot ships on the water below. She wanted to use the bathroom three times, Grace took her each time because it was a tight squeeze if anyone needed to get past me when I was waiting outside the door. We had another meal on the plane about two hours before landing.
I stowed Mr Tiggles safely back in Magda's backpack before we started our descent. Descent was worse than take off for me, of course Mags enjoyed it much more than the takeoff and was giggling the entire way, thanks in part to the candy she was sucking on to stop her ears from popping.
We queued for ten minuets to go through customs, and Magda liked having her passport stamped. We didn't go to luggage pickup, they were on automatic checking and would be kept on hold until our flight arrived. All we had were our carry on bags, but they were packed with a change of underwear and a clean t-shirt and we'd just have to make do with whatever toiletries the hotel provided us with since we weren't allowed to have them on our carry on.
There was a cab waiting for us outside and it took us to the hotel two miles from the airport. Magda laughed when we turned off the motorway and onto one of the city streets and she noticed we were driving on the left.
"He's on the wrong side." She whispered.
"They drive on this side in Britain." Grace replied.
"Will we see where the king lives?" Magda asked.
"We're not going that far into London." I replied. "We're just going to the hotel to wait for our flight."
"London? This is London? Grandpa Carlisle came from London." Magda observed.
"He did." I agreed.
"But you said we weren't going there."
"I know. But we're not really, I mean we won't be able to look around. We'll go to our hotel, sleep a couple of hours and then we'll be back up again to go to the airport for our flight."
"Ok." Magda said. "Will there be food at the hotel?"
"We might get a sandwich." I hazarded because I really hadn't checked if they had an opening time for the kitchen.
We pulled up outside the hotel and we piled out onto the pavement.
"I'll be back at six guv." The driver said.
"Thanks." I said with a salute.
We then climbed the steps and entered the modern building the hotel was in. We had a reservation and were quickly shown up to our room. The hotel ran an all night kitchen if we wanted to pay extra for room service. If we'd had time then we could have ordered hot food, but since we should get some sleep before our next flight we ordered sandwiches and some chips.
Of course I forgot about dialect and thought they'd sent us the wrong order when we were given our ham sandwiches with French fries, but of course that's what chips were over here. Magda thought it was funny and great that she had hot fries instead of potato chips. I guess I enjoyed them more than I would have done a bag of chips too. Grace found chips and fries equally unhealthy, but that was a hang over from when she'd been human and her heart had been bad. She'd had to watch what she ate then, she didn't have to any more, now she was a half vamp like me, but she still had that hesitation whenever we were gonna pig out.
After eating we went to investigate the bathroom. There were three sealed toothbrushes in a water glass and a vase full of little one-use tubes of toothpaste and bottles of mouthwash. There were little shampoos and conditioners too, but we wouldn't have much time for a shower. Instead we all cleaned our teeth, it was important that Magda got into a good dental hygiene routine because we were dhampir and we relied on our teeth.
Then Grace and me stepped out of the bathroom while Magda used the toilet. Grace used the toilet next while I pushed the room service cart out into the hall. Grace got Magda into the single bed when I went to use the toilet and then we settled down.
I awoke to the sound of the phone ringing. I reached out blindly with my eyes still closed but it took a while to find it. It was the front desk with our five o'clock wake up call. I thanked the desk clerk and roused Grace. Grace went to change her underwear first while I answered the door and a bellboy wheeled in a breakfast cart. I tipped him then went to wake Magda.
She started on her breakfast but I went to dress when Grace came out of the bathroom. I had some toast once I was dressed and a cup of coffee to wash it down. We all washed afterwards and then we packed up our bags again and made our way down to reception to check out. As promised the cab was there again and it was clear the guy hadn't been asleep. When Grace asked him about it he said he was on the night shift and we were his last pick up of the day.
We didn't have any bags to check, we went through the express line to claim our boarding passes and we went through security in no time. We made our way to our gate and arrived there as our flight was boarding. This was a small plane so there wasn't a first class, and there wasn't an air bridge, but Magda liked that more because we got to see our plane from the outside as we went down to the tarmac before climbing the steps.
When I looked up the aisle of the plane it was clear I was gonna have a cramped flight. It was only for an hour though so it wouldn't be so bad. Magda took the window seat again and I took the aisle, with Grace in the middle. As I crammed myself into the little room available I started to think that maybe we should have done the same as Mom and Dad and hired a car to drive to Liza's farm. Maybe once I had a feel of the roads around here we could think about it next time.
Once we took off we hardly even straightened out before we were landing again. At least that's how it seemed, not that I was complaining, it meant we could get out of the plane and I knew Liza and Mom were at the airport waiting right there down below, I'd felt their minds as soon as we were in Cardiff airspace.
It was clear things were a little more lax here. We didn't queue so long to go through customs and it was only a short way to the carousel. We spotted our bags thanks to Magda's bright pink suitcase. Grace picked Magda up to stop her jumping on the carousel, so I grabbed all our bags and we followed the arrows out to the light drenched foyer. It was a bright sunny day and now I knew why Dad wasn't with Mom, Liza, Billie and Aiden. Mal wasn't there either, but he was in work, he had limited vacation time and was saving it for Christmas, it worried me a little that it would mean Liza was on her own.
Once we were past the barrier Mom and Billie came toward us and took a suitcase each off me. I could have carried them but they wanted to help so I let them. Then Liza came to join us, carrying Aiden on her hip and he was bigger than I thought he'd be, and looking around with an interest that just wasn't there the last time I'd seen him when he was new born.
It was clear to Magda too.
"He got big." She said, reaching toward him because Grace still held her.
"Told you he would Mags." Billie replied with a small smile as Magda thought some before agreeing.
She wanted to know if he could talk, and when Liza said he couldn't yet, Magda said something that I'd completely forgot about.
"Doesn't matter, I can hear his mind." She said with a shrug. "Can I sit by him in the car Auntie Liza?"
"Of course you may Magda." Liza replied, and I could already feel her mind working, wondering if what Magda said was possible.
Magda was telling them all about our trip on the aeroplane.
Can Mags really hear Aiden's mind? Grace asked.
I don't know. I said. It's hard to be sure, I mean she hears Mr Tiggles all the time, but then she's got your imagination. If I did hear a voice in her head I couldn't be certain if it was Aiden's voice or if it was just Mags imagining it.
Grace had to put Magda down then because she was getting excited because she'd sensed Dad in the car. It was in little time at all that we were all pilling into Liza's Vauxhall. Magda was sat between Aiden and Billie in the middle row of seats. Mom was gonna get in the front passenger seat, but then asked if I wanted to after seeing the last leg of our plane journey in my mind. It meant I wouldn't get to sit by Grace, but it didn't really matter because Grace preferred me to be comfortable.
Magda was chatting away happily as Liza made sure Aiden was secure in his seat. She was talking to Aiden, as if she was responding to him.
"You saw a sheep and Mammy touched it? Was it a big sheep? Wow. Can I see the sheep too? Will I get to pet it?" That last one was directed to the adults.
"We'll have to ask Mair." Billie answered instead, and she seemed to think she had authority on the matter where the Jones family was concerned, even over Liza. "You mustn't just run up to the sheep cause you might spook them."
"Ok. I will wait until I have permission." Magda said solemnly, then laughed again. "I don't think I will have to be carried. I'm a big girl now, I can walk…Well I don't know. You're human and not dhampir like me so it will take you longer to walk, maybe in a few months. Definitely when you come back to see us at home for Christmas I think you will be walking."
"Are you really talking to him?" Billie asked as if she couldn't help herself and I really didn't want Magda getting into all that just yet, to think it was freaky or anything.
"This is weird. I keep thinking 'where's the steering wheel'." I said with a laugh as I got into the passenger seat, trying to change the conversation.
"It does take time to get used to." Liza replied as she fastened her belt.
"Of course I can." Magda answered anyway and I scanned her mind, but she didn't find anything wrong with Billie's question. "He might not talk with his mouth yet but he got all the thoughts in his mind haven't you Aiden? Oh you prefer Addie, that's what Mammy calls you and that makes you happy."
"Addie?" I asked, because Liza only ever abbreviated a name when the person requested it.
"Yes." She said with a smile, and left it at that. "Is everybody strapped in?"
Once she had confirmation she pulled off and we were heading out of the parking lot. I searched for something to talk about, the weather caught my attention because it was a clear day, and already hot at eight in the morning. The sky was clear blue and wasn't what I'd been expecting from all of Mal's joking. I questioned it, but it was clear from her tone that Liza'd had enough of the fine weather, so had most of the country it seemed. Apparently the roads had been melting. Then Mags said Addie wanted to know what a word was and Liza asked me silently if Mags really could hear Aiden. I told Liza the truth; that I couldn't hear Aiden but Magda was certain she could.
I also informed Liza that she was ok using telepathy with me; that Mags wouldn't overhear because I was keeping a filter around her mind. It was really something I could have used as a kid, but overhearing the thoughts I shouldn't had made me determined to protect Magda and Liza was full of praises about this. She thought I was doing the best thing for her and this led to her musing that maybe it wasn't such a bad idea that Aiden was human because she didn't think she could help him if he was a telepath. Not in the way I could help Magda, but I was certain that she'd be able to do it. Sometimes when we'd been around each other for a long period of time she could control my power to a certain extent. I was certain that she'd have no problem doing it for her own kid. It was a quick back and fore between us and when Liza answered Magda's question Magda found it hard to define the words for Aiden and so she showed him with mind pictures instead.
Liza was worried. She tried to deny it, but I could feel that moment flutter through her mind when she worried that Magda might accidentally put something in Aiden's mind he was too young to know, or that his baby mind wouldn't handle something so complex. She underestimated his ability to absorb stuff, which was stupid when you think about it. Baby's learn a hell of a lot in their first year and are much better at absorbing and handling new information as they rush toward a point where they can at least get around independently and communicate their thoughts beyond a primitive cry. We got into a little squabble, but it was nothing really, just a little sibling teasing.
Mom was beginning to wonder what we were talking about because she could feel our conversation but I was blocking the actual words from her. To make up for it I asked Liza out loud what we were gonna do for our birthday. Turned out we were gonna have a party, just us supernaturals and it sounded cool, although it would be different from how we'd always celebrated together as kids down on the Res. Magda was excited by the confirmation of the pool and she knew exactly what she wanted to do as soon as she reached the farm since the sheep were out of the question until later. Liza was more than happy to oblige, but then we all loved swimming in our family. Then Magda went around checking if everyone else wanted to swim until Billie distracted her with some castle on the side of the road.
I didn't pay attention to that because I'd caught a little sadness from Liza when she said about Mal being in work and I wanted to get to the bottom of it in case I had to offer moral support later. It was always better to get ahead with Liza just in case.
Do you get lonely when Mal's in work? I ventured since that was the most likely thing that would worry her.
To be honest Brother I have had little time to note his absence for we have had guest for the entire time that he has returned to work. Besides I have Aiden now to take up my attention and by the time you all return home I will be starting on with my course. I will be too busy to note it. She said, but I didn't buy it, not that I'd call her out on it yet cause that would just antagonise her.
Well that's something. I replied.
You do not agree? She demanded and I guess I'm not as good as I thought hiding stuff from Liza.
I don't want to butt into your life but I think that maybe you would be happier back home cause even if Mal is in work all day you'll have company. I stated, speaking my own thoughts on the matter.
She bought that it was my problem and went on to explain that she had friends here, even if she couldn't speak openly to them, she could still find enough company with them. It seemed almost like she was finding any excuse not to come back to America and so I called her out on it directly.
I would move back tomorrow if Mal could find an adequate job and we could find a place as worthwhile as our farm to live, but that is not available at the moment and believe me we have looked. There is nothing in Washington and I do not wish to live in Nomad lands or be beholden to a carnivorous coven leader. She said and I felt a little angry that Liza seemed to be making all the sacrifices for Mal and it seemed a little wrong to me.
I guess I can agree with you on that one. But does he have to be a psychiatrist? Can't he do something else for now? I asked.
Mal has so little in his life that is truly his achievement and becoming a psychiatrist was something he aimed for before I came into his life. I would not ask him to give that up for me. She said and I guess it was because she loved him, and Mal wasn't asking her to do this, she'd chose to do it on behalf of Mal, she didn't want to make him choose because it was something he'd wanted from before he met Liza and I guess there was a hell of lot he sacrificed for her in the past. I guess I also knew that if Liza really put her foot down and asked him to move back home he would, even if it meant he had to flip burgers for a living. Maybe I wanted Liza to admit that she had more control than she was letting on.
But aren't you more or less giving up your family for him? I asked.
In what way? She demanded angrily and I realised I was pushing her too far, but I'd started so I'd finish.
Well we hardly see you. I said, realising that part of this was cause I missed my twin something chronic when we were so far apart.
Yet I see you all as much as I did when living in Seattle. She pointed out, but it wasn't the same for one simple reason.
I know. But when you were in Seattle you were just over the water there. I could at least feel your mind. I argued.
I feel your mind now if I allow myself to drift. She said, and well that was true but it wasn't the same.
Well drifting yeah, but not all the time. I said sadly.
It will not be forever Tony. She said, and she meant it. We will one day return to America. Possibly when Aiden is grown and we can better protect him from those who would exploit the human son of dhampir.
I guess there's that side of things to consider with Aiden. I conceded because I hadn't really thought about what the slavers might want to do with him, how they might experiment on him. But you know I'll protect him whatever.
We all would brother, but I would prefer to alleviate the burden. After all, who would find us here?
It does seem out of the way, but you keep having family visit someone's bound to work it out. Maybe we should all start getting off at Heathrow and hiring a car like Mom and Dad did. I said, mostly for Liza's safety, but partly because of how cramped I'd felt on the short flight.
Liza more or less agreed and we fell silent a while as Mags and Billie discussed the fact that there was a gate to open to get onto the farm. It somehow led to Dad revealing that he'd actually planted a few of the trees around the entrance to Tregarran's drive to hide it a little. And when a vampire said he planted a tree that very much can mean he picked up a whole big pine from somewhere deeper in the forest and put it where he needed it. I would have liked to have read the human minds at that time, would they have even noticed the trees turn up over night? Dad also revealed that Grace family had owned Northern Heights, or something, but by the time he moved Tregarran Hall to America they were living in the old stables/grounds keeper cottage that had been converted into the house Grace now owned. Our home, the Stables. If that was true it seemed kind of wrong that Prue had to pay close to a million dollars to purchase the remains of the house and grounds of Northern Heights if it belonged to their family anyway. Unless it was a different branch of the Pearson family. The clan was big but I'd met hardly any of them because Brigham had very little to do with them even though he'd inherited the Stables. It also got Grace to musing about how much time Dad had seen and how much time we would see together. I liked Grace's thoughts of the future, of us moving through time together, always young, always having fun.
Liza's thought overshadowed everything though and I felt my heart constrict painfully as she went through all them imagines of what it was like to feel your own mortality. To consider it because you were so sick that you could drop dead from the condition you'd had since birth. I hated that time, worrying about Grace and I didn't need Liza reminding me of it and what's more, making it worse than it used to be. In the end I just had to tell her to quit, and even had to play dirty with pointing out that there was a time Mal might have questioned his mortality, but I just had to get her to stop with all the morbid thinking about my Grace. Thankfully our arrival at the farm brought an end to our little fight and I decided to let it go. Liza hadn't meant to hurt me and we were together now, hating on her wouldn't do anyone any favours.
As her little farm came into view I was surprised by how small it was, but what we could see was the old farm, just family living quarters now. The modern farm was bigger, over the little rise, but you know what I wasn't so interested in that. Liza's home was the stone buildings down in the little bowl. It consisted of the old farmhouse and now several rooms converted from the old out buildings.
One of these rooms was for Grace and me, Magda was gonna stay in the house, up in the attic with Billie. Magda's head was full of sleepover dreams when she found out and she didn't care that she'd be so far away from Grace and me. She was excited to be on vacation. Magda wanted to see our room first though, and damn it was good. Even if it had once been a stable, Liza had a weird sense of humour some times, putting us in a room that had the same name as our house.
On the other hand it looked like something people would pay good money to stay in. The room itself was a good size with a double bed, sofa and TV. There was a kitchen sink in the corner with a kettle and a microwave, a little refrigerator too, but somehow I doubted we'd need to use it with Liza and Dad here. The door in the corner led into a room with a toilet and a sink and through another doorway was a wet room, the showerheads coming from every direction for a thorough clean. Liza was a little annoyed that these outbuildings had better bathrooms than the one she had in the house, but hell she owned them, she could always come out and use them if she really wanted.
Magda wanted us to see her room so we dumped our bags and followed Liza and Billie to the house. Mom and Dad were in the big warm kitchen where Dad was preparing breakfast, and even though we'd ate at the hotel my stomach was rumbling in anticipation. Still we had to climb to the top of the house where I had to duck because there really wasn't the headroom for me. Magda had the room on the left and it looked as if someone had exploded a bottle of pepto bismol in there, it was so pink. It was Billie's idea, but mostly cause she knew Magda loved pink.
Grace and me left Magda to unpack her bag with Billie's help, cause that's what she wanted, and we went out to our room to unpack while Dad finished breakfast. Unpacking didn't seem to be on Grace's mind though.
Finally alone Tony Black. She growled as she leapt onto my back and kissed my cheek.
Why Grace Pearson you're incorrigible. I joked as I pulled her around to me and kissed at her neck. You know I'm a weak willed male when it comes to your alluring feminine seductions.
Grace giggled before she kissed along my jaw and began sucking on my ear.
Oh… god…
I had to like, put a stop to this or we would be missing breakfast because I really couldn't resist Grace when she did that.
"Mercy…" I managed.
Grace pulled away and looked down at me with a grin.
"Mercy?" She asked.
"Yeah. Cause I want you badly Grace, but we have to be decent in about five minuets and what I got in mind for you, well five minuets is nowhere near enough." I growled.
"Good answer." Grace said with a smile and kissed my lips before jumping out of my arms. "Come on, let's unpack."
We unpacked as we talked about nothing and nonsense, but it was happy nothing and nonsense, and it was just us, taking advantage of stolen alone time before breakfast with my family. What bliss.
I'm not sure how often I'll be posting on this, I'm hoping to post maybe every other week, altrnating with Dhampir Hereafter but I was thinking that I really need a window into what's happening back with the rest of them and I thought this would be a good way to do it.
Thank you for reading
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Gemma x